“Sam?” he asked, keeping his voice low as the leopard sat before him, amber eyes angry. He wanted to reach forward, to stoke through the fur, but knew right then he risked losing a few fingers.
He remembered… Sam. His head had been thrown back, pressed hard against the wall. His breathing had been erratic, face flushed, and lips parted with pleasure. Pleasure from Axel’s hand around his…
“Fucking hell.”
Sam blinked, his fur parting to reveal bright red flesh as every cell transformed. His snout shortened, ears folding back as he began to morph into the man. Axel had never witnessed a shifter change, the magic old and highly protected due to the vulnerability it left the person in. So he remained exactly where he was as he watched every muscle ripple in painful waves, conscious of the agony as Sam’s body changed. Bones snapped, realigning with audible cracks as his paws stretched back into fingers. Black claws slowly retracted, disappearing until nothing was left but blunt, square nails.
After thirty seconds or so, Sam crouched, naked and covered in a fine layer of sweat.
The transformation was both horrifying and beautiful, and even with Sam glaring from beneath the blonde strands of his hair Axel felt the air sizzle with electricity, and just a touch of animosity.
Without a word Sam stood, and Axel lifted his gaze to stop from staring at the man who was just as physically gracious in his human form as he was in his leopard. His body was all built with sinuous lines and hard, lean muscle. Then there were the scars, fine lines that were a mess against his chest. A story, one he wasn’t sure whether he had the right to ask.
Axel’s stomach twisted, a strange fire burning deep in his gut that he couldn’t seem to extinguish.
Without a word Sam padded towards the stairs, descending on silent feet.
Well.Fuck.
Axel counted to ten before he moved, peering over the edge to the area below. Sam’s bedroom was on a mezzanine, almost the entire house open plan, with the living, kitchen, and dining all in the same space. Everything was decorated in natural woods and greens, with bursts of complimentary pinks, purples and yellows in the soft furnishings and art. It reminded him of the forest, not just in colours but in textures and serenity too. There was a faint musk scent, not unpleasant, but strange.
Sam appeared below, having pulled on some shorts as he quickly climbed back up the stairs. “Here,” he said, thrusting fabric into Axel’s hands. “Now get out.”
Axel’s fists clenched, teeth grinding at the tone. “We need to talk about this.”
“Talk about what, exactly?”
Axel pointed to the rumbled sheets on the bed. “Like why I woke up in your bed?”
“We didn’t have sex, if that’s what you’re worried about,” Sam said when Axel looked away.
“Wait, we didn’t?”
“No.” Sam rolled his eyes. “Just look in the mirror.”
Axel prickled at the demand, but followed the instruction as he moved the few steps to the dresser. He ignored the happy photographs, peering at his tired face in the reflection. It took him a second to notice his irises were encircled in a bright, angry red.
Panic constricted his lungs, his hands reaching up to yank at his hair to check if he’d suddenly grown horns as well.
“You turned up at my door, high.” Sam glowered behind him, leopard still present in the tension along his shoulders. “I’m not some toy to play with, and I definitely don’t enjoy edging.”
“Edging?” He only remembered the pleasure on Sam’s face. Everything directly before, and after was a blur.
“What did you take?” Sam asked, his voice more of a growl. “Seriously Axel, what was it?”
“I –”
“Don’t you dare lie to me,” Sam hissed. “You owe me that much.”
Okay, more than angry,Axel thought.Furious.
“Some gas,” Axel replied mechanically. “A canister.” He had been in his car, and then nothing.
Sam stepped forward, violence crackling between them. “You don’t remember, do you?” At Axel’s silence Sam continued. “You turned up at my door, but it wasn’t really you, it was your beast.”
Axel took a second to understand his words. “My beast?”
“He wore your skin.” A hollow chuckle. “And when he was done with me, he shifted.”
