Chapter 18
“I want that. Which confuses me, honestly, because I’m not sure why my body thinks you hitting me would be hot.” I wrinkled my nose, and Trey chuckled, which allowed me to smile. “But just…not right now. My head is not there right now.”
Trey nodded like that made perfect sense. At least it did to one of us. Though my research into this kind of kink had been limited and furtive, I was trying to trust my instincts. I didn’t know that I couldtrust them, but I was going to try, and hope that between Trey’s expertise and my safewords, I’d find the way to do this.
“That’s fair and valid. Thank you for telling me, cub. It means a lot that you would trust me to honor you safewords.” He stood, then bent and kissed my forehead. I felt like I’d jumped over a huge hurdle, and the relief in me was palpable. Trey touched my face, fingers rubbing my beard, then stepped back. “I need to go for a run. You’ll be okay here for a bit?”
When he said “run” it was clear he meant as a wolf. My first instinct was to nod, to let him get on with whatever he needed, even if there was a small jab of jealousy that I couldn’t join him. But even if I couldn’t run with him—not that, as a bear, I’d be able to keep up with him anyway—I wanted to see him. My feelings must have shown on my face, because Trey gave me a soft smile.
“What is it?”
“Can I see your wolf?” I blurted before I could think better of it. I felt my face heat and that embarrassed me more than the question. I was too old to be blushing. I cleared my throat. “I want to be able to know him.”
Trey’s smile blossomed into a grin. “I’m certain you’d know him anyway, but yes. You can see. Come on.”
He held out his hand, and I quickly took it, scrambling off the bed to join him. We headed downstairs without a word between us, and he led me through the kitchen, into the back hall, and stopped at the door. I looked around, I couldn’t help it, and saw the empty wicker baskets lined neatly next to the door.
Trey started stripping even as he pointed to the lever handle on the door. “See? Easy in and out, even when you have paws instead of hands.” He waggled his eyebrows to make me laugh, and I did.
He tossed his clothes into one of the baskets and I loved how efficient that was. Clothes didn’t get mixed up if there were multiple people shifting, and they didn’t get dirty by lying around. Post shift, the last thing you wanted to worry about was getting dressed again, and this made it easy.
Naked, Trey was a work of art. I’d been half hard since earlier, and my dick gave a throb of arousal even though it didn’t go farther than that. I just liked appreciating his cut abs, strong shoulders, and toned arms. His thick thighs wouldn’t be ignored either. Then he crouched to shift, and I got to admire that muscular backside. Gods, he had a gorgeous ass.
The snapping of bone and Trey’s growls filled the air as he shifted. It sounded painful, but I knew from experience it didn’t hurt. It took only a few seconds before a beautiful wolf stood in front of me. Trey was bigger than I’d expected, but again, that made sense since he was the Alpha. Not just an alpha, but the leader of the pack. Of course he would be bigger and taller than the rest.
His coat was a myriad of grays, browns, and red, though he had some white on his muzzle and his front paws. And he was right. I don’t know how, but I would have known this was Trey anywhere. He still smelled like himself, but there was something more, something other, something in me that recognized him completely
As I was admiring him, Trey took the opportunity to sniff me. He paid particular attention to my groin and the small of my back, but he sniffed everywhere he could reach. Eventually he took my hand gently in his teeth and tugged. I got the message and squatted so he could sniff my neck, hair, and face. Then he rubbed his muzzle along my neck.
Marking me as his. I nearly started crying again.
Trey stepped back and opened his mouth in a wolfish grin before he showed me how he opened the door. I got the feeling he was very proud of himself and I laughed as I followed him onto the back deck. Trey shook himself, settling his fur, then lifted his head and howled.