The Werewolf’s Valentine Read online

  Zachary shrugged. “I don’t know. I know the guy that changed me said everything was taken care of, but as to what actually happened while I was changing, I couldn’t tell you. I know my family isn’t looking for me, though. So I figure it’s all fine.”

  Delano went quiet, and Zachary simply walked with him. He liked the quiet.

  “If you ever wanted to come read with me, you could,” Delano offered.

  “Thanks.” Zachary liked to read, and he knew that Puck had a big library. Armand had told him to go get a book out anytime he wanted one. He just felt strange going into the heart of the pack without a definite invitation to be there. They were his pack, too, but he wasn’t one of them. He didn’t feel like he was, anyway. He was a vampire, and they were werewolves, and he still remembered how good they tasted. It didn’t seem right for him to be there with them. He stayed on the edges unless he was told to come closer, like tonight. “Maybe you could come by my place on your way to the library sometime, and we could go together?” He was hopeful, but he tried not to let it show.

  “I generally go in the afternoons, so...”

  Zachary nodded. “No worries.” If Delano tried to get him to go there in the afternoon, he’d be in the sunlight and die. “Maybe text me when you’re there and I’ll come by after the sun sets.”

  “Yeah. I can do that.”

  Delano led him to a small house that backed up to a stretch of trees. It was almost at the edge of the pack, not far from Zachary’s own home. There weren’t many of the little houses out this far, and Zachary wondered why Delano hadn’t wanted to live closer to the other werewolves. “There were probably houses closer to the center of the pack open,” he mused.

  “Yeah, there were. But they weren’t as quiet as this one.”

  “You like being alone,” Zachary guessed. They stopped at the front door of Delano’s little house.

  Delano shook his head. “I don’t. I mean, I do. But it’s more like I don’t enjoy the big crowds, or the fakeness. I don’t want to be one of fifty people in a room. I want to be one in three or four, at the most. I want to know that when I talk, someone will listen and care about what I have to say and not ignore me, or just be listening to me until something more interesting gets brought up by someone else.”

  Zachary nodded. He got that, he really did. He didn’t like crowds either, and he mostly only hung out with Armand. He stepped forward and waited for Delano to back up, or to tell him to leave. But he didn’t. He just stood there, as if he was waiting for Zachary to make his move first.

  Zachary kissed him gently, fully aware of his teeth and not wanting to hurt Delano, or even so much as frighten him. To his surprise, Delano kissed him back, but then he stepped away.

  “Thanks for walking me home.”

  “Yeah.” Zachary wasn’t sure what else to say to him. It wasn’t like he’d expected Delano to invite him inside, but now Delano wouldn’t even look at him. And Zachary wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong. “Is it because I’m a vampire?”

  “Is what?” Delano at least seemed genuinely confused.

  Zachary shrugged. “You’re leaving kind of fast.”

  Delano looked from him to the doorway. “Did you want to come in? I could put on some tea...”

  Zachary shook his head. He couldn’t have any tea. And he couldn’t meet Delano in the afternoons when the sun was still up. He’d just wanted a little more time with him. “It was nice to have someone besides Armand to talk to for a little bit. Thank you.” He stepped back.

  Delano went inside and held the door open for him. “I liked talking to you too,” he said when Zachary hesitated. “You can come inside.”

  “I can’t stay long. I’m meeting Armand later.” Zachary followed him in though, glad for the company and the soft place to sit as Delano pulled him down to the couch with him. Delano grabbed a fluffy blanket off a nearby chair and covered himself up.

  Zachary turned on the TV. He didn’t care what was on. He wasn’t even really aware of it, but the noise was good. Soon Delano was asleep, and Zachary turned the TV back off. He left him there on the couch with only a few minutes to spare before meeting up with Armand.

  * * *

  Delano found out which house was Zachary’s from Puck, who hadn’t asked him why he wanted to know where another member of the pack lived. He’d only sent him a picture of a map, scribbled in marker on the back of a receipt. It was good enough for Delano.

  He smelled blood when he came up to the front door and had to stop short. It wasn’t a smell he’d anticipated, though he realized a moment later that he should have. He’d kissed a vampire the night before, one who had left him sleeping on his couch and with no holes in his neck the next morning.

  Delano walked up to Zachary’s front door and knocked. He’d brought a book, one he’d borrowed but hadn’t returned yet. He’d thought Zachary might enjoy it. Delano had. He didn’t read fantasy books often, but this one had been good.

  It wasn’t yet ten in the morning, so he assumed that Zachary was probably asleep when he didn’t answer the door. Still, he knocked again, just in case.

  This time there was a knock back on the other side of the door. “Zachary?” Delano called out.

  “Yeah, I’m up. If you want to come in, I need to unlock the door, then go hide from the sun, so give me a bit before you open the door, please. Count to five or something. But do it slowly.”

  “Okay.” Delano began to count as soon as he heard the deadbolt lock turn. He slipped inside and closed the door tightly behind himself. “Zachary?”

  Zachary stood up from behind the kitchen island. “Hi.” He was only wearing loose pajama pants, and Delano felt silly for not realizing that he’d be asleep.

  “Hey.” Delano put the book down on the island. “I thought you might like this. The book’s a fantasy, a standalone, about a vampire king who saves his people when an evil orc comes to claim the orc’s son back. But the king and the orc son are in love, and the orc dad has to get over it.”

  Zachary chuckled. “Thanks for bringing it over.” He looked toward an open doorway, and Delano looked with him, seeing a rumpled, empty bed.

  “I should probably let you get back to sleep,” Delano said. He’d already interrupted Zachary’s day enough as it was, and he really had just wanted to drop off the book for him.

  Zachary came around the island and kissed him just as gently as the night before. “You could stay, too. I’d like the company. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone to lay next to. If you want to, you’re welcome to stay. You don’t have to, though.”

  Delano wasn’t tired, but he still nodded. He hadn’t shared a bed with anyone in months. He took off his jacket and his shoes, then his shirt as well. He wanted to be comfortable and not overheated.

  Zachary took his hand and they got comfortable on the bed together, lying close beside each other but not quite touching. Not until Zachary came closer, closing the distance between them, and lying in Delano’s arms.

  Delano kissed him. He was glad Zachary didn’t taste like the blood he’d smelled outside. One kiss turned into the next, and Delano sighed against his lips as Zachary brought his cold fingers up to tease his nipples.

  Zachary moved over him, pushing him back against the bed, and Delano went without a fuss. With one hand on the back of Zachary’s head and the other under the waist of his pants, Delano held him close. He was cold, but Delano was starting to like the chill. He arched into Zachary’s touch, and when Zachary slid his hand eagerly into Delano’s pants and wrapped his fingers around his shaft, Delano came off the bed with a whimper.

  Zachary touched him slowly. There was no feverish rush with his strokes. Delano brought his hand from Zachary’s ass to his cock as well. He teased Zachary’s swollen head, smiling against his lips as he thrust over Delano’s palm.

  “You’re a tease,” Zachary whispered.

  Delano didn’t deny it. But he did give Zachary a squee
ze, one hard enough to leave him groaning. Zachary pulled away just long enough to lick his palm, then he was back to giving Delano the slow, pleasurable strokes he loved. He didn’t rush, and Delano didn’t either. They played and teased each other. They had nowhere to be and nothing better to do. They simply had to enjoy each other on this chilly February morning.

  Zachary sat up and stripped his pants off, giving Delano his first real look at him. Delano smiled up at him and stroked his hands down Zachary’s chest and his hips.

  Zachary was trembling.

  Delano loved that he’d been able to do that to him. Zachary helped him get his pants off as well and then kissed him.

  Delano wrapped his arms around him. His cock was heavy and ready for whatever Zachary wanted, but Delano just wanted to kiss him for a few more moments. He wanted to find all the tender places on his chilly skin, all those little spots that made Zachary smile against his lips when Delano touched them.

  He brought his fingers to Zachary’s entrance and slowly teased him.

  “You’re a mean wolf to tease me,” Zachary hissed as Delano slowly slipped his finger inside of him.

  Delano just kissed him more. His cock was wet, and he knew Zachary would be ready soon. “Do you want this?” he asked.

  Zachary nodded and ground himself against Delano’s shaft. Delano pressed his tip against Zachary’s entrance and gently guided himself in. Zachary whimpered and whispered things too softly for Delano to make out. He slid himself over Delano’s shaft, choosing their pace for himself. “Go slow,” Delano told him anyway, knowing Zachary could do what he wanted and he would still love it. Zachary was tight, and Delano loved being inside of him.

  But Zachary nodded. “I don’t like quickies. I like sex that takes a long time.”

  He did take his time, barely moving each thrust until he found the right angle, then only speeding up a little. Delano loved every second of having Zachary above him. He held his hips and stroked his cock, playing with him from tip to base until Zachary was shaking above him.

  Delano couldn’t remember a more beautiful sight than when Zachary came. He went still and groaned as Delano milked hot come from his tip. Zachary shook and settled back on his heels, not moving for several seconds while Delano held his hips.

  When Zachary recovered, he was smiling. Delano pulled him down for a kiss. Zachary lingered over him, and Delano brought his knees up and slowly stroked into him. Their gentle connection was perfect for Delano. It was exactly what he needed from him.

  He came with a soft cry and held Zachary close until Zachary slipped off of him. He lay down beside Delano and curled onto his side, looking far more like a wolf pup than a vampire.

  Delano took Zachary’s hand and curled up with him. He sighed happily and fell into a restful sleep beside him.

  * * *

  Well after sunset, Zachary and Delano made their way back to the library. It was almost one in the morning, officially Valentine’s Day, though neither of them had noticed. Delano grabbed a blanket and Zachary chose a book for each of them. The house was quiet, and they kept it that way as they cuddled up together on the couch with the blanket.

  The fire burned slowly, crackling nearby. Zachary pulled Delano close, more interested in holding him than in reading the book he’d picked out, though he knew he’d read it later.

  He looked up from playing with Delano’s hair as Puck joined them. He froze, not used to seeing the werewolf alpha, but Puck just smiled at them.

  “I’m glad to see you both. Zachary, you should come around more often. It’s good to have you here,” Puck said.

  Zachary nodded. He’d try. “Thank you.”

  Puck stepped back. “I thought you two would take longer to get together. I lost this bet, but I’ll get Armand on the next one. Happy Valentine’s Day, you two. Goodnight.”

  He left Zachary and Delano smiling at each other. “Did our alphas really set us up?” Delano asked. He didn’t seem upset about it.

  Zachary laughed. “Apparently.” He shook his head and leaned down to give Delano a kiss.

  The End

  You may also enjoy the following from eXtasy Books Inc:

  American Honey

  Caitlin Ricci

  Excerpt

  There were probably a million things I should have been doing instead of going back to Gents to watch the guys dance. It was a Saturday night. In my family that meant game night. We’d get together at my cousin Gavin’s house and sit around and play Risk or Clue or Ticket to Ride or something. They were probably wondering where I was now, though no one had started texting me yet. My two older brothers would be there, along with my three cousins and Gavin’s ex-wife, Cindy, and his kid, Kyle.

  But I’d be missing game night this Saturday, just as I’d missed it last Saturday too. I couldn’t play it off like I’d forgotten what day it was or anything like that either. We all had the reminders on our phones. I should have been there with my family.

  Instead I was at Gents, because Saturday nights were the only night, as far as I could tell anyway, that Callum worked. He was probably at least thirty and his reddish blond hair was curly and hopefully naturally that color. I’d seen him almost completely naked over my last few months of coming here so I was pretty sure he didn’t do a thing to change the color of his hair. I was really glad about that.

  In my fantasies, of which I’d had plenty featuring him already, he spoke with a deep Irish accent. He also wore a kilt though, and a sash, and sometimes even a dagger. He never took any of it off. I hadn’t gotten that far in my daydreams of him yet, but I’d been undressed by him plenty.

  Callum came on the stage, accompanied by some song I didn’t know. It had a fast beat with a high-pitched female voice screaming out. I tuned the song out as much as possible. I wasn’t next to the stage, two tables away from it actually. I didn’t want to be caught staring, even though I was. I looked at my hands on top of the table often. Pretty much every time Callum looked at me, I glanced down at my hands. I couldn’t handle his smile that seemed like it was only meant for me. I couldn’t look at him and find him looking back at me. I was trying to be invisible, while still being there. I didn’t want to be off in a corner somewhere where I couldn’t see him at all. I’d paid the cover and I’d already ordered my two beers for the two-drink minimum. I’d probably only have one of them. That’s what I did most of the time at least.

  My phone vibrated and as much as I didn’t want to see it, I pulled it out anyway. I wasn’t surprised to see a text from my cousin’s ex-wife. Cindy was Kyle’s mom and she and Gavin got along most of the time. Better than I did with any of my exes anyway, but then again, I didn’t have kids with my exes and Gavin was over a decade older than me.

  You’re not here. Are you sick?

  I sighed. If I said I was sick, someone would have driven by my house to check on me. If I said I was busy, someone would have offered to help so that I could get done faster and get to game night. I didn’t know what to say but I knew I had to lie.

  Had something else to do tonight.

  Liar.

  I pursed my lips and put my phone away. I wasn’t lying. I did have something else to do. Staring at Callum’s ass was at the top of that list. He had on a green thong and black chaps. I didn’t know if they were real leather or fake from here but I wanted to know. He’d worn them last week, too, and I’d wanted to know then as well.

  Trying not to stare at him was getting me nowhere. I simply wanted him too much. A man I didn’t know anything about, or even if Callum was his real name. I couldn’t stop tipping him either. It was a good thing that my honey harvest had been so good last fall because I wasn’t used to blowing through money like I was.

  I was going to do even more tonight. I’d turned him down for a private dance before, but tonight I was ready. I’d paid off my bills for the month and I knew how much I could afford. I wasn’t cheap, but I wasn’t rich either and I didn’t want him to think tha
t I didn’t know what he was worth. I wanted him. Badly.

  When his set ended and he came around this time, he stopped at my table just as before.

  “Having fun?” he asked me.

  I nodded. His accent was there, though only slight, and it could have been completely my imagination. “Can I have a dance tonight?” My voice wasn’t nearly as strong as his was, but I was just glad that I’d managed to get the words out at all really. I was nervous, and maybe even a little worried that he’d reject me, but I was mostly excited, especially when he smiled at me and offered me his hand.

  “I was going to ask you if you wanted one,” he said when I slipped my fingers over his palm.

  His skin was softer than mine. I used long gloves whenever I worked with the hives, but I still had callouses. I loved the work though. Even down to the sanding of the hives when I finished building them. I didn’t use an electric sander. I liked the feel of the paper under my fingers.

  Callum led me into the back, to a circular table with thickly padded chairs around it. I sat down heavily and stared up at him. I wanted to touch him, but I knew I couldn’t. Not unless he invited me to. And so far, he’d never once done that, despite taking my hand just now. I gave him three hundred in twenties. I didn’t know how much a dance was. He’d probably told me, once, but I couldn’t remember now. I couldn’t remember much of anything. Not when he started dancing in front of me. Or when he licked his lips as he went low over my thighs.

  I could still hear the music. The fast beat had turned into something more moderate. He swayed to it as he rubbed himself over me. My breath came in short, hurried gasps even as I tried to control my breathing. I wanted to be slower. I wanted to look like I’d had private dances before. But here I was, barely in control of myself, and just glad I was able to keep my hands at my sides.

  “What’s your name?” he asked.