Among Wolves (25 page)

Roman put his hands on his hips and shook his
head. "I don't know. Honestly, Butch. I have no answers."

The bathroom door opened and Charlie stepped
out, a towel wrapped around his hips. "Next," he said.

Butch touched Roman's shoulder gently, and
took his turn cleaning up.

Charlie stood in front of Roman. "Is he
okay?"

Roman gazed into Charlie's eyes but didn't
answer.

"Are you?" Charlie ran his hand over Roman's
damp hair.

"I don't know." Roman tried to smile, but it
took an effort.

Charlie drew Roman to his lips and kissed
him. Roman took Charlie into his arms and the towel fell off
Charlie's hips. They dropped onto the bed together and Roman held
Charlie tight, kissing him, swirling his tongue around Charlie's.
The animal urges didn't hit him yet, and his teeth did not
ache.

But that didn't mean he and Charlie were out
of the woods yet. Two years had passed between the occurrences and
they had made love hundreds of times without the threat of
shifting.

Roman ran his hand down Charlie's chest to
his low abdomen, smoothing his fingers into his pubic hair and
holding his cock. Charlie moaned against Roman's mouth and bent one
knee, encouraging Roman to touch him intimately.

Roman caressed between Charlie's legs, over
his rim, cupping his balls and then up his hard length.

The door to the bathroom opened.

Roman peered up from his kiss to see Butch,
watching.

When he did, Charlie turned to look. It was
Charlie who reached out his hand, beckoning Butch closer.

Butch moved towards them, his cock swelling
and his lips parted.

"Come 'ere," Charlie said, patting a spot he
made between he and Roman.

Roman scooted over, making a place for Butch.
Butch lay on his back, looking from one man to the other.

Charlie rolled to his side, kissing Butch's
cheek, then urging Butch to accept a kiss on the lips.

Roman smiled to himself, knowing Butch was
finally going to get what he craved.

As Charlie devoured Butch's mouth, Roman
kissed his way down Butch's taut skin to his hip, then crouched
between Butch's legs.

Butch made a whimpering sound, muffled by
Charlie's kiss and spread his legs.

Roman nuzzled into Butch's crotch, inhaling
the clean soapy scent and closing his eyes.

When a hand touched Roman's hair, Roman
looked up to see Charlie, urging Roman to give Butch oral sex. They
met gazes briefly and Charlie went back to his kissing as Roman
engulfed Butch's cock into his mouth.

A long, low groan of pleasure escaped
Butch.

Roman felt his own body responding to the
pleasure he was giving, and sucked Butch's cock from the base to
the tip while holding him tight. Charlie moved his sweet kisses to
Butch's nipples and neck, so Butch could moan and grunt to his
heart's content.

Roman tasted pre-cum and increased his
suction and speed, enjoying the act immensely.

Butch's body tensed up, he gasped and Roman's
mouth filled with his cum. Butch's vocalizations sounded as if he
were in heaven, and after the hell he'd been through, Roman was
glad.

He sat up to see Butch's passionate
expression and met Charlie's smirk.

"A trio," Charlie said.

"It's called a threesome, Charlie." Roman
chuckled.

"Ohhh, thank you, Lord." Butch touched his
own cock, running it through his hand.

"I'm not done yet." Roman held Butch by the
hips and rolled him face down.

Charlie leaned on his side, his head propped
up, to watch. "You ready for yer top dog, Crowell?" Charlie asked,
smirking.

"Been ready for two long years." Butch tucked
a pillow under his chin.

Roman hoisted Butch up to his knees and
spread his ass cheeks, going for a nibble.

"Damn…" Butch gripped the pillow and burrowed
into it.

"Don't you turn wolf," Charlie said,
laughing.

"Huh?" Butch spun back to look at them.

"I'm not." Roman gave Charlie a reproving
glance and went back to rimming Butch.

"I hope ta hell I'm gettin' laid." Butch
tucked the pillow under his chin.

"You are, Butch," Charlie replied, "but be
wary what you ask for."

"Huh?" Butch looked behind him again.

Roman pushed his finger into Butch's wet ass
and massaged him.

Butch howled in pleasure and Charlie cracked
up with laughter. "Now look who's a wolf?"

"Get the lube, Mosby," Roman said, grinning
wickedly.

Charlie hopped off the bed and grabbed it out
of the nightstand.

Butch gave Roman a last glance, gave him a
thumbs-up and then spread his knees wider.

Roman pointed the head of his cock at Butch
and penetrated gently.

Charlie sat beside Roman and caressed Butch's
bottom as he drew Roman into a kiss.

Roman eased his way into Butch and then used
his slick hand to service his main man. Charlie knelt up beside
him, keeping Roman's mouth occupied with his own, as Roman made
love to Butch and jerked Charlie off at the same time.

"
Ohhh
, damn!" Butch clenched the
pillow tighter.

Roman didn't edge the climax, coming inside
Butch and feeling Charlie help him with the hand-job. Charlie came,
spraying Butch with his cum and he and Roman parted mouths to gasp
for air.

Roman pulled out and milked his cock onto
Butch's thigh. "Yup. A threesome."

Butch dropped to the bed heavily and
moaned.

"Welcome to the pack, Crowell." Charlie
smacked Butch's butt and laughed.

~

Dressed, clean, sexually sated and starving,
Butch stood at the cabin door waiting for Charlie and Roman.

He touched his bottom through his jeans and
looked up to see Charlie's mischievous smile. "Sore, partner?"

"Naw." He was. A little.

Charlie slapped Butch's back and laughed at
him. "Sure you ain't."

Roman joined them at the door, his phone to
his ear. "Phil," he said as Butch led the way to the ranch house.
"Yes. I'm fine. We're all okay…"

Butch looked up at the sky. They had slept
until lunch time, and the sun was angling slightly, playing hide
and seek with puffy clouds.

"…I don't know if I can ID anyone," Roman
said, his concentration on the call with Phil.

Butch walked up the two steps to the ranch
house and opened the door. Harley didn't bark. He wagged his tail
and greeted them, like a normal dog and not a crazed lunatic.

"I'll ask," Roman said, crouching down to pet
the dog. "Are either of you able to go through mug shots and ID any
of the members of that cult last night?"

Butch took off his hat and coat. "Nope. I
can't. All I remember is the Alpha and even his face I wouldn't
recognize."

Charlie shook his head. "Oh, I'd recognize
him. Just not any of the others." He greeted the women and Vernon
as he walked to the kitchen.

The house smelled of cooking and baking, a
savory roasted turkey smell competed with sugary sweetness.

"…sorry, Phil. They were all wearing hoods."
Roman stood by the door as he finished his call.

Butch spotted Sherlane and Suzie waiting for
him.

"There's our man." Sherlane opened her
arms.

Butch felt his cheeks flush and hugged her,
thinking silly thoughts, like she would know now he was 'with' a
guy.

Suzie hugged and kissed him next, giving him
a big loving smile. "We were so worried."

"I know. I wish I had an explanation. I
don't."

Connie placed a huge platter of turkey,
carved up, on the table. "What matters is you're back with us." She
gestured to the meal. "Come on, y'all sit down. Where's JP and
Goat?"

"I'll get them." Vernon put his coat on and
left.

Butch sat on the chair at the table and
shifted his hips, getting comfortable. Sherlane, setting a plate of
steamed vegetables on the table whispered into his ear, "Ya get
some good welcome back loving from your boys, Butch?"

A rush of heat hit Butch's cheeks and he
couldn't meet her eyes. "Looks good, Connie. I'm famished."

Sherlane touched Butch's hair lovingly and
continued to bring in the food.

Noise at the front door made Butch turn to
look. JP and Goat entered the house, laughing and smiling, as
Vernon took off his coat and hung it up.

"Smells wonderful, Connie!" Once Goat had his
coat and hat off, he stood at the sink to wash his hands.

Roman and Charlie sat down, joining Butch at
the table.

Charlie leaned on Butch's shoulder and said,
"You need a cushion?"

Butch elbowed him and caught Sherlane's
giggle. "No. Be quiet."

Roman raised his water glass and Butch could
see his smile behind it.

"What's going on?" JP asked as he sat with
them at the table, scooting his chair closer.

"Nothin'." Butch tried not to catch anyone's
eye.

"I think Butch's Christmas wish came early,"
Suzie said, sitting with Goat at the table.

"Can we change the topic?" Butch looked at
the food and his mouth watered.

"What is the topic?" Vernon asked.

Connie interrupted the flow and said, "The
topic is giving thanks for the meal."

Butch lowered his head as Vernon said a quick
grace for the dinner. He peeked up and caught Sherlane's wink. She
mouthed, '
Lucky man
!'

Butch glanced at Charlie and Roman as they
passed the food around. He smiled to himself and knew Sherlane
could see it.

Roman took the skin off his turkey breast and
held it up for Harley.

Harley leapt for it, chomping it down.

Vernon said, "Looks like you two have made
up."

"He's my best buddy." Roman wiped his hands
on a napkin.

"Don't get that dog into beggin', Roman,"
Connie admonished. "He's already spoiled rotten."

Charlie replied, "He needs to be. He's a
little hero."

"What'd he do?" Suzie asked, taking a bite of
her food.

Butch glanced at the little dog sitting
beside Roman, waiting for another handout.

Roman said, "He came to my rescue. I owe
him." He fed Harley another scrap.

Charlie laughed. "He's the head of our
pack."

Butch laughed so hard he coughed on his food,
covering his mouth.

"Is that a fact?" Connie appeared amused,
eating the meat off a drumstick.

"Don't tell Harley that," JP said, smirking,
"You'll give the little egomaniac a swelled head."

"He's not the only one who has a swelled
head," Roman said under his breath, glancing at Butch.

It was Sherlane's turn to break up with
laughter. She had been drinking her water and coughed on it,
covering her mouth and trying to contain her choking and her
laughter.

"What did he say?" Goat asked, licking his
fingers of gravy.

"Nuthin'!" Butch gave Sherlane a timid smile,
then chuckled, shaking his head.

Vernon asked, "Roman, any news on what's
doing that killin' up the property line?"

Everyone's jovial mood vanished, but Butch
was relieved that he had changed the topic.

"No. Nothing new. But Phil and Dale are going
to work together to figure it out."

"Okay." Vernon nodded.

Butch took another helping of turkey and
potatoes, so hungry from nearly twenty-four hours without food, he
was struggling not to hog all of it.

"Pass the turkey, Charlie." Goat tilted his
head towards it.

Charlie gave Goat the dish and Sherlane said,
"There's pie and brownies for dessert."

"And it's not even Christmas yet!" Suzie
laughed.

"Good Lord, people," Roman said, "you're
going to make me explode."

"Enjoy it," Charlie said, his cheeks full.
"After Christmas yer back to my cookin'."

"That bad?" Sherlane asked.

"Naw," Butch said, "Not bad. Fer a cowboy."
He heard Roman laugh.

Butch looked over Charlie to Roman, who was
sitting opposite Charlie. They met gazes.

The affection was so strong from Roman,
Butch's skin heated up. '
Love you
,' he mouthed.

'
Back at ya
.' Roman grinned.

"Aww," Sherlane had obviously caught it.

So had Charlie. He laughed and winked at
Butch.

"Aww, what?" Goat asked.

"Nothing." Sherlane shrugged and appeared
smug.

Butch noticed Roman sneak another morsel to
Harley.
Yeah, this will be the best Christmas ever.
He
burped and covered his mouth. "'scuse me."

"Ya full yet?" Vernon teased, "Ya got a
hollow leg, Butch?"

"Jus' about. Lettin' it settle to make room
for dessert." He rubbed his belly.
It is so good to be here. To
be loved
. Butch settled in his chair, enjoying the family
immensely.
Ya don't know whatcha got, until ya lose it.

~

After the meal and relaxing and socializing
with Vernon's family, Roman headed back to the cabin, his arm
around Charlie's waist, feeling content, while Butch stayed behind
at the ranch house.

Although it felt as if another episode of
chaos had past, Roman still had an uneasy feeling, and…many
unanswered questions.

Charlie entered the cabin first, taking off
his hat and coat. "Butch sure is enjoying the family."

"Yes." Roman hung his leather jacket up on a
rack and removed his shoes.

"I'll get a fire goin' in the hearth."
Charlie rubbed his hands together in the chill of the interior.

"Okay. Great." Roman walked to their bedroom,
entering the bathroom, and stood at the sink, washing his face and
hands. It wasn't late. Only around eight o'clock, but the long
winter nights made it seem as if it were later.

He stared into his green eyes, trying to
understand, trying to feel the wolf inside him. He said to his
reflection, "Who am I?"

His gaze became lost on the color of his
irises, the green ring surrounding the black pupil. "Is it
over?"