A Wolf in Mens Clothing Read online

  “Hey, what’s up?” He turned me to face him. “You just got really tense. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “Everything’s fine. Sorry, just got lost in thought for a minute.”

  I turned off the water and got out of the shower. I grabbed towels off the shelf and handed one to Rhys. We dried off without talking and walked back to the bedroom in silence, too. When I started getting dressed without even looking at him, he apparently had enough.

  “Is something wrong?”

  I blew out a sigh and walked over to him. I kissed his forehead and looked into his eyes and lied my ass off.

  “No,” I said. “Not at all.”

  “Bullshit. Something is going on with you, and it’s obviously directly related to me.”

  “Fine,” I said, sitting on the bed and staring at the floor. I opened my mouth to tell him that I’m a werewolf and instead gave him enough half truths to keep myself out of trouble.

  “I’m really worried about meeting your family. I mean, we just met, and yeah, I really like you, but I’m scared that things are moving really fast. I don’t know you well enough to feel the way I think I feel about you. It’s scary. For a lot of reasons. One, I have no idea if you feel the same way. Two, I don’t know if what I’m feeling is really how I feel or just…I don’t know, hormones or something. Three—”

  I didn’t get to share three because he threw himself at me, tackled me to the mattress and shoved his tongue in my mouth. My arms instinctively closed around him, holding his warm, damp body against me while I kissed him back just as hard, just as fervently.

  After a minute, he raised himself up on his hands and looked down at me, his blond hair hanging in his eyes a little and a small smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

  “I like you Christian. I like you very much. And you know what? I’m a little scared, too. But I know that I’ve enjoyed spending time with you, and I know that I want you to meet my gran. Everything else we can figure out later. Right?”

  I nodded. He was right. We could figure it out when we got back. After I spent some more time with him, if I honestly felt he and I had any kind of future after our trip up north, then I would tell him. Hopefully, he would understand why I waited to confess.

  He got off the bed and looked around the room.

  “Damn, I left my pack down in the car.”

  “Well, you can borrow some of my clothes if you want. We’re pretty close to the same size. My shirts might be a little big, but not enough that anyone would notice. We can get your stuff out of the car before the tow truck comes. Which reminds me…we should call and get that taken care of so we can get on the road.”

  “That sounds great,” Rhys said, smiling. “Thank you for all your help. You’ve been awesome.”

  “You’ve been pretty amazing yourself,” I said with a wink. “All right, I’m going downstairs to call the tow truck. If I don’t do it right now, we’ll never get out of here.”

  Rhys stepped toward me and sucked my earlobe into his mouth. “And why’s that?”

  I moved backward and laughed. “I’m going downstairs. Get dressed.”

  He blew out a dramatic sigh and walked into my closet to find something to wear. I thought about following him in there and “helping” but decided to just do as I should and went to make the call.

  * * * *

  “So where the hell do you park your car?” Rhys asked as I led him back through the woods. We’d gotten his pack from his car just as the tow truck was getting there. I’d given them my credit card to haul the car away, and Rhys didn’t seem all that interested in where it was being taken. I couldn’t blame him for that. I wouldn’t want the car back either.

  “I have a garage stall over at the Ranger’s Station. They let me park out there as long as I stay out of their way.”

  I chose not to admit I’m actually required to stay out of their way. They know I’m a werewolf, and most of them are scared shitless of me, which is just fine with me. For the most part, the rangers and I just forget each other exists, and it works out great.

  We crested the top of a hill, and I pointed down the other side to the small compound the rangers worked from. Off to the left was my garage. I held his hand as we made our way slowly down the slope, trying not to lose footing and go tumbling like Jack and Jill. He did pretty well in the woods for someone used to working on the plains of Africa, and I told him so.

  “I wasn’t born in Africa,” he laughed. “I grew up in the U.P. Gran’s house is pretty much like yours. I mean, not nearly as big, but it’s smack dab in the middle of nowhere with nothing around it for miles. I’m well aware of how to handle myself in the woods.”

  “Good to know,” I said, pulling my hand from his and increasing my pace down the hill. He kept up, laughing as he tried to follow my movements around the rocks and broken branches that littered the rarely used trail. We hit the bottom at a gallop, both of us stumbling slightly when the ground evened out in front of us and laughing like idiots.

  I looked around and was relieved to see none of the rangers were outside. Rhys grabbed my hand again and let me lead him to the garage where I kept my car.

  There were a lot of things I’d had to give up when I’d decided to move to the cabin. City life, constant noise and chaos, pretty much all semblance of a social life. But the one thing I refused to give up was my car. I had bought it at a junkyard when I was sixteen years old and had spent the following five years restoring it to pristine condition. Every penny I’d made as a teenager had been put into the car and I have never once regretted it.

  I unlocked the padlock on the garage and rolled the door up on its hinges then stood back to watch Rhys’ reaction. It would have been fine if he wasn’t a car guy and wasn’t impressed with it. In fact, I half expected him to just walk in the garage and get in the car without a thought considering the car he drove.

  “Is that a 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner?” he asked in an awed voice and right then I fell in love with him.

  It wasn’t just the car thing, though it was nice to hear the admiration in his voice. It was as if everything that had happened since I’d found him on the side of the road clicked into place and made sense. It had all happened for a reason, and we were supposed to be together. I just knew it.

  I pulled him into my arms, kissing his lips softly.

  “What was that for?”

  “Wanted to,” I said with a shrug as I let him go. “And yes, it is a ’70 Roadrunner. I restored it myself, and it is my pride and joy.”

  “I can see why.” He walked into the garage and ran his hand up the hood the way I knew he had touched me the night before; soft and gentle and lovingly. “Are there any other surprises you should be warning me about?”

  My heart dropped, and I might have even visibly cringed. He had given me the perfect opportunity, again, and I couldn’t do it. It seemed too soon. So I just winked at him.

  “If I told you, they wouldn’t be surprises, now would they? Get in the car.”

  Chapter Four

  Rhys had told me that it was about a three-hour drive from Grayling to his gran’s house…if you do the speed limit. But when you’re driving a rare muscle car and the man you want to impress more than you’ve ever wanted anything is sitting on the bench seat next to you running his finger up and down your thigh, well, you don’t do the speed limit.

  I probably got about a six miles to the gallon, but the feel of his hand tightening on my leg when I turned corners just this side of too fast was worth it. I had to slow down over the Mackinac Bridge, but then it was full out again until Rhys told me we were getting close to the turnoff for the house.

  He took me down winding roads for a good fifteen minutes until finally he pointed out her driveway. The woods around the house were even denser than around my cabin, and I found myself a little jealous of her surroundings.

  “Boys!”

  I looked up at the house again to see a stick-thin woman with wiry gray hair running do
wn the steps toward us. She threw herself into Rhys’ arms, and he spun around with her a few times.

  When he put her down, she surprised me by hugging me, too. I awkwardly put an arm around her and looked at Rhys who laughed.

  “I’m so glad you agreed to bring my Rhys up here.” She stepped back and looked me up and down. “And I can see why he wanted to bring you.”

  “Gran!” Rhys blushed from his neck to his ears, and it was adorable.

  “I’m an old woman; I am done watching my mouth and I’ll say what I like.”

  “Yeah, ’cause you haven’t been doing that your whole life anyway,” Rhys mumbled as he walked past us to go into the house.

  “Young man, don’t you disrespect your grandmother.”

  “It wasn’t disrespect, Gran. I love that about you, and you know it. Do you have any lemonade?”

  “Of course, sweetie. In the fridge. And there are cookies on the table. Oh, and Rhys, could you start a pot of coffee for me, please? I’m going to stay out here with our handsome Christian and talk for a minute.”

  “Okay, but not too long. It’s chilly out here.” Rhys walked in the house and shut the door behind him, leaving me alone with his gran.

  “You two are obviously very close,” I said after a minute. The exchange between them had given me a pang of regret I hadn’t felt in a long time. That needling feeling that I should have made more of an effort with my family. My father and I got along all right, but once he’d died, I’d pretty much shut the rest of my family out of my life. Most of the time, I was fine with the decisions I’d made along the way, but occasionally, it bothered me that I wasn’t close with anyone.

  “Yes, we’ve spent a lot of time together. I love him very much, and I would hate to see him get hurt.” Her tone was accusatory, and it confused me. She wasn’t being rude, but it was definitely a change from hugs and flattery.

  “Are you implying that I would ever hurt Rhys?”

  “Does he know what you are?”

  I stared at her in disbelief. I couldn’t believe she knew. No one had ever guessed. Hell, most people don’t even know werewolves exist, and we prefer it that way.

  “Yes, I know. I knew as soon as you got out of the car. Only a were will smell first and look around second.” I looked at her confused, and she laughed softly. “You probably don’t even realize you do it. My brother was infected when he was fifteen years old; that’s when we moved out here. There were many things he did without thinking. That was a big one.”

  She took my hand and walked me over to a picnic table on the other side of the yard. We both faced the door to watch for Rhys to come out, and I was kind of glad she didn’t let go of my hand when we sat. It was nice to be accepted by someone who knows what I am.

  “Why haven’t you told him, Christian?”

  I blew out a sigh and looked at the ground. There was no good reason except for my own fear. I looked at her and smiled.

  “How do you tell someone you care about that you’re a werewolf? I don’t want to lose him, and I’m afraid he’ll run as soon as he finds out. I was hoping to have a few more days with him before I had to admit it.”

  “You’re not giving my grandson enough credit. He cares for you, too.”

  “Did he know about your brother?”

  It was her turn to look at the ground. “No, Bobby—that was my brother—. Anyway, Bobby died when Rhys was only a baby, so they never got to know each other. But I know that Rhys would have adored him.”

  “And how could anyone help but love Rhys,” I said softly, looking up at the house. I could see him looking at us from the kitchen window, but I couldn’t see his face well enough to know what his expression was.

  “I understand your fear, Christian. But if you really love him, and I believe that you do, you can’t start your relationship with lies. You have to tell him.”

  “I know. I do know that. But, can’t we have the next couple of days up here? If he’s going to leave me, I’d like to have some good memories with him to look back on. Please?”

  She nodded and squeezed my hand. “I won’t say a word while you’re here. But you had better tell him when you get home.”

  “I promise.” And I meant it because she was right. Lying to him would make everything worse in the long run.

  Rhys was sitting at the kitchen table when we walked into the house. He looked up and smiled at me, and I felt my knees go weak at the sight of his dimples. I hoped he would always smile at me like that.

  * * * *

  Rhys’ gran, who finally told me her name was Susan but refused to let me call her by it, made us a wonderful dinner that night. We sat around the table talking, eating and laughing until the sun went down. It was wonderful.

  Gran went to bed shortly after, and Rhys and I cleared the table and did the dishes so she wouldn’t have to deal with it in the morning. Then we each took a cup of coffee and went outside to sit on the deck that overlooked a small pond behind the house.

  “Are you sure you’re not too cold out here?” I asked Rhys. He had on a light jacket over a sweater, but he didn’t look very warm.

  “I’m fine,” Rhys said with a smile. “God, it’s good to be back here.”

  “It’s a great place.” I nodded. “And your gran is wonderful. She’s just like you described her. You’re a lucky guy to have someone so…understanding in your life.”

  “She’s the best.”

  “So, I don’t suppose she’s a heavy sleeper,” I mumbled, staring out at the pond.

  “Um, no. Actually, any noise that isn’t made by an animal will wake her instantly.”

  I looked over at him with a frown. I hadn’t realized spending a couple days up there would mean no sex. But there was no way I’d risk Gran hearing us. No matter how understanding she was, I would have been mortified to do it.

  “The Roadrunner has a bench seat,” Rhys said. “Or are you afraid of ruining the leather?”

  “Not in the slightest.” I put my coffee mug on the table and took Rhys’ from his hand to set it down, too. “Come on.”

  “Now?”

  I grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet hard enough to draw him against my chest. “Now.”

  I kissed him quickly and pulled him after me. We ran around the house so we wouldn’t disturb Gran and practically dove into the car.

  Rhys ended up on top of me, his hands pinning my wrists to the seat while he ground his crotch against mine and kissed me. Our tongues wrestled with each other, sliding over teeth and lips in a passionate dance. He tasted like rain in my mouth, and I wanted to touch him, all of him, run my hands over every inch of his skin, taste his sweat and his tears. I wanted him right then, and I wanted him forever.

  My cock ached from the friction of my jeans and the heat of Rhys’ body against mine. I growled in frustration, wanting him to tear off his clothes and fuck me senseless. I knew I could easily get free of his grip on my wrists, but I wanted to see what he would do first.

  “My, what big eyes you have,” he whispered against my lips as he stared into my eyes.

  “The better to see you with,” I said softly.

  “And what a big cock you have,” he purred.

  “Why don’t we get naked, and we’ll see just how big it really is?”

  Rhys let go of my hands and sat up so he straddled my hips. His fingers worked loose the buckle of my belt then the button on my jeans. He moved his hands from my waist and slid them up my chest. I groaned but didn’t ask him to go back.

  “My, what little patience you have,” he murmured, but kept his hands under my shirt.

  “Rhys.” My voice was hoarse with need. “Please.”

  “Please what?” he asked, his tone full of fake innocence and his eyes wide.

  “I want you inside of me,” I said.

  “And I want you naked,” he said quickly. I sat up and let him pull off my shirt. He threw it on the floorboard and shifted himself so his back was against the driver’s door and we both st
arted tearing off our clothes.

  When we were both naked, he threw himself back on top of me, kissing me and running his hands over any bit of my skin he could reach. I shifted my hips, trying to encourage him to move into a position from which he could fuck me, but he just smiled against my mouth and kept on kissing me.

  Finally, after several long minutes of wonderful torture, he slid down my body, coming to rest on his knees between my legs. He stared at me for so long I squirmed under the scrutiny.

  “What?” I asked with a nervous laugh.

  “You’re beautiful,” he said softly. “I realize that isn’t the most masculine of compliments, but my God, you really are.”

  I didn’t even think about it. I just threw myself at him and pinned him against the driver’s side door, kissing him hard enough that I was lucky not to cut him with my teeth. His words so closely reflected what I’d thought about him earlier, the only way I could keep from telling him I loved him was to get my tongue in his mouth as quickly as possible.

  “So you don’t mind then?” he asked with a laugh when I let him go.

  I shook my head and smiled. “Not at all. What I do mind is that you’re not inside of me yet.”

  “Hmm, that is a problem,” he said. He grabbed his jeans from the floor and pulled a condom from one of the pockets. He ripped the foil open with his teeth and rolled the rubber down his cock. The fog on the windows was getting so thick that what little light we had been getting from the lights on Gran’s property was softened inside the car, taking on a sort of ethereal feel and fueling my fantasy that Rhys and I could be the only people on Earth.

  “How do you want me?” Rhys’ voice was hoarse, and I saw his chest heaving in the soft light surrounding us.

  “Whatever’s easiest for you,” I said in a whisper.

  “A hotel room in Hawaii would be easiest,” he said with a small laugh. “But for now, I just want to be able to look in your eyes. Can we do that?”

  I nodded. It would be awkward, but staring into his eyes while he fucked me didn’t sound bad to me either.