by Jools Louise
“Hey,” he said, smiling and waggling his brows seductively. “Are you done?”
“Yep, I just have to get my jacket,” Chaz said, grinning at his mate’s obvious come on, returning inside. There he found Slug and Ryder, talking to two of the wolverine patients. Slug looked intense, arms folded across his chest, his eyes stark.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, seeing Slug’s grimace.
“These two know about the three of our clan who are in San Quentin,” Slug replied grimly. “They worked, as we did, for the cult, and like us, they were uncomfortable with what they were asked to do. Kathleen’s children were their charges, and when they refused to hurt them, or drug them, they ended up as prisoners themselves.”
“Do Sherman and Cracker know?” Chaz asked, having an idea that Sherman would have been a little less relaxed if he did.
Ryder shook his head. “Not yet. Oliver, here, is being very helpful, though, and can give us a lot of information about our friend in New York City…and the whereabouts of another friend, the last surviving member of the gang.”
Chaz froze, darting a look to the door. “If Sherman finds out, he’ll go there himself to get payback,” he said.
“We don’t have enough intel yet to act,” Ryder said. “But when we do, Sherman and Cracker will be involved when we take down their operation.”
“Operation?”
“The bear shifters’ history involves their kind being used for circuses, all over the world. They were targeted centuries ago, and their numbers have dwindled dramatically.” Slug supplied the information, his eyes showing little emotion. “Apparently, the wolverines in San Quentin are also involved with that racket, as well. They’re nothing if not versatile.”
Oliver suddenly spoke, looking nervously at Slug, who looked every inch badass right then. “Slug and I are distant cousins, and we’ve only met once before. The man who runs the New York operation has a contact in Europe. They’ve known each other for years. I met them both, years ago, when my family got me involved with the cult, and then with Steadman. I heard them bragging about how they’d gotten away with murder, and were laughing about the little freak they’d killed, how she’d screamed so nicely for them.”
“What!” came a loud roar, and Sherman came barreling in, fangs and claws unsheathed, leaping for the young wolverine.
“No!” Chaz shouted, stepping in front of his mate. “Oliver had nothing to do with that. Stop, please, stop.”
Sherman roared again, and Oliver flung himself out of bed, along with his friend, and ran to hide in the corner. Lex came running in, looking angrily at the big lion shifter for disturbing his patients, Leo in hot pursuit.
“Dude, Oliver’s not the one you want,” Slug said, standing next to Chaz to stop Sherman going after the terrified shifters. “He’s as much a victim as we were. He was told by his family that he was doing something for the greater good, and then realized they were doing quite the opposite and rebelled. His brothers are next door, and nearly died because they refused to do what they were asked. Don’t take out your anger on them. Save it for the ones who are behind this.”
Sherman was literally shaking with rage, his caramel eyes practically glowing with fury.
“Baby, this isn’t the way,” Chaz said softly, stroking his mate’s face tenderly. “We’ll get the bastards, you know we will. Ryder and Pace and Slug are doing everything they can to bring them to justice. But if we go in there without knowing what we’re facing, someone will be killed. The wrong someone. I won’t lose you when I’ve only just found you.”
His words seemed to hit home, and Sherman shuddered suddenly, sheathing his claws as his fangs receded. “I heard him say…”
“I know, love,” Chaz replied, grabbing Sherman around the waist and hugging him close. “Oliver will tell us what he knows, he’s not hiding anything. And we need to hear everything. Please don’t hurt him.”
Sherman gave a low purr, and nuzzled Chaz’s hair. “I heard the kid talking about a freak screaming, and it upset me,” he said.
“Understatement of the century there, dude,” Slug retorted dryly. “Poor Oliver here nearly peed himself. I almost had a moment myself.”
Sherman relaxed even more, and snorted at the comment, grinning at Slug, who smirked.
“I’m sorry, Oliver,” Sherman said to the wolverine repentantly. “Please come back to bed, you’re not out of the woods just yet. I have a tendency to overreact sometimes, when it comes to those bastards. They’ve caused nothing but pain to so many people. The freak they spoke about was my best friend’s sister. They murdered her.” The two wolverines didn’t move from where they shivered in fear, and Lex glared at Sherman furiously.
“If you can’t control yourself better than that, you need to rethink coming in here again, Sherman. I won’t have you flying off the handle. What the fuck is wrong with you? These people have been through enough, just like everyone else in town. Do you think these guys are here for the fun of it?”
Sherman flushed beet red, looking shame-faced.
“I think it’s probably best if you speak to Oliver without me here,” Sherman said contritely. “I’m not as cool and collected as I need to be. Lex, I’m sorry. I’ll leave now.”
“Sherman, that’s the best thing you’ve said today,” Ryder retorted dryly, smiling. “I’ll let you and Cracker know later what we find out, okay?”
Sherman nodded. “I really am sorry,” he said again. Chaz went to retrieve his jacket, then guided his mate outside.
“Let’s go home,” he murmured. “You need some loving.”
Sherman smiled at that, and kissed him hungrily. “Yes, I really do.”
Chapter Eleven
Sherman lay Chaz down on their bed, gazing intently at a man he’d come to love deeply, without question. A man who was so embedded in his heart and soul, it felt now as though he had always loved him. The mating bond, that signal that each had found a match, was not always one hundred percent guaranteed. Just like finding a partner in the human world, it took work and commitment. He was lucky that both he and Chaz wanted to make their union a long-time affair. A lifetime affair. He was even luckier that Chaz was so understanding, since he appeared to be making an ass of himself all over town at the moment. He closed his eyes for a second, thinking of the terror in the faces of those two young wolverines, who had both been through terrifying ordeals already. Sherman would have kicked his own ass if he could have. He needed to get a hold on his temper.
“Are you planning to stay there all night?” Chaz asked with a smile, stretching sinuously, preening in front of his mate. Sherman purred, watching his lover’s every move. He could happily look at Chaz all night, but he had planned on a more tactile evening.
“Actually, I was planning to introduce you to a new toy I acquired,” Sherman said, smiling seductively and shaking off his solemn thoughts. From behind his back he produced a long, bright pink dildo. The thing was thick, long, and ribbed.
“Is that for you or me, stud?” Chaz grinned, fisting his cock. They’d undressed the second they’d gotten home and reached the privacy of their room.
Sherman winked. “What do you think?” he drawled, pressing a button the end of the toy, producing a buzzing sound. Chaz groaned, licking his lips.
“I want to fuck you out of your mind tonight,” Sherman said, crawling onto the bed. He swatted Chaz’s hand away from his cock, and grinned wickedly. “This should be fun,” he said. Then he trailed the vibrating toy along the length of Chaz’s throbbing dick until Chaz was begging for mercy. He dipped his head, lapping at the pre-cum oozing from the slit, and teased Chaz’s nut sac, as well, then tortured his mate’s rosebud. Chaz cursed, begged, sobbed, and cried as he writhed on the bed.
Sherman teased him for a while longer, then swallowed the first load of cum as he deep-throated Chaz’s spurting dick when Chaz erupted.
“I hope you know, Sherman, that I’ll be a babbling mess by the morning,” Chaz groaned, panting heavil
y, his body slick with sweat.
“Sweetheart, I aim to have you babbling a lot sooner than that,” was the retort before Sherman began again, this time running the vibrating dildo over Chaz’s nipples for several seconds before heading for the mother lode, probing at his mate’s quivering chute.
Chaz’s cries grew louder, and he shoved his fist into his mouth to muffle the noise. Sherman’s cock throbbed urgently, and he threw the dildo aside as he dove for Chaz’s hole, wanting a taste. The torment continued, and he listened to Chaz’s sultry moans, lapping languidly at his mate’s musky crease, swiping a long trail from his perineum, then sampled his balls before returning to probe at the little starburst of muscles guarding his lover’s moist sheath.
“I need you inside me,” Chaz begged, lifting his knees up to his chest in supplication.
Sherman purred and slid one finger inside, aiming for Chaz’s little gland. “Not just yet, kitten, we’ve only just gotten started.”
“Buggar me,” Chaz cried, using one of John’s British profanities. Sherman grinned and got to work, nailing his mate’s prostate over and over, enjoying the heady scent of his lover’s frustration. Just when Chaz was about to come for the second time, Sherman rolled onto his back, lifted his legs, and presented his own rosebud.
“I want to feel you inside me,” he growled, flushing slightly at Chaz’s wide-eyed shock.
“You’d let me top?” Chaz asked in astonishment. He recovered soon enough, rolling between Sherman’s spread thighs and eyeing Sherman’s ass hungrily.
“Are you planning to stay there all night?” the big shifter asked, repeating Chaz’s earlier comment.
Chaz snorted. “No, my love,” he replied.
Sherman had expected his mate to go all dominant male on him, and tensed in anticipation. Instead, Chaz’s mood changed, and he began lapping sensuously at Sherman’s cheeks. He treated Sherman to the most erotic tongue bath ever, before spending long, sensual minutes preparing Sherman for entry. Using his tongue and fingers, Chaz showed his tender side as he murmured words of love, placing more soft kisses on Sherman’s taut belly, inner thighs, and dripping dick.
Just when Sherman couldn’t take anymore, Chaz kneeled upright, pushing Sherman’s legs further apart as he parked his dick at Sherman’s quivering entrance. “I’ll be gentle,” Chaz murmured, smiling lovingly, then thrust carefully, breaching his mate’s chute.
Sherman groaned, closing his eyes, feeling the burn as his muscles stretched to accommodate the intruder. He’d never let anyone near him like this before, but he wanted to prove to his mate that they were equal partners. Chaz had proven that he was unafraid to stand up to Sherman, had put himself right in Sherman’s angry path when the lion shifter had gone berserk earlier, trusting that Sherman wouldn’t hurt him. Sherman wanted to show his lover that he trusted him, too. He was an alpha male through and through, and putting himself at the mercy of anyone, willingly, was a big thing for him. He was giving up control, after all, in the most intimate of ways.
“Easy there, tiger,” Chaz said, grinning when Sherman opened one eye at the remark. Sherman groaned when his lover moved, pushing forward incrementally.
“That feels…” Sherman breathed, not sure how to finish. He felt fullness, and the burn, his ass protesting the slow, steady encroachment. Chaz gave tiny, shallow thrusts, loosening Sherman’s inner muscles gently, until the burn receded and Sherman began to understand the beauty of bottoming. “I can’t believe I never wanted to do this before,” he said, moaning when Chaz thrust a little harder, gliding in and out slowly, almost withdrawing completely before sinking back inside. He lowered himself so that his abs ground against Sherman’s engorged cock with each stroke.
“It doesn’t hurt?” Chaz asked, sucking on Sherman’s nipples gently, his teeth grazing the taut nubs. Sherman cupped his mate’s head, massaging his scalp.
“I ache,” he admitted, arching his back as he gave himself over to the pleasure racing through him. “It doesn’t hurt, though. You feel fantastic.”
Chaz nipped harder, his hips moving faster now, ramping up the tempo. “I’d have to say,” he groaned, smiling beatifically, “that your ass feels amazing, lover.”
Chuckling, he leaned up, finding Sherman’s lips, and they kissed hungrily, undulating together with ever increasing passion, their moans blending together harmoniously. Sherman gave a chuffing roar as he felt his cock erupt, then a second later Chaz dumped copious amounts of cum deep inside his chute, gasping out Sherman’s name as he came.
“I love you,” Chaz cried, clutching at Sherman’s shoulders, his back arching in bliss as he released every drop he had, before collapsing in a sweaty heap on Sherman’s heaving chest.
“I love you, too,” Sherman replied, kissing his mate over and over, smiling the whole time. “Just a thought, lover, is that a magic dick that you have, or do you need a while before go again?”
Chaz let out a husky laugh, his cock already filling in anticipation. “Looks like it’s magic, alright,” he chuckled, shunting back and forth.
“Free refills, right?” Sherman teased, gasping as Chaz sank his fangs into his shoulder, then began fucking him hard.
“So fucking good,” Chaz snarled, pounding into him over and over. Sherman roared as he came again minutes later, his ass aching even more, a second load delivered with stunning force.
“My turn,” Chaz said, easing out of Sherman’s quivering chute. He straddled Sherman, who was even now proving his stamina, his cock shuddering into renewed life. Dipping into the pool of cum spattered over Sherman’s abs and chest, he smeared his lover’s cock, lubing up, then lifted up and sank over the thickening rod, groaning in bliss as his ass was plugged.
“Ride ‘em, tiger,” Sherman said with a hoarse chuckle, groaning himself as Chaz began to undulate above him, his face contorted with blissful anguish, taking his pleasure over and over.
“Giddy up,” came the choked response.
Sherman chuckled, rolled Chaz beneath him, then took control again, unable to wait any longer. His mate encircled him exquisitely, his heat warming Sherman right through, his sultry moans letting him know how much Chaz was enjoying their lovemaking.
He spent the rest of the night proving his love.
* * * *
“This is perfect,” Kathleen said excitedly, clapping her hands together. In a wheelchair, she still had a long way to go before she was able to take care of herself, so she had accepted the offer of a smaller apartment in the same block as her eldest son.
“It won’t take too long to get it how you want it to look,” Cody said. He’d been helping her, since he and Cooper were jointly in charge of leasing the new commercial units in town. This one, which would house a small art shop and gallery, had a cozy apartment above, with one bedroom, where Kathleen would live once she was a bit steadier on her feet. It had been three weeks since her rescue and she was still far too thin, her body taking a while to get back to speed after the weeks of neglect. Lex had told her he would assess her again in a month, and then he would make the decision whether to let her live above the shop. Her night terrors were still consistent, and Murphy was worried about her being on her own. At the complex, there was always someone close by to help if she needed it.
“Thank you,” she said, kissing his hand as he went to shake hers, which had him blushing beet red. He was cute when he was embarrassed. She laughed at him. “I can’t believe you’re embarrassed by that,” she said.
“Not the kissing,” he said, smiling. “It’s the praise I’m not used to.”
She rolled her eyes. “Surely that’s an exaggeration,” she retorted.
“Not in this town,” he drawled, winking. “With some of the reprobates living here, it’s a miracle I’m as kind and accommodating as I am.”
John walked in, smirking at this last comment. “My dear chap, I can’t imagine who you mean.” He grinned at Kathleen, who laughed at their banter. The pair were old friends and teased each other at every o
pportunity. “Why, only the other day, I was heaping praise on you, don’t you remember?”
Cody frowned, startled. “When?” he asked warily.
John’s eyes gleamed with wicked amusement as he delivered the punchline. “I’d never heard a man so delighted to win a race,” he said, looking as though he was struggling not to laugh. “That whole victory lap, after beating two pint-sized members of our community, was glorious.”
Cody flipped his friend off, sneering derisively. “They cheated,” he defended himself. “Those children of yours had a head-start, in shifter form, and I still beat them.”
John arched a brow mockingly. “They’re children,” he retorted. “You’re supposed to let them at least win once, so they don’t sulk for the rest of the day.”
“How are they supposed to learn not to cheat?” Cody replied, scowling now. “I won fair and square, I deserved to do a victory lap.”
Kathleen shared an amused look with John, shaking her head.
“I don’t think he gets it,” she said sadly, which had John chuckling.
“No, he just doesn’t,” he replied, his eyes twinkling. “But on the plus side, Murray, Primrose, and Blue will never make the mistake of racing their Uncle Cody again. He’s a lousy winner!”
“Uncle Cody!” a little voice piped. Blue appeared, naked as usual, grinning up at Cody endearingly after shifting back into human form. John quickly grabbed the jacket that Kathleen handed to him, and draped it around the boy, rolling his eyes.
Cody quickly wiped the irritated expression from his face, and smiled down at the little boy. “Hi, Blue.”
“Uncle Mick says he needs help,” Blue said, his eyes sparkling like jewels in his little face.
John’s brow arched immediately, but he refrained from commenting, in deference to their audience. Ordinarily he would have delivered a cutting put-down at that remark. Kathleen was impressed that he’d managed to curb his tongue.