“Jeff.” Fen sat up with a low growl, angered that his mate had been gone until dark. How dare he worry Fen like this?
Jeff stumbled through the open door, giggling in that hushed tone that told Fen all he needed to know. His mate was drunk, and Fen was furious. How could he take such little care for his safety? Grimm was still out there, and his mate was off getting drunk? Fen was ready to strip him down, tie him to their bed and leave him there where Fen knew he’d be safe.
“Night, Jamie, Travis.”
A female giggle was followed by the soft, deep voice of Tyr. The voices drifted away and Jeff shut the door behind them. At least Jeff hadn’t been alone out there, even if he’d relied on the uncertain powers of a newborn Lios Alfar.
He waited until Jeff had made it halfway to the bedroom before growling low in his throat. He wanted his mate to know exactly how upset Fen was with him.
What he didn’t expect was Jeff’s reaction. The man spun, a dark, deadly looking weapon in hand, the hollow end pointing in Fen’s direction. The move had been so smooth, so quick, Fen had barely seen it.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he was impressed.
“Fen?” Even his voice was lethal, cold and predatory. It was sexy as hell.
“Who else would be waiting for you, mate?”
Jeff sighed and pocketed the weapon. “Jesus, you startled me.”
Fen growled again. “Where were you?”
“At my mother’s.”
Fen damn near exploded. Fur sprouted along his arms and legs. His teeth extended. He could see Jeff perfectly, his eyes having shifted over to a wolf’s. “You went to Thor’s home?”
From Jeff’s wince perhaps he shouldn’t have shouted quite so loudly. His mate looked pained.
Then again, perhaps a little pain would teach his mate to take better care.
“I went to my parents’ house because you pissed me off, dickhead.” Jeff turned and stormed off. He went straight to the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.
Fen followed. If Jeff thought this was over he was sorely mistaken. His hand was an inch from the doorknob when it opened abruptly. A pillow hit him in the face, followed by a blanket. Then the door slammed shut again.
Was this what humans called “being in the doghouse”?
The click of the lock was loud in the wake of Jeff’s anger. But Jeff had forgotten one thing when he’d locked that door.
Fenris Saeter was his father’s son.
No more Mr. Lap Dog. It was time Jeffrey Grimm learned what it meant to be the mate of Fenrisùlfr. Fen took the blanket and the pillow and placed them neatly on the sofa. He then turned to the bedroom door and proceeded to pick the fucking lock.
It seemed that the Internet was good for some things after all.
Jeff turned on the shower and stepped under the cool spray, trying to work the rest of the booze out of his system before he left the bathroom and confronted the wolf at his door. There was no way he could hope to get the best of Fenris if he was drunk off his ass, quick-draw skills notwithstanding. Jeff shot his fingers from his hips, pointing his “guns” at the shower wall before collapsing against it in giggles.
Damn, his mother sure made a mean Road Kill.
He stared down at his hands, still in the shape of guns, and shivered. He could have shot Fen back in the living room, all because he’d allowed himself to relax enough to get drunk. What would he have done if he’d hurt Fen? The memory of pained whimpers filled him with remorse. He didn’t want Fen to hurt anymore.
The room spun as he picked up the shampoo from the edge of the tub. God, he was drunker than he’d thought. At least he’d had the sense to come home in a cab.
His mind blanked at a sudden thought. Could Fen get drunk? Would that healing power of his keep him from hangovers? Jeff winced, knowing his head was probably going to fall off his shoulders tomorrow.
Come to think of it, would bullets hurt Fen, or would they just be an annoyance? Jeff soaped up his hair, his mind whirling. Wait. Fen was a werewolf, right? Would silver bullets hurt him? Kill him? Jeff found the thought…terrifying. Just the thought of Fen dead was enough to tie his stomach in knots. The memory of the sword through his jaws, blood dripping down his chin, his sad, pained whines had Jeff gulping in nausea.
Oh shit. This was really bad. He didn’t want Fen to hurt. Ever.
When the hell did that happen?
What the fuck was he supposed to do now? No one told him he was going to develop feelings for the hairy prick. Oh sure, he wanted to ride the man like a buckle bunny at a rodeo, but damn. He hadn’t even kissed Fen yet and he was worried about him getting hurt? He couldn’t have feelings for him! Lust, sure. Lust was okay. That’s all it had to be, right? Pure, unadulterated, bang-the-headboard-into-the-wall-until-the-neighbors-complained lust.
Jeff scrubbed his hair clean, rinsing the bubbles down the drain, and knew he was lying to himself. Shit. This was not good. Fenris Saeter was in the Bad Thing category, and Jeff didn’t do Bad Things no matter what his cock thought. He picked up the soap and began washing his body, but when he got to his aching, erect penis he scowled. “I’m in charge here. Got it? No more Bad Things! They’re bad!”
A dark chuckle cut through the sound of the pounding water. “What would that bad thing be, elskede?”
Jeff dropped the soap. The water had barely steamed the glass door, so he could see Fenris clearly. Fen was naked, and while Jeff’s brain yelled bad. Jeff’s body yelled ride ’em, cowboy!
Jeff could barely take his eyes off Fen’s strong, hairy chest, but when they drifted southward he saw the wolfman was sporting an erection that would make a porn star proud. “How the fuck did you get in here?”
“I picked the lock.”
Jeff didn’t dare bend over to pick up the soap, not with the hungry way Fen was eyeing his ass. “Where did you learn to do that?”
Fen grinned and opened the glass door. “Internet.” He palmed Jeff’s ass in his big hands. “You are so beautiful.”
“Eep.” Jeff backed away from Fenris. “I’m sorry, the ass you are trying to tap is currently unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone. Oh, fuck.” Jeff leaned back, completely ignoring the cold tile. A blizzard could be raging around him and he didn’t think he’d notice. Fen had taken Jeff’s cock in his hand, stroking him with a sure, firm grip. The rough calluses on his hands merely turned up the volume. Jeff tended to go for guys with soft hands from working on computers or running numbers, but Fen’s hands felt so fucking good, so primal.
He stared up into Fen’s golden eyes as the wolf slowly jacked him under the water. Just the sight of those eyes had him close to coming. “This is not good.”
“No? How about this?” Fen twisted his wrist, adding a little something extra to the hand job, and Jeff hissed his pleasure. “Better?”
Jeff couldn’t speak. He was too busy trying not to come all over Fen’s hand. “What are you doing to me?”
The grin would have been wolfish without the sharp teeth. With them, it was downright scary. “Claiming you.”
Jeff grabbed hold of Fen’s wrist but only succeeded in adding his own motion to the wolf’s. Trying to stop Fen when he had a firm grip on Jeff’s cock was like trying to stem the tide with a stern talking to. “Most men go on dates before—oh hell.” Fen was licking the side of his neck, nuzzling at him until Jeff tilted his head to Fen’s satisfaction. The feel of Fen’s whiskers dragging against his skin sent him that much closer to orgasm. The only reason he hadn’t come all over the other man’s hand was the Road Kills still in his bloodstream. They were keeping him barely mellow enough to hold on.
He could feel Fen’s hard cock nudging his hip as the wolf pressed against him. Fen was bigger, taller, just plain old more than Jeff had ever had before. He wasn’t sure what to make of it all. One minute he’s chasing down cheating spouses, the next he’s got a wolf in the shower with him, claiming Jeff belongs to him.
“You think too much, elsked
e. Stop. Just feel me. Feel us.”
Fen’s wrist did that twisty thing again, and Jeff was positive he’d never be capable of rational thought again.
“Let me in, elskede. Let me inside you.” Fen whispered against his neck, his breath brushing over his skin.
Jeff shivered. Fen’s cock was so hot against him, despite the cool water. As good as Fen’s hand felt against him, he longed to know what it would feel like if the wolf took him against the wall, filled him, made them both howl.
“That’s it. Let me in.” Cool, slick fingers probed Jeff’s ass, sinking in past the ring of muscles guarding his entrance. He hissed at the distant sting and tried to pull away, but only succeeded in thrusting his cock through Fen’s fingers.
He didn’t want to know what Fen was using for lube. Had he grabbed the olive oil off the kitchen counter? Was he using Jeff’s shampoo? Did he even know what lube was?
“Again, you’re thinking. I’ll have to try harder.” Jeff whimpered. Any harder and, Road Kills or not, he was a goner.
“Tell me where, elskede. Tell me where to touch you.”
Jeff couldn’t speak, something none of his family would believe possible. He always had something to say, even if they didn’t want to hear it. He reached up and tweaked his nipples. Within seconds Fen had brushed one of his hands away with his chin, taking Jeff’s nipple into his mouth and suckling on it until Jeff was reduced to needy moans.
He had to have Fen inside him. He had to. “Now. Fuck, now, Fen.”
Fen’s hand left his cock, and he heard the unmistakable sound of squishing as Fen lubed himself up. Fen lifted him by his thighs and lined himself up with Jeff’s hole. “Mine.”
He thrust, and Jeff saw a whole galaxy of stars. “God,” he choked, clinging to Fen’s shoulders. The wolf pounded into him, intense, feral. Jeff had never had a lover like him before. “More.”
“More you shall have.” Fen powered into him, sending Jeff screaming over the edge, the orgasm so strong Jeff’s world went white. Before he knew it his head was buried against Fen’s shoulder, his breath coming in pants as the wolf growled out his own release.
“Jesus Christ on a pogo stick.” He ignored Fen’s questioning sound. “Had a little pent-up sexual tension there, huh?”
“It has been a while.” Fen’s voice was low, growly. Sleepy. His accent had thickened, turning Ws into Vs again. “Water is cold.”
“Uh-huh.” Jeff nuzzled closer to Fen and Fen chuckled. “Gotta dry my hair.” Too bad he couldn’t figure out how to pry his eyes open.
Fen reached around and turned off the water, somehow still keeping a hold of Jeff and not dropping him on his ass. The man had talent, that was for sure. “Bed, elskede?”
“Mm-hmm.” He’d ask Fen what that word meant tomorrow. After he’d slept off the Road Kills and incredible sex. “Still need to dry my hair.” His ass hit cold marble and a towel was dropped on his head. Fen briskly dried off his hair, practically imbedding cotton into Jeff’s skull in the process. When he emerged from the towel he was semi-awake and glaring. “Not like that. With a blow dryer and gel and stuff.” He blew his bangs out of his eyes.
“Gel?” Fen’s fingers danced across his ass.
“Think out-of-control curls.” If he didn’t get them under control he’d look like Ronald McDonald after a week-long bender in Vegas—big grin, bad hair.
Fen ran his fingers through Jeff’s hair. “I think you should grow it longer.”
“Uh-huh. Sorry, I’m already a bottom, I don’t need to be a flaming bottom.” At Fen’s inquiring look, Jeff explained, “I don’t want to look female.”
Both of Fen’s brows rose as he flipped back his own shoulder-length locks. “Do I look feminine to you?”
“Hell no, but for you it’s different.” Jeff yawned and, before he knew it, he was sprawled out on the bed with a wolf draped over him like a living blanket. Not that he was going to complain about it. “You have the whole bad-boy thing going on. People look at you and think tough. I grow my hair out, and people look at me and think of Charlie Brown’s redheaded girl.”
Fen wrapped his hand around Jeff’s cock. “Trust me. You are not a girl. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool.”
Jeff yawned again wide enough his jaw ached.
“Sleep, elskede. I will be here when you wake.” A soft kiss landed on his cheek.
Well, hell. Why did that make him feel better? Jeff snuggled closer to his wolf and drifted off, held in Fen’s arms. His last thought was that maybe giving himself to the wolf wasn’t such a bad thing after all.
Chapter Five
Fen awoke the next morning to a mumbling armful of redhead. Jeff was muttering to himself, the sound cranky and oddly endearing. He felt the man leave their bed and stumble toward the bathing room. He settled back down, knowing his mate was safe and not going anywhere. Jeff was going to relieve himself and use that awful toothpaste stuff he insisted on. Fen shuddered. If his mate insisted on using it he’d have to find something that didn’t taste quite so awful.
Fen sat up and rubbed at his eyes, stretching and yawning. He ignored the curses flowing from the bathing room. He did not hear his name, so the anger was not directed at him. He scratched his stomach and headed for the bedroom door. He would have his mate’s coffee brewing before he left the bathing room. The brown liquid, or “liquid gold”, as Jeff called it, would put his mate in a considerably better frame of mind.
The whistle coming from his couch had him turning, claws ready to protect and defend.
“Morning to you too.”
Fen understood now why his father called Jamie a pita. She could certainly be a pain in the ass at times. “Good morning, sister of my mate.” He frowned. “Why are you here instead of with Tyr?”
She shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “We had a fight.” She eyed him up and down, the look curiously clinical. “Could you go put some clothes on?”
Fen looked down at his nakedness. Jeff would throw one of his fits if he knew Fen was naked in front of his sister. “If you will put on coffee for Jeff.”
“Done.” She stood, grinning at him. “Did you two have fun last night?”
With that evil grin on her face he’d have thought she was a daughter of Loki. “Yes, we did.” He shut the door on her laughter and grabbed the pants his mate handed him. “Jamie’s here.”
The quick concern worried Fen. “I’ll go talk to her.” Fen nodded and watched his mate stalk from the bedroom, those riotous red curls sticking straight up from his mate’s head.
“Jesus, Jeff. What happened to your head? You look like you got attacked by a beaver.”
Fen shook his head and went to brush his teeth. Almost as soon as he’d turned the water on Jeff was back. His mate grabbed a brush and left without a word.
Fen hurried through his routine, wincing at the taste of the toothpaste. He left the bedroom and walked into the living room, the scent of the coffee strong.
He found the twins seated on the sofa, Jeff running a brush through his twin’s curls, his own sticking up all over his head. Fen would dearly love to watch those curls grow down to Jeff’s waist. It would be glorious and wild and strong, just like his man.
Right now? Fen stifled a laugh. Jamie was right. It did look like his mate’s head had been attacked by an animal.
“So he thinks we made the wrong decision.”
Jamie nodded. “He got really upset and said he needed to go save Mom from Dad. But Dad wouldn’t hurt Mom, would he?”
The brush paused. “Only if he’s still on the juice and Grimm orders him to. But he might fight it.”
“Oh God.” Jamie buried her face in her hands. “Maybe we shouldn’t have told her.”
The brush resumed its path. “No. She deserved to know.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Fen watched the twins together, the one grooming the other, soothing each other with their presence, and knew he’d never be able to take his mate far from her. It would kill them
both to be separated. They needed each other in ways only another wolf could understand.
They were a pack of two trying to become a pack of four. What made it more difficult was that all four were alpha and bound to clash.
“What are we gonna do, Jeff?”
The whisper was so soft Fen wasn’t sure he was supposed to hear it.
The brush moved smoothly through Jamie’s hair. “Trust what’s left of our family to get us through this.”
The soft knock on the front door shouldn’t have surprised him, but he’d been so caught up in watching the twins together that the rest of the world had faded away. He answered and allowed Travis into his home. “She’s getting her hair brushed.”
Travis sighed. “Then they both must be upset.”
Fen nodded and shut the door, lulled by the soft voice of his mate. He watched the twins together and accepted the fact that Travis would be a part of his life from now on. “I’m going to mark him.”
“You haven’t already?”
Fen shook his head. “We’ve mated, but not bound ourselves. It will change him.”
Travis nodded. “Let him share blood with Kir first.” Fen snarled quietly, not wanting to interrupt his already upset mate. “Listen to me. Kir wants to do this so that Jeff will be immortal.”
“He’ll be immortal when he bonds to me. My father was immortal when he fathered us—that passed down to us.” He’d heard the lie about how the apples of Idunn supposedly conveyed immortality. How could the Aesir have been so stupid as to believe it?
“Are you sure marking will pass that immortality down to Jeff?”
Fen nodded. “Yes. It’s a gift I’ll willingly share.” Jeff was not sharing blood with the man he’d lusted over before Fen arrived. Fen wouldn’t be able to stop himself from attacking Kir.
“Then how do you explain all the werewolves that aren’t immortal?”
Fen froze. “Other werewolves?”
The two exchanged a long, thoughtful look. “How did we get other werewolves while you were locked away?” Tyr stroked his beard, his expression thoughtful. “There are other pantheons out there. We don’t associate with them too much. Grimm preferred us to stay away from them.”
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