Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

D ylan leaned against Ross as they stood under the hot stream of water. There wasn't a lot of room for two grown men in the shower stall, but they managed. Ross had no issue being skin to skin with Dylan. He massaged shampoo through his mate's hair, twice, because the dirt streamed out, then slowly washed him from head to foot, swiping bodywash over him until Dylan's creamy skin was exposed. Dylan leaned against the tiles, passively accepting Ross's help, his eyes closed. Ross was convinced he was asleep, standing up.

Not asleep. Just content.

Ross smiled and carried on with his task until Dylan was clean. Then he cupped Dylan's jaw and tilted his head to kiss him. Thankfully, Dylan had cleaned his teeth before he'd gotten in the shower. Now he melted against Ross, his dick hardening as it pressed against Ross's thigh.

Take me to bed?

I can do that. Ross held his breath. It was the first time Dylan hadn't blocked him today.

Dylan sighed in his head. I'm sorry.

You have nothing to be sorry for.

I was scared.

Ross held him close. I know, baby. But you're mine and I'll stand by you forever.

Even if I'm a traitor?

Ross knew if he hesitated this time, it would be the end of their relationship, so he didn't miss a heartbeat. Yes, you don't have to ask me again. But you're not a traitor. Whatever happened was done to you.

How do you know?

Ross took Dylan's hand and placed it against his heart. I can feel it in here and I didn't have to go digging to find out.

Dylan sighed and leaned against him, his face buried in the crook of Ross's neck. They stayed like that until the water began to cool.

"Let's get out before we freeze," Ross said. "I'm hungry." He laughed as Dylan's belly grumbled its agreement.

"I hope you can cook," Dylan said as he dried himself with a towel. "Because I've got no idea if I can and I don't want to burn down the office."

"I'm no Cal, but I can heat up a dish. He's provided all the meals."

"I think I must have hunted to survive, because I have no memory of shopping and cooking, and I don't have any money."

Ross hummed. "You're still part of the Cavalry. Niles or Eli should be able to help you access your bank account."

"I must live somewhere too."

"I'll call Eli, then we'll eat."

Dylan shook his head. "Later."

Ross raised an eyebrow. "Later?"

"I want to reconnect with my mate first of all." Dylan tugged the towels out of Ross's hand and threw them on the floor. "Take me to bed."

"I can do that."

They'd have to work eventually, but being one with his mate was more important. Ross picked him up and carried Dylan into the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.

Ross kissed a lazy path down Dylan's body, from his forehead, the tip of his nose, his mouth, his chin, down his sternum, taking his time, and grinning as Dylan wriggled when Ross found a ticklish place under his arms. He wasn't in the mood to rush their loving. They needed to connect in the best way possible.

Dylan stretched and sighed, his toes curling as Ross licked across his nipples. "Do it again," he pleaded.

Ross nuzzled each nub with his nose, then sucked lightly, his mate arching his back, needing more sensation.

"You're driving me wild," Dylan murmured.

I hope so. Ross intended to drive his wolf out of his ever-loving mind.

He kissed down Dylan's belly, pausing to explore his navel, then nip and lick along his hip bones, taking his time with each one.

Dylan spread his legs wider. "I need you in me."

Ross studied his mate splayed out on the bed, his sweat-damp hair pushed back from his face, his arms above his head, crossed at the wrists, his cock leaking against his belly. Ross was tempted to take a photo. Instead he licked a stripe up Dylan's hard shaft, sucked lightly on the head, then licked his way down to the taut sac to suck each delicate globe in his mouth. Dylan cried out his name as Ross sucked harder, then kissed his way down the perinium to the sweet hole with a whorl of hair waiting for his attention.

Dylan cried out as Ross licked around the hole, and his hands clutched at Ross's hair.

Let go, baby. Ross was glad he could give the order and continue to tease and torment Dylan's hole, his tongue jabbing in, then licking around. Rinse, repeat.

Dylan grunted in frustration, but his hands went back to rest on the pillow.

Good boy.

Wolf, not boy.

Ross smiled against his hole. Wolf, he agreed.

Dylan was ready and prepared for him by the time he thought to look for lube. He explored the nightstand drawer, knowing Cal would have thought to stock it. He pulled out the tube with a triumphant cry.

"I need you in me," Dylan begged, his eyes huge and pleading.

"I can do that," Ross agreed, squeezing slick onto his fingers. He pressed them against Dylan's hole. "When I'm ready."

He smirked at Dylan's groan. He was in no rush, and he couldn't wait to elicit a lot more of these groans.

They lay, sweaty and sated, wrapped around each other, legs entangled, hairs providing a delicious friction every time one of them moved.

Dylan sighed and pressed closer to Ross. "That was…needed."

Ross hummed in agreement. It was as if he remembered how to breathe as he sank into Dylan's body. "Does this mean we'll fuck like bunnies for the rest of our lives?"

"I hope so." Dylan pressed a kiss to his collar bone. "I can't think of anything better."

"You, me, alone in our bed," Ross agreed.

Dylan's expression darkened. "But it's not our bed."

"We'll have a bed of our own soon."

"Where do you live?"

"I have an apartment in San Antonio near the Cavalry offices, but I'm hardly ever there. I went back home to my parents in Ohio after the accident."

"What happened?"

Ross grimaced. "The hunters tried to kill me and Cal. He recovered quickly because he could shift. I wasn't so lucky."

"There are advantages to being a shifter," Dylan said.

"I was thinking of selling my apartment and moving everything here. The pack is building houses for us all."

"And you want to take care of the animals."

"I do."

"You should resign from the Cavalry for real and take over the ranch."

"If you'd said that to me last year, I'd have laughed at you."

"Now that doesn't seem so bad?" Dylan queried.

"It seems perfect. I can't stay as a bodyguard forever and the business with the hunters is out of my league, you know?" It had been a hard realization to face, but Ross had reached his limit.

It was Dylan's turn to hum in agreement. He ran his fingers through Ross's chest hairs, tugging lightly on them, sending prickles through Ross's body. "I can see you're happy here."

"I'm in bed with you. Of course I'm happy. Ow! What did you do that for?" He clutched his upper arm where Dylan had smacked him—hard.

"Not me, you idiot. This place. Sapphire Ranch. I can sense the peace it gives you. Wolves are in tune with our surroundings. It can make us relaxed or nervous, happy or sad."

"What do you feel?"

"Home," Dylan said. "I feel like I'm home. Except at the ranch house."

Ross snorted. "You mean Eli."

"Yeah," Dylan admitted. "But Peter is right. The power coming from the land is unreal. I felt it as we ran. The land is happy the pack is here. It's woken up. More shifters will move here to join the pack."

"I'm not sure Joe and Cal will be happy about that."

"They won't have a choice. Places of power always have large packs."

Ross bit his lip. "I think Niles is waiting for his mate."

"What makes you say that?"

"He's a city boy, yet he's here on an isolated farm in the middle of Texas. And he kept talking about his mate."

Dylan chuckled. "Oh yeah, he's waiting. But he's not gay, is he?"

"Not gay or bi as far as I know. But we need a breeding pair."

"Did you tell him that?"

"I did." Ross grinned. "He wasn't impressed. He's convinced his mate is going to be a human. Then I pointed out he'd said she was a mate, not a girlfriend or another human term."

"What did he say to that?"

"That we were wolf obsessed, then you walked in and scared him with the nakedness."

"He's going to lose his shit when he realizes his female wolf gets naked too. Wolves don't care who sees them."

Ross grimaced, not sure he liked that idea.

Dylan burst out laughing. "You should see your face. We're shifters. Males and females run, hunt, and sleep together."

"I guess I didn't appreciate that," Ross admitted. "I'm not that familiar with women."

"You always knew you were gay, huh?"

"I did. I had amazing parents who didn't care when I came home saying I had a crush on the football captain. I was only ten."

"What did they say?"

"That's nice, dear. More mac ‘n cheese?" Ross smiled ruefully. "I didn't realize how lucky I was until I was older, and my friends were kicked out for being gay."

"You were lucky they were so relaxed."

"Yours weren't?"

Dylan paused as he thought about it. "I don't know. Maybe?"

"We'll find out," Ross promised.

"I heard enough horror stories from other guys. Wait, I don't remember that. I just feel it."

Ross nodded. "Your memories should be locked up in there. We've just got to find the key. I did some research while you were out. As long as your brain is intact, the memories should return gradually."

"Let's hope the doc gives me good news." Dylan ran his hand down Ross's bicep. "I thought you would be the football captain."

Ross blinked at the sudden change in subject. "I was, in high school."

"Did you go to college on a football scholarship?"

"No, I did Biochemistry." Ross flushed. "I was a STEM nerd too. I was good at sport, but unlike some of the guys, it wasn't my life."

"Wow." Dylan looked genuinely shocked. "How did you end up working for the Cavalry?"

"After my degree I wasn't sure what to do. I decided to take a vacation job working for a security firm in San Antonio. It was that or bartending. I've been here ever since. Turns out I'm good at it."

"Your parents must be disappointed you didn't go into STEM."

"Maybe," Ross allowed, "but they love me and want me to be happy, although they're bemused by my sudden interest in farming."

Dylan wrinkled his brow. "You're a man of hidden talents."

"I am. But I'm not ambitious. I'm never going to be an Eli or a Niles. Does that bother you?" He was relieved when his mate leaned forward and kissed him.

"You're a critter-loving, football-playing, science nerd with an amnesiac wolf shifter for a mate. I think that's enough."

Put like that, Ross had to agree.

As much as they both wanted to, they couldn't ignore the outside world forever. Ross's phone buzzed three times in quick succession. He groaned when he read the messages.

"What do they want?" Dylan asked sleepily. He'd been dozing on Ross's chest and Ross hadn't liked to disturb him.

"Niles wants to start work first thing in the morning and Owen apologizes, he and Zeke got caught up on Wild Creek pack business."

"We should invite them for dinner."

Ross checked the time. "Babe, it's nearly eleven. It's way past dinner."

"No wonder I'm so hungry." Dylan yawned and sat up. "I'm so tired. Invite them for breakfast."

Ross sent Niles a message. The response was immediate.

07:00

He groaned. "Early start tomorrow."

He sent Owen the same message, but he didn't respond.

"We played today. I guess we must start work sometime."

"You played," Ross pointed out. "I spent my day calling hospitals and talking to people who didn't want to talk to me."

"Poor baby." Dylan kissed his cheek and rolled out of bed. "Feed me before I eat you."

"You'd eat your mate?"

Dylan's belly rumbled. "I'm really hungry."

Ross guessed that was a yes.