Melbourne Heat (12 page)

They lay in each other’s arms and time ceased to have meaning for Spencer. He was dazed and might have even dozed off momentarily. All he knew was he felt safe and blissfully happy. The world could have burned down around him and Spencer couldn’t have cared less.

“I need to wash, and then wipe down the coffee table,” Charles murmured, though he didn’t move an inch.

Spencer lifted his head and grimaced when he saw he’d made a bit of a mess.

“Aw shit, I’m so sorry.”

Charles laughed. “It was worth it, so don’t apologize. Mess is a small price to pay for what I just experienced.”

“When I regain use of my limbs I’ll clean up, it’s my fault,” Spencer said.

They both remained where they were.

A short time later, Charles did stir.

Spencer groaned, unusually sore after such a prolonged session. Charles stood and stretched. Spencer climbed off the comfortable couch more slowly, feeling just how tender he was before also rubbing the kinks from his shoulders and back.

They took turns in the bathroom, and Spencer found a dishcloth to wipe the table down. Spencer dressed in his boxers and trousers, but left his shirt draped over a chair. Charles returned in a fresh pair of knee-length shorts and an oversized T-shirt.

“Can you stay overnight, or do you have an early morning tomorrow?” Charles asked.

“I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow. I might bring a bag next time,” Spencer said with a smile. He pressed a kiss to Charles’ lips. “I can stay a while, though, I don’t have to run quite yet. How about I pepper you with a few questions?”

“I could deal with that,” Charles replied.

They kissed again and Spencer almost became distracted. He rubbed his thumb along Charles’ stubble, relishing the roughness as he did so. He’d have a bit of a rash tomorrow, but Spencer didn’t care. When Charles pulled away Spencer licked his lips, enjoying the taste of his partner.

“Mmm, I could get totally sidetracked if you weren’t so organized,” Spencer admitted. He tried to collect his thoughts, but they were all over the place. He felt sure there were dozens of things he should ask about Charles’ life and the world he lived in. Spencer knew that sooner—rather than later—his curiosity would eventually want bunches of questions answered.

For now, though, he’d limit himself to only a few important things.

“Is there a large group of you?” Spencer asked. “I mean, like a pack, or a structure or something? Are there rules I should know about or that could get you into trouble?”

“I don’t really know exact numbers,” Charles said. “There’s a small number of us, yes. More than a few dozen, probably not a hundred. Here in Melbourne, I mean. For the most part we aren’t organized, no. We just go about and live our lives. I tend to avoid the really territorial ones. The only ones I know of mostly stick to larger country towns where they can strut around as much as they please and others are cowed by them. I almost never travel out to Ballarat or Bendigo for that very reason.”

Spencer nodded, grateful that it didn’t sound like there’d be any politics or weird rules he’d need to learn to obey. Charles stared at Spencer’s lips and stroked his jaw and chin. While Spencer knew Charles was paying attention to what he said, he didn’t seem especially interested in anything except Spencer’s face. Spencer smiled.

“Do you ever feel lonely?” Spencer asked.

This caused Charles to lift his gaze. He raised his eyebrows and Spencer had the impression that he’d surprised Charles.

“Lonely? I have friends—only a few good ones, but enough that I’m not ever alone unless I want to be.”

“I mean, because you can’t exactly go wandering around proclaiming what you are. Well, you can’t, can you?” Spencer felt a little embarrassed. Had he put his foot in it?

He didn’t know how he’d have reacted had, when he first met Charles, he’d said he could shape shift into a wolf. Spencer would have thought him mad, sure, and quite possibly run. He didn’t think it was as simple as just coming clean and being honest.

“Well, no, I can’t usually go running around proclaiming it,” Charles admitted. “But then, you don’t tell your deepest, darkest secrets to everyone you work with, do you?”

Spencer nodded. He had a point.

“In most ways,” Charles continued, “I’m an average bloke. I just happen to have a somewhat different skill set, one not many other people have. And I need to make sure I don’t get too competitive when I’m playing sports. I pack a mean punch and am faster than most humans. But for the most part, my life is boringly normal, just like yours.”

Spencer chuckled. “My life has been anything but normal since I bumped into you.”

“Well, I hope I can keep you on your toes,” Charles said in a deep tone.

Spencer chuckled and kissed Charles again just because he could. When he pulled back they sat comfortably, leaning against each other.

“One more then I’d better get moving,” Spencer promised. “I’m guessing the thing about becoming a werewolf from being bitten by one is a myth? Because you’ve already marked me and nothing’s happened.”

“Shifters are born, not made,” Charles said. He reached out and touched Spencer’s neck where the hickey had faded a little, but was still quite visible. “We don’t carry disease and it’s certainly not something you can catch. I’ll still get a blood test for you later, to prove I’m clean. But no, being bitten doesn’t mean you’ll start to shapechange. Don’t worry.”

Spencer smiled. “I wasn’t worried, I don’t believe you’d knowingly hurt me. But it helps to hear it aloud and not just assume it for myself.”

Charles bent over and pressed a hot kiss to the mark on Spencer’s neck. Spencer moaned and shifted away when Charles lifted his head.

“I need to go,” Spencer said reluctantly. “While accountants are a dull lot, they’re detail orientated. They’re going to notice if I rock up at work tomorrow in the same suit, shirt and tie that I left in tonight.”

“I’ll walk you home,” Charles said.

They both stood. Spencer shrugged into his shirt and buttoned it up.

“I’d enjoy the company, but it’s not necessary if you have something else you need to do,” Spencer insisted.

Charles collected his keys and placed them in his pocket. “It’s no problem, I’ll enjoy the exercise.”

Spencer picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.

“Aren’t you a bit old to carry around a backpack for work?” Charles teased him.

Spencer nodded. “I actually bought it for my gym gear, but I end up never going, and when I have to carry files and folders it’s just as easy to put them in here as into a briefcase or satchel. I keep meaning to buy a satchel but there’s always something else draining my money between paychecks.”

“Well, how about tomorrow night you cook dinner and I’ll bring a bag of your stuff back here. I’m sure I can find a drawer in the bedroom where you can keep a few things. Then you’ll not have an excuse to go home instead of spend the night,” Charles said.

Spencer looked at him a moment, then grinned. He nodded.

“That sounds good. I can return the favor, too—feel free to bring a few things over to my place tomorrow night,” Spencer said.

Charles opened the door and they both left the house. Spencer gazed up at the sky and enjoyed the sight of the stars. The air was still warm, the summer night perfect.

“So I should be able to get out early enough tomorrow to make a lasagna. I can probably have dinner ready by seven, if that suits?” Spencer said. He busily started making a shopping list in his mind. He’d also need to clean the bathroom and change the sheets on his bed.

“That sounds good,” Charles replied.

Spencer was caught up in his planning, so when Charles didn’t speak further it took him a moment to realize that his partner was distracted.

“What is it?”

Charles continued walking. Spencer guessed he probably hadn’t even heard him.

“Charles? What’s going on?”

“Spencer, I want you to stay behind me, okay?”

Totally confused, Spencer glanced around them, not seeing anything. They were walking down a well-lit, though empty street. Small houses were spaced apart on either side and there was a tiny park a few doors down on the other side of the road. The park was only the size of a block of land and had no lamps in it, just a grassy area with a couple of park benches for people to sit and watch the world go by.

Charles had stopped now, and turned to face the direction they’d come from. He held out an arm and kept Spencer behind him. Feeling curious and puzzled, Spencer looked around, trying to find out what Charles could sense.

“I found him first,” an angry voice rang out. “If you know what’s good for you, scruffy, you’ll just give him up right now and Spencer and I will be on our way.”

Spencer frowned, even more lost now.

Malcolm stepped out from behind a tree, and Spencer knew that no matter what else was going on, his night had just turned to shit.

Chapter Nine

Charles bristled, the scent of the other man telling him that this was a shifter. An angry one. Spencer tugged at Charles’ arm, urging him to keep walking, but Charles couldn’t do that. Not with the challenging manner this man had. To turn and walk away would be worse than conceding defeat.

Charles growled in a warning manner and used his body to protect Spencer. He knew this was going to turn ugly, and he was prepared for that. He just didn’t want Spencer caught in the middle.

“Come on, this is just the guy who’s been acting weird around me lately,” Spencer said. “I don’t want any trouble, let’s just go.”

“I don’t know who taught you manners, mate,” Malcolm sneered at Charles. “But it’s rude to take something from someone before they’re done with it. I hadn’t even begun with this sweet little sub and here you’ve stolen him away, branded him even.”

“You need to go home, Spencer,” Charles insisted. “I’ll deal with this.”

“Yes, do run along home, little man,” Malcolm added. “I’ll swing by once I’m done pounding on your lover here and teaching him how to play nicely with toys. I know where to find you.”

“I’m not some damn toy,” Spencer said heatedly. “And I certainly was never yours.”

“I just needed a bit more time to convince you,” Malcolm said. “You would’ve come around, they always do. And I knew you were perfect when I noticed you in the club. You just left before I could make a move.”

“The fact I did leave should have been a hint,” Spencer spat back. “I didn’t like the look of anything I could see there. If I’d been even remotely interested I would have stayed.”

While part of Charles was pleased that Spencer was showing some backbone, he knew this would only further enrage Malcolm. Charles glanced about and spent precious seconds studying the park across the street. While the area near the footpath was well lit, there were trees and shrubbery further in the grassy area. There should be some cover and hopefully enough darkness to hide the scuffle he could feel vibrating on the air.

He’d need to be quick about this, though. The sound of two ‘dogs’ fighting wouldn’t draw too much notice if it only lasted a short time. The longer this drew out, especially with angry shouts preceding it, the more likely it would be that someone in the neighborhood would look out of a window or come out of their doors to check what was happening.

Charles wanted to nip this in the bud before it got out of control. Malcolm had worked himself up into a fiery state and if he knew where Spencer lived, then the man wasn’t safe until this was resolved.

“Let’s deal with this properly,” Charles said. He nodded to the park. “Before we’re interrupted by the locals. If it’s a fight you want, I’m more than happy to oblige.”

“Charles.” Spencer tugged hard on his arm, his voice becoming distressed. “I’m sorry. Let’s just go. I don’t want you fighting this bastard.”

“I’d be happy if you didn’t see this, Spencer,” Charles said in a low tone. “Go home. I’ll call you when this is over.”

“Don’t you want your little toy seeing what a dangerous beast you can be?” Malcolm taunted. “I’d have thought he’d already seen what a monster you are. Why not show him how vicious you can be, too?”

Outwardly, Charles shrugged off the words, but there was enough truth in them to pierce him inside. He
didn’t
want Spencer to see him like that. While Charles was still himself in wolf form, he was…different. The wolf saw things in far simpler terms. Hunt. Eat. Fuck. Fight. Life was straightforward as a wolf. There were none of the dizzying complexities humans put on themselves and their actions weren’t relevant to the animal within him.

“Struck a nerve, did I?” Malcolm said smugly.

Spencer stood beside Charles and twined his fingers through Charles’ hair. Even though Charles could sense that Spencer longed to say something, he remained silent, practically vibrating his outrage. Still, the act of solidarity, his clear drawing of the line and pointing out which side he was on warmed Charles.

Resigned, Charles realized that Spencer would have to comprehend the true depths of what Charles was sooner or later. Malcolm had tipped his hand, so he might as well get this over with now.

Charles tightened his grip around Spencer’s hand and jerked his chin to the park.

“Are you all talk and no bite?” Charles asked. “Do you want to do this, or are you happy to concede Spencer is mine and leave him the fuck alone?”

“Oh, I’d love to rumble with you,” Malcolm replied.

The three of them crossed the road. The street was basically deserted—they hadn’t seen more than one or two people walking since leaving his house. While it was possible that they’d get unlucky and someone would hear them scuffle, if they were out of sight and quick, they probably would not be caught.

They walked to the far back corner, where the shadows were deepest. There was a small clearing, well covered by the tall oak trees. The ground was uneven, dirty and peppered with dropped acorns. There wasn’t as much grass here and the lack of light probably meant that this wasn’t used as often as the open area.

Charles let go of Spencer’s hand and nodded for the man to stand beside one of the large trees.