Desires Unleashed (9 page)

He smiled again at the thought of Warren and Adrian seeing each other after all this time. The last time Warren was home, Adrian was away on vacation. Adrian had been most upset when he learned that he'd missed the opportunity to see Warren again. Though the two were the best of friends, had grown up together, they managed to become lovers, in spite of their differences. Xander did not oppose that at all. Adrian was his son, while Warren had been raised by him. He didn't mind them experimenting with their relationship. However, he didn't believe that their romantic relationship would stand the test of time. It was apparent that both men were very dominant, although Adrian had always been the more dominant of the two. They broke up for the second time ten months ago. Adrian never stopped trying to get Warren back. This night would prove to be an interesting one. Xander sipped his tea as he turned the page of his geographic magazine. He was becoming most fascinated with the various cultures of the different tribes in Africa. He thought it would be interesting, as well as entertaining, to take a return trip to Africa; perhaps for a second honeymoon. He had been there once, a long time ago, but at that time, he had been romancing his now current wife.

She had been a volunteer with the
Peace Around The World
organization, who were there to feed the hungry. He had been on safari and had come upon their camp. Their scents attracted each other. She had been in heat, her aroma as strong and intoxicating as the scent of blood. It called to him, as his scent did to her. They made love that night, they talked about their lives, and they fell in love. They were married after a year of dating, or as it is called inside the Pack, mating.

His wife came into the room. She stood five-feet-nine inches, with a slender frame. Her smooth, milk chocolate skin glowed in the lamplight. She wore her long, dark brown hair braided in cornrows flowing down her back. Her full, luscious lips parted in a smile as she looked lovingly at her husband. Her light brown eyes danced with excitement at the very sight of him. She loved looking at his broad muscular shoulders. Her heart skipped beats as he gazed at her with his stunning silver eyes. She wanted to run her fingers through his waist-length brown hair.

“Hi darling. Dinner is almost done. Are you going to eat in here or in the dining room with the rest of us?” she joked.

Xander smiled, closed his magazine and rose from the chair. He covered the distance between them in only a few quick strides, then held his lovely wife in his warm embrace. He smiled at her, leaned forward and kissed her soft lips. He nuzzled his nose to hers so that she smiled and giggled. His hands caressed her lower back as he squeezed her tighter, almost as if he didn't want to let her go.

“I'll eat in the dining room with everyone else, “ he whispered in her ear. “And darling, we have a guest tonight. Our headstrong young one returns. He has a case that he wants me to look into.” His wife pulled away, looking at him.

“Am I to understand that Warren is coming home tonight?” she asked, a look of humor played on her face. She was well aware that this night was going to be a long one.

Xander nodded. “Yes, he seemed pretty upset about his case. There must be a shape-shifter involved. I will need to see for myself if it's something I think I may be able to handle. But for now, I'll let you go and finish dinner.” He released her reluctantly. She smiled and headed toward the heavy oak-carved double doors, then stopped. She turned to face her husband.

“Xander?”

“Yes, Tatiana?”

“Please don't let Adrian get out of hand tonight. We both know how our son can behave when he is around Warren.”

Xander nodded, smiling, “I'll try.” He couldn't promise that Adrian wouldn't act out. Adrian had been headstrong and cocksure since he was a young boy. When Xander first accepted Warren into his home, Adrian didn't like the new male near his own age, taking away some of his father's attention. He didn't like the fact that Warren was scared and sad and always, always had someone comforting him. It wasn't until his father sat him down and told him he should help, he could have a friend in Warren if only he were nicer to him. Adrian didn't believe that he was lonely enough to want a friend, let alone “Warren the Whiner”. He had been wrong. They had become the best of friends. Later, as the years passed, they had become the worst of lovers.

The two fought constantly about who was the aggressor in their relationship. Neither man wanted to claim the more submissive role and they could not share the dominant one. Adrian always felt that since he pursued Warren first, that he was one year older and stronger, then he should no doubt hold the title. However, Warren saw things differently. Since the arguments about who should be on the top never seemed to end, Warren could no longer endure Adrian's controlling personality. Warren decided to end the relationship.

Adrian never agreed to the termination of the relationship. As far as he was concerned they were still dating, only on hiatus.

Xander made his way to the grand dining room. The room itself had been remodeled to accommodate all the extra people who had moved in with Xander over the years. The extra long redwood table sat in the middle of the room. The wood was polished to perfection and reflected the rainbow specter from the four crystal chandeliers that hung overhead. The thick burgundy carpet covered the floor and remained stainless. Xander always enjoyed art, and it showed throughout his home. He had purchased priceless artworks from several famous artists, and some not so famous. He enjoyed the self-expression the art projected. It was like delving into the artist's soul, seeing the passion that may have been hidden otherwise.

The sound of the door bell chiming alerted him that Warren had arrived. He walked from the dining room to the front room which was decorated as tastefully as the rest of the mansion. The soft, burgundy and gold embroidered upholstery covering the sofas and chairs was spotless and looked brand new. He didn't allow anyone to abuse his furniture. Once in a rage, Adrian had thrown one of his thousand dollar chairs across the room, splintering it. Xander had made him pay for it, dearly. He loved the feel of the thick burgundy carpet under his feet. On some rare nights when he was alone, he would trace the pattern of the carpet with his bare toes, smiling to himself at the simplicity of it all and marveling at the hand-stitched designs. He also purchased hand sewn rugs; “artwork for the floor” he once called it. Some rugs he considered too beautiful for the floor; those were hung on walls. Reaching the front door, he could smell Warren's scent already from the other side of the door. He could hear him breathing. He smiled as he opened the door.

“Warren, how good to see you again. Come in.” He watched Warren enter the house. “Where is your key?” he asked curiously with a slight frown.

“I lost it about three weeks ago. I'll need another one.” He tilted his head upwards, his nostrils flaring as he smelled the air. “Is dinner ready?” he asked almost excitedly. Xander chuckled.

He nodded. “Yes, dinner's almost ready, I think. Come, let us go into the dining room. Everyone will be so happy to see you.” Xander placed his arm around Warren's shoulders, leading him into the dining room which was already filling up as hungry wolves smelled dinner. They all looked up, recognizing Warren's scent as he entered the room, pleased to see him.

“Hey Warren!!! Welcome back, man!” A tall slender man with pale skin, in a red t-shirt and black jeans said as he made his way around the table to greet Warren personally with a big bear hug. He was followed by ten other people all gathering around to hug their Pack brother. They all wished he would stay home, at least to visit more than he did, but they all had their ideas of why he didn't. Some of those ideas included Xander's strict rules, and Adrian's lust.

“How's everyone?” Warren asked, obviously happy to see everyone and to know that they were all doing fine.

“Everyone's well, Warren, real well. Why don't you visit more often, you bum! You know how much everyone misses you, you jerk,” Nicole said, wearing a hot pink halter top and white capri pants. They were so tight, Warren doubted if she could even stick her finger in the back pocket.

“I'll try to visit more often, but you know this job keeps me pretty busy sometimes,” Warren said, shrugging.

“I can keep you even busier,” said a rich, deep voice from across the room.

Warren looked up to see Adrian enter the dining room, carrying a huge platter. His mother and Matron of the house, Tatiana, followed behind him with a large bowl of vegetables. Warren had hoped that Adrian was still at school, teaching and working on his doctorates in English Literature. He would have preferred to avoid this reunion. Adrian was always difficult for him to resist. This was going to be a long night.

“All the more reason why I visit when I can afford to visit,” Warren said smugly. Adrian smiled; he knew what Warren meant and was banking on it. He wanted Warren there, with them, as it was supposed to be. Not frolicking around with the government funded police, turning in his own kind to the human firing squad.

“We'll have to work on that then, won't we.” It was more of a statement than a question. Adrian left the room to gather more food from the kitchen. Warren sat down in the seat to the left of Xander. He leaned closet to whisper something to Xander. He knew everyone in the room would hear anyway, but only Xander would know what he was talking about. He opened his mouth to speak, but Xander raised his hand, shaking his head slightly.

“Tell me later,” he said.

Warren nodded. Adrian returned, carrying another heavy platter filled with slices of roast beef. He leaned in front of Warren to place the platter on the table, making sure his crotch brushed against Warren's elbow, causing him to tense slightly.

“For the guest of honor,” Adrian said as he leaned closer to Warren's ear. “I have your dessert if you still have room for it...I'm sure you will.” He stood up, smiling widely, walking back into the kitchen for more of the food. A few of the other Pack members chuckled, batting their eyes at Warren teasingly. After about three more trips to and from the kitchen, the table was covered with platter upon platter of delicious smelling foods. Everyone was seated at the table. Fifteen hungry wolves reached out for slices and chunks of the pork and beef roasts. Platters of slow roasted cornish hens, tender sliced roast turkey cutlets, smothered in gravy were passed around the table. Two people argued over the bowl of mashed potatoes with homemade gravy. They passed the bowls of fresh string beans, broccoli and cauliflower amongst them. Sounds of metal scraping glass echoed in the room as forks and knives scooped up portions of food. This was followed by sounds of finger sucking, lips smacking, moaning, and thirsty swallows. Someone burped loudly and others laughed at the table. Xander frowned. He was well aware of the nature of wolves, although he did appreciate a
little
table manners. After a stern look from the Pack Master, the laughter subsided.

After dinner, Xander and Warren went to Xander's soundproof study for privacy. Xander had settled comfortably into a high-backed leather chair. He leaned over and opened a box filled with Cuban cigars. He offered one to Warren who politely waved it away. Xander sat back in the chair, lit his cigar, gesturing for Warren to go ahead and speak.

“Well, I know how you wanted me to inform you whenever we get a case that may involve a shape-shifter,” Warren said as he settled into the seat opposite Xander's.

Xander nodded. “And you think one is involved?” he asked.

Warren nodded, opened a file and handed some photographs over for Xander to look at. “Those were taken today, this morning actually. The body was discovered around 9 A.M. There were no witnesses, just the poor schmuck who had the misfortune to have discovered the body.” He watched Xander flip through the photos, one after another. He looked at the frown that formed on his face and knew that Xander was thinking the same thing he had when he first saw the condition of the corpse.

“Do you think a werewolf did that, one of us? Whoever did it, I think, enjoyed it,” Warren said when he thought Xander had taken in enough of the photos to catch his meaning.

“Please do not refer to our kind with that ridiculous human terminology. And yes, I think you may be right. But where's the blood? To have his head ripped off there should be blood all over this area,” Xander asked, looking through the pictures again to see if he had missed anything.

“Yes, you're right. The body was missing most of its blood. That's what makes me think a vampire might also be involved. But I'm not sure, see. I know that a vampire is strong enough to rip off a human head, but I caught the scent of a shape-shifter, a wolf. It was faint but it was enough. I don't think the body was killed there, I think it was deposited there. And I don't mean dragged either. The killer had to have driven to that spot and dumped the body to throw off the scent trail. Someone is doing their homework.”

“If there is a shifter involved then why is the body not mangled? Surely a shifter would want to feast? Was the scent you smelled in the area on the body?” Xander asked, trying to make heads or tails of all that he was taking in. Warren shook his head, confused. He sat back in the chair, chin resting on his hand as he traced back in his mind to the scene of the crime.