Page 21 of Connected

He sighs and leaning his head back he lets the rain wash over his face. It feels good, and he strips off the over-sized pants, letting the water wash the rest of his body.

Kat watches him, his hand rubbing over his muscles.

His body is much like both Digby’s—and Darius. All firm-toned muscles, huge biceps, and tight abs; he works out a lot, and it’s obvious.

Smiling, she can’t help but step closer. Gently touching her hand on the worst of the burn marks, she draws her finger softly along the red lines covering his chest. “Are you in much pain?”

“A little. It’s fine—nothin’ I can’t handle. Don’t concern yourself, I’m good.” Her touch is nice, comforting and so very gentle, but it also causes him a huge problem—he can’t control his dick.

With the after-shift feeling still coursing through his veins, it stiffens and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. “Fuck,” he groans and removes her hand from his chest. “Kat, I need to go take care of this feelin’. I um… need to…” he coughs. “Sorry, it’s not you. Well… what I mean is it is but… oh I’m not gettin’ turned on by you, it’s just cos I shifted and—”

“Really?” she frowns, “So is this Zak’s guide on how-to-make-a-girl-feel-good? Cos that really doesn’t work for me,”she laughs. “I don’t turn you on, oh really?”

“Oh um, no. No, I didn’t mean that. It’s just… it’s not that. I just don’t like you like that… Oh fuck, I’m sorry. Really, I should just go jerk this off. Then we should make a move—I won’t be a minute.”

“Zak wait!” Kat places a hand on his arm holding him still and neither of them moves as they listen. “Did you hear that noise?”

“Yeah, yeah it’s coming from over there.” Zak grabs a hold of her pulling her close, “Somethin’s over there. Stay close—and stay quiet.”

He takes a long deep sniff of the air and frowns as they hear a loud rustle of leaves. With the rain still coming down, it’s difficult to make out the scent, but then cocking an eyebrow, he calls into the darkness. “Diggs… Digby, is that you?”

Kat fetches a weapon from where they rested and then positions herself next to Zak. They hold their breath, ready for whatever lurks in the dark, and Zak gets ready to shift. A snarl creeps across his lips as he sniffs again and recognizing the scent he calls louder, “Digby…”

Kat looks at him as she listens, and then a huge smile breaks across her face. She gasps in relief as a bright blue pair of eyes stare at them from the darkness. “Oh my God, Digby… you found us!” She squeals, delighted to see the large black wolf stalk towards them. Her eyes search the gloom for the rest of the team—a slight pang of disappointment when it’s only him. She grins as a naked Digby stands in front of them.

“Oh man, thank God!” Zak’s exhausted sigh gives away his utter relief. “How the fuck did you find us out here?”

“Hey, that was the easy part. You do realize how bad you pair smell right now?” Digby laughs. “And what the fuck is this you’re doin’—some kinda rain dance?”

“Oh, shut the hell up and come here, man.” Zak grabs at him, hugging him so tight. The two strong—naked—men clinging desperately to each other. Digby can’t let go, he’s just so relieved to find them both alive.

“Geez… fuck, I thought I’d lost you both. Come here and let me look at you.” He places his hands on Zak’s cheek and cradles his chin before once again he pulls him close. They stand gripped in each other’s embrace. “So, what the hell happened?” Digby steps back and touches gently at the painful red lines on Zak’s chest. “What the… How d’you get these?”

“Alvarez and his goons—they were pretty much prepped for us. I mean, I think they knew we were comin’. They’d been lookin’ for Kat. Oh, and these…” he rubs his hand over his chest, “they’re nothin’—some damn wooden sticks they have dipped in silver. Diggs, that place is a real hell-hole back there. They’ve got a room filled with caged wolves—pregnant wolves—they’re holdin’ hostage.”

“What the hell…” Digby’s chin drops and he turns looking at Kat. “So, did you find out why they came after her?”

“No, I don’t know but… that collar, around her neck, Alvarez said he’d been given it. Diggs, I can’t get the fuckin’ thing off her. It’s made of some special silver and it’s stoppin’ her from shiftin’. Alvarez said something about vamp’s bein’ involved.”

“Fuck. Well, at least you got away, that’s something.”

“Yeah… and I managed to kill a couple of knuckleheads before we left—shifter sons-of-bitches. One of them he was gonna… well, he was gonnahurtKat. Good job I came around when I did. Hell, I tore that fucker apart.” Zak smiles. He takes a deep breath and he and Digby again embrace. “Diggs, we have to go back—we need to get those wolves out. Alvarez, took one of their pups when he left and um… look, I didn’t wanna say anythin’ in front of Kat cos she was so upset but,” he hushes his voice, “do you think they’re involved in one of the adoption traffickin’ cartels—like the one we busted a while back?”

“Yeah,” Digby nods his head, pulling his hand through his hair, “you could be right, or could be somethin’ worse—black market herbal medicines, maybe?”

“Oh, shit… Oh no. No, please don’t say that. God… don’t tell Kat that. That turns my stomach to think about it.”

“Well, let’s not think about it. I’m just so relieved you’re both okay. God, you don’t know how worried I was. I didn’t even wanna think what I’d do if… if anythin’ had happened to you.” Digby takes a breath, “but you’re here now. Zak, I’m never gonna forget that you kept her safe. Now we need to go find Darius and then… then we’re gonna go tear that fucker Alvarez apart. He’s not gettin’ away with this. We’re gonna kill him—it’s time that fuckin’ shifter was dead.”

“Good, I personally can’t wait for a little payback. He’s one sick-muthafucker and I want his balls. The things he did—I’m gonna tear them off with my bare hands.”

“Well, you got it—I swear they’re all yours. Come here you dumbfuck…” Digby hooks his arm around Zak’s neck and kisses the top of his head. “You know I thought I was gonna lose ya—both of ya. I didn’t know what the hell I was gonna do. Don’t you dare do that to me ever again, you hear me?”

“Yeah, I hear ya. Wingman, forever right?” Zak smiles. Loosening the grip of Digby’s arm from around his shoulder, they turn around and Kat can’t help but smile.

She stands watching—the two powerful guys holding each other and the closeness of their embrace, the joy reflected in their eyes at finding each other. She steps forward and Digby pulls her close, kissing her forehead as she rests her cheek against his chest. Her arm snakes tightly around his hip and his arm curls around her waist. Digby holds her to him as she takes a hold of Zak’s hand.

It makes a connected bond between the three of them.

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