Absentee Wolf

  “Of course. I don’t want to be away from you anymore, no more secrets. But I don’t want to pressure you.”

  Kent chuckled nervously. “It seems we’re still on eggshells, huh?” Toby smiled weakly and shrugged. It was to be expected after all the hard feelings and changes that had happened so fast.

  Kent’s cell phone buzzed, and he pulled it out of his pocket to answer it. “Shit! It’s already two in the afternoon.”

  “What?” Toby looked down at his watch and gasped. “Dammit, I’m already on thin ice.”

  “You? I’m interning. If Ben reports this, I can lose all three years of my college career, like that!” Kent snapped his fingers and stood. He grabbed his plate and rubbish and started walking it toward the trash can, Toby close on his heels.

  Hopping into his car, Kent sped back to the preserve with Toby. Upon arrival, they ducked inside the building. Kent had yet to produce the press release, and the men were going to use its production as the excuse for them being in the office together. That was as long as they didn’t get caught walking to the office right now.

  Using a side entrance had provided them cover from Betty’s ever-present eye at the main entrance, but added several feet to the trek. Bounding down the final hall and into Kent’s office, they laughed as Kent slammed the door shut behind them.

  Leaning against the wooden panel, Kent breathed a sigh of relief. “I can’t believe we didn’t get caught!”

  Toby leaned over, his hands on his knees. “Whew, I haven’t snuck around like that since I was a kid.”

  A kid? Was Toby saying that Kent was childish or that his behavior was? This was as much Toby’s fault as it was Kent’s. Before Kent could get carried away in thought, Toby stood up and walked toward him. “Stop. I know what you’re doing. I wasn’t referencing you at all. We’re always going to be twenty-five years apart. We can’t change that fact. Don’t think that matters to me. You’re my mate. Got it?”

  Toby stayed pressed close to Kent until he answered. “Got it.” Even after Kent gave the wanted answer, Toby kept looking over Kent’s face. “I believe you, Toby.”

  “Do you? I know age played a factor in why I left, but now…” Toby’s voice dropped off as he brought his hand up to Kent’s face.

  Kent smiled at Toby, relishing in his attentions. Kent cleared his throat. “We have a press release to write.”

  “Sure, sure.” Toby shook his head and walked to the chair near Kent’s desk. He sat in it and watched Kent as he walked to his seat. They worked quickly with Toby dictating and Kent typing. A rough draft was put together in minutes. The concept of the preserve shutting down for repairs was believable, and using Toby’s knowledge of security terminology made everything sound authentic. Quickly, Kent read through and made edits before turning his screen to Toby for approval.

  Kent checked the time while the printer spooled out the paper. “We can give this to Ben and maybe he’ll let us leave early.”

  “That would be great! I’m gonna try to get my old truck out of storage.” Toby rubbed his hands together, excitement obvious on his face.

  Kent stopped mid stride. “You still have that nasty Ford?”

  “Bite your tongue! That truck is a thing of beauty.”

  “If you think rust-eaten is beautiful, sure.” Kent egged Toby on, remembering how much Toby loved his beat-up truck. Teasing kept the more serious stuff on the back burner and let Kent explore a side of Toby he already was comfortable with. Kent talked while Toby followed him down the hall. “What are you planning to do to it? Put it out of its misery?”

  “I’m going to see if I can get her running and use her until I can get my other car shipped here. In fact, I already have the stuff I need in the trunk of my rental.”

  When they got to Ben’s door, it was closed and locked. Ben had left for the day. Without him there to take the press release, they slipped it under the door.

  “I guess we can get out of here then.” Toby stood with his hands in his pockets.

  “Yeah. Guess so.” Kent wasn’t sure what else to say. He wanted to spend time with Toby, but he felt awkward asking outright. Toby made no moves to walk away, so they stood in the hall staring at one another.

  Eventually, Toby took a step toward his office. “I should go get my things. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be here. Night.” Kent made no moves to leave. He was enjoying his mate’s company and wanted him to stay. But Toby had made it clear that he was not going to pursue Kent. If this was going to happen, Kent would have to make the first move. “Hey, do you think you could use some help on the truck?”

  Toby’s face lit like fireworks, and he practically screamed his answer. “Yes!”

  Toby’s overreaction made Kent feel like a king. The power of knowing he was the reason Toby was so happy was greater than any he had making Toby feel awful the day before. If they weren’t trying so hard to be amiable, Kent might have teased Toby. Instead, he merely smiled and gestured for Toby to lead them toward his office.

  After a quick change in the locker room in the administration building, Kent met Toby in the parking lot. They decided Kent should ride to the storage unit with Toby. Toby was optimistic that Kent could drive the rental home for him, as he would be leaving storage driving his baby. They entered the storage complex and Toby wandered from building to building until he found the right one. Kent trailed quietly behind Toby. He stopped at the entrance of a climate controlled unit and looked left then right. Kent tapped him on the shoulder. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I just haven’t been here in forever. I’m trying to remember where the light switches are and which way was faster. My unit is way in the back.”

  Kent shook his head and started walking. “Well, I know what’s not faster—standing still.” After a few feet of silent walking, Kent turned back toward Toby. “How did you ever get your truck in here? Your truck’s huge. Driving it down the hall had to be a really tight squeeze.”

  Toby beamed at him and wiggled his brows. “I’m that good.”

  “Oh, geeze.”

  “Nah, when I originally stored my truck they had another entrance. Now it’s gone. Honestly, I don’t know how they plan on letting me get the truck out.”

  “That’ll suck.”

  Toby nodded his head. “Ooh, there it is.”

  He pulled the keys from his pocket and then placed one in the lock. It clicked open, and Toby removed it to set it on the ground. He bent at the waist and grabbed the storage unit handle. Kent took his time to appreciate how Toby’s faded jeans clung to his ass. The marks from where Toby used to stash his wallet were faded, and a notch was worn on one pocket. With a grunt, Toby sent the door toward the ceiling. Behind the door, Toby’s truck sat resting under a layer of dust.

  Kent watched as Toby became reacquainted with his old friend. He slid his hand over the hood, removing the dust and revealing the still-glossy paint. Toby peered in the driver’s side window. Kent wasn’t sure what Toby was looking for, but the smile on Toby’s face showed that whatever it was, he had found it.

  Toby pressed a button on his key fob, making all the doors unlock. He grinned at Kent. “That was an aftermarket purchase added in the nineties.”

  “So how old is this thing?”

  Toby slid into the driver’s seat. “This thing is a 1978 Ford Bronco. It’s now officially a classic.”

  Kent joined Toby in the storage unit and leaned in the open truck door, his hand hooked on the roof. “It’s a gas-guzzling eco-nightmare.”

  Toby put the key in the ignition and gasped. “Bite your tongue.”

  “Rather you do it.” Kent’s eyes widened as he realized what he had thought had actually been spoken out loud. He was becoming so relaxed around Toby he’d stopped censoring himself. Toby’s scent drove him mad with want, overrode his senses, and made him say things or flirt in a way he normally wouldn’t.

  “Oh, really?”

  Kent tried to backpedal out of the situat
ion. “Toby, I didn’t mean it like that.” When Toby reached for Kent, Kent grabbed Toby’s hand and held it tightly. He pushed Toby’s hand back toward his chest and released it. “No touchy.”

  “Fine, fine. Have it your way.”

  Toby didn’t seem too hurt by Kent’s continued rejections as he returned his attentions to starting the car. He turned the ignition and didn’t even get a click in response.

  “You didn’t think it would start right up after all this time, did you?”

  Toby slid out of the car and pressed against Kent in the tight space. He slid his hand over Kent’s cheek.

  “No, I didn’t. But you have to at least give it a shot.” He pointed with his free hand to the battery they had left sitting just outside the storage room. “When that doesn’t work, you try to fix the problems.” Toby stroked his thumb over Kent’s bottom lip. Kent fought the urge to taste it or to lean into his warm palm. He kept his gaze locked with Toby’s, trying to determine his mate’s next action. Kent didn’t want to give in to Toby yet, but he kept stroking Kent’s face while he talked.

  “Sometimes, it’s an easy fix like changing the battery, but even then there are so many little things that can go wrong. You have to work to keep it running smoothly all the time.”

  Kent nodded his understanding but didn’t move out from under Toby’s touch. He never wanted Toby to stop touching him. His skin was warm, and the scent was clean and crisp. Kent watched as Toby moved closer to him. He closed his eyes, unable to handle Toby’s stare, and prepared himself for Toby to try to kiss him. But instead his skin grew cold as Toby pulled his hand away, and he stepped around him. Kent gasped at the back of Toby’s head as he walked toward the battery. He was able to adjust his reaction before Toby could see his disappointment or shock.

  Toby stood with a ratchet in hand. “Can you pop the hood?”

  Kent nodded and slid into the truck. He blew out a slow breath as he fumbled around for the hood release. He was thankful when it finally popped open, and the hood was raised to block his view of Toby or more importantly Toby’s view of him.

  “You wanna come out here and help?”

  “Nope, I’m good right here.”

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  Kent leaned back into the seat while he listened to the sounds of Toby’s work. Switching out a battery wouldn’t take very long, so Kent tried to rapidly compose himself.

  Kent chuckled quietly while thinking about his situation. When he was little, he would beg and plead to help his dad and Toby work on their cars. Now, here he was sitting inside the car hiding.

  “Try starting it now.”

  Toby’s voice startled Kent and caused his just calmed heart rate to rocket back up. With suddenly shaky hands, he turned the ignition. A few clicks and the old truck sprung to life. Toby raced around to the driver side and slid in, his body pushing against Kent’s. Kent had no choice but to slide across the bench seat and let Toby inside. He didn’t mind really. He knew how much Toby loved this old truck.

  Toby revved the engine again and grabbed Kent’s hand.

  “Do you hear that? It sounds just like I remember.”

  “It sounds like the ozone crying.”

  Toby flipped Kent off with his free hand but never released his hold on Kent. Kent looked down at their hands. Toby’s was smudged with grease. Hair covered the top of his hand, and his skin was a shade lighter than Kent’s. Kent cleared his throat and made nice.

  “Yeah, it sounds loud like I remember. I’d announce to the house whenever I heard you coming.”

  “Huh?”

  “I could hear you coming two blocks away and would run around the house screaming ‘Toby’s coming!’ when I was really little. My mom would tell me that you were loud enough as it was and she didn’t need me adding to it.”

  “Sounds like Gina.” Toby laid his head back on the rest while the car idled. His eyes were closed, and his lips were relaxed but still turned up in a smile. He didn’t’ release Kent’s hand, but gently squeezed it instead.

  Kent stared at his mate and breathed in deeply. Toby’s scent told of his utter peace and contentment in the moment. Kent was still pressed closely to Toby on the bench seat, their shoulders and sides touching. Kent tipped his head slightly. It would only take a few inches, and he could lay his head on his mate’s shoulder.

  Giving into the impulse, Kent did just that. Toby slanted his head toward Kent, and Kent could scent the change in Toby’s pheromones. Suddenly, Toby was nervous and lustful. Toby wanted Kent so badly, and Kent knew it. Toby never denied his desire for his mate, and that was Kent’s undoing. He craned his head, so he could kiss along Toby’s neck. Tasting Toby’s skin with his tongue caused Toby to shudder and release a low whine. Toby leaned, giving Kent all the room that he could want to play. And he wanted to play very much.

  Kent turned so he could explore every inch of Toby’s warm neck and fragrant skin. Kent’s canines lengthened, and he scraped them over the jugular that ran there. Toby didn’t move, but Kent could hear Toby’s sharp intake of breath, and his pulse racing faster and pounding loudly. Nibbling and kissing, Kent continued to tease Toby. Giving into his impulses and desires was freeing. Admitting he wanted this man and showing him that gave him joy like he had never felt before. Slowly, he worked his body around until he was straddling Toby’s lap. When Kent settled over Toby’s groin, Toby reached around to shut off the Bronco. Toby gripped Kent’s hips so firmly that Kent felt the pinch of his short’s fabric tightening around his waist.

  Kent kissed his way toward Toby’s ear. He breathed heavily into it as he whispered, “Was this part of your plan?”

  Toby swallowed before answering. “No, no. You asked to come along. I’m trying so hard to play by your rules.” Kent felt Toby’s hands loosen momentarily before again gripping, now into the fabric of his shirt. “Trying so hard,” Toby mumbled breathily again.

  Kent wasn’t sure if he liked that answer or not. He bit Toby’s earlobe hard enough that he tasted Toby’s blood on his tongue. It was an unintentional mistake, but he found the scent that maddened Kent was concentrated as the flavor of Toby’s blood. Toby’s flavor was so much stronger. He was sweeter and warmer. Toby whimpered when Kent suckled on the Toby’s lobe, drawing more blood across his tongue. Kent pulled back as Toby turned his head and bared his entire throat to Kent.

  Toby’s scent was filled with lust, his taste was freshly blazing across Kent’s tongue, and now his throat was open and inviting. Kent knew Toby realized what he was offering. Kent leaned forward and bit into the crook of Toby’s neck starting the process that would bond them as mates. As his teeth pressed through Toby’s skin, he feared the consequences of what he had done, but it was too late. Toby’s flavor splashed into his mouth, and he forgot about his concerns, drinking until he knew that Toby was his forever. The feel of Toby clutching Kent to him as he bonded them only encouraged Kent in his path rather than making him regret his decision. When Toby moaned, Kent stopped. He smelled Toby’s arousal and then noticed his own was strong as well.

  Kent dragged his tongue over the mark to seal the wound. He sat back and saw that Toby’s eyes were lupine, and his canine teeth had also dropped.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

  Toby silenced Kent with a brutal kiss. Toby twisted his fingers in Kent’s hair and held his head still while he plundered his mouth. Toby pushed his tongue into Kent’s mouth, and Kent acquiesced to Toby’s leading. Still holding Kent’s hair, Toby pulled Kent’s head out of the kiss.

  Kent watched as Toby’s eyes darted toward Kent’s neck. Toby licked his bottom lip. He loosed one hand from Kent’s hair and slowly dragged a finger down the side of Kent’s face and on further to his neck until it rested on his shoulder. Kent wanted to tell Toby that this was a bad idea. He wanted to beg Toby not to complete the bond, so he could stay mad endlessly, but instead he leaned his head to the side, silently giving permission. He loved Toby, and that was all that really mattered. T
he childhood resentment he was carrying had to be silenced.

  Toby didn’t hesitate. He struck quickly and bit into Kent’s skin. The feeling of Toby drawing against his skin made Kent harder than he thought possible. His cock wept in his pants as he felt them bond together. His heart rate thundered through his veins, and he knew that Toby was his.

  “Toby.” Quietly, he whispered his mate’s name, hoping that Toby heard him through their mental link.

  “I love you, Kent.” The reply came back clearly and spoken as powerfully as if Toby had talked aloud. “I swear it to you.”

  Kent nodded his head and placed it on Toby’s shoulder. It didn’t matter if Toby did run away again. They were in each other’s minds. There was nowhere Toby could go that Kent would not be able to reach him in an instant.

  * * * *

  Toby patted Kent’s back, wanting him to sit up. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

  “But your truck? You haven’t done most of what you came here to do.”

  Toby smiled and kissed his mate again. “Doesn’t matter. We can come back for it. I want to be with my mate.”

  Toby squeezed Kent’s ass with both hands. Kent blushed a deep red as he grasped all that Toby wanted from him.

  “Toby, I don’t know. I just…it’s…you know?”

  Toby laughed at Kent’s stammering. God, his mate was so handsome, and his embarrassment only made Toby want him even more. “Come here.”

  Toby threaded his fingers through Kent’s hair and pulled him closer. Kent smiled and leaned into the kiss. With practiced ease Toby led Kent where he wanted him. He pressed his tongue into Kent’s mouth and tasted his mate. Kent whimpered when Toby clutched him tightly. Never would he let Kent go now that he finally had him.

  Slowly, Toby slid along the seat until he was lying down with Kent on top of him. Kent either hadn’t noticed, or he had decided to stop resisting. Either way, Toby eased their way down until he was cradling Kent’s body between his spread thighs. Kent’s body pressed into him, and he groaned into Kent’s mouth. His dick was throbbing and feeling Kent’s hard cock near his, even through their clothes, was only enflaming him more.