Fur and Phobia

by Julia Talbot

  “Yeah, well...” Lee sighed, shrugged. “You want me to wait in the car?”

  “No.” He pushed his fingers through Lee’s, squeezing. “I want you to come with me. We’re together, you and me.”

  “Yeah? Okay. Okay. Let’s go see for ourselves.” They stepped out of the truck, the male dogs growling quietly, posturing.

  Aaron drew up like a puffy frog, looking almost twice as big suddenly, and the dogs backed right down. One of them rolled to show his belly.

  “Man, that is so hot.” Lee grinned over, nudging him with one shoulder.

  “Asshole.” Chuckling, he went and rang Abby’s doorbell, hoping she wouldn’t be able to smell how Lee had made him hard.

  “Coming!” She’d just showered - her hair was wet, thin t-shirt and shorts clinging to her curves. “Hey. Pizza’s here.”

  “Cool. Hi, honey.” He pushed in fast enough to make sure none of the dogs came in with him and Lee.

  “Hey.” He did love her house, with the heavy plants, the light everywhere. “Come on in. How’s it going?”

  “Good.” Giving her a kiss, he nudged her toward Lee, who took her mouth, too.

  “Oh.” She pressed in for a second, smiling at them. “That was nice. Did you see that some the dogs left? I showered. I knew it was your soap.”

  “Uh-huh. Pizza smells good.” Glancing at Lee, Aaron led her toward the kitchen, scoping out the rest of her house.

  “I got meat.” She had thrown paper plates on the table and the beer was in a bucket of ice. He could see the bite mark on her shoulder, the edges dark under the white shirt.

  It made him want to jump on her and rub all over her. With Lee. Right now. Aaron held back by force of will only.

  “You okay?” She looked back over her shoulder, damp hair falling down out of its loose ponytail.

  “Uh.” Clearing his throat, he adjusted himself, Lee’s low chuckle making him growl.

  Then a soft, full breast pushed against his arm. “Aaron?”

  “I’m fine.” Giving in to the urge, Aaron swung her around in front of him and bent to kiss her like he really wanted to. She opened right up, the kiss tinged with a hint of wildness, the scent of her irresistible. God, he could just eat her up. Lee must have felt the same, because he moved right up behind her, pressing Abby against him, lips falling right to the bite mark on her shoulder.

  A hungry little cry pushed into his lips and her hips rocked in a motion old as time. Goddamn.

  “Mmm.” It came out as another growl. He couldn’t help it. She was so theirs. Now they just had to get her to understand it, not freak out.

  She pressed closer, nipples hard where they rubbed against his chest. Groaning, he bent to kiss each one, pushing Abby back against Lee. He needed her naked. Pizza could wait. Her shirt came up and off easily, the shorts sliding down like nothing so he could touch her.

  Oh, so damned pretty. His hands came up, lifting her breasts easily, his thumbs rubbing. Lee leaned over Abby’s shoulder and begged a kiss, and Aaron gave that, too. Abby leaned back, head on Lee’s shoulder, and watched them, moaning low. They broke for air, and he grinned at her. “You like that, don’t you, honey? Like to see me and Lee together.”

  Her cheeks went pink, but she nodded, licked her lips. “You’re hot. Both of you.”

  “So are you,” Lee murmured, lips sliding against her cheek. “So hot, honey.”

  He nodded, grabbing one of her legs up to wrap around his lip. Aaron groaned, cock trying to get to her, her wet heat evident even through his jeans.

  “We should see your bedroom, honey. No dogs here to eat the pizza off the counter while we wait.” Look at him, being all coherent.

  “My sheets are clean.” She backed away, bare ass shaking as she led them down the hall.

  They followed like a pair of hounds on a scent, leaning on each other, Lee’s arm around his waist. He copped a feel of Lee’s ass, moaning a little. God, Aaron loved his life. Of course, she bent over that pretty, made bed to tug the comforter down and her legs spread and... Uhn.

  Lee got there before him, pressing up against her round ass, rubbing like crazy. God, that was fucking hot, too. Her back arched, pushing back, head thrown back, lips open.

  Lee was groaning, pushing against her, and Aaron was torn. Naked Abby. Still dressed Lee. He went for Lee, reaching between them to undo Lee’s jeans and yank them down.

  Lee gave a thankful little bark, leaning forward to bite at Abby’s shoulder, her neck, cock pushing against her folds. He tore at Lee’s shirt, too, just because he could. So he could touch that hot skin. Oh, damn.

  The scent of them together made him want to howl, strong and fierce and feral. They rocked, his cock pushing at his pants, trying to get to Lee. He ripped his jeans open, slipping and sliding.

  Lee growled as soon as his cock touched that hot, slick skin.

  Reaching around Lee’s lean hips, Aaron positioned Abby as best he could, pulling her up so Lee’s cock pushed against her wet folds.

  Lee groaned, hips rolling and pushing in deep. Abby’s cry rang out and he damn near shot, just like that. Gritting his teeth, he held on, grabbing his own prick and pushing it against Lee’s hole. He needed in, right in where it was hot. God.

  “Now. Now, love.” Lee pushed back against him, opening up and spreading to take his cock in.

  “Now.” Sliding right in, Aaron moaned, his hands on Abby’s skin. She was so soft, Lee was so hard and hot... He thought he might explode.

  “Oh, boys. I... Wow.” Abby moved and Lee moved and he almost screamed.

  “Honey. Baby.” He sounded like an old Motown record, only with growling.

  He could see the teeth marks on Abby’s skin, Lee’s marks. Aaron’s balls drew up, and he cried out, his hips snapping. He held on by the skin of his teeth, wanting Lee and Abby to be right there with him. He could see the dull flush crawl up Abby’s spine, her fingers curling into the sheets.

  “Lee. Come on, baby. Help me out.” He growled it in Lee’s ear, wanting help to get them all together.

  Lee groaned, leaned down and bit her nape, teeth grabbing her skin. Abby just melted for them, crying out, her whole body shaking. That was all they needed. Lee squeezed down around him, so tight it almost hurt, and Aaron lost it. He came hard, teeth clenching, hands clamping on Lee’s skin.

  They just swayed a minute, panting, rocking together before he slid to one side, landing on the mattress.

  Lee brought Abby right down with them, gently, chuckling. “Pizza anyone?”

  “Mmm. Pizza.” Abby’s stomach growled and they all started laughing.

  “Let’s eat.” Aaron stripped off the rest of his clothes before hoisting his ass up and padding off toward the kitchen.

  “My clothes are in the living room. God. You two are something else.” He could hear Abby’s voice, Lee’s laughter.

  “We’re not having clothes for supper, honey,” Lee said, all but dragging Abby to him like a bone.

  “I know. Dorks.” Abby was chuckling, breasts bouncing. Man, that was fascinating.

  They both stood there and stared until she shifted from foot to foot. “What?”

  She leaned down, grabbed her shorts, then her shirt, arms going up, which made her boobs do it again.

  “You’re... jiggling.” Lee sounded like he loved the jiggling as much as Aaron did.

  “What? Where?” She stopped, shirt half-down, looking.

  “It’s a good thing.” Aaron smacked Lee’s ass. You didn’t tell a woman that way; they always thought it meant fat.

  She looked over, then got it, her cheeks going red. “Well... they sort of stick out...”

  “They do. It works very well.” Aaron smiled, grabbing the pizza box and getting everyone a slice. Now that Abby was covered a little, his mind was more on that bite mark.

  “Thank
s.” Abby opened three beers, handing them out.

  Crisis averted. They all got a plate and headed for the couch, cuddling together in a puppy pile. “So, are you feeling okay, honey?”

  “Hmm? Yeah. Yeah, it was a weird day - there were dogs everywhere following me. And I guess the treatment’s really working because I just wasn’t scared.”

  “Yeah. I would say you’ve hat the best treatment there is for that.” Aaron glared at Lee. He was going to kill the man.

  “Between you two and Deb, it’s been amazing.” Uh-huh. Like Deb did it.

  “Well, good. So you feel a lot better about being closer to big animals...”

  “Well, somehow I don’t see myself running into any bears.”

  “No. No bears.” Lee looked at him over her head. “What about wolves?”

  “They’re almost extinct, aren’t they? Especially in the wild.” She shrugged. “I don’t know. Right now, it just doesn’t sound scary.”

  “Oh, that’s good.” Lord, this was harder than he’d thought it would be.

  “Is everything okay?” She looked from him to Lee and back, chewing her lip. “Is this like the gentle, gee, you’re cured, we’re moving on talk?”

  “Nope.” Lee turned, eyes clear, serious. “We don’t want to move on, honey.”

  “Then what? You both look so... worried.”

  Aaron sighed. “Well, Lee bit you.” Might as well just come out with it. She was gonna think they were crazy.

  “Yeah. A little rough but...” Her eyes went wide. “You don’t have... I mean. We didn’t use a condom and... Oh, God.”

  “No, no.” Lee soothed her with voice and touch, the low, easy sound like a chuff, just like a momma wolf with a cub. “It’s not AIDS or Herpes or anything.”

  “Then what? What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.” Her eyes were wide and he couldn’t help but reach for her.

  “Lee and I, we’re unique, honey.” He held her, feeling her shiver. “I... You remember Baby?”

  “Yeah...”

  Pretty, pretty boy. “That was Lee.”

  “What?” She stared at him, face blank. “I’m scared, not stupid.”

  Sighing, Lee moved closer, hand on her leg. “It’s true, honey. I... we can change. That picture in the house? That’s Aaron.”

  “What? What are you two talking about?”

  “What we’re trying to say is that we’re werewolves, honey.” Okay, she would either pass out or slap him. Or cry.

  He didn’t expect that.

  “Okay. You know where the door is. I’m... I need. Yeah. Night.”

  “Abby. Wait.” He held out a hand, trying to get her to come back. She’d gotten up, yanked on the edge of her shirt, smoothing it. “We’re not trying to make you feel like an idiot. Why do you think all those dogs were following you around?”

  “I don’t know! That’s why I called! Why are you doing this?”

  “We’re going to have to show her, baby.” Lee moved around to stand between Abby and the door.

  “Show me what? Just go away! Quit being weird.” She was panicking; he could smell it.

  “Shh. Shh.” Aaron knew a few sub-vocalizations would calm her some, would ease her down.

  “What’s happening? What’s wrong with you?”

  Lee sighed, hand on her arm. “Nothing. We’re just different.”

  “We didn’t mean to involve you in... in this part of our lives, honey. We just couldn’t help it.” Poor baby. She was just teetering on edge.

  “I don’t understand.”

  Lee looked at him. “I’ll do it. You... deal, huh?”

  “Okay.” Aaron took two steps forward and wrapped his arms around Abby. “Just watch, honey.”

  She leaned back against him, and he took that as a positive sign.

  Tightening his grip, he held on, waiting for Lee to do his thing. Thank God it wasn’t really painful.

  Lee shifted, limbs going lean, muzzle growing, canines sliding out. Abby stared, shaking against him, eyes huge.

  “Shh. He won’t hurt you. He won’t.” Lee was so damned beautiful. It made him want to howl. Abby keened softly, the fear flooding his nose. “No, no. It’s Lee. It’s Baby. You know him.”

  “Aaron. Aaron, what is going on?” Her knees buckled, her weight going heavy in his arms.

  “He’s changing, honey. I told you. I can do it, too.” He took her to the couch, letting her sink down.

  She drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around her calves and staring at Lee. Lee came over slowly, tail wagging, tongue lolling. He nudged her leg, whining a little, those pale eyes irresistible.

  She reached out, tears still going, fingers shaking as she stroked Lee’s muzzle.

  “That’s it. That’s it, Abby. Come on, baby. Let her feel how soft you are.” It was working. Aaron had to believe it was working.

  “How... how can you...” Abby let Lee rest his head on her hands, rubbing his ears and cheeks on her palms.

  “I can’t explain it, honey. I mean, we really don’t know how. We just do.” Hell, Lee had been born that way. Aaron had been bitten. It just... it worked.

  “Okay...” She swallowed hard, closed her eyes. “And me?”

  “We don’t know yet.” That was the hardest thing in the world to say, but it was true. They would have to wait and see.

  “What do you mean? Do I need to see a doctor?”

  “No, no.” Aaron stroked Lee’s ears. “It’s not something a doctor can sure, honey. Not everyone who gets bitten becomes like us, though.”

  One of her eyebrows lifted and she stared at them. “Don’t believe the extreme irony of this has escaped me.”

  “I don’t.” He didn’t. Neither did Lee, the way he chuffed, tongue pushing out on a lupine laugh.

  “Good.” Abby looked at Lee. “I swear to God, if dogs start humping my legs, I’m going to blame you.”

  Lee pressed into his hand, tongue lapping at her palm.

  Aaron cracked up, hugging her tight. “I think we might keep you, honey.”

  “I think... I think you might have to, huh?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, we might, but it’s not gonna be hardship.” He took a kiss, knowing Lee would get a little growly, loving that low grr.

  She opened up to him, the flavor of tears there, but fading. Aaron kissed her deep, letting everything fall away, hoping she could do that, too. They needed to touch. To love. Lee leapt up next to them, fur becoming skin, hands sliding up over her shoulders.

  “Mmm. Hey, baby.” Aaron turned to bring Lee into the kiss, tongues and lips meeting, hot and wet. Lee pushed into the kiss, fingers sliding into Abby’s hair.

  “Mmm.” He wasn’t sure who it was that moaned first, but soon they were all making low noises, encouraging each other on.

  He felt Abby’s shiver as she snuggled in, and he was so fucking proud of her.

  Such a beautiful lady. She would be one of them, even if she wasn’t now. He knew it.

  ***

  Deb grabbed the little bag with her croissant reaching for her triple non-fat latte with the other. Since Abby had stopped coming on Tuesdays, she had a great, gaping hole in her schedule, and she took every opportunity to get out of the office at that time and walk a little.

  The caffeine didn’t hurt.

  She left the coffee shop, turning on the heel of her pretty new pink pumps and walking briskly down the sidewalk. When she turned the last corner on the way back to her office, she spotted two men and a woman, all holding leashes and walking a pack of very large, drooling dogs.

  Really, if she didn’t know better, she’d say it was Aaron and his dear assistant, Lee.

  It couldn’t be, though, because that would mean the curvy, blonde girl with them was Abby.

  Surely Abby wasn’t that far cured?

  �
��Deb!” Aaron hailed her with a raised arm and a smile. “Hey, Doc, how’s it going?”

  Well, goodness. It was them. Gingerly making her way up to the drooling dogs, Deb smiled at them all. “Look at you all, out for a walk. What brings you down here?”

  “Scent training. They have to be able to concentrate only on what we want them to.” Aaron smiled, such a handsome thing, and patted one of the dogs on the head.

  Deb looked to Abby, who seemed in fine spirits, not at all bothered by the giant beast she held. “All cured up, are we? I wondered why I hadn’t seen you, my dear.”

  “I called your assistant to cancel, Deb.”

  Lee moved right up next to Abby and nudged her with his elbow. “She’s good to go, now, aren’t you, honey?”

  Shaking her hair back off her face, Abby nodded, her smile bright as the daylight. “I am. I do miss you, though, Deb. Maybe we can have lunch sometime.”

  “That would be lovely. Are you sure you don’t need my services anymore?”

  The strangest look passed between Abby and the two men, one full of mischief and fondness, their eyes reflecting all of the shades of brown, from Lee’s light gold to Abby’s pretty sherry color to Aaron’s almost black.

  “No,” Abby finally said, pulling her sitting dog up to all fours again, making ready to go back to walking. “I think I’m absolutely cured.”

  “Well, good. Good. See you later, darlings.”

  “Bye, Deb.”

  She watched them walk away, sipping at her latte. Really, Abby looked wonderful. Confident, happy.

  Funny, though. Deb could have sworn Abby’s eyes were green.