“Don’t be so fucking naïve! What you want doesn’t matter! You’ll leave me like everyone else does, because you’remortal,you dickhead.”
30
SORLEY
It had been sucha lovely fantasy. Lying there next to Gethin, sticky and drenched in cum, lube, and the wolf’s pheromone-laden sweat, his mind had teased him with a daydream of decades of the same. But he’d known it for the flight of fancy it was. Was content to embrace it while he flew, barely tethered to his body, naked and soaring like some kind of ethereal sex balloon.
Then the stupid furry lug had gone and spoilt it by opening his big Welsh gob.
Mindful that he didn’t look his most threatening when he was naked and covered in bodily fluids, his mind raced. He spat out the first thing that popped into his head, noting from the horrified expression on Gethin’s face that his words had found their mark. The dumb creature only tried to argue. He stood too and opened his mouth.
“Sorley. You’re scared, I get it, I do, but let me expl—”
He jabbed a finger right into the shifter’s face. Mortified that he’d shown Gethin his needy side, and utterly appalled to have confessed his secret fear, his ridiculous weakness, he snarled, “There isnothingto explain! A stellar fuck can make even the sanest man entertain a pretty daydream for a few minutes, and as you love to tell me, I’m very fucking pretty. And yeah, you’ve got a bloody big cock and you know how to use it to make me come like a fire hose, but get over yourself, you egotistical, overgrown furball. Do not confuse a momentarily lust-addled brain for someone who actually gives a shit. It’s really fucking embarrassing. Just leave.”
He clamped his arms around his torso and glared at the shocked wolf.Go! Get out of here so I can lock myself in the bathroom and sob my pathetic heart out in privacy.
Gethin’s eyebrows rose and his eyes widened to comic book proportions. “I beg your pardon?”
“Are you deaf? Just fuck off.” His humiliation spiked further when his voice squeaked. He hugged himself tighter and stared at a spot on the wall, Gethin in his peripheral vision.
But Gethin didn’t leave. He didn’t look hurt, or even cross. He ran a hand through his messy bed hair and sighed. “Jeez, you really are a fucked-up mess, aren’t you, babe? I knew you pushed people away because you’re frightened of being abandoned, but I didn’t realise quite how deep your wounds go. Runs right through you like a stick of rock, doesn’t it, that ache to be first in someone’s world? I bet if you were even vaguely bisexual, you’d be married to Melody by now. It certainly explains why the pair of you live next door to each other.” He huffed through his nose, then moved until their toes were touching and tilted Sorley’s chin upwards.
“Iwillexplain, and youwilllisten, because I have a solution. But I’m not going to stand here arguing with you when we both need a shower. You’re going to get that gorgeous bum of yours into the bathroom where I’m going to scrub you from head to toe before I too get clean. Then we’re going to move to my room because while my wolf would love to roll around on these sheets all week, I have more self-respect, and you will let me hold you while I talk.” His brows knit together and he held eye contact. “I’m not kidding. If you try to run, I will fucking tie you up.” He moved to cradle Sorley’s face and pressed a kiss to his bemused forehead. “Come on. Shower time. I can’t think when you’re covered in my scent like this.”
Sorley was too shocked to argue any more. People simply didn’t stand up to him. Unless you counted Dalziel, but he used thrall and gentle disapproval to get Sorley to obey him if they fought. In a stupor, Sorley allowed Gethin to usher him into the bathroom where he stood like a mannequin under the hot spray as Gethin soaped and rinsed every inch of him, before fixing him in place in the corner of the shower cubicle with a pointed look. When he too was clean, Gethin wrapped Sorley in a bath sheet and used a smaller towel to rub at his hair. Cinching a third towel around his own waist, he led Sorley to the armchair, footled about in Sorley’s carry case and smiled triumphantly as he unearthed a comb. A few passes of the comb later, he nodded, then picked up Sorley’s abandoned pyjamas and gave them a shake.
“They’ll do. They smell clean. C’mon, you’re not wandering the corridors half dressed.” He dragged the worn joggers over his hips as he watched Sorley pull on his clothes.
“Why?” Christ, he sounded croaky, like he’d been gargling with ground glass.
“Why what, love?” Gethin took their towels and hung them up. He slipped on his shoes. “Do you want to put some shoes on?”
Sorley shook his head. He felt raw, flayed alive by too many thoughts and feelings all at once, completely wrung out after two intense orgasms and his outburst that followed them. Speaking was an immense effort. “Why…why not half dressed?”
Gethin gave him a look of infinite patience. “Because you’re mine,” he said simply. “And I don’t share.”
Oh. Mutely he followed Gethin down the hall and to his room.
Gethin locked the door and gestured for Sorley to get onto the bed. Gethin stepped out of his joggers once more and into a pair of briefs that hugged his backside like a lover. Sorley couldn’t help ogling him. Gethin noticed, but said nothing, although the corners of his mouth twitched.
Gethin climbed into bed and shuffled into the centre, tucking Sorley under his arm, then arranged the covers over them both.
“I know you don’t get cold, but it must be nice to be cosy, right?” He suddenly seemed unsure, and Sorley needed to reassure him.
“You’ve seen my place,” he offered. “Two of them. And you’ve seen how I dress. I don’t get cold or hot, but I still have preferences for anything that touches my skin.” God, he was unsure himself; normally he’d make a crack abouttouchandskin.“I like…I like to be comfortable.”
“Don’t blame you,” Gethin said easily. “My wolf is the same. He’s definitely the one in control when it comes to stuff like that. Hates to be confined. I don’t mind wearing a suit for short periods, but I’d much rather bum about in my sweats or a pair of nicely worn-in jeans.”
“I had noticed.”
Gethin smirked at him. “I don’t think we have the same baseline for what we consider comfort. You dress like a model. I’m more…”
“Lumberjack?”
“Rude, but yeah, anyway…” He cleared his throat. “We didn’t come here to discuss clothing options.” He inhaled a shaky breath. Sorley sensed he was nervous. What did Gethin have to be anxious about? It wasn’t like anything he said could possibly convince him they had a future together. Gethin was sexy as hell, smart, kind and a walking wet dream as a sexual partner, but even though wolves lived a long time by human standards, it was still inevitable that he would one day die and leave Sorley alone. Hehadto nip this in the bud. He’d feel safer tackling the drug-wielding loony problem with Gethin by his side, so he’d play along for now, but as soon as this bastard was caught and the threat neutralised, he’d find a way to sever all contact. The prospect made him feel faint, but it was for the best.
“Are you with me?” Oh damn, he’d zoned out. Had Gethin been talking?
