In the Shadow of the Wolf 3 - Splintered Lies by RJ Scott, Diane Adams Page B
Authors: RJ Scott, Diane Adams
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The clearing was empty, as Nick had known it would be, but the hollow smelled of Joe and turning three times Nick settled onto the soft moss huffing out his pleasure at being surrounded by the smell of the wolf he loved. Tired from running and sated from the first meal he'd actually enjoyed Nick yawned and dropped his nose to his flank, eyes closing. He slept and dreamed mixed up imaginings of a wolf and a man but both with the common thread of longing and need for what he had lost.
Fingers rubbing behind his ears woke Nick after he'd been asleep for only a few hours. He blinked sleep out of his eyes and lifting his head found himself snout to nose with Joe. Joe looked as shaggy as his wolf. His hair uncut and an unkempt beard darkening his jaw, his eyes were sad. Nick registered nothing except Joe's presence A flash of disbelief transformed in the blink of an eye into delight. He shifted mid-lunge for Joe and knocked him flat in a tangle of arms and legs.
"Joe," It seemed the only thing Nick could say. "Joe."
"I'm here Zander. I'm here." Joe didn't try to move out of Nick's clinging grasp, just the opposite, as he tried to pull Nick closer. An impossible feat unless they intended to share one skin.
"Are you going to stay?"
The question hung between them unanswered as Joe buried his face against Nick's chest. "Shhh, no talking. Not yet."
Nick tensed and then relaxed. He understood Joe might not be ready to rejoin society, or do more than just share the same space for a little while. Joe coming to him was huge and as much as Nick wanted him back, wanted all of Joe without any more waiting, he knew they might be a long ways from having that. Rolling onto his back, Nick tugged Joe with him, tucking him against his side, Nick cradled Joe's head against his chest and let him listen to the steady, healthy beat of Nick's heart.
The sound seemed to soothe Joe and he relaxed, his hand curled over the scar on the other side of Nick's chest. Nick didn't react, though he rarely let anyone even see the raised angry flesh marking his brush with death. He lay still as Joe traced the marred flesh with one finger. Nick ran a soothing hand up and down Joe's back, idly counting vertebrae as he did. Joe's reaction to Nick's touch was evident against his hip and he pressed closer, leaning to kiss the angry scar hidden by the night and the almost dark moon. With a hand along Joe's jaw Nick guided him into a tender kiss. Joe's fingers dug into Nick's ribs when their tongues slid together. He pulled back out of the kiss panting.
"How bad is it?"
Confused Nick tried to bring him back into the kiss. "I'm fine, completely healed."
Joe held back. "No, the mess I left behind, how bad is it? Rob and Dan… everything." His voice sounded rough and hoarse as if he'd become used to not speaking.
"Oh, I thought you said no talking." Nick's attempt to tease Joe into a lighter frame of mind fell flat and he sighed. "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think." Nick sat up and crossed his legs. Facing him Joe followed suit, and their knees bumped. Faces cast in shadow by the dim starlight Nick still cocked his head trying to make out Joe's expression, failing that he brought Joe up to date in as few sentences as he could.
"Rob resigned from the force. They didn't ask him to. After everything came out about Senator VaughnHyland, I don't think they knew what to do with any of us really. On one hand we are all heroes and on the other… yeah what a fucking mess. Rob and I covered for Jamie and Dan. Jamie came out smelling like a rose, I swear that kid is part cat the way he always lands on his feet. They were ready to let Dan keep his job, but he quit too. As for me, I've been remanded into the care of The Home for Wolves at Risk, until such time as it's been determined how badly events have affected my ability to take care of myself."
Silence fell between them. Nick reached out and touched Joe's knee. Joe hooked their index fingers together. Nick thought the
The clearing was empty, as Nick had known it would be, but the hollow smelled of Joe and turning three times Nick settled onto the soft moss huffing out his pleasure at being surrounded by the smell of the wolf he loved. Tired from running and sated from the first meal he'd actually enjoyed Nick yawned and dropped his nose to his flank, eyes closing. He slept and dreamed mixed up imaginings of a wolf and a man but both with the common thread of longing and need for what he had lost.
Fingers rubbing behind his ears woke Nick after he'd been asleep for only a few hours. He blinked sleep out of his eyes and lifting his head found himself snout to nose with Joe. Joe looked as shaggy as his wolf. His hair uncut and an unkempt beard darkening his jaw, his eyes were sad. Nick registered nothing except Joe's presence A flash of disbelief transformed in the blink of an eye into delight. He shifted mid-lunge for Joe and knocked him flat in a tangle of arms and legs.
"Joe," It seemed the only thing Nick could say. "Joe."
"I'm here Zander. I'm here." Joe didn't try to move out of Nick's clinging grasp, just the opposite, as he tried to pull Nick closer. An impossible feat unless they intended to share one skin.
"Are you going to stay?"
The question hung between them unanswered as Joe buried his face against Nick's chest. "Shhh, no talking. Not yet."
Nick tensed and then relaxed. He understood Joe might not be ready to rejoin society, or do more than just share the same space for a little while. Joe coming to him was huge and as much as Nick wanted him back, wanted all of Joe without any more waiting, he knew they might be a long ways from having that. Rolling onto his back, Nick tugged Joe with him, tucking him against his side, Nick cradled Joe's head against his chest and let him listen to the steady, healthy beat of Nick's heart.
The sound seemed to soothe Joe and he relaxed, his hand curled over the scar on the other side of Nick's chest. Nick didn't react, though he rarely let anyone even see the raised angry flesh marking his brush with death. He lay still as Joe traced the marred flesh with one finger. Nick ran a soothing hand up and down Joe's back, idly counting vertebrae as he did. Joe's reaction to Nick's touch was evident against his hip and he pressed closer, leaning to kiss the angry scar hidden by the night and the almost dark moon. With a hand along Joe's jaw Nick guided him into a tender kiss. Joe's fingers dug into Nick's ribs when their tongues slid together. He pulled back out of the kiss panting.
"How bad is it?"
Confused Nick tried to bring him back into the kiss. "I'm fine, completely healed."
Joe held back. "No, the mess I left behind, how bad is it? Rob and Dan… everything." His voice sounded rough and hoarse as if he'd become used to not speaking.
"Oh, I thought you said no talking." Nick's attempt to tease Joe into a lighter frame of mind fell flat and he sighed. "I'm sure it's not as bad as you think." Nick sat up and crossed his legs. Facing him Joe followed suit, and their knees bumped. Faces cast in shadow by the dim starlight Nick still cocked his head trying to make out Joe's expression, failing that he brought Joe up to date in as few sentences as he could.
"Rob resigned from the force. They didn't ask him to. After everything came out about Senator VaughnHyland, I don't think they knew what to do with any of us really. On one hand we are all heroes and on the other… yeah what a fucking mess. Rob and I covered for Jamie and Dan. Jamie came out smelling like a rose, I swear that kid is part cat the way he always lands on his feet. They were ready to let Dan keep his job, but he quit too. As for me, I've been remanded into the care of The Home for Wolves at Risk, until such time as it's been determined how badly events have affected my ability to take care of myself."
Silence fell between them. Nick reached out and touched Joe's knee. Joe hooked their index fingers together. Nick thought the
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