Of Wolves and Men (6 page)

Roman leaned back, staring into Charlie’s eyes.

Charlie not only melted from the need in them, he grew hard. Shaking his head, Charlie said softly, “What you do to me…the way you excite me, well…it’s a crime.”

“It is a crime. It
was
a crime.”

“I meant that as a joke. Bein’ gay ain’t illegal.”

“No. No. What they did to me.
What they did to me!
”

Charlie’s cell phone rang. “Crud. That’ll be the gang wonderin’ why I’m not up there eatin’

lunch. You’re goin’ to get me into hot water.”

“Charlie…I need you.”

The pain in Roman’s eyes tore Charlie apart. He tried to get him to stand on his own, accidentally brushing Roman’s shoulder with the fresh wound on it. He noticed the gauze was gone. “Sit.”

Roman did, reluctantly, reaching to touch Charlie’s fingers as Charlie took his phone out of his jacket pocket.

“Hello?”

“What’s taking so long?”

“Sherlane, I’m tuckered out. I’m goin’ to just rest a bit.”

“No. Come on, Charlie. You have to eat lunch. And Suzie is here. She wants to say hello.”

Charlie gazed down at Roman’s eyes. “No. And don’t come here neither. I need some shut eye.

I’ll see you’all at dinner.”

“Charlie,” she whined.

“You just stay with your mom and dad.” Charlie toyed with Roman’s fingers. “They miss you most.”

“Suzie will be disappointed.”

“She’ll live. Let me rest. Bye.” Charlie shut off the phone. He set it on the side table and stared at Roman.

Roman held Charlie by his hips and brought him to stand between his knees.

“I don’t get answers from you, Roman. But your appetite for sex is another question I have. Are you what they call a nympho?”

“It’s called a satyriasis if you’re male.” Roman kissed Charlie’s zipper flap. “And yes. I am now.”

“Are ‘now’.” Charlie ran his hands over his own head in confusion. “What were you before?”

“An ATF agent.”

Charlie tried to back up, but Roman had him in a firm hold. “Okay, what mental hospital did you escape from? You really are a mess, buddy.”

“A mess you want, Charlie.” Roman began chewing on Charlie’s cock through his jeans.

His length pulsating in the grasp of Roman’s teeth, Charlie asked, “What’s an ATF agent doin’

up in these parts?”

“Talk later.”

His cock was exposed from his clothing, and immediately sucked deeply.

Charlie began to swoon from the sensation. He held onto Roman by his shoulders. “You say talk later, but you’ll fly out of here the way you flew in.” Charlie kept quiet to enjoy the oral sex then asked, “Did you fly in here?”

Roman ignored him, drawing him deeper into his mouth, holding Charlie’s hips and pulling and pushing him in and out.

“My Lord what have I gotten myself into?” Charlie looked up at the ceiling fan as he was serviced by an ATF agent.
An ATF agent? No way. An out-patient more like
.

He felt his clothing being dragged down his legs. Charlie stepped out of it, while Roman helped, one leg at a time. When he was naked, Roman tackled Charlie roughly, pinning him to the throw rug in front of the hearth. Charlie had no complaints. He loved roughhousing. Perfect foreplay.

They grappled, wrestling on the floor, laughing yet still battling for dominance. When Roman pinned him down on his back, he looked like a wild wolf controlling a competing male from the pack. The smile dropped from Charlie’s face as he caught his bright green gaze. One he recognized now.

“Hang on a minute.” A strange tingling sensation covered Charlie’s skin. The memory of the sound of Butch’s shotgun, the black timber wolf jumping and escaping, the wound to Roman’s shoulder…a graze of one of the spread-pattern’s pellets.

Roman showed his teeth in a sensual snarl that sent the hairs rising on Charlie’s neck. He was tossed to his stomach, his hips raised into the air roughly, and fucked. Hard.

“Sweet Jesus!” Charlie braced himself, cringing and trying to break free. “Roman! Stop! What are you doing?” Charlie could not get out of the powerful grip and didn’t know if this was a rape or consensual.

I want this. I just want this safe!

“Roman. Have a heart! Christ Almighty!”

A growl, not a human voice, but a wolf’s growl filled Charlie’s ears. He froze under Roman as Roman humped him. Charlie was afraid to look. His skin was being scratched by sharp nails.

“Roman!” Charlie cringed as the sex became carnal in nature. He felt Roman’s cock throbbing inside him and held his breath in apprehension, staying perfectly still. He had no idea if this was how gay sex should be. Painful. Rough. And risky.

Then Charlie felt nothing at all. Cold air. He spun around and found his cabin door open, and the sight of a furry black pair of hind legs and fluffy tail vanishing out of it.

He gasped in astonishment, his brain trying to catch up with his vision. On his hands and knees, Charlie crawled to the door and slammed it shut, struggling to reach the knob, locking it, terrified someone would see him in this state.

Shaking, frightened that he was either was losing his mind, or something strange was in his blood, like he accidentally ingested peyote mushrooms or another hallucinogenic, Charlie stumbled to the bathroom. He turned on the light and looked at his back and ass in the mirror over the sink. He was scratched up and red, like a cougar had fought him.

Leaning his palms on the sink, he tried to think. But every thought he had was upside down and backwards.

Barely functioning, Charlie turned the water on in the shower and touched his bottom. He was sore and becoming angry. He entered the tub, allowing the water to calm and soothe him. The more he thought about it, the more furious he became. And the worst part was the images…a crow hitting his window, flying inside his cabin.
Changing into Roman? Can’t be
.

Then Roman having sex with him. A strange growling sound. The sensations changing. Seeing a wolf leave?

“I have been raped by a wolf.” He laughed. “Sure, Charlie. Tell that to a shrink and you’ll be in a rubber room for life.” ~

By six in the evening, Charlie was lying on his sofa staring into space. He had work to do. Oh yes. Plenty. He just couldn’t leave the cabin right now.

A light knock sounded at his door.

“Oh no.” Charlie rubbed his face in exhaustion. “I’m not feeling well,” he yelled, trying to be heard.

Suzie’s voice replied, “I have your dinner, Charlie. You have to eat.”

He looked down at his stocking feet and jeans. After letting go of a big, exhaled sigh, he managed to get off the sofa and open the door.

Freshman college student Suzie Norman was a petite, blueeyed blonde ex-cheerleader from Wasatch High. He could just about see her shaking her gold and black pompoms on the football field, yelling, “Go Wasps!”

“Charlie Mosby…look at you.” She set an aluminum foil wrapped plate on the coffee table and embraced him like she was his long-lost girlfriend.

He winced as she rubbed a raw spot on his back but hid it behind clenched teeth. Parting from her, he asked, “So? How’s college?”

“We can catch up while you eat. Come on, handsome.” She picked up the plate and set it on the small table, unwrapping it. “Pork chops, hash, and Mom’s apple pie.”

Charlie sat at the table as she hurried to get a fork and knife from a drawer in the kitchen, opening the fridge. “I knew I should have brought you a cold one. Butch said you always have some, but you don’t.”

“I’m all right.”

Suzie gave him the utensils and a glass of juice, then she sat down. She leaned her jaw on her palm, staring at him.

He tasted the food. “Mm. I was hungry.”

“How’re you feeling now? You still tired?”

“A little. I’m all right. Been some crazy things goin’ on lately.”

“I heard about the deer. Oh, Charlie, that is so scary. But Butch and Goat said nothing’s happened since then. Are you going back up to watch again tonight?” She leaned closer. “I can go with you.”

A bang was heard on his window.

Suzie jumped out of her skin and spun around.

Charlie grumbled. “There’s a crow that keeps flyin’ into my window. Ignore it.”

“How bizarre!”

“I think it’s confused.” He kept eating.

“Anyway, like I said, if you want, I can saddle Petunia up and we can ride up the mountain. It’s cold, but it’s a beautiful night.”

Another bang came from the glass.

“You sure that’s a bird?” She shivered visibly.

“Yeah. Hang on.” Charlie walked to the window and peeked out of the blind. The crow was tilting its head at him. “You behave!” Charlie wagged his finger.

Suzie laughed. “You are a real riot, Charlie. Telling a bird to behave itself. I never met a fella like you.”

Charlie made eye contact with the crow. He gave it a scolding glance. If it was Roman, he’d better stop what he was doing.

He felt Suzie standing behind him. She leaned against him to look outside. “You always feel and smell so nice, Charlie.”

Her breasts pressed against his back. Just as Charlie was about to step away from the window, a large black wolf with its canines bared began biting at the glass.

Suzie screamed and jumped backwards, so terrified she nearly knocked over the kitchen table and chairs.

“Stay there.” Charlie pointed to her.

“You can’t go out there! Charlie! There hasn’t been wolves out here forever. He’s got to be rabid biting at a window. Where’s your shotgun?”

“I said stay here! Ya got me? It ain’t a wolf. Okay?”

“Ain’t a wolf? I saw that thing with my own eyes!”

“Are you gonna listen to me?”

“Yes, Charlie.” She bit her nail and wrapped her arms tightly across her chest.

Charlie stormed outside and walked to the side of the cabin. Roman was standing behind the shrubs, naked of course.

“Don’t you go with her,” Roman said, looking ragged.

“Go away!” Charlie looked over his shoulder. “You’re causin’ more trouble, bitin’ like a rabid hound at my window.”

“Charlie…promise me.”

“Promise you?” Charlie tried to shout and keep his voice low at the same time. “You fucked me like a damn dog in there!” He pointed to the cabin. “Don’t you do that again!”

“Never. I…I sometimes… I sometimes…”

“Go. Shoo. She’ll see you and I’ll be in trouble.”

“Charlie…don’t sleep with her.”

“I ain’t interested in women!” Charlie stopped short. “My God. Did I just say that?”

“Charlie? You okay?” Suzie called from the door.

“Charlie…I need you. Please.”

“I hear ya. I do. But if someone finds out…” Charlie looked over his shoulder. “Now I’m beggin’
you
, Roman.”

“Anything. Yes.”

“Now, go buy yourself some clothing. Fer cryin’ out loud.” Charlie shook his head and returned to the cabin.

Suzie stood in the open doorway. “Is it still there?”

“It’s just a feral dog. I shooed him away. Hey, Suzie, I am real tired. Can I just be alone?”

“Sure, Charlie.” She looked rejected.

“I’ll be certain to spend time with you’all tomorrow. Just not tonight. I’m feelin’ out of sorts.

Okay?”

“Okay.”

She made a move as if she were going to kiss him. A loud flapping noise and a gust of air made her jerk back and wave over her head.

Charlie rolled his eyes. “It’s just a bat. See ya tomorrow, Suzie.”

Suzie scooted off in a hurry, ducking as if bats would get tangled in her hair. Charlie shut the door and found Roman sitting at the table eating his dinner.

“I guess you’re hungry, Mr. Burk. Mr. Crow or whatever you decide to be today.”

“Starved.”

He sat down across from Roman and stared at him. Roman took a bite, then fed Charlie, sharing the meal.

“What have I gotten myself into?” Charlie sighed.

“You?” Roman laughed. “I got news for you, friend. You don’t have near the trouble I’m in at the moment.”

“I’m getting that feelin’.”

“You have no idea.” Roman fed him another bite of pork chop.

Charlie stared at the handsome man and let out another loud sigh.

Chapter 6

When Roman picked up the empty dinner plate and began licking it, Charlie slumped

back in his chair and gaped at him. “You’re actin’ like Harley.”

Roman lowered the dish and said, “That dog is a pain in the ass.” He used his forearm to wipe his face until Charlie handed him a paper napkin.

“Roman, what are you? Are you one of them orphans brought up by wolves? I swear, you give me the creeps sometimes…” Charlie met Roman’s intense gaze. “Most of the time.”

“Babe, you have no idea what I have been dealing with. I was seriously in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

A knock sounded at the cabin door. “Charlie, you in there?”

“It’s Butch. You have got to make yourself scarce.” Charlie stood. “Shoo. Fly. Or go hide under the bed. But be quiet.”

“Charlie?” Butch called, knocking louder.

Roman’s lip curled in a snarl. “He shot me.”

“He shot at a wolf, not you. Go.” Charlie held Roman’s forearm and urged him to go into the bedroom.

“You want to fuck him, don’t you?” Roman was being stubborn.

“No!” Charlie lowered his voice. “You are one possessive critter, you know that? Now do you want to expose me as a queer? I’m not ready for that. Okay?” Charlie shook his head at Roman.

“Goddamn naked man-hunk in my cabin. What do you think Butch’ll think about that?”

“Man-hunk?” Roman got a look of lust in his eyes.

“Charlie Mosby? You open this door!”

“Keep yer boots on!” Charlie yelled at Butch. “Let me get rid of him.”

Roman rubbed the sore wound on his shoulder, glaring at the door Butch was behind. Finally he relented and went into the bedroom. Charlie closed the door, straightened his shirt and ran his hand through his hair. He opened the door, but not all the way, keeping his foot wedged against it, preventing it from moving. “What.”

“Vernon asked me to check on you. I want to take the girls out dancing but they won’t come without you.”

“Take Goat. I’m not goin’.”

“Take Goat? Did you just tell me to take Goat?” Butch pushed on the door.