by Jools Louise
“I guess we all have stuff we’re still dealing with,” Ernest said softly. Kissing the man’s cheek, he flushed a little, and then scurried back to Cooper’s side.
Slug looked as though someone had just punched him in the gut, blinking rapidly. “You’re welcome to share our balcony anytime you like,” he said after a few moments, his dark eyes gleaming with a new light, something soft and warm as he offered Ernest an escape from his fears.
Ernest grinned back, nodding. “I’d like that,” he said, feeling Cooper’s hands stroking his hair. “I need to go back there anyway, to get another tattoo done… I need to add three more names to my skin.” He giggled when Slug snorted, reverting to type once more. Ernest had put the names of his new family, Luther, Lomax, Ruth, and Sian in a stylish tattoo. After losing all his siblings, Ernest had been adopted by the four serval shifters.
“Yeah, looks like you got your hands full, don’t it?” he said, smirking at Cooper, who merely offered a satisfied look in reply.
“Beer,” Ernest reminded them, and they trooped along to the store, bantering back and forth. Ernest had an idea he might need to add more than three names to his tattoos, since he had the feeling that Slug and his brethren were quickly becoming close friends, family even, and that meant having them tattooed in permanent ink next to his heart… Maybe he could have one across his back, linking everyone together somehow. He smiled as he wandered the aisles of the shop. He had a big family after all.
* * * *
Luther awoke with just Ernest for company the following morning. The previous night had been a late one, with everyone drinking and chatting and watching television until the early hours. Zane had turned them all out at around twoish, citing him being a business owner as a reason, which had them all teasing him that he was getting old.
Ernest looked so peaceful just then, his pink lips slightly parted, revealing a hint of the smooth white teeth beyond. His body was perfect, all tight muscles, well defined, hinting at a wiry strength belied by his small stature. His blond hair had grown, and now just touched the top of his shoulders, fanning out on the pillow in a pale cloud. The golden eyes were shielded by long blond lashes, his pale skin gleaming like alabaster on the white sheets.
Luther’s gaze wandered down his lover’s body, taking in the pinkish-brown nipple, looking a little swollen from their lovemaking in the early hours. He lay on his back, one leg raised, his seven-inch cock semi-plump and lying across one smooth thigh. Luther moved a little, taking note of the swollen rosebud glinting at him, Ernest’s position showing it off to perfection. A little bit of cum coated the entrance to the man’s gorgeous ass, and Luther gave a low moan of need, rolling between Ernest’s sleek thighs and dipping his head for a taste of that delicious cream.
Ernest sighed sleepily, his legs widening a little. Luther gripped his lover’s knees, parting them even more and lifting a little. Tonguing the oozing hole, he lapped at the creamy residue, enjoying the musky taste of Ernest’s hole mixed with the salty spice of cum. The guardian ring of muscles gave way under Luther’s probing tongue, and he pushed inside, tasting more cream. He stroked Ernest’s legs, in an unconscious rhythm, in time with the stabbing of his tongue inside his mate’s luscious body. Ernest jerked beneath him, his moans louder now, his hands reaching down and holding onto thick strands of Luther’s golden hair.
“Luther,” Ernest whimpered, begging for more, and Luther gave it. He buried his face between Ernest’s shadowy crease, sinking his tongue as deep as it would go, using it as a mini penis as he fucked his mate. Ernest fisted Luther’s hair, his entire body writhing on the bed, and then with a glittering cry of pleasure, he convulsed in an orgasm that sent warm cum all over his abs and chest. Luther gave no quarter, not even close to being done with his mate. He used two fingers to fuck Ernest’s moist hole, crooking them slightly as he searched for the hidden gland. Ernest gave a sharp scream as Luther hit pay dirt, raking against the special spot over and over, his mouth lapping at Ernest’s balls and then rolling them around on his tongue.
Sliding up Ernest’s body a little way, Luther found the mess of cream on the man’s belly, and began sucking on his skin, rubbing his face in the sticky fluid, wanting to cover himself in his mate’s scent. His tongue darted out, lapping at the residue, making his way up Ernest’s compact body until he was lying on top, his lips an inch away from Ernest’s.
“I love you,” Luther whispered, removing his fingers from Ernest’s, then guided his cock into position, and rammed it home with a hard snap of his hips. Ernest cried out in pleasure, his eyes slitted as he stared into Luther’s intent gaze. Keeping their gazes locked, Luther snapped again, withdrawing fully, and then driving in with a powerful surge of his cock. “I love you so much,” he repeated, over and over, after each thrust. Their lips met, Ernest whimpering into Luther’s voracious mouth. The kisses were hard and hot, mashing lips together, their tongues delving deep. Luther kept up a hard tempo, fucking his mate furiously now. He grabbed Ernest by the hips, lifting them at an angle. Rising to his knees, he dragged Ernest’s ass onto his lap, the rest of his lover’s body still lying flat, and then began to pound into the man’s slick hole, throwing his head back as he thrust again and again, their cries of pleasure blending together.
Ernest suddenly arched his back, his cock bouncing with each powerful thrust, and came with a breathy moan, his cock shooting once again. Luther watched his mate come for the second time and followed suit, spurting deep inside, marking him with a heavy load of semen.
Collapsing after his exertion, Luther panted as he lay with his head on Ernest’s belly, lapping lazily at the cum that pooled there, feeling Ernest stroking his hair tenderly, their breathing gradually slowing.
“I’m definitely investing in some earplugs,” came a wry voice from the hallway. Chester was a pistol, and the only single person in the apartment.
Luther chuckled softly, planting a soft kiss on each of Ernest’s nipples and then tracing his tongue around the tattoo that spanned part of the ocelot shifter’s chest. Luther had a matching one on his chest, denoting the fact that they were family.
“Get the coffee on, dude. We’ll be out soon,” Luther called out, hearing a grumble from Cooper’s brother, and laughed again.
“Are you okay with them all staying?” Ernest asked a little hesitantly.
Luther heard the worry and lifted his head, kissing his lover languorously. “Baby, have you seen the size of my family? I love having people around me…and I know you do, too.” He pulled back a little, gazing in golden eyes dazed desire. “Are you okay about it?”
Ernest nodded emphatically. “I’m glad Cooper found his brother. Chester is really cool and really smart, too. He doesn’t take himself too seriously, but I know he was nervous about coming over last night. They’ve been apart for too long. They need this time to be a family. I can’t imagine what Chester went through, being taken so young.”
Luther nodded grimly, sitting up and flinging his hair over his shoulder, admiring the sleek grace of Ernest’s body, all flushed from their lovemaking. Luther thought he’d never looked sexier. “Let’s hit the shower, so he doesn’t feel uncomfortable being here. I know Zane’s downstairs, and Cooper headed out to the ranch to speak to Joe about the stadium complex.”
Ernest agreed, scrambling out of bed. They both cleaned up quickly, sharing affectionate kisses as they showered together, then got dressed, and went to get breakfast.
Chapter Eight:
Blast from the Past
Ernest settled down to work on the building applications. He and Cooper had agreed to draw up plans for the town, integrating the pending constructions, leaving room for additional ones for the future. Ernest could think of a way to utilize the tunnels beneath the town, something that had been suggested months ago, but he couldn’t help his shudder at the thought of having a mall that ran beneath the town, even if only on a couple of streets. It brought back too many unpleasant memories for him, but he knew that for pe
ople who visited, it would be a great place to hang out during the hard months of winter. Montreal had something similar to keep their stores open when snow clogged up the rest of town’s thoroughfares.
He sat staring at the plans on the desk for a long time, his mind drifting to how Sage used to be under the cult’s regime, starting in fright when he heard a sound at the door.
“It’s just me, honey,” Zane said, looking concerned. Ernest relaxed slightly, shaking his head as though he could rid his mind of the memories that lingered, poltergeists that just wouldn’t stay in the box marked “scary—do not open.”
Ernest felt Zane’s hand on his shoulder and leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. Zane was so gentle, his innate calm instantly soothing Ernest’s fears. “Cooper told me what happened between you and Slug last night,” Zane said softly, massaging Ernest’s nape. “I thought maybe you’d like to see a bit more of this apartment…so far you’ve only seen the kitchen, the sitting room, bathroom, and plenty of the bedroom.” He sounded like he was smiling.
Ernest looked up, a question in his eyes.
“Come on, baby, come see what I got,” Zane teased, waggling his eyebrows.
Ernest stood up, laughing at his lover’s antics. “I’ve seen it,” he retorted drily, with a glance at Zane’s crotch.
Zane rolled his eyes, grabbed Ernest by the hand, and then dragged him out of the office, along the hallway, and through into a room Ernest hadn’t known existed, at the far end. With a gasp, he clasped a hand to his mouth, gazing around him. The room was filled to overflowing with plants and flowers, an oasis of green. Half the place was surrounded by glass, looking out at the mountains, and as they walked on, he was led out onto a deck that took up the entire rear end of the building. A level down, accessed by steps, was a backyard, complete with a swimming pool, also surrounded by lush vegetation, contained in a biosphere.
The balcony had chairs and tables and a few loungers spread out. There was even a small wet bar in one corner. Light and airy, the place instantly called to his cat, which was clawing to go and explore.
“Shift, baby,” Zane said. He turned and kissed Ernest deeply, and then moved back. Ernest stripped quickly and then shifted, his cat yowling in pleasure at the tropical feel of this stunning indoor masterpiece. Padding silently through the greenery, Ernest leapt onto a miniature tree, clawing at the bark, marking it, and then squirting his scent onto it. He stalked and rolled and scratched, generally doing everything that an ocelot loved to do, the phantom that stalked his dreams fading away.
The lower level caught his attention, and he negotiated the staircase, made out of wood and intricately carved, all by hand by the looks of it. As he reached the last step, he heard a yowl behind him, and a serval shot past him, leaping over him gracefully. Luther had joined the party.
Rolling about, the two of them acted like kittens, chasing each other through the foliage, playing hide and stalk, and then investigating the pool. Ernest loved to swim and immediately dived in, cooling off for a while before finding a nice, warm spot to dry off. Curling up on a lounger, he closed his eyes and then dozed, vaguely aware of Luther’s warm, soft body cuddling next to him.
* * * *
Chester followed the sounds of play, wandering out of his bedroom where he’d been watching television, feeling lost and alone. He’d been a small child when he’d been snatched, bundled into a van by the local deputy, whose name had been Clyde, then taken to a scary warehouse, shoved into a cage, and then taken across state lines. He’d been driven to a place that kept him awake at night, even now, remembering the terrifying events that followed. The nightmares were even more vivid now, he wasn’t sure quite why. He was free, and his brother was here, welcoming him into the home he shared with his lovers, even letting Chester’s friends stay—they had been friends for so long, it would have felt strange being apart…frightening even.
He’d heard Zane pass his bedroom and was curious at the sounds of a yowling cat, then a second, and his curiosity won out. Following his nose, he padded in bare feet into a lush, tropical conservatory that smelled deliciously earthy with an overtone of exotic blooms. He felt his cat purring, but hesitated before letting it loose—he was so used to keeping it reined in, he was nervous about shifting, even though he knew it was safe.
He spied Zane, sitting on a seat, looking down, and moved closer, sniffing at the flowers he passed, feeling himself relax slowly. Zane looked over, his sherry-colored eyes smiling as he spotted Chester.
“Hey,” Chester said shyly. “This place is fantastic.”
Zane looked pleased. “I love the mountains, but needed to live in town to make this business work. So I brought the mountains to me…kind of.” He grinned, looking around the place. “I may have overdone it a little,” he added ruefully.
“No, you haven’t,” Chester said quickly. “This is…perfect. It’s open and light, without going outside. I think you may just be a genius,” He looked with awe at the big Arapaho, who simply shook his head.
“I just like the outdoors, that’s all—and being warm.” He laughed. “I visited England a few years ago, and went to a place called the Eden Project, in the south. They transformed a disused quarry into a tropical paradise. I just stole a couple of their ideas and condensed them a little.”
“It’s beautiful,” Chester said firmly. Glancing down at the next level, he spied the pool and the two small cats lying together, sleeping peacefully. An ocelot and a serval, if he wasn’t mistaken.
“Shift if you want,” Zane invited. “Those two have been playing for over an hour… I think they’re worn out.”
Chester looked down, hesitating still, wanting to shift, but terrified something bad would happen.
“Are you okay?” Zane asked, looking worried.
Chester went pale, feeling his anxiety increase, feeling sick. He shook his head nervously, backing away.
“Chester?” Zane said. Chester gave a sharp cry of distress, and then fled the oasis, running back to the sanctuary of his room. He couldn’t shift. Shifting meant pain. Shifting meant the men would come back and hurt him again. He couldn’t shift.
* * * *
Chester awoke, a scream ripped from his throat, his body shaking in fear. Soft words murmured in his ear, and he felt strong arms go around him, holding him tight. His scent glands recognized his brother, and he began to sob, burying his face against Cooper’s strong chest. He remembered very little from his time before the cult, but a sudden flash in his brain had him recalling another time, as a child, when he’d woken from a nightmare to find his brother there, holding him close and stroking his hair. It relaxed him as nothing else could.
Cooper kept on talking quietly, his big body clad in loose sweats and a thin tank top. “It’s okay, bro, you’re safe now. Nobody’s going to get to you again, okay?” He repeated the words over and over as Chester came back from the vicious dream.
Shuddering, his cheeks were damp with tears as he curled against Cooper like a child.
“I’m sorry,” Chester said, sniffing hard.
Cooper cursed, but his reply was gentle. “Don’t ever be sorry, Chester, for what those bastards did to you. You have nothing to be sorry about, not one thing.” He pressed a kiss to Chester’s damp hair, his big hand moving rhythmically down Chester’s back. “I can’t imagine what you went through, what any of you went through. You were a child, and those monsters stole your childhood. If I could kill them all over again for you, I would.” Cooper sounded fierce, and Chester knew his brother would carry out his threat.
“Here, Chester, I brought you some hot chocolate,” Ernest spoke softly as he entered Chester’s room, carrying three mugs. “Do you mind if I stay? I might be able to help you work through some stuff.”
Chester shook his head, sitting up slowly and accepting one of the steaming cups. “I didn’t mean to wake everyone up,” he said, hearing Cooper curse again. For some reason, that made him smile, hearing the word on Cooper’s lips. They hadn’t
been allowed to swear as kids.
“That word’s worth a dollar,” he said, sniffing again. Ernest provided a tissue, which he accepted gratefully, blowing his nose hard.
“A dollar?” Cooper said, sounding outraged. “For swearing? It used to be a nickel.”
“Inflation.” Ernest giggled, smiling at Chester. Cooper repeated the bad word, which had both younger men laughing again.
Chester sipped his chocolate drink, closing his eyes in blissful pleasure as he tasted the treat. He loved chocolate, and it was still a novelty to be savored.
“Good, isn’t it?” Ernest said, taking a healthy swig of his drink.
“Hmmm, delicious,” Chester replied, licking his lips greedily.
“Feel a little better?” Cooper asked gruffly, moving to sit on the edge of the bed next to his brother.
Chester nodded diffidently, his eyes downcast. “I thought I saw someone today,” he said slowly. “Someone I thought was dead. I think it was him, but maybe not. I don’t know. I guess thinking about him made me think about the labs and what they did to people.” He shuddered once more, remembering.
“Who did you think you saw?” Ernest asked, looking concerned. He came and sat on Chester’s other side, wrapping an arm around his waist in comfort.
“A guy called Elijah,” Chester said. “He was at one of the first places we were sent. I ended up at a roadside zoo after I was changed, and he was there, used for breeding or something. The last time I saw him, we were both in our teens, and he’d been in a fight. The people at the zoo used to fight us against real cats, to see who had the killer instinct, and bet on the outcome. He was injured quite badly, but then I was transferred elsewhere, so I lost track of him. We were friends. I really liked him.” Chester’s lip trembled.