Page 25 of A Bridge to a Troll's Heart
Tightening his grip, Arlo leaned in for a kiss.
Toby met his lips with enthusiasm, writhing and quaking beneath him. Wet heat burst into Arlo’s palm as he worked them. Toby cried out, a pleasured sound that took Arlo to his peak. He came against Toby’s taut stomach, shaking with the force of it. Toby held him tightly. He wrapped one leg over Arlo’s and brought them as close as he could manage.
Arlo collapsed, loose-limbed and content, over the smaller body, pressing kisses to Toby’s neck. “This all right?”
“More than all right.” Toby stroked his back. “Give me all of you.”
Snuggling in, Arlo took a deep breath. His exhale ruffled Toby’s hair. Arlo had never been so happy.
That was until Toby’s expression turned serious. “There’s one more thing I should tell you.”
Arlo tensed; he couldn’t help the reaction. Whatever it was, surely they’d work it out between them. “What?”
Toby blinked hard and shuddered. “Well, you know I’m a wolf shifter, right?”
“Yes?” Arlo rolled off him and tucked Toby against his side. “I’m aware.”
Trailing his fingers over the dusting of hair on Arlo’s chest, Toby struggled with the words. “Well, I’m not a very good one.”
“What do you mean?”
Toby’s voice hardly rose over a whisper. “I never learned how to shift.”
Though Arlo found the statement somewhat confusing, as he had a wooden statue carved to look like Toby in his wolf form on a shelf right next to the bed, he certainly didn’t care if Toby could shift or not. “That’s all right.”
Toby deflated in his arms. “It’s really not, though. All wolves learn to shift. Everyone else can do it, but something is wrong with me.”
“Nothing is wrong with you,” said Arlo, his voice firm. “I like you just as you are. I don’t need fancy tricks.”
Toby’s lips curled a little, not quite a smile, but Arlo would take it.
“You liked my handstand.”
Arlo grinned. “I like when you do handstands. I learned the hard way not to try them myself.”
“I still feel bad about that.”
“Don’t. It was my own fault. Toby, I don’t care if you don’t turn into a wolf. It makes no difference to me.”
“Oh, I turn into a wolf, Arlo. I meant I never learned to do it on my own. I can’t shift at will like the rest of my family. And worse, when the moon is full, I can’t hold the change back. I’m a wolf for three nights whether I want to be or not. The shifts are entirely out of my control. I often don’t come home at all on those nights. The wolf prefers to roam the forest.”
“Ah, I see.” Arlo tucked Toby in closer for a hug. “I’m sorry. That must be difficult for you.”
Toby sighed. “I’ve mostly gotten used to it. When I was younger, the other kids teased me. I was afraid I’d be exiled. I’m lucky my family loves me anyway. Wolves have been rejected for failing to control their shifts, but my pack never considered banishing me. It could have been worse.”
“Oh, moonbugs, how awful. Thank goodness your family has some sense.” Arlo dropped a kiss on Toby’s head. “I’m glad you told me.”
“I thought you should know I won’t be myself for three days each month.”
“Can we still visit when you are in your wolf form?”
“Yes, but it will be different.”
“That’s all right.” Arlo considered all he’d learned. “Wolves mate for life, you say?”
Toby nodded, his expression solemn. “We do.”
Arlo gave him a long kiss. “Good, that’s what I want. You, as my mate, for life.”
