Chapter Four

Ryder

A s they waited off set while the cameras were being rearranged for the shots of them testing the beds, Ryder shook his hand out again. There’d been a zap of shifter energy when they’d first touched that hadn’t fully faded. It was unlike anything he’d experienced before.

But that hadn’t been the weirdest part.

“So,” Storm said casually, “I heard you can tell the future?”

Now, that? That was the weird part.

“Yeah. I get glimpses of people’s futures when I touch them, but it’s more of an impression of what’s likely to happen than a clear image of something that will actually occur.”

It wasn’t the most useful of magical skills. He couldn’t make a living from it. No one would pay him to tell them he saw scuffed shoes, the jingle of newly cut keys, and the color green in their future. Or possibly not, depending on their life choices.

He could have used it to swindle humans if he wanted to, but that carried no appeal.

Useless skill or not, Storm’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? What’d you see for me?”

“Uhh…”

“That bad?”

“No, it’s just…” Ryder held his hand poised over Storm’s muscular chest. “May I?”

Storm shrugged. “Go for it. You’ll be touching a lot more than that in a few minutes here.”

And he was very much looking forward to that, but first…

Ryder placed his hand firmly against Storm’s chest, his golden skin contrasting with Storm’s dark brown.

But there was nothing.

Well, not nothing . Storm’s shifter energy stirred under Ryder’s palm, making his skin tingle, but no glimpses of the future transferred with the touch.

Just like when they’d shaken hands. Just like the kisses they’d shared.

Why wasn’t he getting any flashes of a potential future from Storm?

He’d always thought of it as a bit like static electricity. The first time he touched someone, there was a shock. That was when he saw the most, and then it lessened. If he hadn’t touched them for a while or if something significant had changed their electrical charge, so to speak, he’d get another large shock. It occasionally made meeting new people awkward, but after that, it was fine—a quirk he’d had to adjust to, especially when he was filming.

But with Storm, there was nothing. Not even the vaguest spark of possibility.

Maybe he needed to… unplug and try again? He removed his hand and rubbed his palms together before deliberately placing it back on Storm’s chest.

Still nothing.

He frowned and glanced around the studio, ignoring Storm’s confused expression. Tristan was lounging off to the side in case his illusions required adjustments. Ryder marched over to him, putting his hand on Tristan’s bare forearm.

Soft fur, rich coffee, glowing tattoos .

Tristan knocked his arm away. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Do I need to remind you that?—”

Ryder walked off, staring at his hand. Okay, strange.

As he passed Rhys, he snuck out a hand and brushed it against the cameraman’s buff arm.

Mountains of dirty diapers, sleepless nights, tiny little feet .

“ Oh .” He froze. That was new. “Congrats on the baby.”

Rhys beamed at him. “We were waiting until tomorrow to make the announcement. It’ll officially be twelve weeks.”

In the round of cheers and back-slapping that followed, Ryder returned to where Storm was watching him with bemusement.

He put his hand on Storm’s chest again.

Nothing.

He pressed harder, then bounced it against the distractingly firm muscles of Storm’s pecs.

Still nothing.

What the hell? This had never happened before.

He peered at Storm. “I can’t see your future.”

Storm’s brow furrowed. “What does that mean? I don’t have a future? Am I going to die soon?”

“If you were, I’d get a sense of foreboding or finality at least, and I’m not getting that. I’m not getting anything .”

“I thought you said you see people’s futures when you touch them?”

“For everyone else, I do.”

“You see everyone’s future but mine?”

“Yeah.”

That word hung between them, and Ryder tried to puzzle out what was happening.

Wait. No. He didn’t see everyone’s. There was another person whose future he’d never seen, but there was a logical explanation for that, one that didn’t apply to Storm.

“Okay!” Brandt’s voice sliced through the celebratory noise in the studio. “Places! We’ve got a montage to film.”

Right. They had a job to do. Ryder pushed the strangeness of being unable to see Storm’s future aside and focused on their scene.

They stepped onto the set, standing beside the first bed as Brandt called action.

This bed had a sleek, modern design with a minimalist frame made of dark wood on low-profile legs, giving it a sturdy, elegant appearance. Crisp white sheets were neatly tucked around it.

“Alright, gentlemen,” Kodiak said. “For this medium-firm mattress, we’re testing to make sure it’s at the optimal height for a blow job.”

Storm huffed before grumbling, “Fine. But I’m straight, so I’m not going to enjoy it.”

He threw himself down to sit on the edge of the bed. His arms were crossed over his chest, but his legs were nice and wide so Ryder could settle between them. For all his protesting, his dick was having a harder time staying in character as Ryder knelt before him.

Ryder meekly wrapped his hand around Storm’s thick shaft, his parted lips hovering over the tip peeking out of its foreskin. He glanced up at Storm and saw the amber flare of his wolf in his eyes. Their gazes locked, and heat rushed through Ryder.

How well would Storm be able to keep up this feigned indifference, pretending this wasn’t exactly what he wanted, that he wasn’t enjoying every second he was in Ryder’s mouth? Ryder suppressed a wicked grin, opting instead for a timid lick that made Storm’s jaw clench at the tease.

After a few more licks that had Storm’s abs jumping, Ryder stretched his mouth open as wide as it would go, exaggerating the movement as he leaned down to take Storm in.

Storm’s arms shot out, his hands fisting in Ryder’s hair to stop him. “Teeth! Teeth!” he squeaked, the note of panic in his voice too real to be acting.

“ Oh .” Ryder made his eyes big and innocent. “Sorry. Is this not how I’m supposed to do it?”

Storm scowled at him. “Lips, not teeth. It’s not a chew toy.”

Ryder fought back his amusement, but when he lowered his head, his teeth were safely behind his lips. Inch by inch, he took Storm deeper, pulling off a few times like he couldn’t figure out how to handle Storm’s dick as it thickened to full hardness.

His character was a fast learner though, because as soon as he’d managed to suck Storm all the way down, he got the off-camera signal to do things properly.

He smoothed his hands up the inside of Storm’s thighs, pushing them farther apart, loving the ripple of energy against his palms, how it seemed to dance under his touch. He’d never understood when mages said shifter energy was appealing, but now he absolutely did. It sang to him, luring him in with its sweet siren song. He wanted to draw it into himself, to channel it, to see what he could do with that power.

Ryder hummed around the head of Storm’s cock, his hand stroking the shaft with a deftness that would never pass as amateur. He swirled his tongue, sucking and licking with purpose until Storm let out a choked-off moan.

So much for being straight. He’d smirk about making Storm break character so quickly, but his mouth was already occupied.

Kodiak muttered to himself, taking notes on his clipboard and leaning in to inspect Ryder’s work. He nodded and looked at Storm. “Check the bed is the right height for you to thrust into his mouth.”

Storm didn’t need to be told twice. He tangled his fingers in Ryder’s hair as he fucked his face, setting a quick rhythm that had Ryder’s hands gripping his thighs.

Damn, this was good. How long would Storm last like this? Could he fuck Ryder’s mouth until his jaw ached? Would he return the favor after he came down Ryder’s throat?

Unfortunately, they didn’t get to find out during this scene.

“Cut!” Brandt called. “On to the second bed!”

Storm groaned as Ryder let him slip from his lips.

Mouth finally free, Ryder smirked up at him. “This bed really is ideal for a blow job.”

“Let’s see if you’re so smug after the next bed.”

Given the position they’d be in, Ryder was more than confident he would be.