by Toni Griffin
A middle aged lady with slightly greying hair sat behind the counter and smiled at him as he approached.
"Good afternoon, Sir. How may I help?"
"Hi, I have a reservation for a week under the name Zack Bennett." Zack watched as the lady clicked away on the computer.
"Ah, yes. Here we are, a double bed with a port-a-cot." She read from the screen.
"Yes, thank you, if it's not too much trouble."
"Not at all, sir. The room should already be set up for you. If you just wait one moment, I'll get the paperwork." Zack nodded as she walked to the printer and waited for it to spit out the forms.
Zack stepped back and looked out the glass doors to the car, heaving a sigh of relief when he realised Hayley was still sleeping peacefully in her seat. Turning his attention back to the reception desk, he found the paperwork, with a pen, waiting for him to complete. After filling out the form and handing over his licence and credit card, Zack received his room key and a map of the hotel grounds which had his room circled with red ink.
"If you need anything else or there is something wrong with the room, please don't hesitate to call reception. Our hours are from seven am to eight pm."
"Thank you, I will." Zack picked up everything and headed back to his car. He drove around the side and found his room. After parking in the space provided, he once again left the car running until he had the room unlocked.
Opening the door to his current home, Zack looked around. The room wasn't much. For the money he was paying, he definitely wasn't expecting the plaza. The queen size bed dominated the room, with a brightly coloured quilt that looked faded from being washed so often.
After unbuckling Hayley from her car seat, Zack carried his daughter inside the room and gently laid her down in the port-a-cot. The cot barely fit between the left wall and his bed. Once he was sure Hayley was okay, Zack turned on one of the bedside lamps to give him a little light.
The carpet was an ungodly green colour; it looked to be stained in several places and worn in several others. It wasn't home by any means but it would do for a week or so while he looked for a place for him and Hayley.
Zack headed back to the car and started to unload his luggage. Placing his suitcases on the luggage rack and the small table, the room quickly filled with their belongings. On his third trip back to the car he heard his daughter cry out. Zack rushed back into the room and bent down over the cot to pick Hayley up. "Hey now, Pumpkin. Everything's okay," Zack reassured in his most soothing voice. He straightened himself up and patted her back as he rocked her a little.
Hayley's sniffles came to an end quickly and she leaned back to look him in the eyes. "Daddy, we stopped. Park now?"
Zack chuckled. "Yes, Hayley, we're here. Let me finish unloading the car then we can have a snack and go to the park." Zack kissed his beautiful little girl on the cheek and placed her back in the cot.
Hayley's excited screams about the park followed Zack as he went to get another load of boxes from the car. Half a dozen trips later, the car was finally empty. Zack went to the cooler he'd packed some food into with ice that morning and pulled out a yoghurt then found a spoon. Setting Hayley in one of the chairs at the table, Zack fed her the snack. When she was finished, Zack went to the bathroom and wet one of the face cloths and cleaned his daughter up. No matter what Zack tried, Hayley always seemed to end up with food all over her face. The mess was always worse when she fed herself.
Checking his watch, he noticed it was five to four. He'd arranged to meet with Alpha Holland at his place at five thirty. That gave him plenty of time to take Hayley to the park. He picked up the phone and dialled reception. After several rings the same lady who'd checked him in earlier answered. "Reception, how can I help you?"
"Hi this is Zack Bennett from room 122. I was wondering if there was a kids' play park nearby?"
"Yes, sir. If you head back to the main street and turn right, there's one not too far down on the left."
"Thank you, have a good day."
"You too, sir. Enjoy." Zack hung up the phone and made his way to Hayley.
"You ready to go play in the park, Pumpkin?"
"Yay!" Zack broke into a smile at his daughter's excitement. If only his life was that simple. Zack picked Hayley up and made his way out of the room and to his car while listening to the excited chatter of his two year old the entire way.
Chapter 2
"Do you have to do that here?" Simon didn't know exactly who he was talking to. All he wanted to do was relax after a long day at work, and he came home to find both his brothers and their mates making out in the living room. The television blared in the background, long since forgotten. Simon didn't begrudge his brothers their mates, it just seemed every time he turned around they were attempting to get into each other's pants. They could barely be in the same room together without constantly touching and, quite frankly, Simon was a little jealous.
Simon wanted to find someone who lit up the room when they walked in, someone whose touch caused his body to ache in such a good way, someone who looked at him as if he was their whole world, someone he could lose himself in and forget the world around him.
The growl coming from his brother, Alex, was actually quite impressive since he continued to kiss his mate, Jason, the entire time. Jason finally broke the kiss and giggled. He leaned his head back on the couch and looked up at Simon standing in the doorway. "Sorry."
Alex growled again. "Don't apologise, sweetheart. If he doesn't like it, he can always leave." Alex then started trailing kisses down Jason's neck.
Jason swatted Alex on the arm. "Be nice."
"Don't worry about it, Jase. I think I might go for a run. Give you all time to finish whatever you're doing here. Be back in about an hour." Simon turned and walked down the passage to his room. Running had always been one of his favourite things to do, whether in wolf or human form. Simon could always manage to lose himself and forget everything going on in his life in the rhythm of his feet hitting the ground.
In his room, Simon undressed and found his running clothes. Once dressed in shorts and a tank top, Simon slipped on his Nike running shoes and found his armband for his iPod before finding the device itself. Searching through his bedside drawers Simon then found his headphones. Connecting everything up and strapping the player in, Simon did some quick stretches then headed out of the house.
Simon jogged down the drive and turned left along the footpath. His body soon loosened up and he settled into a rhythm, heart beating steadily, feet pounding the pavement in time with the heavy base beat of the music. Simon cleared his mind and let all his thoughts and worries flow right out of him. All that mattered was putting one foot in front of the other, everything else could wait.
The sweat was soon dripping down his back and his leg muscles started to ache but Simon was just getting started. He turned down the main street of town, most of the shops already locked up this late in the afternoon on a Thursday. The footpaths were clear except for the occasional teenager on a bike. He passed the park where parents played with young children, gradually fading into older kids on skateboards and rollerblades as he neared the skate park.
Simon had resigned himself to never having kids. He'd suspected as young as fifteen he was gay. Kissing his best friend Mark after school when he was sixteen confirmed his suspicions. They'd fooled around together and he discovered what it was like to have sex with another boy.
He'd never been interested in girls. Simon knew who he was attracted to and didn't need to try anything with a girl to confirm his orientation. After all, why should he 'make sure' he didn't like girls, if straight guys didn't have to 'make sure' with another man? The whole thing seemed like a double standard to him.
Simon soon found himself at his turning point and he crossed to the other side of the street and headed back the way he'd come. A half hour later Simon's hair was wet with sweat as it dripped from his face and ran in rivulets down his back, his tank top plastered to his skin, and his
leg muscles burning. Simon finally turned onto his street and noticed a Toyota Camry parked out front of his house. He didn't recognise the car and it had out of state plates. Must be the new pack member Alex had told him about.
Simon stopped on the front lawn and took ten minutes to do cool-down stretches. If he didn't, his body would rebel against him. His muscles would cramp and he would barely be able to walk.
Once Simon finished his stretches, he turned his iPod off and pulled his shirt off over his head. Simon hated the feeling of his sweat soaked clothes clinging to his body when he finished exercising. Making his way to the house, Simon pushed open the front door and stopped at the sight before him.
A little girl with bright red curls and the greenest eyes he'd ever seen stood in the passageway clutching a little wolf plush toy to her chest. Simon didn't want to frighten the small child so he quietly closed the door then crouched down with his back against the front door. "Hello there, pretty girl. What's your name?"
Simon watched as the girl's eyes roamed over him. "Hayley," came the soft sweet reply.
"Hello, Hayley. I'm Simon. How old are you?" Hayley seemed to think about it for a minute then held up the arm currently not holding her toy, displaying two fingers.
"Two, oh wow! You're almost a big girl." Hayley's smile broke across her face and she nodded her head in agreement. "And who is this?" Simon asked, pointing to the stuffed wolf in her arms
"Woofie." Hayley thrust her toy out in front of her so Simon could get a good look. Her voice held certainty, she knew exactly who her teddy was. Simon smiled at her and patted the toy wolf.
"Hayley?" The most beautiful voice Simon had ever heard made its way to his brain. Hayley turned her head and squealed in delight as the voice was quickly followed by the most stunning man Simon had ever seen.
Roughly five foot nine with pale skin, freckles dusting his nose, the plumpest pink lips and a shock of red hair that was just long enough to run his fingers through, stood a man who took his breath away. With hair that colour, he would surely have to be this little girl's father. Right? Simon's thoughts were confirmed as the girl ran up and jumped at the man crying out, "Daddy."
Simon heard an 'Umph' as the man caught the young girl. Simon ran his gaze down the stranger's body and came to a halt at his crotch when he noticed a rather impressive bulge behind the jeans' zipper. He sucked in a breath at the sight before his eyes, that's when the scent hit him. It was like being hit between the eyes with a hammer. All his relaxed muscles tensed and his cock, which was already half hard at the sight of the man and his impressive package, hardened completely, draining the rest of the blood from his body and pooling it in his tight running shorts.
The scent was tickling his senses. It smelled like warm summer rain and something else Simon thought might be baby powder but wasn't sure. He couldn't believe it. His mate was in his house… and he had a child.
Simon put his hand on his knees and kept his back against the door as he slowly pushed himself up. He didn't want to scare his mate. He noticed the man's eyes work their way down his body then quickly lift back up when they got as far as his groin. The pink blush that stained his cheeks was sexy as hell and all Simon could think about at that moment was kissing this gorgeous man.
Simon took one step forward before Alex's voice broke through his fog. "Zack, did you find her? Is everything alright?" His brother's larger frame followed his voice from around the corner and he was soon standing behind Zack. "Hey Simon, glad you're home. Good run?"
"What?" Simon shook his head trying to remember what he was doing. Right, run. He had been running. "Ah, yeah, it was okay."
"This is Zack Bennet. He's just moved here from the Blue Mountains. And this little cutie is his daughter, Hayley." Alex grinned as he lightly tickled Hayley. She squealed and squirmed in her father's arms.
Simon nodded and stepped forward again and held out his hand. "Nice to finally meet you." Zack's blush seemed to darken as he reached out and shook Simon's hand.
"You too," was the softly spoken reply. Electricity race through Simon's hand and up his arm, all from one small touch. He couldn't wait to see what would happen if he ever got the chance to get his mate naked.
His thoughts about his naked mate were interrupted by his brother's deep voice. "Zack, would you and Hayley like to stay for dinner? It would be a good opportunity to get to know you a little better."
"Umm, okay, if you're sure it's no trouble." Zack stammered without taking his eyes off Simon's body. Simon's cock grew impossibly harder in his running shorts and he felt sure his predicament was quite obvious.
"None whatsoever. Brian cooked up a huge pot of spaghetti Bolognaise so there's plenty of food."
Hayley screamed her enjoyment at hearing what was for dinner. "Yay, basketti bollolaise! Daddy, can I have some? I'm hungry." Simon smiled at the girl's pronouncement of their dinner and watched as she turned imploring eyes up to her father.
Zack seemed to shake himself and finally looked at his daughter. "You can have some when dinner is ready, Pumpkin." Then leaned in and kissed her lightly on the cheek before lowering her once again to the ground.
"How long until dinner, Alex? Do I have enough time to go shower?" Simon caught the sudden flair of heat in Zack's eyes at the mention of him showering.
"Yeah, you've got plenty of time."
With that Simon turned and headed towards his room. If he stayed any longer with Zack looking at him like that, he would jump the man right then and there, no matter who else was in the room.
Closing his bedroom door behind him, he quickly stripped out of the rest of his sweat-soaked clothes and made his way to the bathroom. Turning on the shower, Simon let the water heat before stepping inside and rinsing the sweat and salt from his body.
Simon ached; he was hard enough to pound nails and what we really wanted was to go grab his mate and drag him into the shower with him. He knew that wasn't going to happen anytime soon, so he reached for the conditioner and poured a generous amount into his hand. Reaching down between his legs, Simon grasped his hard length and stroked from the base right to the tip, stopping to rub his finger through his slit. He groaned at the number of feelings shooting through his body with just that simple touch.
Simon let his imagination run wild as he thought about what it would be like if Zack joined him in the shower, kissing his mate until neither of them could breathe. He set a nice steady rhythm as he imagined himself kissing his way down Zack's neck, stopping every once in a while to lick at the water that ran in little rivulets down his mate's body. Simon would stop when he reached one of Zack's nipples and drive the man wild as he licked, sucked, bit and kissed the little nub before moving on to the other.
Simon's hand sped up, while his other reached down to cup and play with his balls. He could almost hear the moan coming from Zack's mouth before he would pull away from Simon and sink to his knees in front of Simon's hard, straining length.
Zack would lean in and run his tongue around his balls before sucking one, then the other, into his mouth, releasing each with a loud pop. Simon could almost feel his tongue on his shaft as he made his way up to the head and dipped his tongue into the slit to lap at all the pre-cum before opening his mouth and swallowing Simon down to the root.
Simon howled Zack's name as ropes of pearly white cum shot from his cock onto the tiles below to be washed away with the hot water. Leaning his arm against the wall, Simon took deep breaths trying to get his body to calm back down after the most explosive orgasm of his life. Once he was sure he could stand unaided, without the threat of his knees giving way, he washed the rest of his body and turned the shower off.
Quickly running a towel over his wet body, Simon walked to his closet. He wanted to get dressed and get back out to his mate as soon as possible. Grabbing a pair of well worn jeans he knew his ass looked great in, Simon found a shirt and pulled them both on, not bothering with underwear. He was already hard again at the thought of his mate and didn't want th
e extra layer of fabric constricting his body. Running his fingers through his hair, Simon was as ready as he would ever be.
* * * *
Zack sat at the dining room table surrounded by his mate's family. His Mate. Being gay, Zack never thought he would have a mate. Never thought there would be the perfect match for him out there. After everything he'd been through recently, he wasn't sure he could handle the fact he did indeed have a mate. Having nearly everyone he loved taken away from him, could he survive if he mated with Simon and then something happened to him as well?
Looking at his daughter sitting quietly in the chair next to him, Zack had another thought. What did Simon think about kids? Did he like them? Did he want one? Would he help Zack to raise Hayley? God this was such a mess.
"So Zack, what brings you to our small town?" Alex asked him. Their meeting earlier had been cut short when Zack realised Hayley wandered off, then with the invitation for dinner they never got back to it. It seemed Alex was going to continue the questions with the rest of the family present now.
"I got a job at the local High School while the current teacher is out on maternity leave. I'll be teaching math and social studies." Zack stopped and took a breath. His body stilled as the most glorious scent permeated his senses. The smell was rich, musky and all man with a hint of soap. Zack turned in his seat to see the drop dead gorgeous figure of his mate standing in the doorway. Simon had his arms crossed over his chest and his hip resting against the door jamb.
With his mate looking right at him, Zack smiled shyly and couldn't help but notice how sexy Simon looked in his faded jeans and tight black t-shirt, his hair still wet from his shower. A smile broke out across Simon's face as he pushed off the door jamb and stalked towards Zack. Zack's breath caught in his throat at the predatory look in Simon's eye.
Everything else faded into the background when Simon stopped in front of him. Simon raised a hand and cupped Zack's cheek and tingles started under his skin from the contact with his mate, making their way through his body straight to his cock. Simon's thumb brushed gently across his bottom lip before the hand cupping his cheek tipped his head backwards.