The Winter Moon's Wolf Part 15

Cade hummed in thoughtful musing. "Yeah. Never looked at it that way. That's probably why only men can pa.s.s the gene. Women have the ability to take on the wolf but can't pa.s.s it on."

"So it doesn't fall within the female chromosome chain. I can see why you don't want science or anyone finding out about you guys. You'd be one heck of tool to exploit."

Cade sighed. "Yeah. We have to be careful. As a pack, we protect our own."

"As a pack... So, Jamie and Chris?"

"Are part of the pack. Quade and Maya, too. Well, she will be. I doubt he'll fail with her. She's smart. Fear can only survive when there is ignorance. She's far from that."

"I got that, too." Dean laughed ruefully. "I think he's got a handful, woman or not. She's a natural redhead."

Cade grinned, joining him in the humor. "Poor bro." They snickered in unison.

Dean found strands of hair and twirled it around his fingers. "If the wolf doesn't scare me," he said thoughtfully, "and I happen to really like the guy he's a part of..." He watched Cade's facial expressions where he stared upward at the ceiling. "I mean, how can I be upset or scared by an animal that stopped a murderer? One of these days, I want to see you...change? Is that what you do?"

"Pretty much."

He played with the hair he held for a few minutes. "I'm coming to terms with it," he finally admitted. "I'm also making a stab in the dark that this is a very elite, private type of club."

"Very private. But it's twofold. While you protect us, and our secret, we protect those in the pack."

"Pack?"

Cade rolled his head a little on the pillow to meet his stare. "Why don't we leave it there for tonight? We have time."

"All right." Dean curled up closer a moment later and Cade wrapped him fully into his side. He waited as the tension that had been building in Cade's frame gradually lessened. He had to a.s.sume there were things either Cade wasn't ready to share, or that he felt would be too much for Dean to handle, one shock on top of another, after another. This had had been one of the oddest days of his life. been one of the oddest days of his life.

He'd been face to face with the wolf and never once had it acted threatening toward Dean. The wolf was a part of Cade, from what he could understand. The animal had responded when he'd spoken to it, so there was some facet of Cade that existed within the animal when he was wolf. Not even the smartest dog could comprehend questions or conversation to answer with human-like gestures. To Dean, it came down to they were one and the same.

He replayed frames of the animal, of its behavior, of its attack on the other man. Dean realized the wolf had made sure to only go after the man struggling with Dean. Was that what Cade meant in protecting their own? He had a feeling it wasn't that simple, and it wasn't the end of the conversation.

Dean's gaze flowed over Cade's resting profile while his mind churned with all the new information. Gray eyes had finally closed in sleep. It took him a little longer for his brain to stop dissecting the day's events, but he eventually managed to do the same.

Chapter Twelve.

Cade rolled into the pillow, his arm weighted down at the shoulder. He sniffed and snuffled at the hair tickling his chin, then sighed, floating toward consciousness, in no hurry to get out of the warm bed. His entire world had been upended a little more than a month ago. He still didn't have a firm grip on all of the changes. The only thing he did know was he had to keep Dean safe. Nothing more had happened since the attack on Dean in his home several days before. Cade hadn't been able to sleep in his own bed without him because of that need, because of the threat to Dean.

The other conundrum he faced was taking a little longer to come to terms with. He didn't know if it meant he'd lost the battle to the wolf or not, or if he'd really been hiding his whole life from something that should be natural now. He honestly didn't know.

He'd had girlfriends. Cade had always appreciated them, had never felt like he was forcing something to be with them, to enjoy their company. He and Quade had double-dated too many times to count. The novelty of dating twins, he supposed. Had that been a smokescreen, a copout? He honestly didn't know.

There was an intensity between him and Dean that he'd never known, even with all the women he had dated. Was that more of the mating bond? He knew he simply needed to accept. Cade did like the man. Only it wasn't as simple simple as that. Or was it? His mind continued to tumble. as that. Or was it? His mind continued to tumble.

Was like like enough to build on? To be the beginning point of the rest of their lives? enough to build on? To be the beginning point of the rest of their lives?

He swallowed slowly. That fact hit him with blinding reality. This was it. Dean was the one person he was fated to be with, to spend the rest of his life with.

Not doubting Chris but needing a second opinion, he'd checked the wolf's error percentage within their pack and any others he could ask their alpha about. His brother hadn't been wrong. The wolf never erred.

Cade was fighting the inevitable even though he liked Dean, enjoyed being with him. And the s.e.x? He stifled the electric s.h.i.+ver. Dean brought something out in Cade that was pure need. Possession. Hunger. A tenderness that burned bright to his very soul. He wanted to do things, be inside him, surround the other man. If it was only the pure s.e.xual hunger driving him, he could accept that, but it was more, and that was what terrified him.

Was he supposed to...love...him? Cade jumped away from the possibility as though he stood at the edge of a sharp cliff. Love a man? He wasn't sure of any feelings, right then.

He'd cared for Laura. They'd dated, had hot and heated s.e.x, he'd met her parents. The next step had seemed unquestionable... But he'd known even then she wasn't the wolf's mate, so he'd ended it feeling he was doing both of them wrong. He was keeping her from finding someone who could really love her and make her happy, and Cade had thought his mate was not far into his future. Well, apparently only a few years into his future.

He sniffed again. Musk and body-heated cotton. Scents that he was beginning to recognize as Dean. Warmth suffused his chest. Mate. Mate. Not Laura. Not pack. Not even female. Maybe the time and distance since dating her was to his benefit. Would he have become friends with Dean, open to more, if he'd ended a relations.h.i.+p recently before meeting him? Would he have been as willing to help? Or to listen to his wolf? Or believe this was possible? Children really did seem like such a small hurdle now. Not Laura. Not pack. Not even female. Maybe the time and distance since dating her was to his benefit. Would he have become friends with Dean, open to more, if he'd ended a relations.h.i.+p recently before meeting him? Would he have been as willing to help? Or to listen to his wolf? Or believe this was possible? Children really did seem like such a small hurdle now.

Dean's cell phone rang on the nightstand. Neither moved. Cade knew it was Dean's mother by the tone. Dean always called her back, but he didn't necessarily jump when she called. Cade supposed he understood, since she still called daily. Mothers worried. It was simple fact.

Dean stretched alongside him disturbed by the call nonetheless, muscles flexing followed by a slow exhale. The motions brus.h.i.+ng them skin to skin disrupted Cade's tumultuous thoughts easily.

Cade lowered his chin to nuzzle at Dean's nape where his hair had fallen to expose him. It was becoming so easy to touch, to give in to the wanting. Another sign that this was right between them? Was there any other way to look at it? He didn't know. He did know he liked doing it, liked the way he felt, liked the way Dean responded.

Especially liked the way Dean reacted. Like it all felt good for him. Like he wanted more. As if his nudging and pus.h.i.+ng into Cade weren't clear enough. Cade had to admit these changes would be so much harder to accept if he not only had to convince himself, but had to win over Dean at the same time. He would have fought the attraction a lot harder if Dean had been indifferent, but the fact that he wasn't made Cade's cravings rise to the surface in answer. liked the way Dean reacted. Like it all felt good for him. Like he wanted more. As if his nudging and pus.h.i.+ng into Cade weren't clear enough. Cade had to admit these changes would be so much harder to accept if he not only had to convince himself, but had to win over Dean at the same time. He would have fought the attraction a lot harder if Dean had been indifferent, but the fact that he wasn't made Cade's cravings rise to the surface in answer.

Dean voiced a small rumble as Cade drifted his lips over his nape to a bare shoulder. He didn't sleep in a s.h.i.+rt, even in the dead of winter. Cade was liking that fact right then.

Curling him close within his arms, he glided against Dean's body. His c.o.c.k eased playfully against firm a.s.s cheeks, finding a warm haven hinted at beneath the underwear.

"Morning," Dean rasped.

Cade murmured something, his lips too occupied for an actual verbal reply.

Dean began to undulate into Cade's chest, rocking his hips in earnest against the press of Cade's desire. His sighs turned into aroused moans. He reached for one of Cade's hands and together, they wiggled under elastic and encircled Dean's very hard d.i.c.k. Both shuddered. Steel hard and throbbing. Cade stroked him slowly. Seemed he wasn't the only one awake awake this morning. He growled in appreciation. this morning. He growled in appreciation.

Without thinking about the whys, he had to have Dean naked. He had to feel all that hot skin against his own. He pushed at Dean's underwear and he got the message, lifting and arching to glide them off.

Cade tossed the blankets away and urged Dean to his chest. Any noticeable change of temperature was utterly unimportant. Smooth skin slipped under his palm, warmed from sleep.

Dean moaned when Cade added a little pressure to his fingertips, roaming over muscle.

"That feels so good," he said in appreciation, m.u.f.fled by the pillow.

"I want you," Cade managed through a dry mouth. His heart pounded with the resounding echo of an anvil into his ribs.

Dean stretched an arm for the bedside stand, tugging on the drawer. "In there."

Cade rose up on his knees and found lube and condoms. His hand shook only a little when he released them to land on the bed at Dean's hip. This wasn't any kind of a small step for him, for them.

Settling, he straddled Dean's thighs. Firm and slightly round with dimples, Dean's b.u.t.t flexed, making Cade grin gently. He leaned forward and bit at a side, getting a soft yelp from Dean, followed by a rough chuckle. "b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

"Did I hurt you?"

"Just surprised me." He remained relaxed, splayed on the mattress. Cade could see his smile grow bolder. "Do it again."

Cade did, willingly nipping, biting, and licking, until Dean was writhing beneath his weight. The man panted, his fingers clawed into the sheets when he stopped.

He breathed out Cade's name in a growl. The hungry sound fired need into Cade's blood.

"Turn over."

He made room for Dean to flip. The bed rocked with his jostling, harried breathing loud as he settled. A raised hand trailed through Cade's loose hair. Dean's fascination with it amused Cade.

When Dean slipped free, Cade moved from the bed and dropped his underwear. Returning, he stretched out along Dean's side where he s.h.i.+fted, widening his legs. Cade couldn't ignore that. He cupped Dean's sac, hearing a heated hiss of pleasure being forced through his teeth.

"Yeah?"

"f.u.c.k...yeah," he ground out.

Cade slid from the hardening globes in his palm to Dean's c.o.c.k, roaming as he learned. He pumped and Dean moaned, dropping into a whine for more.

Cade wasn't going to disappoint him.

Squeezing the tube, he coated his fingers. Leaning close, he brushed over Dean's rosette and the man flexed, arching, reaching. "More?"

"Yeah," he panted.

Cade teased at skin until he eased inside and he swore Dean pushed back. Gliding slowly, he felt the tightness begin to give, muscle loosening. He was right when he heard, "Another. Not going to break."

He didn't want to rush, but knew Dean was coiling tighter and tighter. His c.o.c.k had softened slightly. Letting him know he wasn't going to ignore any part of him, he leaned close and licked at the tip.

"Awf.u.c.k!" He trembled, a fresh wave of sensation and blood rus.h.i.+ng to engorge his length once more. He trembled, a fresh wave of sensation and blood rus.h.i.+ng to engorge his length once more.

Cade licked his lips, discovering the taste, the salty-bitter essence. It shocked him maybe a little more than he was expecting that he liked it. He lowered again, taking the full tip between his lips and sucked lightly. He started a slow rhythm, rolling and gliding his fingers in unison with the licks and flicks of his tongue.

Fingers dug into Cade's hair, gripping him. In answer, he took more of Dean into his mouth and the man cried out. "Cade!"

Soon Dean was tugging on his hair. "Stop. Not without you inside me."

Cade relinquished his oral hold and kissed Dean's hip. It took only a moment or two to cover himself and add more lube. "Anything I should know?"

Dean opened his eyes, hunting until he landed on Cade. "Don't rush. Been a while," he replied, a graveled breathlessness to his voice. Then Dean hefted a leg behind the knee.

Cade watched, and when Dean nodded he moved closer. "Like this?"

"Trust me," he offered, filled with patience and tenderness.

Cade knew he did. If he knew nothing else, he knew that. Gripping Dean's hip and thigh, he inched closer. Wet skin pulsed. So it looked different. He lifted his chin to find Dean watching him. Without losing that gaze, he moved forward, pressing for entry until he slipped within. He gasped. "s.h.i.+t," he managed in sheer shock.

"Yeah?"

"Tight."

"It gets better," Dean said.

Cade chuckled roughly, engulfed in sizzling sparks as he advanced, one slow stroke at a time. Velvet heat. Tight and all-consuming. He stilled, absorbing the differences, letting them coat his nerves until they sung in praise.

He'd never imagined it, and now he knew he couldn't live without it, without the man watching him with a fire in his eyes that seared Cade.

Slowly he began to move, encouraged by Dean's groans and beckoning body.

"That's it," Dean hissed through clenched teeth.

Cade felt the heat of skin when he caught his b.a.l.l.s against Dean's a.s.s. He had never filled another so completely. A shudder struck realizing that Dean was so deeply connected to him, that Cade was so deeply connected to Dean.

In that instant he accepted that it wasn't whether or not he was gay, but that Dean was the right person, the right soul, the right everything he'd been hungering for, that his wolf had been needing.

"Come on, babe," Dean prodded. "Don't lose me now."

Cade blinked. He hadn't realized he'd gone so deep into his own head, racing through his thoughts. "I'm right here," he replied. "Never losing you now." Dean's gaze glowed at those words.

Cade gripped at Dean's frame and rocked his hips. Dean grunted, his eyes falling shut. Watching the man on the bed, Cade filled him over and over, the slap of skin growing sharper, the scent of their combined bodies flooding his senses. Dean's skin had darkened from his throat to his chest with his exertions and pa.s.sion. Boldly maybe, Cade accepted he'd found the most erotic visual in his lifetime.

And he was Cade's He grunted as heat flared from his nape downward. Almost as though Dean knew him inside and out, he stroked his length, tugging as Cade spiraled closer and closer toward his o.r.g.a.s.m.

"f.u.c.k," he choked, his lungs aching. His body and brain had disengaged. It was sheer pleasure now.

"Yeah, yeah..." Dean groaned, clutching at the bed for leverage while he stroked himself off.

Dean arched and Cade slid home like they'd had s.e.x a thousand times already. "Do it," he growled. He needed to feel it, see it, smell it. His wolf was panting, snarling in need. Mate. Mate. Cade was on the edge, the velvet heat holding him like nothing else. Cade was on the edge, the velvet heat holding him like nothing else.

Dean hooked his free leg around Cade. Mere seconds later, his mouth fell open in a silent cry as streams shot like geyser spray from the tip of his d.i.c.k.

"Oh, f.u.c.k!" Cade lost it. Nerves snapped and sparked as he pulsed, rus.h.i.+ng to fill the condom.

He stilled, drowning in the rush of endorphins. His lashes fluttered low and he stopped breathing, his heart pounding into his ribs as he floated through the burst.

In increments, the world nudged at his thoughts. Sounds, lights, scents. Dean's legs sank to the bed. Cade caressed him as he loosened the vise-like grip he'd held on his waist. He sank forward, nipping and licking at sweat dampened skin.

He didn't know he wanted it, hadn't thought this far ahead, but his mind was gone. His body was Dean's. Dragging teeth and lips over his pectoral muscle he found the thundering of Dean's heart beneath.

And bit.

Dean jerked and grunted, gripping Cade's hair. It wasn't a deep mark, and would heal. He licked over the dents in his skin, soothing them. The rest was up to Cade to deal with.

"Kinky b.a.s.t.a.r.d."

Cade roughly laughed. Still panting, he braced himself above Dean, pillowed on his shoulder.

"Am I off the market or something?" Dean asked humorously.

"That's one way of putting it," he replied, starting to feel his limbs again. He'd promised his life to Dean. Eventually he'd explain the full ramifications, but right now, he wanted to linger, wanted to savor.