Page 44 of As The Shifter World Turns

“Employees. That’s rich. I know what you two have been up to. Nothing else explains this.” He jerked his head around the office.

Ryder fisted his hands and yelled, “Just because you stick your cock in anything that will say yes doesn’t mean I do. Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

And by a miracle he left.

17

A NIGHT AT HOME AND MONEY WOES

Archer

“Tomorrow, huh?” Neil nudged me as we sat on his couch eating a new vegan ice cream I’d bought.

“No idea what you’re talking about.” That was a big fat fib. I’d been counting down the hours until Micah got back from his trip and my cock was in a state of panic. I’d kept my word that I wouldn’t jerk off—but I’d come close to breaking it—as painful as that was.

Getting in the shower each morning and evening, my hand slid to my arousal while the water pounded on my head and shoulders. But Micah’s voice in my head saying, “No. No. No,” had me slamming my fist against the wet tiles, tears of frustration mingling with water. Damn that unicorn shifter. Even when he wasn’t here he was in my head, and my other bits.

In bed at night, instead of jerking off, I lifted my legs and my fingers tapped around my hole, longing to shove them inside me leading to an orgasm. But what I really wanted was Micah sharing my bed. Him cuddling me, his lips on my hair and his cock in my hole.

And as Neil sat beside me tasting the ice cream and commenting, “Not too bad” as he licked the spoon, my dick was uncomfortably hard. Even my wolf was irritable and complained he needed to hunt at least once a day. That wasn’t happening, though I did cycle to Daire’s parents’ place one night and gave my beast his fur. That reminded me of the first time I’d been there. The night I saw Micah’s unicorn.

“Do too. Don’t lie.” Neil brought me back to Earth with a bump. He was good at sussing out how I was feeling.

“Oh, yeah that,” I shrugged but I got a look from Neil. Why was I pretending? For myself. Not wanting to get too excited and be disappointed, I tamped down my expectations. “We’ve been getting on okay.”

“Better than okay based on the way you skipped down the stairs yesterday,” he observed.

Swallowing the last of my ice cream, I turned to him. “Do you think there’s a way for us to work out?” Poor guy. He and Ivor must be tired of me asking the same question. Hours of insomnia since Micah had been gone, had had me coming up with possibilities of how he and I could build and sustain a relationship. Being together but not mating went against instinct. My wolf didn’t understand the word and yet it guided him in everything he did. He needed to be near Micah.

“I’m not a shifter historian,” Neil sighed. “Heck, I’m not even a shifter, but I believe in love.”

Putting an arm around him, I pulled my friend in for a hug. “After the upheavals in your life and all you’ve had to overcome, I admire you for being so positive.”

“Thanks. I’m taking steps to change things.” He stared at the empty ice cream container. “Shame we finished it.”

“Thinking of becoming a vegetarian or maybe a vegan?” I asked. Was that the change he was referring to?

“I wouldn’t go that far but it’s probably a good idea to reduce how much meat I eat. For me and the planet.” He tossed the container in the garbage. “I’ve accepted the offer to coach the youth soccer team.” I didn’t mention it but I noted how he gripped the kitchen counter as he spoke.

“Was that a difficult decision?” I asked as I licked the last of the ice cream from around my mouth.

“Mmmm. It’s terrifying but small steps.”

“If the coaching session is on the weekend, I can come too if you’d like. Not that I can help but having a friend with you might be comforting.”

“That’s sweet of you. I might take you up on that. My therapist is pleased with my progress, especially when I told her I went and had coffee by myself and then went shopping for clothes.”

“Neil, I’m so impressed. That’s not small steps, it’s huge strides.”

“But I was glad to be home and close the door.”

“I feel that way when I arrive back from work. Home is a safe space for everyone. Or should be,” I clarified, thinking of people for whom that wasn’t true.

“And it’s where I both live and work.”

Neil earned a good income from his regular job. And while many people would disapprove of what he did, he didn’t see it in quite the same way. There was a need and he filled that need. But he was torn between wanting a job that was intellectually satisfying, but probably didn’t pay well, and continuing his present work which brought in a steady income.

“Let’s change the subject and talk about you and Micah.”

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