Behind the access door, I took the steps to the basement two at a time and closed myself into my outer living area. As I went to pour water for myself, I noticed something in my hand. I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding something. Opening my fingers, I found a half-eaten dog chew. I felt my cheeks flush as I stared at it. Where did it come from? Is that why I had abad taste in my mouth? Though I supposed that was better than finding out I had killed some kind of critter, or worse… a person.
Carefully setting it on the table, I grabbed a cup and filled it with water, drinking it down, refilling, and chugging again. I went to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face. Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I studied my appearance. Aside from my hair being a mess, I looked… rested, which wasn’t normal.
My body didn’t ache like it usually did after a shift. Well, maybe a little, but nothing like my typical recovery. More than anything, I felt a sense of peace that was completely unexpected. Something was different this time; something had changed.
I closed my eyes and tried to push through the fog in my mind. So much of the night before was still out of reach for me, but there was one image that shone through. One clear vision. A face. Short auburn hair, glasses, a light shadow on his chin, and a smile that made my heart float.
He was the one I’d smelled in the lobby the day before.Bowen. His name came to me, and a rumble crawled up through my body. He must have told me his name when I was in my wolf form because I certainly didn’t know it from the brief encounter when I fled in a panic. The man stood before a beast and gave it his name. My lips tugged up into a smile.
Leaving the bathroom, I flopped onto the couch, put my feet up, and folded my hands behind my head. Whatwas I supposed to do with this information? What was I supposed to do withmyself?
I had a face, a name, and a scent. The rest of whatever happened with him while I was shifted was clouded and far from my reach, but his scent lingered in my nose even now. It was like orange marmalade mixed with a warm earthiness that made my body heat. I could feel a push from within as my beast responded to the memory of it as well.
Desire and need flowed through my body, overwhelming every other sense. My vision blurred, and I could feel my wolf stretching beneath my skin. I shook my head and bit out a sharp “No!”
I was not going to let him take over a third time in less than twenty-four hours. Surprisingly, it felt like he might actually listen. Though the need that bled from every pore wasn’t something I could shake. If I had any hope of keeping the beast from coming out, I needed to do something. Maybe it would help him calm down. Maybe it would helpmecalm down.
With my eyes closed, I pictured Bowen’s face. I let the scent fill my mind and fought against the instincts that pulled and pushed at me from all sides. My entire body was strung tight with tension as I reached down to palm myself over my jeans. The friction over my hardening cock made a growl rumble through me.
More!he roared in my mind, and for once, I was in complete agreement. Unzipping my jeans, Ipulled my erection out through my boxers and stroked. My head fell back at the sensation.
“Fuck,” I grunted and tightened my grip. I began furiously working myself. It was rough and raw and had a bite of pain, but I couldn’t stop. Not with the wolf inside growling and demanding more. Not with my body on fire and my jaw aching, hanging on the edge of my teeth lengthening or my claws dangerously close to piercing through my fingers.
Each pull and twist of my cock had me gritting my teeth so hard I bit my tongue, the coppery taste of blood filling my mouth. Looking around for something to bite, I saw the chew treat on the table. Without thinking, I grabbed it and clenched it between my teeth. I got to my knees on the couch, needing a better angle, as I jerked furiously. Never in my life have I experienced such intense urgency.
My entire being was strained nearly to its breaking point. I felt like I might internally combust, which was a feeling I should be used to with my wolf tearing away at me, but not like this.
More! the beast compelled from within. I pumped harder, faster, enough to make my synapses practically overload with a mixture of pain and pleasure until my balls pulled tight and release exploded out of me, making my vision black out from the pressure that rippled through me.
“Fuuuck!” It hit me so hard, I lost my balance and fell between the couch and the coffee table.
Istayed on the floor with my arms spread out beside me, huffing and panting from the vigorous effort. My head swam, and my vision was still coming back to me, but I felt my beast settle deep inside me.Holy shit!
My whole body went completely limp, unable to even tuck my now-flaccid dick back into my boxers. It was tender and sore, but as with everything else, it would mend. No other thought or function seemed to be working, though. So, I simply lay there in a euphoric haze and tried to come back into my body.
Content wolf. Content mind. Content body. Peace. A peace I so rarely felt. A satisfied smile stretched across my lips. Somewhere in the distance, I thought I heard my phone alert for notifications, but I couldn’t move and couldn’t bring myself to care. It might have happened again, but I was too blissed out for anything to break through.
A knock sounded, but I lay on the floor unmoving, my mind and body completely separated from reality. It didn’t even seem to register the sound of a door opening.
“Gods, Wolfie! What the fuck!” Zee’s voice drifted over me. I simply lifted a hand to wave before my arm flopped back down.
“Shit, you’re a mess. Clean yourself up, man.” A towel smacked me in the face, and I did nothing to move it, letting it block out the light of the room.
“Mmm. Can’t move.”
“Are you…high?” he asked carefully.
I snorted a laugh. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck,” Zee muttered. Hands hooked under my arms and dragged me off the ground. A moment later, I was dumped unceremoniously into the shower and blasted with cold water.
The shock of the water had my arms flying up to block my face from the spray. My eyes blinked rapidly as the cold soaked through my clothes. Soon, I was shivering, but the haze was gone, and mortification set in as I imagined the sight Zee walked in on. I covered my face with my hands and let out a groan.
Zee reached in and shut the water off, kneeling beside me. I peeked out between my fingers to see the concern on his face. “I’m sorry.”
“What the hell is going on with you? Maxime texted me and said you blew him off.” It wasn’t anger in his voice but concern.
Shit. Maxime. I didn’t mean to blow him off; I just needed to be alone. “I’ll apologize to Maxime.”
