Things that Go Bump in the Night

by BA Tortuga

  Houston growled back, teeth bared. He could have a little fight.

  Padding right up to him, the wolf right there, Jacks bristled, lips pulling back from his teeth. Oh yeah. They could snarl and tear a little.

  His claws dug into the dirt as his muscles bunched, his whole body readying to pounce.

  Jacks came right at him, barreling into him with amazing speed for someone who had been standing still. They rolled in the dirt, both of them snapping at legs and throats.

  By the moon, his mate was strong. Fortunately, he had rage to fuel him.

  Neither of them fought to kill, but they fought hard and true, Jacks’s teeth closing on his tail and making him yelp. Sharp. Such a bright, sharp pain.

  Houston could feel himself fading, feel his hold on the wolf shifting, making him pant and stumble. Damn it.

  Jacks backed right off, circling him, nudging him with that long muzzle. The man always knew. Always.

  Always had.

  Houston moved toward his mate, whining softly and licking Jacks’s lips.

  Chuffing, Jacks licked back, grooming him a bit before starting to herd him toward the house. Rest. Food. Rest. He could hear it all in the low growls.

  Rest.

  He groaned, so in love it hurt. Home. Home. Home.

  Jacks took him home, the wolf leaving them the minute they hit the door. Left him weak as a baby. Jacks sort of folded next to him, warm skin pressed close to his.

  “Jackson.” He panted, head on the floor.

  “Mmm-hmm. Baby, what is it? What are you looking for?” One hand slid up his side, tracing his ribs.

  “Not looking. Waiting. Watching.” Watching to make sure they couldn’t get Jackson.

  “You got to trust me, Houston. Trust that I can protect you.” His big, bad wolf. All growly on his behalf. And Jacks honestly thought he could keep them safe.

  “They’ll come, Jacks. They’ll come and take you, if they can.” They’d take Jackson’s balls. They’d mark him. Shave him. Ruin him.

  Just like they’d ruined Houston.

  “No.” So low it was almost a subvocalization, Jacks growled the word, rolling him to his back. Sharp teeth closed on his throat, the classic sign of the alpha making a point. “No.”

  He howled, eyes rolling in his head. He wanted to believe. He needed to, but he just couldn’t.

  Jacks moved between his legs, spreading him, forcing his attention to one thing. Hot, male, all Jacks. Right there. Nothing else mattered. Their eyes snapped together, Jackson holding his gaze like those big eyes were the moon herself. All of that confidence, all of that hunger…. Everything he ever wanted was right there for him to take.

  “I won’t let them have you. You’re mine.” He never looked away from Jacks’s gaze.

  “Yours, baby. All yours. No one is gonna have me but you.” He got a kiss, one that curled his toes right up. His body went tight in a rush, desire flooding him.

  “That’s it.” Jacks said it against his mouth, lips moving on his. Yeah. Damn. Now.

  He spread, planting his feet and dropping his knees out. Now. Nodding, growling, Jacks shoved right up against him, cock rubbing against his hole. Ready for him. Eager. He leaned up, bit Jacks’s throat, shaking a little as he begged for it, needed it.

  “Got what you want, baby.” Oh yeah. Yeah. He needed what Jacks was giving him, that cock sliding right into him, hot as a brand. Hard as stone.

  The screaming and worrying inside him eased, dragged away by the pressure inside him, that heat over him.

  “Love… love you, baby.” Jacks had told him that more in the last month than he had the whole time they’d been together before.

  “Love.” He nodded, teeth bared with the pure pleasure of it.

  They rocked, Jacks working him, hips just slapping against him with bruising force. Yeah. Every thrust moved him, made him slide along. They ground together, Jacks’s cock pushing deeper as his hands connected with the wall, giving him something to brace against. Sharp teeth latched on to his throat again, biting down. Every move they made set those teeth deeper into him. Shit yes. The sting made him feel incredibly alive.

  He was trapped there, head tossing, teeth snapping at the air as Jackson loved him, spread him wide open. His whole body shook with it, his muscles tight as frozen rope. Jesus, he was just going to explode. Jacks howled for him, the sound triumphant as all hell. He shot without even a touch to his cock, his body tightening around Jacks, holding him in.

  “Fuck. Fuck, baby. Gonna….” Jacks shouted, coming hard inside him, filling him deep. All the way to the core.

  Mate.

  Mate.

  Mate.

  He could hear the word with every heartbeat, with every throb of that cock inside him.

  Jacks fell on him, pressing him to the floor, both of them gasping for breath. “Oh fuck, Houston. Needed that. Woke up and you were gone….”

  “I have to guard you. Our home. They’ll come.”

  Stroking his cheek, Jacks licked the corner of his mouth, sharing the salt and heat flavor of them. “Let me help, then. Let me make it right for you.”

  “How?” He chased Jacks’s lips, nodding.

  “We’ll set up the perimeter. We’ll patrol together if we have to. Get some security. Shit, I don’t know. But we can. Fuck, we can go to Mexico. You know how much territory we could get us there?”

  “Mexico?” Had Jacks lost his mind?

  “Yeah. What? There are wolves in Mexico.” Grinning, Jacks kissed his nose. “Think of all the tequila.”

  “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “Baby, I want to keep you safe.” That rumble was sweet as shit. Jacks wasn’t laughing at him. The man was just laughing.

  “I want to believe you can, mate. I do.” He trailed his fingers down his side, from the scar where he’d torn the chip out to the ink that marred him.

  Jacks’s hands followed his. “You’re almost strong enough, lover. Almost. We’ll fix this.”

  “Yeah? I…. It eats at me.”

  “No, baby, that would be me.” Oh, someone was full of piss and vinegar now that they’d fought and fucked.

  He growled, nipping at Jacks’s belly idly before padding down the hall.

  Water.

  Shower.

  Possibly a nap.

  JACKS WATCHED Houston pace, knowing his mate was itching to run, or scared he’d have to, scared someone was gonna come take them away. The full moon was still far enough off that they really didn’t need to get hairy. What Houston needed was a distraction. Jacks pondered that. Scrabble? Tiddlywinks?

  Maybe it was time to do something about the ink that marred that fine body, which wasn’t nearly so skinny anymore.

  After rolling to his feet off the couch, Jacks stalked over and stopped Houston midpace.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Hey.” Houston leaned up, nuzzled him. That motion was as natural as breathing.

  “Mmm. You smell good.” He was gonna get distracted if he wasn’t careful.

  “You taste good.” He got another lick, another nibble and nuzzle.

  “Yeah?” Shivery good, that tiny touch. His nipples went stiff, his cock stirring. “Well, what are we gonna do about it, baby?”

  “Is that a rhetorical question?” Houston led him back toward the bed, away from the windows.

  “No. I mean, uh…. What?” Those hands were all over him, making it tough to think, making him hard as a rock.

  Houston’s chuff tickled his skin, those sharp teeth working the skin above his nipple.

  “Come on, Houston. Bite, will you?” His body needed the sharp touch. The sting.

  “Pushy asshole.” Houston’s light eyes glinted, the bite right there, teasing him.

  “Always. Want!” Growling, he pulled Houston up to his skin, arching into the touch of that hot mouth. Houston bit hard, teeth bruising the skin, shocking the muscle in his chest. Jerking, he growled happily, his hands going to Houston’s shoulders to hold on. Jacks’
s hips rolled up, his cock rubbing against Houston’s belly. The bites moved lower and lower, Jackson not moving him anymore.

  Growling, Jacks pushed at Houston’s head, trying to get that mouth where he needed it. God, he was gonna bust. Explode. Houston had him flying.

  His fucking evil mate skipped his cock, nuzzling his balls, pulling one into that heated mouth.

  Jacks’s body tried to crawl into that mouth, his hips rolling in a tight circle, his skin covered in goose bumps.

  Houston’s eyes shone up at him, bright as the moon. That tongue slid over the skin of his balls, soft as anything and ten times as good.

  “Baby. You got me. Anything. Please.” Jacks just needed more. More pressure, more heat. He was addicted. Fucking addicted.

  That mouth popped off him and Houston growled. “Love.”

  Then his cock was taken in to the root.

  Fuck yes. Fuck. Yes. Shouting, he started fucking that sweet mouth, pure instinct taking him over. His body was just driving to the finish.

  His mate took him in, swallowing and sucking, demanding all he had. Now.

  Jacks came hard, his breath whooshing out, his hips snapping. Jacks’s belly felt stiff as a board, and his balls seemed like they were gonna empty out forever. Strong fingers rolled them in their sac, making sure Houston got him all. Houston’s other hand was on his hip, holding on tight.

  “Jesus fuck, baby.” His back hit the floor with a slap, the sweat just running on him. “Gonna make me go kaboom one of these days.”

  “No. No explosions. Keeping you.” Houston was licking his prick, tongue gliding almost idly.

  It was almost too sensitive, and his toes curled up, a long flex and release. “Yours, baby.”

  “Mine.” The touches slid down to his balls, moving them carefully. “I want their mark gone, Jackson. I need you to do that.”

  “I can do that, baby. I surely can. How do you want it? We can do it with scars. We can do it with some India ink….” There were a lot of things they could do. He’d do them all for Houston.

  “I don’t know. I need you to make it yours.” That haunted look was back, bound with a pure fury.

  “Shh. Shh. Hush, baby. I got you.” He wasn’t gonna make Houston think about it anymore. He was just gonna do it. And he’d need Houston to call up the wolf for it to take.

  “You always have. You should have run, when I came for you.” Right, like he could have done that. Houston had hunted him like a wounded deer.

  “Like I would run from you, baby. Sit up. I need to get some stuff.” He needed a razor; his claws would do some, but the rest….

  Houston rolled up, nodding, nervous energy pouring between them.

  Gaining his feet, he reached out and touched Houston’s cheek. “Think of the wolf, baby. Think of him, but stay right here. Got it?” He put all of his alpha in his voice.

  “Yeah. Yeah, Jacks. I hear you.” That was his mate, the trust in him.

  “Good. Be right back.” The sharp straight razor was in a trunk in the bedroom. Only it would do. He didn’t bother with the alcohol. They never needed it to heal.

  Houston was waiting, eyes glowing, panting and making soft whines and chirps, calling to him.

  “Right here, baby. Right here for you.” He showed Houston the razor, letting it register, letting the man get the idea settled in. No way did Jacks want a fight on his hands.

  Those eyes didn’t panic, though. There was a need there, not fear. Somewhere his mate had lost the fear of pain; they’d stolen it.

  He put a hand on the back of Houston’s neck, leaning his forehead against his mate’s for just a moment. “Gonna fix you right up. I love you.”

  “Love.” Houston looked at him, loved him with a stubborn will that hadn’t changed since the first time he’d let the cub in.

  “Lay back.” He spread Houston out for him, pushing that one arm up so he could get to the marked side. Rage built in him, but he tamped it down. This had to be about love. About claiming. He wasn’t gonna do it in anger. Not when his lover’s blood ran bright red under his blade, a line of molten fire springing up on Houston’s skin.

  Houston groaned, took a deep breath. “Yours. I have always been yours.”

  “Always. Even when you left. Even when they had you. I was always waiting.” Almost meditatively, he drew another line with the razor, the marks starting to take on a pattern, the inked barcode disappearing.

  “I dreamed of you. Swore I would come tell you I was wrong.” Those pretty lips were parted, the sheen of sweat beginning to form.

  “You knew I needed you more than life. I was waiting for you.” Another cut, then another, slow and sure. He could almost see Houston trying to heal. “More wolf, baby.”

  “More wolf.” Houston growled, nose twitching, the hair on the man’s chest getting thicker.

  “That’s it. That’s it, baby.” It was weird, how their bodies worked. How the wolf allowed some things the human didn’t. And vice versa. He cut again, watching Houston’s wolf know his touch, love it. Need it.

  Those eyes glowed for him, Houston’s teeth lengthening, shining for him as his mate grinned.

  Sweet. Look at that. His heart beat faster, his belly thrumming with the feelings washing through him. God, he needed this too. Needed to claim.

  One cut after another destroyed the pattern, destroyed the evil on Houston’s skin and left his own mark.

  He made a swirl for the moon, a sweeping muzzle for the wolf. A J for his name. Damn, that was looking better.

  The skin knit quickly, Houston’s sounds getting husky, rough with joy, his mate relaxed under his blade.

  The scars were doing just what he wanted. He’d have to go over it a few more times, but they were obscuring the marks those bastards had left. He cut again, knowing the blood was necessary.

  Houston yelped, calling for him, loving him, more wolf than man now.

  He rumbled, letting his own vocalizations tell Houston he was loved, wanted, his. They were pack. End of story. One last cut and he was done. Just one more, right down the entire line of Houston’s ribs.

  He got a bark, Houston rolling up on all fours, offering him a toothy smile.

  There. Oh. Perfect. Now he just had to make sure it took. “You’re gonna hate this part, baby. But I have to.”

  Houston’s head tilted, a questioning trill sounding.

  “Ash, baby. If I rub some ash in the scars it will keep them open enough to make a good mark.” He’d have to do it fast, but he had a bucket waiting by the woodstove. “Trust me?”

  Houston’s answer was to duck that sweet head, rub those cheeks against his thighs.

  He didn’t know what he’d done to deserve Houston. Whatever it was, he hoped he kept doing it. Before the wounds could close completely, he grabbed a double handful of ash and started rubbing it in, soothing noises coming from deep in his chest.

  Houston groaned, panting against him, whining as the muscles shuddered and shook.

  “I know, baby. I know. It’ll be over soon.” It would. The wolf body would heal right over the ash, leaving the raised pieces of skin. It would leave grayish marks on the human body. Yeah. God, yeah.

  His mate let himself go, let the wolf take him over, those familiar eyes staring at him over the long muzzle. So beautiful, now that his coat had grown in some, now that the muscles were coming back.

  Once he was done with the ash, Jacks let himself push his fingers into that thick fur and scratch. He loved on his mate hard. That long tail wagged, Houston’s eyes crossing when he hit a sweet spot, tongue lolling. Laughing, he rolled them to the floor, scratching at that fine belly, the soft fur tickling his fingers. His mate licked and nuzzled, chuffing against his skin, playing. Playing. Sweet.

  They’d get through everything just like they were getting through this. They would. Jacks stroked down the side that was scarring up as he watched, nodding.

  Yeah. They’d do it. They would survive it all and be stronger.

  Together.


  HOUSTON POUNCED Jackson as his mate came in the front door, teeth on one broad shoulder.

  “Fuck me.”

  Hopefully that would be direct and clear enough for his growly, stubborn lover. Three days since they’d snarled and spat, three days since they’d really let themselves argue and Jackson was still staying in the barn.

  Jacks shoved him away, the move more instinct than anything. Those dark eyes stared right into his before Jacks pounced him in return, just taking him down.

  He arched and bucked, not wanting to fight too hard, because he needed, but knowing they needed a little struggle for the spice.

  Come on. Come on, Jacks.

  Need.

  Jacks bit him, right on the throat, sucking up a heavy bruise. It had him panting and moaning, had him ready to go.

  His claws slid down Jacks’s back, dragging on the tanned skin. “Mine.”

  Moaning, Jacks rolled them, putting him on top, hauling his ass up to straddle those muscled thighs. “Mine.”

  “Yes.” He could no more deny that than he could deny himself. “Fuck me.”

  “Come on, baby. Come on and ride me. Show me how much you want me.” All the pent-up rage was gone from Jackson’s face, just need there now.

  Houston nodded, reaching right back and taking Jacks in hand. He’d slicked and stretched, promising himself a good, hard fuck, and this was it. He growled and sank onto Jacks’s prick, almost howling with pleasure.

  “Fuck! Baby. More. Move, goddamn it.” Those hands clamped down on his hips, moving him up and down, up and down.

  “Yeah.” He nodded, bouncing on Jacks’s prick, driving him both higher, harder.

  “Uhn.” That growl had his cock jerking, had chills running up and down his spine. Jacks was all wolf.

  “Mate.” He arched, showing off, showing himself. He wanted Jackson to know how much he loved, to be proud.

  “Fucking love you,” Jacks murmured against his skin, loving him right back, one hand sliding up to trace the scars on his ribs.

  Those made him beautiful. Made him Jackson’s again like nothing else would.

  And the pride in Jacks’s eyes when he looked at them made all the snarling and the smarting and waiting worth it. Every bit.