Wesley (11 page)

With a sense of horror, it occurred to him that once he did shower, Armando’s scent would be gone from his skin. “Fuck that.” He could just dry wipe and change clothes or something. Spray his groin off with the showerhead.

It was with relief that he noted Sully’s car in the drive, but there was a little dread, too, because he also spotted Bobby’s. He really wanted to talk to his brother alone, but doubted the likelihood of that happening if Bobby wasn’t occupied doing something else.

Wes parked and unbuckled his seatbelt. He kept an eye on Sully’s front door, figuring it’d be his luck he’d run up the stairs to his apartment to clean up, and Sully would leave. If he couldn’t smell his own spunk so strongly… But he could, and so would Sully and Bobby.

After the last time he’d been around him, Wes kept in mind that Bobby wasn’t all sugar and teasing. He was like a voracious fly trap that could lure you in with a smile or make you lunge at him with a smartass comment, only to find your head handed to you.

Yeah, he’d go clean up and hope Sully stayed at the house studying or something.

Chapter Seven

Armando waited for the nausea to come, along with the nightmarish memories, but neither happened. His butt was going numb from sitting on the bathroom floor, but he leant back against the bathtub and rested one arm on his bent leg while he rubbed his forehead first then his temple. He’d been so sure the sexual experiences with Wes would stir up all the bad stuff, but they hadn’t, and now he was confused and horny, damn it, even though his erection had long since softened.

He could smell Wes, his tangy natural odour and the spicy bitter spunk. Tasted it still, too. Armando hummed to himself and licked his lips. They felt swollen, puffy, and that made him happy, stupidly so.

“Stupid, period,” he huffed. Why was he happy about having fat lips from sucking cock?
Because for the first time in maybe ever, I’m doing things, sexual things, because I want to. And I love it. The control, making Wes quiver and come apart, being his first—

Armando opened his eyes and smacked himself on the head. “Stupid, stupid, stupid!” It had been stupid to do it, to give in—
twice, Christ
! But the novelty of wanting someone and being able to have them, of those horrible memories vanishing long enough for him to feel like a healthy male—libido-wise, anyway—had been too much to resist.

Plus, Wes was fucking gorgeous, Armando had to admit. Cuter even than Sully had been. There were slight differences between the two brothers. Armando had seen them up close, heard the higher register in Wes’ voice. Armando had been able to resist trying to seduce Sully once he’d found out he was a virgin, even if later on Armando had come to regret his hesitancy. But he wouldn’t be able to resist touching Wes again.

“Again? Really?” Armando popped his head again. Talking to himself was something he’d done ever since he’d been kicked out of his house as a teenager. He’d been so, so lonely and scared. “I still am.”

God, he hated to admit that, but it was true, and it crushed him sometimes, like now when he was alone in his perfectly decorated house that should have felt like home but somehow never did. He was never going to escape that lost, lonely kid he’d been.

No, no he might. He had to think positive. Armando groaned at his internal cheerleader. “Shut up.” But that little optimistic voice in his head wouldn’t be quiet. It pointed out that he’d had two amazing experiences with Wes and he could have many more, if Wes was as willing as he seemed to be.

After two years of nothing, not even the desire to have sex, this new development was astounding, and irresistible. Armando had got erections during that time, but he hadn’t bothered with them. Around Wes, he could no longer ignore his need if the fate of the world rested on him doing so.

“Well, no wonder after a two-year hiatus.” Armando stood up and groaned again, this time because he was feeling stiff in places that didn’t bring any pleasure. A glance at his cellphone and he cursed. “Shit, I’m going to be late.”

He’d have to skip the shower because if he took the time to do that before going to Remus’ for dinner, he’d get his ass chewed out as only Remus could do. He’d agreed to go back to Remus’ since he’d left so hastily last night, and Remus had the odour-neutralising soap and spray Armando used.

Plus, just a few words from the shaman letting Armando know he’d disappointed the old man always made Armando feel like the worst sort of jerk.

Mindful of Remus’ perceptiveness, and aware that he probably had some sort of supernatural help with that, like reading minds or something, Armando did scrub his hands and face and brush his teeth. Remus was almost like a father figure to him, except his father had beaten the crap out of him and disowned him for being gay. Remus would never do such a thing, but he could be pretty damned scary with his shamanistic powers and all.

Once he’d finished with his hurried clean-up, Armando steeled himself for the likely coming inquisition and left his house. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. He snorted at that and began walking the half mile to Remus’ place.
Yeah, right. I’m going to end up telling him everything, down to how perfect Wes tasted.
Then he laughed, imagining Remus’ expression at hearing more than he probably would want to. He might just over-share for the fun of it.

* * * *

Wes knocked on the door. He heard Sully and Bobby squabbling over who was going to answer it and knew he wouldn’t be talking to his brother alone. Sure enough, Bobby opened the door and gave him a jaunty smile.

“Well, well, lookie who’s come to visit.”

Wes just kept from rolling his eyes. He didn’t want to come off as immature. Much. “Can you maybe not be a dick?”

Bobby looked him up and down through the screen door then cocked his head. “Well, I dunno. That depends on why you’re here. If it’s to start trouble, probably not. But if you’re just gonna stand there bein’ pretty—”

Wes saw it then, the barest hint of amusement in Bobby’s eyes. A weight he hadn’t known he was carrying lifted off his chest. “Aw, shut up,” Wes growled, feeling his cheeks heat with a blush. “I have muscles, so don’t call me pretty. If you had any—”

“I got the big one that counts.” Bobby grabbed his package and shook it.

Wes forgot about him being an alpha and about whether or not they were mad at him. Bobby was joking with him, and it was just the kind of comfort Wes needed. It reassured him more than apologies ever could have, and he thought Bobby must have felt the same. “Yeah, well if you have to point it out, it obviously isn’t that big. I mean, seriously, if it isn’t noticeable without you having to stretch it away from your body—”

“God, would you two shut the hell up?” Sully called out from the kitchen. “Wes, you have pretty features that are still masculine ones, just like I do. And Bobby, you have a huge monster-sized dick that you won’t get to use for a few days if you don’t stop tormenting my little brother.”

The look on Bobby’s face was priceless, shock making his mouth open as he whipped his head around to look at Sully in the kitchen. “What? Nu-uh, you wouldn’t cut me off, that’d be hurtin’ yourself, too.”

“Wanna try me?” Sully asked as he walked through the kitchen doorway holding a pot of something that smelt divine. “I do have toys—”

“Ugh!” Wes made gagging sounds until Sully laughed and Bobby huffed. “Dudes, really. Gross. I don’t want to know.” Although he was probably going to have to over-share, too, come to think of it.

As if reading his thoughts, Bobby opened the screen door and sniffed. “Ya smell like spunk.”

“Nice,” Wes muttered, scooting past him and walking towards Sully. “Go sniff your balls or something.”

Bobby’s laughter was more like a bark than anything else. Wes ignored him and made a beeline for the table where Sully was setting the pot down. He knew what was in there, recognised the spices in the air. “You made Mom’s beef stew!”

“And rolls,” Sully said proudly. “Just got to get them out of the oven.”

“I’ll do it, hun.” Bobby trotted to the kitchen, winking at them as he did so. “Need anythin’ else while I’m in here?”

“Uh, beer for us and a soda for Wes, please.” Sully sat down and quickly added, “and another bowl and silverware.”

Bobby muttered something about needing more hands but Sully didn’t get up and he gestured for Wes to sit, so he did. Sully tipped his head towards the kitchen. “It’ll give him something to do while you tell me why you smell like spunk.”

Wes cursed the blush that was back on his cheeks, but really, this was kind of what he’d come to talk to Sully about. But first, uncomfortable or not, he had something to say. Looking in his brother’s eyes, Wes hoped he conveyed his sincerity as he spoke. “I am really sorry for being a jerk. I know you have your own life, and a mate, and that’s all more important than me, like it should be.”

Wes understood all too well how someone could get carried away with their mate. All he thought about was Armando. All he wanted to do was touch him, suck him, anything Armando would allow him to do. “I acted like a brat, and I made stupid choices instead of being the type of person I want to be. But I’m changing that. I won’t let you or the family down again.”

Sully sniffed and swiped at his eyes even as he shook his head. His nose was red-tipped and his lips quivered for a moment before he seemed to get himself together. “No, see, you weren’t wrong. I was selfish, and that was bullshit. I put my mate first, sure, we should all do that. But I put me right under him, and everyone else was way down on the list, past what I wanted and my own desires. That was wrong of me, Wes, and I’m sorry. I’m a shitty big brother, but I promise I’ll do better. So will Bobby.”

Part of Wes didn’t care what Bobby did. Part of him wanted Bobby’s approval. It was kind of fucked up. All of him wanted this part of the conversation over with.

“Okay, so we agree to not be stubborn, selfish pricks.” Wes held out his hand and Sully chuckled while he shook it.

“Agreed. So…” Sully smirked at him. “Back to why you smell like cum.”

Wes couldn’t possibly blush any more than he already was without going up in flames. His voice squeaked on the first word he spoke, but he coughed and got it back on track. “Well, see, there’s this guy at the shelter, Armando—” which was as far as he got before Sully turned white and made a choking sound. “Sully—”

Bobby strode in carrying the drinks on a tray he sat on the coffee table. “Did you say Armando?”

Wes glanced at Bobby since Sully wasn’t actually choking, more like sputtering. “Yeah, guy about my age, black hair, dark, chocolate-brown eyes, few inches shorter. Armando, not to be called Mando, according to Queen Alisa’s orders.” Wes didn’t add that Armando was the sexiest man he’d ever seen, and could suck dick like a dream. Wes had figured a blow job would feel awesome, but he’d had
no
idea. He frowned and looked from Bobby to Sully.

“Why are you both looking like I did something awful? Armando started it, and he’s an adult.” Armando had an office and a title, Assistant Director of Youth Services. Wes wasn’t a perv.

“Wes.” Sully touched his shoulder and Wes looked at him. Sully still seemed awfully pale. “You don’t remember that hustler I took in before I met Bobby?”

“Hustler? You mean like a prostitute?” Sully was calling Armando a hooker? Or was Wes jumping to conclusions? Wes searched his mind but, the truth was, he had been pretty deep in his gaming a couple of years ago, well up until not too long ago, really. If someone had mentioned Sully and a…a hustler, Wes probably wouldn’t have heard over the racket of his video games. More likely no one had bothered to tell him for just that reason.

He narrowed his eyes at Sully. “You’re calling Armando a whore.”

Anger coated Sully’s features and he leaned over, grabbing a handful of Wes’ collar. “I am
not
, and you’re the one smelling like sex in a back alley.”

That hit too close to home and Wes flinched, averting his gaze.

“You gonna get your ass whipped, little bro-in-law,” Bobby added, his tone mean and low as power seeped from him.

Wes wasn’t going to be intimidated, much. “Fuck you, Bobby. And you too, Sully.” Wes grabbed Sully’s wrist and, after a short battle, prised his hand from Wes’ collar. He stood up so quickly his chair tipped over.

“I came here because I needed some help, some advice, and you two try to gang up on me and act like bullies, telling me Armando’s a whore and he’s
not
.” Even though he’d obviously had lots of experience. Wes would have to think about that whether he wanted to or not. “Not now, and if he ever was, he had to have had his reasons.”

Bobby opened his mouth and Wes pointed at him. “Just, no. You shut up and pull back on your whole alpha bullshit. I’m not your pack, so stop trying to boss me around. And you,” he cast an angry glance at his brother, “
you
could have at least listened to me. Believed in me. Just because I fucked up once, because I’m not the perfect brother or perfect son, that doesn’t mean I’m a complete loser.”