Chapter Ten

 

 

JACKSON ASKED for Leo’s opinion on pizza toppings, then slipped back into the kitchen to phone in the order and get them more beer.

Leo still wasn’t sure where he stood with Jackson. They were talking easier now, getting to know each other as friends, as real people. Which was good. But Leo couldn’t get rid of the memory of the kiss they’d shared in the brewery the last time he was here.

On the one hand, Jackson could be impulsive and passionate, throwing off the expectations that had been laid on him to just enjoy the moment. And he was starting to be more open, addressing his feelings instead of shying away from them. On the other, he seemed reluctant to take the next step in their relationship, no matter how much Leo reassured him they could go at their own pace.

It didn’t help that Jackson looked so ridiculously hot. His beard was scruffy, and his hair was all over the place, like he hadn’t bothered to put any product in it. His jeans hung low on his hips, like he needed a belt, which meant Leo kept getting glimpses of skin on Jackson’s hips and belly.

“Forty minutes,” Jackson said as he padded back into the room and sat down, handing Leo another beer. “This one is lighter. I guess you haven’t eaten in a while, and I don’t have anything more than chips to line your stomach.”

“Thanks,” Leo said, touched by Jackson’s thoughtfulness. “I get drunk easily.”

“I’m not surprised.” Jackson laughed. “You’re… you know. Compact.”

“Short,” Leo corrected. “It’s okay, you can say it.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Hey, Jackson?”

“Hmm?”

Leo’s stomach fluttered with nerves. If Jackson wasn’t going to take the next step, maybe Leo could take it for him. “Can I kiss you?”

Jackson’s gaze slipped from Leo’s eyes to his lips, then back again. His neck flushed a little. “Uh, sure.”

“We don’t have to,” Leo said with a nervous laugh. “Just… if you want to.”

“I want to.”

Jackson set his beer on the floor, then reached for Leo and tugged at his T-shirt. Leo went easily, straddling Jackson’s lap. Like this, he could look down at Jackson’s ridiculously expressive brown eyes.

Jackson made the first move, tilting his chin up so their lips brushed together. Leo braced his hands on Jackson’s solid shoulders and pressed his lips back, joining in the slow, easy dance. A little tingle shot down Leo’s spine, and he shivered.

Kissing like this felt both too easy and an unbearable thrill. Jackson’s arms came around Leo’s waist and held him securely in place while he flicked his tongue over Leo’s bottom lip. For a few moments, they were curious, careful with each other; then Leo hummed and licked into Jackson’s mouth.

He could almost feel Jackson’s nerves radiating out of his skin, but Jackson went with it, sharing slow, easy kisses like they were made to do this. Maybe they were. Leo nudged his nose against Jackson’s and carefully pulled away.

“Okay?”

“More than okay,” Jackson murmured. His eyes were a little glazed. “Do that again.”

 

 

HALF AN hour later, right on time, the doorbell rang.

Leo had worked up to a good old-fashioned hump-and-grind as they made out, slow and steady, and for the first time, he thought Jackson might actually be on board with the idea of the two of them having sex.

When the doorbell rang again, Leo dropped his head to Jackson’s shoulder and chuckled softly.

“You should go get that.”

“Great,” Jackson grumbled as Leo fell to the side. He grabbed his own crotch and readjusted everything. “I get to go meet my regular pizza guy with a hard-on.”

Leo laughed brightly.

While Jackson picked up the pizzas, Leo straightened everything else out on the couch. Then he touched his lips. They were a little sore from Jackson’s kisses. Holy shit did that guy know how to kiss.

“Here,” Jackson said, dumping three boxes on the table. Leo’s eyes widened a little. “You want another beer?”

“Have you got a soda? Or water is good.”

“Both.”

“Then either is fine.”

Jackson nodded and headed for the kitchen, then returned with two cans of soda and a pile of napkins.

“Don’t wait for me,” he said.

“I was being polite.”

They used the pizza boxes as plates and turned the volume back up on the TV to watch the rest of the game. Things seemed easier between them now, lighter, even though a new fizzle of sexual tension had arrived.

Leo was a-okay with sexual tension.

When the basketball game ended, Jackson switched over to a movie and shifted into the corner of the couch. He raised his arm and beckoned Leo in.

It was definitely new, but Leo was always up for cuddling. Especially when Jackson initiated it.

He fell asleep for a while, waking up when Jackson kissed his head.

“Hmm? Sorry,” Leo mumbled, straightening up so he could stretch his neck.

“You were only out for about ten minutes.”

Leo nodded, yawned.

“I, uh, I didn’t ask where you want to sleep.” Jackson looked all shy and embarrassed again. It was adorable.

“I don’t mind.”

“I have a spare room,” he said, clearly soldiering on. “Or I could take the couch, or you could sleep in my bed with me. I don’t mind what you choose.”

Leo thought he might have been practicing that. He decided to answer seriously.

“I’d like to sleep in your bed. If that’s okay with you.”

Jackson nodded, still playing it cool, but he looked relieved. “That’s more than okay. I’m just gonna go take a shower.”

“Want company?” Leo offered.

It was Jackson’s turn to blush. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he murmured.

Leo leaned in and kissed his cheek. “We could definitely fit in there together. Your shower is enormous.”

Jackson grinned, took Leo’s hand, and led him through to the bathroom. While Leo stripped down, Jackson fiddled with the dials on the shower until it roared to life.

When he turned around, he gaped slightly at the sight of Leo naked.

“I wanted to help with that,” he said, pouting a little.

Leo laughed. He gently tugged Jackson’s T-shirt up and off, then went to work unbuttoning his jeans. The water heated up quickly, and soon enough the room was filled with swirling steam.

“Go on.” Jackson gently nudged him into the shower, then kicked off his boxers.

Leo stepped under the water, immediately tipping his face up to the spray.

“Are you getting in too?” Leo asked. “Or are you just going to stare at my ass all night?”

Jackson muttered rude things under his breath as he hopped out of his socks and stepped into the shower, then pulled the glass door closed behind them. The water came out of the walls from a dozen different directions, meaning they were both soaked within seconds.

“Leo.”

“Hmm?”

“I’m scared. I mean, I don’t want to lie to you here. I’m fucking scared, and I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Leo turned and reached up to cup Jackson’s cheek. Jackson looked wrecked.

“Don’t be scared. Are you warm yet?”

“Getting warmer.”

Leo smiled and rose up on his toes, leaning in for Jackson’s mouth. It was easy to curl his fingers into Jackson’s shoulders and hold on and just groan into the kiss, which was heated and wet and incredible from the first moment.

Leo’s hands were in Jackson’s hair, tugging and insistent. They rocked their hips together, an unconscious action that made Jackson growl low in his throat.

All Leo wanted to do was touch. Look and touch. Because when there was water sluicing down Jackson’s firm, flat chest, Leo didn’t feel entirely in control of his own emotions.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Jackson murmured, running his hands up and down Leo’s sides, over his chest and shoulders.

“You’re not too bad yourself, hotshot. Want a blowjob?”

The offer was accompanied by wriggling eyebrows, making Jackson laugh.

“The floor’s all hard, though. It’ll hurt your knees.”

He was still rutting up against Leo’s hip, delicious wet friction, and Leo was gripping Jackson’s shoulders so he could do the same.

“My knees are just fine, old man.”

Jackson slapped his ass for that.

“Ouch!”

“Watch it.”

Leo leaned up on his toes again and took Jackson’s earlobe between his teeth. Tugged gently.

“Have you ever played with your asshole before?”

Jackson swallowed hard. “No. Not really.”

“Not really?”

“Let’s stick with no.”

“Will you freak out if I give it a little poke and tickle?”

That made Jackson laugh, at last breaking the tension. “You can try. I’m not sure if I’ll like it, though.”

“Leave it to me. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Leo leaned in and took charge of the kiss again. Jackson just relaxed, apparently enjoying it, with his hands all over Leo’s wet skin and the warm pulse of water at his back.

Without letting Jackson think about it, Leo sank to his knees and sucked Jackson’s cock into his mouth, strangely proud at the noise Jackson made and the way his knees buckled.

“Holy shit, Leo.”

It was a good start. Leo wrapped his hands around the back of Jackson’s thighs and started a slow, steady suck, bobbing his head on Jackson’s dick. Jackson tightened his fingers in Leo’s hair and groaned again.

When Jackson really started to get into the blowjob, rocking his hips into the sensation, Leo gently took hold of his balls and got them involved in the action. Jackson seemed to like that, so Leo moved two fingers so he could gently pet his perineum.

He wasn’t going to push Jackson into doing stuff he was uncomfortable with, and for a second, he thought he was going too far. Then Jackson stuttered and gasped, and Leo thought he was about to come.

“Okay, enough of that,” Jackson said breathlessly.

He grabbed Leo’s upper arms to steady him as he stood up.

“Wanna keep going?” Leo asked, licking his lips. “We don’t have to.”

“Yeah. But… I don’t know what to do.”

“Yes, you do,” Leo said gently. He took hold of Jackson’s hand and smirked as he tugged it to his own cock. “You’ve been doing this for a long, long time.”

Jackson huffed a laugh. “Never with another guy, though.” He carefully curled his fingers around Leo’s cock and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Leo leaned in to kiss him, surprised at the passion that Jackson responded with. They jerked each other off under the heat of the water, exchanging lazy kisses and slow, indulgent touches.

When Jackson cried out and spilled all over Leo’s hand, Leo allowed himself to let go and shuddered through a very satisfying orgasm, with Jackson’s face pressed to Leo’s neck. Leo hummed in satisfaction and rose up onto his toes, stretching out his legs and giving Jackson a better angle.

“Feel better for that?”

“Fuck, yeah,” Jackson said in a low voice, making Leo laugh.

“You like that, don’t you?” Leo asked. He smoothed his hand over Jackson’s wet hair, gently holding him in place with his lips still on Leo’s neck. “Kissing me there.”

“You smell good,” Jackson mumbled against the curve of Leo’s shoulder. Leo didn’t reply, just kissed Jackson’s temple and shut off the water.

Jackson grabbed two clean towels from the linen closet and handed one to Leo, then rubbed himself down quickly and tossed the towel over the back of the door. Leo sighed and hung it up on the towel rail for him, wondering why on earth he was bothering in Jackson’s house.

Now that Leo had seen him naked, Jackson seemed happy to wander around with no clothes on, completely at ease with his own nudity. Leo wasn’t quite so comfortable and wrapped the towel around his waist while he went and dug a pair of boxer-briefs from his backpack.

“It’s late,” Leo said, noticing the clock on the wall as he straightened up.

“Not so late.”

“You’re a night owl.”

Jackson nodded and pulled on a pair of basketball shorts from his dresser. “I don’t mind going to bed now, though.”

“Okay.”

It was a little weird, getting into bed together and switching off the lights. For a moment, Leo thought Jackson was going to create some uncomfortable distance by curling up on the other side of the bed, but then he reached for Leo and tugged him back against his chest.

“Is this okay?” he asked, pressing his lips against Leo’s neck again.

“Definitely.”

“Good,” Jackson murmured.

Leo pulled Jackson’s arm around his own waist and let himself drift off to sleep.

 

 

THE NEXT morning Leo woke with Jackson still clinging to him tightly. Even in sleep, Jackson didn’t let go. Leo thought it was adorable.

He gently extracted himself from Jackson’s arms and went through to the bathroom to relieve his bladder. There was a little digital clock in the bathroom that showed the time as just after 8:30 a.m. Leo was surprised; he rarely slept in this late.

Jackson was awake when Leo got back to bed.

“You okay?” he asked, voice rough.

Leo nodded. “I’m good.”

He crawled back under the covers and curled himself around Jackson.

They dozed for another half hour or so, and then Jackson rolled out of bed and stumbled for the bathroom, scratching his belly and grumbling softly under his breath. Leo stretched out into the space Jackson had vacated and hid his grin in the pillow.

A few minutes later, the shower started, but Leo didn’t hear it stop—he must have drifted off again. The next thing he knew, Jackson was standing beside the bed with a towel wrapped around his hips, drops of water still clinging to his hair and chest.

“Leo?”

“Hmm?”

Jackson looked hesitant. “Do you want to see me shift?”

Leo rolled over to look at him properly. “Yeah. But only if it’s something you want to share.”

Jackson nodded. Then he took a deep breath and tossed the towel onto the end of the bed. Normally Leo would bitch at someone for that, but Jackson looked so nervous Leo didn’t even want to.

He took a few steps back into the middle of the room, then closed his eyes. For a second nothing happened; then Jackson’s head twisted, his shoulders rolled, and he began the transformation into his wolf form.

“Holy shit,” Leo breathed.

The shift only took a few seconds; Leo felt like if he blinked, he’d miss it. He’d seen a few movies before that showed a werewolf shift, but it was kind of private, so even werewolf actors were reluctant to do it on screen.

As Jackson exhaled, he almost folded in on himself, letting his arms turn into forelegs to catch him just in time to land on all fours. At the same time, dark fur replaced tanned skin, and his face… that was the most awe-inspiring. Jackson’s face elongated, his nose turning into muzzle, his eyes widening and sharpening.

Then he was a wolf.

Jackson was huge. On an intellectual level, Leo knew werewolves were big, and he’d seen a few before, even if it was from a fair distance away. But he’d definitely underestimated how big a werewolf actually was. Jackson was no Labrador.

In his wolf form, Jackson was at least four feet high. His fur was mostly gray, lighter on his belly and legs, with a tan shot of color around his muzzle and ears. His eyes were sharp, cool amber, and he cocked his head to the side as he watched Leo’s expression.

Leo shuffled to the edge of the bed. Jackson sat down with a huff. A moment later his tail wagged, and he gave Leo a lopsided grin.

“Wow.”

Leo wasn’t sure if Jackson was keeping his distance because he was uncomfortable, or if he thought Leo wanted to keep a safe distance. Leo patted his thigh a few times and reached his hand out, and eventually Jackson padded over.

“Can I touch you?” Leo asked, his hand still outstretched.

Jackson answered by butting his head against Leo’s palm. He seemed so calm, so patient as Leo gently petted his head, then scratched behind his ears. After a moment his eyes closed and he opened his mouth to pant a little.

“Aren’t you gorgeous?”

Leo didn’t expect a response, so Jackson’s soft chuff took him by surprise. Apparently Jackson understood everything Leo was saying perfectly.

After a few minutes of gentle petting, Jackson clearly decided he’d had enough. He pulled away from Leo’s touch, and Leo thought that was probably it, before Jackson turned back and licked a wet stripe up Leo’s cheek.

“Dude,” Leo laughed. “Gross.”

Jackson huffed again, almost like a laugh, and then he shifted back to his human form. He almost stumbled, and Leo shot to his feet to steady him.

“You okay?” Leo asked.

“Yeah. Sorry. Sometimes balance is the last thing to come back.”

“That’s all right.”

Jackson sat down heavily on the bed and shuddered, pulling a blanket from the foot of the bed over his lap to cover his nakedness. “So. There you go.”

Leo took Jackson’s hand between both of his own and leaned in for a kiss. At the last moment he changed his mind and licked Jackson’s cheek instead.

“Ew.” Jackson laughed. “I probably deserved that.”

“Do you feel okay?”

“Hmm. Hungry.”

“I’m sure we can do something about that.”

Leo pulled on pajama bottoms and a T-shirt while Jackson dressed in sweatpants, and then they headed for the kitchen together. Since Jackson claimed he made awesome omelets, Leo let him get to it while he turned on the coffee maker and poured glasses of juice and made a pile of toast.

“Jackson?”

“Yeah?”

“What’s it like? Being a werewolf.”

Jackson paused, then went back to the eggs. “I don’t know what it’s like to not be a werewolf.”

Leo felt his face flush. “Never mind. That was a stupid question.”

“No, it’s not, I promise. No one’s ever asked me before, though. I guess I just realized how small my social circle is.” He laughed at that.

“You don’t have many human friends?”

“Not really. Not because I don’t want human friends. I guess I just always hung out with people who went to my school, or were in my fraternity, or my parents’ friends’ kids.”

“You went to a segregated school?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Do you think differently when you’re a wolf? And feel free to tell me to fuck off if you don’t want to answer, by the way.”

“It’s fine,” Jackson said, throwing Leo a grin that dimpled his cheeks. He really was ridiculously handsome. “I think my focus narrows when I’m a wolf. I don’t daydream or think about random or abstract concepts. Things are much simpler. I feel the pull to you a lot stronger when I’m a wolf.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Jackson flipped Leo’s omelet onto a plate and handed it to him. Leo grabbed a fork and ate while leaning against the counter as Jackson worked on his own breakfast.

“Did you ever get much prejudice?”

“Yeah.”

“Like the girl when you were skiing?”

Jackson shook his head. “Leo, it’s every day. I don’t get it half as bad as my brother, for example, because he’s bigger than me and people identify him as a wolf a lot easier. But I get refused service at bars, I get people moving their kids to the other side of the street, we get snarled at and spat at and blanked. All the time.”

Leo looked horrified. “I didn’t know.”

“Why would you?” Jackson shrugged. “You don’t live it.”

“But I work with people who are werewolves. I live with a guy who’s one. How could I not know this stuff?”

“Because you aren’t looking for it?” Jackson said. “I’m not mad at you, Leo. But you’ll get it too, just for being with me. Even people who don’t actively try and make our lives difficult don’t like the idea of a werewolf with a human soul mate. They’ll hate you for being with me.”

“I don’t care.”

“It’s easy to say that,” Jackson said gently. “It’s harder to live it every day.”

“I can look after myself.” Leo stuck his chin out, defiant. “I’ll look after you too.”

Jackson finished making his own breakfast and grabbed the plate of toast, nudging Leo through to the family room and the couch.

“Can I ask you another thing?” Leo asked.

“Mm-hmm.”

“I’m not sure if it’s an impolite question.”

Jackson crunched on another triangle of toast and raised his eyebrow. “I don’t mind you asking.”

He leaned over and kissed Leo on the lips.

“Did you get neutralized?”

Jackson kept their lips pressed together, featherlight, as he slowly shook his head.

“Oh,” Leo breathed.

“Is that a problem? Do you want me to be?”

“No,” Leo said without hesitation. “I was just curious.”

Jackson grinned, suddenly mischievous, and leaned in again to nip at Leo’s neck with blunt teeth.

“Well, now you know.”

“You could hurt me,” Leo said, not thinking, and oh fuck was that the wrong thing to say?

“I couldn’t. Not even if I wanted to.”

“I’m sorry. That was stupid….”

“Don’t be sorry.” Jackson leaned into the back of the sofa and tugged on Leo’s T-shirt until he acquiesced with a kiss. “I mean it. I won’t ever hurt you.”

“Okay,” Leo whispered.

Jackson kissed him again. This one felt different. “Okay.”

“I guess it makes sense, since technically I’m your wolf’s soul mate.”

Leo grabbed a piece of toast and nibbled at the edge, confident that Jackson would polish off what was left of his eggs.

“Right. It’s like I said, my world narrows when I’m a wolf. I think about food and running and the moon, and my family and my soul mate.”

“You’re beautiful, by the way,” Leo said. Then he realized the implication of his words and blushed again. “Not like that… you know what I mean.”

Jackson smiled. “Thanks. I think.”

“And huge. You’re huge.”

“You’re not….” He shrugged. “Scared? Repulsed? I don’t know.”

“No,” Leo said immediately. “Not even a little bit.”

Jackson set his plate to one side while he leaned in and kissed Leo’s mouth, just once, but hard.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“Thank you for letting me ask stupid questions.”

Jackson squeezed Leo’s knee and went back to his breakfast. “Anytime.”