Real Love

by Sophie Martin

  Lucas reached to Jack’s front, washing the man’s chest. He let his touches linger, turning the simple chore into a sensuous skin-on-skin experience. As he did that he nuzzled behind Jack’s ear where he knew one of the man’s sensitive spots was. Jack shivered. Lucas went to nibble on his lover’s earlobe, the loofah forgotten. Jack twisted, his gaze molten hot as he wrapped one arm around Lucas’s neck and captured his mouth in a kiss. It was awkward and slippery and perfect.

  “Come on,” Jack urged in a hoarse murmur. “Let’s finish off this bath and take it somewhere more comfortable.” Luc grinned and nodded. Despite Jack’s words they took their time finishing the bath. The water was still pleasantly warm, the scents of essential oils relaxing, and they were in no real hurry. They passed the loofah between them and helped each other wash their hair. It was a nice and lazy experience. Still, by the time they were finished, they were both hard. They stepped out of the bath, Lucas reaching for towels while Jack pulled the plug to empty the water and blew out the candles. A quick rub-down with towels later and they were heading to the bedroom. Lucas had had the foresight to put some scented candles in there as well. He wasn’t going for the overly romantic, rose petals on the bed, kind of evening. Who’d want flower petals sticking in all the wrong places anyway? But he did want tonight to be special. Jack had remarked once that he found real beeswax scented candles soothing, and Lucas managed to lay his hands on some nice ones.

  Jack took in the thick curtains drawn, the bed invitingly made with fresh bedding, and a vase of flowers on the side table, and he seemed to melt. Luc didn’t allow himself to be distracted as he went around lighting the candles. Only once all of it was done did he turn around and pull Jack into his embrace. Jack looked him straight in the eye, his eyes sparkling with some unnamed emotion.

  “It’s perfect, Luc. Absolutely perfect. Now how about you ravish me?” He grinned. Lucas lifted his eyebrows.

  “Oh yeah? Ravish you? What am I, a pirate? Ravishing my beautiful captive damsel?”

  “I don’t care if you’re a one-eyed parrot with a peg leg, you’ve teased me enough! Now get on to the ravishing part!” Lucas couldn’t help it. He burst into laughter. He laughed so hard tears started flowing down his cheeks. Almost immediately Jack joined in and they both giggled madly, holding on to each other.

  “One-eyed parrot? With a peg leg?” Luc wheezed out when he managed to calm down slightly. Instead of answering Jack kissed him. Now, that was more like it. As they kissed Jack walked him backwards towards the bed. With a gentle push they both toppled onto it. Stopping the kiss for a moment, Luc pushed himself on his elbows and looked Jack deep in the eye. “I love you, Jack,” he said. Jack smiled.

  “I love you too. Now get on the bed.” The man’s voice left no place for argument. Luc felt a shiver of anticipation. He loved when Jack got a little forceful with him during their lovemaking. Without hesitation he obeyed, sitting up against the headboard with the pillows stacked high behind him. Jack’s grin was predatory as he stalked towards him on all fours. Jack straddled him before reaching for the lube and setting it to one side. “I want you to stay still for me,” Jack ordered. “Don’t move until I say so. No touching.” Lucas’s eyes grew large. So that’s the way they were going to play it, huh? Fair enough, he could do it. It would be challenging, but he could. Lucas nodded his agreement and Jack’s eyes lit in expectation. He sent Luc a hungry grin. Without warning Jack leaned forward and conquered Luc’s mouth in a kiss. It was hot and hungry, Jack’s tongue invading and taking. There was nothing gentle about it, and Lucas absolutely loved it. Jack withdrew, pulling at Luc’s bottom lip as he did so. He then moved to the side of Luc’s face, gently biting on one earlobe, moving lower and sucking, biting a path down his throat. Luc arched his neck, to get more of that wonderful treatment. Jack didn’t wait for him though. He moved lower, kissing and nipping down from Lucas’s collarbone to one of his nipples. He focused on it for a while sucking, licking, and nibbling on it until it tightened painfully. Then he moved onto the other one and repeated the treatment. Luc wriggled in place, his dick growing heavier and hotter as his arousal grew. Jack looked up once, giving him an evil grin.

  “Remember no touching,” he said. Luc whined pitifully and Jack chuckled. He didn’t leave Luc in limbo for long though. He kissed a path down his belly until he finally focused on Luc’s dick. Taking hold of Lucas’s balls, he rolled them in his palm, giving them a gentle pull. Luc’s cock jumped at that and Jack shot him a satisfied smirk. Leaning forward he gave it one long lick. A little bead of pre-come formed on the tip and Luc watched. Jack’s tongue twirled around the head, and then, without a warning, he swallowed Luc’s dick whole, making Luc jerk his hips in surprise. A not-so-gentle tug on his balls made him subside and stay still. Jack started sucking and bobbing his head on Luc’s dick, playing with his balls as he did so. Occasionally, Jack would twirl his tongue around the head or push the tip of his tongue against the slit, driving Luc crazy.

  As suddenly as he started, Jack pulled off Lucas’s dick, wrenching a whine of protest from Luc’s throat. Jack grinned unrepentantly and settled himself over Luc’s cock, lining it to his hole. How he’d managed to blow Luc and stretch himself at the same time, Luc would never know. Slowly and carefully Jack lowered himself onto Luc’s dick until he was buried to the hilt. With a soft sigh Jack rested his hands on Luc’s chest and wiggled a bit to find a comfortable position. Slowly he rose then lowered himself again, establishing a slow, steady rhythm. Luc bit his lip. After that exquisite blow job, he was close to coming. He half closed his eyes, focusing on his lover. Jack had his eyes shut, head thrown back, lips slightly parted, his tongue darting out periodically to wet them. He made for a sensuous view. Jack’s moves sped up and Luc could tell that the man was getting close. So was he for that matter. His balls drew closer to his body and he could feel a slow tingle building up. Reaching forwards, he took hold and pumped Jack’s dick a few times until he could feel it pulsing, ready to erupt.

  “Come on, claim me!” he said confidently. This was it. He was ready. He was so, so close. Without another word Jack leaned forward, slamming himself down on Luc’s dick as he did so. That pushed Luc over the edge. Even as he felt Jack’s suddenly sharpened teeth strike in the hollow between his neck and shoulder, his balls erupted with huge strength, filling Jack’s ass with his spunk. Jack’s released a cute little growl as he sucked at the small wound in Luc’s flesh. Simultaneously a heat spread from that point to the rest of Luc’s body, and a different kind of warmth painted his abs and chest as Jack came all over him. Jack shook a bit with aftershocks as he collapsed on top of Luc. Lucas didn’t care about the mess they were making. He embraced his lover, his mate, his fiancé, and let himself drift off to sleep, Jack’s even breathing lulling him into slumber.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Luc woke up feeling strange. His skin felt uncomfortably tight and he was overly hot. As soon as he moved, Jack sat up, giving him a considering look.

  “I think your change is nearly done,” Jack said simply. He touched Luc’s forehead and nodded to himself. “Yep, we better get you out of this bed and try to work on your first shift.”

  “Already?” Lucas croaked out. “Doesn’t it take longer?”

  “Not necessarily, no.” Jack’s voice was even as he got out of bed and extended a helping hand to Luc. He pulled Lucas to his feet and steadied him when Luc wobbled, suddenly dizzy. “Come on, let’s get you downstairs, get some liquids in you, and then you can try to shift.” Lucas found it difficult to walk and talk at the same time, so he focused on just walking, Jack’s arm around his waist stabilising him. Slowly, they made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen area. Luc perched on the kitchen island stool and waited as Jack fetched him some juice. He was absolutely parched. He gulped down the first glass, then sipped a second one more slowly.

  “Explain,” he rasped out between sips.

  “Okay.” Jack’s eyes unfocused as he tried to phrase his
thoughts. “After I claimed you with a bite,” he said, staring pointedly at the spot on Luc’s shoulder. Luc touched it and it was still a bit tender, but not hurting like he expected it to. “Don’t worry, it heals fast.” Jack waved it off. “Anyway, after I bit you, your body went through the change. From what I heard it makes you drowsy, and you’d fall asleep if you weren’t already. After the change is done, all that is left is the first transformation itself. The heat and tightness of your skin, from what I understand, is meant to encourage you to shift. It will pass as soon as you’ve done it, and you won’t experience it again if you shift on regular basis. It might happen again after that if you neglect your shifting for too long, but only then.”

  “Ah, okay.” That sounded reasonable. “So how do I actually shift?”

  “Mmm, it’s quite difficult to explain, but I think if I go first and show you, your body should follow my example.”

  “Okaay.” Lucas wasn’t going to argue with an expert. “Where should we do it? In the garden?”

  “Noo.” Jack looked contemplative. “I don’t think your garden is secure enough. Anyone could see you if they looked out their bedroom window. Why don’t we close the curtains in the living room, move the coffee table to the side, and try there? I heard that the first shift is quite tiring. You won’t have much energy left for running anyway.”

  “Okay, whatever you say, boss!” They went to the living room. Lucas felt far steadier on his feet after drinking the juice. It seemed that his sugar level must have dropped after his change. Jack pushed the coffee table and a few knick-knacks aside, making space. Fortunately, Luc had had the foresight to draw all the curtains before Jack even arrived as they were both wandering around in the buff.

  “Right then.” Jack clapped his hands when he had the spot in the middle of the room cleared. “Watch me closely and try to feel what I’m doing. When it feels like something weird is happening to your body, don’t try to fight it, just go with it, okay? I’m not sure what it will feel like to you as the first change feels different to everybody from what I’ve heard. Whatever it is, though, don’t be scared. It’s perfectly safe.”

  “Okay.” Lucas watched with great curiosity as his lover stepped in front of him, his hands hanging by his sides, his posture relaxed.

  “I like to close my eyes whenever I shift as the change in perspective can be slightly disorienting,” Jack informed him casually. As he watched, Jack closed his eyes and then his figure shimmered like a mirage. Between one blink of an eye and another, there was no man standing in front of Luc but a big fox-like canine. Lucas felt goose bumps break all over his body and a tug somewhere just below his solar plexus. Following his lover’s advice, he didn’t try to fight it. He let the slightly uncomfortable sensation guide him even when he felt as if he wobbled. He closed his eyes for just a second, and when he opened them, he was much lower. Actually, he was nose-to-nose with his canine lover. Did it work? He didn’t feel any different. He didn’t feel more animalistic. There was no sudden urge to go around and mark his territory, for example. He wasn’t sure what he expected, but the lack of change wasn’t it. He opened his mouth to ask Jack if maybe something went wrong, but only a yip escaped him. That sound startled him and make him jump. As he did, he smacked his backside on something. Wait. He whirled around to see what he hit. There shouldn’t be anything this close behind him. And there wasn’t. Instead he caught sight of dark streak trailing behind him. What the hell? He turned the other way and, once again, only a blur of something dark followed him. Luc got pissed off with it. What the fuck was it? He run in a circle, trying to catch the sight of the thing. A strange sound interrupted him. He turned around to see his lover yip-barking a laugh. Lucas didn’t know how he knew it, but he was sure Jack was amused. And then it dawned on him. The dark streak behind him, moving along with him, must have been his tail. He has just been chasing his tail! Luc flopped to the floor and covered his snout with one paw. How embarrassing! Jack came to him and Luc took his paw off to peek at him. Jack still looked amused but also simply happy. He leaned forward and licked Jack’s muzzle. Jack licked him back. It was strange. It was all new and unfamiliar and yet it felt completely natural. It was almost as if his wolf self came to him with all the instincts and behaviours he needed. It made sense, he supposed. After all, an adult magically changed into a wolf wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn the correct behaviours. Whatever magic changed him provided them instead. It was quite a cool cheat, he thought.

  Jack yipped at him and led him to the sofa. Understanding perfectly, Luc jumped up with him and they both settled down comfortably. Without prompting they started grooming each other. Basking in contentment, Luc felt himself relax and soon drifted off to sleep.

  Lucas woke up and stretched his front paws with a yawn. He jumped off the sofa and nudged Jack. His lover only grumbled and pushed his nose deeper under his tail. Oh well, Luc would let him sleep. Stretching his front paws properly, he gave a huge yawn, then stretched his back ones. Oh, that felt nice. With a spring to his step, he went around his house familiarising himself with it in his new form. It was fine. They didn’t close any doors last night, which was good as handles would be a problem at the moment. Luc went around every room, sniffing here and there. Downstairs finished, he trudged up the stairs. It was tricky at first, figuring which paw went on which step, but he quickly figured it out. Just to make sure he had it down pat, he went up and down a few times. Satisfied, he finally went back to exploring the first floor. Jack joined him after he was done with the bathroom and the kids’ rooms and followed him to the bedroom. After a brief circuit of that last room, Jack barked at him as if telling Luc to watch. Lucas obeyed. That strange mirage-like shimmer happened again, and the next moment human Jack was standing in front of him. Lucas felt the tug below his solar plexus, and he closed his eyes. A shiver ran over him, and he shook himself to get rid of it. Then he promptly lost his balance.

  “Whoa!” He splayed his hands to the sides and widened his stance. “Oh.” He opened his eyes and looked around. He was human again. “Huh,” he said in contemplation, “this way it was much more disorienting.”

  “Ah, probably because your centre of balance moved much higher up,” Jack said and Lucas looked at his lover. Jack was grinning at him and Luc grinned back.

  “Well, that was fun!” he said.

  “I’m glad to hear that,” Jack answered. “You probably need to rest today, but we could try again tomorrow? We could go to Jason’s house. His garden is much more secure. Ty shifts there regularly. It’s much more enjoyable when you have some grass to run around on and a sunny spot to nap in.”

  “Sounds like a great plan.” Luc stretched, letting his spine pop in a few places. He felt a bit tired but not more than he would after a good exercise session. “Now what about today? Should we take shower, have breakfast, and then maybe just lounge around watching movies? I don’t feel like doing much today.”

  “Sounds like a grand plan to me.” Jack’s grin widened. “How about sharing a shower?”

  “I thought you’d never ask!” Feeling perfectly content, Luc trailed after his lover to the bathroom. This day was starting off perfectly.

  The next couple of days flew by. They had gone to Jason’s and shifted there, taking advantage of the big, well-protected garden. Lucas was loving his new ability. It was fun to be able to shift and run around. He also felt more energetic as if becoming a shifter removed a decade of hard living from him. He felt younger and more hopeful. Maybe it wasn’t the shifter part. Maybe it was the being-in-love part.

  When the time came to pick the kids up, he talked Jack into going with him and meeting his parents. They knew about Jack of course. He had been talking about him for a while. As surprised as they’d been by it, they quickly got over it and were excited to meet him. Luc suspected it had a lot to do with the kids’ glowing praises. Both Brian and Ruby loved Jack, and Luc’s parents could see that. The visit went well, his parents charmed by Jack’s openness an
d good manners. They had never really had a good relationship with Ariana. They had been civil towards her, but Luc could always feel reservations on both sides. That was not the case with Jack at all. By the time the visit finished Jack had been invited to come by again soon. His parents were also incredibly happy about their engagement as they’d been worried about Luc ever getting into another serious relationship. He supposed it was to be expected. He wasn’t one for casual dating, and he hadn’t been interested in anyone since Ariana’s death. Seeing that he had met someone who was just as serious about relationships was a great relief for his parents. As Jack helped the kids pack their luggage into the car, Luc’s dad stopped him.

  “You chose well, son,” he said.

  “I know, Dad.” Luc couldn’t contain his grin. Just thinking about Jack made him happy.

  “He’s a nice man with a good head on his shoulders.” Luc’s dad seemed reluctant for a moment but then decided to speak his mind. “I know you loved Ariana, and the two of you were married for a long time. She wasn’t a bad person per se, but your mum and I always found her…I don’t know, selfish? She clearly loved you, but I don’t think she had your and the kids’ best interest at heart. She was too self-absorbed for that. Jack seems like the opposite. It seems to me that he would gladly sacrifice his comfort for your sake. I think it is a good thing in a spouse. Try not to take advantage of it, huh?” With that parting wisdom, he patted Luc’s shoulder and left to say goodbye to his grandkids. Lucas looked after him, astonished and bemused.

  His mum chose this moment to come closer. She must have overheard their chat as she said, “While your dad put it quite bluntly, he isn’t wrong, you know? We know you would never consciously take advantage of your fiancé’s good nature, but you do tend to be single-minded at times and a bit bull-headed. You will need to try and keep those tendencies in check, sweetheart. Jack is not like Ariana who could walk over even your stubbornness, I have a feeling he’ll give in easier. You’ll have to make sure he doesn’t do it too often.” With a pat to his cheek this time, she went to say goodbye to the children as well. Lucas stared after them, dumbfounded. His own parents were already taking Jack’s side, and they weren’t even married yet. Jack came closer, leaving the kids to say their goodbyes, and Luc snagged him around the waist.