by Anya Byrne
Erdi opened the door to the car and got out. It would have probably been a better idea for Jensen to stay put, but he didn't want to shy away from a conversation that could very well dictate what would happen in his life from now on.
"I'm told that you need haven for you and your mate, silencer," the man said without bothering to greet them. "Alpha St. Claire has made it clear that you should be welcomed here, but know that if you do anything to cross us, we will remove you."
"Of course," Erdi replied. "We have no intention of causing any trouble or getting in your way. We will be very discreet."
The blond man stared at Erdi's face, or more accurately, at his scar, and then nodded jerkily. "Go on ahead," he said, his voice a little less hostile. "And you have our thanks for keeping Ian safe. Not many werewolves would've done what you did."
Without waiting for a reply, the man turned on his heel and disappeared into the greenery. A few seconds later, Jensen couldn't see his silhouette at all, and he wondered if the blond had shifted into his animal form. And how was it that, two days after having been told about werewolves, he still hadn't seen a shift? Erdi might be angry with him, but he had to ask anyway.
He decided to wait for a bit, preferably until they had privacy. Ian waved at them and gave them a thumbs-up, at which Erdi snorted and rolled his eyes. He was smiling, though, and jealousy, unpleasant and unexpected, wormed its way through Jensen.
He was relieved when they all got back into their cars, but he silently fumed over his confused feelings. Really, he was so good at computers. How could he not figure out his own heart?
In the end, he didn't manage to find anything to say, but the silence didn't have to stretch out for much longer. Soon, they had to stop again, although this time, because the road was no longer suitable for the car.
They all got out and Erdi went to retrieve their luggage from the trunk while Ian padded to their side. "It's not very far from here," he said with enthusiasm. "I think you'll be pretty comfortable."
"Where exactly are we going to stay?"
"Well, my father is one of the dominant males in our pride, and because of my more... special nature, he's always wanted to take extra care of me. So he had this place built for me when I was younger."
Jensen blinked in surprise. "Wait... We can't possibly take your home."
Ian chuckled lightly and shook his head. "I don't live here anymore. I haven't in quite a while. The house's been empty for over a decade, and really, it's a pity. I'm glad someone else will have the chance to use it."
As they spoke, Erdi appeared, carrying the luggage. Jensen reached for his own, but before he could take it, Ian interceded and grabbed it in his stead. "Save your strength. It's quite the climb."
The words didn't particularly scare Jensen, but perhaps they should have. "Quite the climb" translated into a hike that had Jensen panting and heaving by the time they reached their destination. He wasn't exactly unfit, but he was a city boy, not made for heavy climbing.
It was all worth it, though, because the house was, plainly put, beautiful. Bigger than Jensen had expected, it was built into the rocky terrain in a way that made it quite striking to behold. To the side, Jensen spotted a water tower, and there were cables around too, which made Jensen guess the house had electricity and plumbing despite its remote location.
Ian led them inside, but only went as far as the living room. "Make yourselves at home," he said. "There are supplies in the kitchen, and everything you might need for the next week or so. There's also a sat-phone, in case you can't reach me on your cell and you need to contact me. I'll leave the two of you explore now. Have fun."
With a wink, Ian left, closing the door behind him. Now that Ian was gone, Jensen forgot about this strange new location and once more focused on Erdi alone. He faced the other man, only to realize Erdi wasn't looking at him. "Come on," Erdi said. "We should go upstairs. You can pick a room, and we'll grab a bite to eat since we didn't have breakfast."
Jensen grabbed Erdi's arm before the man could flee. "Wait. We need to talk about earlier."
"What is there to talk about? You made your thoughts on me pretty clear."
Jensen frowned. "No. Actually, I definitely did not."
He hadn't given his opinion on the situation at all, although he could understand why Erdi thought differently. "Look, I'm tired of going around in circles. There's something building between us. I can feel it, and I know you can too. But I need to know... Is it real or just pheromones? Heck, I can't believe I said that word, given that I haven't seen the whole shifting thing with my own eyes."
Erdi sighed. "I suppose that's easy enough to fix."
Just like that, without giving Jensen any warning, Erdi started to strip. Jensen's mind shut down at the sight. There was really no other way to put it, because with every inch of exposed skin, breathing and thinking became progressively more difficult.
He'd thought he'd known how handsome Erdi was, but he'd been sorely mistaken. In fact, he'd been so wrong he might have laughed if his vocal cords had obeyed him. As it was, he just stood there, hypnotized by the play of muscles of Erdi's biceps, aching to trace the lines of Erdi's abdomen.
Impossibly, it became even more difficult to process what was happening when Erdi toed off his sneakers and slid out of his jeans. He moved his hips just so, presumably to get naked faster, but the motion made Jensen's mouth water. It didn't help that Erdi was rock hard, the flared head of his shaft leaking copious amounts of precum. Jensen wanted nothing more than to drop to his knees and worship that beautiful cock—well, either that, or take it inside him. If he didn't, it was because of the remaining tension in Erdi's stance.
For all of his arousal, Erdi remained focused on his task. His nostrils flared, and Jensen was sort of embarrassed when he figured out Erdi could smell his excitement. At the same time, that knowledge kept him rooted in his spot. If Erdi was aware of Jensen's lust and did nothing to pursue it, Jensen couldn't press either. Besides, they had other concerns. Didn't they? It had all kind of slipped his mind the moment Erdi had started to get naked.
"Ready?" Erdi suddenly asked, his voice husky, filled with the desire Jensen himself felt.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Jensen answered in turn.
Over the next ten seconds, Jensen wondered what he'd expected to see, or gain, from his demand to witness the shifting process. Information, most definitely, but what kind of information? Had he thought the change would involve something grotesque, popping eyeballs and tortured roars, the kind that showed up in horror movies? Well, nothing like that happened. The shift that flowed over Erdi was fluid, natural. Yes, it was a little unnerving to see Erdi's hands and legs turn into paws, his mouth into a snout, and his body sprouting fur and a tail. However, it didn't strike Jensen as scary. In an odd way, it felt suitable. And when Erdi looked up at him—this time as a wolf—Jensen knew why that was. Erdi had always been the wolf.
Following a sudden impulse, Jensen crossed the room and knelt next to Erdi. He buried his hand in the wolf's dark fur, already knowing the not-quite beast wouldn't hurt him. Erdi rested his large head on Jensen's shoulder, and Jensen found himself relaxing, as if the trust Erdi put in him with this made everything better.
Impulses couldn't guide genuine belief. Erdi was obviously attracted to Jensen, but he'd gone against that several times to pursue a different course of action. This was real, this warmth, this wordless bond, and Jensen wanted to cling to it, to Erdi, forever.
Erdi briefly pulled away, but he didn't leave. Instead, he shifted back into his human form and cupped Jensen's cheek with striking gentleness. "Why?"
There were a lot of answers to that question, a lot of meanings it could have. It was hard to find a single one. The words came out without Jensen actually thinking about them. "You don't have to be alone anymore, Erdi. You don't have to do anything you don't want to. You can make your own choices—and I want you to choose me."
Even as he spoke, he realized how true that was. T
his man carried a lot of guilt and regret, but also a lot of pain. It was clear to Jensen that Erdi had been made into a weapon, perhaps even conditioned to not dwell too much on his actions. While that didn't change what Erdi had done, Jensen couldn't find it in his heart to blame Erdi for any of it. Erdi already blamed himself enough.
Because of that, because he knew Erdi would try to keep his distance, Jensen took the lead. He pressed his mouth to Erdi's, desperate for another taste of the man in front of him. The teasing hint he'd gotten earlier was not enough. He doubted anything ever would.
For a few moments, he thought Erdi might push him away, because the man didn't immediately respond. Those instants passed quickly, and then, Erdi pushed Jensen down, shoving him against the flooring, taking over the kiss. His muscular body pressed against Jensen's more slender one, keeping him in place—not that Jensen wanted to go anywhere. In fact, he was exactly where he wanted to be, and he used the offered chance to explore all the naked skin now at his disposal. He allowed his hands to roam over every part of Erdi he could reach, mostly his back and shoulders. While the touches weren't too intimate or too sensual, Erdi growled into their kiss and thrust his tongue into Jensen's mouth with even more fervor. Suddenly, clawed fingers were tearing into Jensen's clothes. Buttons flew all over the place, seams tore, and in seconds, Jensen's shirt was reduced to pathetic scraps of material. Maybe it should have scared him, but all it did was fuel the fire of his need. He couldn't bear having the barrier of material between them anymore. He wanted to get naked already, to feel Erdi's skin against his own.
Thankfully, he and Erdi agreed in this. Erdi broke the kiss, but he obviously hadn't changed his mind, because he used the respite to pop the buttons of Jensen's jeans, then jerk them down. There was a moment of clumsiness due to his shoes, but Erdi seemed to have maintained a bit more composure than Jensen and managed to solve that problem in seconds.
Several things occurred to Jensen as he lay there, now completely naked. The first was that the wooden floor of a mountain home wasn't very comfortable, but in fact, quite chilly. The second was that he wanted to see Erdi come apart, to have the man finally realize that it was okay to be honest with himself and with Jensen, that it was safe to open up.
Following these two facts, Jensen chose the most natural course of action. He pounced on Erdi and reached for the man's cock. Oh, who was he kidding? He just wanted to suck Erdi's dick.
Erdi made a delicious noise that was half-growl, half-moan, and it both encouraged and flattered Jensen. It also cemented Jensen's decision. He delved in and took Erdi's cock into his mouth with so much enthusiasm he almost choked. It was worth it, though, so very worth it. Erdi's hands landed in his hair, gentle despite the claws. He didn't speak, but Jensen could still hear his words of encouragement, telling Jensen to take his time. The hold steadied Jensen and he explored at leisure, alternating hard sucks with teasing, tentative licks. And oh, this was everything Jensen thought it would be. The flavor of Erdi's precum exploded on Jensen's taste buds, and it made his head spin and his cock throb with increasing arousal.
For Erdi's part, he didn't seem to be uncomfortable on the floor. Gradually, his body grew more rigid, his grip on Jensen's hair tighter. It didn't hurt, but the pull on Jensen's scalp was just enough to make him shiver, to remind him of what they both craved.
No matter how much he'd have liked to make Erdi come just like this, he couldn't do it. Not that he didn't try. At one point, he lost his patience for teasing and began to bob his head up and down Erdi's shaft, sucking for all he was worth. The tension in Erdi's thighs practically screamed that the man would climax any moment now, but it didn't happen.
At the last moment, Erdi pulled Jensen off him. Before Jensen even knew what was going on, his lover had stolen his prize, removing his cock from Jensen's mouth. He would have protested, but Erdi shot to his feet and draped Jensen over his shoulder, so quickly Jensen went dizzy. He had no idea how the man had managed to move like that, but weirdly, the way Erdi used his supernatural abilities freely made Jensen feel powerful, like he was finally cracking the mask of Erdi's composure, seeing beyond it and falling more and more for the vulnerable, yet passionate man hiding under it.
He didn't have too much time to be profound about his feelings for Erdi. Now that he had a set course of action, his lover moved quickly and efficiently. In mere seconds, he rushed to the bedroom—quite a feat since Ian hadn't actually given them the tour. He set Jensen on the bed, and then resumed kissing him even more desperately than before.
In fact, this time, the caresses went beyond mere kisses. When they broke apart, Erdi's mouth traveled down Jensen's neck. He licked over Jensen's collarbone and into the hollow of his throat. He nibbled on the shell of his ear, all the while exploring Jensen's body with far too skilled hands. Soon, he had Jensen writhing underneath him—and they'd only just begun.
Sexual tension had been building up between them ever since Willow Cove, so Jensen wanted nothing more than to get on with it, to have Erdi fuck him. But Erdi had other ideas. He seemed intent on sucking and teasing every inch of Jensen's body. Jensen's nipples were his next target, and the feel of Erdi's hot mouth over the tender buds made Jensen cry out so loudly he might have been embarrassed under different circumstances. He'd never realized his nipples were so sensitive, but apparently, everything was different with Erdi.
His lover confirmed that guess again and again even as he continued his thorough mapping of Jensen's body. He thrust his tongue into Jensen's bellybutton and licked over his hipbone. He kissed the inside of his thighs, his knees and the arches of his foot. He found Jensen's ticklish spots, and for the first time in his life, Jensen was torn between uncontrollable giggles and uncontrollable pleasure.
The latter won out when Erdi finally zeroed in on Jensen's cock. Jensen hadn't expected it, not with the almost lazy, torturous approach Erdi had decided to take. But when Erdi took Jensen's dick in his mouth... It was anything but lazy. There was no more time for teasing or slow burn. It all turned into pure, frantic need and ecstasy, the pleasure Erdi's talented mouth coaxed out of him too much to bear.
When his orgasm came, it exploded over him with the potency of a... Well, he might have been able to find a metaphor if he could have mustered enough brain power, but right now, he didn't think he could have created an Excel spreadsheet, let alone started to wax poetic. It was enough to feel, and he felt, he sensed, he experienced, and it should have been enough, it should have sated his hunger for Erdi, but dear God, it didn't.
He came down from the high of his orgasm just in time to see his lover reach into the nightstand. Erdi retrieved a tube of lubricant and a condom packet from inside, and the practicalities involved in that action gave Jensen enough clarity to arch a brow.
Erdi chuckled weakly. "It seems Ian did leave us supplies, for everything we might need."
That worm of jealousy made its way into Jensen's heart again. "Don't mention another man when you're with me," he said, sounding a little more disgruntled than he'd have liked. He realized he was pouting for no good reason, but he couldn't help himself.
Erdi shot him a look of disbelief. "Don't tell me you're jealous."
"Of course I am. I want you all to myself."
Erdi didn't reply, at least, not through words. He simply kissed Jensen, and Jensen welcomed it, welcomed the taste of Erdi's passion, mingled with that of his own seed. He spread his legs wide to accommodate his lover, and Erdi took him up on his invitation. Jensen was very much aware of what would happen between them next, but somehow, Erdi still managed to distract him with his addicting kisses. In fact, he almost yelped when slick fingers prodded his hole. The shock didn't last, and he relaxed in Erdi's embrace, greedy for more.
His cock was still half-hard despite the fact that he'd just come, and it went completely erect when Erdi slid two digits inside him. The penetration burned a little—it had been a while—but Jensen's body was lax from the orgasm and hungry for Erdi's touch. He adapted quick
ly, and was soon moving into the caress, trying to impale himself on Erdi's fingers.
Erdi steadied him with an almost severe hold on his hip. Jensen released a small whine, wishing he could vocalize his need through words, but completely unable to. His whine grew into a loud cry when Erdi crooked his fingers inside him and found Jensen's prostate. The shock of pleasure rushed over him, through his every cell, making his dick throb painfully. If not for his earlier orgasm, he'd have come already just at that mere touch.
Erdi added a third finger and scissored them inside Jensen, stretching him and preparing him for penetration. Jensen could do nothing but wait for Erdi to deem him ready, all the while enduring the rising, almost painful pleasure.
Mercifully, Erdi didn't make him wait for much longer. He pulled his fingers out of Jensen with a wet squelch and fumbled with the condom packet. It was kind of soothing to see that Erdi was just as rattled by this moment, that Jensen wasn't the only one consumed by the flame of their passion. With a frustrated snarl, Erdi finally ripped open the packet. The angle didn't allow Jensen to see his lover roll the condom on his dick, but he did hear Erdi's hiss when his lover touched himself, and he idly wished he could have done that, preferably with his mouth.
That wish drifted to the back of his mind, in the part of his brain labeled as 'later', when Erdi lifted Jensen's legs on his shoulders, practically bending him in half. He positioned his cock at Jensen's hole and pushed. Jensen's vision went a little white around the edges as the flared head popped in. He wondered if he'd just come—one of those dry climaxes he kept hearing about and had considered a myth—but he couldn't really figure out if that was the case, and it didn't really matter. Erdi inched deeper inside him, and with every motion of his hips, the pleasure built higher and brighter inside Jensen.