Burning Bright

Curiosity never killed this cat, but love could have deadly consequences.

Sasha Soskoff has two reasons for moving to Chicago: secure a tenured position in veterinary research medicine, and widen his horizons. After a night at the city’s hottest new club, though, a wrong turn down a dark alley narrows his focus to surviving three muggers. As consciousness fades, he catches a glimpse of his rescuer, whose mere appearance is enough to chase the attackers off. Neal Harrison doesn’t often have to call on his skills as an ex-Marine to maintain control at his club. But with Sasha, he can’t seem to keep his hands to himself. Yet there’s danger in allowing any close relationships, particularly with a naïve young newcomer. The safety of his business depends on the ironclad secret he and his ex-Marine buddies all hide. While Neal seems happy to satisfy Sasha’s insatiable curiosity about the erotic scenes played out in the club’s private rooms, Sasha senses his new lover is holding something back. When the truth claws its way out amid a night of tribal blood and violence, Neal discovers his lover has a secret of his own. And that the forces arrayed against them all could make a mugging look like a walk in the park…

Warning: Contains explicit, adult situations: male on male, more males on several more males, noholds-barred erotic scenes, no-claws-barred violence, and love forged in the heat of desire.

eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work. This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. Samhain Publishing, Ltd. 11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B Cincinnati OH 45249 Burning Bright Copyright © 2011 by A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder ISBN: 978-1-60928-526-5 Edited by Tera Kleinfelter Cover by Kanaxa All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: August 2011 www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Dedication

From A. Catherine Noon: There are several I am grateful to: Issy, Meg, and Nina: for the beginning. To Sylvur for the leg up. To Gwen for starting it all, and the members of The Writer’s Retreat for the community: Byz, Darla, Dawn, Eden, Emma, Evey, Lucius, Maggie, Nikki and Pat. To Rachel for the sisterhood. To Dayna for the mentorship. To the Divas for being divas. To Krissy for the belief, and to Debbie for being magnificent (and pushing me out of the nest). To Michael for inspiration, and to Dorothy for the magic. Thank you and blessed be.

From Rachel Wilder: To my father for showing me every day that you are not too old to start something new, even if it is a huge undertaking. To my sister for offering to beta when no one else would. To Nicole and Tabitha for being best friends. To the Writer’s Retreat for all your support. To Cody and Sullivan—I miss you guys! And to Noony for sharing this journey!

Chapter One Dude. Where’s My Car?

Sasha waved to Marty and Vince as the cab pulled away. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned east toward his truck. Or was it west? He hesitated, the streetlights bleary in his vision. Driving himself home wasn’t an option, what with the number of drinks he’d let cute tops buy him tonight. Sharing his friends’ cab when he lived in the opposite direction wasn’t practical, either. Of all the nights to lock his wallet in the truck. Laughter came from behind him and Sasha glanced back. Two men, one in black jeans and a T-shirt and the other in a tight-fitting red net shirt over black leather pants, walked about fifteen paces back. “Devochka,” one called, and the other snickered. Fuck. He recognized the Russian word for “girl”. Irritation bled into the beginnings of nervousness. He turned back and scanned the street. Double fuck. He had no clue where he was, or where his truck sat. “Keep it together, Sasha,” he muttered. He turned right at the next corner. Leaving his wallet in the glove box for safekeeping because he wanted his pants to fit tight was proving to be an unwise decision. The club parking began at the side of the big building, and he hoped he’d picked the correct one. “Don’t run, devochka,” the other man called. “We just want to talk.” Dude, he didn’t look that feminine. Just because his sable hair brushed his collar didn’t mean he looked effeminate. He hardly even had curves, since he jogged as much as he did. Asshole. He approached the street corner. This side of the brick building housing the Factory lay quiet and unoccupied, its exterior lights out. On the other side of the narrower street, empty windows stared at him. Too rattled to read the name of the business on the placard, he turned right and glanced back after discovering no parking lot with his Chevy waiting. “Hi.” The voice startled him and he stopped short of running into the muscular chest of a third man, who stepped out from a doorway. He wore a leather trench coat over jeans, Russian gang tattoos visible on the naked skin of his upper torso.

Burning Bright

“Fuck,” Sasha blurted. He started to turn but the man’s hand shot out and clamped around his throat. “Where are you going, little girl?” he purred. A knife appeared in his other hand. Sasha yanked back and blocked the hand holding the knife. The blade clattered to the ground and the wrist Sasha held twisted under his hand. Too much alcohol in his system fuzzed his reflexes and he lost his grip. Of course, the guy behind him grabbed Sasha before he could move and held him in place while the one he attacked snarled at him. “What about the alley, Petya?” the third one asked as he walked up on Sasha’s right. “Good idea, Alyosha. Bring him.” Alyosha’s grip tightened like a vise and he dragged Sasha backward to rub his cock against Sasha’s ass. “I’m going to enjoy this, devochka.” Alyosha yanked Sasha along the building and around another corner. “It’s time we had some fun. It’s boring watching this shit box.” A narrow alley appeared, littered and dark, and Alyosha pushed him into it. “It’s my turn,” the third one whined. “No, Iosef. Let Alyosha have him. He’s just the right size.” They all laughed. Sasha tried to ignore them and summon his magic. That proved to be next to impossible while fear raced through him. When Alyosha stepped forward, Sasha lashed out with all his strength. His foot slammed into the bigger man’s knee with a crunch, jarring Sasha’s hip. He kneed Alyosha in the balls. As the bigger man crumpled, Sasha took off down the alley. The angry shouts behind him spurred him on, adrenalin making it hard to breathe. His stomach burned and his legs refused to function at normal speed. One of them got closer and Sasha pushed himself to run harder. Petya’s hand closed on his jacket and threw him sideways with such force he careened into the brick wall and slid down it, dazed. He pushed himself to his feet and caught Petya when he lunged. Using the bigger man’s momentum, Sasha threw him over his shoulder. Iosef sprang forward and landed a kick in his stomach, then grabbed him by the throat. He lifted Sasha with no trouble and threw him against a dumpster. He bounced and landed on his hands and knees, dizzy. “Watch for cops, Iosef,” Petya ordered. He unbuckled his belt. Sasha scrambled back and ran into the dumpster, slamming his head against the metal. The belt whipped out and tagged his cheek. Sasha’s head cracked against the metal behind him a second time, and he went limp with vertigo but didn’t quite pass out. Petya hit him with the belt again. Another set of footfalls approached and a big man appeared. “It’s Harrison.” Iosef stepped back.

www.samhainpublishing.com

7

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha recognized the owner of the club. He’d only been staring at the man off and on all night. Muscular and clean-cut, Neal Harrison ruled the Factory with an iron fist. Petya slammed his foot into Sasha’s stomach and the air went out of him. He struggled to pull in a breath. Neal’s eyes flicked to his and then the big man spun. His foot lashed out and Iosef flew into the wall and tumbled into a pile of trash. He rolled to his feet and faced the larger man. Neal felled him with three lightning-fast jabs that sounded like a boxer hitting a heavy bag. Petya drew a knife and started forward. Neal watched him, and the big man whipped his hands out in a martial arts maneuver that Sasha only viewed on television. Then he slammed an elbow into Petya’s face and the Russian collapsed like a broken doll. Neal whirled and jogged over to Sasha. “Hey, kid. Are you okay?” Sasha tried to speak but a coughing fit took his voice. Neal caught him and held him steady. Sasha spat blood onto the ground. “I’m not a kid.” “Maybe not, but take it easy. You probably have a concussion.” Sasha tried to argue but a roaring started in his ears. Gods, he hoped he wouldn’t collapse right in front of the man. His body refused to listen and he went limp, his heartbeat loud in his ears. Neal hefted him like he weighed nothing. Neal’s big body radiated warmth and Sasha resisted the urge to snuggle. His head lolled back on his neck, cradled in the crook of the other man’s elbow. “Easy, I’ve got you.” “Boss. Boss, are you all right?” A man in black cargo pants and a grey T-shirt of the club’s sprinted up, followed by two others. The three pairs of black combat boots echoed in the narrow alley like thunder. “Fuck.” “Let’s get him back to the club, Carlos. I don’t know if he needs the hospital or not.” “No insurance,” Sasha managed to slur. Neal looked down at him. His eyes, seen from this close, seemed like warm cinnamon. “I’ll take care of it. Try to relax.” The sharp planes of his face were even better from inches away, like the statue of a Greek god, only warm and animated. The larger man’s dark hair, cut close to his scalp, seemed to highlight the hard angles of his face. “What if you’re the Big Bad Wolf?” he managed to quip. Neal’s eyes widened. “Then you’d better be Little Red Riding Hood, son.” He turned back to Carlos. “Get rid of this trash.” One of the others stepped closer and eyed the toughs on the ground behind them. “That one guy’s Russian mob, Neal.” “I know, Paul. What do you want me to do? Leave the kid here to get raped or worse?” “Fucking homophobes,” Paul spat. “I wish you’d let me take care of ’em.”

8

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“You know the rules,” Neal soothed. “City council doesn’t want any more trouble from the gay clubs after that shit happened in Boystown.” “But if the mafia is muscling in—” “Then we’ll deal with it,” Neal cut in. “All bets are off if that’s true. But we don’t know, and now’s not the time to discuss it. Take care of it, will you? I need to get him back to the club.” “He doesn’t look so good,” Carlos told him. “I think he needs the hospital.” Sasha started to argue but a wave of dizziness swelled up and he passed out.

When he woke, he couldn’t feel his body. He lay cuddled on what had to be the most comfortable couch ever, rich dark brown leather and larger than anything he’d ever sat on. A whisper-soft ivory microfiber blanket wrapped around him like a cloud. His right arm peeked out from the cover, wrapped in neat white bandages with a few spots of red. Medical supplies were scattered over the coffee table next to him, including two syringes, more bandages and a bottle of water. “Hey,” a voice greeted. Neal loomed into view. “How’s our patient?” “Snug as a bug in a rug,” Sasha admitted. His voice sounded odd to him, tinny and faint. He blinked, embarrassed at saying such a stupid thing. “What in Hades did you shoot me up with?” Neal smirked. “Opiates. Why?” “How do you know I’m not a cop?” “Well, Doctor Soskoff, if you are, it’s sure deep cover.” Sasha laughed. “Riffling through pockets, now?” The leather cardholder that held his ID and one of his new business cards sat on top of his jacket nearby. The memory of his aunt when she gave them to him for his job search still made him smile. He should have put more cash in there, dammit. “Had to make sure you’re legal,” Neal murmured. “Twenty-eight old enough?” Neal winked and walked past the couch. “You want some juice?” “I’d rather have a bourbon.” When he went to sit up, pain shot through him from his chest to his testicles so fast it took his breath. “You okay?” Neal appeared again and this time, kneeled by the couch. It took him a couple times to speak. “My chest feels like shit.” “I shouldn’t wonder. You’ve got a couple ribs busted up.” Sasha stared at him. “Tell me you’re kidding.” Neal’s lips thinned and he stood again. “I wish I was. You’re lucky you’re not at the hospital.” Sasha looked away. No job yet meant no health insurance. He didn’t want to admit that to the attractive club owner. “Thanks.” “Don’t mention it. How about that juice?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

9

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Sure.” A fridge opened nearby but Sasha couldn’t crane his head around to look. Above him, a square skylight with panels of stained glass let in light. The ceiling gleamed, painted a rich ivory that looked like latte foam with a touch of coffee. Small halogen spots on an undulating track shone down, and the silver frames on the wall across from the couch showcased black-and-white nude photographs of men. He recognized Neal in one of them and heat flamed into his face. Figured, he’d develop a crush on the best-looking man in the club. You could get him as a top too, if you wanted; it cost about what a massage did. He’d never seen that in Madison and he wished he had the money to try it out. It was just his luck the man owned the damned place and had his pick of the best-looking lovers in Chicago. A twink vet from Madison wouldn’t be anything special to a man like that. He eyed the table and its syringes, wondering if what they gave him had any effect on the emotions. Neal sat on it after brushing the medical jumble out of his way. He held the glass for Sasha and moved a straw for him to reach. “Take it slow, you’ve been out for a while.” “What time is it?” Sasha sipped and it went down like crack, igniting all his nerve receptors and making his stomach growl. “Day time.” “What time of day?” Sasha demanded. Neal hesitated. “It’s about four in the afternoon.” “But…” He trailed off. “Fuck.” “Your friends called your phone, and I told them the scoop. Is there anyone else you want to notify?” His mom wouldn’t even know what day it was. Alzheimer’s stole even that from her, not to mention any memory of her family or her son. His aunt would just order him to come back to Madison. “No, that’s good you told them.” “Roommate?” He shook his head. “Don’t have one. I live alone.” “Girlfriend?” Sasha glared at him. “You know damn well I was at your club, Neal.” Neal laughed. “I wondered if you knew who I was. You didn’t ask, but I couldn’t tell if that was the drugs or not.” “Speaking of. What in Hades did you give me? Opiates covers a lot of ground.” “I have no idea, to be honest. Is it really important? I can call Steve; he was a medic in the Corps. Don’t worry, he knows what he’s doing, Doctor.” “Well, whatever it is, I can’t feel anything.” “That’s the point,” Neal said with a grin.

10

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha relaxed against the couch. If the bandaging was any sample of Steve’s skill, he didn’t need to worry about dosage levels. “Thanks. I mean it. I really appreciate you patching me up.” Neal smiled, pleased. He stood up. “Try to get some rest. You’re safe here. I promise.” Sasha wanted to argue, but the drugs or something else in his system surged to the fore and he floated away.

www.samhainpublishing.com

11

Chapter Two Top Shelf

When Sasha woke again, the savory aroma of onions and garlic made his stomach growl. Then his bladder announced it was Time to Pay Attention to Business. He sighed, unwilling to emerge from the cocoon of the blanket. “Yo, Sarge, he’s awake,” a voice called. A tall, gorgeous black man stepped into view, feet silent on the floor. His large eyes seemed kind in an expressive face. “Hey, Doc. I’m Steve.” “Hi,” Sasha greeted. “Thanks for patching me up.” He hesitated, then asked it. “Where’s the can?” “Back there.” Steve waved an imprecise hand over his shoulder. “You need a hand gettin’ up? You gotta be careful.” “Um…” Why did Neal have to surround himself with the best-looking men in the city? Sasha struggled to sit up on his own, but the pain in his chest took his breath. “Dammit.” Steve kneeled next to him. “Here.” He slipped a gentle arm under Sasha and eased him to a sitting position. Steve smelled good, like expensive cologne with an earthier undertone. The softness of his neck surprised Sasha, its warmth sinking into Sasha’s cheek. Sasha flushed. He was never this attracted to strangers. He swung his legs over the edge of the couch and Steve helped him to his feet. As the blanket fell away, he stood there buck naked. The larger man’s gaze swept over him and only wistfulness made him think anything more than clinical interest prompted it. Steve didn’t say anything, just stepped back. “The bathroom’s over there, on the far side of the dining room table.” “My robe’s in the bedroom, Steve-O. Grab it for me?” Neal called from behind him. Sasha looked over his shoulder at his rescuer as he cooked in an open kitchen. Steve went off to get the robe and Sasha wrapped the blanket around himself like a huge toga. “It’s just us,” Neal noted, smirking. “You can go commando.” “Don’t listen to him, Doc,” Steve countered as he walked back in. The thing in his hands in no way resembled a robe. “Here.”

Burning Bright

The fabric unfurled to reveal a luxurious, deep garnet silk robe and sash. Steve dressed him like a man-sized doll and tied the sash with efficient and careful movements. Sasha hoped his deep inhalation of the cologne left behind on the robe went unnoticed. Gods, Neal smelled good. A heavy knock at the door made him jump, and then Carlos and Paul strode in, their combat-style boots silent on the hardwood floor. “Dinner rush is starting, Boss,” Carlos said by way of greeting. “Hey. You’re awake.” “How are you feeling? You look like shit,” Paul noted. Carlos smashed a fist sideways into Paul’s arm. “Shut up, man.” Sasha blinked, unaccustomed to the easy manner in which these big and obviously gay men interacted. They seemed more like a military unit than bouncers at a gay club. Of course, maybe that’s how they did it in Chicago. Now that Sasha’s brain cleared of the alcohol fog, he studied the two men. Paul, taller by an inch, sported the same muscular physique as the others but seemed older, more mature. Mild crow’s feet around his eyes put his age around late-thirties, and the cold blue of his gaze speared Sasha. Carlos, on the other hand, seemed like a college kid, maybe twenty-three. His head came even with Sasha’s, which put him about the same height of five-ten. His warm golden skin glowed in the lighting, smooth and unblemished. He wore the same uniform as Steve, and Sasha noted that none had “Security” on it. Being mistaken for a busboy or waiter probably didn’t happen very often. Sasha couldn’t help but notice the swell at Carlos’s crotch. The Latino was exceptionally well hung. Sasha looked down to adjust his robe, praying the other man hadn’t caught him staring. He’d come to Chicago to widen his horizons, but he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d walked into a weird sort of G.I. Joe parallel universe or something. He greeted the newcomers in a soft voice and closed the bathroom door. He turned and stopped, leaning against the door, and stared. On his left, rich chocolate-brown slate stone lined a walk-in shower with double showerheads. In front of him stood the vanity with two large sinks, and in the corner a wide and deep tub stood with a shelf for candles above it. The commode stood to the right in its own alcove. He started forward and caught sight of himself in the mirror. He froze and opened his robe. Livid crimson bruises marched down his face and neck, with darker, purple bruises over the broken ribs. A long bandage wrapped his right arm, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember what he’d done to himself to warrant it. His stomach looked like a pizza, with purples and browns radiating out to yellow-ish green. It looked oddly pretty against the golds and greens of his Yggdrasil tattoo. The mirror revealed the blood pooled in his left eye and a magnificent shiner that covered half his face. His cheek had split in two places and a large white bandage covered part of Sasha’s jaw and under to the chin and throat. He let his fingers trace his ribs but stopped when a sharp pain raced through him,

www.samhainpublishing.com

13

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

warning him that exploring further was a bad idea. Anger filled him without warning, and he turned to stalk to the toilet to take a piss. He had an interview on Tuesday, for the sake of the Gods. What was he supposed to do, show up looking like an extra from Fight Club? Nobody would hire an applicant who looked like the loser of a bar brawl. “Idiot,” he whispered at himself, furious and at the same time despairing. A knock on the door made him jump. “In a minute.” “You can take a shower, Doc, if you want, Neal says. There’s towels and stuff in there.” It sounded like Carlos’s voice. “Thanks.” He eyed the shower with interest as he hung the robe on a hook on the back of the door. He finished with the toilet and padded over to the bathing area. The water started up with a loud hiss and he grinned. Water pressure seemed strong enough to feel good on sore muscles or other parts of his body. He unwound the bandage from his arm and studied the jagged scrape along his skin. It looked like it could be from glass or something, but he didn’t need stitches. It stung like mad when he stepped into the water but he washed every inch of himself he could reach without causing himself to black out from the pain of his ribs. By the time Sasha emerged, Carlos and Paul disappeared. Steve leaned by the door, talking to Neal with the air of someone killing time. His eyes met Sasha’s and they stared at each other a moment. The bigger man’s gaze swept over him and Sasha was very aware of how the robe gaped in the front, but he wasn’t about to clutch it closed. Let the other man look if he wanted too. It was probably just at the bruises. Sasha moved farther into the room, toward the table. Steve said nothing, just pushed off from the wall. “I’ll be back,” he told Neal. “You sure you don’t want a bite of this?” Neal asked over his shoulder, shaking the skillet and drizzling wine over its contents. Sasha walked over to the table and Steve said something about taking care of personal business. Neal laughed. Sasha turned as the big man slipped into the hall and close the door, silent as a ghost. “Have a seat,” Neal invited. “Thank you,” Sasha told him, nervous like a fourteen-year-old with his first crush. He couldn’t seem to keep still, fidgeting in his seat. “What would you like to drink?” “Iced tea. Iced tea is fine.” He cleared his throat. Neal served the meal on heavy grey ceramic plates. He set one in front of Sasha and got the iced tea. Sasha eyed the chicken and sighed. On the other hand, the plate overflowed with colorful vegetables—onion, baby corn, snap peas—all in a ginger wine sauce that smelled divine. He edged the chicken to one side and ate everything else. “What do you do when you’re not picking fights in the alley, Doc?”

14

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha took a sip of the tea. His eyes widened. It tasted incredible, something with mango and sweetener. “I’m a veterinary trauma surgeon.” “No shit.” He nodded. “Yeah. I specialize in large animals and exotics.” “Here in Chicago?” “No, actually. Not yet, anyway. I’m here about a job at Northwestern.” Neal’s eyes widened. “Impressive.” He preened, he couldn’t help it. “Thank you.” The big man looked at his plate. “The sauce too spicy?” He hesitated. He really didn’t want to be ungrateful, but… “I don’t eat meat.” “Oh. Jeez, I’m sorry.” “How would you know? It’s okay. This is incredible.” Neal smiled, his cinnamon-brown eyes crinkling. “Thank you.” “You like to cook?” He shrugged. “It’s what I did after I got out of the service. I used my GI Bill and went to cooking school. This place pays well, but I love to cook.” Sasha smiled. “Well, you do it really well.” Neal leaned forward and Sasha froze. “Flattery will get you everything.” He stood and went to the fridge. Holy crap, the man was hot. He took a slurp of iced tea and watched Neal move. He walked with contained power and silence. Sasha tried to concentrate, but he had nothing else on his plate to eat. He rose and went over to the sink and then stared at the faucet, unsure where to put his hands. Neal walked over. It was only in Sasha’s imagination that he put his hands on Sasha’s ass and started to fuck him against the counter. He turned, discovering Neal right behind him. Concern shown in the other man’s eyes, mixed with interest. A calloused finger traced along one of the cuts on his cheek. Sasha pulled his head away. “Did I hurt you?” “No,” Sasha rushed to reassure him. “But I look like a circus freak.” “Fishing for compliments?” He glared before looking away. He’d forgotten how he looked while they ate, absorbed in the conversation. It came back to him now. A warm palm cupping the good side of his jaw lifted his head back up. An intense gaze met his. “You want some sorbet? You still hungry?” Neal asked, his breath close enough to stir the hair on Sasha’s neck.

www.samhainpublishing.com

15

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha turned. “Not for dessert.” It just popped out. His face heated and he tried to look away, but Neal’s rich, dark cinnamon eyes held his and the firm pressure of the larger man’s hand stopped the motion before it began. “You’re still injured,” he murmured, moving Sasha’s face up and to the side in order to see the bruising better. Sasha panted and his damned cock woke. It didn’t seem to notice his soreness; instead it started an ache of its own. This close to the other man, there was no way he could hide it. Neal bent closer and Sasha couldn’t look away from his mouth. He wanted those lips on him like he’d wanted nothing else in a long, long time. Neal caught his wrists in his hands, the heat from the calloused palms like a balm. Neal lifted Sasha’s wrists and pinned them against the cabinets behind him, then licked along the unbruised side of his throat. Sasha moaned, a higher-pitched sound than he was used to hearing from himself, but he couldn’t stop it. His cock, erect now, bumped Neal’s hip through the silk robe. The big man chuckled. “So eager.” “I…” Sasha trailed off when Neal’s gaze caught his again. Never could he imagine while watching Neal last night on stage that this would happen. Neal cocked his head. “How sore are you?” It took a try or two before he managed to make a sound. “The ribs hurt bad, but the rest is all right. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.” Neal smirked again, the arrogance only a true top could muster. All of a sudden, Sasha wanted to be dominated by this man, completely and totally. Neal let go of Sasha’s right wrist and ran his thumb along Sasha’s lower lip. Sasha pulled the digit into his mouth and sucked, hard, on the thick skin and knuckles. Neal made a low, growling noise of approval and Sasha closed his eyes to concentrate, imagining another part of Neal’s anatomy in his mouth. Neal’s other hand let go of him and slipped inside the robe. The calloused palm wrapped around his cock. Sasha left his hands where the other man placed them. “So ready,” Neal murmured. “Please,” Sasha whispered, undone. Neal’s fingers traced lower and then stroked his shaved ball sac. “So smooth,” he noted with a purr in his voice. “Are you a good little bottom?” Since Sasha couldn’t talk he nodded, lost in the sensations and the desire for Neal to grip his shaft again. Instead, Neal’s hand cupped his cheek and held his head stationary. “Look at me.” He did as he was told, panting with desire. “What’s your safe word?”

16

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Oh Gods. His heart started to pound, and his cock bobbed above the hand massaging his balls. Did he really mean it? “It’s Lemon,” he managed to pant. “You attached? Got anyone calling you theirs?” Sasha shook his head. “No. No, I’m single.” Please. Please fuck me… Neal stepped back, letting go of him. “You’re injured. On drugs too. We should probably wait.” He turned away. “Please.” Sasha wanted to sob with need. “Please, Neal.” “It’s Boss. Not Neal.” He wanted to shout with joy. “Boss.” “No fucking for now, you’ll have to wait for that.” Sasha nodded. He didn’t care as long as the other man didn’t leave him like this. Neal swung back and his mouth landed on Sasha’s, somehow managing to not hurt him as he did it. Sasha tasted chicken and wine sauce, the onions and garlic adding the right amount of savory to it. Neal’s big hand closed around Sasha’s cock again and moved like a piston, squeezing him with authority. He couldn’t breathe and Neal let him up for air, but didn’t slow his hand. Sasha let Neal move him against his body, his head against Neal’s chest so he didn’t fall or whack his head. He licked the nipple, intending to suckle, but Neal’s hand tightened and he shouted. “Not too hard?” Neal whispered. “Perfect,” Sasha managed to gasp out. Neal grinned and pumped his hand. Sasha shuddered and then the orgasm slammed his body into Neal’s, tightening every muscle along his front. His ribs creaked and he whimpered, caught between pleasure and pain. “You okay?” Neal demanded in a sharp tone. “I’m fine, I’m fine,” Sasha assured him. “The ribs. They hurt. But fuck, man.” Neal chuckled. “Been awhile?” “About six months,” he admitted. He looked down at the creamy ribbons that stretched almost to his throat. “Shit.” “You need another shower.” “Yeah.” He leaned on Neal as the big man led the way to the bathroom. As he eyed the table with its medical supplies, it seemed like it all was a dream. When they entered the bathroom and their eyes met in the mirror, Neal’s grin answered his own. No dream, but just as good as one.

www.samhainpublishing.com

17

Chapter Three Weaknesses of the Flesh

“Stand still,” Neal ordered. Sasha did as he was told, shivering with excitement and a chilly breeze from the door. Neal noticed and closed it. He flipped the switch for the fan and it started up with a soft hiss. Sasha stepped into the shower as the warm air bathed his body. Neal started the water and stripped. Sasha tried not to stare, but failed. His gaze homed in on the thick, cut cock that curved up over a flat stomach. He moved on to the taut muscles that covered his body. His attention snagged on a military tattoo on Neal’s left biceps. It looked a little like the one Sasha’s exboyfriend, Brock Gary, had, but not… It had the same fierce-looking bald eagle. The impression of a flag flowed across the skin, but an anchor and a globe formed the bottom. As the big man stepped in next to him, Sasha brought his fingers up to trace the design. “What is this?” “The Corps.” Neal ran his fingers up the front of Sasha’s Yggdrasil design. “And this?” “It’s the Viking World Tree, Yggdrasil. The Tree of Life with the roots representing the world below and the branches the world above.” “It’s really well done.” Neal crouched next to Sasha in order to see it better, on the inside of Sasha’s inner hip, which brought his face next to Sasha’s cock. Sasha froze. His heart thumped loud enough that it could jump out of his body. Neal’s index finger stroked the design of the tattoo, ignoring the bouncing flesh next to his hand. Instead, he stood and turned Sasha to trace the design of the knotwork on his back. “And this?” “It’s a Celtic knot,” Sasha whispered, unable to get his voice any louder than that. “It’s a symbol of new beginnings. I got it when I finished med school. The colors are for the gay flag. From when I came out.” He did not share that his former boyfriend and Dom had done both for him.

Burning Bright

Neal made a small sound of interest. He ran his hands down Sasha’s ass, trailing water. His fingers came up the inside of Sasha’s left leg and stroked his ball sac. Sasha’s pulse raced and he had trouble breathing. He caught himself against the wall of the shower. “You okay?” Neal’s voice sounded concerned. “Just dizzy.” “Easy. You’ve been through a lot, maybe you should be resting…” Anxious for that not to happen before they had sex, Sasha grabbed the nipple near his face with his teeth. He sucked hard on the skin and Neal groaned again, that low growl that sounded so fucking sexy. Even though he hadn’t gotten permission, Sasha wrapped both hands around the thick cock bobbing in front of his belly button. At a guess, Sasha put Neal’s height at around six-three. Fortunately, Sasha liked his lovers big. And that was something else Neal had. Girth. He filled Sasha’s hands like warm bread dough, firm and silky. Neal groaned and caught himself against the wall over Sasha’s head. “Jesus, you’re good at that,” Neal panted. Sasha chuckled. “All part of my evil plan.” “What, to turn me into putty?” “Paid my way through med school doing massage.” He started to bend over to go down on Neal, but something in his chest popped and sent pain up all the way into his head. A loud gasp escaped him. “Doc, what’s wrong?” Neal demanded. He knelt in front of him, holding him upright with his hands under Sasha’s arms. “Jesus, are you okay?” He panted through the pain, trying to will it away. “Shit, something popped.” “Come on.” He stood and let Sasha lean on his arm. “We shouldn’t be doing this with you in pieces, dammit. Steve. Steve-O!” He snatched towels from the rack and wrapped them toga-like around both of their hips. They emerged from the bathroom and Neal guided him back to the couch. The door to the apartment opened and Steve popped in, followed by Carlos. Carlos closed the door and pulled a mobile from his pocket. “What happened?” Steve demanded. He flipped the ivory blanket open along the wide seat in order for Sasha to lie on top of it without sticking to the leather. “His ribs. I think one popped,” Neal reported in a grim tone. He pulled the towel free from around Sasha and dried him off, then laid it over the back of the couch. Steve kneeled next to Sasha. “We need to tape him. You all right?” Sasha nodded. “Yeah.” “I need you to tell me where it hurts.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

19

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Steve probed with gentle fingers up toward Sasha’s armpit. When he reached it, his fingers pressed down and something snapped. Sasha cried out, he couldn’t help it. Neal, a worried expression on his face, stroked Sasha’s hair back from his eyes. “Cleo’s on his way,” Carlos reported, closing his phone. “Boss, he needs X-rays.” “I can’t,” Sasha panted. “I have no insurance, I can’t afford the emergency room. Please, I’ll be fine.” “If it is just ribs,” Steve murmured like he was thinking out loud, “they won’t be able to do anything anyway. They’ll tape him and tell him to take it easy, and I can do that here. It’s out of the way of any organs, so I’m not worried about him puncturing something.” He bent over Sasha’s body, his breath warm across his chest as he examined his side. “I’ll bet Cleo will say the same thing. It doesn’t feel broken, just bruised and maybe cracked a bit.” “We need a fucking clinic,” Carlos grumbled. “Doc needs fluids,” Neal snapped. “On it,” Carlos said. He disappeared from view. “You guys sound like soldiers or something,” Sasha managed to get out. “We all are,” Neal told him. “Marine Force Recon.” “He was our commander in Afghanistan,” Steve told him. “Him and Paul. He got us out of some hairy shit over there.” “Took a team,” Neal murmured. The door opened and a gorgeous black woman walked in. Her skin glowed in the light like chocolate, rich and brown. Her makeup had been done model-perfect, gold flecks on her eyes highlighting their enormous size. Her lips glowed with crimson lip polish, shiny and edible. Self-conscious, Sasha grabbed for the afghan. Neal straightened. “Hey, Cleo.” “What’s up, Neal? You okay? I’ve got a client soon.” “Can you take a look at the Doc for me? Steve thinks his ribs may be cracked or bruised here and here.” He pointed. Cleo walked over in honest-to-Gods five-inch platform boots and perched on the table. “Hi, I’m Cleo. I’m an R.N. when I’m not working here and look like Cleopatra.” It was a man. Shit. She… He was fucking gorgeous. “Hi,” Sasha said, at a loss for anything else to say. The nurse examined him with gentle efficiency. He agreed with Steve’s assessment and helped apply the tape to his torso. Sasha leaned back and let them work. He tried not to critique their bandaging; after all, his area of expertise involved doing it on animals. They did a good job, as good as any hospital and free to boot. A blender motor started up in the kitchen and interfered with his hearing, but no one seemed to be talking to him anyway.

20

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Here,” Carlos said from over Sasha’s shoulder. “It’s a smoothie with some protein powder, easy to get down. It’ll keep him hydrated.” “Thanks,” Neal said with a smile and helped steady Sasha while he drank it with a straw. The fluid soothed his throat and revived him a bit, though the pain interfered with that. He finished the shake and lay back against the pillow. Neal wrapped him in the comfortable blanket again, leaving his arms free of the cocoon. “I need to go home,” Sasha muttered. “I can’t just take over your couch.” “You shouldn’t be alone with these,” Neal argued. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call Marty and Vince. It’s just ribs, Neal. Really, I’m fine.” He tried to put as much assurance into his tone as he could manage. “I can take him, Boss,” Carlos offered. “I don’t start until later on.” Neal studied Sasha. “You sure you’re up to it?” Sasha nodded, anxious to be independent again. Bad enough he crashed on the man’s couch all day. Not the best first impression he’d ever made. “Yeah. I’m just sore.” “I have some Vicodin,” Steve said. “You’ll probably need it to sleep tonight.” That would save him having to call Aunt Z for a scrip…even though it was illegal. “All right,” he agreed with reluctance. “I don’t want to make a habit of it, but just tonight. My aunt’s a doctor if I need more.” “We know you’re not a drug addict, Doc,” Neal murmured. Sasha tried not to glare when he met the other man’s gaze. “I’m a doctor. I can’t take drugs outside of a prescription.” “Up to you.” He tried to rise and couldn’t. Neal slipped a hand behind him without speaking, helping him to sit. “I washed your stuff,” Carlos told him. “I brought a pair of sweats and a T-shirt, so you don’t have to wear your club stuff.” What, were they all good Samaritans? “You guys are going to turn out to be a serial rapist cult or something, aren’t you?” All of them laughed, even Cleo. “There’s not enough of you to go around, Doc,” Neal pointed out. “You’re too skinny.” “Slender. The word is slender. Or wiry,” he corrected with a grin. Neal rose. Steve helped Sasha get dressed, the sweats and shirt soft with many washings. His heartbeat thudded in his ears by the time they finished. Dazed by the meds, he said good-bye to Neal and Steve. “I’m parked down the alley,” Carlos told him as they stepped into the alley behind the Factory. “I’ll be right back.” He walked away without a backward glance.

www.samhainpublishing.com

21

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha stared at the dumpster. Blood dried in three small puddles in front of it and his heartbeat sped up. He eyed the alley, counting his breaths to stay calm, but it seemed shadowed and unfriendly. He tried to stop the sudden trembling that came out of his gut, but couldn’t. Sasha suppressed his disappointment that Neal didn’t come down to see him off. “You okay?” He jumped and whipped his head around. Steve stood just inside the door. He hadn’t even heard the big man open it. “You startled me.” Steve stepped out of the doorway. “Sorry. I’ll wait with you.” He resisted the urge to step closer to him. “Thanks.” The man shrugged. “I figured you’d appreciate company.” Sasha had the impulse to stare and fought it, instead looking down the alley toward where Carlos went. The man next to him smelled like Bay rum and spice, good enough to eat. He had a sudden memory of the big man’s hands on him when he’d helped him to stand. What was wrong with him? He liked multiple partners, always had, but these men were Marines, dammit. Not exactly group sex material. He looked over to find Steve studying him. His heart flipped over. “Hi.” Hi? Hi? Gods, Sasha. Steve looped his fingers through his waistband and cocked one hip. “Just keep an eye on those ribs, okay? If the pain gets worse, or any discoloration happens, go to the emergency room. Worry about the money later, okay?” “I know what to do, Steve. I’m a doctor.” “You’re a vet, and stubborn,” Steve corrected. Sasha narrowed his eyes. “I’ll be fine.” “I’ve seen that look before. On soldiers. Stubborn and dog-stupid. Just take care of yourself. I don’t want something to happen to you after I got you all patched up.” “Okay, I’ll be a good little boy.” It had to be his imagination that Steve got a “look” in his eye when he said that. Instead, the big man nodded. “There’s Carlos now.” “Thanks, Steve. For everything.” “No problem.” Carlos pulled up in a large Dodge pickup and unlocked the passenger door. Sasha climbed in, careful not to pull on his side. He set the small duffel Neal loaned him on the seat next to him, his mobile phone on top with his keys. By the time Carlos dropped him off, he needed to lie down. “Thanks, Carlos. I appreciate the ride.” “Don’t mention it. Here’s Neal’s card, he asked me to make sure you have it.”

22

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

He did, did he? Sasha took the black-and-white card with the Factory logo and Neal’s contact information. “Thanks.” Flipping it over, the handwritten cell phone number appeared. He grinned and stashed it under his phone. “Get better. And be safe.” “I will.” He watched Carlos climb back into the cab of the truck and disappear down the street. He almost fell asleep before he got to his apartment. He managed to undress and take the meds, and stretched out on his sheets. His body ached in time to his heartbeat, but as the Vicodin kicked in, it subsided enough for him to drift off.

www.samhainpublishing.com

23

Chapter Four Okay, Now What?

Sasha did nothing all day Sunday but rest and watch DVDs. He roused enough to make himself some fruit smoothies and eggs, but for once didn’t wash his dishes. He started to drag around eight o’clock and shut the lights and television off. The steady tweet of his mobile phone woke him Monday morning. The sun beat against his blinds; thank the Gods he’d closed them before falling asleep. “Doctor Soskoff,” he managed to mumble into the telephone, in case it was someone about a job. “Sasha? Jesus man, are you okay?” Marty Keaton demanded. “Marty? What time is it?” “It’s ten o’clock Monday morning. You don’t know? I’m coming over.” The sound of a door slamming came through the phone. “Slow down, man, you woke me up is all.” “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming over anyway. You need breakfast, and I want to see how bad you’re hurt. Your aunt’s gonna kill me.” He laughed. Marty had a point. “You didn’t tell her, did you?” “No. But I think one of us should. She’s the doctor, you know.” “Yeah, well, don’t.” His voice came out authoritative, reminding him of Neal’s. Warmth filled him and he missed Marty’s next comment. “What was that?” Marty didn’t answer right away. “Are you sure you’re okay?” He rolled his eyes. “Yes. I’m sore, is all.” “Neal Harrison said you had broken ribs. Why didn’t you go to the hospital?” “I told you. I just woke up. Could you at least save the interrogation until after I’ve had coffee?” There was a small silence, and Sasha could hear the car radio through the telephone. “Yeah, man. I’m sorry. Look, I’ll grab some stuff from Corner Bakery and be there in a half hour.” “That sounds good. Thanks.” “Yeah.” Marty hung up.

Burning Bright

Sasha let his arm fall. Marty was one of his best friends, but sometimes… He rolled out of bed and took a quick shower. The jagged cut on his arm burned, but he washed everything with soap, wary of infection. He dressed in soft flannel pajamas, since he didn’t have to go anywhere. His face, though… Shit, his interview was tomorrow. He stared at himself in the mirror, his eye a dark red mess and the shiner, if anything, bigger than the last time he’d looked. He dialed Dr. Salisbury’s office and sat on the bed. To his shock, the doctor answered his own telephone. Sasha expected an assistant. “Charles Salisbury.” “Good morning, Doctor. This is Aleksandr Soskoff.” “Doctor Soskoff.” Dr. Salisbury sounded pleased to hear his voice. “What can I do for you?” “Sir, I wanted to call about tomorrow.” Just say it. “I was mugged on Friday, and—” “Mugged?” “Yes, sir. I—” “Surely, you’re all right, young man?” “Yes, sir. I’m fine, but I look terrible. I wanted to warn you for the interview tomorrow, since it’s not something I can hide.” “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather postpone?” “No, thank you. I’m fine, I just look like a walking war victim.” The doctor chuckled, though Sasha got the impression it was partially involuntary. “Whatever you think best, Doctor Soskoff.” “I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” “I’ll be waiting.” He closed his phone and got some water, then the doorbell rang. He buzzed Marty in and opened the front door. Marty appeared with two large Corner Bakery bags that emitted enticing aromas of eggs and toasted bread. And coffee. Definitely coffee. Sasha’s stomach growled. Marty looked good, dressed in a dark amethyst Henley and jeans. His curly russet-brown hair brushed his collar and always made Sasha want to bury his hands in it. Marty’s brown eyes widened, and he gaped at Sasha. “Jesus, you look like shit.” “Thanks, man. That’s what I want to hear the day before an interview.” Marty blushed and set the bags on the counter. “Vince wanted to come, but he’s got a big pitch meeting today. He’s worried about you too. How are you?” “Good, actually,” Sasha said. He turned away to get plates and glasses. “Thanks for bringing over food. It smells fantastic.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

25

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“I’m really sorry we didn’t go to get your wallet with you, man. Vince is beside himself.” He paused. “Now tell me what happened.” Sasha sighed and sat down and Marty joined him, pulling boxes out of the bags. After telling Marty about his attack in the alley he changed the subject. “How’s work?” Marty shrugged. “I wish I could open my own spa, but it’s not bad. I get enough massage clients that I keep busy, but you know how it is.” “Yeah.” Marty stayed in the business after they left massage school, even after he hooked up with his partner, Vince Miller. Sasha wasn’t jealous of Vince, but he missed messing around with Marty. Things might have gone better if Sasha had been older, or Marty more pushy, or something… Besides, Neal seemed interested… He glanced at the card, sitting on the table next to the salt shaker. He looked up to find Marty watching him. “Does your eye hurt?” Sasha shrugged. “Yeah. My ribs hurt worse, though.” He lifted his shirt and showed him the bruising. “Fuck. You’re lucky they didn’t kill you.” A chill shocked through him. “I know.” Marty flushed and looked down at his plate. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be Captain Obvious.” “Don’t worry about it.” He hesitated. “I think I met someone.” Marty’s slow grin lighted his brown eyes as he played with his food with the fork. “Oh?” His tone sounded too casual. “Yeah.” Sasha took a bite of egg. “He’s really hot.” “Is he in the scene?” Hmm. Would owning the club be “in the scene”? Sasha smirked. “You might say that, yeah.” “And does he like you?” “I think so,” Sasha admitted. “He seemed to, anyway.” Marty sat back. “You did not let someone top you after getting assaulted. Tell me you didn’t.” “Sorry.” “Holy shit, man. How was it? How do you get spanked with broken ribs?” “It was short,” he admitted. “We couldn’t do much actual play. But he has really strong hands and likes to control the situation.” Sharing the details of his encounter with Neal took up the rest of the breakfast. Marty helped him carry their dishes to the sink. “I still have to go back and get my truck.” “You left it there?” Marty put his hands on his hips. “You really want me to call your aunt?” Sasha gaped at him. “For leaving my truck there?”

26

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“You don’t even know these people, Sasha.” Marty waved his hands around. “They could be into really weird shit, you don’t know.” “Like the scene?” he snapped, stuffing the plate into the dishwasher. “I… Sasha, I didn’t mean that, come on. Be reasonable. You meet this guy, he drugs you up and drops you at home without once being seen by a doctor? And that doesn’t sound strange to you?” “I don’t have insurance. Besides, Steve was a medic in the Corps.” “The ‘Corps’?” Marty echoed. “You sound like one of them now.” “I had a really good time, dammit.” Sasha glared at him. “We can’t all have steady boyfriends and nice apartments.” Now what had possessed him to blurt that out? Marty frowned. “Are we talking about the same thing?” Sasha turned away, the sponge in his hand. He stared at the table, but didn’t wipe it down. “If I don’t get the job, I’ll have to go back to Madison at the end of the month, Marty. I can’t afford to stay, and I can’t sell the farm. Aunt Z won’t give me money, and the Covens weren’t crazy about me leaving for the ‘wilds’ of Chicago. My Coven supported me, but the rest think werewolves and vampires are around every corner.” He paused. “And for the first time since I got here, I actually want to stay.” “Well, you are one of the Covens’ Guardians.” Sasha rolled his eyes. “I’m a witch with enough magic to help with protection spells. My empathy only really aids my working with animals. Being a Guardian didn’t save my ass Friday night.” Silence greeted his words and then Marty’s warm hand slipped onto his shoulder. “I’m sorry. I am. I worry about you, is all. This isn’t Madison. Even the gay scene is rougher here. It sounds like you really like this guy.” “I…” He cleared his throat. “I guess I really do, kinda.” “What’s he like?” Marty released him and took the sponge to start cleaning the table with long strokes. “Dreamy.” He made his voice sound breathy and high-pitched. Marty shot a look at him and then barked a loud laugh. “Come on.” “He’s fun to talk to, and he seems like a good top. He picks up on shit, but doesn’t mess around. He wanted my safe word before he’d even kiss me.” “Must be some kiss…” “It was. He pays attention to business, though. His guys seem pretty serious too. I’ve been reading up on clubs in town, and the Factory’s got a really good reputation.” Neal did too, but Sasha didn’t want to gush. “You want me to drive you to the interview tomorrow?” Marty offered. “Vince offered to cook us lunch.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

27

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“He’s got the day off?” “Half day. He’d really like to see you.” “Yeah. Sure, that sounds good.” “All right. I have a client in a couple hours, I should go get ready. You’ll be okay?” “I’m fine. I promise. Thanks, man. Really.” Marty waved his hand and got his keys. “Just get better, all right? Or I really will call your aunt.” “Yeah, yeah. Get outta here.” “See you in the morning.” Sasha laid down after Marty left, intending to watch television. His body had other ideas and he could feel sleep pull at him. He curled up with a pillow in front of him and wished it was Neal’s body instead.

28

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Five Interview with a Veterinarian

Trying to get into his suit jacket proved a challenge, but the outfit made the struggle worthwhile. He’d selected a dark charcoal grey that set off the rich brown of his eyes and his sable hair. He loved the tie, a shade of blue that reminded him of the sky in summer. It, too, set off his eye and hair color, he had to admit. The bruises didn’t help anything, and neither did the shiner, but he couldn’t do anything about that. He came down when Marty buzzed his mobile phone and the massage therapist sat waiting in his goldenrod—not yellow, Gods forbid you call it “yellow” in front of Marty—Mustang. “Hey, Marty.” Sasha got in the car and sat back. “How you feelin’?” Marty asked, pulling away from the curb. “Better, but stiff,” he admitted. “I’m glad I don’t have to wear a suit every day.” Marty eyed him. “You look hot.” Sasha preened. “Thanks.” Marty hit the button to turn the CD player back on, and Nickelback poured out of the speakers. They didn’t speak on the way to Northwestern and Sasha enjoyed the ride. He pulled out the directions when they got there and they navigated to the newer section of campus to a parking lot. “I’ll wait for you here,” Marty told him. “Good luck.” Sasha grinned. He went up the stairs to the newly constructed building and found his way to Doctor Charles Salisbury’s office. While the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign was well-known for its veterinary sciences, he’d been referred to Dr. Salisbury by his graduate advisor in Madison. Dr. Salisbury planned to build a new discipline through the Life Sciences program at Northwestern and wanted a recent doctoral recipient to help build it. While the job resembled something a grad student would do, Dr. Salisbury’s reputation in the field could be exactly the thing Sasha needed to make his own mark on veterinary science. That his mom wanted him to become a doctor, and not a vet, was only a small annoyance. It wasn’t like she could remember anything now, not in the state she was in. Funny, but that didn’t help make it better…

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Doctor Soskoff?” A trim man in his mid forties stood before him, silver starting to wing from his temples into dark brown hair. “Doctor Salisbury. It’s good to finally meet you. Doctor Fowler spoke very highly of your time together at Stanford.” “You weren’t exaggerating about your recent…experiences.” He peered at Sasha. “How are you feeling?” “Just fine. It looks worse than it is.” “Which we both know is plenty serious,” the doctor lectured. “Come. My office is two doors down. Can I get you some coffee?” “That would be nice.” He followed the doctor into his sunny yellow office, overflowing with rhododendrons, pothos plants, spider plants and several species of fern. A huge fish tank took up one whole bookcase on the right, and a bird cage with an enormous Scarlet Macaw stood behind his desk with an open roost nearby. The parrot squawked loudly when they walked in and said, “Hello, Doctor. Hello, Doctor.” Sasha grinned. “Hello.” “Grape,” the bird responded. “Grape?” “Grape.” Dr. Salisbury handed him a sprig of fat green fruit. “He calls everybody Doctor. Feed him, or he’ll never leave you alone. His name’s Faust.” “Grape.” “All right, all right, you big baby,” Sasha soothed. He held a grape poised through the bars and Faust took it with a delicate movement. Sasha fed him the rest, one by one, lost in the experience. He loved birds, but no one he knew could afford such a magnificent specimen. “He’s a Macaw? Scarlet Macaw?” he asked over his shoulder. “Raised him from the shell myself,” Dr. Salisbury answered. “Devilish little blighter too. Crushed my best pocket watch, so mind your fingers.” “Scratch,” Faust demanded. “May I?” Sasha asked. Dr. Salisbury helped him open the cage after double-checking that the door to the hall was closed. Faust hopped onto Sasha’s proffered wrist and let him move him out of the cage, ducking his head to the side to keep him from bumping it on the edge of the metal. Sasha laughed at the sight. Faust’s upper beak looked like smooth ivory, while his lower one darkened to almost ebony. It reminded him of a piano. Faust cocked his head, eyeing him, and then hopped onto his shoulder. He stepped around and hunkered down with his head under Sasha’s ear, bunched up into a compact ball of feathers.

30

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Dr. Salisbury laughed. “I’m sorry. The old boy is rather fond of you, it appears. He never does that with strangers. Would you like to sit down?” The entire interview passed with Faust curled up on his shoulder, every once in a while pausing to comb his hair. Extraordinarily well-behaved, the bird didn’t nip at his fingers or ear once the entire time, and got a special treat from Dr. Salisbury at the end. “Good-bye,” Faust called as Sasha preceded the doctor into the hall. “I’ll have my assistant call you in a couple weeks, once the regents make up their minds,” the doctor promised. “Same number?” “Yes, please,” Sasha agreed. He offered his hand and the older vet took it. He skipped down the steps to the car. Marty waved and his whole face brightened as he read the answer from Sasha’s body language. Dr. Salisbury could probably hear Marty’s loud whoop in his office. “Shh.” Sasha laughed. “Lunch?” “Yeah. Vince is cooking. How’d it go?” “It went really well. We hit it off, and he has a Scarlet Macaw.” They talked the entire ride back, about the job and the bird, and Marty seemed excited about the possibilities for Sasha. Marty pulled around behind his building and parked the Mustang in a reserved spot. “Hey, guys,” Vince called from the kitchen. The whole apartment smelled like garlic and oil and Sasha’s stomach growled loud enough to hear across the room. “Hey. Smells fantastic.” Sasha set his things on the table and sat down while Marty gave Vince a hug and kiss hello. “It’s a veggie stir-fry,” Vince answered, turning to serve the mixture onto plates he had set up on the counter nearby. He wiped his hands on a towel slung over one shoulder and gazed with wide eyes at Sasha. He approached slowly and then cupped Sasha’s face with warm hands. “Wow. Are you sure you’re okay?” Sasha sighed and laid his hands over Vince’s. “Yes, I’m fine. I have a few cracked ribs and the bruises look bad, but they’ll fade fast. I’m not made of china, I promise.” Vince puffed out a small laugh that seemed involuntary and released Sasha. “Yeah, yeah. Tough guy.” Sasha grinned and winked. The stir-fry and rice smelled incredible, a myriad of vegetables and thick garlic sauce. His stomach gurgled again and Marty laughed. “Was that you?” Sasha grinned, cheeks warm. “It really smells amazing.” “Dig in. What can I get you to drink?” Vince asked, handing Sasha his plate. “Iced tea is fine,” Sasha answered. He put a bite in his mouth and closed his eyes, savoring it. “Well?” Vince asked, sitting down. He set the tea near Sasha’s plate. “How is it?” “Awesome, as always,” Sasha told him. “This is really good.” “No meat at all?” Marty asked, poking at his plate.

www.samhainpublishing.com

31

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“There’s some chicken in ours,” Vince told him, taking a bite. “But I want to hear about the interview.” He turned to Sasha. “Marty already told me what happened in the alley and I’m sure you’d rather focus on the interview than remember it.” Sasha smiled, grateful as ever for Vince’s insightfulness. “He met someone,” Marty interjected before Sasha could speak. “Oh?” “That club owner.” Marty swallowed his bite. “Sasha let him top him, right after the attack.” Vince’s eyes widened. “No kidding?” “It was actually the next day. Whose story is this?” Sasha demanded before Marty could say anything further. The massage therapist flushed. “Sorry.” Sasha told Vince about the interview and the parrot, and Vince seemed pleased for him. “When do you find out?” “A couple weeks, tops,” Sasha responded. “Doctor Salisbury said the Board has to meet.” “Bureaucracy,” Vince snorted. “Never fails.” “Can you stay?” Marty asked as Vince got up to clear the plates. Marty’s hand quested across the table to Sasha’s wrist. “Maybe fool around?” Gods knew, the offer tempted him. But the memory of Neal’s hands on him chased the anticipation back. No matter how fun playing with Marty and Vince might be, it wasn’t the same as his own lover. “Maybe another time.” Marty withdrew his hand. “Oh.” Vince got some sherbet and served it in large dessert glasses. “Marty got a movie for us…” “I’m sorry,” Sasha told him. “I am. It’s just…” “Neal,” Marty said in a bitter tone. “Are you jealous?” “Of what?” “I don’t know…” “Yeah, maybe.” Marty flared. “I mean, you only just met the guy.” “Marty, let him be,” Vince soothed. Vince served dessert and they talked little. Marty dropped him off at his apartment and zoomed away, the big motor growling. Torn between the two, he regretted not saying yes to Marty but at the same time, wanted something to develop with Neal. He trudged up his stairs, alone. That part, of course, sort of sucked.

32

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Six Making New Friends

Sasha woke around ten on Wednesday morning, still too sore to go jogging. He stared at the ceiling, trying to talk himself into it, but his chest ached and the whole front of his body had stiffened while he slept. Dammit. It was time, instead, to go about retrieving his truck. Had nothing to do with wanting to call a certain hot-looking club owner. He smirked at his reflection in the mirror as he brushed his teeth. He wandered back out and grabbed his phone and the card Carlos gave him. “This is Neal.” Gods, he sounded sexy even on the phone. “Hi,” Sasha squeaked, then cleared his throat. Must sound manly. “This is Sasha. I need to pick up my truck, and I wanted…” His mind went blank. What was he supposed to say? I want you to top me so hard I come for a week? What would Neal do if he did say that… “You have lunch yet?” Neal asked. “Um, actually, I haven’t had breakfast yet.” In fact, he stood there in the nude… “I can pick you up and we can grab a bite, if you want.” Like a date? Sasha sat down like his strings were cut, heart pounding. “Sure,” he said in as casual a tone as he could manage. “Sounds good. What’s your address?” Sasha gave it and hung up. He fell back against his bed and grinned at the ceiling. After his shower, he used the balm that Brock made on his bruises. His old top used to call it “butt balm”, which he loved to say because it made Sasha blush. But Sasha couldn’t argue, the stuff soothed tissues irritated from lots of sex. He hoped to have a reason to need it soon. He managed to dress without giving in to the temptation to jack off, but only just. He sprayed his cologne and spent extra time arranging his hair. Then he changed clothes again, tossing the jeans aside in favor of black slacks. No, the jeans would be more casual…

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

In the end, he donned the black slacks with silk briefs that caressed him like a pair of lips. He wore his favorite rayon shirt, a dark red that brought out the dark chocolate of his eye color. On a whim, he unzipped and slipped a gel plastic cock ring onto his dick and zipped up, all nice and clean. Not too tight, the ring encircled the base of his shaft and his balls enough for him to remember its presence. He almost blew it all when Neal drove up, his cock hardening with excitement. He ordered it to behave and came down the steps to the Charger. One of the new, redesigned models, it growled like a tiger as Neal motored to a stop next to the curb. The deep blue of the paint sparkled in the sun and Sasha fell in love with it. “Hey, Doc,” Neal greeted. “How you feelin’?” Sasha walked around the car and climbed into the black leather seat. His ribs twinged a little but he repositioned his arm and the pain eased. They continued to heal, at least. “I’m good. Sore, but definitely better.” Neal started out, concentrating on the road and giving Sasha the profile of that jaw to admire. Sasha swallowed, mouth dry. “What do you have a taste for?” “You?” Sasha blurted. Neal’s eyebrows shot up and he glanced at him. “You’re not shy, are you?” “Yeah, well, I figure it’s better to ask for what I want than never get it, you know?” He kicked himself. Finesse, Sasha, finesse. “Food first. I’m starving.” He said first. Sasha wanted to shout with excitement, but he looked out the window instead. Act casual. His cock ignored him and bumped against his waistband, fully erect now and aching to be touched. He hoped Neal didn’t notice him adjusting himself. “You’re somethin’ else, you know that?” “Oh?” “Yeah. You look like a twink, but you’re as tough as one of my guys. Paul says you did Alyosha’s knee and disarmed another one, that true?” Sasha shivered, some of his arousal dampening. “Yeah. The other one hit me in the head and I got all dizzy. I couldn’t take them all at once like that. My training is more one-on-one. Drinking beforehand didn’t help, either.” “But you sure tried.” “Yeah.” “Impressive.” He pulled into a Leona’s parking lot. “You up for some food? Or you want me to fuck you against the side of the Charger?” Sasha’s eyes widened and his lips parted.

34

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Neal laughed and leaned over to slip his hand around Sasha’s head. He kissed him, his mouth tasting like peppermint. He moved his lips to Sasha’s ear. “All in good time, Doc. All in good time.” “Good thing I have a cock ring on,” Sasha murmured back. Neal snorted. “Come on, you raunchy ass fucker.” Sasha’s eyebrows disappeared toward the top of his head. “What did you call me?” Neal winked and got out of the car. They got a booth in the back corner along a long exposed-brick wall. Sasha got diverted from flirting more by the huge menu. Neal watched him and chuckled. “Kind of a lot to choose from.” “Yeah.” Sasha eyed his menu. Usually, all he had to pick from were a couple afterthought vegetarian items. This menu had a slew of tasty-sounding choices. “What are you getting?” Neal shrugged. “I like their burgers.” He eyed the large salad section. “They have a lot of salads.” “Go for it. They’re awesome. I like the Buffalo Bleu and the Salmon Caesar.” Sasha shuddered. “No Caesar dressing.” “Have them put something else on it.” “Hmm. The chopped salad looks awesome. I wonder if they’ll give me the salmon instead of the chicken.” “You’re not vegan?” He shrugged. “I don’t mind eating fish and shellfish. Nothing with a face. I’m an animal empath.” Neal studied him. “What does that mean, exactly?” Sasha blinked. In a big city like Chicago, that boasted being the home to three werewolf packs, his minor magic would be commonplace. Other towns didn’t have as many witches as Madison, but he’d never gotten asked that before. “I have an affinity for animals, and they have one for me.” “What, like Doctor Doolittle?” He barked a laugh. “That used to be my nickname, actually. It’s not quite like that. I kind of like Saint Francis better.” “Aren’t you Wiccan? I noticed the ‘Gods’ and ‘Hades’ that you use.” He frowned, confused. “Yeah…” “But you model yourself on a Catholic saint?” Sasha shrugged. “If the shoe fits… But he’s always pictured with animals around him and could reportedly talk to them and heal them. It fits.” “You don’t mind cutting on them in surgery?” “If I can help them, no. Animal testing, I wouldn’t do.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

35

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

The waiter returned and Sasha ordered a chopped salad with salmon and Neal got an avocado burger. He almost teased the big Marine about getting such a pansy entre, but didn’t quite dare. Sasha wasn’t sure where the big man’s lines were and didn’t want to ruin their first date. They talked about their childhood and Sasha told a few funny stories about growing up on a farm. Neal had a deep belly laugh that Sasha enjoyed. “Sounds like you had a great childhood.” Sasha smiled. “Yeah, it was. My parents were overprotective, since I was a late baby in their lives. They were in their forties when I came along. My dad would let me get away with more than my mom.” “‘Would?’ He’s not as indulgent now?” “Actually, he passed when I was in college from a bad heart. I felt guilty since I wasn’t at home any more, maybe I could have…” “Don’t. I know how that feels. I was away overseas during a tour when my parents were in a car crash driving to our vacation cabin. I used to drive the last few times, so always wondered if me behind the wheel could have made a difference.” Neal paused. “The thing is, we’ll never know, and we can’t keep carrying that around.” Neal reached across the table and covered his hand. Sasha smiled back, pushing away his sadness. It pleased him that, when the waiter appeared at their table, Neal did not slide his hand away. The waiter collected their plates and disappeared with them. Neal eyed Sasha. “You want dessert?” “The one we discussed in the car?” Neal grimaced. “Would love to, but I have to go to a meeting in a half hour.” “What?” The big man nodded. “I do. Shitty timing, I know.” “Gods.” “Rain check?” “Maybe.” Sasha mock glared at him. “I’m sorry, Doc, I am.” In spite of himself, he laughed. “You are so gonna have to make it up to me.” Neal leaned forward so fast it took his breath. “Count on it.” Well okay then.

36

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Seven Sweet Release

Neal dropped Sasha off at his apartment. He didn’t invite the top, whom he hoped would be his top, up to see the place. He’d managed to find something in his price range; the rents in Chicago cost a lot more than the ones back home. Never more aware of the appearance than when Neal drove up, Sasha tried to ignore the peeling paint on the window frames and door and unlocked the big double deadbolt and went in. He did turn and wave once. Neal waited to see that he got inside safely and then pulled away from the curb, big motor rumbling like a huge cat. Gods, but Sasha had fantasies about what Neal could do to him on the hood of that thing. Of course, he’d still failed to pick up his Chevy. Slick. Did Neal do that on purpose? As he craned to see the Charger disappear down the block, the back of his neck prickled. He eyed the street, and the feeling of being watched grew. No one appeared as he closed the door, stomach tight. The next morning, Sasha spent time doing chores and then took a run, perhaps a mile too long. He checked his email after taking a hot shower. Excited, he opened the one that must have arrived while he was gone.

Dear Dr. Soskoff, It was a pleasure to meet you. I received your note after our interview and I agree, your skills are a perfect match for our department’s long-range goals. I am optimistic the Board will approve my request for funding and look forward to calling you as soon as I hear back. Faust sends his regards, as well as a demand for purple grapes next visit. Honestly, I don’t know what gets into him these days. Kind regards, Dr. C. Salisbury

He sat back, heart pounding and his phone rang. “Doctor Soskoff.”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“So formal,” Neal’s voice purred. “Neal,” Sasha blurted. He cleared his throat; the pain made him sound all husky, like he had bedroomvoice. “Uh, how are you?” He winced. Finesse, dammit, finesse… Neal chuckled. “You got anything going tonight? I figured I’d call about that rain check.” Let’s see. Lie on this bed and ache, or go out with the best-looking guy he’d seen in ages and have more sex? “Nothing I can’t postpone.” “Shall I pick you up at seven?” “What do I wear?” “Jeans and no underwear, and that cock ring you mentioned before.” Sasha damn near came. “Yes, Boss.” Neal chuckled, a wicked sound that sent shivers up Sasha’s back and tightened his anus. “See you at seven.” Neal pulled up at six fifty-five, his car gleaming. Sasha pushed off from the wall and walked over. “Hi.” He eased into the seat, wincing. “You look sore.” He shrugged. “I think the run was probably a mistake.” Neal rolled his eyes. “Running with broken ribs? Really? You need to tape them again?” “I don’t know, honestly. They’re not swollen or anything, they just hurt.” “Steve can spare some more Vicodin for you.” “Thank you. Seriously. I really can’t afford a hospital. My aunt’s a doctor, but I’d have to go all the way back to Madison.” The skin around Neal’s eyes tightened, but he didn’t say anything. Despite it, Sasha got the feeling something about Madison bothered him. After they drove for several blocks without speaking, he just asked. “Something wrong with Madison?” Neal blinked and glanced at him, startled. “What?” “You seemed… I don’t know, you had an expression.” He shrugged. “I lost someone I care about. They left Chicago and moved to Madison. I’m beginning to think there’s more to that town than meets the eye,” Neal quipped, but it sounded a little flat. Sasha let him have the appearance, anyway, of lightening the mood. “It’s all the lakes. Where are we going?” “How does my place sound?” “Sounds good.” Sasha tried to keep the excitement from his tone. He switched the subject, rather than ask about what might happen after dinner. “I heard from Dr. Salisbury, that guy who interviewed me.” Sasha tried to sound casual. “And?”

38

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“He sounds optimistic. He sent me an email to tell me his parrot missed me.” Neal pulled up at a red light and stared at him. “His parrot? That’s not a euphemism for something, is it?” “No.” Sasha laughed. “He’s like my father’s age. But he has the most amazing parrot I’ve ever seen. It’s a Scarlet Macaw he raised from the shell. Do you have any idea how expensive those are?” “You like birds?” “I love all animals.” “You a cat or dog person?” “Both, but I have to admit to preferring cats.” Neal’s gaze flashed at him and then he focused on the road again. Sasha loved the way the top’s brown long-sleeved T-shirt outlined the planes of his chest, his nipples hard little nubs under the fabric. His jeans looked well-worn but immaculate, and his brown leather belt that surrounded his hips flared about an inch and a half wide. A sudden fantasy of what Neal could do with that belt flashed in his mind and Sasha had to look out the window so the big man wouldn’t see his face. Trust the top to figure it out anyway. “What are you thinking?” His big hand caressed Sasha’s thigh, the palm warm and heavy. Sasha swallowed. “Inappropriate thoughts about you and that belt.” Neal stroked up Sasha’s growing erection through his jeans. Sasha wiggled and Neal’s fingers moved up to his zipper. A honk sounded behind them and Neal muttered a curse before moving his hand back to the gearshift. Sasha silently echoed it as he tried to relax. Thankfully, he saw the Factory up ahead. They pulled around behind the building into an immaculate parking lot surfaced with fresh asphalt and surrounded by a tall, black iron fence. Smaller than the one Sasha used the other night, only a handful of cars waited, Sasha’s truck one of them. Neal pressed a large garage door opener and the gate slid out of the way on a well-oiled track. “Where is the customer parking lot?” “I meant to ask you. We found your truck that night, but it was on the other side of the building. I had Paul move it around here. Where were you going?” “You didn’t have my keys.” Neal stared at him and Sasha answered. “I was kind of drunk. I went the wrong way out of the front door. I had to find my truck, because I left my wallet in the glove box and needed cab money.” “Next time, take your wallet,” Neal advised dryly. “The front door bouncer should’ve noticed you were heading in the wrong direction. He said an argument inside distracted him. I’m sorry you were hurt.” Sasha shook his head. “I don’t blame you.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

39

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

When they arrived, a young dark-haired man finished sweeping the alley and moved on to the concrete slab in front of the parking lot’s gate. Sasha could see that the alley was now cleared of trash and debris. “Hey, Boss.” He wore jeans and a T-shirt with the logo of the Factory on the front. “Misha. I’d like you to meet Sasha. Dr. Soskoff, this is Mikhail. I can’t say his last name, so don’t make me. Misha is short for Mikhail,” Neal explained. Sasha rolled his eyes. “I know that.” Misha eyed him, and then said in Russian, “Nice to meet you.” “Thanks,” he answered in the same language. Something in the way Misha watched him, almost competitive or something, made Sasha tense up and narrow his eyes. “Where’s Leo?” Neal asked. “Downstairs cleaning,” Misha answered. “Come on,” Neal said, putting a warm hand on Sasha’s back, “let’s go on up. I’ll make you some coffee.” Sasha nodded and followed him inside, watching the way Neal’s ass muscles bunched on the stairs. The bar on the right played rock music quietly, a television on with a football game. Neal turned past the bar and led the way toward the back of the dining room to an ornate old elevator complete with brass filigree and heavy doors. “This thing is gorgeous.” Neal preened. “It’s a dinosaur, but I love it. The city made me upgrade it when I bought the building, and the inspector assumed I’d tear it out since it cost so much. But one of my guys is a carpenter and we rebuilt it and brought it up to code. After you.” The doors opened to reveal a wood-paneled car with a mirror facing the door. The floor had a thick forest-green carpet and the button panel gleamed with modern buttons. Upstairs, the wide hallway had exposed brick walls and a warm ivory carpet on the floor. Neal opened the door to his flat and tossed his keys in a dish by the door. “Anyone here?” he called. No one answered. He smirked at Sasha. “We have the place to ourselves.” “What do you do downstairs?” Sasha wanted to ask the question since he heard about Neal being a professional Dom and now seemed like the right time. Neal walked with slow steps over to him, watching him with that warm cinnamon gaze. Sasha didn’t know where to put his hands and stuffed them in his pockets, then fidgeted with his shirt. Neal’s hand appeared under his chin and cupped his face. “We have time before dinner. Would you like to find out?” he asked when Sasha looked at him.

40

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“I can’t afford your rates.” He licked his lips with a suddenly dry tongue. “I saw your demonstration with Dillon, but couldn’t get very close because of the crowd. I’ve been wondering ever since…” He trailed off, eyes on the smooth skin of Neal’s throat. His cologne, something spicy with a hint of cloves, breathed across his awareness. “I don’t usually go to clubs. My tops have been lovers, not professionals.” Neal leaned close, then licked along his chin to his ear. “I’m sure we can figure something out. It’s pretty standard, what I do with clients, but with lovers it’s different. I don’t fuck my clients.” Neal straightened and walked back to the door to grab his cell phone off the table. “Yeah, Steve. It’s me. The playroom occupied?” He listened a moment and then looked at Sasha. “No, no, just Playroom One. For the next few hours. See ya.” The next few hours? Arousal jolted through Sasha. “You gonna join me, or just stand there?” Neal taunted, stepping back out into the hall. “Oh, I’ll stay here and jack off.” “Really?” Neal grinned and opened the door and Sasha made a show of being right on his heels. The elevator rumbled down to the basement, according to the placard next to the “B” button, and opened on a very industrial-looking but immaculate club. The first floor housed the Factory, a popular restaurant, but after ten at night it changed to a club catering to gay clientele. Below it, The Basement, strictly geared for dominance and submissive play, was becoming equally popular. Without the crowd of people to obstruct his view, Sasha could clearly see the stage and heat flamed into his face. Neal watched him as he tried to regain his composure. “I take it you’re not into exhibition.” Sasha shrugged. “I saw you do the demo the other night. Very hot.” Neal grinned, clearly pleased. “It’s fun with the right person, but only if you’re both into it. Otherwise it’s a horror show.” “You ever let anyone top you?” “No.” The look in Neal’s eyes made him shiver with anticipation. “Come on.” Neal tipped his head toward the bar. The sounds of a vacuum powering down came to them, and then Leo appeared, pushing the appliance. The young man had blond hair and looked college-aged, hardly old enough to actually enter the club during the later hours when the restaurant changed over. “Hey, Boss.” “Leo, I have someone I’d like you to meet.” Leo set the vacuum against the wall and came over, his hand out. “Hi. I’m Leo Voshnoy.” Sasha took his hand. “Hi. Sasha Soskoff.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

41

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“The vet, right?” Leo asked, letting go of him. “It’s nice to meet you.” He turned to Neal. “I’m done down here. What else do you need?” “The laundry on the second floor is ready, then the dishes. After that, I think you’re done, but check with Paul.” “You need anything else down here?” “Not ’til later, thanks.” Leo waved and disappeared with the heavy vacuum. Neal walked over to the bar. “Can I get you something to drink?” “Some iced tea would be fantastic.” They carried their drinks, Sasha following Neal. Neal with his chin. “Have you walked the gallery?” Sasha sipped his tea. “I didn’t really get to see, it was too crowded.” “We put in a low interior wall, creating a long hallway that we turned into a gallery. Come on.” Neal reached over and flipped a switch. Lights showcased large, framed photographs tucked into alcoves. Several of the photos featured Neal on stage with Dillon and another young man. “Who’s the other bottom?” “We have three House bottoms.” Neal pointed at one of the photographs. “That’s Larry. The other one is Andy, but he’s on vacation ’til next week. He’s finally coming out to his family. Poor kid. I suggested he doesn’t share his job, yet, with them.” Sasha surveyed the rest of the photographs. Many focused on the bondage scene, but a series of handsome nudes on the end were his favorite. Neal figured prominently in them and Sasha wished he could take one home. They finished and returned to the main room. Neal slid into a booth that faced the stage and Sasha joined him, still gazing around the place. It seemed a lot bigger when it wasn’t crammed with people. Neal set his drink down and met Sasha’s gaze. “So what are your limits and preferences? I want to know those before we start.” “No water-sports or permanent marks. No blood play or forced penetration. No gags yet. I take orders well and I like to watch.” “And we’ve already determined that you’re not into exhibition.” Sasha glanced at the stage and could not quite repress his shiver. He pushed down the memory of his rape that floated by. His ex, Brock Gary, had taken care of them, and Sasha had dealt with it. Even his therispt agreed. Neal cocked his head and cupped his cheek in one hand. “What just happened?” “I…” Sasha really didn’t want to kill the moment, but the memory flashed by again.

42

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“I’m not moving until you tell me what just happened.” Neal looked stern. “I’m a top, not an idiot. I know when a sub has a ‘moment’. Tell me.” Sasha met Neal’s gaze. “I learned the hard way to be careful when I was in college. I liked the idea of a group scene, but the top was an asshole and things got out of control. He was going to share me with a buddy while others watched, but they decided to all take a turn. He let his friends rape me in harness. My regular top was angry at me for not clearing it with him first, but he took care of those guys and made sure they’d never hurt anyone again.” He swallowed. “I ended up in the hospital.” Neal stroked his cheek. “Jesus.” “That’s why I don’t like public displays. They can get out of control.” “Not mine.” Neal’s face was hard. Sasha watched him make a visible effort to relax. “You been to clubs before?” Sasha nodded, grateful that Neal was not going to keep focusing on the past. The top just wanted the facts, not all the gory details. “Yeah. Madison’s got one, but it’s nowhere near as big as this one. It’s more like a gay leather bar, really. I’ve never met anyone in the scene as a professional.” Neal sat back. “We have three pro tops. You met Cleo. There’s also Craig.” “I saw him when I was here with Marty and Vince. He’s hot.” Neal smirked. “I’ll tell him you said that. He might want to top you, you say that…” Sasha’s cock twitched. Many of the photos in the gallery featured Craig and he looked as good nude as he did in clothes. “I might let him.” Neal cocked an eyebrow. “I might not let him.” How the hell did the big man figure out where all his buttons were? “Tease…” Neal lifted his finger into his mouth and sucked on it while watching Sasha. His cheeks worked at it, the muscles pumping, and Sasha started to pant. Neal stopped and leaned forward. “That’s being a tease.” Sasha’s eyes widened. “You win.” “Good.” Neal sat back. “Shall we continue the tour?” Sasha finished his tea. “Sure.” Neal set their glasses in the sink. The double bar’s polished black lacquer top gleamed and the beaten metal inlaid on the fronts caught the light of the blue neon around it. Neal led the way back around the huge staircase in the middle of the floor. Behind the staircase was an area that Sasha only got glimpses of the other night because of the crowd. That, and Vince and Marty’s kink didn’t extend too far. An open play area beckoned. Three St. Andrew’s Crosses waited, empty, and two black iron cages were tucked behind the huge stairwell. The top stopped and gestured to a closed door with a keypad. “We added three private playrooms back there for members, and a quiet room too.” “What for?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

43

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Neal shrugged. “In case a bottom freaks out or something. We don’t have to use it very often, but it happens sometimes if a scene gets too intense.” Neal circled the stairwell and Sasha paced at his heels, refusing to let the Crosses distract him. The bigger man stopped in front of one of the public rooms. A playroom, visible through wrought-iron bars, sat behind several low couches. The gate, like a jail-cell door, stood open and Sasha eyed a spanking bench and swing. His cock twitched even as he glanced around behind him. That kid left, but… Neal repositioned the door against the bars, fully opened. “This one’s semi-private. The gate can close so nobody can interfere and get too close, but still gives the thrill of voyeurism, or the safely of others close by.” “Is this Playroom One?” Neal shook his head and jerked it to the left. “That one is. It’s the biggest. I wouldn’t distract you with the worry that somebody could walk in on us. And I don’t want interruptions.” Sasha shivered from the wicked look on the Dom’s face. He silently seconded that idea. Neal opened the playroom using a keypad and Sasha stepped in, looking around with interest. If he told Neal to design his dream dungeon, it would look like this. Halogen spots on undulating fixtures crawled across the ceiling, strategically lighting the play furniture and parts of the floor. He stopped inside the door with a growing hard-on. Neal closed the door and grinned at him. “This is my playroom where I take clients.” “It’s perfect.” A large metal square stood near the back wall, with hookups for restraints all around the edges. A bondage table, like a massage table only larger and with rings placed strategically around the perimeter, sat next to it. A St. Andrew’s cross loomed along the right wall and a heavy ring in the ceiling could be used for all sorts of things. A spanking bench stood in the corner, set up so the ass of the bottom would face the room. It sat on a slight pedestal so the top could fuck the bottom, if he wanted to. Sasha’s cock twitched again, his erection pressing against the cock ring. “Seriously, Neal. This is awesome.” Neal grinned, clearly pleased. “Do you have a toy chest?” Neal walked to a cabinet, floor to ceiling doors the same black lacquer as the rest of the furniture. Neat rows of floggers, successively larger, hung from hooks. A large box of condoms sat next to skin cleanser and a rack of dildos, scrotum weights and nipple clamps. Neal selected a flogger and Sasha resisted the urge to drop to his hands and knees. “What’s your pain tolerance?” Neal asked. “Pretty good. On a scale of one to ten, about an eight. I prefer thud to sting.” Neal turned and nodded. “What’s your safe word?”

44

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“You know it.” Neal cocked an eyebrow and stared at him. “You give it to me every time. No exceptions.” “Lemon.” Neal caught Sasha’s chin and held his head stationary. “Do you fear me?” “No.” “Do you want me to dominate you?” “Yes.” “Yes what?” “Yes, Boss.” His erection ached and he wanted to touch himself. Neal noted his wriggle. “Touch yourself.” Sasha nearly popped his button in his scramble to get his fly open. He went to look down and Neal’s hand slid down from his chin to close over his throat. “Eyes on me.” That nearly brought him by itself. He licked his palm and jacked off, trying to watch Neal’s eyes. He moaned, about to come. “Stop.” Sasha froze, panting. “Now strip. Leave the cock ring on.” Sasha moved forward but Neal didn’t let go of him, just tightened his fingers warningly. He gaped at him. What, was he psychic? He unbuttoned his shirt and let it fall. Shoes got toed off and kicked aside as he struggled to obey Neal’s orders. His jeans gave him trouble when his rib twinged. “I need help.” “The rib?” “Yeah. I can’t get to my pants.” Neal didn’t let go of him, but used his free hand to slip his jeans loose. “Raise your foot.” He pulled the pant leg free, then the other one. He kneeled, still pinning Sasha, and sucked his whole length into his mouth. Using very warm fingers, Neal slid the bolo tie on the cock ring tighter. The constriction sent tingles of warmth up and down Sasha’s body. The bigger man worked at Sasha, his tongue as strong as a hand but softer than anything else. The orgasm built and Neal pulled off with a wet smack. He cried out, his Adam’s apple bouncing under Neal’s big hand. Neal calmly slid Sasha’s socks off first the left foot, then the right. “Go stand by the frame,” he ordered. If this was what it was like to have a professional top he’d need to make a lot more money, and soon.

www.samhainpublishing.com

45

Chapter Eight Well and Truly

Sasha stumbled and Neal caught him, then let him walk. He got to the square wrought-iron frame and waited. Neal instructed Sasha to face the wall and buckled his arms out to the sides, making sure it didn’t yank on his ribs. Neal kicked gently at Sasha’s right foot so he’d spread it wider. The restraints chilled Sasha’s ankles at first, but warmed quickly from his body heat. He watched over his shoulder as Neal selected a flogger. “Talk to me.” Then Neal hit his ass with the flogger. “More thud.” Neal switched out the flogger and Sasha again asked for more thud. Neal walked up to press against Sasha’s back. He bit him on the neck, hard enough to leave a mark. Sasha cried out, pressing against him. “You are nowhere near as soft as you look.” “Please, Boss.” “Please what?” “Beat me like you would a man your size.” He looked over his shoulder as Neal went back to the cabinet and took down the largest flogger, as wide at the base as Sasha’s wrist. He swung it in a tight circle, fast enough it made a heavy wump wump noise in the air. The lashes flared and Neal flicked his wrist. The thud of impact threw Sasha forward in the frame and he leaned back, reaching with his ass. Neal chuckled. He sucked his fingers into his mouth slowly and then stroked up his ass crack, the moisture on his fingers coating Sasha and making him shiver. “Look at you, all ready.” “Please,” Sasha begged, voice raspy with need. Neal needed no further encouragement and set up a steady rhythm along Sasha’s ass and legs. The lashes, avoiding Sasha’s ribs and sides, caused heat to bloom across his skin. Sasha sank into it, the familiar bliss surging over him as his brain whited out. Neal finished and walked around to his front. Without warning, Neal sucked Sasha’s cock into his mouth and worked Sasha to the brink. The wet cavern of Neal’s mouth surrounded him like silk and Sasha wanted it to never end. As before, Neal pulled off right before Sasha came. Sasha cried out, writhing

Burning Bright

against his restraints and reaching for Neal with his hips. Neal ignored him and unclipped his legs, then his hands. Neal led him over to the barrel, a heavy wooden replica of a fifty-gallon drum. A thick red cushion, velvety and soft, covered the top and extended down the sides for several inches. Ankle restraints clicked into the bottom and Neal stretched him over the top to clip his hands into two rings on the far side. Leather handles gave him something to grip. Neal squeezed his ass. “You have the perfect ass, you know,” he said conversationally. “Thank you.” “How’s your bruising and stuff? Can you lean on your stomach?” “I think so. It’s mostly the ribs now, my stomach and pelvis are all right.” Neal stripped, revealing his smooth skin and taut muscles. Sasha started panting and wished he could touch Neal and run his hands up and down that tight body. Neal leaned forward, his cock in the valley of Sasha’s ass, up against Sasha’s balls. He could feel the dot of moisture at its tip. “I’m going to fuck you ’til you can’t walk straight.” Sasha’s heart started to pound. “What’s your safe word?” Ever the traditionalist. Sasha was half-tempted to change it up each time, but was afraid he’d forget it if he really needed it. Not smart. “Lemon.” Neal slapped his left ass cheek. “That’s my boy.” Neal stepped back and unfurled what was fast becoming Sasha’s favorite flogger. This time, Neal used more force with his blows, bouncing Sasha against the barrel. The sensations built toward climax, but Neal paused. He went to the cabinet and pulled out a condom, then filled it with lube. He came over to Sasha and slid it, slowly, over Sasha’s swollen cock. The cold lube made Sasha writhe against Neal’s hand, but Neal wouldn’t let him get any relief and moved with him as he tried to pump. The slick lube moved inside the condom like burying himself in a lover’s ass and Sasha whimpered, desperate now. Neal finished and released him. The blows started again, heavy and regular. Sasha’s pants became loud moans and he thrust against the velvet of the padding. The condom moved around him like a mouth and he started to come. “Boss!” “Come for me, baby,” Neal purred, not pausing. “Please, Boss,” he whispered. “Please don’t stop,” he shouted, spurting so hard his ass clenched and he pressed himself against the barrel. Neal chuckled and squeezed him, hard, as he took the condom off. He tossed it in a trash can and coated an enormous black butt plug with the slick lube. Sasha relaxed, widening his stance and pushing back with his ass, begging to be penetrated. “Please, Boss. Fuck me.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

47

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“I am, little man, no worries.” Neal’s hands pressed the plug into him and Sasha’s breathing deepened, arousal flaring all through his chest and making it hard to see. As good as it felt, though, he wanted Neal to ride him, not play with him. “Please…” Neal bent over him. “Please what?” “I want you to fuck me. I want your cock in me, Boss, please.” Neal chuckled and then unclipped his restraints. He lifted Sasha, carrying him carefully, and laid him on his back on the table. The plug buried inside Sasha rubbed against his prostate and he writhed in Neal’s hands, noises coming out of him but making no sense. “You want that, do you?” Neal’s voice tickled his ear. “Yeah,” Sasha gasped, the sound pushed out of him by the toy buried inside him. “Not yet.” His hand wrapped around Sasha’s cock. “I’m not done with you yet. You wanted to see what a session is like. I want you blind.” His hand pumped, squeezing the skin so tightly as to be this side of pain. “Oh Gods,” Sasha panted over and over. He tried to catch his breath but couldn’t speak around his arousal. He started to sit up but Neal’s other hand circled his throat tight enough to hold him flat but not enough to choke him. Sasha’s orgasm built from the backs of his thighs, but before he started to come, Neal let go of him. He arched his back and screamed, sensations almost like pain shooting through him. He’d read about the technique, about how Tantric practitioners used it to heighten the orgasm, but he’d never been patient enough to try it. Damn, though, those Indians knew how to fuck. He collapsed against the table, blinking through tears of exertion and trying to think. Neal’s hands cupped his ass and massaged, moving the toy deep inside him. His breath sounded almost like sobs as Neal moved his body, but he couldn’t form words. Maybe if he turned the tables… He cracked his eyes open and Neal’s cock bobbed next to him. He rolled onto his side, the toy inside him firing all his nerve receptors, and dove onto Neal’s cock with his mouth. The length fooled him and went partway down his throat, and Neal grunted when it happened. “You think you’re going to distract me, huh?” Neal murmured with a chuckle. “I don’t know about that. You’re a good little bottom.” Yeah, but not that easy to read. He only looked small and helpless. He wrapped his hand around Neal’s shaft and used his other hand to cup his smooth balls, shaved like Sasha’s own. He didn’t yet know how hard Neal liked it, whether he liked it rough or wanted gentle and sweet. His instinct said hard. He squeezed the length in his mouth with his lips and Neal’s hands buried themselves in his hair. Hard it was, then.

48

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

He set up a steady movement, bouncing up and down with abandon. Neal stroked his back and shoulders as he lay on his side on the table, low moans coming out of him that inflamed Sasha. Neal’s hips pumped in time to Sasha’s movements. Bending over Sasha’s back, Neal slid warm palms all the way along Sasha’s body to cup his ass. Neal squeezed both of Sasha’s ass cheeks around the toy and then rotated them, moving the toy inside him. Sasha had to pull back for more air as the motion stimulated his prostate. He’d never come this way. Neal’s hands moved closer to the sensitive tissue between his anus and scrotum and massaged it. Sasha arched his back, pushing into Neal’s hands, and Neal chuckled. “Like that, do you?” “Yeah,” he gasped. “What happened to you turning the tables on me?” Sasha chuckled. “Bet you I still can.” “Not if you come this way, you won’t.” “No one’s ever done it to me before,” Sasha taunted. “What makes you think you’ll be the first?” “Let’s say I’m not like your other lovers and leave it at that?” Sasha could read the angry possessiveness in the depths of his cinnamon gaze. Note to self: don’t tease the big Marine, he doesn’t like it. Of course, if it made him fuck Sasha harder, it might be worth it… “Prove it.” Neal’s eyebrow cocked. He walked over to the cabinet and got a second condom. As Sasha watched, he smoothed it onto himself and stroked a few times to reinforce his already swollen erection. He held Sasha’s eyes as he lubed it with strong hands, the shine of the thick viscous stuff making Sasha shiver with anticipation. Neal walked back and kissed him, a possessive feel to it that he loved. He moved his mouth to Sasha’s ear. “Like I said, I don’t fuck my clients.” “Please, Boss,” Sasha whispered. “Please…” “I only fuck my lovers,” the big man murmured. “Not my clients.” He bit down on Sasha’s neck. “Are you available?” “Yes,” he whispered, his heart pounding. If he wasn’t careful, he was going to fall for this man. “Please, Boss.” “I’ll think about it.” Neal leaned over him. Sasha pressed up against Neal as the top’s hands slid around his body and over the swell of his ass. Neal yanked the plug out with a quick movement. Sasha cried out, the sensation too thick, almost to the point of pain. Neal didn’t give him a chance to catch his breath, but laid him carefully on the table, his ass off the end, making sure he didn’t jar the ribs. Grabbing Sasha’s hips, Neal pulled him back toward the big man’s body. He sat Sasha onto his thighs, like sitting him in his lap, and grabbed both sides of his ass. He spread Sasha wide and plunged himself to the hilt in Sasha’s waiting flesh. Neal cried out when Sasha did,

www.samhainpublishing.com

49

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

his muscles quivering against Sasha’s back. Neal paused, breathing deeply, and pulled Sasha backward off the table. Neal supported him as he lowered them until the bigger man sat on his heels. Sasha cried out again as the new position hilted Neal deeper inside him. “Fuck!” Sasha shouted. Neal chuckled and pumped his hips hard enough that it bounced Sasha’s jaw. He had no idea how Neal managed it at this angle, but he clamped their bodies together and pounded into Sasha, heavy meaty sounds that echoed in the big room. He stilled again, holding Sasha tightly. “Relax, Doc,” Neal grunted in his ear. “I…” He tried to catch a breath, do something to help, but couldn’t control his body. “Gods… Neal.” “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.” He kissed the side of Sasha’s neck. “Let it happen, let me in…” Sasha didn’t understand. Wasn’t he relaxed already? But something in his body opened to the other man and his magic awakened. Heat, composed of whatever it was that he could do with animals, spun out of him like light. His body reacted, the hairs all swaying in a hidden breeze, and something inside him clicked. His legs released their frenzied clamp against the man at his back and his body molded to the larger one riding him. “That’s it.” Neal gasped, panting in his ear. “Oh God, is that it.” “Neal…” “Say my name.” “Gods. Neal.” Neal grunted and his other hand came around to splay against Sasha’s abdomen. He pressed Sasha back and squeezed both his arms in his hands, palms slick against Sasha’s skin and very warm. Neal’s hips slammed into Sasha, harder than before, and a pressure built in Sasha’s lower back. He leaned his head against Neal’s chest, squeezing his eyes shut. Neal’s teeth closed on his shoulder, in the bend by his neck, and bit down firm enough to bruise but not break the skin. An orgasm unlike any Sasha experienced before started to build and then smashed into him, clenching every muscle from toes to scalp. He screamed, emptying his seed and covering Neal’s wrist in shiny white fluid. Neal bent forward and caught himself against the side of the table with one hand, keeping the other firmly around Sasha’s body. He thrust twice more and then slammed into him so hard Sasha fell forward with Neal riding him. As the big man’s cock pumped inside him, Sasha widened his legs and pressed back with his hips. Long moments passed before Neal stopped shuddering and then he slumped to the side, careful not to collapse onto Sasha. Sasha gave a long sigh of contentment. “I can’t move.”

50

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“I’ll carry you.” Neal rolled to his feet and gathered up his clothes. He kneeled next to Sasha and slowly, teasingly, slipped the cock ring off his body. Neal bent down and rolled Sasha’s balls in his mouth, playing with them with his tongue. Sasha raised his hips and pressed against his mouth. “Gods, that feels incredible.” Neal’s hands caressed Sasha’s stomach and nipples. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs. I think we certainly worked up an appetite.” It took Sasha a time or two to stand, but he managed it. Neal handed him a black cotton robe with the Factory logo on the breast and slipped into another one himself. They made it back to Neal’s room and the top locked the door. Sasha watched as he collapsed on his back on the bed, arms out to the side and a grin on his face. Sasha crawled onto the mattress and curled up next to him. Neal pulled the flannel sheet over them both and started snoring the moment it settled. It sounded like a rumbling purr, a deep sound that had a very slight whistle. Sasha smirked; it sounded cute. Dinner could wait. Sasha rolled into Neal’s warm body to snuggle on his chest.

www.samhainpublishing.com

51

Chapter Nine Not the Charger!

Sasha woke alone in Neal’s big bed, but the sheets bore the heat of his lover’s skin. After eating, they’d slept the rest of the night entwined, Neal curled around his body like an enormous cat with one heavy leg over him. The big man’s body radiated warmth. He hadn’t slept so well in ages. He rolled over and inhaled against the pillow, pulling the big man’s scent into his nose. Neal smelled good, musky like expensive cologne. The door opened and Neal walked in. “Morning, sunshine,” he greeted. Sasha blinked at him from his nest, his morning wood rubbing pleasantly against the sheets. “Morning.” “What do you want with your eggs?” “My what?” “Eggs. Usually served with toast and, for more civilized types, bacon.” “Bacon isn’t civilized, it’s saturated fat that hardens the arteries.” “Uh, ew?” Sasha laughed. “I like all sorts of things in my eggs.” “Okay. Should we put strawberries and shrimp in them?” “Now who’s being disgusting?” Sasha yawned. “What are my choices?” “Pico de gallo, cheddar or brick cheese, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, onions or garlic.” “How about all of the above?” Neal chuckled. “That’s what I told Steve. He’s making them now.” Sasha’s head came up and he stared at his new lover. “What?” “You heard me.” Neal winked and got his robe, freshly laundered, and tossed it over Sasha’s body. “Come on, get up, lazybones.” Sasha rolled out of bed with fewer creaky joints this morning and examined his bruised ribs in the bathroom mirror. They seemed less discolored and definitely didn’t hurt as much. He took care of business

Burning Bright

and washed up, the smells from the kitchen teasing him. He slipped into Neal’s robe and stepped into the living room right as Steve served the bacon. “Smells good in here,” Sasha said. Steve grinned. “Have some coffee, it’s on the counter.” “I’ll get the toast,” Carlos offered. “Can I get anything?” Sasha asked. “A chair?” Steve retorted. Paul walked in from the hallway and pushed the door shut. “He says he won’t come in, Boss.” “Dammit,” Neal muttered. “TJ’ll come around when he’s ready,” Carlos murmured. “Who’s TJ?” Sasha asked, stirring the cream into his coffee. A short silence met his question and then Neal sighed. “He’s one of my men, but he had a rough time after Afghanistan and has trouble with strangers.” “Oh.” Sasha sipped, and added more sugar. Neal and Paul exchanged a look as he turned. Sasha frowned. What was it about this TJ that had them on edge? “Okay, guys, sit down.” Steve brought a huge skillet over and served them each a huge helping of colorful scrambled eggs and vegetables. Carlos passed around toast and they all dug in, concentrating on eating, and a lull fell on the conversation. Sasha offered to help with the dishes, and he and Carlos rinsed them and filled the dishwasher. Paul stepped out to check on something downstairs and Steve went with him to collect his laundry. “Is this the only apartment on the top floor?” Sasha asked. Carlos nodded. “Yeah. Me and the guys, except Mario, share apartments on the second floor.” “Who’s Mario?” Carlos sipped his coffee. “He was in our unit. He’s the cook now. He lives with his huge family that bugs him to produce grandkids.” Sasha chuckled. “What was your interview for?” “A new post at Northwestern, in Veterinary Medicine.” He glanced over to find Carlos studying him with every appearance of interest. He explained more of the job. “When do you find out?” “In a couple of weeks.” Sasha sneaked a peak at Carlos’s ass as he loaded the dishwasher, but Carlos turned his head and caught him at it. Sasha flushed with a surge of heat that made him dizzy. Carlos didn’t seem to mind. “Wow, you’re really full on, aren’t you?” Sasha frowned. “What do you mean?” “You don’t like girls?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

53

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

He shrugged. “I’ve experimented, like anyone else. I like girls, they just don’t get me hot. I knew pretty early on I liked men. Why?” “I like to keep my options open.” Sasha shrugged and turned to reach for the stack of plates waiting to be rinsed. “I came out when I was twenty-two, but by then it was a formality. Turns out, my aunt and the rest of my coven already knew. I thought my dad would kill me, but he was really cool about it.” “What’s he think about you moving here?” “He died when I was in college.” Carlos’s eyes widened. “Wow. I’m really sorry.” “Thanks.” “What about your mom?” “She was upset I wouldn’t give her any grandkids. You know how her generation is. I’m an only child and my mom was pretty protective of me, since she wanted a big family and they almost didn’t even have me.” “Mama’s boy, huh?” “Shut up.” Sasha wiped down the table and turned back to find Carlos right behind him. He stopped, inches away, eyes locked on Carlos’s lips. Full and soft-looking, they quirked up into a grin. He flushed and stepped back. “Sorry,” he mumbled. The door sprang open and Paul appeared. “God dammit, Neal!” “What? I’m busy,” Neal shouted from the bathroom. “Tell him somebody’s busting up the Charger,” Paul snarled at Sasha and raced into the hall. Carlos blinked and then shot after him. Neal burst out of the bathroom. Sasha frowned, amazed that Neal could hear while in the other room and the speed with which he moved. Sprinting after Neal, Sasha couldn’t seem to catch up until he joined the men in the alley. He vowed to ramp up his running again; he must be way out of shape. He listened while yet another huge man explained what happened. “…after TJ yells on the radio that we have company in the car lot, I come out as the welcome wagon and must’ve scared them off.” Sasha could understand the reaction. This new man had Marine stamped all over him, literally, with USMC tattooed on his biceps. Over six feet tall, he possessed more muscles than any of the men Sasha met to date. The assault rifle probably helped too. Paul made the introductions. “Doc, this is Mario, the cook.”

54

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha blinked and the other man glared at Paul, who grinned back. Then the new man’s attention switched to him. Swinging the rifle over his shoulder and behind his back, he reached out huge arms and engulfed Sasha in a bear hug. “I heard about you and how you got hurt. You okay, little guy?” “Fine, except my ribs.” Sasha blinked away the tears that the hug caused. That nickname better not stick… “Call me Doc. Everyone else does.” After being released, he got an awkward pat on the shoulder instead. “How did TJ know what was going on?” “We have a camera on the private lot, because it’s so far from the back door.” Joining the men walking down the alley, they drew nearer to Neal. Neal had run past them to check the damage to his car and no one seemed in a hurry to interrupt his inspection. He kept circling the Charger, his boots making crunching noises in the glass scattered over the pavement. His silence was kinda scary. Sasha winced seeing the broken windshield and taillights. “Punks,” snarled Paul. “That’s the odd thing. It was a big guy dressed like an eighties pimp, not a gang banger. And when he jumped in the waiting car I think he yelled something Russian,” Mario explained. Sasha’s heart sank. The last thing he had wanted to do was cause trouble. “If these guys are back because of me… Wait, I remember something one said.” Neal turned to look at him and Sasha was the center of attention. “They said that it was boring staking out this place.” “Crap, they’re casing us and we didn’t notice.” Carlos glared around, as if expecting them to drive back. “Guess we shoulda listened to TJ and gotten more cameras, Sarge,” Mario rumbled. “Okay, everyone back inside. Tell TJ to call somebody to fix the gate. We need to have a briefing.” Neal didn’t look happy. While Paul spoke into the radio, they all trooped back into the building. Paul and Carlos plopped down on the huge couch that ran the length of Neal’s office. In a moment, Mario joined them, minus the assault rifle. Sasha gazed around, curious; Neal missed showing this during the tour. His cock twitched remembering how they started in the club playroom area and didn’t leave until he resembled a puddle. The floor continued the concrete of the dining area, but the long couch’s rich forest green gave the room color. A huge black-and-white photo, framed in black lacquer, dominated the wall. In it, tigers played in the snow. From their size and coats, they must be Siberian tigers. Neal’s desk, a monstrosity of gleaming cherry-wood, showed some small scars while a cheap computer chair sat behind it, almost hidden. Two chairs, filched from the restaurant, waited in front.

www.samhainpublishing.com

55

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Neal perched on the corner of his desk while fiddling with the phone. He gestured to one of the chairs, after looking up and seeing Sasha hovering near the door. Sasha flipped it around to face both Neal and the couch. “There. I think I’ve got TJ on speaker.” “Yeah, ya do.” The tinny voice sounded long suffering. It also held a faint drawl and Sasha listened with interest to the shy Marine that avoided him. “I’m freezing some pics of the perps and sending them to ya on your computer.” A paused followed. “You do have it on?” Neal leaned over his desk. “Yup.” “What’s going on?” Paul folded his arms over his chest, hints of tattoo ink showing from under the sleeve of his T-shirt. “The Russians seem to be interested in us again,” Neal admitted. “Again? I didn’t know they were sniffing around before. Did you? Carlos, Mario?” Sasha, happy to be ignored for once, watched Neal rub his face before answering. “They approached me about giving us protection. I convinced them the Factory didn’t need it.” “Crap. When was this?” Carlos demanded. The other men just glared. “They cornered me alone when I went to apply for zoning. We played the shove-you game. The next time, a few weeks later, I went to get our booze license they changed tactics. Offered to have us work for them. My refusal was stronger.” Neal’s smile possessed a feral quality. His men looked less pleased. Sasha could feel the waves of pissed-off wafting from the couch. “I did mention we needed to look sharp while settling in,” Neal muttered defensively. “Implying gang-bangers and not gangsters,” Paul countered. TJ’s voice interrupted them. “Look at the monitor and see if we can get IDs.” Neal turned his flatscreen around and Sasha leaned forward. The heavy face filled with malicious glee brought back the events in the alley. “That’s Petya. He seemed to be the leader.” “And that’s one of the guys who approached me,” Neal added. “I’ll try to dig up some intel,” the disembodied voice promised them. Carlos turned to Neal. “Why didn’t you tell us?” A stern look from Neal made the younger man squirm. Sasha winced in sympathy. Neal could sure look intimidating when he tried to. Paul exhaled in annoyance. “You can’t decide what’s ‘need to know’ anymore. We’re a business and family now.” Mario folded his huge arms over his chest. “Yeah, I have my guys and some gals pop out of the kitchen all the time to dump trash. I tell them need to go in pairs, but they forget. Kids.”

56

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Sorry, guys. But we were having such a hard time settling in. Didn’t want to add stuff.” Neal tilted his head toward the phone, his expression sharpening as he gazed at the others. “And they stayed away, not a peep, and we’ve been open for a while.” Mario snorted. “I bet what got their attention again was that damn review. The critic practically drooled over us. And to think I was happy he liked my lasagna.” “Yeah, if we tanked and made no profit they probably would’ve lost interest. Let us go belly up and not bothered with us,” Paul agreed. “Now we know we got slack. What happened with Doc could’ve been any of our patrons. They should be under our protection while they’re with us. We’ll meet up in an hour to compare notes of measures we need. TJ, make a wish list.” As the unseen Marine started making happy noises and going back and forth with Paul, Neal turned to Sasha. “Sorry to drag you into this.” “No problem, I sort of started it. But I should get going.” Sasha stood. “I’ve got to run some errands and clean my apartment.” “Sounds good. I’ll walk you down, I want to work out.” “You have a gym nearby?” Neal held the door for him and followed him out of the office. “No, I have some equipment outside in the lot. Free weights.” “Sounds good.” Sasha didn’t remember seeing them in the earlier excitement. He also suspected Neal wanted to check out his car again. Maybe even guard it until the gate got fixed. He suppressed a smirk. Sasha got the rest of his things and by the time he was all ready, Neal had changed into his workout clothes. Tight pants and no shirt. Crap. Neal grinned at him. “You ready?” “For what?” Sasha shot back. “You look like a centerfold.” Neal grinned, clearly flattered. “Maybe that’s the point.” Maybe laundry could wait… “Come on, Doc,” Neal said, and opened the door to the hallway. “I’ll walk you down.” Sasha followed him. Steve and Carlos sat at a booth near the door, drinking iced tea. “Leaving so soon?” Steve called. “I have to run some errands,” Sasha told him. “You know how it is.” He must be imagining the look of disappointment in the big man’s eyes. Steve had changed into a wine-red button-down shirt, open at the throat, that highlighted the smooth texture of his skin. The color of dark chocolate, its appearance made Sasha want to run his hands over the other man’s chest and…

www.samhainpublishing.com

57

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Well. He looked down, face flushing. He turned away to find Neal watching him. He didn’t seem jealous; more amused. “I’ll walk you to your truck. You have your keys, yeah?” “Yeah.” Sasha cleared his throat. “Thanks.” He didn’t regret leaving until he pulled out of the alley and headed toward his apartment. Neal watched him, standing by the broken gate, until he turned the truck onto the street and drove away.

58

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Ten Chicken Soup for the Heart

Sasha woke late on Saturday, but his body hurt less. His face still looked awful, the bruising faded to an ugly yellowish brown. His ribs seemed fine, unless he monkeyed with them, which he found out the hard way in the shower. Pressing on them brought tears to his eyes and he wanted to howl with frustration. Doing laundry and cleaning grounded him. He’d been at it all day but the apartment sparkled, as much as the run-down place could sparkle. He sat on his bed and looked around, seeing Neal’s place in his mind. His aunt’s number popped up on his mobile as it buzzed and he flipped it open. “Auntie.” Aunt Z laughed. “You’re certainly in a good mood. How are things in Chicago?” “Excellent.” “Oh? Do tell…” “You’ll tell all those other old ladies at the quilting circle and gossip about me.” “You know that’s the highlight of the evening, Sasha.” He chuckled. “I met someone.” She waited. “That’s all?” “His name’s Neal Harrison.” He lay on his back on the bed, his legs over the side, and told his aunt about Neal. It didn’t take long before he expanded and told her about Steve and Carlos too. “That sounds like three someones, honey. How’d the interview go?” “He’s got a Scarlet Macaw, Aunt Z. His name is Faust and he likes grapes. And me, I guess, he sat on my shoulder the whole time. I think Doctor Salisbury really liked me. I got an email from him the other day. Hang on… I’ll get it…” He read it to her. “That’s really exciting, Sasha.” She hesitated. “I’m afraid that’s not the only reason for my call.” A chill went through him and he sat down. “What’s wrong? Is Mom okay?” “Well, she’s had another episode. Doctor Malden thinks it’s only a matter of time.” “How bad is Mom? Really?” She didn’t answer right away. “She doesn’t know what’s happening, honey. She’s not in any pain.” His eyes filled with tears and he sat back in his chair. “But…”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“But it’s only a matter of time. She has good days and bad. Alzheimer’s is deceptive, and you don’t always have a lot of warning.” “Should I visit again, or come back for good?” “You were just here, honey. She’s back at Haven Home. I’ll let you know if it gets any worse. You deserve a chance to make a real go of it. When do you find out about the job?” “Soon, he says.” They hung up shortly after that, but Sasha didn’t really pay much attention. The rest of the afternoon passed in a daze until the phone rang again. “Doctor Soskoff,” he answered without looking. “You’re always so formal on the phone.” His heart flipped over. “Neal.” “How are you?” Gods. How was he? “Um…” Neal paused. “Is this a bad time?” Should he tell him? They only knew each other for a short time… But his gut said he was right about the man. Of course, his gut would say that… “Doc?” “Yeah, sorry. I got a bad phone call from home, actually. My mom’s in the hospital.” “Jesus. Is she okay?” “Not really, no. She’s got Alzheimer’s and had a setback.” “I’m sorry.” Neal paused. “I’ll understand if the answer’s no, but I was calling to see if you wanted to do something tomorrow.” Sasha sat on his bed. “No, I’m just not up for it. Thanks, though.” “That’s okay. What about Monday?” Sasha closed his eyes. He received an email from the Columbus Zoo and planned on driving down there. He couldn’t rely on Northwestern if he didn’t want to not go home. Of course, now he didn’t want to leave Chicago, either. “I’m free on Wednesday.” There was a long moment of silence and Sasha held his breath. “Wednesday for sure then.” They spoke for a few more minutes before hanging up. The evening seemed to stretch out in front of him and Sasha almost changed his mind. Instead, he pulled the covers over himself and hid in dreamless sleep.

60

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

The meeting and trip had gone well, and it had been great to meet Jack Hanna, but, if hired, he would be the most junior vet on a staff of many. He almost wished they wouldn’t contact him back. Torn, he called the Factory as he pulled up in front of it. “Hey, babe. Where you at?” Neal’s voice sounded warm and touchable. “In front.” “Pull around back. Steve’s down there working out, he’ll let you in.” “Sounds good.” He drove down the alley, feeling a chill as he passed the place he was attacked, and pulled into the fenced-off lot. Steve stood inside the open gate, shirtless. His dark skin shined with a light sweat and the bulge at his crotch stood out against the light grey workout pants. Sasha parked and messed around with his keys to hide his reaction. He left the overnight bag in the passenger foot well. He didn’t want to take anything for granted. Steve evidently got tired of waiting because he materialized next to the door. His pecs seemed nicely framed by the window and Sasha resisted the urge to lick the light sheen of sweat. Steve held the door for him. “Neal told me about your mom. You okay?” “Better now that I’m here,” Sasha chirped. Steve’s eyes widened and his cheeks got a tinge of cherry red. A blush? Sasha wanted to grin. “Neal’s upstairs,” Steve told him. “How’s your workout?” Sasha blurted as Steve started to turn away. Steve turned back. “Good. Just lifting.” He motioned to the weight bench and nearby rack of free weights. Sasha had a sudden fantasy of Steve tying him to the bench and pumping into him with that bulge his workout pants barely contained. He shivered and his cock tightened, ready to awaken. “Well, see you upstairs,” Sasha said, in an effort to cover his arousal. Steve twitched like he wanted to reach for him. They stared at each other, both panting slightly. Sasha watched Steve’s tongue, dark pink, peek out of his mouth to moisten his lips. “Doc.” They both jumped and Sasha turned to see Carlos standing in the alley. He met Sasha’s gaze with an avid expression in his eyes. Sasha had to be imagining things, dammit. He stuffed his hands in his pocket and pinched himself, hard, in an effort to calm down. “Hey, Carlos.” Good. Sasha’s voice came out sounding normal. “Come on in. You done, Steve-O?” Carlos called. “Nah. I’ve got a few more sets. I’ll be up after my shower.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

61

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha indulged in a short fantasy of washing Steve’s back, among other places, as he walked down the alley toward the Factory’s back door. He nearly tripped over his own feet getting up the steps. What Sasha wouldn’t give to wash that hard body of Steve’s. “I’m sorry to hear about your mom,” Carlos said as he led the way to the elevator. “How is she?” Well, okay, that was one way to kill the moment… “She’s not doing very well, but she has Alzheimer’s. She’s comfortable.” Carlos peeked at him as the elevator clattered its way up. “You okay?” Sasha shrugged. “It is what it is.” He was saved from having to explain further since they arrived upstairs. Talk about saved by the elevator bell. The doors opened to the heady aroma of garlic and wine sauce that filled the hallway. His stomach gurgled. Carlos pointed. “Go on in. I have to do some stuff downstairs, but maybe I’ll see you later.” Sasha smiled at him. “Sounds good.” He knocked on Neal’s door. “It’s open.” Neal stood by the stove, wearing a white-linen button-down and jeans covered by a forest green apron. “What does your apron say?” Sasha asked, distracted by the text. “Will cook for sex,” Neal told him, smirking. “Hope you’re hungry.” Sasha came over and Neal moved so he could inhale over the skillet. “It smells fantastic.” “Hungarian Goulash, without the sausage.” He cupped Sasha’s cheek and kissed him gently. Sasha slipped his hands around Neal’s face to cup both sides of his neck. He stroked the sensitive earlobes and Neal groaned. Sasha chuckled and Neal’s lips widened into a grin against his mouth. “What’s in the other pot?” Sasha asked as soon as Neal let him up for air. “Couscous with almonds. I have blueberries I’ll reduce for a sauce afterward, and I have a shortcake.” Sasha grinned. “And what do I have to do for such a magnificent feast?” Neal stirred the skillet. “Relax and let me take your mind off stuff.” They sat down and Sasha took a bite. His eyes fluttered shut as the hot, smoky flavor of the sauce mingled with the nutty couscous and sweet eggplant. Potatoes and carrots rounded out the vegetable flavors. It tasted even better than Aunt Z’s; almost as good as his dad’s. The couscous added a dimension of depth to it that he never would have tried, but found practically orgasmic. He looked up to find Neal waiting expectantly. “That,” Sasha pointed, “is the best goulash I’ve had in years. Seriously.” Neal grinned, his eyes crinkling. “Good.” He sipped his iced tea. “How are you?”

62

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Man, it would be nice to be able to confide in him and not worry about it getting all weird… “I’m okay, I guess.” He broke eye contact and took another bite of couscous, this time by itself. “Okay, now that is the best I’ve ever had. What’s in it?” “Couscous and almonds.” Neal smirked. “And…” “Secret sauce.” Sasha frowned, but couldn’t hold it for grinning. “Right.” “So.” Neal sat straighter in his chair and took a bite. “We can curl up and watch movies, have a quiet evening. Or, we could go downstairs and hang out, watch Craig on stage. Or go out and do something.” “Um…” What he wanted to do sounded boring now that he sat across from the best-looking guy he’d seen in a long time. “I don’t want to be a complete buzz kill.” “But…you’d rather stay in, and are afraid to say so because I’ll find it boring.” Neal sipped his tea while Sasha gaped at him. “Therefore, as the top, I officially order us to stay in and watch movies, curled up on the couch feeding each other ice cream like two chicks.” Sasha snorted a laugh. “Sounds good. I get to do the feeding. You seem like the type to make me wear it.” Neal leaned forward and Sasha’s breath caught. “That’s so I can lick it off.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

63

Chapter Eleven A Walk in the Park

Sasha woke slowly, nestled in the most comfortable bed short of his own. He blinked his eyes open and stared at the off-white ceiling. Neal’s place; he slept over at Neal’s. He stretched and smiled at the pleasurable aches and pains from the night before. Rolling over, the cold sheet next to him made him flinch back. He woke up alone. Frowning, he sat up and yawned. A slip of paper waited on the bedside table.

I have to do some paperwork. Let me know when you wake up; I’ll make breakfast. —N

He smiled in spite of himself. It appeared he found someone who loved to cook. Good thing he liked to eat. The bathroom glowed in the morning sunlight and he ran his fingers through his hair. He’d left his bag downstairs, and would need his toothbrush. He checked the medicine cabinet and under the sink, feeling a bit like he was prying. Both were sparse, Neal didn’t even have aspirin, not that he needed any this morning. There also was a lack of spare toothbrushes, showing him that Neal didn’t expect many overnight guests. As he resorted to the old toothpaste-on-finger method he pondered his morning. Hunger didn’t gnaw at him yet and a happy restlessness bubbled up. Grabbing the pen on the bedside table, he left Neal a note that he went jogging. He went downstairs, avoiding the elevator in case anyone else slept late—they all worked in a restaurant and bar. They probably weren’t morning people. The morning dawned warm and breezy and he grinned. Walking down the alley to the parking lot, he grabbed the bag of overnight stuff and workout gear and got his running clothes and shoes. Changing in the deserted restaurant bathroom, he went back out and stashed his bag in the cab. Jogging down the sidewalk, Sasha headed for the path by Lake Michigan that led downtown. It went by faster this time. A red light stopped him at the intersection under Foster and Lake Shore Drive. As the light changed, he started across. Another jogger, broad-shouldered and muscular, watched him approach. Agate-green

Burning Bright

eyes raked him and Sasha stared, fascinated by their hue. The black-haired man glared and Sasha broke eye contact, embarrassed at his own rudeness. They passed each other and Sasha jogged on. Sasha glanced back and the man waited for the crossing signal, watching him. He shivered, unsettled. The path along the lake had few travelers this early in the afternoon. The office set still sat in their offices, and the baby stroller crowd finished. It was his favorite time of day, like he had Lake Michigan all to himself. He angled out toward the water and up a short rise approaching Montrose Beach. A fence appeared, next to a squat utility building, and a figure stepped out from behind it to block the path. His heart skipped a beat. It was Mister Green Eyes. How the hell did he get here so fast? Sasha moved onto the grass and the man blocked him. Fuck it. Sasha whirled and took off in the opposite direction. The man shouted something in what sounded like Spanish and raced after him. Panting now, Sasha fumbled his cell phone free of his pant’s pocket. It was off. “Dammit.” It seemed to take forever to power up. The tell-tale vibration finally started and he dialed Neal. “¡Quitate!” the man snarled and swept the phone from his hand. He slammed Sasha sideways into a tree. He was almost as big as Neal. “You want my wallet?” He tried to regain his wind to fight back. The man caught him around the throat and pinned him against the trunk. “What are you?” He inhaled right next to Sasha’s ear, which, even under these circumstances, seemed strange. Sasha steadied himself against the tree and got his right arm up between them, a clear warning to back off. The guy didn’t look ready to back off. “El tigre,” the man murmured. He licked along Sasha’s jaw, the movement slow and gentle. His breath smelled like spearmint gum. “Me llamo Felipe.” That’s it. Sasha shoved him back and yanked free of his grasp. “What the fuck is your problem, dude?” “I’m called Felipe,” the man said in accented English. “You smell like Tiger.” “I smell like Tiger?” Sasha echoed. This was definitely a weird mugging. He pulled out his wallet. “Take my money and get the fuck away from me.” “I don’t need your money, guapo.” He took a deep breath and spun-kicked Felipe in the stomach. The big man grunted and bent over, giving Sasha time to take off through the trees. Felipe crashed into him from behind and they both went sprawling into the weeds beside the path, the bigger man on top. The other jogger rubbed against Sasha’s back, the erection obvious even through the layers of fabric.

www.samhainpublishing.com

65

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha squirmed forward, trying to get free, but Felipe’s hands tightened. He leaned against Sasha’s back and then his teeth closed on the flesh of Sasha’s neck, by the bend of the shoulder. Sasha cried out, he couldn’t help it. What the fuck was this guy’s game? Sasha slammed his head backward into Felipe’s face. The bigger man’s nose crunched and Felipe snarled. The bigger man swept forward and ground Sasha’s face into the grass, pressing down on his neck with one huge hand. Sasha could see him out of the side of his eye, and blood coated Felipe’s face from his nose. A loud snarl nearby, like a dog or big cat, startled Sasha. The image of another jogger popped into his mind and he almost laughed. Maybe it would be a yuppie with a Pomeranian who interrupted an attempted rape. That would be something to tell the Starbucks morning crowd. A black shape sailed over his head and Felipe went over backward with the other man on top. Sasha rolled over in time to see Steve crouch, arms wide, and flip his hands in a beckoning gesture at Felipe. “This one’s with me, vato,” Steve snarled. “Unless you want to dance.” “What are you playing at, Esteban?” Felipe asked, appearing to Sasha to be genuinely offended. He gestured at Sasha. “What the fuck is he, man?” “You don’t know, so you try to fuck him?” Felipe surged forward to bump his chest into Steve’s. “I’m straight, cabrón. Got a wife and two kids.” His voice came out low and the sound of it raised the hair on the back of Sasha’s neck. Steve laughed, a shockingly unfriendly sound. “Sure you are. But stay the fuck away from this one. He’s mine, and Neal’s. You pull any shit, and I’ll put you down. ¿Entiende?” “He broke my fucking nose, man,” Felipe shouted, throwing an arm out toward Sasha. “Pinch it,” Steve advised in a cold voice. “It’s probably just bleeding. You’re lucky he didn’t do worse. Now beat it.” Felipe’s confused gaze raked Sasha’s. Sasha detected no malice or threat from him, just bewilderment. He finally turned with a muttered oath and jogged away, up the path toward Foster Avenue. Steve came over and crouched by Sasha. “You okay, Doc?” “Yeah. Rattled a bit but fine. Do you know him? What was his problem?” Steve didn’t answer, just helped Sasha to stand. “I’m parked a block that way.” “Wait a minute. Screw Felipe, how in Hades did you know?” “My day to watch you.” It didn’t sound like a joke. Sasha eyed him. “You’re kidding, right?” Steve shrugged. “Come on, let’s get out of here before Chicago’s finest decide to arrest me for walking while black.” Sasha laughed and wiped the dirt and grass off his clothes. Grime smeared his cheek and he tried to rub it off on his shirt, but only managed to make a gritty mess. He clung to Steve on the ride back, grateful for the excuse the Harley provided.

66

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Steve drove around to the fenced-off lot and hit the button for the gate. The black iron plate slid aside on well-oiled tracks and the bike rumbled in. Neal, shirtless and sweating, looked up from the weight bench and set the barbell down with a heavy clink. “What the fuck happened?” He stood and strode over, wiping his sweat with a towel. “We gotta talk,” Steve told him, uncharacteristically sober. “One of the Gatos roughed him up, said he smells like us.” The bike bounced as Steve got off. “I’ll be upstairs.” Sasha didn’t move, still frozen in place on the back of the motorcycle. He couldn’t have stood even if he’d wanted to; his muscles behaved like cooked noodles. Gods, he hated delayed reactions. Neal studied Sasha. “You look like shit.” “Yeah. Some fucking wacko decided to try and hump me in the middle of the day at the park.” Neal narrowed his eyes. “What did you do?” “Tried to kick his ass, what you think?” Sasha snapped. He climbed off the bike, holding on to it so he didn’t have to ask Neal for a hand and look like a weakling. Neal’s warm hand cupped his elbow anyway. “Let’s get you inside and cleaned up. You’ve got grass stains on your chin and stuff in your hair.” Now that he was safe, Sasha started to shiver with reaction. He pulled free of Neal, not wanting him to see it, but the big man draped an arm over his shoulders as they walked back to the alley. No one else appeared as they ascended in the elevator or upstairs hall, and Neal walked into the condo with hardly any sound from his shoes. Neal went through to the bathroom and locked the door, then started the shower. He turned to Sasha and examined the side of his face. “Just grass and dirt,” he reported in a soft voice. “No blood.” The room where he’d been raped flashed into his mind like an obscene movie. He tried to deepen his breathing and get present in the moment, but failed. “I can’t get here,” Sasha whispered, unable to get his voice any louder. “I keep seeing them… I couldn’t get loose, was gagged, and the top ignored my safe signal…” Neal stroked his hair. “You never told me your safe word was ignored.” He cupped Sasha’s chin and they stared at each other. “I promise you, I will never let that happen with us.” Sasha took a deep breath and nodded. “Thanks. I really thought I was past all of this. I haven’t had a flashback in years. Why now? Why not when I was being attacked in the alley?” “I’ve been in lots of combat situations with different men. How and why reactions happen are beyond me.” Neal shrugged. “Maybe you’re allowing yourself to feel this now because you know you’re safe. I hope so.” Neal slipped Sasha’s T-shirt over his head and then stripped his sweats and underwear. Slipping out of his own pants and socks, Neal guided Sasha into the shower. Sasha let Neal scrub him from neck to feet with aggressive movements. It wiped his mind blank and he let his eyes close. Neal finished and led him to the bench and pressed him down, then washed himself

www.samhainpublishing.com

67

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

with quick efficiency. Sasha leaned against the wall, letting the heat soothe him. He finally stopped shaking and now just wanted to sleep. Neal stroked his face with hot, wet fingers and then kneeled in front of him. “How are you feeling?” Sasha opened his eyes. “Numb.” Neal leaned forward and kissed him gently, like he was afraid he’d hurt him. Sasha brought his hands up and stroked Neal’s slick hair. His body awoke and he had the sudden desire for Neal to fuck him so hard, it would wipe everything from his mind. “Neal.” The top pulled back to gaze at him. “Yeah?” “Will you do something for me?” “Yeah, babe. What’s up?” Sasha cradled his face and spoke from inches away. “I want you to fuck me.” Neal frowned. “What?” “I want you—” he kissed Neal’s nose, “—to fuck me so hard I scream your name.” “Sasha, you were just attacked—” He leaned forward and Neal broke off. Speaking into Neal’s ear, Sasha used that breathy tone that drove the other man wild. “I want you to own me, Neal. I mean it.” He licked the tender flesh of his ear. “I know Steve wants to talk, but right now, I want you to make me forget anything or anyone else.” “Sasha, we really should talk—” Bending forward, Sasha blocked Neal’s voice with his mouth. He licked Neal’s lips and then, as the bigger man opened his mouth to protest, slipped his tongue inside. Cupping Neal’s head with both hands, Sasha used his thumbs to stroke the sensitive skin of the bigger man’s ears. Neal shivered, clearly torn. His empathy surged up, no doubt in reaction to the stress of the attack. He let it spin between his hands and Neal arched his back like a cat. Sasha came off the bench and pushed him back. Neal lost balance and rolled onto his back with Sasha riding him. Neal’s cock hardened between them, and Sasha ground his pelvis back and forth along its length. “You may not like me after we have that talk,” Neal managed to say. Sasha leaned over him, leaving his hips locked with the larger man’s. “Then if this is our last fuck, you’d better make it count.” “You…” he trailed off. Sasha caught his hand as he reached for the condoms. “When was your last AIDS test?” “Why?” He lowered himself along the thick, muscled body. “I’m clean; had the test before I moved here.” He bit Neal’s throat, on the side by his jaw, and Neal’s cock bounced. “I want you inside me without anything between us.”

68

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Sasha…” “I mean it.” Neal rolled and spilled Sasha onto his back on the warm floor, the water from the shower pooling around them. “That’s a big thing, no barriers between us.” “I know.” “You don’t make a snap decision about that.” Sasha tried to put his absolute certainty into his eyes and his voice. “I know. I want you. I want to be yours.” He moved himself under Neal, rubbing his cock against the taut inner thigh. Neal shuddered. “We need to have that talk first.” “But—” “Quiet,” Neal ordered. His massive hand closed around Sasha’s aching length like a vise. “You want it hard, you’ll get it hard. On your knees.” He tried to move, but Neal didn’t let go of him. Like being led around by his dick, the sensation of being physically controlled fired his arousal better than anything else. He got onto his knees and Neal slapped his ass hard enough to mark him. The hand around his cock started to move, and Neal’s hand whipped across his ass again. Both the pain and pleasure receptors seemed to fire at once and Sasha nearly passed out from the intensity. Neal continued like that, the slaps hard and his hand moving like a machine, until Sasha came so hard a muscle knotted into a Charlie horse. He collapsed on his side, whimpering. “What’s wrong?” Neal demanded. “I pulled a muscle,” he grated, trying to rub it. Neal pulled him across his lap, Sasha’s ass in the air. Strong fingers dug into the spasming muscle and Sasha sprawled, the afterglow still floating around him. Long strokes petted and soothed him before Neal rolled Sasha onto his side and started washing him from the ass down. When the top rubbed Sasha’s anus and shaft with soapy hands, he damn near came again. Neal switched to the hand shower and rinsed him thoroughly, then turned off the water. Neal stepped out to dry off, effectively ending the argument about barrier protection without making a decision one way or the other. Of course, if he fucked him like that, maybe he didn’t need to argue anything… Neal said nothing, just walked out of the bathroom without a backward glance. Gods, what a top. Neal pushed his buttons like no one else ever had, seemed to figure him out without asking. Sasha’s heart thumped harder. He already fell for the man, and hadn’t yet hit bottom. That sent a bolt of cold through him, but the pleasure helped pushed some of the fear back. He fell twice trying to get up, and made it as far as the bench. Pulling his towel over, Sasha winced when he tried to dry off his dick. Paybacks, Sasha promised himself, were hell.

www.samhainpublishing.com

69

Chapter Twelve The Other Shoe

Sasha emerged from the bathroom, still weak-kneed and tingly. No one occupied the living room, but raised voices came from the other side of the bedroom door and walked over. He hesitated, listening. “You can’t take him in there and fuck him like that without telling him, Neal.” He recognized Steve’s deep voice. “You wanted me to tell him how I felt, so I did that. Fucking hell, Steve, what do you expect me to do?” Neal shot back. “We expect you to nut up or shut up. Tell him the truth, Neal. You can’t have it both ways!” Paul yelled. “Yeah, you saw how well the truth worked with my ex.” “Red has his own hang-ups. You being what you are is only one of them. Sasha’s a keeper,” Steve shouted. “He wants no barriers. With me.” “Yeah? So? You clearly are gone on each other. Fucking take a chance, man, stop being such a hardass.” “Being a hard-ass is what saved our lives, Steve. I’m not going to stop just to suit some bullshit fairy tale.” “This isn’t a fairy tale. You tell that boy the truth.” Sasha opened the door and met Paul’s steady gaze from across the room. Neal closed his eyes and exhaled heavily, while Steve glared at Neal. “I’m not a boy,” Sasha told Steve. “I’m twenty-eight and a doctor. I’m not a child, and I’m not going to freak. Tell me what?” No one spoke. Neal refused to look at him. Odd that he could be demonstrative sexually but have a plug in his mouth when it came to expressing his feelings. Paul stirred and held Sasha’s gaze. “We’re not human.” Sasha blinked. “What?” Neal rounded on Paul, his muscles clenched and hands fisted.

Burning Bright

Paul’s eyes widened and he stared at his former commander. “You’re gonna throw down with me now? Over this?” “I decide who we tell, Paul. I lead this Krug, not you.” “Kroog” meant circle in Russian. A flicker of shock shivered through him. Neal spoke Russian? What in Hades? And he said it like it had significance… “You’re honestly gonna get into it with me over this?” Paul’s face darkened and he stepped toward the other man. “You need to sort out your priorities.” “Wait!” Sasha stepped forward, confused. “Stop. Talk to me, dammit. You don’t have to fight. Talk to me.” No one moved. Sasha walked over to Neal and laid a hand on his arm, then stroked the rigid muscles. “What is Paul talking about?” “He started it, he can tell you.” “I’m asking you.” Neal’s angry cinnamon brown eyes raked him. A muscle jumped in his jaw. “I…” He closed his eyes and rubbed his face with an angry hand. “Dammit.” “Please. Neal. Talk to me.” “My men. We’re lycanthropes. Paul, Steve, Carlos and me. A couple of the others.” Sasha’s knees buckled and he landed on the bed. “What?” His voice came out breathy and faint. Neal shot a look of pure venom at Steve. “See?” “Fucking tell him. Stop being such a big baby,” Paul snapped. The knuckles of Neal’s left hand popped as he closed his fist. Sasha caught his wrist before he could advance on Paul and he jolted, like he’d strike at Sasha instead. “What are you telling me?” Sasha asked him. “We were infected overseas with lycanthropy. I can’t get STDs, because of it.” Neal’s voice came out cold and cruel sounding. “It’s not just us, either. Anton, Misha and Leo are tigers too, they were just born that way.” Sasha rubbed his face. Suddenly things clicked into place in his mind—all of it, from his affinity for Neal to the ease of his attraction to Steve and Carlos. He, an animal empath, went and fell in love with a bunch of human animals. He started to laugh. Neal whipped around and yanked away. Sasha held up a hand, reaching for him. “You don’t understand. I’m an animal empath, Neal. It’s why I became a vet. My favorite aunt’s a doctor, and I started out studying human medicine. But I’m drawn to animals, always have been.” He stood and stepped closer to the angry top. “Don’t you see? This explains why I felt drawn to all of you.” “What, you’ll fuck every lycanthrope you see?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

71

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Neal!” Paul shouted. A bolt of cold went through Sasha. “What?” “Jesus Christ, Neal. Grow the fuck up,” Paul spat. Neal started to move away, to confront Paul, but Sasha sprang between them. He faced Neal. “Talk to me, dammit. Stop picking a fight so you don’t have to.” The big man’s hand shot out and grabbed him around the throat. “You have no idea what you’re asking.” “Beating me up isn’t going to prove anything,” Sasha whispered. “I’ll still want you.” “Fuck,” Steve breathed. “You fuck this up, and I’m gonna kick your ass. Look at what you’re doing. Look at him.” Carlos pushed the door open and stepped in. “What’s going on?” Neal’s eyes closed and he released Sasha. He stood there, stock still. “Guys. Give me the room, please?” Sasha requested. Paul gave him some serious eye contact. “Are you sure?” “Yeah,” he said firmly. “I’ll be right outside,” Paul told him, which sounded more like a threat to Neal than reassurance to Sasha. Steve shooed Carlos out and followed, then Paul walked over and closed the door behind himself. Neal folded onto the armchair by the window, a lost expression on his face. Sasha knelt in front of him. “Please. Talk to me. I swear, I’m not going to run out on you, or scream or faint or throw up. Just tell me.” Neal sighed. “In Afghanistan, after the Battle of Tora Bora, my unit was sent into the White Mountains into Pakistan to find Osama bin Laden. It was December, really nasty weather in those mountains. We came across signs of fighting, and then signs of a mobile unit. Our CO figured it meant we’d found bin Laden.” He paused. This seeming non sequitur had to be leading somewhere… “Did you?” “No. I wish we had. What we found was a fuck of a lot more deadly. Do you know anything about lycanthropes?” Sasha shook his head. “We studied the usual stuff in school, but there aren’t any in Madison. I’ve never met anyone who has it.” Neal inhaled and looked out the window. “Siberian tigers are the largest of the big cats.” “By like five hundred pounds.” “They’re clannish. Lycanthropy is hereditary. Those of us turned can’t transmit the disease to anyone else, and many don’t survive infection.” “What’s that got to do with—”

72

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Siberian tigers,” Neal cut in, “are even more insular. Russians, mostly, because of where the tiger’s habitat is. After the Soviet war in Afghanistan, a unit of the Soviet Army went AWOL. Their leaders assumed the Mujahedin got them.” Sasha started to put two and two together. “But…” “Their leader was a hereditary tiger. He managed to keep it secret from his commanders, or at least they never acknowledged it. Since he was born a tiger, he could infect us. Don’t ask me how, I don’t know all the scientific crap behind how it works. I just know he could. We can’t, and no one talked about it. Especially not once our boys got infected. He killed most of my men. I went into those mountains with twenty.” His eyes moved and locked on Sasha’s. “I came out with six.” “Fuck.” “We got discharged on a medical, each of us. Purple Heart for injury in the line of duty, slam bam thank you ma’am, and bang, we’re back in the States without so much as a pamphlet to tell us what the fuck we were supposed to do.” “Who?” “Paul, Steve, Carlos, Mitch and TJ.” Sasha cocked his head. “Who else?” “My cook, Mario. He’s not a tiger, though. He didn’t get the infection. He survived the attack with nasty scratches.” He paused. “You haven’t met Mitch yet. He went to the Troika so he could let his tiger out. There are three other tigers here, but they’re hereditary tigers. Real ones, not… whatever we are. Anton came from the Troika, as did Misha and Leo. Dillon’s not a tiger, he was born an Arctic Fox. The Troika doesn’t like him, but he fits in here.” “You say Troika like it means something different. I thought it was a carriage?” “No. A Troika is a full tribe, women, children, the works. Their leader’s called a Nachalnik, for Chief. That’s Boris. His wife Ana leads with him. Boris has the supreme authority, but the women rule their own circles. My group’s a Krug.” He pronounced it kroog, just like a Russian. “It’s a group of bachelor males.” Sasha blinked. “Kinky.” Neal snorted. “Yeah.” He hesitated. “In tiger culture, it’s a sign of dominance for one male to mount another. I wouldn’t let Boris dominate me, and it caused friction. We came here. We were already used to hiding what we were, since we’re Marines. I bought this place, and you know the rest.” “Do you have a title?” “Chef.” “Is that because you own a restaurant? Or the Russian word for Boss?” “It’s Russian, but since I own a restaurant, only other tigers know what it means.” “Let me see.” Neal blinked. “Huh?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

73

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Show me your tiger.” “What, now?” “Yeah. Why not?” Neal sighed and let go of the armrest. His hand and part of his arm grew fluffy cream, pale orange and black fur, ending in serious-looking claws. “Okay… How about the rest of it?” “You really are a pain in the ass, Doc,” Neal complained. Sasha rose and sat on the bed. “Quit with the foreplay, dude. Shift already.” Neal pulled off his towel and leaned forward as if to fall onto his hands and knees. But when he landed, he seemed to blur and a full-grown male Siberian blinked at Sasha from inches away. “Shit.” Sasha slipped off the side of the bed onto his knees. He reached out a hand that only trembled slightly and stroked Neal’s head and neck. The big cat’s ear flicked backward, like a real tiger, and he laughed. The fur bulked healthy and soft under his hands and he had to resist the urge to check the muscle tone. Neal began to purr. Sasha smirked. It sounded like the top when he was sleeping. “So much for the debate about whether big cats purr. We’ll have to check the one about catnip.” The big cat’s head bumped him in the chest and knocked him flat on his ass. Neal walked over to straddle him and bent down until they were eye to eye. Then, Neal licked him from chin to forehead. No different than any other cat’s rough, wet tongue, it tickled and burned at the same time. “Neal.” Neal shifted back, still crouched over him. Sasha arched up and rubbed their chests together. He slipped his arms around Neal’s neck. “See? That wasn’t hard, was it?” Dropping his head against Sasha’s shoulder, Neal sighed. “I need a vacation.” “Come up to my farm.” Neal turned his head toward Sasha. “What?” Sasha kissed his nose. “Come up to my dairy farm. You’d love it. I don’t have animals anymore, since I knew I was moving, but it’s peaceful. I have a big farmhouse, lots of places to have sex.” Neal gaped at him. “What?” “Oh, come on. You haven’t lived until you’ve fucked on an industrial laundry unit, or had your dick milked by a milking machine.” Neal pulled back to stare at him. “You didn’t.” Sasha grinned. “No, but it’s a fantasy.” Neal laughed. “You are something else.” “All part of my charm.” He paused. “We cool?”

74

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

He shook his head. “Just like that?” “Yeah. If you’d learn to open your mouth more, maybe you’d have fewer problems.” “Now you see why Felipe did what he did.” Sasha’s stomach clenched, a chill going through him. “No.” Neal cocked his head. “He’s a jaguar. He got confused, because of your scent and your…whatever it is.” “Empathy,” Sasha grunted. “You mean, he really wanted to smell me or something?” “Or something,” Neal growled. “Jaguars show dominance by mounting, same as tigers.” “I can’t go jogging without getting my ass drilled by every lycanthrope in town?” “Calm down. It’s not that bad. But at least now you know what you’re dealing with.” “I’m buying a gun.” “No need, I have several.” Neal cocked his head. “You’d really shoot someone? Kill them?” “I don’t know. I’ve never had to. I’m part of the Guardian Circle back home, but they need my magic to help keep up the wards. I mean, I’ve had martial arts training, we all have, but I haven’t used it for real. At least, not ’til I moved here.” Neal ruffled his hair. “You’re plenty fierce. Felipe didn’t let you kick him or break his nose. Steve told me what happened.” Neal stood and slipped his robe on. “Come on, let’s go talk to the guys before they hand me my ass in a sling.” Paul sat at the table, a cup of coffee and a half-eaten bagel next to him. Steve sprawled on the couch, thumbing through channels on the TV, and Carlos stretched out next to him with his head in the big black man’s lap as he watched the television. Neal and Paul gazed at each other. “You tell him?” Paul asked finally. “Yeah.” “He run off somewhere? Move away and hire a therapist?” Steve made an odd snuffling noise that Sasha suspected was an aborted laugh. “Funny.” “You pull that shit again, we’re gonna have a problem.” “Yeah, yeah,” Neal said wearily. “That’s what you say every time we argue.” “Are you trying to get me to ass fuck you?” Paul snapped. “I am,” Carlos chirped, raising his hand from the couch. “Can I watch?” Sasha blurted. Neal and Paul both stared at him with identical expressions of shock on their faces. Sasha grinned at them and then slapped Neal’s ass. “Where are those bagels?” Paul rose, his chair creaking, and got the bagels out of a cabinet. “You are a little perv.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

75

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Neal got down plates and drawled over one shoulder, “That’s why I like him.” Sasha got some hummus from the fridge to put on his bagel and went over to the toaster to watch them cook. The banter reminded Sasha of his coven back in Madison and he smiled with contentment.

76

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Thirteen Circle of Friends

The apartment, quiet after the guys left, lulled Sasha to nap on Neal’s couch. He woke to find Neal puttering around in the kitchen. “What do you feel like for dinner?” Neal called over his shoulder. “I don’t know. Nothing super heavy,” Sasha responded, still full from the huge brunch earlier. He sat up on the couch and picked up a USB photo frame from the side table. He advanced through several pictures of Steve at the park, of the big man photographing something else. Steve’s camera was huge and looked professional in the pic. “Do you and Steve shoot as a hobby?” Neal looked up and stared at him. Sasha laughed and clarified, holding up the frame. “With cameras, I meant.” Neal waved a spatula at the walls. “All the photos here are his.” Sasha blinked, impressed. He looked back at the frame and advanced to the next one. There was a shot of Neal and Steve together, both shirtless, in front of the fence to one of the beaches. The look on Steve’s face downstairs floated to his mind, and the day before when he drove into the parking area. He flushed with arousal. Neal seemed occupied with cooking. Sasha watched him, wondering how sensitive his sense of smell really was. If he was really a cat, or Siberian tiger, it would be several hundred times better than any human’s. He could smell when Sasha got hot. That gave him all sorts of ideas. He breathed deeply, his ribs hardly reacting, and stroked himself. Neal seemed intent on ignoring him, assuming he knew. Sasha moaned a little, getting into it, and then unzipped his jeans. He gripped his own shaft and started pumping smoothly. That got the big guy’s attention. Neal strode over and caught his hands. The top reached behind him, to the nearby coffee table and its many drawers, and retrieved a pair of fluffy-lined restraints. He locked Sasha into them, hands behind his back above the swell of his ass. “What’s your safe word?” Neal murmured in his ear.

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Lemon, but you knew that.” Neal’s hand closed on his jaw and lifted his face until they stared at each other. “I want you to give it to me every time.” He tightened his hand, threatening. “Every time.” Oh, yeah. This was a top. Every fucking fantasy Sasha had, all wrapped up in a tight Marine body. No wonder he fell head over heels for the big jerk. “Yes, Boss.” Neal chuckled. “Do you trust me?” Sasha frowned. “Yes. Why do you ask?” Neal kissed him. It caught him off guard and he didn’t react right away, then opened his mouth and let Neal taste every inch of him. Neal’s mouth moved sideways along Sasha’s jaw to his ear. “The boys have been begging me to let them taste you. And I can tell you want them. What do you think, should I be a generous top?” Sasha’s heart sped up. “You’re serious? You’d let me? Who?” “Steve, for one, and Carlos has had a hard-on for you since you got here, even all banged up. He’s got a serious thing for twinks.” Sasha laughed, a puff of air from his nose. He bit Neal’s neck, since it was right there, and all. “Who says I’m a twink?” “Walks like a duck, quacks like a duck…” “Maybe I’m a duck, Boss.” Neal’s hand closed on Sasha’s dick and his head fell back as the big fingers stroked him. “I say you’re a twink. What do you think about that?” “Just fuck me. I don’t give a shit what you call me.” Neal laughed and stood. “Be prepared. Carlos is well endowed.” Sasha’s heart started to pound. “You mean it? You’ll let me play with them?” “As long as you clear it with me first, and use barrier protection, I’m cool. My guys, though, not just anyone.” “Fair enough.” “No one else here, though, without clearing it with me first. And no customers, not ever. Especially the wannabe tops.” Sasha nodded. “Yeah, I agree to let you pick. I trust you, but I’m not an idiot either. I’m not going looking for trouble.” His lover hesitated. “We don’t have to do this right now…” Sasha shook his head. “No, I’m game.” “You sure you don’t want food first?” “Yeah. What about you?”

78

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Neal reached down and cupped his face in one big hand. “You are really something, you know that?” “Fuck me already.” “They’ll be ecstatic.” Neal strode over and pulled the skillet off the fire and turned off the stove. Sasha stood, excitement quickening his breathing. Neal led him into the bedroom, a warm large hand on the small of his back. Stripped and waiting, a new fitted sheet covered the mattress but nothing else. Neal had him wait by the foot of the bed and undressed him, unbuttoning his shirt with gentle fingers and slipping it off around his restraints. Sasha stood waiting, his cock aching, as Neal called Steve and Carlos. It only took a couple minutes for them to show up and then the door opened. Carlos gasped when their eyes met and blushed. He moved further into the room to allow Steve to enter, but didn’t take his eyes off Sasha’s. Honest-to-Gods, a blush. Sasha wanted to smirk, but didn’t want to embarrass the man. Instead, he put a little sway into his hips as he walked toward him and watched Carlos’s eyes lock on his cock. Steve, standing behind them by the door, chuckled. “Where’d you find this one, Sarge?” He closed the door. Neal grinned. “Start slow, he’s got history.” Carlos’s shocked gaze met Sasha’s. “Bad?” Sasha shrugged. “They’re not gonna be able to do it ever again.” The Latino’s big brown eyes widened. “You’re not as soft as you look.” “Fuck me and find out, then.” Carlos’s breath came out of him, his lips parted, and his tongue peeked out to moisten them. He lifted his shirt off in one quick movement and then slipped out of his pants, no underwear in the way. When Sasha looked over, Steve already stood next to the bed, naked. Hiding his disappointment, Sasha mentally promised himself to watch the other man next time, even if it meant making them take turns stripping so he didn’t miss anything. Carlos had a smattering of body hair scattered over his chest and arrowing down his sternum. It circled around his naval before his treasure trail lead to a thatch of trimmed pubic hair. Neal’s earlier statement proved true. A long length thickened and curved up as Sasha watched. Steve’s smooth skin and miles of chocolate-colored muscle contrasted with Carlos’s as they stood side by side. Sasha shivered in anticipation. “What’s your safe word?” Steve asked him. “Lemon.” He cleared his throat, voice breathy with excitement. “We’re gonna play with restraints this time, you okay with that?” Steve asked him. Sasha nodded. “As long as Neal’s in the room.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

79

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Carlos walked over toward the bed and Sasha watched him. Steve came up behind Sasha and pressed himself along his back, except his wrist restraints interfered with Steve getting close. Of course, the big man’s thick cock was right there. Sasha grabbed it in both hands and squeezed. Steve pulled back and unclipped the chain connecting his wrist restraints. He led Sasha over to what looked like a massage table but was actually bondage furniture like the one downstairs. His heart sped up as Steve clipped first one wrist, then the other, to rings on the side of the table. The large man’s hand cupped the back of his leg and squeezed. Carlos watched them, stroking himself, and Sasha glanced over at Neal. He reclined on the bed, a proprietary expression on his face as he surveyed them. He’d left his clothing in a pile by the bed and lay back, utterly at home in his body. His presence turned Sasha on, as well as making him feel safe. Carlos moved then, retrieving the lube from the bedside table, and snapped it open. “Here,” Steve murmured. He held out one hand so Carlos could squeeze lube into it. Steve turned and kneeled behind Sasha. He massaged both sides of Sasha’s ass, big round movements that bounced his cock and sent tingles up and down his body. Then Steve pressed Sasha forward, canting his ass to the room. He continued his steady massage, stroking around Sasha’s opening but not getting close. Sasha, desperate now, moved to try and impale himself on those thick fingers, but the black man kept them out of reach. Sasha watched over his shoulder as Steve used the fingers of his left hand to squeeze his ass open, and squirted a thick layer of lube onto his opening. Steve’s other hand massaged it up and down, around and around, and then rimmed the edge with a firm finger. He kept up that smooth massage, pressing hard but not penetrating, until Sasha wanted to cry from need. Carlos and Steve had a brief argument after that about who would get to be first, but Carlos promised a monster blow job to Steve later for the privilege. Smug pleasure warmed Sasha as they fought over him. Steve smoothed a condom, then lube, along the Latino’s length, squeezing hard enough that Carlos pumped his hips a couple time. “Now, show our Sasha why you’re called the Steam Train, big boy.” Carlos grinned and moved behind Sasha. His hands, hotter than Steve’s, stroked his skin gently. “How ready are you?” “Gods, Carlos. Fuck me already, please. I want that inside me so bad I can taste it.” Carlos leaned over him and brushed his ear with his lips. “Not yet, you can’t,” he murmured. He nudged himself into Sasha, not gentle but not enough to hurt, and rocked. Sasha pressed back, his body very ready, and Carlos hilted himself inside Sasha with a powerful thrust of his hips. Sasha cried out and laid his face sideways on the table, surrendering to it. Steve’s warm hands circled his wrists and unclipped the restraints, and Sasha squeezed the sides of the table with both hands.

80

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Thick enough to be almost painful, and certainly it would have hurt without all of Steve’s preparation. Carlos’s length pounded into Sasha like it touched every nerve center. Including his prostate. Carlos’s hands traveled all over Sasha’s body, stroking his hair, his back, then his front. They traveled lower and circled his cock, but didn’t touch it. Then as Sasha started to get close, Carlos grabbed him roughly and started pumping Sasha’s cock fast and hard. His knees buckled, but with Carlos so close to the table all it did was add weight to the man fucking him. It shifted the angle just right and the orgasm started. The noises, as they did with Neal earlier, started to echo in the room without Sasha’s conscious control. He came, shooting semen clear across the table and clenching Carlos’s dick inside him. Carlos pumped a few more times and then bounced him with a powerful thrust. Steve appeared with a towel and cleaned the table. He retrieved a fresh one and came over to Sasha and started to rub him down. The towel was not only heated, but damp, like a slice of heaven. Then Steve clipped Sasha’s hands together in front of him. Picking him up like he weighed nothing, the big man laid him on his back on the table and went to clean Carlos. The big Latino stumbled over to the bed and lay down on his back, and Neal stroked his fingers through his hair, watching Steve with interest as he pulled Carlo’s condom off and rubbed his dick clean, making the Latino writhe under his hands. Steve grabbed a towel and wiped his hands off, then used some cleansing gel. He bent over and clipped Sasha’s hands over his head on the table, then clipped both feet to the corners of the table. Carlos whistled. “You’d better get ready, Doc.” “For what?” So sated he could hardly form two syllables, much less another hard-on this close to an orgasm that big. “Don’t be givin’ it away now,” Steve admonished. “Let’s just say Steve likes to give,” Carlos told Sasha. The big black man winked at him and then took Sasha’s cock in one hand, and his balls in the other. Sasha wasn’t quite sure what he did, but he could barely see straight. His voice came out of him in pants and shouts and he pulled at his bonds, for the first time in his life wishing he wasn’t restrained. Usually it was the other way around. Then Steve bent forward and sucked Sasha’s cock and his balls into his mouth at once. “Fuck,” Sasha shouted. He was vaguely aware of Carlos moving on the bed and Neal coming around behind him, but couldn’t focus enough to watch. That in itself was a first for him; usually he loved to watch. But Steve’s mouth massaged him, his tongue rubbing against his balls, and then his slick finger slid inside Sasha’s now slack anus to pump in and out.

www.samhainpublishing.com

81

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha writhed, throwing his whole weight into it, but the restraints held firm. Steve sucked at him until he was about to come and then pulled free. Steve laid his head on Sasha’s hip and blew gently across the heated skin. “Steve.” “Yeah, baby?” “Gods, don’t stop.” “What makes you think I’m stoppin’, little man?” He massaged his finger against his opening, making Sasha writhe again. “I’m right here, baby.” “I…” Sasha trailed off. “Gods.” “You don’t have to call me that. Steve’ll do jus’ fine.” He stroked the hot skin of Sasha’s cock with a warm hand. “I’m letting you rest. Don’t want to wear you out.” “Please, Steve.” He met the big man’s twinkling gaze. “Please. Fuck me.” Steve bent closer and nuzzled his ear. “Oh, I ain’t fuckin’ you, baby. Not yet. This is foreplay.” His hand closed around Sasha’s shaft and started pumping hard and fast. He sucked Sasha’s ear into his mouth as he did it. “Now, I want you to come so hard for me that you can’t say my name right.” Steve nuzzled him again. “I want your seed to spill all over your stomach.” Steve buried several fingers inside Sasha’s ass as his other hand pumped his shaft. His own cock bobbed next to Sasha’s leg, thick and moist. The dark pink head sat on top of the chocolate shaft like a cherry and Sasha wanted it inside him so bad he could taste it. Sasha strained against his restraints, his mouth open to pull in the air. When he came, hot fluid spattered his chin and covered his chest and stomach. Steve pressed his legs open against his restraints and continued to massage inside him, prolonging the orgasm somehow and making Sasha whimper. Sasha looked over at the bed and blinked. Neal knelt behind Carlos, buried to the hilt in his ass. How had Sasha missed that until now? Both men had paused, though, staring at him. Neal met his gaze and smirked, then started pumping inside Carlos. Sasha’s breath caught as he watched them. “You like watchin’ them, huh?” Steve noted. He unclipped Sasha’s arms and then his ankles. “Steve-O, get over here,” Neal commanded. “Let Carlos take care of that.” Sasha rolled to his side as Steve approached the bed and the younger man swallowed his erection. Steve started rocking his hips as Neal resumed his strokes. Carlos shivered, caught between the two men, then shuddered. Neal thrust once more and collapsed against him, pumping, and Carlos twitched. Sasha watched as Carlos braced himself until Steve climaxed in his mouth. Afterward, Carlos shot Sasha a smug look and he glared back. Envy that the other man got both Steve and Neal at the same time tried to push out his afterglow.

82

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Carlos chuckled and went to shower with Neal. Steve scooped up Sasha and moved him to the mussed bed. He curled up next to Sasha, a huge warm weight around his body, and stroked him from the back of his head to the swell of his ass. Sasha tried to stay awake but his body gave up, sated.

www.samhainpublishing.com

83

Chapter Fourteen Marking Territory

Sasha woke late the next day to a quiet room. He loved sleeping sandwiched between Neal and Steve. A note on the bedside table told him Neal had work in his office, but that Mario would make him something to eat. Sasha certainly wasn’t going to starve here, that was for sure… He took a quick shower and dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and slipped downstairs. “Hey, babe,” Neal greeted, looking up from his computer. “You hungry?” “I am, actually.” “Good thing I own a restaurant, then, huh?” Neal chirped. He stood. “Come on, I’ll walk you over.” Mario, as it turned out, found the fact that Sasha was a vegetarian to be a challenge. The cook prepared a thick wrap for him, filled with vegetables and a tangy sauce, and had him sit down. Neal kissed him before returning to his paperwork across the hall. Sasha sat at the best table in the Factory’s restaurant. Shoved in the corner of the kitchen, the cooks scurried around him, getting ready for the lunch rush. Over this busy kingdom ruled Mario, the iron fist in the oven mitt. Munching on his veggie wrap, Sasha watched the huge cook. The man stood with hands on hips barking out orders. Distaining chef’s whites, he wore a red muscle shirt that showed off bulging biceps and tattoos. A bandana covering a short crew cut replaced the required hair net. Mario also wore the black cargo pants and combat boots like the rest of Neal’s men. He differed in one major way from the others. “Neal tells me you’re not a tiger,” Sasha prompted between swallows. “Nah, too tough, didn’t need those shifter germs to heal me.” Meaty fingers gestured at furrowed marks that trailed down the side of his neck. “Got chomped and clawed a bit is all.” “So you weren’t bitten?” “Yeah, it bit me, but a bite isn’t a surefire guarantee. Not everyone bitten gets it. Guess I just got strong genes.” Mario shrugged. “Yeah, but it messed up his pretty looks.” Paul pulled out the chair next to Sasha and dropped into it. “Beard hides the ones on my face. Besides, now you have a better chance with the ladies.”

Burning Bright

Paul rolled his eyes. “Like there are so many around here.” Sasha stuffed more food in his mouth to muffle his giggle. He certainly didn’t plan on complaining. The hot guy ratio suited him just fine. Mario shook his head. “You need to catch them here eating before the restaurant closes and switches to the club. Better yet, come out with me.” “Don’t really want to hook up with a stripper and catch some weird disease after surviving getting the beasties.” “Shut up. She was a nice girl.” “Don’t tell me to shut up. I’m not one of your busboys.” “Like I’d let you work in my kitchen, you pussy.” Mario pointed at his ass. “Kiss it, a-hole.” “Not me, ask Doc.” “Busy eating, keep me outta this,” Sasha protested, laughing. “You’re such—” Paul broke off as static erupted from the radio clipped to his belt. Sasha couldn’t understand the garbled words but Paul jumped up from the table. “Carlos says there’s activity in the alley, caught our new buddies pissing on the building.” Sasha blinked, that presented an odd mental picture. Mario looked grim and headed for a cabinet. “God dammit,” Paul shouted from the door to the kitchen. “Neal!” “What? I’m busy,” Neal yelled back from his office. “Russians!” Paul sped down the narrow hallway between the kitchen and the office. In a flurry of motion, the office door flew open and Neal appeared, beating Sasha to the alley door. “Stay back,” Paul and Neal both yelled at him while bolting outside. “Not a chance,” Sasha shot back. The alley stretched, quiet and empty, but shouts came from the end near the street. He slowed down as he approached the men gathered at the mouth of the alley. Petya and Iosef squared off with Carlos and Paul. Petya glanced over and their eyes met. The Russian grinned slowly, his expression arrogant. “Devochka.” Sasha’s hands tingled and he wished he had a weapon. Prickles went up and down his neck and his heartbeat thudded against his chest. Gods, it would feel good to beat the shit out of these two. Neal approached the two Russians and they backed up. Paul whipped forward while Petya’s and Iosef’s attention centered on Neal. Paul moved too fast for Sasha’s eyes to follow. Petya flew sideways into the fence and slid down, dazed. Paul rounded on Iosef and the big Russian bolted. “You’ll pay for Alyosha.” Petya rolled to his feet in a fluid motion and sprinted after Iosef. “Pussies,” Carlos shouted. Sasha laughed.

www.samhainpublishing.com

85

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Neal rounded on him. “I told you to stay inside.” “So?” Carlos squeaked, trying to keep from laughing. Neal glared at him and he backed away, hands up. “I’m your lover, not your employee, Neal,” Sasha said, keeping his voice down. “They could have had a gun.” Sasha went cold. “Oh.” Neal snorted, a soft puff of air. “Oh.” “Dude,” Carlos shouted. They turned as one, but Carlos hadn’t addressed them. Sasha craned his head around to see Paul pissing on the bricks. Paul finished and turned, catching all three of them watching. His hands stopped tucking his package away. “I’m covering their scent.” Paul grinned, eyes twinkling. “Watch. The cops’ll show up now,” Sasha muttered. “You’re just teasin’ us,” Carlos complained. Hearing a step behind him, Sasha turned to find an unfamiliar bouncer. This must be TJ. The big man held an enormous pistol in one hand. TJ’s eyes flicked to Sasha and then the Marine spun to stalk back inside without speaking, walking past Mario, who stood in the doorway with his assault rifle. “That’s TJ,” Neal murmured. “I guessed.” Sasha shivered, unsettled. “Come on. Let’s go back in. Do you wanna hang out in my office while I finish the paperwork? Keep me company?” “Sounds good.” Neal hooked an arm around his shoulders and they walked back together.

86

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Fifteen Vadim’s Visit

Sasha curled up on the couch in Neal’s office, with more snacks from Mario piled on the end table. He tried to concentrate on reading, but his eyes kept straying back to Neal’s face. Smooth-shaven from that morning, Neal’s cheekbones stood out in the sharp planes of his face. His cinnamon-brown gaze narrowed periodically at the numbers on his screen, and then he’d type with firm movements. Sasha shook himself, pulling his attention back to his book and the same paragraph he’d read three times. It made no more sense the fourth time he tried. A light knock startled him and he yanked his gaze back to his book, feeling like he got caught in the act. “Sarge, we’ve got a problem,” Carlos announced. “One of the Russians is here.” Sasha shot upright. “Petya? Here?” Neal growled. “No. It’s Ivan’s second banana.” “Vadim.” “Yeah, him. What do you want me to do?” “What’s he doing?” “Eating lunch.” Neal stared at him. Carlos fidgeted with his hair and then put his hand down. “Have Steve bring him in. Keep an eye on the outside. These guys are like cockroaches; where there’s one, there’s more.” Carlos nodded and stepped out. Before Sasha could get his shoes on, Steve appeared. The man that walked in with him made Sasha’s blood run cold. Blond hair swept back from a wide forehead, light gel holding it in place. Cold blue-grey eyes, like moonstone only less friendly, flicked to Sasha and then dismissed him. That pissed him off. He let the anger flood him; it chased some of his apprehension away. “You’re back.” Neal’s voice came out cold enough to frost glass. Steve closed the door and crossed his arms over his chest. “Walked in the front door, bold as brass.”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Vadim shrugged. “Next time, maybe I use window.” Neal snorted. “What do you want?” “Ivan wants to apologize. Pyotr Ivanich acted without his authorization.” Sasha’s eyes widened. Vadim used Petya’s formal name and patronymic, just like an old-fashioned house servant or something out of a Russian movie. It told him another thing as well, that Vadim and Petya were not close friends. He wished he could tell Neal mind-to-mind, but he’d just have to wait until Vadim left. “Apologize.” Neal cocked his head. He glanced at Sasha, like a neon sign blinked over the bruises on his face. Vadim’s eyes flicked to Sasha and back. “Disrupting your business was unfortunate.” “His business,” Sasha burst out, fury sheeting through him. Vadim smirked but kept his eyes on Neal. “Perhaps we should talk alone. We have business to discuss, you and I.” Sasha glared. “He stays,” Neal grated. “Speak your piece.” Vadim turned his head and stared at Steve. Sasha could see the black tattoos peeking out of the Russian’s collar. He wore an undershirt, hiding the rest of the designs like a holstered gun, but Sasha recognized Mafia body art. “He stays, I stay,” Steve purred. Shit. Sasha didn’t want Steve to get in a fight because of his stubbornness. He started to move but Neal shook his head slightly. Sasha froze. “Ivan Andreievich is not a patient man.” Vadim faced Neal again. “Neither am I.” Neal’s eyes narrowed. “You attack my patrons, watch my business… Give me one good reason why I don’t shoot you myself, as a message to Ivan.” “You don’t want a war.” Neal stared at the man standing in the middle of the room, every appearance of calm. He rose slowly and leaned on his desk, fingers tented. “I don’t?” Sasha was impressed. Vadim showed no sign of fear, though his heartbeat jumped against the skin of his throat. “Ivan will accept a treaty if you make several of our men into tigers.” Sasha gasped. Vadim’s eyes flicked to his before the Russian returned his attention to Neal. “No.” Neal’s voice came out flat, authoritative. “Ivan will bring in other allies if needed. Tigers are not the top of the totem pole.” His blue-grey eyes seemed cautionary suddenly. “You don’t want that.”

88

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Neal stood to his full height, the muscles of his chest sharply defined against the dark red rayon shirt. “I’ve been dealing with punks like you and Ivan since I moved in. First the gangs, then the Asians, and now you. If you think you can intimidate me, you’re in the wrong century.” He paused. “I will bury you.” Vadim sighed. He held Neal’s gaze without moving and then turned on one heel. He said nothing, just walked out. “Make sure he leaves,” Neal told Steve. “What did he mean, other means?” Sasha demanded. “Totem poles?” “Probably more guys.” Neal sat down. “I need to call Boris. Dammit.” When Neal said nothing else, Sasha rose and went around his desk. He leaned against it, his leg against Neal’s, and stroked the big man’s face. “Talk to me.” Neal sighed and sat back in his chair, scooting so his thigh pressed against Sasha’s leg. “You remember who Boris is, right?” “He’s the guy up north, heads the Troika, right?” Neal nodded. “He told me to call him if Ivan threatened to muscle in. I didn’t want to, but if he really makes a move on us, we don’t have enough men.” He hesitated. “Also, Vadim is threatening to bring in other lycanthropes. But Boris will help us.” “Then call him.” Neal scratched his forehead, the heavy signet ring he wore flashing as his fingers moved. “I just…” “You don’t want to depend on him.” Neal gazed at him. “Yeah.” “This isn’t. This is calling in reinforcements. It’s not like they have to stay.” “That’s just it. They want to. Boris wants a reason to challenge me.” “I’ll kill him for you, then.” Neal’s eyes widened. “What?” Sasha leaned over, watching Neal’s eyes dilate as he got close. He kissed the big man’s nose. “Tell him. It’ll confuse him long enough for you to get the drop on him.” He straightened and went over to Neal’s mini fridge. “You want a soda?” “Coke, and when did you get this bloodthirsty?” Sasha shrugged. “Maybe I’ve always been.” He handed over the Coke. “You gonna call him?” “Yeah, yeah.” Neal sighed. “There’s something else, though,” Sasha mused. “Vadim called Petya ‘Pyotr Ivanich’. That’s Petya’s formal name, not his nickname. That’s a big deal to traditional Russians and it tells us something about them. I don’t think Vadim likes or agrees with Petya.” Neal grunted but didn’t argue. The couch sighed when Sasha sat on it, a soft puff of air. Neal watched him and then typed something on his PC. He dialed the phone and sat back.

www.samhainpublishing.com

89

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha needed to go to the can and slipped out. When he returned, Neal finished his phone call and sat, staring out the window. Sasha walked over and cupped his face with one hand. “You all right?” Neal nodded. “Yeah. He’s planning on sending guys down, they’ll be available when I need them. But that’s not the problem. Mitch is missing.” Sasha frowned. “Mitch.” “Yeah.” Neal glanced at him. “He’s one of us, but went up to the Troika because Boris lets him play with his tiger. But he came back to Chicago. He told Boris he’d come to me, but I haven’t heard from him in a few weeks.” “You think something happened?” “To Mitch? No. I think he’s a fucking smartass and is lying.” “Oh.” Sasha stroked Neal’s cheek. “Is that a problem?” “I wish…” He trailed off and seemed to see Sasha for the first time. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs. I’m hungry.” Sasha blinked. “Are you serious?” Neal stood. “Yeah. Why not?” “I figured you had more work to do down here.” “I’m done. Come on, I’ll make you something to eat.” The door to Neal’s office opened almost before Neal stopped talking. Steve stepped in. “Hey, Sarge.” “Is he out of here?” “He left. Had a driver outside in a Beemer. No one else that we could see.” Neal grunted but didn’t say anything else right away. Steve met Sasha’s gaze, his lips parted. Sasha smiled and Steve’s eyes deepened and looked heavy-lidded, as though the other man remembered last night. Desire to do it again filled Sasha. But would Neal understand? It wasn’t like he wasn’t satisfied with the big man, but he liked more than one partner. “What’s up, Doc?” Steve murmured. “Huh?” He flushed. “Nothing.” Neal stirred. “You hungry, Steve-O? I’m gonna make Doc some lunch. You wanna come up?” Steve, holding Sasha’s gaze but speaking to Neal, said, “Sure. That sounds like a good idea.” Sasha blushed harder and stepped into the hallway. The other two men followed him to the elevator. He could feel Steve’s gaze on him like something physical. He glanced back and their eyes met. Heat bloomed in his chest as his empathy awakened. He tried to keep his breathing calm as he walked into Neal’s apartment.

90

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Doc?” Neal asked from in front of him. Sasha whipped his head around and stopped short of walking into him. “Yeah?” Neal frowned. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing. Nothing, why?” Sasha couldn’t ask if it was okay to go snuggle against Steve and give him the hug and kiss he wanted to, or more. What if last night had been a one-off? After the seriousness of Vadim’s visit his sex life wasn’t the priority. Neal chuckled. “Sure. Sit down. Here, you want a soda?” “Iced tea would be better.” “You and your iced tea obsession.” Neal handed him a glass of the mango tea from the restaurant. “I figured you’d go for that again.” “Then why’d you ask?” Neal gave him a look somewhere between a frown and a smirk. “What is up with you?” “Nothing.” He tried to regain his composure. Carlos knocked and walked in. “Hey. Teej said you guys were up here. Vadim mentioned something about other guys. What did he mean?” Neal sighed and rummaged in the fridge. “I don’t know. And that bothers me.” “What about Mitch?” Steve asked. “Boris said Mitch told him he was coming back to Chicago, that he checked in with me.” “God damned fuck-up.” Carlos took a long sip. Neal regarded him with some surprise. “Mitch is cool.” “He’s a lying sack of shit, boss,” Carlos snapped, leaning against the fridge door. “You’re just pissed ‘cause he wouldn’t fuck you,” Steve murmured. Carlos flushed and straightened. “Enough,” Neal snapped. “This isn’t helping anything.” Carlos glared at him but settled back. “Now what?” Steve asked. “We need more information.” Neal blew out his breath. “We need to know what Ivan is planning.” “I’ll get on it,” Carlos said. “TJ’s already checking into stuff.” “You need to be careful.” Steve pointed at Sasha. “You’re kidding. What the fuck do I have to do with anything?” Sasha threw up his hands. “I’m not a tiger.” “Yeah, but you smell like us,” Steve countered. “Be careful.” “Okay. I won’t go around any alleyways with catnip hanging out of my pockets.” Carlos chuckled. “We don’t really have anything else right now, Sarge.” Sasha got an idea. “What if I do that?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

91

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Do what?” Carlos asked. “Go around alleyways? Metaphorically. But they probably have hangouts, right? What if I—” “Fuck no,” Neal shouted. Sasha stared at him, startled at his vehemence. “Why not?” “It’s too dangerous. These guys are mob thugs, not magical bad guys. You may be a Guardian, but they play for keeps.” “Yeah.” Frustration loomed. “I get it.” “I’m not saying you’re not plenty capable,” Neal soothed. “But these guys are the shoot first, talk later types. Don’t forget what you did to Alyosha. They want your blood, Doc.” He had forgotten Alyosha. That made him feel better, actually. “I guess that’s a good point.” Steve looked at Neal. “We need to grab Paul and have another pow-wow. Especially if more tigers are coming.” “Yeah,” Carlos agreed. Then he frowned. “Where are we going to even put them or feed them?” Sasha sat there like the fifth wheel as the other three men waited for Paul and Mario to join them. Dealing with the two run-ins with the Russians, as well as trying to decide if he should bring up multiple partners this early in a new relationship, seemed to fight for attention in his mind. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted multiple partners right now. How should he act around Carlos and Steve? He didn’t want to offend Neal. He rubbed his face, a headache starting. Food didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. “I should get going. I’ve got to run some errands and clean my apartment.” Neal looked over at him, clearly startled. “Okay, if that’s what you need to do. I’ll walk you to your truck.” “See you soon,” Steve said firmly, though he didn’t reach for Sasha or make any other physical move. “Drive safe,” Carlos added. They didn’t talk much on the way down. Sasha could hear TJ explaining the installment schedule of the new cameras over the radio. They reached the alley before Sasha could think of anything to say. He had no idea what the right thing would be. “Next time you visit,” Neal told him, “call first so you don’t come in alone. We need to tighten things up even more.” The concern in Neal’s voice warmed him. Waiting for the parking lot gate to roll back, Neal hooked a hand around Sasha’s neck, pulling him close. Sasha opened his mouth for Neal’s tongue as it swept in. After a few seconds he couldn’t care less about Russians, or his chores. Maybe laundry could wait… Neal broke the kiss and Sasha tried not to whimper in disappointment. The firm spank on his ass only made his cock harder. “Get, going, I’ll close the gate behind you.”

92

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha climbed into his truck thinking how the Factory seemed more like home than his dingy apartment.

www.samhainpublishing.com

93

Chapter Sixteen Dance, Dance, Dance

As soon as he got home, Sasha rebuilt all the protection spells in his apartment and added one to his truck. He went out for a run, eyeing strangers with hostility, but encountered nothing out of the ordinary. Trotting up the steps to his building, his mobile phone rang and Marty’s number popped up. “Hey, Marty,” he greeted. “Just got back from jogging.” “How are you? You got anything on for tonight?” “No, why? What did you have in mind?” He went up the stairs two at a time, grateful that his ribs no longer bothered him. “Dancing?” He brightened. “That sounds good. When?” “We’ll pick you up around nine, okay?” “Sounds good.” After hanging up, he sat down and checked his emails. He had one from Doctor Salisbury, telling him that the final decision should be made by Tuesday. His heart pounded hard enough it made him dizzy. He sat back in his chair, clinging to the sides. Tuesday. That was four days away. Dammit. He wanted to know now. Chores filled the rest of the day until it was time to get ready. He wiggled into his leather pants and a net shirt and gelled his hair. The black eyeliner chilled his skin but he ran it under hot water before lining his bottom lids, and then put some gloss on his lips. He wrapped two beaded strands of onyx and hematite around his right wrist and took out all the cash he had. “You’re coming with me, this time,” he told the bills as he stuffed them in the inside pocket of the pants along with his license and house key. He bounced downstairs to where Marty stood next to Vince’s car. “We’re not taking yours?” Sasha asked. “No, this has a bigger back seat. That way you’re not stuffed in there.” Marty looked him up and down, dressed in black latex pants and a tight electric blue short-sleeved shirt that clearly showed his nipples pressing against it. “You look hot, Sasha.”

Burning Bright

“You do too.” Sasha got into the black Corolla. “Hey, Vince.” Vince looked delectable in jeans and a white T-shirt. His black belt and boots stood out against the softer colors of the denim. “You up for some fun?” Sasha grinned at him. “Always.” They drove down to Boystown to Circuit, and the sign out front proclaimed “Fridays—Girls Night Out”. He snorted. “We shoulda brought a chick with us.” Marty eyed him, twinkling. “Is this where I say you’ll do?” Sasha stared at him, shocked, and then burst out laughing. Vince smirked, concentrating on angling the car into a parking place. They entered and paid the cover. Already packed, they nevertheless managed to stay together. The wall of sound engulfed them and Marty’s teeth flashed white in his face. He mimed drinking and Sasha shrugged. Vince shook his head and Marty led the way to the dance floor. A slender platinum blond gyrated near the center. He’d been on stage performing that first night at the club. Daniel… No, Dillon. He was pretty sure his name was Dillon. Sasha moved nearby and Marty matched him. Vince hung back a little, preferring the edge. Being watched was hardly a new experience for him, but gradually the feeling grew. A chill shivered through him. The top from Neal’s club, the black-haired Goth one, danced on the other side of Dillon. For the life of him, Sasha couldn’t remember his name. As though aware of his scrutiny, the man blinked large brown eyes and looked pointedly over Sasha’s shoulder. “Hey,” a breathy voice greeted. “You’re pretty good at this.” He turned his head to find a muscular dancer, a few inches taller and dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, looming behind him. “He’s with me,” Marty interrupted, dancing between them. “Find your own.” The man eyed him, something in his gaze that made Sasha’s stomach tighten. “Marty…” “It’s all good,” the big man drawled. His brown hair seemed artfully messy and sparkled a little in the lights with gold highlights. Sasha danced away and found Dillon watching him. The blond winked and Sasha grinned. They danced back and forth for the next several songs, and Sasha, laughing, finally called a break. He tipped his head to the bathroom and Dillon nodded. “You’re the vet, aren’t you?” Dillon asked once the relative quiet of the bathroom closed around them. “Sasha Soskoff. I remember seeing you on stage. Dillon, right?” And a werefox. Curiosity burned in his chest.

www.samhainpublishing.com

95

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Dillon Kendall. You’re a really good dancer.” Sasha grinned, pleased. “High praise. You’re amazing.” “Thanks. I teach dance and yoga—” He trailed off when the door opened. The big guy from the dance floor appeared. “Hey.” Sasha turned away. “I’m not interested.” “Your boyfriend is out there with another man. Funny thing, though. They look like a couple. You don’t.” “Don’t you mean smell, Mitch?” Dillon snapped. “If it isn’t the little Foxy Lady. Craig let go of the leash?” “You’re Mitch,” Sasha said. “Neal know you’re here?” Annoyance crossed Mitch’s face. “See, I’m not the only one with a leash,” Dillon taunted. Mitch took a step toward him and Dillon streaked out the door. “Just you and me now, Princess,” Mitch purred. Sasha turned back to the sink, tired suddenly. “Go away. I’m not interested.” Mitch’s hand closed on his upper arm, probably to pull him around to face the bigger man but Sasha’s temper snapped. He spun, locking Mitch’s elbow, and then threw him bodily over his hips. The other man landed on his back, shock on his face. The smack he made sounded satisfyingly painful and Sasha faced him in a crouch, angry now. Mitch put out both hands in a gesture of truce. “Whoa, dude. Ease up there, cowboy. Neal teach you that? Or you come that way?” The door slammed open and Dillon’s top appeared, his face furious. “Back off, Mitch.” “Well, if it isn’t little Craig, the boss-man of Chicago,” Mitch growled. TJ walked up behind Craig, glaring at Mitch. “Son of a bitch.” Sasha swallowed. TJ looked good, dressed in a sleeveless button-down rayon shirt, open at the throat. The sage green of the shirt brought out the peridot in his hazel eyes. He bore a black tattoo on his muscular biceps, two crossed rifles and the Marine initials below it. He also looked angry enough to kill something. Mitch’s eyes grew cautious. “Hey, Teej.” “You takin’ a nap?” TJ sneered. “Yeah. That’s exactly what I’m doing.” Mitch rolled to his feet. “Since when do you dance?” Craig stepped inside the door and TJ moved past him, letting the door close behind him. Dillon slipped in before it shut and stood behind Craig, glaring at Mitch. “You told Boris you checked in with Neal.” TJ’s tone came out very menacing.

96

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha shivered. Any sign of the cautious and wary soldier disappeared. TJ radiated power, and not only to Sasha’s empathy. With his arms bared like that, the muscles on TJ’s arms bulked with muscle. Mitch washed his hands. “Yeah.” “You haven’t.” “Fuck off, Teej. That’s between me and Neal.” TJ took a step forward. “You and I are gonna have that talk for real one of these days, Mitchell.” Mitch turned and faced him, drying his hands with a paper towel. “Maybe. We’re not in the Corps anymore. You don’t outrank me here, not today. Not today, Teej.” TJ glanced at Sasha. “You okay, Doc?” “What the fuck is the deal here, anyway?” Mitch demanded, facing Sasha. “You smell like Neal. And Steve and Carlos, actually.” “What the fuck do you care?” TJ cut in. “You wanted to leave, remember?” Mitch blinked, eyeing Sasha. “I’m just asking the question.” Sasha glared at him. “Ask Neal.” He walked around TJ to the door. “You wanna dance?” he asked Dillon. “Yeah. Craig?” “Go ahead,” Craig told him. Sasha’s eyebrows rose, but he didn’t comment. He liked to play in the scene, but couldn’t foresee a time when he’d allow Neal to dictate whether he could do something in public or not. He followed the slender fox back to the dance floor. He turned and jumped. Craig followed them and stood close enough to touch. “It’s me,” Craig told him as though he knew what Sasha was thinking. His empathy prickled, but nothing very clear came to mind. But the way Craig watched him… “Can you tell what I’m thinking?” Craig shrugged. “Your face gave you away.” The song changed, swelling louder and cutting off more conversation. It also allowed Craig to sidestep the question. Before Sasha could say anything, Marty and Vince moved closer. “Don’t tell them, okay?” Sasha blurted to Dillon and Craig. Dillon eyed him, obviously curious, but Craig nodded. Sasha got the distinct impression that Craig knew more than he let on. He couldn’t ask, though, since his other friends walked up. “Hey,” Marty crowed. “You want a drink?” “Sure.” He glanced at Dillon and Craig. “You interested?” Dillon brightened and Craig smiled at the werefox, a much more gentle expression than Sasha had yet seen on his face. “Love to,” Craig agreed.

www.samhainpublishing.com

97

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

They found a table at the back when another group of four got up. “What about TJ?” Sasha asked, scanning the crowd. “He doesn’t usually join us,” Dillon told him. “Let’s save him a seat, maybe he will this time.” Craig pulled an extra chair over. They chatted for a while and Sasha had three vodka tonics without blinking. Shit, good thing he brought his cash with him this time. Vince leaned over. “You’re coming home with us, Sasha. Marty and I talked, we don’t want a repeat of you getting mugged.” His eyes widened. “Seriously?” “Oh yeah. Why do you think I’m having iced tea all night? I’m the driver.” The beat changed, a heavy industrial, and Dillon got excited. Sasha met his gaze and they both broke into wide grins. As they bolted for the dance floor, TJ watched them, hovering by the edge. His eyes gave nothing away, shadowed by the lights, but Sasha could sense his attention like something physical. Then Dillon grabbed his wrist to lead him to the middle of the floor. All in all, one of Sasha’s more enjoyable nights clubbing in the Windy City.

98

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Seventeen Waterboarding and Other Breakfast Fun

Sasha woke slowly to the aroma of coffee and cinnamon rolls. He blinked his eyes open to a huge, white and puffy pillow that his face currently mashed like a cloud of cotton. It may have been fantastic, but not at all like home. He rolled over and memory flooded back. Dancing. Marty and Vince. They went dancing. “Morning,” Marty chirped. He sat down, bouncing him, and handed a steaming mug of coffee over. “I brought this for you.” “Thanks,” he mumbled. “What time is it?” “About ten on Saturday. You really slept in.” He didn’t grumble about how late they’d stayed out. He didn’t stumble into bed until after five, but Marty appeared rested. And wide awake. Vince walked in. “Breakfast is ready. Oh, hey, Sasha. You awake?” “I am now,” he muttered, sitting up and letting the sheets pool around his waist. “I need a shower.” “Food first,” Vince told him. “You’ll feel like a new man.” “Good, ’cause I feel like an old one right now.” He slurped more coffee and it burned all the way down. His clothes lay folded on a chair next to the bed, but he had no desire to change out of the soft grey flannel pajama pants and shirt Marty loaned him. Instead, he went to the bathroom and washed up. Marty already sat at the table and Vince served cinnamon rolls and bowls of raspberries and strawberries. A pot of cream already sat on the table. “Wow.” He sat down. “This looks amazing.” “Thanks.” Marty popped a strawberry in his mouth and passed the bowl to Sasha. “Who’s TJ?” Sasha eyed him. “Huh?” “Big guy. Clearly a bodyguard, the way he hovered around us. What’s his deal? And who the fuck is the other one?”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“And don’t forget Dillon and Craig. They seemed really hung up on that TJ guy, the way they talked about him,” Vince put in. He sat down. “Dig in.” “Gods, guys.” He swallowed more coffee. “Lighten up. The other one’s name is Mitch.” “We just want to know,” Marty told him. “You’re getting an awful lot of attention from strangers lately.” “They work at the club for Neal,” Sasha said, and took a bite of cinnamon roll. He had to stop and enjoy it; it tasted like heaven. Might even make up for the lack of sleep… “Neal.” Marty didn’t sound friendly. “Yeah. We’re getting along great together, and he wants to meet you guys.” “I get who TJ is, and he was there with Dillon and Craig. But who the fuck is Mitch and why is he fixated on you?” Marty growled. “He’s one of Neal’s Marines. He kind of disappeared, wasn’t reporting in, and Neal didn’t know where he was. How do you know about him?” Marty rolled his eyes. “You might not have been sharing details, but Dillon’s quite the little chatterbox.” Sasha frowned. He thought they’d had their heads together talking about clothes all night. Shows how much he knew. He should have made sure when he told Craig to keep quiet that he included Dillon as well. Marty kept staring at him with an angry expression on his face. “Why was that Mitch guy assaulting you?” “He didn’t assault me, Marty, fuck. I put him on the floor for grabbing my arm.” Marty stared at him, shocked, but Vince laughed. Sasha whipped around to snap a retort at him but Vince held up both hands. “It sounds funny, is all,” Vince protested. “Come on. A guy touches you in a bar and you beat the shit out of him?” “I didn’t beat the shit out of him,” Sasha grumbled. “I was sure tempted, though.” “Remind me not to grab you, then,” Marty muttered. “Yeah, I’ll do that. Pan’s balls, Marty, why the fuck are you getting on my case about this?” “Guys,” Vince soothed. “This doesn’t have to be a fight.” “Is it?” Sasha snapped. “Is it a fight?” Marty blinked. “I…” “Look, Sasha. Marty’s worried about you. We both are, that’s all.” “But Neal wants to meet us? Like he’s some kind of boss or something?” “No, not like that,” Sasha snapped at Marty. “We’re friends, and he’s my lover, he wants to meet you is all. Which you should want too, unless you don’t give a shit?”

100

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Marty’s face flooded with color. “Sasha.” “Do you?” “Do I what?” “Give a shit? Or are you trying to order me around?” Sasha glared at him. “You seem more concerned about what I’m doing and not about whether I’m happy.” “I…” Marty cleared his throat. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” “Then stop hurting me!” Sasha shouted. Marty deflated, leaning back in his chair with both hands on the table. “I’m not trying to hurt you.” “Well, you’re sure doing a damn good job.” “Sasha, all Marty’s trying to do is make sure you’re okay,” Vince interrupted. “We saw TJ and Mitch, and it seemed like a lot of attention out of nowhere.” “I didn’t know Dillon and Craig would be there,” Sasha told him. “TJ was there because of them, not me.” “And Mitch?” Marty pressed. “I don’t know Mitch, Marty. Dammit.” “Calm down, Sasha,” Vince murmured. “He’s jealous, not pissed off.” That stopped him cold. He stared at his former boyfriend in shock. “Is that true?” Marty fidgeted with his spoon. “Yeah.” He looked up and met Sasha’s gaze. “He came out of nowhere, and he’s all hot and rugged, and big, like you like your men, and I assumed…” “Marty, I’m not going to fuck some guy I met at a dance club.” “You did with Neal.” “I’m falling in love with Neal!” Then he heard himself. He sat back, staring at Marty in shock. No one spoke for a long, long moment. “You didn’t mean to say that, did you?” Marty guessed. “Did you even know before you said it out loud?” Sasha shook his head, still not able to say a word. Holy shit. On a shingle. “What the fuck am I gonna do?” Marty shrugged. “Fuck if I know, man.” “Why the fuck are you on my back about it?” “Because we love you, dumb ass,” Vince put in. Sasha stared at him. “What?” “Eat your breakfast.” He laughed. “Yeah. ’Cause I’m so in the mood for food after this little conversation.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

101

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Look. Start at the beginning. You met Neal at the club with us, right?” Marty sipped his coffee. “Then what?” “I woke up on his couch at four o’clock in the afternoon.” Marty waved his hand in a coaxing motion. “We know all that. What else?” “He took me to Leona’s and then we had dinner at his place.” “What?” Marty cried. “You never told me that.” “Yeah, well, you didn’t seem all that keen to know the details.” Marty flushed. “What else?” “He gave me a tour of the Factory and we played in his dungeon. He says he doesn’t sleep with clients, but asked if I was available as a lover.” “And?” Marty prompted. “And I said I was. What, you want a written proposal?” “I might.” “Guys,” Vince growled. “I want to hear this.” “I had another date with Neal when I got back, and I played with Steve and Carlos.” Then all of a sudden, it hit him. The lycanthropy. Marty must have read something in his expression. “What’s wrong?” “They’re lycanthropes.” They stared at each other. “What?” “They’re weretigers.” “You’re an animal empath.” Marty’s eyes widened. “What is that like? Humans who are animals?” Sasha shrugged. “I can read them in a way I can’t other people. And we’re drawn to each other.” “Wow.” “I’ve never met a lycanthrope,” Vince put in. “Neither had I,” Sasha said. “Does Aunt Z know?” Marty asked. “Huh-uh. I only just found out. TJ and Mitch are too. Dillon’s a lycanthrope, but a werefox. He’s the real thing, hereditary and everything. Neal and his men were attacked when they were in the Marines overseas. It happened during a fight in Afghanistan.” “My God. The Taliban are using weretigers now?” Marty gasped. Sasha shook his head. “No, they don’t think so. The guy was Russian.” “Are you safe?” Vince asked. “Can you catch it?” “No. I Googled it after they told me. You can’t catch lycanthropy from someone who isn’t genetically one. Even then, it’s really difficult to get; the shifter has to be in half-human, half-animal shape. Only really

102

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

powerful ones can do it, and it’s really frowned upon in any of their cultures that I’ve studied. Granted, I’m not an expert…” “What’s your aunt gonna say?” Marty wanted to know. “I have no fucking clue,” Sasha grumbled. “I haven’t told anyone back home. I don’t know if this is going anywhere yet.” “But you love him?” Sasha stared at him. “Marty…” “Do you?” “I…” “So, yeah.” Marty sighed. “Jesus, man. You never did take the easy way out.” “Tell me about it.” He took a sip of coffee. “Can I eat something now without you grilling me?” “I thought you liked it rough?” Marty shot back. “Marty…” Vince laughed. “You two sure fight like old women.” Marty sighed. “I don’t understand how it happened this fast.” “We did,” Vince pointed out. Marty flushed and stared at him. Vince gazed back, a hint of steel in his eyes. Sasha wanted to laugh. Vince seemed quiet and passive, until you pushed too far. Then the alpha male came out. Like now, say. He wished he had a camera. Marty rolled his eyes. “Weretigers? Fucking hell, man. Your aunt is gonna kill me if she finds out from me before you tell her. You’ve gotta tell her, man.” Sasha grunted. “Good point.” He paused, chewing on his lip. “I’ll figure something out. But give me time. I don’t know how this whole thing is gonna play out, okay?” Vince stood abruptly. “I’m done with talking. You guys wanna go for a run or something?” “We just ate,” Sasha protested. “The zoo, then.” He blinked. “You’re serious?” Vince shrugged. “You’re an animal empath. Wouldn’t the zoo be fun?” Everybody always thought that. Let’s go to the zoo, since you can talk to the animals. Nevermind the fact they were stuck in cages, prevented from hunting or doing anything they were supposed to do… “Vinnie, he’s an animal empath. Zoos are like jails to someone like him,” Marty said softly. Vince flushed. “I’m sorry.” “How about a matinee?” Sasha proposed. “Let’s see what’s out, we can take a walk and go to the movie. How’s that for a compromise?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

103

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Only if I get all the popcorn,” Vince shot back. He laughed. “Fair enough. I’ll do dishes.” “I’ll dry,” Marty offered. They all got up and set about cleaning up after their breakfast. Sasha glanced at Marty several times, but his old lover and friend seemed bent on concentrating on the dishes. Figured.

104

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Eighteen Along Came a Tiger

Vince dropped him off at his apartment without anything really being resolved. “Don’t get in over your head, Sasha.” He pulled the car up to the curb. Sasha puffed a laugh through his nose. “Yeah.” “He still loves you, you know,” Vince murmured. “What?” “He does. I’m not jealous. I know he and I have something special. But he still carries a torch for you.” “Vince…” “I thought you should know. I’m okay if you still want to play and all. But he’s probably jealous about Neal and stuff. Protective. You know?” “Gods. I don’t know what to say to that.” Vince shrugged. “Then don’t say anything. But keep it in mind.” “I…” “Go on, go home, ya bum.” Sasha laughed and opened the car door. “Thanks, Vinnie.” Vince smiled at him. “You’re welcome.” He got out and waited while Vince drove away. The feeling of being watched grew and he looked around warily. Then he froze. Mitch waited across the street, leaning against a lamppost. He straightened when their eyes met and started across the street. Sasha backed up and Mitch slowed, but kept coming. “Hey, Princess.” He frowned. “Don’t call me that.” Mitch smirked. “You never told me your name.” He turned away and went to his door. “Go away.” “Leaving so soon?” “Just go.”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Why?” Something about the question made Sasha pause, and his empathy chose that moment to flair to life. He could feel Mitch and something else. The weretiger was lonely. Mitch, clearly unaware of the fact Sasha could read him, leaned against the wall next to the door. “Maybe I’m waiting for my turn.” Sasha studied him. “Fine. Come on up.” Mitch froze, staring at him. Sasha could feel his arousal through the empathy. “What?” He leaned close, watching Mitch’s brown eyes dilate as he got close. “No sex, but come upstairs.” The weretiger watched him, a mingle of hostility and hope on his face. Sasha said nothing, just unlocked the door and started upstairs. Before the door could shut, Mitch caught it and followed him. He walked into his apartment, and Mitch closed the door and locked it. While Sasha set his keys on the table and sat down, Mitch moved through the small flat, checking the bedroom and bathroom and then looking out the window in the top half of the back door. “Satisfied?” Sasha demanded. Mitch shrugged. “I guess.” “What are you looking for?” “Russians.” Adrenalin shot through him and he spun to stare out the window. “What?” Mitch eyed him. “You really are naïve, you know that?” That pissed him off. “Fuck you.” “Any time.” “Back off on the sex, dammit.” He surged to his feet and turned to his counter, then yanked the coffee pot off the burner and shoved it under the water. “You want some coffee?” Mitch didn’t say anything. He turned his head to find the Marine studying him with a confused expression on his face. “You want some coffee?” he repeated, irritated. “You’re serious?” “Yeah, why?” Mitch shrugged. “Yeah.” His tone came out a lot more reasonable-sounding than before. Sasha set the coffee on to brew and then sat down again. After a moment, Mitch pulled a chair out and sat on it backward. “You confuse the shit outta me.” “Yeah, I get that a lot.” “Did you mean it?” “Mean what?”

106

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“About the no sex thing.” Sasha started to retort angrily, and then studied the weretiger. Under the cockiness, his empathy sensed that loneliness again. “Yeah, I was serious. You can stay, but no sex.” “All the best ones are taken.” “My name is Sasha.” Mitch blinked. “Neal calls you Doc.” “That’s because I am.” “What, a doc?” “Yeah. I’m a vet. Trauma surgeon.” “No shit.” “Why did you hide from Neal?” Mitch cocked his head. “Who says I’m hiding?” “You disappeared from the Troika, and then popped up here out of nowhere.” “I’m doing recon.” Sasha laughed. “On what?” “I’ve been keeping an eye on the Russians.” Sasha sat back. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” “I’m one of the best.” “Modest too.” “How’d you meet Neal?” “At the club.” “Who’s the hot guy who dropped you off? Neal know about him?” “Yes, actually. He’s my ex-boyfriend’s partner.” Mitch stared at him, shocked. “You’re fucking with me.” “No, I wouldn’t do that.” The coffee puffed and perked, nearly finished. He got up to get out mugs and cocoa, milk and sugar. He set them on the table. “You hungry?” “Yeah. Got any chicken or something?” “Nope. I’m vegetarian.” “Fuck.” He smirked. “I can give you some lettuce.” “Funny.” “You want a quesadilla?” Mitch blinked. “You’d cook for me?” “Yeah, why not?” Mitch seemed genuinely confused. “You don’t make any sense, Doc.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

107

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“My friends call me Sasha.” “Neal calls you Doc.” Sasha leaned forward and Mitch froze, breath caught. “I’m not Neal’s friend, I’m his lover.” “How about Princess?” “How about I kick your ass again?” He stood and got out cheese and tortillas. Mitch laughed. “You didn’t kick my ass the first time.” “That’s ‘cause we got interrupted.” “Anytime, Doc.” He smirked. “Food first. I get cranky when I’m hungry.” “Doc, you really do gotta be careful. The Russians want you dead for what you did to Alyosha.” He cocked his head. “Seriously. Where’d you learn to fight?” “I’m a Guardian.” “What’s that mean?” “I’m from Madison.” Mitch’s eyes widened. “The Gary Covens?” “Yeah. How’d you know?” Mitch shrugged. “It’s my job. Recon. You’re one of them?” He nodded. “I’m an animal empath. My magic is part of it. We’ve all been trained in combat.” “Any real combat?” Sasha’s eyes widened and he stared at Mitch. “What, like the military?” Mitch nodded. He shook his head. “Nothing real.” “Well, you do plenty good without it.” He froze, not expecting that. He resumed cutting cheese for the quesadillas. “Why are you nice to me all of a sudden?” Mitch shrugged. “Why are you?” They stared at each other, and then the coffee started making its fizzing noises to announce the pot finished brewing. Sasha turned and poured mugs for both of them, and set one down for Mitch. He made two quesadillas and served them, then got some salsa and sat down. While Sasha ate, Mitch continued to watch him. “You’re not what I expected, you know,” the Marine said then. “Oh? You expect veterinarians to be old and boring?” Mitch grinned. “No, I meant Neal’s boyfriend.” He sat back. “You’re gay, right?” Mitch’s jaw clenched and he glared at him. “So?”

108

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Relax, I didn’t mean anything by it.” He took a bite of quesadilla. “You’re not exactly stereotypical either, you know.” Mitch glared at him and then took a drink of his coffee. “What the fuck, man? Neal and TJ. Fucking hell.” Sasha frowned. “Huh?” “Neal gets you, and Steve too from the smell of it. Carlos, even. And TJ. Fucking loser has both Craig and Dillon all over him and doesn’t fucking have a clue.” “TJ? What are you talking about?” “TJ’s got the hots for them, and they like him right back but he’s too fucking stupid to tell.” “How do you know? You’re not even around.” Mitch cocked his head. “Tell me I’m wrong, then.” He blinked. “Um…” Mitch laughed and finally took a bite of his quesadilla. “Fuck, man,” he blurted, mouth full. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing. This is fucking amazing. What did you put in it?” He smiled, pleased. “Thank you.” Mitch sobered, watching him. “Seriously. About Neal? Is it serious?” “Are you hitting on me?” Mitch flushed, but held his gaze. “Yeah.” “I’m really sorry, but yeah. I’m with Neal.” “What the fuck about Steve and Carlos?” “Neal and I played with them.” He took another bite. “I’m poly.” “I’m not.” “I kinda figured you for possessive.” Mitch laughed. “You’re a cocky little fucker.” “Yeah.” He finished his quesadilla and looked at Mitch’s empty plate. “You still hungry?” “Nah. I ate breakfast a little while ago.” “I was going to go for a run. You want to come?” Mitch blinked. “A run.” “Yeah. Why?” “Yeah, sure. I’ll go running.” Sasha got up and set his plate in the sink. “Let me start some laundry first.” “You sure are a neat freak.” “Fuck you,” he shot back, laughing. “You’d love ta,” Mitch drawled. “You should replace the locks on your foyer door downstairs.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

109

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

His stomach tightened. “What?” “Your door locks are shit. The apartment too. The Russians find you, they’re no defense at all.” “I have protection spells up. They’re not gonna find me.” “Magic doesn’t do shit against a gun.” “Yeah, and that doesn’t freak the shit outta me or anything.” Mitch laughed. “I’m serious.” “I am too.” “Doc, come on. Magic fairy dust isn’t going to do squat against these guys!” Mitch seemed genuinely worried. “The spells I have up are to hide me and the apartment.” “Well, I found you.” “Of course people have to find me, I’m job hunting. But no one with harmful intent can, unless they physically follow me. And I’m really careful.” “Careful doesn’t stop squat, Doc. Stop being so naïve.” Sasha sighed. He grew up with children who knew magic better than Mitch. It was obvious from the expression on the Marine’s face he wasn’t going to understand, no matter what Sasha said. “Let’s just go jogging.” “You got some sweats?” “Huh?” “Sweats. For running.” “Um…yeah. Yeah. Come with me.” He turned and went to the bedroom closet. He turned around to find Mitch right behind him. “Mitch?” Mitch cupped his jaw in a very warm hand. “Doc.” His voice came out very soft. Sasha’s heart started to pound. “Please…” Mitch licked his jaw line, using a feather-light touch, and came close enough that his mouth touched Sasha’s ear. “Tell me no, that you want Neal, and I’ll stop.” Fuck. His body woke up, every nerve tingling. The empathy told him that Mitch meant it, that he wanted Sasha. “Mitch, please.” Mitch’s mouth closed on his neck, under his ear, and he moaned into Sasha’s throat. That didn’t help at all. He pulled back enough to speak and Mitch kissed him. Fuck, but the man could kiss. The moment stretched and his eyes fluttered closed. He kissed Mitch back, their tongues twining around each other. It ended finally, and Mitch pulled back. “Mitch, I’m with Neal.” He kissed the Marine’s chin. “But if I wasn’t, fuck man. You have to know how hot you are. You can smell me, right?” Mitch sighed, clearly disappointed. “You sure, Doc?”

110

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Yeah. I’m sure. I’m sorry. I really am. If things were different…” Mitch studied him, eyes not quite brown now that they were inches away. They had flecks of gold in the center like shavings of mica. Mitch stepped back, releasing him. “I had to try.” Sasha smiled. “And?” “And Neal’s lucky I’m his friend, or he’d have a serious contest on his hands.” Sasha blushed. “Thanks.” “Those them?” Sasha looked down, momentarily confused. The sweatpants in his hands made him laugh. He handed them over. “Yeah.” “I’ll change in the bathroom.” Mitch turned and disappeared. Sasha sat on the bed, heart pounding. What a fucking day.

www.samhainpublishing.com

111

Chapter Nineteen Crossing Paths

Sasha led the way to the lake, Mitch pacing alongside him. “I like to loop south along the lake for a couple miles.” “Sounds good.” “You like to jog?” “I’ll keep up, Doc. Don’t worry about me.” Sasha smirked. We’ll see about that. He headed across the street and Mitch lagged back a little, then came up to him. “Keep going,” Mitch murmured. “I want to see something.” Sasha’s stomach clenched and he looked around. “What? What’s wrong?” Mitch made a noise suspiciously like a growl. “Just jog, Doc. Don’t be so goddamn obvious.” Sasha glared but did as he was told. Mitch separated at the next fork and took off toward the baseball diamond across the park. Sasha tried to see everything at once but got nothing. An idea came to him. Slowing a bit, enough to concentrate, Sasha centered himself. He let his empathy spin out of him and “looked”. He almost ran into a tree. Shit, there were a lot of animals in the park. He found all the usual vermin, squirrels and pigeons and geese, but a fair few dogs and even several cats. And a bear. He faltered. He quested for Mitch’s familiar energy and found him about a quarter mile behind him, his attention on something else. Idiot was backtracking it by mistake. Dammit. He wished to Pan he could send thoughts mind to mind. Of course, mobile phones worked too… He hit the button and dialed Mitch’s phone, grateful that TJ programmed all the numbers into it for him. “Yeah, Doc. What’s wrong?” “There’s a bear here, in the park,” he panted. “I can’t see him, but he’s nearby.” Mitch grunted. “Stay on the path.” “Mitch, I’m—”

Burning Bright

“Stay on the path. Focus.” Sasha swallowed. “Do they have guns?” Mitch snorted. “If you were a bear, would you need a gun? Look, treat it like a drill, Doc. You’ve done this in training, right? Played fox and hounds?” “Of course. I used to drill in that all the time.” “Good. You’re the fox. Keep heading south on the main path, don’t take any side paths and stay away from buildings. If you see something, hit the screamer on your phone.” “Mitch…” “Focus. It’s gonna be okay.” Riiight. “Yeah.” Sasha might have been more reassured if Mitch’s nervousness didn’t bleed through their link. He headed out again at regular speed, trying to keep his empathy open and focused on the bear. The second time he twisted his ankle, he pulled his mind back into his body and concentrated on running. A mile went by, then another, but nothing happened. He started to get annoyed. He got all worked up over nothing, dammit. Where was this mysterious bear, anyway? He turned to look behind him. Mitch waved, about a quarter mile back, but no one else was nearby. Sasha slowed but didn’t stop or turn around. Mitch came up to him, panting. “All better. See, Doc? That wasn’t so bad, was it?” “What? Nothing happened.” Mitch preened. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Sasha smacked him with his left hand. “I’m serious.” “So am I,” Mitch shot back. “I’d be a pretty poor mole if I let you see what I did, wouldn’t I?” Sasha slowed and then stopped. He stretched enough to keep his muscles from cramping on him, and then walked over to stand by a tree. “What are you doing?” Mitch asked, a smirk on his face. “Watch,” Sasha snapped. “Why you all mad at me?” Mitch demanded. He let his empathy fill him and before he could start to “look” for the bear, Mitch’s sense of indignation filled him. He opened his eyes and met the tiger’s gaze. “Look. I’m sorry. I’m just amped, okay?” Mitch blinked. “Oh.” He cocked a hip against another tree. “That’s all right.” Sasha resisted laughing by closing his eyes and centering. The now familiar dogs, cats, squirrels, geese… Tiger… No bear. Anywhere. His eyes popped open. “You didn’t kill him did you?” Mitch studied him, for once not humorous. “What did you do?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

113

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“I’m an animal empath, I told you. Where’s the bear?” Mitch straightened. “I thought…” “What?” Mitch looked uncomfortable. “I thought that was…” He trailed off. “Just bullshit, is that it?” Sasha spun away. “You’re really worried I killed him?” “Yes.” Mitch cocked his head. “Thing is, you don’t seem worried that I could kill. You seem worried that he’d be dead, but not that I’m a murderer.” “You’re not.” “Even if I killed someone?” “You’re a soldier, Mitch.” “I didn’t kill him.” Sasha sagged against the tree. “You’re really relieved.” “Yeah, why?” “Come on Doc. Let’s get back. I need to tell Neal what happened.” “What did happen?” “I chased him to a car and he got the hell out of here,” Mitch told him calmly. Sasha stared at him and then burst out laughing. “That’s all?” Mitch shrugged. “Yeah. Actually we kinda had a stare down. He might’ve been heading for his car anyway.” “It’s just anticlimactic.” He waved his arms around. Mitch laughed. “You’re somethin’ else, Doc. Come on, I’ll race you.” “I don’t know… Go!” Sasha took off toward home. The tiger behind him growled and leaped after. Best exercise he’d had all week.

114

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Twenty Da Bears

They arrived at his apartment and Sasha stretched downstairs, then led the way up. “I’m heading to the Factory, you want to go with me?” Mitch eyed him. “Yeah, sure.” Sasha packed his overnight bag and drank some water, then brought Mitch downstairs to his truck. “This is yours?” Mitch demanded. “Yeah, why?” “I expected something like a Volkswagen Beetle, or something. Not a work truck.” He shrugged and unlocked the door. “I own a dairy farm. A Beetle would be pretty fucking impractical.” “A dairy farm?” Mitch echoed, clearly startled. “No shit.” Sasha climbed into the driver’s seat and pulled into traffic. “Yeah. My dad sold most of the cows a few years ago, but I still have the farm.” He hesitated. “If I don’t find a job, I have to go back.” “Where’s ‘back’? Madison and the farm?” Sasha nodded, a heavy weight forming in his stomach. Mitch grunted. “This thing with Neal, it’s not that serious?” Sasha glanced at him. “What do you mean?” “I mean, if you have to go back, can’t be all that serious, right?” Sasha’s stomach clenched and he turned back to the road. Fuck, would he have to leave? “Shit, Doc.” “What?” His voice came out unfriendly, even hostile. “It really is serious, at least on your side.” Mitch sat back and watched the road. “I hope, for your sake, you get this job.” “Madison’s not that far away…” “You don’t want to commute. Your body don’t lie, Doc. I’m a tiger, I can smell it on you.” “Yeah.” He rubbed his face. “Don’t tell Neal, okay?”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Mitch laughed, but sobered when Sasha turned to glare at him. He held up his hands. “Relax. I’m not that much of a dick.” Mitch’s arrival set off a minor storm and Sasha slipped out of Neal’s apartment to wander downstairs. He padded down the staircase to the main floor and paused. His empathy flared to life and made his throat tighten. “Hello?” It didn’t feel familiar, nor like a tiger… Gods, it was a bear. A tall man stood about ten feet away, facing the restaurant tables. The Factory opened for business but no patrons occupied the tables yet. Sasha had a feeling this man wasn’t here to eat. He wore a long black wool trench coat that fell to his knees. Blond streaked his brown hair and caught in the lights. “What do you want?” Sasha asked. He cursed himself for coming down in jogging clothes with nothing else, like a cell phone, or maybe a gun… The man inhaled deeply, and then turned. Sasha jumped. The eyes that examined him were not human. He backed up a step and the man moved toward him. Sasha carefully circled around the stranger, edging toward the kitchen filled with people, including Mario and his favorite assault rifle. “What are you?” the stranger asked in Russian. “Speak English, dammit,” Sasha snapped. The man smirked. “Why? You understand Russian. Why shouldn’t I speak it?” The stranger took another step toward him, inhaling again. “What are you?” Should he tell him? Probably not… “I’m a veterinarian.” He stepped back but missed the swinging door to the kitchen and banged into the door jam. The man moved then, too fast for Sasha to see, and ended up in front of him. His hand, big enough to palm his whole head, enclosed Sasha’s throat. Sasha pulled away and whacked his head against the wall. “I am called Kiril,” the man growled, still in Russian but with the flavor of something deeper under the words, like a growl or something. “How are you called?” “Let go of me.” Kiril laughed. His eyeteeth were longer than a human’s and his breath smelled of meat. “Or what, little man?” “I said, let go of me,” Sasha grated. He moved his hand sideways and tried to open the door to the kitchen, but Kiril’s hand closed on his wrist. “Freeze.” The loud shout made Sasha jolt. The click of a gun cocking echoed in the sudden silence. Kiril snarled, his teeth drawn back from his mouth. His hand tightened around Sasha’s throat. “Let him go, dude. This is the last warning I’ll give you.” The tall form of TJ appeared behind the Russian, his eyes on the big man. His gaze flicked to Sasha’s and back, utterly cold. Kiril moved sideways so he could see TJ but didn’t let go of Sasha. “I wish to speak with Neal.”

116

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

TJ laughed. “I’d let go of that one, if that’s what you want. He sees you choking him, he’ll fucking kill you.” “Very well.” Kiril released him and Sasha stumbled away, rubbing his neck. “Go back upstairs, Doc,” TJ ordered. “What?” “Now. You’re wearing sweats with no weapons. You’re in the way.” He sucked in his breath, offended. “I can take care of myself.” “You can tell Neal to get his ass down here,” TJ shot back. “No need.” Neal stepped off the last stair, Steve behind him. “I’m Neal Harrison. What do you want?” “I am called Kiril Vasilyevich. I am the leader of the Plemya.” “It’s Russian for tribe,” Sasha told Neal. He walked over to stand next to the big Marine. “He’s a bear.” Sasha’s stomach tightened. Did Kiril follow them from the park? Then it hit him. Kiril spoke Russian. “The other totem?” Neal’s bolt of fear spiked against Sasha’s empathy at the words, though nothing appeared on Neal’s face or body language. “Good guess.” “I’ve been hired by Ivan Andreievich.” Kiril’s tongue made a weird sucking noise against his right eyetooth, and it reminded Sasha of a predator getting meat out from between his teeth. “To do what?” Neal asked. “I think you know,” Kiril said with a slight smirk. His eyes flicked to Sasha’s. “But you should send your loved ones away.” He inhaled again. “What is he? He’s not a tiger.” “He’s not a lycanthrope,” Neal said. “I’m an animal empath,” Sasha told him. Kiril took a step forward and two things happened. Neal stepped in front of Sasha, and TJ brought up his hand again, aiming the heavy pistol at Kiril. The bear froze, staring at Sasha. “I’d leave, if I were you,” TJ growled. “Ivan will come with men in a week. You should have your answer ready by then. I have twelve men with me.” Kiril looked at Neal. “Be prepared.” “Get out,” Neal grated. “And don’t look back.” Kiril threw his head back and laughed, his teeth very white. The sound bounced around the restaurant. Kiril turned then and walked away, a steady strength to his steps that meant he was a fighter. He went out the front door without glancing back and Sasha exhaled, trying to relax. Neal turned and met Sasha’s gaze. “Fuck. Are you all right?” Sasha, very conscious of the other soldiers standing around, nodded and squared his shoulders. “I’m fine.” “Okay…”

www.samhainpublishing.com

117

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Sarge, what the fuck?” TJ demanded. “Go find out everything you can about him,” Neal ordered. “And his guys. Call Paul. I want him here as soon as possible.” TJ nodded and disappeared downstairs, heading for the security console there. “I can finish dinner,” Steve murmured. “I left the waffles in the oven to stay warm, but I still have half the batter to cook up.” He went over and hit the call button for the elevator. Sasha relaxed with relief. He didn’t really want to climb all those stairs weak in the knees. Carlos went into the kitchen and came out with two-dozen eggs. Neal slipped an arm around him. He resisted at first, but Neal shook him gently. “Stop being such a tough guy.” The elevator arrived and they walked in. He pulled away from Neal to stand by himself in one corner. They arrived on the top floor to the smell of waffles and powdered sugar. Steve went to the kitchen and pulled the batter over to start making the rest of them. Sasha rinsed quickly in the shower and dressed in clean clothes. He went into Neal’s bedroom and laid down on the bed with his arm over his face. After a moment, the mattress bounced as Neal sat next to him. He rubbed Sasha’s chest with a warm hand. “Hey, Doc.” Sasha let his hand fall back over his head onto the pillow. He met Neal’s gaze. “Why did he come here?” Neal shook his head. “I have no idea. I guess to tell me there’s going to be a fight.” “Can you win?” He shrugged. “No idea.” Sasha sat up, anger flooding him. “No idea? Fucking hell, Neal.” “Doc, calm down.” “No. No, man. What the fuck? These people are crazy.” “Yeah, and they want my place. Do you think I should hand over the deed?” Sasha blinked. “You’re not serious.” “That’s what this has been about since the beginning.” He brought his hand down to close on Neal’s elbow. “No. You can’t do it.” “I have almost a dozen guys coming from the Troika,” Neal told him. “We’ll settle this once and for all.” “I…” “You don’t have to stay here for it.” Sasha whipped back. “Fuck you.” “Doc.”

118

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“I can fight.” “That’s not what I meant.” Neal caught his wrist in a gentle grip. “I meant, if you don’t want to deal with the drama.” “Oh.” Sasha inhaled, heat flowing into his face. “I…” “I don’t think it’s going to be much more than a pissing contest, anyway,” Neal said. “We’ll get some intel and then we’ll know for sure.” “Neal…” He wanted to say, I love you, but couldn’t quite get it past his lips. “Promise me you’ll be careful.” “Of course I will. Besides, we haven’t had a good fight since we got back to the States, and the guys are getting bored.” That made him laugh. “Come on. Steve’s made waffles for dinner. That’s my favorite.” Neal stood and held his hand down for Sasha to take, and hauled him to his feet. “I come to Chicago and meet lycanthropes and get involved in a turf war. No one at home is going to believe this.” “They think you’re too innocent?” He shook his head. “They’ll be pissed I didn’t invite them to the fight.” Neal laughed and led the way out to the living room. Carlos and Mitch didn’t stay to eat, but Sasha enjoyed his time with Steve and Neal. Considering how antagonistically the two Marines reacted to each other upon their reunion, relief filled Sasha. He didn’t want to take sides. Steve’s waffles rivaled any his aunts made and he had two servings. The tigers, of course, had twice that… “Do lycanthropes eat more?” Sasha asked, watching Steve take another serving of bacon. He shrugged. “Yup.” Neal chuckled. “You’ve always been a pig.” Steve pointed his fork at the other man. “You watch it, smartass.” “Yeah, yeah. Bring it on, fur ball.” Neal turned to Sasha. “Any news on your job situation?” Neal asked Sasha. He shook his head. “I should hear soon, though. Doctor Salisbury said the board met and is discussing it. He thinks they’ll have a decision by Tuesday.” Neal pursed his lips and nodded. “Well, we’ll see.” He sipped his coffee. “Got plans for tonight?” “No…” “I’m doing a demo on stage, if you want to watch.” “Yeah, sure. That would be fun.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

119

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Steve got up to wash dishes, and Neal sat back. “I have to do some paperwork downstairs, if you don’t mind hanging out for a while.” “You sure I won’t be in the way?” Sasha asked. He had the overnight bag in his truck “just in case”, but now he guessed it might be imposing. Neal leaned forward, capturing his attention. “You’re not in the way, Doc.” His voice sounded all growly and low, like a tiger’s mutter. Gods, but the man was hot… Neal chuckled and got up from the table, going to retrieve something or other from the bedroom. Sasha stayed in his chair, trying to center himself by taking deep breaths. Steve said nothing, just washed dishes like he didn’t hear a thing. Sasha sighed. His life certainly didn’t get boring, that was for sure.

120

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Twenty-One Unexpected

The heavy rhythm of the industrial rock song sounded like a giant heartbeat to Sasha. It swept through his body like a tsunami, carrying him along. He arched and swayed, his feet never still as he danced. Dillon had been with him earlier, but left to prepare for his demo on stage. A hand smoothed over the curve of Sasha’s hip, way too familiar. Sasha snapped his head around and his glare bounced off of Mitch’s grin. He shook his finger at the Marine, who appeared unrepentant. If anything, the other man’s smirk grew. Rather than waste his time trying to scold Mitch, he settled in to enjoy the shifter’s company. And Mitch could definitely dance. Where Dillon’s movements were all sensual promise, Mitch moved like he wanted to have steamy sex with him. While still on the dance floor. What would the other man be like with someone he had a chance with, considering how he seemed to view dancing as foreplay? The Marine’s presence did keep away others that tried to bother Sasha. Mitch could switch from steamy to dangerous in two seconds flat if someone edged too close. Of course, some tried to edge toward Mitch himself, to which he seemed oblivious. Mitch wore tight black jeans and the black combat boots of his uniform. He tucked the grey T-shirt into the back waistband of his jeans to swing around behind him like a tail. A light sheen of sweat glistened on his bare torso and Sasha had to admit that the other man was hot. Not that he’d ever admit that to the big guy. Considering the tiger’s smirk and sense of smell, maybe Sasha didn’t need to. After another song, Mitch tapped his watch and blew him a kiss before leaving. Sasha smiled and nodded. He loved the next song and let it sweep him along. A stranger tried to dance with him, but he left the floor and worked his way to the bar. After wiggling into a spot, he nodded at the bartender, a black-haired man named Frank. Sasha mouthed “water” and got a smile and nod. Frank came with a bottle of Dasani and gave him a look when he offered to pay. Having the boss as a lover definitely came with perks. Instead, Sasha put the five in the tip jar when Frank turned away.

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

The music changed, capturing his attention. Dancers on the floor slowed their movements and began jockeying for standing spots on it instead. Sasha turned to lean against the bar, waiting to see when Neal appeared. The top wore thigh-high leather boots with thick, chunky soles. Brown leather pants clung to his thighs like a second skin. Shirtless, only wide leather bracers wrapped around his forearms. Oil gleamed on the acres of bared skin. Damn, his lover was hot. Sasha watched as the top carefully examined the bondage furniture positioned on the stage. Neal ignored the clapping and comments called to him. What Neal inspected appeared to be a combination of a spanking bench and a set of stocks. Warmth filled Sasha as he gazed over the crowd. Sasha raised his arm and gave a little wave and the intent cinnamon gaze found him. Sasha basked in the envious looks that a few twinks sent his way. The lights dimmed even more and a spotlight shone on the small stage. Another found Craig and Dillon waiting off to the side near where the Security Room hid. Sasha stared at the pair and allowed himself a smutty, unfaithful fantasy. Craig wore a matching outfit to Neal’s, his done in dark red leather. On Dillon, only a white thong covered him, and barely at that. The smaller man’s hair glowed paler in the light, almost creating a halo. Considering some of the things the werefox hinted about the upcoming demo, any comparison to an angel was accidental. Sasha watched, his cock hardening, as Craig locked Dillon into the piece of equipment with many long, lingering caresses. Neal circled them like the big predator he hid under his skin. When Craig secured the submissive, Neal strode to the rack that hung floggers. The other Dom joined him and they appeared to confer, taking down several and giving practice swings in the air. The audience loved this display. Dillon appeared to wait patiently, but even from the distance to the bar, Sasha could see the shivers of excitement that raced over the younger man’s skin. Neal chose one and strode over the stage to caress Dillon with the suede strands, running them over his pale shoulders and back. Craig stood in front of the bound man, his hands tilting Dillon’s face up. The bondage furniture brought the submissive’s head level with the other top’s groin. Craig thrust his hips forward and let Dillon rub his face over the red leather covering his cock. Neal drew back his arm and a thick thud seemed to echo around the almost silent club. Sasha watched, fascinated, as red bloomed across Dillon’s pale buttocks. Irritation flashed through him when a body bumping into him interrupted his fantasy. Who would want to order a drink now and miss any of this? A muscular young man leered at him as Sasha moved slightly. When Sasha glared back, the man’s grin grew bigger. Some guys couldn’t take a hint. The newcomer’s gaze ran over him and Sasha didn’t consider himself vain to think that he looked good. He wore a midnight blue mesh shirt with a diamond pattern that matched the diamond cutouts

122

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

running up the outside sides of his cobalt leather pants. They clung to his legs except where they flared at the ankle for his short boots. The shirt boasted a wide, curved neckline to show off that he wore no collar. He loved it when Neal’s eyes darkened earlier, and he wrapped a huge hand around his throat. Neal’s low voice had warned him to stay out of trouble. Looks like that advice flew out the window. Sasha might be a sub, but getting pushed around got old. Fast. Just when Sasha opened his mouth to say something, the newcomer looked past him. Sasha’s unwanted admirer’s beefy face paled as he backed away. Sasha frowned and spun out his empathy but it came back with nothing. So, no shifter stood behind him. He moved so his back leaned against the bar again and looked over. A pale gaze met his, the eyes flat and dead. Crap. Vadim stood next to him. How long had the Russian stood there? It couldn’t be by accident that the Mob boss’s second appeared. Sasha tried to remember if the guys mentioned Vadim’s last name to him; addressing him by his first seemed too intimate in this setting. “Uh, hi.” Sasha winced at the awkwardness of his greeting. Vadim nodded as he sipped clear liquid from a squat glass. Vodka, Sasha guessed. “What are you doing here?” Broad shoulders shrugged under snug wine fabric. The silk tee showed the impressive muscles the suit concealed. Matching raw silk black trousers clung to lean hips and powerful thighs as the other man leaned against the bar. Black tattoos adorned the pale forearms, wrists and fingers. “I cannot be visiting?” Vadim replied in Russian. Sasha gestured around them. “This isn’t your scene.” He didn’t move his gaze away from the Russian. Vadim reminded him of a snake, all sleek and dangerous. Holding eye contact seemed prudent. Vadim held his gaze. “You should consider leaving Chicago. This dispute should concern business, but for Pyotr Ivanovich it has changed to personal.” “What do you mean?” Sasha let anger lace his voice, it hid the nervousness. He concentrated on Vadim’s words and the fact that he didn’t use Petya’s nickname. Was that a sign of dislike or of respect? “With you, he lost face. Taking over this establishment should have made his mark in the organization. Instead, he is a joke.” “How…what? He beat the shit outta me. How can that make him look bad?” “You put out of commission one of the men under his control, making Alyosha useless. Something Alyosha is vocal about when others complain of him not doing his duties, blaming you and Pyotr Ivanovich. Also the other, Iosef.” At Sasha’s nod of remembrance Vadim continued. “He has, how do you say in English, a big mouth.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

123

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“What do you mean?” Sasha answered him in Russian. “You, a sissy man, flipped Pyotr Ivanovich, throwing him on his ass in garbage. Iosef is not shy in sharing that story.” “They attacked me.” Sasha narrowed his eyes. “Why do you care about my welfare, anyway?” Those broad shoulders shrugged again. “I don’t. Pyotr Ivanovch holds a unique position in the organization and I must deal with him. You are making my job harder.” “Oh, gee, sorry about that,” he snarled in English. Sarcasm laced Sasha’s tone but Vadim nodded gravely as if he’d been serious with the apology. “Expanding from Uptown to Edgewater is the next logical step. Instead, it has become messy and I abhor messy.” Did Vadim expect him to apologize again? He had no intention of doing so, but this did present a golden opportunity to learn more. Switching back to Russian, he said, “Do the others on this totem pole you mentioned dislike messy as well? Pulling them into this must make you all look bad too.” He watched Vadim frown and take a swallow of his drink. Before the Russian could answer, men started moving and shifting around them. Sasha watched Steve push several patrons out of his way to come straight at them. He glowered, the anger tightening his face and changing it to an intimidating mask. As he approached, Sasha could read the concern in his eyes, but that didn’t change his lousy timing. Crap, he didn’t need rescuing. Couldn’t the big man have waited longer? Sighing, Sasha moved forward and Steve’s muscled arms wrapped around him. Sasha inhaled the rum spice scent of his lover and guilt filled him. Steve only wanted to protect him and he pushed away his irritation. The likelihood of harm coming to him while surrounded by people was slim, but Steve wouldn’t see it that way. Steve’s chest vibrated against Sasha’s cheek as he growled. The music around them drowned out any sound of it. “Calm down, Steve, I’m okay.” Steve’s gaze met his before swinging back toward the bar. A frown now crossed the larger man’s face. “Where’d the Russian bastard go?” Sasha turned. The empty glass sitting on the bar remained the only evidence of his chat with Vadim. The rangy blond had disappeared from sight. “What did he have to say to you?” “Actually quite a lot. I wished you’d waited before rushing over.” Now Steve’s frown turned toward him. Great.

124

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Well, you can tell us in Neal’s office. He’s headed this way.” Sasha looked over to see Neal working his way through the crowd toward them. He didn’t look too pleased, either. And, Sasha missed most of his lover’s show. Could the evening get any better?

www.samhainpublishing.com

125

Chapter Twenty-Two Allies

On Sunday after breakfast, Sasha dressed for a run and set out, eyes everywhere. Neal would tell him to forego it after the bear scare and Kiril’s visit, but he refused to hide. Deciding to be careful and stick to well-populated areas, Sasha planned to keep his empathy up as an early warning system. Now that he knew what bears felt like to his empathy, he could go on a cat hunt. He could avoid any bears that might appear. Since Felipe accosted him, he’d been expecting it again. On Friday when he’d run, he felt jaguars, but they watched him in silence and made no move to speak or even approach him. Yesterday, Mitch ran with him and the only company they’d encountered had been the mysterious bear. Now, Sasha would hunt them. His shoes chilled his feet but warmed on the way to the lakeside path. His watch said 10:50, and most of the early morning crowd had thinned out, but enough people jogged or walked to set his mind at ease. Two Latino men loitered ahead, taking a break and stretching. The one on the left turned and walked off toward the street, and his companion turned toward Sasha. It was Felipe. The jaguar turned and set off at a fast jog in the other direction. Struck by a sudden mean streak, Sasha took off after him. They ran along the lake, past rolling grass parks all the way to Montrose. The path split, one toward the lake and one toward the harbor. Felipe headed for the lake and disappeared behind some maintenance buildings. Sasha sped up and came around the first one. Felipe stood in the path, waiting for him. Sasha stumbled to a stop and they stared at each other, both breathing hard. Sasha took a step forward and the jaguar backed up. They froze. Sasha grinned, he couldn’t help it. To his surprise, Felipe smiled back. Okay then. Sasha whirled and took off toward home. Felipe ran behind him, matching his speed. They raced between the trees and other joggers, even zoomed past several cyclists.

Burning Bright

Once they neared the intersection where Sasha would turn to go back to his apartment, Felipe slowed and stopped. Sasha watched him but the Latino said nothing, turned to the parking lot and pulled his keys from a lariat around his neck. Sasha followed. Playing chase had been fun, but he did want to speak with the man. Sasha just didn’t know exactly what he wanted to say. Felipe stopped, waiting by the sidewalk that circled the parked cars. “You’re Felipe, aren’t you?” He nodded. “You’re the doctor.” “Sasha.” “Nice to meet you.” He hesitated and looked uncomfortable. “Sorry about—” he waved his hand, “— that.” “No problem,” Sasha told him. “Neal explained it.” “He did?” Sasha nodded. “I’m an animal empath.” Felipe’s eyes widened. He said something softly in Spanish. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish.” “Never mind.” Felipe cocked his head. “Why are you out here alone?” Sasha blinked. “I live near here.” “Yeah, but why are you here, alone?” “’Cause I wanted to take a jog?” “The Russians want you bad, guapo. It’s not a good idea to give them what they want.” He went cold. “They don’t know where I live.” “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Felipe retorted. He studied Sasha. “Come on, I’ll give you a ride home.” “You don’t know where I live.” “No?” Felipe countered. “Get in, I’m not gonna hurt you.” He sighed and came around to the passenger side of a dark blueberry Corvette. The thing cost as much as a milking machine, for the love of the Gods. More, maybe. “You really a doctor?” Felipe asked. He nodded. “Veterinary trauma surgeon. I specialize in large animals and exotics. I did a lot of work for zoos and stuff. I came to Chicago to find work.” Felipe’s eyes flashed at him, dark brown and curious. “Doing what?” “At Northwestern University, they’re hoping to open a new facility. I’ll find out this week if I get it. Turn here.” “I know where you live,” Felipe told him softly. “How?” he demanded, a spurt of fear going through him.

www.samhainpublishing.com

127

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“It’s part of my job. Have you thought of opening a clinic here?” “A clinic?” “For lycanthropes.” He frowned. “Lycanthropes aren’t animals.” “Our other form is,” he countered. “And there are many of us here.” “I’m not licensed to work on humans, though.” Felipe shrugged. “There are ways around that.” “Yeah, that would land me in jail.” Sasha laughed. “I’m not going to take on the AMA.” “AMA?” “American Medical Association.” “Don’t tell them.” Felipe pulled up in front of Sasha’s apartment. “Just think about it.” “Why are you nice to me, all of a sudden?” “If I was mean to you, you’d know it.” The shifter seemed very serious as he stared at Sasha. “I wasn’t being mean before, I was confused. You don’t smell right. You smell…too good.” He blushed. “Thanks.” Felipe looked impatient. “I don’t mean that. You smell…it’s like magic. You ever talk to a shaman?” He blinked. “Yes…” “It’s like that. It’s like you smell good to a shaman, you know? It’s confusing. But Kiril said the same thing.” “Kiril.” His whole body went ice-cold. “Kiril, the bear?” Felipe nodded. “He says you ‘feel’ good, but you smell good too. Like honey. And beeswax.” He flushed hot enough he could feel his face burn. “Honey?” Felipe nodded again. “Honey.” The butt-balm used beeswax, and his shampoo had honey in it. Fuck. “I…” Felipe laughed, his teeth very white. “Go. Be safe, Sasha.” He blinked, not expecting Felipe to use his name. “Thanks. And thanks for the ride.” He got out and watched Felipe pull away, the Corvette roaring like a large cat. Sasha eyed the street, but no one moved. The cars sat there, ignoring him and his fantasies of crazy Russians jumping out to assault him or bears coming to sniff him. Chilled, he went inside and made double sure the lock closed and latched behind him. Maybe he should ask Neal for one of those guns the big man said he had. Might need it, if Russians came calling…

128

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Twenty-Three A Quiet Evening

Steve brought him back to the Factory but then disappeared downstairs, saying something about an errand. Sasha started to get a feeling, but Neal made dinner without commenting. Of course, the man could cook. “Another great meal. I love the vegetarian dishes you think up.” Sasha stood and started stacking the dirty plates. “Sit down, let’s talk.” Crap. “Sure, haven’t we been talking?” Sasha grinned and hoped it didn’t look weak. “It’s about you playing with Carlos and Steve.” Sasha nodded, hoping his face hid his dismay. He’d really enjoyed his time with the other men and would miss it. Multiple lovers, but ones who were committed to each other, was his dream. This new relationship building between himself and Neal rated high on his importance list too. Steve’s gentleness and caring, Carlos’s exuberance and humor, though, already won spots in his heart. “I don’t mind it at all,” Neal said then. Sasha’s heart flipped over. “You don’t?” “There’s a ‘but’,” the big man said sternly, holding up one long finger. Damn. There was always a “but”. “No scenes with Carlos being the Dom. You can top him anytime, and rough sex is fine, but no further.” Sasha frowned. “If Steve is doing it or is there?” “Steve’s fine, everything he does is about giving pleasure. When the three of you play, Steve will be in charge. Carlos doesn’t have the experience or self-control to run a scene.” Neal’s face darkened. “Despite what he thinks.” “Do you really think he’d hurt me?” “He wouldn’t mean to.” Neal reached across the table and laid a hand on Sasha’s arm. A slight prickling tickled him and he looked down. “Shit.” Claws, four inches long and shiny jet black, capped Neal’s fingers. They stroked his arm and Sasha had to force himself to listen to his new lover and not flinch. Or yank his arm away from those scythes.

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Seeing you tied up and helpless pushes all of his buttons, for Carlos and his tiger. And never forget, now that you know, that there is a tiger inside all of us. Feeling it by using your empathy is a lot different than meeting it while you are in restraints.” Concern showed in Neal’s eyes and it touched him. “I trust your judgment.” Neal nodded and looked relieved. Glancing down again, normal fingers now rested on his arm. Damn. “Uh, could you do it again?” “The Wolverine thing?” Neal asked with a smirk. Then he sobered. “It does kinda hurt.” Sasha did his best puppy-dog eyes. “Geez, okay.” This time when they popped out, Sasha prepared himself. He lifted Neal’s hand, examining how the curved claws exited the fingertip. He compared it to his studies on big cats, fascinated. Wondering how it would differ from that of Felipe, he rotated one around. The slight jiggling of the hand he held caused him to glance at Neal’s face. Mirth reddened it and he dropped Neal’s hand, embarrassed. That hand moved to cup his jaw. “I’m sorry. You accepting me is huge.” “But you were wondering if I was gonna ask for a stool sample.” “Geez, gross… You want one?” “Well, I am interested your ass, but not for that reason.” Neal stood and pulled Sasha to his feet as well. “That wasn’t quite how I intended for our talk to go.” Sasha laughed. “I figured. Let me help you with the dishes then we can neck on the couch.” “Sounds like a plan.” When Neal squeezed Sasha’s ass later it caused him to spill a pot of soapy water all down his front. Returning after changing into Neal’s robe, Sasha watched the other man’s gaze darken with desire when he walked to him. “Come here, sexy,” Neal growled. Sasha stepped into his embrace. Gods the man could kiss. He lost track of time until Neal lifted his head. “Yeah, Steve?” Sasha lifted on his toes to peer over Neal’s shoulder. Steve shifted from foot to foot, just outside the kitchen. “I guess this means you don’t want to watch movies at my place tonight, huh?” “What?” Neal rubbed his scalp. “What are you talking about?” “Movies, my place. It’s Monday tomorrow, closed downstairs, lazy morning. We do it every week. This ringing any bells?” Sasha laughed. “Let’s go before he starts whining.” Steve’s eyes widened and pleasure replaced disappointment. “I do not whine.” “Yeah, sure you don’t. Let’s go.”

130

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

He looked around, wondering what to wear. He didn’t bring any sleep pants, since he and Neal slept together naked. Wiggling back into wet jeans didn’t appeal to him, nor his dirty jogging stuff. Eyeing Neal’s six-foot-four frame, he wouldn’t be sharing with his lover—clothes, anyway. Their eyes met and Neal seemed to read his mind. “The robe’s good enough.” Aliens already played by the time they walked in, the smell of popcorn and beer heavy in the room. Platters of finger foods fit for a Presidential cocktail party perched in bowls and plates scattered around the room. Two large mattresses lay on the floor and Carlos, Mitch and Paul all lay back in a mound of pillows. Anton, Leo and Misha lay on the other one, Anton’s eyes already heavy-lidded—though from alcohol or sleepiness, Sasha couldn’t tell. TJ walked in from the kitchen, but faltered when he met Sasha’s gaze. Sasha had a flash of hazel eyes before he looked away. “I found the bottle opener,” TJ told the three on the floor. “Here, toss it,” Mitch ordered. Neal walked onto the mattress, kicking Mitch’s leg out of the way. Sasha followed and Mitch leered. Sasha flushed as he held the flapping robe close to his thighs and stepped over the other man. “Shut up,” Sasha muttered before Mitch could say anything. Mitch laughed but behaved himself. Steve got himself a huge bowl of strawberries from the fridge as Mario walked in, carrying a tray of lasagna. It seemed like home. Sasha curled up on Neal and snuggled into the mattress, content. Sasha woke to a heated, large body curled around him. The sensation familiar, he smiled as he curled closer. The robe slipped off sometime during the night, but all the warm bodies kept him comfortable. He slipped his hand down the front of the muscled abdomen toward the thick cock waiting. Before he got there, his movements were halted by a strong grip in his hair. The tattoos on the arm holding him alerted him to the fact he’d nearly groped Paul. “What are you doing?” Paul asked. When in doubt, play it bold… “Um, saying ‘Good morning’ to you?” The fingers tangled in his hair pulled and he sprawled over an inked chest. A grin grew on Paul’s face. “Didn’t they tell you I’m straight?” Embarrassment stole through Sasha’s chest, heating his skin and making him tingle. Wincing, the conversation between Paul and Mario in the kitchen days ago popped into his head. His gay-dar never so much as bleeped around the other man; how the fuck was he supposed to pass this off? Then it occurred to him. “I woke with us almost naked in bed.” The tiny boxer briefs Paul wore really couldn’t be called “dressed”. It sounded like a logical defense to him. The guys better not tag him with

www.samhainpublishing.com

131

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Sasha the Molester”. It sounded like something they would do. Had someone, like Mitch maybe, set him up as a joke? A warm hand stroked his back. “Steve said that Neal explained the whole tiger thing to you.” “I must have missed the sleeping naked together part,” Sasha responded tartly. “Pity, that’s the best part. We like to snuggle and since you’re connected to the tribe now I kinda wanted you to smell like me too.” Pleasure swept away any lingering embarrassment. He stretched and rubbed his chin against the hard curve of muscle under his cheek, marking Paul like cats did. A rumbling purr rewarded him. He snuggled closer, satisfied his gaffe had been repaired, and Paul settled back. At least cats were affectionate. He drifted off again, his empathy warming him like a balm. Sasha woke later and headed upstairs for a shower. Paul’s eyes cracked open but he didn’t say anything, just watched him get to his feet. He rolled over and snuffled into the pillow as Sasha walked away. He went upstairs and nearly arrived at Neal’s door when footsteps approached. He turned; TJ moved toward him. Sasha stopped and waited near Neal’s door. The large frame in the club’s version of a uniform and buzz cut announced “Marine”. The stalking gait and sharp intensity of the other’s regard screamed “tiger”. Sasha swallowed any nervousness; TJ was the only one of Neal’s men he’d not spent any time with. Every time it almost happened, TJ would disappear. Again he noted the similarities to the other men. All of Neal’s guys were huge, with mannerisms and lingo left over from the military, but all possessed the fluid grace of their tigers trapped inside. So far, of all the men he’d met, in this one he could see the beast. Hazel eyes bled to amber as TJ neared. TJ stopped directly in front of Sasha and sniffed. Now aware of their secret, all the other times Neal did the same floated to his mind’s eye. TJ pressed forward and rubbed, his lean frame pushing against Sasha’s more slender one. Bracing himself, Sasha remained calm. The wall behind him helped keep him upright. In hindsight, Felipe had done the same. Neal made it glaringly obvious how easily his clothes ripped off. Sasha’s own fear had escalated that encounter, but he was still grateful for Steve’s intervention. He knew better than to meet TJ’s gaze directly, but looking down and appearing submissive didn’t seem like a good idea, either. He settled for staring at a bony collarbone, one that protruded from a too-loose T-shirt. This observation made Sasha frown. Why did this tiger appear almost skinny when Neal ran a restaurant? Sharp teeth nipping his earlobe focused his attention back. Startled, he pulled his head away and glanced up. Feline slitted eyes stared back. When the narrow nostrils flared, Sasha went cold. TJ could smell his nervousness.

132

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

He couldn’t help his instinctive reaction, he jerked away, sliding sideways down the wall. The taller man tensed before backing away. “My tiger scared you, didn’t it?” TJ’s voice rasped raw and the now hazel eyes darkened with frustration and pain. Sasha wanted to protest, but it had elements of the truth. Before he could open his mouth, TJ rushed away. A door slammed a few moments later. He closed his eyes. That could’ve really gone better. The others warned him of TJ’s wariness, but he’d always assumed it meant he was introverted. His empathy informed him of that mistake… A soft caress on his cheek and a “Hey, Doc,” made him open his eyes. Neal sniffed. “You talked to TJ?” Neal reached past him and turned the doorknob, herding him inside. “Not really. He’s kinda…intense.” They sat together on the sofa and Neal pulled him into an embrace. Sasha snuggled close and warm hands slid into the robe to stroke his back. The massive chest rose and fell in a sigh under his cheek. “He’s had it worse trying to deal with the attack.” Neal’s voice sounded sad. “I imagine it wasn’t easy for any of you.” “Yeah, but he woke up afterward with the tiger eating him alive. It’s making it difficult to deal with his own beast.” Sasha shuddered. That mental image he could have lived without, especially before breakfast. Still drowsy from the late night of watching movies, he dozed against Neal’s chest. After a moment, a rumbling noise started up again that wasn’t a snore, but an honest-to-Gods purr. He snuggled closer, delighted.

www.samhainpublishing.com

133

Chapter Twenty-Four Funding Cuts

Tuesday came and, with it, a growing desire to discover what happened with his job. According to what Dr. Salisbury shared with him, the committee met yesterday, and he should have news today. He left the Factory and went home, too anxious to wait around there any longer. Sasha didn’t want to drive his new lovers crazy. His mobile phone bleated at him and he pulled over to answer it. Dr. Salisbury’s voice sounded tired as he talked, and after his first few words, Sasha went numb. Funding cuts. He had to go back to Madison. Sasha set his keys on the counter between the small kitchenette and the rest of the studio. He tried to ignore the pitted yellow walls and threadbare carpet, but the contrast between here and Neal’s place seemed striking. He used the can and went into the kitchen to wash his hands. The fridge still had some frozen shrimp and salad greens which he pulled out to make for dinner. “Funding cuts.” It sounded so innocuous. Dr. Salisbury seemed genuinely apologetic, not to mention personally disappointed. The older man even offered to help Sasha in any way he could, offered him lab space if he needed it… While the shrimp thawed, Sasha pulled out a knife to chop veggies. He refused to remember his excitement at finding it on sale and his idea of cooking Neal dinner for a change. Then his mobile rang. He almost didn’t pick it up, but the number for Neal’s phone blinked at him. Damn, speak of the Dom. Neal wouldn’t take it well if he blew him off. “Hey, Doc,” Neal’s voice greeted. “You hungry?” Sasha wanted to cry. “I’m making lunch now, actually.” A sudden knock on the door startled him. He walked over to the peephole and stared. Neal’s warm cinnamon brown gaze looked back at him. “Good thing I brought salad dressing then.” “Neal…” Sasha leaned his head against the door, aching. “You gonna let me in? Or do I have to drink this dressing?”

Burning Bright

Sasha laughed in spite of himself and flipped the lock open. He rolled over to lean his back against the wall, desperate to see Neal but unwilling to let him see the squalor of his apartment. Neal walked in like he’d been there before. He didn’t hesitate, just walked over to the stove to inhale. He set an honest-to-Gods bottle of salad dressing on the counter and stirred the shrimp. “Neal, I—” “I know, Doc,” Neal cut in. He turned and leaned against the sink. “I know what happened. Mario’s sister works at the University. She knows Doc Salisbury, they play chess together and she feeds his parrot.” Sasha spun to face the wall so Neal wouldn’t see him tear up like some fucking infant. Neal moved and come over to him, and then big hands turned him gently by the shoulders. “Talk to me, Sasha.” It was the first time Neal used his name. It completely unmanned him. He threw himself against the bigger man and hung on for dear life. The tears came out clotted and painful. “I’m sorry. I know you really wanted the job.” “I can’t afford to stay, Neal,” he cried. “My mom’s medical care is too much. I can’t carry it and this place, even if it is a dump.” His voice grew raspy with emotion. “I can’t sell the farm, not while she’s alive. I have to go back to Madison…” Neal’s hands tightened. “Leave?” Sasha nodded. “I only have this place through the end of the month. My mom’s estate has enough to pay the taxes on the farm, but that’s it. I need the rest from it to pay for her care. I can’t sell it while she’s alive or even talk to her about it since she doesn’t even remember my name—” A sob stole his voice and he clamped his mouth shut. He hadn’t meant to say that much out loud. Neal sighed and then turned. He leaned over and switched the heat off so the seafood didn’t burn. “You have to go back there?” In for a penny, in for a pound… “Yeah. My mom’s lawyer agreed to loan me enough from her estate to come down here and find a job. But the money stops at the end of the month and there aren’t any openings at clinics where I can do my work. I’ve already applied.” “The guys are real fond of you,” Neal said then. “What would you say to staying on? You could do stuff around the place. I have a condo open. You could stay there, cook and clean, until you find a clinic.” Sasha turned away. “I don’t want your charity.” Neal spun him around and slammed him back first against the wall. “You think this is charity?” he shouted, eyes full of emotion. “Neal, I—” Neal kissed him, interrupting his words. The bigger man ground himself against Sasha’s lips, rough and possessive. He opened his mouth and Neal’s hand clamped on his jaw, holding his head against the wall. That Neal was the perfect lover made this harder, not easier.

www.samhainpublishing.com

135

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Neal released him. “Don’t you get it?” he snarled. “This is not charity, you selfish bastard. I don’t want you to leave.” He released Sasha so fast he stumbled. Neal whirled and gripped the counter, staring at the half-prepared vegetables. “Neal, I…” Sasha trailed off. He had no clue what to say. “Are you serious?” Cinnamon-brown eyes flashed at him. “What do you think?” “It’s what I want. It’s just…” He couldn’t do it; he couldn’t make himself ask the question. Neal spun and grabbed Sasha’s shoulders. He slid a warm hand into Sasha’s hair to cup his head. “I suck at this crap, Doc. I let someone walk out when I should have stopped him. I couldn’t say the right…” Sasha watched as Neal closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When they opened again moisture shone. “Say what was in my heart.” He shook Sasha gently. “I still can’t dammit.” Neal took a deep breath. “I love you.” “I…” “Please.” Neal shook him. “Please don’t go.” A rushing filled his ears. He couldn’t be dreaming, not in this shitbox of an apartment, but he couldn’t have heard right. “What?” Neal smirked slightly, an arrogant tilt to his chin that the flinching in his eyes belied. “I said, I don’t want you to go.” “I never dreamed I’d hear you say that. I fell so hard for you that first day that I thought I would never see daylight.” Neal blinked. “Poetic.” He cocked his head. “You sure you’re not a chick?” “Fuck me and find out,” Sasha shot back. Neal cupped Sasha’s chin and kissed him, his tongue gentle but possessive. Neal’s hands stroked Sasha’s hair and back, then slid under his shirt to pull it off over his head. Neal didn’t pull the arms free, but left the shirt hanging from Sasha’s wrists behind him like a restraint. But Sasha wasn’t about to let Neal take away the use of his hands. Not this time. He pulled his arms free and cupped the big man’s face. Holding the strong chin stationary, he licked along Neal’s jaw to his throat. He pushed against Neal and backed him out of the kitchen and across the short distance to his bed. Shoving at the right moment, Neal toppled backward onto the mattress. Sasha crawled over Neal’s legs and unzipped his fly with gentle fingers. He slipped the belt free and tossed it onto the floor, the buckle making a loud knock as it landed on the wood. Pulling the soft blue cotton shirt free, Sasha undid Neal’s buttons one by one. He pulled both halves of the shirt open to bare Neal’s stomach to the room. He used his thumbs to knead along the big planes of Neal’s stomach. The massage oil sat on the far side of the bed, causing him to stretch over the big man’s body to get it. He squirted it without warning directly on Neal’s stomach and the muscles jumped, contracting sharply to reveal the six-pack.

136

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Paybacks are Hell,” Neal murmured, eyes twinkling. Sasha leaned close enough that Neal’s eyes dilated as he watched. “That’s if I don’t fuck you blind first.” He licked Neal’s chin and then went back to massaging his abdomen. Neal wanted to move, Sasha could tell by the aborted movement of his hips. He stretched into the massage, distracted, but clearly loving it. “Jesus, Doc. You missed your calling.” Sasha smiled, pleased. “It’s how I paid my way through college, remember? I’m a licensed massage therapist in Wisconsin and Illinois, except Chicago requires its own license and I can’t afford it yet.” He rubbed up along the chest and dug into the tense muscles along the tops of the shoulders, then pulled on Neal to get him to roll over. He pulled Neal’s shirt free and then yanked at the boots. They came free after some struggle and he pulled the socks off, then his pants. “Going commando again?” Sasha noted. “Of course.” “I’m surprised you don’t stain your pants.” “I have better control than you do.” Sasha stretched out along his back and put his mouth against Neal’s ear. “Not today, you don’t.” Neal chuckled, the deep growly sound that Sasha loved. He picked up the massage oil and grabbed the lube with his other hand, setting it next to his leg. Pouring oil along Neal’s spine and across his ass, Sasha then spent nearly fifteen minutes working at the muscles of his back. Neal mushed up a pillow and relaxed into it with a deep sigh, surrendering. The oil heated as he worked it, the familiar warmth radiating into his hands as the magic started. Sasha let it come this time, didn’t try to hide it like he might with a client. He intended to use every trick he had to show Neal his feelings. Scooting down, he used his elbow to grind into the tense muscles of the glutes. “Gods, your ass muscles are tight.” Neal chuckled. “Yeah, well. I’m a tight-assed top, what can I say?” Not tonight… Sasha smirked. He let his slick fingers trail into the valley between Neal’s ass cheeks and the big man groaned, long and low. He scooted his leg to the side, giving Sasha more room to reach him. Sasha bent forward and rubbed his cheek along Neal’s ass and licked along the skin. Neal tasted good, like the fruity massage oil but also clean, like he’d just showered. Sucking lower, he reached the smooth, hairless sack. He sucked one of the testicles into his mouth gently and Neal whimpered, thrusting gently against the mattress. Sasha lifted the leg next to his face and rolled Neal onto his back. Before Neal could speak, he sucked the other testicle into his mouth. Neal’s hands spasmed in his hair, stroking it with trembling fingers. Sasha

www.samhainpublishing.com

137

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

reached around without letting go of the skin in his mouth and caught the bottle of lube. He squeezed some of the viscous stuff onto his fingers and slipped his index finger below his lips, along Neal’s crack. Neal’s head fell back and he moaned again. “It’s been a long time…” he whispered. “I’ll be gentle,” Sasha promised, kissing his ball sack gently. “You sure you want this?” “Fuck yeah.” Neal started to say something else but Sasha eased a gentle finger into the taut anus. Neal grunted and pressed down on his hand, while Sasha massaged his opening with firm fingers. He managed to squeeze more lube one-handed onto his free fingers and then pressed Neal’s legs up to tent on either side of Sasha’s body. He stroked the muscles around Neal’s opening with long movements and then dug the heel of his palm into the perineum. Neal cried out, grinding himself against Sasha. Neal started to speak and Sasha slid two fingers into him on a gentle glide. Neal’s eyes closed with pleasure and his pulse pounded against the skin of his neck. Sasha unrolled a condom and slipped it on, shivering at the chill of the material. After slicking himself with lube, he slid both hands under Neal’s knees and lifted, then pressed himself against the waiting opening. Neal arched his back, a cry somewhere between a shout and a moan coming out of him. Moving gently, Sasha slipped in and out without thrusting, giving Neal time to adjust to him. The muscles resisted at first, tightly clamping his tip, but they relaxed gradually and let him in deeper. He sheathed himself slowly and Neal moaned, a deep growly sound that made Sasha’s nipples tighten. He slid his hands along the big Marine’s stomach, stroking the soft skin. Neal liked it hard and fast when he went down on him, so it stood to reason the top liked the same thing in other aspects. Sasha drove his hips forward, hilting himself in the tight ass of his lover, and Neal groaned. “God, you are the perfect size,” Neal managed to mutter. “This isn’t too rough, is it?” Neal shook his head. “Fuck no, baby. You can be a little rougher, if you want. I can take it.” That was all the encouragement Sasha needed. He lifted Neal’s legs and set them against his chest. Neal’s head fell back as he panted, a shine of sweat on his chest and face. Big hands splayed on the mattress and Sasha caught them in his own. He thrust again and Neal writhed under him. “Look at me.” Neal did as he asked, the warm cinnamon of his eyes glazed a bit. His mouth parted as Neal panted and he pulled against Sasha’s hands. Sasha moved his hands to let Neal grip his wrists, giving him tacit control over the situation, and Neal grinned at him. He yanked Sasha forward, and Sasha pumped his hips as hard as he could. His thrusts bounced the bigger man against the mattress but Neal bore down, abs clenched. Sasha took that as a good sign and let himself pound into the other man with abandon.

138

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Neal shouted and writhed under him and Sasha sped up. Then his own orgasm tore a shout from his throat. Neal panted under him, close to climax. Sasha whipped himself out of Neal and engulfed Neal’s cock in his lips. He sucked for all he was worth, using his other hand to massage the slick scrotum. Neal’s back arched and the tip of his cock forced itself down Sasha’s throat as he came in a hot rush of fluid. Good thing Sasha didn’t have a gag reflex anymore. Practice paid off. Sasha tightened his lips and milked Neal’s penis. “God.” Neal writhed, his hands spasming in Sasha’s hair. Sasha chuckled but didn’t relent. He massaged Neal’s scrotum with a firm hand and then squeezed both ass cheeks. He sucked once more, as hard as he could, and pulled up and off Neal’s cock with a loud smack. Tossing his used condom into the trash at the foot of the bed, he set the oil and lube on the table. Then he crawled onto the bed next to his lover and collapsed onto his back. Neal flipped the blanket up over them both and pulled Sasha against his body. As Sasha drifted off, Neal’s body rumbled and a heavy purr burst out of him.

www.samhainpublishing.com

139

Chapter Twenty-Five Moving

Sasha woke to the heady scent of onions and eggs and staggered out to the kitchen. Neal stood at his stove, naked, cooking like a pro. He glanced over and winked. “Good morning.” Neal popped a piece of tomato in his mouth. “How’d you sleep?” “Fine. Really well, actually. You’re cooking?” Neal shrugged. “I got hungry, and you were still asleep. I didn’t want to go out for breakfast. Why?” ‘Cause this place is a dump? Sasha shrugged, but didn’t answer out loud. Instead, he hit the can, then showered thoroughly and brushed his teeth. The floss came all the way out of the container, the last of his bathroom supplies, and frustration threatened to boil up. He needed a job, dammit. He finished and came out to sit on the couch, still naked. “Were you serious?” “’Bout what? Here, try this,” Neal ordered, thrusting a spoon of red vegetables at him. The salsa hit him between the eyes, sweet and hot at the same time. “Fuck.” “Too hot?” “How the hell did you make that in this dump?” Neal smirked. “’Cause I know how to cook. You had the ingredients, I put them together.” He paused. “And it is kind of a dump.” Sasha flushed. “It was the best I could do.” Neal shrugged and returned to the stove. “That was then.” “Were you serious?” “About…” “Your offer.” “I recall making several offers, Sasha. How come you don’t go by Alex? Half the guys are afraid of your name ‘cause they can’t pronounce it.” Americans. He resisted rolling his eyes. “Because that isn’t the nickname for Aleksandr.” “Sasha just sounds like a girl.” Neal smirked, then got down two plates. “You sure keep a neat place.”

Burning Bright

“Yeah, well, just ‘cause it’s a dump doesn’t mean I have to live like a slob. And Sasha is only used for guys in Russia.” “Still sounds—” Heat filled him, even though he knew Neal only teased him. “You gonna answer my question or just tease me?” Neal eyed him. “Yes, I was serious. But about which part, exactly?” About the part where you said you loved me… “About me borrowing a condo and doing stuff around your place.” “Yes, I was serious.” He paused and eyed Sasha without speaking. Sasha blushed so hot it prickled, and looked down. Neal walked again the few feet it took to get from the kitchen to the couch and stood in front of him. When Sasha didn’t look up, Neal crouched down to bring their faces to the same height. He looked up and Neal leaned forward and kissed him, the taste of salsa strong on his tongue. Sasha embraced him, the hot skin of his body soft and compelling. The short hair on Neal’s head, buzzed close to the scalp, thick and silky under his hands. They separated and Neal gazed into his eyes. “I said, I love you.” Sasha’s heart started to pound. “Yeah.” His voice came out without any sound and he cleared his throat. Neal chuckled and turned back to the stove, stirring the egg mixture. “Food’s almost ready. You want to eat on the couch or the table?” “Table, I guess.” Neal served the eggs and got toast as well. He rummaged and put butter and a jar of jelly on the table and then slipped into his boxers. “You ready?” Neal asked as he began eating. “For what?” Sasha frowned as he ate a bite of eggs and gazed at his new steady lover. He didn’t like the term “boyfriend”, exactly. It made him sound like a chick. But lover had a nice ring. Very French. “To move.” Sasha set the fork down before he dropped it. “You’re serious?” Neal shrugged. “Why prolong it? The end of the month’s only two weeks away. It’s not like you have a shitload of stuff to move.” “Good point…” Neal didn’t wait for more of an answer than that. He pulled his phone out. “Yo, Steve. Yeah, it’s a go.” He listened a moment and then said, “Ten-four.” He snapped the phone closed and leaned back in his chair, exuding an air of “that’s that”. “What happened? And why does it sound like you planned the move already?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

141

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“’Cause I did,” Neal told him, unrepentant. “You gonna eat your food? I made breakfast, after all.” He laughed and took another bite, marveling at Neal’s effect on him. They finished their meal in companionable silence, and Sasha got up to wash dishes. He turned in time to see Neal buckling his belt and suppressed a surge of disappointment. Instead, he got dressed and started packing. Moving, as it turned out, was a lot easier when your crew consists of trained soldiers. They had two trucks, Sasha’s and the red one that Carlos usually used. Paul pulled rank and drove, making Carlos and Steve squish next to him in the cab. The younger Marine griped about it all the way up the stairs and into the apartment. “You’re tidy,” Paul grunted, glancing at Sasha. “I’ll take the kitchen,” Steve said. “Carlos, you get the bedroom stuff.” “We’ll do the furniture,” Paul said, glancing at Neal. “It’s only my bed.” Sasha finished drying the lunch dishes. “What do I do?” “Bathroom,” Neal and Paul said in unison. By the time they were all done, only an hour had passed. The handmade bed, carefully wrapped, traveled in Sasha’s pickup while in the other one boxes crammed the back. Sasha followed Neal over to the Factory and parked as the other truck pulled up. Neal directed him to an empty spot next to Steve’s motorcycle. “You want to unpack or take a break?” Steve hopped down. “We’ll have Misha and Leo bring this stuff in, Boss.” “Tell them to be careful with the bed.” Sasha eyed the back of his truck. “I’ve got to finish the mid-month order,” Neal said then. He looked at Sasha uncertainly. “That’s probably no fun to watch.” Sasha shrugged. “I wanted to go for a run; I can do that while you work.” “Hey, I can get us tickets to the Bears,” Carlos told Sasha. Sasha hefted a box. “You’re kidding, right?” Carlos followed him inside, another box in his hands. “You don’t have to wash the dishes and do chores, man. Neal only said that to get you to move in. Have some fun, live a little.” “Well, who’s gonna do it? You?” He set the box on the floor of Neal’s spare room. “Why would I?” “Because you live here?” “So? That’s what Leo and Misha are for.” Sasha snorted. “Don’t be a slob. And I’m a Packers fan. I’ll get killed if you take me to Soldier Field.” “How will anyone know?” “By my coven, when they find out.” “I bet I can distract you from those boxes, Doc.”

142

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha moved the box on top of the others that Neal and Paul already left. When Carlos didn’t say anything else, he turned to look at him. Carlos sucked the first two fingers of his right hand into his lips and unbuckled his belt with the other. He slid his hand into his pants and gripped himself, holding Sasha’s gaze the entire time. “We’re supposed to be unpacking.” The Latino smirked. “Go ahead, Doc. No one’s stoppin’ ya.” Sasha walked forward and grabbed Carlos’s face in both hands. He tasted good, like some sweet candy, and Sasha groaned into his mouth. “Yo, Carlos, you need to—” The voice broke off. Sasha sprang away from Carlos and whirled in time to see TJ staring at him with huge green eyes, frozen in the doorway. The minute their eyes met, TJ flushed a deep, cherry red. The outline of an erection strained against his faded jeans. “Hey, TJ,” Sasha murmured. The door slammed. His empathy flared and he could feel TJ’s arousal even through the closed door. On its heels, he sensed a kind of deep inner conflict, almost self-loathing. The sound of boots boomed against the floor of the other room and then the front door to the apartment banged shut. Chilled, he followed Carlos into the living room. “Jesus, Teej,” Carlos muttered. He turned to Sasha. “It’s not you. TJ has issues.” “I’m sorry,” Sasha murmured, not quite sure what he was apologizing for. Carlos shook his head, irritation making his skin darken. “Never apologize. You didn’t do a damn thing wrong.” He clenched his left fist, clearly frustrated. “Come on, let’s get your stuff unpacked and get you settled, all right?” Sasha nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He followed Carlos back into the bedroom, wondering where he’d put all his stuff. TJ’s energy still tickled the edge of his awareness, but he tried to focus and ignore the man. Didn’t really work, but he took a deep breath and strengthened his shields.

www.samhainpublishing.com

143

Chapter Twenty-Six Battle Lines

Thursday morning, Sasha woke before Neal. He left a note and slipped out to go for a run. He wanted to whoop with elation and all but sprinted down the sidewalk to the lake, flitting across the streets against the light and dodging slow-moving cars. He wished he had Felipe’s mobile number. He could ask for it the next time they met. Running by himself wasn’t nearly as satisfying as chasing the jaguar up and down the lakefront. Instead, he stayed on well-populated paths and kept his eyes open. Of course, that didn’t prevent the Russians from being out in the open… He came around the curve by Montrose Harbor and froze, chest heaving. Petya stood in the path, smirking at him. “I knew you’d come here alone, devochka,” the Russian sneered. “All I had to do is wait.” “Petya, this is silly.” Petya pulled a knife, his grin feral. “There’s no one to interfere, devochka. This time, I’m going to fuck you bloody.” Sasha swallowed. Stay calm. Don’t let him rattle you. He waited for the stocky Russian to make his move. Kick the knee when he steps forward. Petya’s other hand, though, was the one he should have been watching. The fist slammed into his face and he stumbled backward. Petya grabbed him and whipped him around to clamp him along his front, the Russian’s arm cutting off his air. “Sasha!” Steve raced toward them. Iosef stepped out from behind a tree and fired. Steve jolted but kept coming. Iosef fired several more times, not all of them hitting the enraged weretiger. Steve shifted form, the pale shape shredding his clothes and bounding forward. Iosef kept firing, but backed up. Steve fell, blood soaking his fur. “Got him,” Iosef told Petya smugly. Sasha struggled against Petya, but couldn’t budge his arm. “Steve…” “Get the tiger,” Petya ordered. “What about the kid?”

Burning Bright

“I’ll handle him. Go. They’re waiting.” Sasha struggled against growing dizziness, trying to breathe. His heartbeat got louder and louder and he fought not to pass out. Petya leaned his head forward and spoke into his ear. “I’m going to ass-fuck you, you queer. Let Harrison smell that.” A high-pitched feline scream split the air and a jet-black shape crashed into them. Sasha recognized the feel of Felipe as the jaguar roared. Sasha hit the ground with the heavy weight of the cat partly on top of him. Felipe bit Petya’s arm and dragged him bodily away from Sasha. Sasha managed to get his mobile phone open, hands shaking, and hit the speed dial for Neal. If he’d had to dial more numbers, he wouldn’t have been able to, his hands refused to obey him. “Hey, babe. What’s—” “They shot Steve. Felipe’s here, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t have a gun.” “What? Where are you?” “I’m…um…” Where were they? “At the park…Montrose, I think…I don’t know.” “Where at the park? Where’s Steve?” Petya and Felipe rolled over, and then Petya let out a piercing scream. It cut off in the middle and Sasha watched in horror as Felipe bit down on his throat, then tore it out with a spray of thick crimson. “Oh, Gods…” He fell to his knees and threw up everything he’d ever planned to eat, ever. He kept retching long after anything came up, his eyes on the mess that used to be a man. “Sasha.” Neal’s voice came out of the phone still clutched in his hand. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here.” “What the fuck is going on?” The sound of his engine revved and the tires squealed. “Where in the park are you?” Felipe walked up, his clothes shredded. “Is that Neal?” he asked Sasha. Sasha nodded, shivering. The Latino held his hand out for the phone. “¿Jefe?” Sasha frowned. Felipe called Neal “boss”. He couldn’t focus on that, though. The blood on the grass fascinated him. He listened to a modulating whine for several moments without comprehension. “The police.” Sasha managed to stand, though dizziness swam through him. “Felipe. The police!” “Calm down. It’s an ambulance; I called them. They’re my guys. Go sit down, Tigre. I’ll handle this.” He listened to the phone. “Yeah, I know that.” He turned away, still talking to Neal on Sasha’s phone. Sasha wanted to argue with him, but his body had other plans. He sank to the grass against a tree, tremors running up and down his body. He couldn’t have moved if his life depended on it.

www.samhainpublishing.com

145

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

The ambulance drove up, its siren loud enough that it hurt his ears. The Charger shot into the parking lot behind it, and Neal leaped out. He put out a hand and vaulted the waist-high fence even before the paramedics could park. He came on at a run and fell to his knees by the big, pale shape on the grass. “Steve-O. Jesus, man.” The paramedics zoomed up and pushed Neal out of the way so they could examine the prone form on the grass. Neal watched them a moment and looked up. His eyes met Sasha’s, but Sasha couldn’t think of a single thing to say. “Doc?” Sasha wanted to talk, but his voice didn’t want to work. Neal hesitated, watching the paramedics work, and then rose. He slowed as he came closer to Sasha, then crouched in front of him. His big hand warmed Sasha’s cheek. “You in there, babe?” Was he “in there”? An ugly laugh came out of him, and Neal recoiled. Sasha managed to quiet his voice and stared at the big man. “Can you stand?” Neal asked. Sasha nodded, still not able to speak. If he opened his mouth, he’d start screaming and never stop. Neal led him over to the ambulance. The huge, limp body of the tiger looked odd on the narrow gurney. Iosef disappeared with his car. The paramedics debating dosage of pain meds broke through Sasha’s fog. “I don’t know, a tiger’s bigger than one of us,” the younger one said. “Just double it,” the other ordered. The medics were guessing. “No!” Sasha shouted. “Doc?” Neal sounded startled. “They’ll hurt him.” He pushed Neal away, but the big man misunderstood and tried to catch him. “Let me go. Gods damn, Neal, let me go.” “All right, all right. Calm down, I’m on your side, remember?” Sasha rushed to the gurney. “It’s calculated by weight, not by human body mass,” he snapped, grabbing the IV lead from the startled EMT. “Siberian tiger mass isn’t like jaguar.” “I—” Felipe interrupted in angry-sounding Spanish and the EMT fell silent, face white and offended. But he didn’t argue, so Sasha didn’t really care about his attitude. He slid the IV home in Steve’s body, working quickly. “Doc?” Neal hovered nearby. “I need a surgery,” Sasha growled. “Where can we take him?”

146

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“The Factory?” “No. I need a sterile environment if I’m going to get these bullets out. He was shot multiple times. If we had a clinic…” He broke off. Clinic. Dr. Salisbury offered him lab space… He looked over to Felipe. “You have my phone?” “Yeah, but—” Sasha grabbed the mobile out of his hand, ignoring the smear of blood on it and hit the button for Salisbury’s office. He picked up on the second ring. “Doctor Salis—” “Charles? Sasha Soskoff.” “Sasha. It’s nice to—” “Charles. I can’t explain, but I need your help.” “Certainly. What can I do for you?” “I need a surgery.” “Are you okay?” the older man demanded sharply. “I’m fine. But I have an injured tiger and I need a surgery suite.” There was a short silence. “Come to my office. I have a lab down the hall you can use.” “We’ll be there in…” he trailed off. “Felipe. How long does it take to get from here to Northwestern?” “If we hit the cherry the whole way, thirty minutes tops,” one of the other jaguars answered. Sasha got back on the phone. “Thirty minutes or less.” “I hear a siren. Is everything all right?” Sasha’s tears threatened and he stroked Steve’s unconscious muzzle. “Yes. I’ll be there.” “Very well.” He snapped the phone shut and looked at Neal. “Follow us.” “Where will you be?” “With him,” Sasha told him. He looked at Felipe. “Let’s go.” “You heard the doc,” Felipe snapped. He added something in Spanish and the other jaguars moved with practiced efficiency. Neal turned and loped to his car, and Sasha got in behind Steve. “Hang on, big guy,” Sasha whispered, stroking Steve’s head. Sasha gave directions as needed and they arrived after what seemed like an eternity. Dr. Salisbury actually stood outside and pointed to a narrow delivery driveway. As soon as the ambulance stopped, Sasha jumped down. “It’s a tiger, you said?” Dr. Salisbury asked. He gasped as the doors opened and the four jaguars maneuvered the gurney with Steve out of the back. “My goodness, what a specimen.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

147

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha clamped his mouth shut on the retort “It’s not a specimen,” and directed the men to follow the older doctor inside. The lab turned out to be just inside and Dr. Salisbury had a heavy lab table all prepped and ready with task lighting and even an x-ray machine. “I need the films as soon as possible,” Sasha ordered. “You, what’s your name?” The jaguar looked at Felipe, who motioned impatiently for him to answer. “I’m Paco.” He sounded young, maybe twenty. “What’s your training, Paco?” “EMT One.” “Any of you radiology techs?” They shook their heads. “I’ll do it,” Dr. Salisbury cut in. He moved to the machine and started prepping. Neal jogged in and stopped, eyes wide. “Wow.” “Stay back, please, Neal. Over there,” Sasha pointed. “I need all other non-medical people out of my operating room, please. Now, people.” They moved. Paco and a buddy stayed. “You. What’s your name?” “Guillermo, sir.” “Why are you here?” Guillermo swallowed. “I’m in nursing school, sir.” “Good. Stand there and do exactly what I tell you. Paco, you ever run a crash cart?” Paco nodded, eyes wide. “These monitors are very similar. Keep an eye on them and tell me if this needle gets below here,” he pointed. Then he turned to Steve. His patient. He had to stay objective. The tiger lay on its right side, the blood still welling from several bullet holes. “Are those bullet holes?” Dr. Salisbury asked. Sasha nodded, anxious to begin but hobbled by the x-ray machine. “Clear,” Dr. Salisbury told him. He jumped forward and started his examination. His mind kept trying to jibber at him that this was Steve, but he fell into a kind of zone that happened with some of his worst trauma patients. He found five bullet wounds, one all the way through the thick meat of Steve’s chest but the other four lodged in his chest cavity and abdomen. Dr. Salisbury got the films and slapped them up on the light display, confirming Sasha’s examination. “All right. This one first.” Sasha pointed with a blood-smeared glove at the one lodged to the left of the heart. “That’s the one that’s causing the most damage. Agreed?”

148

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Yes,” Dr. Salisbury said absently. His voice came muffled from bending over Steve’s body and examining his chest. “There’s older scarring here, but no new injury. Just the ones you already found.” “Guillermo, hand me the instrument tray. Hold it here.” He pointed. “Can you identify the instruments?” Guillermo’s face fell. “No, sir.” “Not a problem, Guillermo. Give me things as I ask for them, handle first. And be very careful of those blades, they’ll take your fingers off if you’re not careful.” “Yes, sir.” “You don’t have to call me sir, Guillermo.” “Thank you, s…um. My nickname is Gio.” Sasha looked up at that. “Mine’s Sasha. You ready?” Gio nodded, swallowing bravely. “Yes.” “That one,” Sasha pointed. It took nearly an hour to get all four bullets out and dress the wounds. The scalpels, while perfectly sharp, didn’t seem to work with the lycanthrope’s natural metabolism. “Dammit,” he snapped as the wound he worked on closed at the edges again. “These wounds are closing faster than I can get them sutured. I don’t want them to heal crooked, the change will—” “Doc,” Neal interrupted. Sasha glanced over at him and Neal shot him a warning look. “Um. Yeah. Nevermind.” He finished finally and had Paco switch off the anesthesia. “Good job, gentlemen. He’s going to come out of it relatively soon.” “I’ll stay with him,” Neal said. “You go clean up.” “Bathroom?” Sasha asked Dr. Salisbury. “I’ll take you.” The older man said nothing, just held the door for Sasha. He led the way to the bathroom and ushered Sasha inside, then checked up and down the hall before closing and locking the door. “Doctor Soskoff, I’d like an explanation.” Sasha sighed and leaned against the sink, the blood spattering his arms and face starkly red in the harsh lighting. He really didn’t want to have this conversation, but… “Sasha?” Great. He would have to go and use his intimate name. He sighed. “Steve is a lycanthrope. A weretiger.” “I take it he’s not a hereditary tiger.” Sasha frowned. “How could you tell?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

149

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“You didn’t use any extra precautions against lycanthropy. After seeing you in surgery, I think the Board of Directors has made a grave error in not hiring you. I’ve seldom seen such competence in the surgical theater.” Sasha’s eyebrows disappeared toward the top of his head. “Thank you, sir.” The older man smiled. “You called me Charles when you called.” He flushed. “Sorry about that, I was distracted.” “It’s not a problem. I’d say we have broken the social barriers to being on a first-name basis.” He hesitated. “How did you come to be involved with weretigers? And such a magnificent tiger. Siberians are enormous, I’ve never seen such an amazing animal up close. The zoo cannot get animals of that size.” Sasha had a sudden image of Steve in a zoo cage and had to keep himself from laughing. “There’s some political trouble, and we were attacked.” “You seem to make a habit of that,” Dr. Salisbury, Charles, noted wryly. “Yeah.” “Who is that? The tiger, I mean?” “He’s…well, he’s my boyfriend.” “Oh, I thought the large man who came in after you arrived was your lover.” Sasha blushed. “They both are, actually.” Charles gaped at him. “Such prosperity.” He laughed outright. “I wish everyone was as understanding.” “Son, I was gay before it was the new black. Believe me, I can relate.” The man could have knocked Sasha over with a feather after that. “Um.” Charles laughed softly. “Come. We should check on your patient. Can you keep him from shifting back while on university grounds?” Sasha nodded. “Yes. We can take him back, actually. He’ll heal very fast.” “I think you will have a clinic of your own very shortly, son,” Charles noted. “I heard Felipe talking on the phone with someone he called ‘Jefe.’” “Spanish for boss,” Sasha said absently. A clinic? What in Hades? Charles led the way back to the lab. Steve had woken but looked groggy with pain medication. Paco measured another dosage into a syringe as they walked in and administered it with a white face but steady hands. Maybe Sasha had his first two techs for this clinic… “Gentlemen. You should prepare to leave shortly. I can keep observation to a minimum this afternoon, but any longer and I cannot guarantee privacy,” Charles told Felipe and the others. “We can leave now,” Felipe said. “Doc?” “Yes,” Sasha agreed. He looked at Neal. “I’ll ride with Steve.”

150

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Sounds like a plan. See you at home.” Neal turned and strode out. Sasha’s adrenalin started to wane. Please, Gods, let him stay focused for another hour, that was all. Just long enough to get Steve home and settled before he started thinking too much about what happened. He kept seeing flashes of Felipe and Petya, the blood everywhere. He reached for the door to the ambulance, to get in behind Steve, but his hand trembled enough he missed the handle. He couldn’t even feel it. Felipe, standing behind him, said nothing. The shifter picked him up and deposited him on the bench inside the door and then closed up. Felipe came around and climbed into the passenger seat and they were off.

www.samhainpublishing.com

151

Chapter Twenty-Seven Afterburn

Sasha got Steve settled in his bed back at the Factory and gave him another shot of painkiller. Gio agreed to stay and keep an eye on him. Sasha followed Neal upstairs and all but passed out on the big man’s bed. Waking slowly, his body ached, his head thick and uncomfortable. He blinked, eyes reacting to the glare of the bedside lamp, and didn’t recognize the room right away. “Hey, Doc,” Neal said from nearby. He appeared and leaned over the bed to kill the light, then stretched out next to him. “Welcome back.” “What?” Neal’s eyes narrowed. “What do you remember?” A flash of Petya standing over him hit him. He went cold all at once, like jumping into a tub of ice water. “Petya caught me in the park…” “Yeah.” “Steve. Oh Gods, Steve.” He tried to get up. “Easy.” Neal put a hand on his breastbone, holding him down. “No.” He batted the hand away and struggled to rise. “Where is Steve?” “Sasha, he’s fine. Gio’s with him, like you told him to. Everything’s fine, you only slept for an hour.” Neal stroked his hair back from his sweaty forehead. “What about Petya?” “He’s dead.” “I saw it happen…” He squeezed his eyes closed. “Felipe tore his throat out…” “Yeah…” “Iosef?” “Felipe saw him take off in the car.” “What happens now?” Neal didn’t say anything. “Neal?”

Burning Bright

“We’re in deep shit, babe. I don’t know what else to say.” “When do the other tigers get here?” “They’re here already. Paul’s settling them downstairs in the vacant area. They have their cots and shit, it’s a matter of getting them bivouacked.” Sasha pulled Neal closer to him, muscles cramping. “This is getting really heavy.” “You sure you want to stay?” Neal’s voice came out calm, devoid of emotion, but Sasha could feel the tension in his muscles. “Yes, of course I do.” Neal relaxed a little. “I’d understand if you want to go back to Madison for a few weeks.” “Fuck you. I’ve never run from a fight in my life!” “All right, all right.” “Do you want me to ask some Guardians to come down?” Neal froze, eyes staring off into space. “Um…” “I could have them here in a few hours.” “We don’t really need them.” He met Sasha’s gaze from inches away. “But thank you. This is going to turn into a shifter challenge. I don’t think we can avoid it now.” Neal paused and gave him a long look. “Are you going to call your aunt? Tell her what’s going on?” Sasha shook his head. “No, she’ll worry. Or try to come and take over.” Neal grunted but didn’t argue out loud. His attention sharpened and he focused on Sasha’s mouth. Sasha slipped his tongue out to the edge of his lip, teasing the big man. Neal came forward and they kissed, driving into each other’s mouths. Neal groaned and slipped a hand into his hair, burying big fingers in the loops and whorls. It sent tingles all down Sasha’s back and he grinned against Neal’s mouth. A knock disturbed them and Neal growled into his mouth. He pulled away and looked over at the door. “This better be important.” Mitch poked his head in. “Felipe’s waiting. He brought five guys, all fuckin’ thugs from the looks of it and more medical supplies than you could use in a month. Says they’re for Doc.” He looked at Sasha and winked. “Hey. You sure you don’t want some post-fight sex?” “You’re pushin’ it, Mitch,” Neal growled. Mitch laughed and made a kissy-face at Neal, then shut the door. “If he wasn’t so good at his job, I swear, I’d fucking kick his ass into next week,” Neal grumbled, dropping his head against Sasha’s shoulder. “Is he?” “Is he what?” “Good at his job?”

www.samhainpublishing.com

153

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“You have no idea. Mitch is one of the best. It’s why I picked him for the unit. Come on, we can talk about my staffing decisions later. I want to talk to Felipe.” Sasha rolled out of bed and grabbed the glass of water waiting for him on the bedside table. He drank it in one gulp, parched. Neal slipped out, and Sasha brushed his hair. His stomach burned from throwing up, but not as hollow. He set the brush down, still not quite back to himself, and followed Neal out. Carlos hovered in the kitchen area to watch the new jaguars, and Sasha could understand why. The five men ranging behind Felipe rivaled Steve and Mario in size. He faltered, unsettled, but Felipe turned as though having five gorillas around him were a normal occurrence. Of course, maybe for the El Gatos, it was… “How is Steve?” Felipe asked. “Resting,” Sasha answered. “Gio’s with him. Thank you.” Felipe shrugged, as if to say, “Yes, this is what I do every day.” Maybe he did… Sasha shook himself. “I need food and do you have any milk?” “I’ll get it,” Carlos blurted, jumping up. He moved around the kitchen, banging open the fridge and various cabinets as he put a sandwich together. Maybe Sasha wasn’t the only one with a case of nerves… He sat across from Felipe and the other men turned to walk out. They moved without sound or conversation, as though he watched the shadows breathing. Cats hunted silently, but this unsettled him more than anything else he’d seen. Felipe sat across from him. “I’m sorry, guapo. I didn’t think they’d shoot Steve in broad daylight.” Sasha stared at him. “You were watching?” The jaguar shrugged. “I told you. The Russians want you for what you did to Alyosha.” He shivered. “I…” Neal’s phone bleated and he excused himself to take it. His voice got steadily louder and more agitated, then he shouted, “Fine. They can have the fucking body back.” He snapped the phone closed and stood, staring at his stove with his chest heaving. “Neal?” Sasha called. “What happened?” “They want the body.” “From the fight?” Felipe asked. Neal nodded and turned. “Can you take care of it?” “Of course,” he said. He pulled out his phone and spoke in fast Spanish, then sat back. “That’s all?” Sasha asked, expecting something more…dramatic, or something. “Yes. What did you expect?”

154

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“A smoking gun?” Neal murmured with a smirk. “Shut up.” Neal laughed. Carlos brought Sasha a messy pile of sandwich and chips, and then served Felipe and Neal. The sandwich tasted fantastic, despite its appearance, and the milk soothed Sasha’s throat. “What did you put in this?” Neal demanded. “Some of the chipotle paste and some Havarti,” Carlos answered. “Doc’s has roasted veggies, but I used the last of the sliced turkey for yours and Felipe’s.” They ate in companionable silence, and Sasha finally started to relax. Paul appeared as he stuck the last bite in his mouth, and came up to Neal. He whispered something in his ear and Neal sighed. “Send him in.” Vadim walked in, his now familiar ice-blue eyes cold and empty. His gaze swept the room and Sasha chilled. Where Felipe and his men were soldiers, this man was a killer. “Harrison. We have problem,” Vadim announced. He came over to stand by the empty chair nearest Neal. “You return body.” “Yeah. So?” “You do not understand what you do, I think,” Vadim said softly. He looked right at Sasha. “Or you.” “I didn’t do anything.” Anger shot through him like lightening and he had trouble breathing. “Petya attacked me. He tried to—” Neal caught his wrist and shook it. “Easy. I’ve got this.” Sasha blinked at him, breathing hard. “I…” “Let me handle this.” He frowned, but motioned with his free hand. Vadim said nothing, just watched them. “What’s the problem?” Neal asked. “Petya is not soldier, Harrison. He is Pyotr Ivanovich. Ivan Andreievich’s son.” Absolute silence greeted that announcement. Maybe Sasha should consider going to Madison for a couple weeks…

www.samhainpublishing.com

155

Chapter Twenty-Eight Home Front Frictions

After Vadim dropped his bombshell and left, Neal and the others debated ideas back and forth. Sasha could have kicked himself. Ivanovich meant “son of,” and he should have picked up that Petya was Ivan’s son. Vadim only ever called him Pyotr Ivanovich, and refused to use his nickname. The fact he was the boss’s son demanded formality. Angry at himself, Sasha got up and started to head downstairs. “Where are you going?” Neal demanded. “Downstairs to sit with Steve.” “Take Carlos.” “Downstairs? Neal, it’s—” “There are a bunch of Tribe tigers down there. Take Carlos.” Sasha stared at him. He really wanted to argue, but he had a very good point. Dammit. “Fine.” He spun and stalked to the door and waited impatiently. Carlos hurried to join him, looking uncomfortable. Neal murmured, “Be careful,” as Carlos approached. “I can fucking walk down a flight of stairs.” Sasha whirled in front of the door. “Doc…” Neal’s cinnamon gaze held his, the concern and frustration obvious. Instead of making him feel better, it pissed him off more and he stormed out of the room. By the time they reached the apartment Steve and Carlos shared on the second floor, shame filled Sasha. They were all under a lot of stress, and his attitude hadn’t helped. Carlos left him to enter his own room while Sasha slipped into Steve’s. Gio, the Latino jaguar, looked up when he entered. “Thank you for watching over him,” Sasha whispered. Standing, Gio smiled shyly and slipped out without speaking. After checking Steve’s vitals, Sasha sank into the big chair next to the bed. He pulled a large coffee table book of photography onto his lap and started to read.

Burning Bright

Sasha started to full alertness, a strange scratching sound coming from the door. He frowned, rubbing his face. The odd sound happened again. Steve stirred. “Come on in, Anton.” He looked over and met Sasha’s gaze. “Scratching instead of knocking is the old way, the tiger way.” Sasha nodded, like he understood, but really didn’t. He stood and set the book on his chair as Anton entered. Sasha nodded to the Russian, and then stepped over to the bed. His eyes skimmed over Steve’s body, and pleasure flooded him at how well he looked. A healthy tone now shone under the chocolate skin and his gaze seemed alert. Sasha bent and quickly kissed him. The faint sound of Anton clearing his throat interrupted the kiss. Sasha straightened, blushing. Ignoring Steve’s disappointed sound, Sasha studied the older man that entered. Neal told him this tiger came from the home tribe. Even though Anton acted as chaperone for the two younger tigers, Misha and Leo, Sasha hadn’t spent much time with him yet. Anton appeared to be in his early forties with nondescript brown hair. The pale but ruddy complexion reminded Sasha of relatives from his father’s side of the family. About six feet tall and sturdily built; he seemed rather bland when compared to the coiled energy and muscles of Neal and his men. Sasha couldn’t determine his eye color since Anton kept his gaze lowered. “Can I come in?” Even his voice, low and quiet, broadcasted hesitancy. “Sure.” Steve waved him in. Spying the brown take-out bag Anton carried, Sasha’s stomach rumbled. No smells wafted from the folded-down bag, but already his stomach, conditioned to Mario’s cooking, growled in anticipation. His stomach reminded him with a loud growl that he hadn’t touched the sandwich Carlos made him earlier, because of nerves. Now, though, his body seemed ready to eat the bag and its contents. “You brought food,” Sasha told the older man. “I’m starving.” “Share some with me,” Steve joked, even as he frowned. “Sorry, I didn’t bring food.” The hazel eyes that flashed upward filled with contrition. “I used bag as camouflage.” Anton handed Steve the bag, and Sasha watched with interest as Steve opened it. The big man grinned. “Shit. This is even better. Explains why it smelled funny.” Steve pulled out a huge automatic handgun and two clips. Sasha could see the big Marine relax. Efficient movements checked the clip and slide. Seeming to notice Anton still hovering by the bed, Steve waved him to the other chair. Sasha’s curiosity peaked. “Why hide it? Neal wouldn’t care.” The hazel eyes rolled. “Next door is teaming with testosterone-loaded tigers, all tense and ready to fight. My carrying around a firearm they could see as a challenge. Without my status of tribe teacher to shield me, I do not need to give them an excuse to start trouble.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

157

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Go to Neal or Paul if they give you any grief,” Steve advised. Anton shrugged. “I know I’m in odd position, one of the bachelor tribe but not really one of the unit. I do not want to get in the way.” “You could hang out here,” Sasha offered. Anton looked at Steve before adverting his gaze. “I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable.” “It’s okay.” Steve sighed. “And it’s okay to look at me too. We don’t see direct eye contact as a challenge. Otherwise we’d all be smacking each other around constantly.” “It is also a sign of respect.” Sasha noted the slight chastising tone and hid his smile. In that instant he could picture Anton in the role of teacher. “Well, you’re usually more relaxed around me. Are the others making you wiggy?” “It is common for a hurt shifter, especially one that holds status, to be challenged when he is in a weakened condition.” This time Sasha couldn’t hide his mirth. The older man practically reeked of disapproval. Sasha caught Steve hiding a grin behind a hand over his mouth. Sasha looked back at Anton, and the older man’s hazel eyes flashed amber like a cat’s eyes in a flashlight. Only there for an instant, the glimpse of Anton’s beast chilled him. The image of Clark Kent floated to mind, with his glasses and the fact he hid in plain sight, but this man’s bland demeanor hid something far more scary. He looked closer at the muscles that packed the stocky frame. Used to Neal’s men, Sasha almost overlooked Anton’s strength. Steve interrupted his reverie. “Well, since you did bring me a gun, I think you’re not out to get me.” His eyes widened. “Aw crap. That’s why Neal wants me tucked away over here.” Anton smirked. “He does have enough to worry about.” That caught Sasha’s attention. “Why? Now that he has more tigers, the challenge is even. Did something else happen?” “Testosterone, remember?” Anton did another eye roll. “All the warrior tigers are mostly untried and do not dare test themselves against Boris. But Neal is an untried alpha in their opinion. Someone is bound to test him. Most likely Grig.” “Who’s Grig?” Already Sasha didn’t like him. “The home tribe’s third. He’s who Boris appointed leader of the visiting tigers.” “Lovely,” Steve growled. Sasha did as well, but with his stomach. Steve laughed as he flushed with embarrassment. It had been loud. “I could get you something,” Anton offered. “I should have thought of it.”

158

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“No that’s okay. In fact, if you don’t mind, you can keep Steve company and I’ll stretch my legs while I grab food.” “Arrange for an escort,” Anton advised. “You would be an easy excuse to push Neal’s buttons.” “He’s right, Doc,” Steve soothed. “Let me get on the radio. It’s not forever, just while they’re here.” Sasha grumbled, but agreed. These new tigers better not be more trouble than they were worth. “Hey, Doc,” TJ greeted in his soft voice. Sasha got a quick impression of hazel green eyes and then TJ looked away. “Hi. I guess I need a babysitter.” TJ’s jaw tightened. “Yeah. Sorry about that. These guys are a pain in the ass.” He laughed, not expecting that. “How you feelin’?” TJ asked Steve. “Fantastic,” Steve said expansively. “I’ve got my own personal doctor, my own gun, and a goddamn bed. How the fuck you think I’m doing?” TJ looked at Sasha. “Can’t you do something to fix his personality?” Sasha’s eyes widened and he grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.” “Anton.” TJ sounded neutral. “Teej.” TJ frowned, but didn’t comment on Anton’s use of his nickname. It surprised Sasha. With as traditional as Anton seemed to be, why use the intimate address now? The use of a nickname indicated either close friendship or a dominance relationship. Was Anton making a point to TJ? TJ turned toward the door. “You ready?” “I’m starving,” Sasha said. “You can hear his stomach from across the street,” Steve agreed. Sasha flushed with embarrassment. Lately all he seemed to be was hungry or sleepy. If this shit with the Russians didn’t finish soon, he feared becoming an overweight narcoleptic. TJ laughed. “Well, we’d better fix that. Can’t have a hungry Doc on our hands, never know what he might do.” “Funny,” Sasha snapped. “You guys want anything?” “No, thanks, babe,” Steve responded. Anton shook his head. Sasha rubbed Steve’s leg by way of farewell and followed TJ out. “Let me grab something,” TJ murmured, stopping at his apartment across the hall. “I’ll be right back. Wait here.” Sasha nodded. “Sounds good.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

159

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

TJ’s grin flicked on and off and he slipped through the door. Stomach growling, Sasha continued downstairs to grab food. How bad could it be? TJ wouldn’t be long. Sasha refused to let these bullies scare him out of his own home. The restaurant seemed full when he walked down the stairs. The new tigers made enough noise that it didn’t feel “closed for renovation”. As he paused a few steps from the bottom, several of the men turned to watch him. It didn’t seem like being watched at a bar. Instead, it reminded him of a gazelle on a plain full of predators. Maybe he should have waited for TJ… “Come on, Belii,” a voice rang out. Belii was the Russian word for white and his heart sank. Sure enough, two men, obviously twins, blocked Dillon’s progress across the restaurant. Dillon’s eyes met his and Sasha clearly read the fear in them, even without the empathy. “Come on, Belii,” a rough voice wheedled. “We want some relief.” “Let go of me, Koyla.” Dillon sounded like he had tears in his voice. Sasha started forward in time to see one of the twins grab Dillon’s shoulder. “Hey,” Sasha shouted angrily. Everyone froze. “Doc,” Dillon cried, tears shining on his cheeks and his face flushed and angry. Poor guy cried when he was pissed, like Sasha. Dillon wrenched himself free and streaked over to stand behind him. The huge man lumbered after him. Sasha’s anger carried him down the last steps and right up to the big Russian. “This your idea of manners, Kolya?” he snapped in Russian. “He’s your relief, isn’t he?” Kolya protested. “We only wanted to mess around.” His twin came up, eyes wide and confused. “Yeah. We weren’t gonna hurt him.” Five of the home tribe tigers clustered around him, blocking him from moving deeper into the room or retreating back upstairs. His stomach tightened. “You can’t treat him like that,” he told them firmly. “What about you?” Kolya asked, reaching out to stroke his hair. Sasha slapped his hand away. “Fuck off.” “Doc…” Dillon said urgently. He turned his head in time to see a big man stalk out of the men’s room and look over. Their eyes met. The big Russian’s cold blue eyes, like chips of glass or glacier ice, widened and he smiled. This must be Grig. Fuck. “Dillon, go upstairs. TJ’s up there,” Sasha ordered.

160

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Dillon started up but Kolya caught his arm. The werefox pulled back but Kolya tightened his grip and yanked the smaller man completely off the stair to land in a heap at his feet. Several of the others laughed. Dillon stared up at him, his eyes huge and glassy, and held his arm like it pained him. “What the fuck?” TJ’s shout echoed through the restaurant from the landing above. He put a hand down and vaulted clear down the entire flight of stairs to land on his feet next to Sasha. He spun and landed a heavy kick in the center of Kolya’s chest. The heavier man flew away to land in a pile of limbs near Grig. TJ whipped forward and the other twin stumbled away, blood spattering his chin from his nose. Grig roared something inarticulate and started forward. Sasha stepped between him and TJ. “Stop.” He threw his arms up. “This is stupid. Stop!” Grig smirked and glared own at him. “Stupid, huh?” Sasha switched to Russian. “You don’t need to do that. You have what you want already, back off.” “Doc…” TJ groaned. “Shut up.” “No, Doc, keep going,” Grig purred. TJ sighed and stepped in front of Sasha. “Fine. You wanna dance, let’s dance.” Grig whipped forward and TJ went heavily to one knee, blood dripping from his face. Sasha hadn’t even seen Grig draw a knife, and then he looked down to see Grig’s claws. “Get back, Doc.” TJ shoved him in the hip with one big hand. He stood, blocking Sasha’s view of Grig and the rest of the room. “Grig.” Paul’s voice rang out from the kitchen. Everyone froze, except Grig. Sasha watched the hunger in the visiting weretiger’s eyes. He played right into the big man’s hands, dammit. He went cold from his stomach out. TJ whirled and grabbed him. “Keep Dillon safe, Doc.” TJ shook Sasha, his eyes frightened. Sasha blinked and glanced at the werefox, watching the fight with huge eyes. “I will,” Sasha promised. With a howitzer, he added in his mind. He backed up the stairs, taking Dillon with him. Paul stepped forward. “Knock it the fuck off,” he growled. Grig grinned, his head back and chest puffed out. “Or what?” One of the twins took a step closer and grabbed Dillon’s arm, hauling him out from behind Sasha. The werefox yanked back but couldn’t dislodge him. His face flushed and he started crying, but more from anger than fear, Sasha could feel through his empathy. “Knock it off,” Paul shouted. Along with his voice came a wave of heat that tingled all up and down Sasha’s arms. He’d never sensed anything like it. The shifter gasped and dropped Dillon’s arm, and stepped away from him for good measure.

www.samhainpublishing.com

161

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Grig, though, walked forward. He strained against Paul’s energy, Sasha could tell by the way his muscles corded, but he didn’t look like he’d stop. And then Neal walked in. “That’s it,” Neal snapped. “Let’s settle this for once and for all. Grig, upstairs, now.” “I—” “I’m not asking!” Neal roared. Grig glared. He said nothing, just walked over and stabbed the elevator button with an angry finger. Looked like the cavalry arrived. Dammit. Sasha’s stomach growled again, now that all the excitement was over. He clenched his jaw and turned to Dillon. “Let’s go.” Stomping up the stairs satisfied him, but he’d better get food right away. Or, he might change his mind about being vegetarian. Tiger meat sounded pretty good, right then.

162

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Twenty-Nine Leader of the Krug

Sasha walked up the stairs and Dillon came with him, but stumbled on the top step. He made a sharp noise, like a sob, and Sasha glanced over. Sure enough, Dillon kept crying, anger and frustration pouring off his slender body in waves. The werefox didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Sasha pretended he didn’t see and kept going. “Use my place,” TJ said from behind him. Sasha turned. “You sure?” TJ nodded. “He can get to the internet from my computer, or relax.” “Thanks, Teej,” Dillon said softly. TJ didn’t answer, just slipped past them and went up the stairs to Neal’s floor, clearly on his way to the vacant area to keep an eye on the fight. Dillon, clearly frustrated, sighed. “You gonna watch the fight?” “I’d like to, but I don’t want to leave you alone.” “I’ll be fine,” Dillon soothed. “You should go.” All the tigers would be upstairs, watching the fight. No one would want to trouble Dillon, not while Grig and Neal fought each other. No, even the twins would want to see the outcome. Of course, if Neal lost, it would be a different story. But that would never happen. Sasha made up his mind. “Make sure you lock the door.” Sasha took the stairs two at a time up to the third floor. All the tigers gathered in the large, undeveloped space. He stood inside the door, away from the fight but where he could see easily. TJ, on the other side of the doorway, glanced at him and then back at the fight. On the other side of TJ, Anton and the two boys stood watching. Mitch, leaning to the wall beyond them, seemed bored. Neal’s apartment was the only finished section of this floor. They never needed more room and stopped renovating. Instead, mats like at a martial arts dojo were spread around to practice on. Sasha could tell at a glance that this didn’t qualify as a friendly practice match. Neal wore only black cargo pants. His bare feet gripped the mat like a second pair of hands and his torso gleamed with sweat. Gods, but he looked good.

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha’s heart sped up, though, watching the hungry look on Grig’s face as he paced around Neal, looking for an opening. Grig’s chest hair lay lank to his body, sweaty and curling, and he had several bruises already. He spun and kicked Neal’s hip and the big Marine staggered. Grig moved in, but Sasha had practiced the same feint and rooted for Neal. Sure enough, the minute Grig got within range, Neal swept his feet from under him and the tiger went flying onto his back. Grig rolled, though, and got out of Neal’s reach. He tried another roundhouse kick and Neal caught his foot in his hands, his muscles bulging. He yanked Grig forward, off balance, and threw him bodily across the mat. The tiger rolled and growled, a low and threatening sound that raised every hair on Sasha’s arms. His empathy awakened and he could see Grig’s tiger juxtaposed over the man, his tail lashing with anger. “What do you see?” Mitch asked from his elbow, startling him. “Shut up, Mitch,” Sasha snapped. “I’m concentrating.” “Is he cheating?” “What?” Sasha glanced at him. “How?” “I don’t know, by using magic or something?” “No. Shut up and watch the fight.” Neal crouched, his arms out, and beckoned Grig forward. “Let’s dance, cowboy.” Grig snarled and his hands lengthened into long, black claws. He threw his head back and roared, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. “The neighbors are gonna freak,” Mitch muttered. “They’re not gonna keep believing it’s television.” Sasha glared but didn’t look at him. He gazed at the fight, wishing he could help Neal by watching. Grig rushed forward, claws flashing. Neal dodged and used the other tiger’s momentum to flip him over his hip. When Grig sprang up it was into Neal’s waiting fist. The younger tiger staggered several steps away, shaking his head. “Grig’s getting tired,” Mitch told Sasha in a quiet voice. “Won’t be long now.” As though Grig heard Mitch’s comment, he snarled. His fangs appeared. He tried to slash Neal’s face, but Neal dodged and whipped forward. Neal landed a solid punch, the sound like a boxer hitting a heavy bag, and scarlet sprayed from Grig’s split lip. The watching shifters roared in reaction as Neal drew first blood. What made it more impressive was the fact he did it without the aid of claws. Grig seemed unwilling to concede. His face darkened with anger and a low growl came out of his mouth. He leaped forward and Sasha gasped, his heart in his mouth. Neal caught him with an audible smack and threw him onto the floor on his stomach. Straddling him before he could react, Neal rubbed his hips back and forth. Grig roared, sounding just like a tiger, and Neal’s hand clamped on his neck. Neal held him down, Grig’s face pressed flat against the mat, and squeezed.

164

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Let it go, son,” Neal grated. “Don’t make me do this for real.” Grig shrieked and he struggled, but while Neal’s body bounced, Grig couldn’t dislodge him. “He’s got him,” TJ murmured, relief in his voice. “It’s over.” “Fuck you!” Grig screamed. “Fuck you!” Neal bent forward and whispered something in Grig’s ear, and the Russian squirmed, small noises coming out of him. Finally he stilled, and all the fight left his body. He lay under Neal, motionless. Neal released him and stood up. “Anybody else messes with my people, and I will put you down,” Neal stated flatly. Then he threw back his head and roared, a fully formed tiger bellow. Sasha didn’t know whether to fuck him, or run for his life. Neal caught Sasha’s gaze and tipped his head toward the door. Sasha nodded shakily, and followed Neal across to their apartment. Neal locked the door and stroked Sasha’s hair. “I’m gonna take a shower, okay?” Sasha nodded, his head bouncing a little too quickly. Neal cupped his head in one big hand. “Hey. I’m all right.” “Yeah.” Sasha laughed shakily. “I never doubted it.” Neal snorted and turned to the bathroom, unfastening his pants as he went. Sasha trailed after him and leaned against the bathroom doorway as Neal stripped. He watched as Neal kicked the pants away and leaned in the stall to start the water. A few bruises were beginning to bloom on Neal’s skin. Sasha discovered it added to his arousal. The sweat and a little blood, Grig’s, he noted with pleasure, made the Marine the image of a true warrior. Neal stretched, rolling and unknotting muscles still tense from the fight. Sasha’s cock sprang to attention as he did it, but Neal seemed too focused on the shower. Neal looked over his shoulder and smirked at him. Sasha stuck out his tongue and watched Neal’s eyes darken with desire. “I could wash your back?” Sasha offered. Neal shook his head. “I need to meet up with Vadim to discuss details. You ‘helping’ me will not save time.” “What details?” “They want to move the fight forward from Saturday to tonight. I’m agreeing. The sooner we start and finish, the sooner I can send the tribe tigers back.” Nervousness began to build inside of Sasha, but he willed it away. He nodded his understanding and turned his back, trying to hide his reaction. His stomach growled, reminding him of his original purpose. Sasha closed the door and headed to the kitchen instead of into the shower after his lover.

www.samhainpublishing.com

165

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha tried to focus on throwing together a salad but kept dropping things. The tomato made an almighty mess on the floor, as did the avocado pit when it jumped out of his hands and bounced under the table. He dropped it three more times as it kept slithering out of his hands. Covered in avocado pulp, he managed to get the kitchen sink started. “What are you doing?” Neal asked, a smile in his voice. He leaned past Sasha’s shoulder and turned the faucet on. “I need to rinse my hands,” Sasha muttered. “Why are you rubbing yourself all over me?” Neal chuckled. “Teasing.” “Yeah. Maybe I’ll go let Steve take the edge off.” Neal kissed him and then pulled away to gaze at him from inches away. “I want you to stay with him during the fight, okay?” “Sure. I’ll get a few things prepped, just in case.” “Good idea.” Sasha finished making them sandwiches and set them on two plates. “I’ll carry mine,” Neal told him. “I’ve got to meet with the others.” “I’ll walk you down, okay?” He took a big bite of sandwich first, still starving. They emerged to find Vadim waiting for them downstairs in Neal’s office. Neal kissed Sasha at the doorway. “I’ll see you later.” “I can walk around now without an escort?” “Yeah, if they try anything now they know I’ll kill them.” Sasha nodded and squeezed Neal’s ass as he walked in. Vadim said nothing, just watched him with cold blue eyes. The door closed on their conversation and Sasha stood a moment, his hand still on the handle, feeling heavy in all his muscles. Finally Sasha stirred and went back upstairs. He tossed the rest of his sandwich away, his stomach too knotted with stress. Worrying wouldn’t accomplish anything. Instead, he gathered every medical supply they had and set up an infirmary in the vacant area they’d used for the fight. Better use for that area any day. He stomped up the stairs, adrenalin giving him a needed boost. He organized what he already had until a tiger announced the jaguars’ arrival. Felipe brought an ambulance and parked in the employee lot. His huge soldiers, silent and hulking, brought even more supplies upstairs and put everything exactly where Sasha ordered them to. After a while, Sasha started to enjoy bossing them around. Even better, he kicked the new tigers out of their beds and sent them downstairs. He needed their cots for his makeshift infirmary. Their attitudes were very respectful around him now. He liked it. The clock moved without slowing, despite Sasha’s wishes. Some of the windows in this corner looked out over the roof of the abandoned building across the street. Neal owned it, it turned out, and both sides

166

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

agreed to hold the fight there. Sasha tried to ignore the squat concrete presence below the windows as he organized bandages, tape and sutures. Since the vacant building only stretched two storeys, as long as he didn’t look out the third floor window too close to it he could pretend it didn’t exist. “They’re here,” Felipe announced. Stomach clenching, Sasha straightened from counting gauze rolls. “Now?” Neal, standing across the open area from him, met his gaze. “Time to rock and roll.” Steve, who sat in a chair by a folding table to sort out medications, looked over at Sasha. “Waiting’s the hardest part.” “No kidding.” Sasha broke eye contact and turned away, fists clenched. Neal’s familiar scent enveloped Sasha, and then strong arms circled him. “Hey, Doc, it’s gonna be okay.” Neal’s body bulked harder than normal and Sasha turned. “What are you wearing?” “Kevlar.” “I thought there were no guns.” Neal’s hand cupped his cheek. “Never hurts to be careful. The Russians are going to cheat, and we need to be ready. Don’t worry, babe; I’ve got Mario on the roof with a compound bow.” He smirked. “It’s not a gun. I’ve left a message for Kiril, but he hasn’t responded yet.” Sasha crushed Neal to him. “Be careful.” Neal stroked his hair and then pulled out of his grasp. He walked away without looking back and tears sprang into Sasha’s eyes. Ten minutes went by with no sound or any indication from anywhere that the fight started. Driven to distraction, Sasha finally threw the roll of cloth tape onto the table. “Gods.” “Doc, it’s—” He whirled and Steve broke off mid-sentence. “If you tell me one more time that it’s gonna be okay, I swear to the Gods I will personally kick your ass,” he all but screamed at his lover. Steve gaped at him and they both burst out laughing. “Jesus, Doc. Grow a pair, didja?” Steve muttered. “Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna go make us something to eat.” “I’d love a burger,” Steve said wistfully. Sasha blinked. “I’ll do that, then.” “Where?” “Mario won’t mind. I know where he keeps everything.” Steve’s eyes widened. “I never thought of that.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

167

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Good thing you have me then,” Sasha murmured as he walked over. He kissed Steve’s forehead. “Why don’t you pop over to Neal’s and lay down for a sec? You look tired. We have time. Anton says there’s lots of formal stuff before the fight can start. When the wounded arrive, we’ll be busy.” Steve looked wistfully at the window. “Maybe I could help at the window with a rifle.” “Nope, big guy. No guns allowed. We don’t want to be the ones breaking the rules first. And we got a special clause that your injured status exempts you. From what intel said, we found out Kiril actually has a reputation for being honorable.” He ignored Steve’s disappointed look. “I’ll be right back.” Steve grinned. “You’d better.” Sasha bounced down the stairs, burning off some of the adrenaline in the process. The kitchen lay empty, echoing and huge, and he regretted not grabbing them sandwiches from Neal’s apartment. Instead, he tried to focus on his work. He grabbed the ground sirloin first and set it to cook, then went back to retrieve the veggie burger patty. Turning back to the stove, he froze. Kiril, the leader of the Russian bears, stepped out from the wall by the door, a smirk on his face. “You cook?” Sasha swallowed his heart back down into his chest, where it belonged. “What are you doing in here?” “I came to see you.” Kiril said it like it was obvious. Sasha backed up, and Kiril took a step forward. Crap.

168

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Thirty Kiril

Sasha whirled, intending to get the Hades out of there, but Kiril caught him before he’d even gotten three steps. Kiril’s hands closed on his biceps, huge and hot. Bears had one weakness: their nose. He whipped his head back to slam it into the big man’s face. Kiril grunted and then laughed. Sasha squirmed, and Kiril released his right arm. Sasha spun, kicking at Kiril’s knee, but Kiril moved too fast to see. The shifter backed Sasha with his hips into the wall. Pinned next to the door, Sasha struggled and Kiril’s hand closed on his throat. “Stop,” Kiril said softly. “I’m not here to hurt you, but I will if I have to.” Sasha swallowed, his skin moving against Kiril’s palm. “I’m not part of this.” “Promises have been made, little one,” Kiril purred. “And you smell good.” He inhaled. Sasha barked a laugh that bordered on hysteria. “It’s shampoo and soap.” Kiril smirked, an arrogant tilt to his head. “I think that’s not all of it, though, is it?” He leaned forward, aiming for Sasha’s mouth. “Is it?” Sasha turned his head and Kiril’s face came up against his cheek. Kiril’s nose buried Sasha’s ear, the bear sniffed him with a loud snuffling noise. His breath warmed Sasha’s neck and sent prickles of fear down the front of his body. Stomach cramping, Sasha resisted flinching, but only just. “Please. I’m not part of this.” “They promised you to me,” Kiril murmured against his skin. “What? Who? Does Neal know about this?” “Neal is not important now.” Kiril cocked his head. “And if you’re not with me, Ivan will kill you for Petya.” “I didn’t kill Petya.” “No?” “No. He attacked me in the park, and shot my lover. Felipe killed him.” “The jaguar.”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Yes. I’ve never killed anyone in my life!” Something changed in Kiril’s eyes as he stared at Sasha. “Never.” “No.” “Ivan sees you as responsible for Petya, and you did attack Alyosha. He will kill you if he can.” “I didn’t attack Alyosha. He and his buddies jumped me in the alley. Don’t tell me you believe their version.” Kirl frowned and seemed to consider Sasha’s words. Sasha took a deep breath and did what he’d seen other Guardians do. He pushed with his magic into Kiril’s body, attempting to get the shifter to back up or at least release him. Kiril reacted, arching his back and pressing his hips against Sasha. “What is that?” His lips turned up in a grin, like he enjoyed it. “Get off me, and I’ll show you.” Sasha tried to pull away again. It almost worked. Kiril loosened his grip, but then shook his head. “Later. We must get to the challenge now.” “But—” “Come,” Kiril ordered, tightening his hand on Sasha’s throat. The bear pulled Sasha forward as though his hand were a leash around Sasha’s neck, out of the kitchen and through the hallway to the back door. Two bodies lay near the door, one of the new tigers and one of Felipe’s jaguars. “Gods.” Kiril chuckled. “No, they’re not dead. They were too busy squabbling to notice me sneaking up. I think I believe you when you say you never killed.” He paused. “I don’t, unless necessary.” At the gate to the alley, Sasha threw his weight back and balked. Kiril grinned, mocking him. “Do you want everyone to see me carry you in?” Sasha shivered, since the bear looked like he enjoyed that idea, and started walking. They passed the dumpster where he first met Neal that night. It seemed longer than a few short weeks. Something moved on the roof opposite and he caught sight of the head of a sniper. “I thought you said no guns? So much for your honor.” Sasha stumbled over some gravel in the alley. Kiril slowed, frowning. Sasha didn’t point, but he motioned with his chin. “On the roof, isn’t that a sniper? It’s not one of Neal’s. I guess your boss has a back-up plan, not too confident in you guys.” The bear said nothing, but his jaw tightened. The door appeared and then they went through. Neal stood on the other side of the room. In the large bare spot between the two groups hung a stick with a flag. Time slowed as Neal turned and their eyes met. Those expressive cinnamon brown eyes widened and his face paled. He watched Neal mouth his name.

170

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

“Ah. Kiril Vasilyevich, at last,” a large, black-haired man boomed. He sported a mustache that reminded Sasha of Stalin. “You took your time, my friend.” Kiril’s hand tightened on Sasha’s throat, but he got the impression it was more in reaction to the “my friend” than because of Sasha. “Now that you are here, we can discuss things,” Ivan went on. “You confused your men. They said you were with me, but you told me you were with them. And now, I see you bring a little friend to our party.” “It’s not a party, Ivan Andreievich.” Kiril’s voice sounded cold and unfriendly. “Do not mock this.” “Kiril.” Neal stepped forward. “This isn’t part of the agreement. Sasha’s not part of this.” Kiril ignored him, focused on Ivan. Sasha tried to hide behind the bear as the hatred flared in Ivan’s gaze and flattened his eyes. Ivan turned to Sasha and the expression on his face made Sasha’s blood run cold. “You.” Ivan took a step forward. “You promised him to us.” Kiril moved back a step, dragging Sasha with him. “You said that we could have him as part of our agreement for fighting the tigers. You cannot kill him.” “Can I not?” Ivan purred. He walked closer, his eyes locked on Sasha’s. Sasha tried to move back, but Kiril held him immobile. He threw his whole weight into it, struggling, but the bear did nothing, just tightened the grip around his throat. Of course, that cut off his air, leaving him gasping. “Doc!” TJ shouted. Kiril pulled him back, away from Ivan, and Sasha stumbled heavily against the big man’s arm. “He killed my son!” Ivan shouted. “He will die for that.” “No, Ivan Andreievich. You promised him to us.” Kiril threw back his head, shoulders braced. Gods, but he was a big man. “You are honor-bound.” “You will kill him.” Ivan took a step forward. “You will do as I say.” “No, Ivan Andreievich. You brought us here to help you solve a territorial dispute, not kill our prize.” “Guns.” Sasha squeezed out around the hand on his voice box. Kiril glanced at him, and loosened his hand a little. “You broke the rules, Ivan Andreievich, not Harrison and his men. There are snipers outside.” “You lie.” “I?” Kiril echoed, incredulous. Ivan stabbed his thumb into his own chest. “I make the rules, not you. I am not some animal, I am Ivan Andreievich. You will kill him.” Ivan pulled a large gun out from under the back of his jacket. “Fuck.” Sasha threw his weight into getting free. “You guys are piss-poor security guards.” “Doc,” Neal protested. “Shut up, man!”

www.samhainpublishing.com

171

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Knowing his words provoked the man holding him, he wanted to drive a wedge between him and the Russian boss. “Kiril, he lied.” Sasha turned his head to gaze at Kiril. “He doesn’t want an alliance with you, can’t you see that? You let him boss you around like an alpha?” “Silence,” Ivan yelled. “You murdered my Petya.” “Yeah?” Sasha rounded on him, pulling against Kiril’s grip. “Petya was a thug and a rapist. The world’s better off without him.” Kiril snorted what sounded suspiciously like a laugh and moved his body between Sasha and the enraged mob boss. “You ever hear the phrase, ‘poke the bear’, Doc?” Mitch muttered loud enough that it echoed across the room. Several of the bears nearby laughed and Ivan’s face turned white. “Kill him!” the boss screamed. “I demand it.” Kiril shook his head. “Our contract is dissolving. Too much has changed—” A huge bang deafened Sasha and cut Kiril off mid-sentence. A massive weight slammed into Sasha, throwing him onto his back and crushing him, and more impacts jolted through the body on top of him. Kiril’s body. “You dare!” Ivan shrieked. “You dare to defy me?” Utter silence greeted his words. Sasha could clearly hear Mitch mutter, all the way on the other side of the room. “Fuck.” “Sasha!” Neal cried. In an instant it got too tumultuous to figure out what went on. Sasha struggled with the heavy weight on top of him and sunk his hands wrist deep into fur. Bear fur. Shit. Kiril shifted form to his bear. No way could Sasha lift eight hundred pounds of unconscious bear. He tried to breathe and stay calm, but the way Kiril lay interfered with his ability to get air into his lungs. Blood, viscous and hot, dripped down into Sasha’s eyes from Kiril’s head. Panic threatened to claim him and he tried to keep his breathing calm, despite the massive weight on his chest. He tried again to move the body, a high-pitched sound coming out of him. “Easy,” TJ’s voice came from nearby. “Stay down.” “I’ve got it, Teej,” Mitch murmured from the other side. “Fuckin’ guy weighs a goddamn ton.” The weight lifted and TJ’s arm closed on Sasha’s, yanking him free. “Any of that blood yours, Doc?” Sasha shook his head, too rattled to speak. TJ turned to Mitch. “Get him the fuck out of here.” “Gotcha, Sarge.” Mitch grinned. “Don’t fucking call me that,” TJ snapped.

172

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Mitch’s grin widened. “But you are, you know.” “Get him out of here.” TJ turned back to the fight. Mitch pulled Sasha away from Kiril, his hands warm. Sasha gaped at the chaos around him. It seemed everybody fought everybody without sides divided now. More gunfire rang out around him and he resisted the urge to flinch. Kiril’s bears grouped about ten feet away, in a half-circle around the body of their fallen leader. One of them, a huge man even without the added bulk of being a bear, swept a hand across one of the Russian’s faces. Blood fountained in an arterial spray when he used claws, not a human hand. The bears ignored Neal’s tigers, who were all dressed in black. Neal fought with several Russians, locked in a grapple with a tall, slender man who reminded Sasha a little of Vadim. Ivan’s second-in-command faced off with a tall half-man, half-tiger form. The tiger roared, his head extended forward, and swept a heavy wooden spool of wire out of his way. Vadim backed away, his gun in a teacup grip, and emptied the clip. The tiger snarled and surged forward. Vadim hesitated only a moment, then turned and streaked through a nearby door. “Doc, come on. We need to get you the hell out of here before Ivan decides to finish it.” “Yeah.” Mitch paused at the door and pulled a radio out, shielding Sasha with his body. “Position One, this is Peacock.” “Go ahead, Peacock.” “I have the package for delivery.” “Is that Mario?” Sasha asked, shivering. Mitch nodded, holding up his other hand for silence. Mario came back on. “Clear. It’s gettin’ crowded out here.” “Noted.” He turned and caught TJ’s eye, then made two hand signals. TJ, who now had a discarded gun in his hand, looked harassed but nodded and moved away, firing. Mitch snorted and took Sasha’s arm again. “Stay with me. If I tell you get down, you do it. No talking. Mario’s covering us with a compound bow from the roof, but don’t make his job harder than it has to be. Clear?” Sasha nodded, his heart in his mouth. They ran like rabbits through the alley and gained the back entrance of the Factory with nothing happening. Sasha’s nerves stretched like they’d snap, and Mitch thrust him through the door. Sasha tripped and caught himself against the far wall, panting. “You need a bath, dude.” Mitch helped him stand. “Neal’s gonna freak, he sees you covered in blood.” Eyeing the alley, Mitch let go of him. “Let’s go. Steve can keep an eye on you.” “Thanks.” “Don’t mention it. I’m still hoping for a ‘thank you’ blow job, you know.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

173

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha gaped at him and then laughed. It sounded a little hysterical, but Mitch didn’t seem to mind. They took the stairs, Mitch’s eyes everywhere, and got to Neal’s apartment without incident. Steve sat up in bed as they came in and then gaped at them. “Fuck.” He brought a gun out from under the sheets and cocked it. “None of it’s his,” Mitch reported. “Relax.” “What the fuck happened? You were supposed to go down to the kitchen. I’m out of it for five minutes and you guys let all hell break loose?” Steve snarled, throwing the blankets aside and moving to stand. Mitch blinked. “Hey, man. Kiril kidnapped him. It’s not like we let him walk into the fight.” “I’m not a child,” Sasha flared. “Don’t talk about me like I’m not here.” “Go take a shower, Doc,” Mitch told him. “Steve and I fight like an old married couple, it don’t mean nothin’.” “It will when I get up outta this bed, you ass monkey,” Steve muttered. Mitch laughed. “You’d luvta.” He tossed a radio onto the bed. “Keep Mario company, I’m gonna go beat up some Russians.” The Marine actually sounded excited about that. Sasha watched him go, dazed. Steve eased out of bed and walked over, and part of Sasha’s mind noted he moved better than before. His arms came around Sasha’s body and pulled him against that broad chest. “It’s okay, hon. You’re all right.” “Ivan tried to kill me.” “You did kill his son,” Steve pointed out. “Felipe killed him, I didn’t.” “I’m not sure he makes the distinction.” He pulled back enough to see Sasha’s face, and Steve’s hand smoothed his hair back with gentle strokes. “You’re kind of a mess, you know.” “Yeah.” Sasha let his head drop forward against Steve’s muscular chest. “I’m not cut out for this commando crap.” Steve chuckled. “Come on. I’ll wash your back.” Sasha let Steve lead him to the bathroom, feeling abstracted. The idea that Kiril gave his life to protect Sasha shook him. Shook him all the way down.

174

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Thirty-One Bring In the Bear

Those ten minutes in the shower seemed long ago. Despite Sasha’s protests, Steve actively joined him in treating the patients coming in. Sasha had to yell at him when he caught the big Marine trying to lift someone from a stretcher. Thankfully, there were not many. Mitch returned to Sasha’s side and turned out to be a decent medic. Felipe’s EMT guys showed up to help as well. “You guys all wore Kevlar vests?” Sasha asked Mitch as he concentrated on an ugly tear in Anton’s left quadriceps. Since he had no more tigers to work on, he focused on the more minor wounds, and Anton’s injury required nothing more than his sewing skills. He smirked, knowing the soft-spoken Russian wouldn’t appreciate being compared to a garment. Mitch kept his eyes on Sasha’s work, holding Anton’s leg steady and swabbing the small amount of blood leaking from the edges. He nodded without looking up. “Sarge knew the Russians were gonna cheat. He planned on getting Kiril to check, or at least sniff for gun oil, when they talked at the green flag.” Mitch applied pressure while Sasha stitched. “That flag thing gets me. Hold here.” Sasha pointed. “It makes perfect sense.” Anton gave no sign of pain in his voice but his face gave it away, jaw tight. It still impressed Sasha that Neal chose Anton to be part of the battle. That decision had gained the older tiger status in the tribe’s eyes. Anton sniffed. “Many times challenges involve disputes that require the testimony of witnesses, witnesses that might consist of females or young ones. The fighting can’t start until the green parley flag is lowered with each alpha’s hand on it. We couldn’t even approach while Kiril had you, since he hadn’t reached the flag yet. Any advance on our part would trigger a free-for-all.” “Which happened anyway.” Mitch grinned, though it seemed nasty. “Fucking cheaters got what was coming.” “No one expected Ivan to shoot Kiril. The bears turning on them was natural, once that happened.” Anton shrugged. “Don’t move,” Sasha ordered sharply as Anton’s movement bounced the skin under his needle. “Sorry.”

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Even the snipers couldn’t even the odds,” Mitch put in. Sasha shuddered, remembering the storm of gunfire from earlier. He had no idea that Mario would be as effective as the high-powered rifles. Anton chuckled. “No one expected your man on the roof to be as good as he is.” Mitch looked horrified. “Don’t tell him that, he’ll never let us forget it.” “I heard that!” Mario called out from the other side of the room. They all laughed. Mario walked up and set fresh sutures on the table by Sasha’s elbow. “They still managed to get too many shots off.” Neal’s voice sounded from the hallway, echoing in the room. He sounded pissed, and Sasha turned his head to look, pausing with his sewing. “We trust that they will gather up their wounded and leave?” Neal snarled, facing off against Felipe. “The fight’s over and we won. It’s the rules.” Felipe seemed annoyed, but not actually angry. Even across the vast unfinished space, Sasha could see Neal’s disbelieving expression. Felipe exhaled, clearly getting more irritated. “You get the reputation of being a cheater, and no female wants you. Even your children can renounce you and claim another name. That’s everything, man. Even you have to see that.” Neal grunted. He turned his head and met Sasha’s gaze and blinked. Neal waved his hand at Felipe without breaking eye contact. “I’ll think about it.” “You’d better,” Felipe snapped. Sasha knotted the suture and clipped it close to the skin. “Bandage that,” he told Mitch. Neal reached his side and swooped down to claim a kiss. Hard and crushing, it nearly split Sasha’s lip but he didn’t care. He stretched up, opening his mouth to suck on Neal’s tongue. He wanted to grab on and never let go, but his bloody gloves stopped him. Neal had no such restrictions and his hands swept over him. The need for air separated them. “You okay?” Neal asked, cinnamon eyes raking over him. “Get a room.” Mitch kept his eyes on Anton’s injury but Sasha could feel his attention as clearly as if the soldier stared right at him. Sasha turned back to Neal. “I’m all right. My ribs kinda hurt from being squashed, but nothing’s broken or anything.” Neal grunted and gentle fingers brushed over his sides. Sasha leaned in for another kiss, knowing this one would be gentle and tender. Felipe’s voice interrupted them. “As soon as their medic stabilizes Kiril, they’ll take off. Not sure how far they’ll get with this many hurt.” Neal shrugged. “Not our problem.”

176

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Sasha whipped back. “Kiril’s alive?” He whirled on Felipe. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” “Doc, he’s not our problem,” Neal protested. “It sure as Hades is our problem!” Sasha shouted. “He saved my life.” Neal flushed. “He brought you into a battle zone.” Sasha glared up at Neal, but the closed-off expression on Neal’s face dissuaded him from arguing. Instead, Sasha snatched Neal’s radio off his belt and stepped out of range before he could react. “Bring the bears to the infirmary!” he all but shouted. Neal and Felipe started yelling at once, but he ignored them. “Gather all the wounded shifters and bring them to triage. Use doors as stretchers. Now!” “Jesus, Doc.” Mitch chuckled. “Subtle, much?” “God dammit, Doc, this is not our problem!” Neal shouted. “Back off,” Sasha snapped. “I’m a doctor, not a butcher. Kiril and his men acted with honor. And he saved my life.” Neal growled but Sasha ignored him, moving to check on his supplies. More men and huge furry brown shapes started pouring in. The bears hadn’t worn Kevlar and suffered from being on the front lines of the shooting. He went to the largest furry mass, knowing it must be Kiril. Even unconscious, his size amazed Sasha. Close to half a ton, it was a wonder that Sasha could still breathe after being crushed under that. A tall man applied pressure bandages. Sasha paused, looking around to double-check he didn’t miss any other more serious injuries. “You need to heal him or the clan will fall apart.” The serious brown eyes of the bear’s medic studied him. “There are others…” “If you’re gonna do this,” Neal cut in, “he’s right. Take Kiril first. If he dies, the shit hits the fan for real.” They locked gazes, and Sasha couldn’t decipher Neal’s expression. Neal’s face softened then, and he cupped Sasha’s face. “All right, Doc. I get it, I do. Do your work, okay?” Sasha’s heart warmed but then he looked back at the wounded. There were so many. A new voice startled him. “We’ll look to the others.” Sasha blinked. “Aunt Z?” His aunt strode in, dressed in scrubs and already wearing gloves and a mask. A Guardian, dressed in the black combat gear of the warrior circle, followed her. “Wait until it’s safe, Zoe.” “Wait until it’s safe, my wrinkled ass. I’ve been in more battles than you are old, Chad.” The big man, Sasha’s buddy since childhood, looked harassed but glared around the triage center. He waved at Sasha, distracted, then spoke into the mouthpiece of his head set. “All clear. Hey, Sasha.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

177

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Chad, what the fuck are you doing here?” “I called them,” Neal told him. “Calm down. You offered, I decided it was a good idea. There wasn’t time to tell you.” You mean you forgot. Sasha flushed, annoyed, but had to concede that he’d need their help. His aunt being there took a huge weight off his shoulders, and she could oversee the work he did on the ones in human form. “All right…” “I didn’t really give him a choice,” Aunt Z interrupted. “I assume you’ve done triage; where do you want me to start?” Calmness filled him in spite of the stress. The number of wounded no longer overwhelmed him. “The ones in human form are there—” he pointed, “—and you can’t be infected by them.” “I’ll start there, then. I’ve set a dampening spell to keep this area from crawling with curious police.” Her gaze sharpened as she glared at him. “You should have called me sooner. It’s a good thing Neal decided to, or we wouldn’t have even made it now. We’ll talk more about that later.” Her voice sounded stern and threatening. Great. Now he was in trouble and it was his stinking idea to call them in the first place. She smiled before turning away, lessening some of the impact of her tone, but he didn’t look forward to their little talk. Sasha reached for a set of clippers. With this many buzz cuts around him, Steve had easily gathered up several earlier. He concentrated on shaving the fur around Kiril’s bullet wounds. Gods, but they needed a clinic. The medic with the bears hovered at his elbow. Sasha glanced at him. “What’s your name?” “Drew,” he answered with no trace of any Russian in his voice. “Drew Wilson.” “I’m Sasha Soskoff. What can you do for me, Drew? How much training do you have?” “EMT One,” the man answered. Taller than Neal, his muscular form made Sasha feel tiny next to him. “Okay. Get him prepped. I have to get these bullets out.” Drew nodded and filled a syringe while Sasha examined the enormous body for more bullets. He counted five by the time he got through, the examination taking longer than he wanted it to due to the bear’s sheer size. Picking up a scalpel, he started work. To prevent the same problem with the flesh healing, like it had with Steve, he used magic to enhance the scalpel. It worked. The flesh gave under the knife, parting like it should. He would need to talk to his aunt and see if she had any suggestions for improving them. Time to remove the first bullet. Here, fishy fishy; come to papa. Across the room, his aunt took control of her bevy of patients, snapping orders and enlisting any ablebodied person within range. He wanted to laugh, but the wounds in front of him took all his attention. Sasha sank into the zone, focused on teasing out the bits of metal. There were plenty to keep his attention, no doubt about that.

178

www.samhainpublishing.com

Chapter Thirty-Two Full Circle

Exhaustion pulled at Sasha; even his fingers ached. Tending to the last bear turned out to be fullfledged surgery. He’d finally finished, but his patient nearly died on the table. Actually, on a door. The bullet grazed an artery and caused internal bleeding, and the bear nearly bled to death before they could stop it. Or notice it. The big idiot had been all stoic. Steve noticed the pressure bandage originally applied hadn’t been doing a damned thing. The rest of the bears, the ones able to stand anyway, hovered around Sasha and hummed while he and his aunt worked. They refused to be shooed away. Drew told him it would help the wounded bear heal. Sasha did feel something stir with his empathy, but couldn’t be sure. Atonal, it vibrated his collarbone. Bears hummed. Who knew? He really needed a better set-up if the tigers got into trouble again. Sasha shuddered at the lack of a sterile environment. Only the shifters’ natural metabolisms saved them from infection. Everyone watching bothered him, as well, until the work absorbed him. Leaving his aunt in charge of the patients, Sasha went to clean up. The antiseptic odor on his hands and arms clung like a second skin and Sasha wrinkled his nose as he scrubbed. He went downstairs to see if Neal wanted some food, but Neal wasn’t there. Sasha went back up, a yawn splitting his face. He missed the top step and caught himself by the banister. “You work too hard.” Neal stood in the hallway by his door. He came over and slipped an arm around Sasha’s shoulders. “Come on.” Sasha let the bigger man guide him into the apartment and lock the door. Neal looked down at him. “Carlos is downstairs in the security office, keeping an eye on things. It’s you, me and Steve.” “And I’m cooking dinner,” Steve put in. “Grilled cheese and tomato soup.” Sasha grinned. “That sounds perfect.” He slipped into the bathroom to take a quick shower and by the time he emerged, Steve finished cooking. “I used four cheeses in the sandwiches,” Steve told them. “And the bread’s from the bakery.” “You’d think he wants something,” Neal muttered, but grinned.

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

“Yeah. Us to clean the dishes.” Sasha winked. He took a bite and closed his eyes. “I guess he likes your grilled cheese.” Neal chuckled. Steve cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I am the best cook in this unit.” “Riiight.” Neal took a bite. “Maybe.” Steve ate his sandwich, eyes twinkling. Tiredness roared over Sasha and he set his spoon down. “Long fucking day.” “Yeah, but we won,” Neal grunted. “What happens now?” “With what?” “The Russians?” “They find some other poor sucker to harass. I don’t know.” “It seems like they should be punished for what they did,” Sasha grumbled. “I mean, they caused all this trouble and got away with it.” “Not really,” Steve disagreed. “They lost their leader’s son, and Ivan himself isn’t doing too well. I’m not sure he’ll live through this.” “He won’t,” Neal confirmed. “I got word before I came upstairs.” “Death is a shitty way to solve a conflict.” Sasha glared at him. Neal blinked. “Huh? A minute ago you wanted them punished.” “Dead men don’t learn anything.” Sasha sat back. “How do you know that whoever replaces Ivan will be any better than he was?” Neal shrugged. “We don’t.” Sasha glared at him. “That’s stupid.” “Hey, man, I don’t make the rules.” “Drink your iced tea,” Steve advised. “You certainly made an impression on the Plemya.” “They like my shampoo.” Neal snorted a laugh and banged his chest a couple times to clear a crumb from his airway. “Excuse me?” “Kiril said I smelled good.” Sasha took a sip of tea. “Honey is in my shampoo and bears like honey.” “I meant with your surgical skills.” Steve gazed at him with a smirk. “Oh.” “He sure gets grumpy when he’s tired,” Neal told Steve. “Good thing I made coffee.” Steve’s grin widened. Sasha frowned at him. “I’m right here.” “So’s the coffee,” Steve retorted.

180

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

They finished their sandwiches and Steve got up to pull some lemon sorbet out of the freezer. Sasha collected the plates and set them in the sink, while Neal poured them each coffee. Sasha had a sudden sense of home. “Does Steve have to go back?” he blurted. “Go back where, Doc?” Neal asked, wiping down the table. He blushed, he could feel it. “Nothing.” He lost his nerve to tell Neal that Steve should move in with them. Besides, he was supposed to get a condo to himself and didn’t want to remind them of that. He liked the status quo. Neal walked over and leaned up against the sink, while Steve bracketed him on the other side. “What did you mean?” Neal asked. “Well, I don’t know. It’s…this feels like home, you know?” He wanted to say more, but couldn’t get it past his lips. Steve brought the sorbet cups over to the coffee table. Neal hesitated a moment and then walked over to flick on the television. Sasha joined them, sinking into the couch with a sigh. “I love this couch.” Neal chuckled softly. “Good. Took me a fuckin’ ordeal to find the damn thing.” Sasha looked up at him and caught Steve nodding. “You have no idea.” The black man rolled his eyes. Neal slipped very warm hands around Sasha’s shoulders and started massaging the knots out. Steve sat on the other end, bouncing him, and lifted Sasha’s left foot to dig into the meaty flesh with strong thumbs. Sasha closed his eyes, reveling in it. The two men worked on his body, both heading toward his center, until he lay like putty. He didn’t know who stroked him first, but his cock awakened. He arched his back, stretching his body, and Steve pulled his waistband down. His eyes popped open as Steve licked his shaft and then took his entire length into his mouth. The hot moisture caused his toes to flex and he pressed into it. Neal bent down, curling at the waist, and kissed him. Neal started to move off the couch and Sasha caught him. He stroked Neal’s hardness through his pants. Sasha started to reach for Neal with his mouth, but Steve hit the right rhythm. Panting, he tried to catch his breath. “Steve.” “Yeah, hon?” Steve said, coming up off him and pumping with his big hand. “Gods, man, don’t stop.” “I thought you wanted something.” “Please,” Sasha cried, arching his back. Arousal filled his body and almost hurt, pulsing up and down his cock as Steve moved his hand.

www.samhainpublishing.com

181

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Steve chuckled and resumed his steady movements with his mouth, sending tingles up and down Sasha’s body. “This would be more comfortable in a bed,” Neal pointed out. Sasha, though, couldn’t answer. His body responded to Steve’s movements and he started to moan and gasp. He never made this much noise with other lovers, but something about the way Steve and Neal touched him brought it out. As Sasha came in a hot rush in Steve’s mouth, Neal kissed him. Neal’s mouth caressed his and teased his tongue, and Sasha slipped his hands into his hair. Neal finally let him up for air and Steve released his cock, stroking his stomach with a sweaty palm. Sasha collapsed against the couch, spent. “You killed him,” Neal noted, poking Sasha’s shoulder. “Tickle him,” Steve advised. “See if he’s faking it.” “I’m awake.” Sasha struggled into a sitting position. “I’m awake.” “Works every time.” Steve gathered the melted sorbets and brought them to the freezer, while Neal stood. Sasha rolled off the couch to stand, and followed Neal into the bedroom. The big bed looked like it waited for them, the sheets fresh and new. Lube and various toys clustered on the bedside table, but no condoms. “Where are the condoms?” Neal came closer and cupped his head with one big hand. “You wanted this to be between us.” Neal licked Sasha’s bottom lip. “Steve and I talked, and we agreed.” Sasha’s heart started to pound. “Both of you?” “We can’t catch anything,” Steve said as he walked in and locked the door. “So it’s safe.” “And we decided it was time,” Neal told him. “We’re together, the three of us, for better or worse. Might as well act like it.” Sasha almost asked, what about Carlos, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment. Besides, Carlos could join them after his shift. Sasha flopped onto the bed on his stomach, and Steve laughed. “I think he’s worn out, Neal,” the big man murmured. “Oh, well, I guess we’ll have to make do…” Sasha heard the sounds of Neal going down on Steve and rolled over. “Hey.” Steve winked at him. “Sorry, buddy. You wanted to sleep.” He gasped as Neal did something he liked and pumped his hip a little, then caught himself on Neal’s shoulder. “That’s not fair,” Sasha protested.

182

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

Neal chuckled, but didn’t stop. Steve’s breathing quickened, and his hand clenched Neal’s shoulder as he tried to keep his balance. He let his eyes close, a smile playing around his lips, and moaned. Neal cupped Steve’s balls in one hand and Sasha’s erection built painfully, watching them. Rolling onto his stomach, Sasha stroked Neal’s leg with gentle fingers. Steve groaned, and opened his eyes. “Nearly there, Boss,” he murmured. Sasha almost came himself in response. Neal milked Steve and he came with a cry, bending over Neal’s head at the waist. Sasha reared up on his knees and kissed him, Steve’s mouth cool from panting. Awakened by all the activity earlier, and watching the two men now, Sasha’s empathy spun through him like a vortex. He shivered and squeezed Steve’s arm where he held on for balance. Steve laughed and Neal released Steve’s cock, then rolled onto his back like the huge cat that he was. “God, I love it when you do that,” Neal groaned. “Huh?” Sasha frowned. “Your magic,” Steve told him. “It feels…” “Amazing,” Neal supplied. “Yeah.” Sasha cocked his head. “What does it feel like?” Steve’s eyes narrowed and he laid down on his back next to Neal. “It tingles and feels warm.” “And like I can see into you,” Neal added. “I know what you’re feeling, and can feel it too. It makes everything more intense.” Sasha blinked. “That’s how I feel it.” “I wonder…” Steve trailed off. Heat bloomed in Sasha’s chest. He gasped and caught himself against Steve’s chest. “Shit.” Steve chuckled. “Like that?” Sasha couldn’t speak, so he nodded. Then Neal put his hand on Steve’s shoulder. The sensations spiked and Sasha cried out. All three of them inhaled in unison, and Neal met Sasha’s gaze with huge eyes. “Wow.” “We were thinking,” Steve said then. “About no condoms.” Sasha’s heart started to pound. Neal grinned, obviously feeling it. “I think he likes that idea.” “No kidding!” Steve rubbed his face. “But just the three of us. Carlos has other partners, and it wouldn’t be a good idea. We don’t want you to catch anything.” Sasha nodded, breathless with excitement. “I’ve wanted that a while now.” Neal grinned. “Good.”

www.samhainpublishing.com

183

A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder

Sasha rolled over, into Neal’s body, and kissed him. Neal kissed him back, stroking a hand through Sasha’s hair as he did it. Steve, meanwhile, seemed to be getting the hang of the energy and he swung the empathy around them like a shawl. Sasha grinned as Steve did it, the tingles igniting pleasure centers all up and down his body. “Up on your knees,” Neal ordered. Tugging on Sasha’s hips, he guided Sasha to kneel between the two bigger men. Steve’s warm hand cupped Sasha’s ass and then massaged, around and around, until Sasha’s erection nearly pulled the skin off his body. “Please…” he moaned. “Please.” Neal grunted and Sasha looked behind himself to see Steve pumping his hand, coated with lube, up and down on Neal’s cock. He guided Neal to Sasha’s opening, and Neal stroked himself up and down the crack. Sasha pressed back, reaching, but Neal chuckled. “Slowly. I want it to last.” “Please,” Sasha gasped. Neal slapped him lightly, bouncing him, and then gasped. “Wow. I can feel that through the empathy.” Sasha laughed. “Do it again.” Neal set up a rhythm against his ass, alternating sides, and then sheathed himself to the balls in Sasha’s body. All three of them groaned. Steve moved in front of Sasha, angling to kiss him, but Sasha got an idea. Grinning, he bent forward and caught Steve’s cock in his hand, then moved to slip the whole thing into his mouth. “It’s too soon,” Steve murmured. “That’s okay,” Sasha said, coming off him enough to speak. He licked the head, then ran his tongue around it. “I’ll just play with it.” Steve chuckled, a playfully wicked sound. “Sure you will.” Sasha intended to make Steve come, no matter what he said, but the empathy increased the heat in his chest. He moved in tandem with Neal, his mouth sliding back and forth on Steve’s shaft but with no actual intent on Sasha’s part. It didn’t seem to interfere with their pleasure; on the contrary, his body reacted to all three stimuli and not simply Neal’s movements. “It’s like I can feel you inside him,” Steve whispered, eyes closed. “God.” Neal grunted but didn’t speak. Instead, he tightened his hands on Sasha’s hips, holding his body steady as he rode into him. Neal’s own orgasm built and an echo grew, deep in Sasha’s balls, as though his body responded to the empathy itself. Sasha’s voice, undone, bounced out of him around the flesh in his

184

www.samhainpublishing.com

Burning Bright

mouth. He cupped Steve’s balls in one hand and focused as much attention as he could spare on the big man’s cock. Despite what Steve said, his shaft responded to Sasha’s movements. “I’m getting close,” Neal murmured. “Holy shit.” “Me too,” Steve agreed, panting. Sasha tried to speak but couldn’t. Instead, he squeezed Steve’s cock in his lips and let Neal’s thrusts bounce him back and forth. The orgasm bloomed slowly, like a flower in early spring, and then smashed into all three of them simultaneously. He pulled off Steve’s cock for fear of biting him, and kept his hand around the pulsing shaft. Neal cried out and buried himself into Sasha’s body, bending over his back and panting. Steve laughed, a delighted sound that brought a grin to Sasha’s lips. Neal pulled a towel over and caught himself as he pulled out of Sasha. He cleaned them both up and collapsed onto his back, tossing the towel onto the floor and missing the hamper entirely. “Your aim is off,” Sasha chirped. “I’d love to see you do better,” Neal retorted. Steve said nothing, just slid along Sasha’s back to lie next to him, cradling Sasha’s smaller body against the big black man’s torso. Neal flipped the sheet over all three of them and Sasha snuggled tighter against Neal’s body and pulled Steve against his back with his free arm. The other lay pinned under the heavy weight of Neal’s head and the pillow. Just like Nirvana. Somehow, not getting the job at Northwestern didn’t loom as large anymore. He’d come to Chicago hoping to find his dream career and instead, ended up with much more than that. Job hunting could happen any time. As both tigers started their rumbling purrs, vibrating the mattress like a large twin engine, he grinned. Tomorrow could wait. Today, love completed the circle.

www.samhainpublishing.com

185

About the Authors

A. Catherine Noon is an author and textile artist based on Chicago, Illinois. A writer since the age of nine, she enjoys telling stories. Ms. Noon has taught creative writing, creative expression and textile arts, including Artist’s Way workshops. She co-founded the Evanston Writers Workshop, a non-profit writing advocacy group based in Illinois. She finds working with Rachel on collaborative projects both fun and rewarding. She also enjoys a full-fledged textile addiction including knitting, needlepoint, and crochet. Rachel Wilder dove into the world of writing and has never looked back. She wrote when she was younger and re-discovered it several years ago. Currently living in Las Vegas with her sister and cat, she loves to travel. She met A. Catherine Noon through a fan fiction site and they became each other’s betas. It wasn’t long before this mutual partnership became full-fledged collaboration on original fiction, usually with an exotic and erotic bent. Rachel hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she and her co-author love writing them. If you’d like to learn more about them, please visit: Website: www.noonandwilder.com Blog: http://taurusandtaurus.blogspot.com Facebook: Please visit us on Facebook as Noon and Wilder

To forgive is divine…if he can pin his lover down long enough to beg for it.

Finding Forgiveness © 2011 Dana Marie Bell Poconos Pack, Book 1 Ben Malone’s role as Marshall attunes him to every nuance of the pack’s wellbeing—which means he’s forced to feel every one of his mate’s hangovers. It’s the one reason Ben will never claim Dave Maldonado. Being alone is better than being with someone who lives in a bottle. Dave was destined to be a pack Alpha until his first migraine hit at age fifteen, the day he caught his future mate holding hands with another boy. In the nine agonizing years since, he’s contented himself as Beta, but never learned to live with the pain and confusion of Ben’s rejection. Dave’s worst attack yet sends him to the hospital—and brings them both face to face with the misunderstanding that’s kept them apart all these years. It’s too late, though. Dave is headed for Gay Pride Week at Disney World with one goal in mind. Forget Ben Malone. Ben’s got a problem with that. Only one man is destined to hold his David. And he’ll give anything, even his last shred of pride, to win forgiveness—and the right to finally claim his mate. Warning: This book contains explicit sex, graphic language, and male/male love scenes between two top dogs. Who knew Rock Paper Scissors could be such fun?

Enjoy the following excerpt for Finding Forgiveness: “Did you scent him?” Dave nodded. What kind of teenage hell was this? Ben was leaving things—nasty, flowery, melty, bleeding things—on his back porch and then slinking away like a terrified Scooby-Doo. “The man needs a clue.” “Then give him one.” Rick picked up the meat, his brows rising in surprise. “Fresh venison. Straight off the deer.” Dave wrinkled his nose. “Ew.” He darted back into the house and grabbed his bottle of Mr. Clean. He doused the back porch and grabbed the hose. “I’d move if I were you.” Rick moved. He knew Dave meant it. Dave started the hose and rinsed off the blood and disinfectant. “Has he ever heard of ‘I’m sorry’?” “Rumor has it he’s been trying to say it, but the women have decided he needs to grovel more.” Dave stopped the flow of water and stared at his Alpha. “What?” “Yup. They want you to go on vacation and come home, calm, rested and ready to claim your mate. They want Ben to suffer while you’re gone. And they want to have a hand in it so later they can whisper

and smirk and look all smug when you two snuggle-bunnies coo at each other.” Rick rolled his eyes. “Hey, I tried to stop them.” “But stopping Belle and Chela when they’re on a roll is like trying to stop a hurricane with tissue paper.” Dave leaned against the back wall of his cabin and sighed. “They’re more likely to drive him off than drive him closer. Ben hates games.” Rick held up the bloody slab of meat. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know what the fuck that’s about.” Dave threw up his hands and got dripped on. He ignored Rick’s chuckles and coiled up the hose. “If he really wants to apologize, why didn’t he knock on the door? Why this stupid-ass shit?” “Maybe he thinks it’s romantic.” The two men eyed the blood dripping to the ground from Ben’s latest “present”. “Nah.” Rick laughed and threw the meat in the garbage. Dave had no idea how long it had been sitting out in the sun before they found it, but the scent was already beginning to turn sour. “He gave you flowers and candy and venison steaks. What more does a guy need?” “How about actually talking to me?” “How about a fifty-two-inch LCD flat screen with surround sound and a vibrating recliner to sit in while watching Jessica Alba in that skin-tight Fantastic Four outfit?” Dave blinked. “That’s oddly specific.” “Thanks. I’m warming Belle up for our anniversary. Think it’ll work?” “Not if you mention Jessica Alba.” Rick had claimed Belle the previous February; it was now nearly June. She’d been Luna for over a year now, and Dave had a good idea how she’d react to her mate’s obsession with Ms. Alba. “You’ve got a ways to go before then.” “I know, but maybe I’ll get one of them for Christmas.” Rick winked, as happy and carefree as Dave ever got to see his best friend. But that carefree expression didn’t last long. “Listen. Whatever Ben’s planning, he’s obviously not ready to claim you yet. Go and enjoy your vacation. The women will torture him, you’ll get some sun, and maybe he’ll have gotten his head out of his ass by then.” Dave shook his head. “I don’t know. At this point I’m not sure if I want his head on straight or if I should just look for a second mate.” Rick looked shocked. “Are you serious?” Dave shrugged. “It would be a fresh start with someone new, someone who doesn’t have the baggage Ben and I do. And besides, bloody chunks of meat aside, can you honestly say Ben wants me?” Rick opened his mouth to reply, but there was nothing really to be said. All games aside, Dave was pretty sure this was Ben’s way of taking care of his poor, wounded mate. Dave would lay odds it was Ben’s wolf that had pushed him into it too.

Well, if Dave got a second mate, Ben’s wolf could take a flying leap. He’d have someone to take care of him, thank you very much, and Ben could sit alone and miserable in his cabin while Dave boned and got boned every damn night for the rest of his life. “The week I head to Florida?” “Yeah?” Rick was giving him a strange look, but Dave couldn’t figure it out. “It’s Gay Pride Week.”

The wolf races in where the human heart trembles to follow.

Moon Run © 2011 Joely Skye Wolf Town, Book 3 Iain’s head has called Wolf Town home for six years. His heart, hurt by a childhood spent suppressing his wolf, won’t let him believe he isn’t one misstep away from exile. During the first moon run of the year, the electrifying connection his wolf makes with Teo, the pack’s beta and resident doctor, has potential mate written all over it. Yet the only emotion that rises above the tangled scars of his past is excitement over ensuring a permanent place in Wolf Town. Teo can’t believe Iain so easily crashed through his rock-solid resolve never to date within the pack. The young wolf’s artless, fumbling explanation for his attraction only serves to remind Teo why he set those rules—his own past in a dysfunctional pack. Guilt that he let Iain so far under his skin forces Teo to do the one thing his heart rails against. Keep it clinical. Teo’s apparent rejection not only breaks Iain’s heart, it triggers a deep-seated desperation that pushes him to take a terrible chance for the sake of the pack. And to show Teo their connection is no illusion. Warning: Contains explicit m/m sex for all the wrong reasons, all the right reasons, and a relationship that starts out on the wrong paw.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Moon Run: After plonking his beer on the side table, Teo turned back just as Iain reached him. He grabbed Iain by the arms—not what he’d been expecting. He thought Teo would stand, get out of the way. He thought he was chasing Teo out of his apartment so he could stop feeling this shitty emotion of regret and hurt. Too easily hurt, that was him. But he’d forgotten—because his wolf instincts were worth shit—that Teo was beta and didn’t stand down from challenges, even stupid ones from the pack idiot. They glared at each other, Teo’s what the fuck expression sapping Iain of some of his anger. He pulled his legs under him, even as Teo continued to hold him, not allowing him closer, not pushing him away either. Iain’s knees now leaned against Teo’s strong thigh, and he reacted. Of course he did. Not how it fucking went, this dance. No. But still, the press against that thigh, the pressure of those large hands on his arms—Iain shuddered in reaction. And when Teo didn’t throw him aside, Iain leaned in and placed his face in the crook between neck and shoulder, while his chest rested against Teo’s side. Needy. Never enough. It put people off. He should know. He’d done it before. He was always like this, unless they got down to the fucking right away.

Goddammit. But still he breathed in Teo, soaking up the physical contact…waiting for Teo to gingerly extract himself from this embarrassing display, or for his body to become tense with displeasure at the unexpected embrace. Just a little longer…

What was going on here? Besides the obvious. A part of Teo wanted to shove Iain away, but the idea of sending him sprawling caused Teo pain. It was the oddest embrace he could remember, his hands on a man’s arms while he leaned against him. And yet it had been too long. His body was reacting, hard. He was a fool, Teo thought a little grimly, to think he could focus elsewhere. He’d been ignoring his basic nature as if he thought he didn’t require… …this. Not wanting to leave bruises on Iain’s arms, he slowly relaxed his grip and tried to work out a course of action, a way to extract himself from this situation. “Iain,” he said in a low voice. “Don’t speak.” The words were muffled against his collarbone. “Better that way. Just…go.” There was his out—and yet it wasn’t. Iain was waiting to be pushed away, expecting it, and that bothered Teo. He also didn’t understand. Admittedly he hadn’t paid close attention, but he was pretty sure Iain was popular among the guys who liked guys, and not only in a theoretical way. He slid a hand over Iain’s shoulder and down his back, the thin T-shirt allowing him to feel the musculature as well as the bumps dotting Iain’s spine. The motion made Iain breathe in hard, and arousal seemed to thicken in the air. Don’t lead him on. That was wrong, yes. Teo didn’t do that. End it now, Teo told himself sternly, except his conscience, if that’s what it was, faltered. Because ending it here and now, well, that felt wrong too. His wolf wanted Iain. That desire had been stifled while Teo kept his distance and practiced medicine in the town. But there was no distance between them at this moment. Iain mouthed his neck and Teo jerked. “Iain.” The word came out more intense, like a command, and Iain raised his face, darkened eyes gazing into Teo’s, and he could imagine his eyes were similarly black with dilation. “I’m your doctor.” The pad of Iain’s thumb came to rest on Teo’s lips, rubbed back and forth over his mouth, and Teo hardened further. “No.” Iain traced Teo’s lips. “I don’t like doctors. I don’t go to them. I don’t go to you.” That thumb pressed into the corner of Teo’s mouth, stroked just slightly, making Teo want to open his mouth for a kiss. Iain placed his palm on the curve of Teo’s jaw, and he felt mesmerized by this attention to his face. “You are not my doctor, okay?”

“Look—” Iain’s lips came to rest on Teo’s, not quite a kiss but making it difficult to speak, his thumb connected to the tender skin, his palm a caress on his jawline. “Tell me what you want.” Teo’s chest heaved once. He was the beta. He didn’t fuck around. But somehow Iain’s hand slid down Teo’s chest and into his sweats. It wrapped around his dick, and he jerked a second time. It had been too long. And Iain was too goddamn appealing. His moral weakness should have appalled Teo, except his wolf insisted this felt right, and Teo generally listened to his wolf, who had never led him astray, even at the worst of times. Iain kept his mouth on Teo, this not-quite-kiss. “Tell me.” Tell him what? Teo had lost track of the conversation. And it was too late. This was a type of intimacy anyway. Iain was not his patient, not yet at least, and there weren’t actual fucking rules about betas and sex. Those were all in Teo’s head. The rules to make life right and avoid past mistakes. Teo’s head emptied out, what with Iain stroking him, making his body thrum with pleasure, a thumb gliding over the slit before the stroking resumed. “Christ.” His voice sounded hoarse, and Iain grinned. “Allow me.” Iain slid down Teo’s body, entirely pleasurable, and brought Teo’s sweats and boxers with him. Then, hands on Teo’s hips, Iain licked the glans, setting off a series of jolts through Teo’s body. Iain’s tongue swirled around the head of his cock, and Teo groaned. There was expertise here he could appreciate. Iain moved his tongue down the underside of Teo’s dick, approaching his balls. Teo slammed his hands on the couch. “Jesus.” Both balls were pulled gently into Iain’s mouth, even while he kept his grip on Teo’s hips, a massaging movement with his palms. As Iain took Teo in his mouth again, Teo brought his hands to Iain’s shoulders, let the feel of them, the tendons, the bones beneath skin, become familiar terrain, a kind of knowledge of touch, even as Iain rose and fell, establishing a rhythm.

Always have an ace up your sleeve.

Coyote’s Creed © 2011 Vaughn R. Demont Broken Mirrors, Book 1 If con games were taught in high school, Spencer Crain would be on the honor roll. As it is, he’ll be riding the edge of failure to graduation next month. Then Spence gets the news that his long-gone father is not only dead, but was a Coyote, one of three clans of tricksters in the City. With a near-catatonic mother on his hands, Spence couldn’t care less about the Coyotes’ ongoing feud with the Phouka and the Kitsune—until it lands on his doorstep. Suddenly he’s thrown headfirst into a dangerous world he knows next-to-nothing about. His only guide is Rourke, dashing King of the Phouka, plus a growing pack of half-siblings, a god, and Fate herself. As Spence embarks on a journey to learn the Coyote’s creed, the truth about his heritage, and how to handle his growing attraction to Rourke, he wonders when his life turned from TV sitcom to real-life danger zone. And what price must he pay to survive the next roll of the dice… Warning: Contains PG-13 rated violence, R-rated language and X-rated hotel scenes. Meta-humor, pop-culture humor, utter disregard for the 4th wall abound.

Enjoy the following excerpt for Coyote’s Creed: He chances a glower before returning his eyes to the road. “Spencer, you have looked as you do all of your life. Imagine how humorous it was whenever you claimed mythical creatures didn’t exist while you were in the same room with them. Now, as I was saying, normally Her Grace would graciously afford me lodging at the Regent, but since you’re plotting actions that will further the Feud, I cannot render any assistance. You, however, should have no problem getting a room on your own there.” “Are we talking about the same place? The one in Allora? On Park Street?” The one that costs a few bills a night and has the little fridges with the fifty-dollar cookies. “Rourke, I can run a decent short con…” “That you can, my boy, especially with your cards.” “But I doubt I can hustle a room at the Regent without, well, hustling.” “I’m certain you’ll think of something.” And he does sound sure of that. Nothing jumps out. Most of my short cons only yield double digits, and I doubt I could set up a Three Card Monte in downtown Allora without being arrested inside of ninety seconds. By the time he pulls into the garage for the Regent, I’m scraping the barrel. Whoring into a room is not an option (I could never face Mom again), but I don’t really see any other way. Technically, if I had the cash I could get a room as I’m eighteen and they’re bound by law to not refuse me service as long as I can foot the bill, but seeing as I don’t have that kind of money on me and… And…

My God his eyes are amazing. “Spencer?” He cocks his head, confusion in his gaze, and I lean closer. “This is hardly a good time to—” I unbuckle my seat belt and straddle his lap, facing him, my hands stroking along his sides, gripping his ass, rubbing over his groin where I feel definite movement while I kiss him hard. He doesn’t push me away. From his grunts and moans, I’m guessing he’s enjoying it. After nearly a minute I break away from him, my breathing a bit heavy, my forehead resting against his. “Sorry, I…I don’t know why I keep doing that, it’s just that you’re…” I kiss him again. “I really shouldn’t be doing this, not with everything that’s happening and…” I chance a grin. “How long is that wine supposed to last, anyway?” Rourke has a slightly dreamy look in his eyes as his lips brush mine. “Get out of the car, please. My restraint is nearly at its end and you need to secure a room. Now go on. Please.” I get out of the car, stuff my hands in my pockets and start toward the lobby elevator before taking a long, lingering look at him. He gestures for me to keep going. As luck would have it, the elevator is right there, and I board, taking one hand out of my pocket to push the lobby button. And a second after the doors close and the car goes into motion, I take my other hand out, which holds an expensive leather wallet, and press the button for every one of the hotel’s twenty-three floors, ensuring that it’ll be at least a few minutes before it returns to the garage. Granted, he’ll eventually use the stairs once he realizes that I just made off with his wallet along with his… Holy shit, with his almost twenty Benjamins. I know he’ll find me, I haven’t taken the time to work on an alias or three, and a place like this requires ID even if you’re paying in cash. I do have a fake ID, but it’s good enough to get me into a few dive bars, not the Regent Hotel. And if he didn’t want me to pull his cash, he shouldn’t have picked the most expensive hotel in the City. Plus, I don’t know how I managed to lift it anyway. First I was kissing him and ready to tear his clothes off right there in the car, and the next moment I knew it was time to make a hasty retreat. Pulling wallets is usually my weak area. Maybe Rourke is right. Maybe some part of me is finally waking up and making itself known. The woman at check-in is human, though in the office beyond the desk I see a very good-looking man with green skin and pointed ears. I request a single, nonsmoking, dry minibar, and all that’s available and ready is a suite with a view of Tolon Park which will be fifteen hundred. The look on her face when I lay out the hundreds in a nice even line is almost worth the fact that Rourke is probably going to kill me. The second I have my keycard in my hands I walk briskly to the bank of elevators with a bellhop in tow. As the bellhop pushes the button for the twentieth floor, a well-dressed and extremely agitated man strides across the lobby after me. I can’t help it. I wave to Rourke just as the doors close.

The elevator is ritzy, with soft colors, rich woods, a filigreed button panel, and a throwback brass halfdial to indicate the floor rather than the customary digital display or bank of lights. When the bell dings the twentieth, the bellhop goes ahead of me, a well-practiced customer-service smile on his face as he motions to his left with a white-gloved hand. “Twenty-seventeen is right this way, sir.” The expensive green carpets and verdant accents on the wall make me wonder if I’ve wandered into the Emerald City. He shows me how to open the door, and I let him, since he’s obviously working for a tip. The door beeps softly, a gentle green light appearing on the lock. Holy shit. The suite is, well… When I hear the word suite, I just assume big bedroom, seeing as Mom tends to watch a lot of HGTV and that’s the only place I hear the word used with any frequency. Instead I walk into an apartment that is far nicer and a fair bit bigger than mine. The bellhop gives a tour, but I really only register words here and there. Kitchen, balcony, Jacuzzi, California king (whatever the hell that means). The TV is huge, with a big couch, there’s a dining table and I can see Tolon Park from most of the windows. Seriously. Damn. The bellhop says something, probably fishing for a tip. I manage to pull one of the hundreds from the wallet and hand it to him absentmindedly. The door closes behind him before I realize I just tipped somebody three weeks’ grocery money. Best to put the rest in my pocket before I spend it on tiny bottles of soda. “Quite impressive, isn’t it?” I freeze, not wanting to look behind me. Managing a wince and a self-reproachful look, I turn to find Rourke, slightly sweaty, his arms folded, foot tapping. Meekly, I hold the wallet in front of him, and he snatches it from my hand. “You stole from me, Spencer.” I think he’s pissed. “Uh, you told me to find a way into a room, right?” I chuckle nervously and try a playful shrug. “You stole from me. Do you have any idea who I am, boy?” He takes a step closer, and I step back. Undeterred, he continues to back me off while he’s speaking. “I am Redmond O Fucking Rourke. Riordan to the Summerswords. King of the Gods-damned Phouka and you dare to steal from me.” My back hits a wall, and he places his hand on my chest, keeping me still, his eyes smoldering.