Of Wolves and Men (5 page)

Charlie jumped out of his skin and looked for the origin of the soft whisper that he could have sworn said his name. He tugged the reins and made Spirit turn in a complete circle.

“I’m goin’ nutty.” Charlie was about to head back to the ranch when he heard it again. He tapped his heels against Spirit to make him walk towards the sound, but Spirit began resisting.

“What’s wrong, boy? Go.” Charlie squeezed his knees, trying to get the horse to move.

Spirit shifted his weight side to side to intentionally avoid going where Charlie wanted him to.

The more Charlie asked him to obey, the more upset Spirit became. “What is with you?” Charlie backed him up, turned him in another direction and had no problem. He made a wide circle and tried to again go towards where he had heard the whisper. Spirit reared and made a noise of fear.

That was enough to make Charlie a believer. He dismounted and held the reins, taking slow steps towards a stand of evergreens. Spirit protested loudly and dug in his hooves. Charlie wished Harley had stuck around. “Fine.” He brought the horse in the opposite direction and tied him to a tree to make sure he didn’t bolt from whatever was scaring him. And something was.

Charlie removed the shotgun but didn’t chamber a round.

He walked towards the darkness of the trees and strained to see into the thickness of the low hanging branches.

“Charlie.”

His jaw dropping in shock, Charlie said, “I cannot believe my eyes! Now, you can’t tell me I’m dreamin’ in the middle of the mornin’.” He set the shotgun aside and knelt next to Roman, who was once again naked and shivering. This time Roman was holding his shoulder, blood seeping through his fingers.

“Don’t you own any clothes?” He took off his sheepskinlined coat and covered Roman. “What did you do this time?” Charlie nudged back Roman’s hand to see what looked to be a graze of a one of the shotgun round’s pellets. The skin was sliced and beginning to get red and angry.

“Hang on. I got a first aid kit on the saddle.”

As Charlie walked to Spirit, who was not looking comfortable at all at the moment, he tried to make sense of this strange man. “If that weren’t no dream, then I…” Charlie removed a small box from a saddlebag.
Did I make love to you last night?

Charlie looked over his shoulder, half-expecting Roman to not be there when he checked.

He returned with his kit and knelt down beside him. “I’m at a loss, Roman. Are you some kind of naturist who don’t believe in clothing?” He dabbed at the wound, making Roman hiss like a cat as he flinched from the sting. “This time of year, ya have to wear clothes. I swear, I don’t know who’s crazier. Me for thinkin’ you’re real, or you for being so stupid.” He used gauze and white tape to patch up the wound. “There. I suppose you need me to take you back to my place and borrow clothing.”

Roman lunged at him, connecting their mouths, gripping Charlie’s shoulders.

Charlie blinked and braced himself before he was slammed into the trunk of the trees they were under. He broke the kiss and gasped at Roman. “What are you?” He stared into the depth of Roman’s eyes, and the green gaze made his skin prickle with warning. “I did make love you last night, didn’t I? You kept tellin’ me I was dreamin’ but—”

Roman tackled Charlie and pinned him to the ground, devouring his mouth and grinding his cock on Charlie’s crotch.

Charlie was sure someone had tainted the water on the ranch. There was no mistaking he was awake, but how he kept finding this naked man who had an insatiable appetite for sex was confusing the heck out of him.

With an effort Charlie turned away from the hungry kisses. “Hold on, Roman…hang on!”

Charlie felt Roman opening his shirt, the jacket had slid off Roman’s body and the sight of his sculpted biceps and rounded chest muscles was beginning to get Charlie into that state he was in last night. Pure lust, aching to hump. “What’s going on? How does a man end up naked on this mountain? Especially a gay one who looks like a city boy. Come on, Roman. You and I had unprotected sex last night. I feel slightly violated now. You knew I was out of it, thinkin’ it wasn’t real.”

“It’s not real now.” Roman smiled and his pure white teeth made him appear wicked.

Charlie didn’t know what to say. What do you say to a naked Greek god who’s hot for your cock?

While Charlie’s heart felt as if it were exploding in his chest, Roman opened his jeans and hunted for his prick. He grasped Charlie’s cock and exposed it from his clothing. After Roman admired it, smoothed his hands over the length, he sank his dick into his mouth, nearly to the base.

Charlie arched his back and closed his eyes at the rush. Questions were spinning in his head.

Who are you? What are you? Where did you come from? Why me?

But all those thoughts were gone as his body began to rise. “Roman…Jesus! I thought Joe knew how to suck cock!” Charlie grabbed the dirt under him, digging his nails into it as the intensity began to turn his body into pure pleasure.

Roman was drawing hard suction while holding tightly with his hand. He engulfed his cock deep, then nearly allowed it to slip out of his lips. Charlie fucked him orally, going wild as Roman used his tongue to swirl around his cock while it was still inside his hot, wet mouth.

The intensity was too much for Charlie. Going from nothing but masturbating, and that rarely, to incredible head, made Charlie want to come, not edge the climax.

He threw back his head and clenched his teeth as he came. The orgasm was so strong, he could barely exhale or open his eyes. His body rocked and his cock pulsated as Roman moaned, or purred? The sound was cat-like…or wolf-like? Charlie was too high from the pleasure swoon to think.

When Roman had milked Charlie for all he could give, licking the drops from his slit, Roman knelt up and reached his hands over his head in a strange gesture. Victory? Joy?

Charlie blinked and tried to recuperate. He gazed from Roman’s dark five o’clock shadow down his chest to his engorged cock. It was thick, red, and veins showed through the skin, it was so hard.

Lunging at him, Charlie used both hands to push Roman backwards to the ground. At first Roman let out a snarl in anger, but when Charlie gripped the base of that formidable cock and enveloped it into his mouth, that growl of defense quickly changed to a purr.

Inhaling his musky scent, Charlie sucked Roman with the same intensity Roman had sucked him.
I want to swallow. Come in my mouth, you fucking wild beast!

A low rumbling sound came from Roman’s chest as if he were amused, or laughing. Charlie didn’t care if he could read his mind.

Suddenly Roman gripped Charlie’s head and began orally fucking him. Charlie wasn’t prepared for that. It was only the second time he’d had a cock in his mouth, and the first one was barely a taste.

He tried to back off, pushing Roman’s hips before he embarrassed himself and gagged. But prior to that happening, Roman came.

Charlie didn’t know what to do because Roman’s grip on him made moving away impossible.

He swallowed the load before he had a chance to think about it.
Well, I did tell myself I would.

Roman pumped into his mouth again. More cum hit the back of Charlie’s tongue. Down it went as well. When Roman’s cock stopped throbbing, he released his hold on Charlie’s head.

Charlie leaned on his elbow, wiping his mouth. “What are you? Some kind of animal? Christ, I told you I’m new at this. Ya could have let me set the pace.”

Then Roman jolted in fear so powerfully under him that Charlie gasped and leapt back. Roman spun around, staring behind him as if something terrorized him.

“What?” Charlie said, trying to close his pants and shirt. “Roman? What? Do you see a wolf?”

Roman jumped to his feet and vanished into the woods.

“Wait! Let me help you!” Charlie rose to his feet clumsily, tucking in his shirt and rushing to see where Roman had gone. Spirit was snorting and stomping in mortal fear.

“Roman! Don’t fight it alone!” Charlie grabbed his jacket from the ground, putting it on, then he picked up his shotgun. He raced in the direction he thought Roman had gone but he was nowhere to be seen. “Roman!” Charlie called, feeling empty and alone. “Roman! Let me help you!” When he felt his eyes sting with tears, Charlie grew angry at himself. He swore under his breath at getting involved with a wild-man, then picked up the first aid kit, returning it and his shotgun to the saddle.

“You’re not helpin’ me any!” he yelled at Spirit who was spinning like a top from nerves. “Just calm down. All right? There ain’t nuthin’ here.”

Charlie swung his leg up and over the saddle. Before he left, he noticed a big black crow perched on a birch tree branch. Below it was what looked like a piece of white gauze, lying on the ground.

“I give up. That man is nuttier than a fruitcake.” He turned Spirit in the direction of the ranch and rode down the trail. “I have got to stop goin’ near him. That fella does not have all his marbles.” Charlie shook his head. “I’d be better off lookin’ for Joe and takin’ my chances with a man like that, then tryin’ to deal with a macho-fella who’s half nuts.”

The closer they got to the ranch, the calmer Spirit became. But Charlie was a mess. The sexual contact with Roman was ideal, but nothing about that man made sense.

Chapter 5

Before he even made it to the barn, Charlie heard a young woman’s squeal of joy and spotted a yellow Ford Escort parked near the ranch house.

Sherlane was obviously just arriving home from college. Charlie’s mind was so confused at the moment, he was struggling to function and do things he had done over and over again, like get Spirit out of his saddle and bridle.

The conversation right outside the barn was nothing but noise. Charlie couldn’t make any of it out, but it was obvious the other boys were as excited to see Vernon’s daughter as Connie and Vernon were.

Charlie put Spirit’s halter on, and led him to the paddock where the other horses were grazing on piles of hay.

“Go on, ya pain in the butt.” Charlie slapped Spirit’s rump and he trotted happily towards his equine friends.

Just as he closed the gate, Sherlane jumped into his arms in greeting. “Charlie Mosby! You just get cuter and cuter every time I visit!”

The brown-eyed brunette nearly knocked his cowboy hat off in her excitement. He Sherlane.”

He noticed watching. Butch was the only one with a jealous spark in his eye.

He backed away from her politely and brushed off his hands, trying to not offend her. “I was just up the mountain…sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She grinned flirtatiously.

“Come on,” Connie waved at her as she hollered, “let’s all have some lunch. Suzie should be here any minute.”

Sherlane reached for Charlie’s hand as if to escort him to the house with her.

“Hun, I have to stop at the cabin and wash up. I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Don’t be long.” She batted her lashes over her shoulder as she walked with the others.

Charlie looked down at his boots, wondering if he had the scent of a man’s groin all over him. It felt that way, but maybe the aroma of horse was stronger.

grabbed it and held on. “Howdy, her parents and the other three men

He didn’t even glance at the rest of the group as he walked the path to his cabin. Standing in the living room, Charlie took off his coat, intent on a shower and change of clothing. He stood by the foot of his bed, removing his boots and unzipping his jeans. Something hit the window. Loudly.

He started in surprise and looked out of the blinds. Nothing was there. Shaking it off, he continued to undress, planning to tell Butch he had no reason to feel jealous because…

Another loud bang shook him up. He tugged the cord, lifting the blinds all the way up. There was shrubbery around his cabin, bare from the coming winter. Just as he was about to drop the blinds, a large bird hit the glass.

“What the fuck?” Charlie leaned against the window sill to see. That crow, or one that looked exactly like it, was perched on a tree branch and making diving hits at Charlie’s window. “Stop!

Are you crazy, ya dumb bird? It’s a window! You’ll knock yourself out!” He straightened his back. “Now I’m talkin’ to birds.” Shaking his head as if he knew he was insane, Charlie lowered the shade and continued to head to the shower. Another thump, louder than the two before, hit the glass. “He’s goin’ to break the damn thing.”

Intending to go around the side of his cabin and chase the bird away, Charlie opened the front door and the bird flew over his head into the room, scaring him to death. He spun around, expecting to be pecked in the face. Instead he found Roman Burk sitting naked on his floor, catching his breath.

Charlie choked in shock and quickly shut and locked his door. “Now hang on…”

“Don’t go with Sherlane or Suzie. Please.”

Charlie hurried to the window and looked out. “Please tell me that you aren’t that crazy bird.”

“Charlie…I need you!”

“How the heck? Look. Are you puttin’ LSD into my drinking water?” Charlie knew he was not right in the head. “Did you see a big crow fly in here? Or am I desperately in need of a doctor?”

Roman struggled to get to his feet. Charlie could see his legs shaking. “Buddy, you seriously need to stop runnin’ around like a madman. You sprinted so fast after what we did up the mountain I thought…well, I don’t know what I thought.” Charlie scratched his head. “I don’t know what to think at all.”

Roman seemed to struggle to walk, to close the small gap between them. He hung his arms over Charlie’s shoulders and shifted all his weight onto Charlie for support. “Don’t go with either of them. Please.”

Charlie struggled to hold Roman up. He was a big man. “Look, here…Roman, I have no

intention of goin’ with either of Vernon’s daughters. But, how did you get in here? I mean it. I don’t believe in paranormal bullshit, but I swear a crow just flew in here, and then there you are again, naked as a jaybird.”

“Don’t go with them. Don’t go with them.”

“I should get you some help. I don’t mean any offense, Roman, but somethin’ ain’t right.”