by Jools Louise
“It’s beside a small loch, surrounded by woodland and heathland,” Amos added, sitting in the chair, his big frame seeming to dwarf the room. Captain Hartland was at least six feet three and filled out his frame nicely, all rippling muscle and lithe grace, his taut butt a thing of beauty to behold under his uniform pants.
“It’s beautiful there,” Finch said, almost wistfully. “Pretty private, since we’re hidden away in a valley, miles from the main road. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the Highlands.”
“It sounds fantastic,” Craig murmured, smiling up at Finch, who groaned and dipped down for another scorching kiss.
“You’re fantastic,” Finch growled, biting at Craig’s lips hungrily.
Craig heard Amos snarl slightly and met the man’s dark brown gaze, seeing the lust there as he watched Craig and Finch lock lips. He imagined Amos’s mouth on him, sucking his cock as Finch played, or maybe Amos’s cock fucking his mouth as Finch sucked him off. He groaned as the images assaulted his brain.
“Damn, rookie, your kisses are becoming my new addiction,” Finch panted breathlessly, easing away and resting his forehead on Craig’s tousled head.
“You two look good together,” Hartland said, flushed with arousal. “I can’t wait to get you home.”
Craig read the searing intent in the man’s gaze and whimpered needily, his wolf dancing impatiently.
“Neither can I,” he whispered, and saw Amos bare his fangs for a brief second, before reining himself in.
“Cool it, Captain,” Finch said warningly. “Don’t want Nurse Rachel shoving you out on your ear, do we?”
Amos looked as though he was struggling for calm and turned to stare out of the window for several seconds. “I’ll go and get our transport ready,” he said, gritting his teeth.
“Good thinking,” Finch drawled, shaking his head when Amos left rapidly.
“Is he okay?” Craig asked worriedly, concerned for the captain.
“He’s having trouble controlling himself,” Finch whispered, trailing his lips along Craig’s cheek and then his throat. Craig moaned softly, feeling the rasp of whiskers on his skin, the scent of Finch’s earthy aroma in his nostrils. “Those fantasies you’ve been having? We’re all on the same page, sweetie.” He kissed a path down Craig’s neck, nibbling gently on the younger man’s Adam’s apple, then swept upward again to claim Craig’s lips again. “So many dirty fantasies, all starring you in the lead role.” He let loose a low growl, feral and ravenous. “Four of us, one of you. So many combinations.”
Craig felt faint, his pulse hammering, his palms sweating as he found himself surrounded by Finch’s dominant aura, taking over, making him want to howl at the moon.
“I’m fairly sure I told you just a few moments ago, Commander Finch, that canoodling was out of bounds?” Nurse Rachel drawled, entering the ward again, smirking as the pair parted reluctantly. She wafted a hand in front of her face, fanning herself. “Of course, you two are scorching hot together, so don’t mind me if I melt into the floor, will you?”
Finch laughed at her, but eased off the bed again, going to stand by the window, staring over the city.
“Sorry,” Craig said, blushing yet again.
“No problem,” the nurse said, winking at him. “If I wasn’t otherwise engaged, I’d do him myself.” She showed off the glittering diamond on her ring finger.
Craig smiled at her, admiring the neatly plaited auburn hair and sparkling green eyes. “Congratulations.”
“You bet,” she said, smirking at him as she checked the IV and adjusted his chart. “Emily is lucky to have me.”
He laughed. “Ditto,” he said, jerking his head Finch’s way.
Finch turned and sent him a sultry grin, waggling his brows. “Careful, rookie,” he warned playfully, his gaze roving over Craig’s bulging crotch, which Craig was trying to disguise by placing his hand over it.
“Private Mason, here’s the paperwork, all ready to sign off.” A doctor joined them, brisk and efficient, looking a little frazzled. “I’ve spoken to your Captain Hartland, and he’s assured me that you’ll be taken good care of. He has a physiotherapist all picked out for your continued recovery. I just need your signature on these discharge papers, and you’re all set to go. Nurse Rachel here will help get you down to the loading bay, where your transportation is already waiting.” He shoved a clipboard at Craig, who eyed the doctor’s nervous expression curiously, then scrawled his moniker beside the x’s on the forms, and handed the board back.
“That’s great,” the doctor said. “We’ll make an appointment for your checkup, in a month’s time.” Then the man left as quickly as he’d arrived, leaving a rather stunned silence behind.
“Is he always like that?” Craig asked the nurse, who shot him a droll look.
“Only when Captain Hartland gives him the business,” she said. Craig frowned, not liking that turn of phrase. “I mean,” she added with a grin, “that Captain Hartland has been cracking his little whip under the doctor’s arse to get him to speed up the red tape. Our good doctor is eager to get rid of the lot of you, to be honest,” she laughed. “Now, let’s get you into something comfortable to travel in, then you can be on your way.”
Finch smirked as he watched Craig’s face. “Amos has a way about him,” he chuckled. “The boss man probably went all alpha on the man.”
“He’s in that much of a hurry for me to heal?” Craig asked, biting back a cry of pain as the nurse helped him out of bed and into a wheelchair.
He studied the cast on his leg and the one on his wrist. The beating he’d received had broken more than just ribs. His heart sped up when he thought about what Costa had done. He felt nervy, edgy, as though waiting for the next blow to fall. He knew that was stupid. Costa was in Africa, playing at being a terrorist. No way would he come back to old Blighty when he could kill people for free over there.
“Put this on, Craig,” the nurse said, placing a soft red robe around his shoulders and helping him get his arms in. It was more of a kimono-type thing, but fleecy, with wide sleeves, perfect for dealing with a cumbersome plaster cast. He smiled at her gratefully, feeling warmer already. Outside the window, rain fell steadily. Of course. This was England in the spring.
“You ready, rookie?” Finch asked, turning from the window.
Nodding, Craig watched as Finch retrieved a small duffel bag from the side locker. “Thanks, I almost forgot that was there,” he said.
“I know,” Finch winked, smiling. “You okay to have this on your lap? I’ll stow it once we get downstairs.”
Craig held onto the bag, which felt embarrassingly light, considering it contained his personal effects. He wondered if they’d be able to stop somewhere so he could get some new clothes. With the casts on his arm and leg, and his ribs still protesting a fair bit, he’d need tracky bottoms or shorts and loose T-shirts to wear.
He felt Finch’s breath on his cheek and slid his gaze sideways, meeting the man’s warm green stare. “We’ve taken care of everything, love,” Finch murmured, kissing Craig lightly. Then he straightened and began steering the chair from the room.
Craig felt nervous again, his palms going clammy. Not because he was on his way into the unknown, exactly, but because he had a sense of foreboding. He felt as though his fight with Costa had just been the start of something much bigger. A taste of the future. It disturbed him on so many levels. His head began to ache, and he touched his temple gingerly, rubbing it to ease the throbbing of the large hammer playing a driving rock beat inside his head.
“What’s wrong, love?” Finch asked, sounding concerned. “Do you need more meds?”
“No,” Craig replied, wincing despite himself. “I had a vision earlier, and it’s messing with my brain.”
“A vision?” Finch said slowly.
“Maybe it was a flashback in reverse,” Craig said, self-mockingly. “Costa was there, but he had two faces, and there was a flaming torch. His face was contorted with anger. Th
en the torch flared up, and he was consumed by the flames. I could hear his screams.” He shook his head to clear it, almost sobbing. “I can’t get those screams out of my head.”
Finch was silent for a while, pushing Craig along the corridor to the elevators, remaining quiet until they reached the ground floor level. Nurse Rachel, who met them there, handed him a paper bag full of medical supplies.
“Here’s your medication, Private Mason,” she said, smiling gently, the smile fading as she studied his face. Crouching low, she peered into his eyes and frowned. “Are you okay?”
“Headache,” he said, wincing. “I probably moved too fast.”
She eyed him steadily and then patted his hand. “These guys are the best. They’ll take better care of you than anyone here. That’s the truth.” Craig shot her a surprised look. “You’re one of them, now. They look after their own. Whatever happens next, they’ll make sure you’re protected.” She straightened, sent him one last mysterious smile, and then departed.
“What was that about?” Craig asked, tilting his head back to meet Finch’s gaze.
“Let’s get you somewhere less public,” Finch said, looking all professional suddenly, in full protective mode. Craig looked around, seeing the busy thoroughfare, with people coming and going through the main entrance to the hospital. Out front was a large black van, more like a custom-built land rover-cum-motor home, with tinted windows in back and a side-sliding door that was open. Standing beside the vehicle were Captain Hartland, Garnet, and Blaze, all clad in black jeans, black T-shirts, and wearing matching black hoodies. They looked tough, capable, and sexy as fuck, their hair a little damp from the rain.
Blaze stepped forward, smiling as Craig was wheeled up to the van. He leaned down, kissing him on the forehead. “Let’s get going, shall we, love? Long way to go.”
Craig nodded, gasping when the bigger man lifted him easily from the wheelchair, bag and all, and then climbed in and deposited Craig in what looked like a custom-made bunk in the rear, complete with a soft mattress, loads of pillows, and a thick duvet. The décor was done in mauve, tan, and cream, with splashes of blue here and there, and had a bright and airy feel to it.
Blaze made sure Craig was comfortable and lifted the side bars of the bunk, to keep Craig safe, and then dived in for a kiss, taking Craig’s mouth with a hunger that had Craig gasping for more and completely forgetting about the strange vision.
“Couldn’t wait, darling.” Blaze grinned, easing back to stare into Craig’s dazed eyes. “Looking forward to tasting every delectable inch of you along the way.”
“Hey! You’re the driver,” Garnet complained, shoving Blaze aside. “You said I could keep Craig company.”
“You’ll both be walking if you don’t quit bickering,” Hartland said, clambering into the vehicle and sitting in one of the large front seats, behind the cab. “Strap in, settle down, and let’s get underway. Pretty please.”
Craig grinned at Hartland’s pained tone, as though he was used to dealing with his friends’ shenanigans.
“See you later, ’gator.” Blaze chuckled, stealing another kiss from Garnet before he headed up front, and climbed between the front seats, into the cab.
“Finch said you had a headache,” Garnet said, stroking Craig’s cheek gently. “You need a painkiller?”
“No, I’m okay, thanks,” Craig replied huskily, licking his lips. “It’s completely gone now.”
“Let me know if you start hurting again,” Garnet said, taking Craig’s mouth with a tenderness that stole Craig’s breath. Moaning, he felt Garnet’s hand on his cock, dipping under the hem of the hospital-issue smock and finding bare flesh. Panting, Craig let out a low, breathy moan when Garnet began massaging his dick, pumping his fist along the eight inches of thick, throbbing meat. Craig sobbed into Garnet’s mouth, tasting their passion.
“I had a vision of my own,” Garnet said seductively, setting up a firm, steady rhythm as he played Craig like a master musician. “I wondered how you’d look wearing nothing but our cum.”
Craig wailed thinly, losing his load into Garnet’s hand, bucking helplessly under his lover’s skillful touch. Before he’d recovered, Garnet ducked his head, lapping at the thick ropes of cum coating his fingers, then made sure to lick Craig’s limp cock clean before easing back to sit in his own seat.
Exhausted, sated, and tingling all over, Craig tried to draw breath, seeing Garnet’s smug smile.
“First cum,” Garnet called to the others.
Craig laughed along with his entourage at the play on words. Then he closed his eyes and slept as they left the hospital grounds, heading north.
Chapter Three
“He’s already having visions?” Amos Hartland asked Finch. “So soon?”
“The claiming needs to be soon, or his brain will explode,” Finch advised starkly.
They were parked close to the Scottish border, in a deserted layby off the beaten track. They were resting up, giving Blaze a break from driving and to have dinner, and then would complete the long journey to the Highlands overnight. Sunset was closing in, and the weather hadn’t improved much since they’d left the city of Birmingham behind.
“I didn’t want to rush him,” Amos said, feeling frustrated that events were overtaking them. He wanted Craig to feel comfortable with him, with them all, before they claimed him. He was still in a cast, for fuck’s sake.
“The visions will just get stronger and stronger, driving him insane,” Finch said grimly. “Didn’t you tell him anything when you were in Africa?”
“I didn’t know,” Amos blurted out, raking a hand through his hair. “I was seconded to another unit for a while and only met Craig when we did that last mission. The one right before Charles Costa attacked him. Then I had to stay in Kenya to do a handover. I couldn’t get leave, you know that.”
Finch patted his shoulder. “I know. And we ended up getting a counterterrorist mission in London. We made sure he wasn’t left alone for long. Nurse Rachel was very helpful.”
“Yeah, Rachel’s a pistol,” Amos said, smiling a little. “That little wolf is going to run someone ragged.”
“She’s engaged to a female wolf,” Finch drawled, smirking at Amos’s surprise.
“Ooh, really?” Blaze said as he opened the sliding door, hopping up into the vehicle, loaded with takeout bags in a plastic carrier bag.
“Fantastic. Food,” Garnet said approvingly, yawning and stretching, seated beside the still-sleeping Craig.
Craig moved restlessly, clutching at his head with his good hand, moaning in pain.
“Craig? What’s wrong, baby?” Garnet asked, cuddling the man close, stroking his hair gently. He looked over at Hartland. “Alpha, you’re gonna need to claim him. It should help ease these visions he’s having.”
Craig opened his eyes. “What’s claiming?” he asked, through gritted teeth. “Whatever it is, I think I need it. These headaches are getting worse.”
“How many have you had?” Hartland asked worriedly.
“Since I left Kenya?” Craig responded. “I’ve had over a dozen, all more painful than the first. This one is a doozy.”
“Is it the same vision?” Finch wanted to know.
“Yes, mostly, or at least variations on the same theme. Costa, a flaming torch or sword, and then he’s consumed by the fire.”
“Hartland, and all of us, are wolf shifters, as you know,” Blaze said quietly, looking at Craig through worried eyes. “We are a pack, but have also been lovers for over a decade. The four of us need a center, the one who is our fifth member and forms the core of our pack. You’re it, love.”
“Me?” Craig groaned again, almost sobbing as he thrashed on the bed, pain etched into his face. “What does it mean? I’m the center?”
“It means you’ll be loved, cherished, and adored by all of us,” Finch said softly, moving to kneel on the bed, after shutting the door. He began removing his clothes and was soon naked, his cock thick and distended, its tip alr
eady moist with precum.
“We get to make love to you, for always,” Blaze added, mimicking Finch’s actions and hopping up beside Finch. They kissed tenderly, showing Craig how much they felt for each other. “You’ll be our most treasured heart.”
Craig stared at the two men, who were locked in a passionate smooch, their dicks bobbing as they gripped one another, pumping each other steadily, moaning with pleasure.
“As our center, you have some powers, as part of the whole wolf shifter thing,” Garnet added, already naked. He dropped the side bar of the bunk and knelt beside Craig’s head, feeding the man his cock, which Craig took willingly, sucking the tip greedily, his eyes flaring with desire. He was fearless in his passionate response to them all.
“The problem is, sweetheart, that those powers will consume you if they’re not grounded—by being claimed by all of us.” Captain Hartland watched his lovers bonding with Craig, saw the eagerness that their new pack mate was displaying, his easy acceptance, and knew he really had found their center. Craig was a delightful mix of innocence and sex kitten. “I need to claim you first, since I’m alpha. Then the others will take their turn. Finch, then Garnet, and finally Blaze.”
Craig was sucking on Garnet’s dick greedily, his mouth swollen and his lips red as he swallowed the juicy treat. Finch grabbed the quilt, dragging it down, and then tore Craig’s hospital gown right off, his claws extended as he shredded the fabric. Craig gasped, shuddering as cool air wafted over him, drawing goose bumps on his smooth skin. His body was perfect, nicely toned, his abs rippled and taut, his cock an eight-inch beauty, thick and throbbing with arousal. Amos ripped off his clothes, his wolf caterwauling to claim the gorgeous hunk of manhood on display. Craig’s bruises had mostly faded, but the cast on his arm and leg marred the perfection, reminding Amos of the vicious beating he’d sustained.
“May I claim you?” Amos asked huskily, watching as Finch gripped Craig’s cock, massaging the thick length firmly until Craig was writhing in bliss.