Shifting Too Read online

  Nathaniel was worried.

  A storm was coming. The moon was waxing. Cris was hungry and scared and fretting.

  And then there was the new one.

  Sylvan.

  Strong.

  Fine.

  Sure.

  Hungry.

  "Nat?" Cris whispered and nudged him. "Should we run? I could distract him and find you?"

  He met Cris' eyes. "I'm not sure we should, love. There's a storm coming."

  Sylvan turned, dark eyes seeming to see right into him. "Come on, it isn't far. I've got fresh meat in the cold hold."

  Cris' belly rumbled, eyes going feral. "Meat? Really?"

  They moved together, faster, nostrils flaring.

  Syl laughed, the sound husky and not mean. "Yeah, really." The muscled body in front of them moved faster, Sylvan picking up speed.

  They paced him, the sound of Cris' heart loud in Nat’s ears, matching his own, the temptation to change strong.

  The house they entered was at the end of a quiet block, each building a good way from its neighbor and backing onto the woods. There were trees in the front yard as well, affording privacy. It was warm when they went in and smelled strongly of Sylvan, of the Beast, strong and male and good.

  Cris was shivering, head moving to catch each scent. "Nat... This is a good place." His hand was taken, nuzzled and licked. "Very good."

  Sylvan turned and smiled, nodded. "It is. Home. I'll give you the two second tour. Head's this door here. Kitchen's across from it here. And the rest of the rooms I converted into one large room. There's a fireplace, a large window looking out on the forest, pillows and comforters, a tree big enough to stretch out on."

  "Oh..." Nat was vibrating -- was going to vibrate apart. He'd been so strong, so long for his Cristian. "It sounds perfect."

  Cris nodded, touches looking to soothe his shakes. "Oh. Oh, so tired. My Nat is so tired."

  "So feeding first and then napping in front of the fire while the storm rages? I have to tell you it sounds perfect even before there are extra bodies to curl up with." Sylvan led the way into the kitchen, opening the cold box and taking out a large shank of meat.

  Cris was stripping them down, the Beast riding his heels, wanting free, wanting fed. He roared low as his paws hit the ground, whiskers trembling.

  Sylvan was there ahead of him, tearing a chunk off the meat before retreating to a corner, leaving over half the meat for him and Cris. Sylvan didn't seem worried about them, ignoring them in favor of tearing his food to pieces.

  Cris let Nat eat first, pacing and rumbling and watching, assuring he could eat in peace. In return, he left the best parts for his twin, the most tender bits, guarding the long, sleek back as Cris fed.

  Sylvan finished eating before they did, giving them a wide berth as he went around them and drank at a bowl that seemed to be replenished from outside. Then the big golden cat sat and began grooming.

  They fed well, then moved together to a protected corner. His twin began grooming him, tongue moving over his fur, soothing him as they tried to relax. He buried his muzzle in Cris' shoulder, rubbing carefully, joining their scents.

  Sylvan changed, the dark eyes remaining the same as Beast became man, the golden hair that cascaded down over tanned skin the same color as the Beast's fur. "Come to the fire when you're ready."

  They groomed and rested and played together a long time, enjoying the feeling of being full and fed. Finally the storm hit, the wind howling and the temperature dropping and they padded into the large room at the back of the house, searching for the fire.

  The entire back wall was actually a large window, making the room feel as if it opened to the forest. One side wall held a large fireplace in which a fire was blazing. In front of that lay a nest of blankets and pillows, Sylvan lying curled in the middle of them. The golden head raised from where it rested on two big paws, eyes watching them a moment before Sylvan relaxed back down again.

  They leapt up onto the pillows, Cris rolling playfully, snuggling into the warmth. He watched for a moment, resisting that pretty belly, before he pounced, landing on his twin with a happy purr. One of Sylvan's eyes opened again, the big cat seeming to watch them with amusement before Sylvan rolled casually, stretching out against them.

  Cris leaned over, touched his nose against Sylvan's, purring softly. Syvan's purr answered Cris, the gold cat's tongue sliding briefly over Cris' muzzle. Nat draped himself over Cris, staking his claim, nuzzling his twin's neck.

  Chuffing, Sylvan raised his head and licked his muzzle as well.

  Mmm... smelled good. Nat purred quietly, curling around Cris, tail landing on Sylvan. Sylvan's purr fit well with theirs, twined in with theirs like smoke sliding through the air. Cris relaxed, going boneless between them, eyes blinking as they watched the fire.

  It was warm and cozy and good. They were warm and safe, fed and groomed, Sylvan adding his heat and scent to them without threatening them. Nat laid his head down, purring, cuddling into the pillows.

  Let the storm come.

  ***

  He woke up with a purr, pushing into Nat's chest, nuzzling, tongue dragging along the soft fur there.

  Yes. Good brother.

  Good.

  Warm.

  His Nat.

  His happiness.

  His mate and protector and home.

  His Pride.

  He purred louder, still mostly asleep, rubbing into Nat's warmth, back into...

  Cris' eyes popped open and he snarled, pouncing out of the pillows, heart pounding, roaring his fury.

  The other Beast leapt to his feet as well, roaring back, snarling at him in return. Black eyes glittered in golden fur. Nat snapped at the other, rolling down to headbutt him, purring loud and hard, tongue sliding over his fur.

  Comforting him.

  Oh. Oh, right. Right.

  Yes.

  Okay.

  Cris shook his head and snorted softly. They were at the other's house.

  The other, Sylvan, snorted and slowly changed, the man wearing a sardonic look. "Do you always treat your hosts so?"

  Cris backed away, hiding behind his brother. Nat changed, hands gentle in his fur. "He was just scared. We're sorry."

  Sylvan's look had turned to a frown. "He's awfully skittish. What happened to him?"

  "Someone hurt him. He's fine now." He leaned into Nat's hands, not listening anymore. He was fine. Nat was fine. They were free and happy and it was good.

  He purred low. Very good.

  Sylvan's growl was low, angry. "Prides are nasty, treacherous."

  Nat stroked his head. "Someone wanted him as their own, someone stronger than me. I took him and ran as soon as I could."

  Sylvan's growls increased. "You said no one followed."

  No one did. No one would. The one who had hurt him was dead.

  Cris morphed and stood. "We should go, Nat."

  "If I had one such as he, I would follow when he ran. You may stay here, but not if Pride follows you. I will not have Pride here. Will not."

  "The Pride will not follow us." Nat's voice rang with truth, with admiration and respect for him.

  "We'll go." He tugged Nat's hand.

  "If Pride truly does not follow, you may stay." The black eyes glittered. "There is a storm outside and the moon is soon full. Stay and run with me through the forests once the hunger is upon us."

  "The Pride will not follow us. We will stay."

  "But."

  "No, love. We will stay."

  "Nat."

  His cheeks were taken in warm hands, tilting his face for a deep, strong kiss, Nathaniel melting him.

  Loving him.

  A deep, low purring slid around them. "Beautiful."

  Nat lifted his head, slowly lapping at his lips. "He is."

  "You both are," purred the other, slowly circling them, heat in those black eyes.

  Nat's arms wrapped around him, petting him. Protecting him.

  Sylvan scented them and th
en backed off. "I won't separate you. Won't ask one to do anything both can't do."

  There was the scent of truth there and he purred, meeting Sylvan's shiny eyes. "Thank you."

  He and Nat stepped closer to the fire, to the male. Sylvan reached out, touching their cheeks with warm fingers. They nuzzled together, his tongue sliding out to taste. Purring, Sylvan's eyes half closed.

  They moved together, slowly exploring Sylvan's hands, Sylvan's skin, Nathaniel holding him close the entire time.

  Sylvan purred for them. "Oh, boys... don't start something you aren't going to finish. It would be a terrible tease."

  "We need to know you."

  "You smell good."

  "Strong."

  "Rich."

  "We want to know you."

  "Wonderful," purred Sylvan. "Just what I want as well."

  They moved toward the pillows, Nat cradling him in warm arms, Sylvan settling beside them.

  "Such beauty. I can understand why one would want you, but I cannot understand why they would not want both."

  "My Cris is sweet as honey. The Alpha did not share."

  "He did not so much not want both, he did not want us to be together."

  Nat nodded behind him. "He wanted us both, separately."

  Cris shook his head. "We are not separate."

  "No, love. We are not."

  "No. No you are not. You are mates -- anyone who looks can see." Sylvan spoke simply.

  "Yes." Their voices purred together and they undulated slowly. "Yes..."

  Sylvan's hand reached out, sliding softly over their skin, his and Nat's. Oh, warm. He purred, rubbing his cheek on the pillows, wordlessly asking for more.

  "I would like to kiss you," murmured Sylvan. "To taste you both."

  He blinked slowly, rubbing back against Nat as he tilted his face up for a kiss. Sylvan purred and leaned forward, lips pressing against his. A slow rush of heat filled him, something deep in the pit of his belly that burned and his lips parted, asking for more.

  Sylvan's purr filled his mouth along with the hot tongue. Air, not his brother's breathing into him. Sylvan's tongue wasn't as sweet as Nat's, but the musk and power made him purr, made him open wide and search for more flavors, more heat.

  Sylvan kissed him deeply, but then pulled away, turning to drink from Nat's mouth as well. Cris felt Nat's shaft jerk against him, heard the sweet, low rumble of pleasure behind him. Oh. Nat felt it, too -- that heat, that burn.

  Sylvan moaned and looked at him and Nat. "Oh, you are both so sweet. Hot."

  "Do we..."

  "Taste the same?"

  "Nat and."

  "Cris?"

  Sylvan purred and shook his head. "At first you do, but deeper you do not."

  "No?" They spoke together, Nat's hand dragging up along his belly and making him gasp.

  "No. You are sweeter, your brother spicy." Sylvan smiled. "Now remind me again who is who and I will always be able to tell you apart."

  Nathaniel chuckled softly. "Should we tell, love?"

  He giggled, leaning up to accept his mate's kiss. "No. We should make him guess."

  "Oh, that isn't fair. You look as alike as two peas and I can hardly be blamed for not knowing which is Nathaniel and which Cristian!" Sylvan was pouting, though the black eyes shimmered with sex and happiness.

  "He likes green beans and I like carrots, does that help?" Cris laughed and stretched, rubbing happily.

  "I like to sleep high and he likes to bury himself in the pillows." Nat's voice teased from behind him.

  "No." The pout was growing as Sylvan's hands stroked over them.

  He purred happily, rocking and nuzzling into the touches. "He has a pretty pout, Nat."

  "Yes, love. He does."

  "Aha! You are Cristian and the spicy one is Nathaniel." Sylvan grinned at them, kept touching them. "Cris and Nat, if one is familiar, yes? And you may call me Syl."

  "Sssssssssyl." He liked that. It made his tongue tingle.

  Nat chuckled, pushing closer and vibrating him with deep purrs.

  "Yes. It rhymes with ssssexy." Syl gave him a wink. "And sssslinky. Which works well as you both are."

  He rolled his eyes playfully and leaned in to nuzzle and smell, his brother's mouth sharp-toothed on his shoulder.

  Syl purred for him, nuzzling back, rubbing their cheeks together, joining their scents. "You and your mate are very sexy. I want you both."

  "Yes?" He let his hands slide down Syl's belly, moaning at the smooth warmth. "You make us hot."

  "Make us burn."

  Cris nodded. "Yes. Burn. Deep inside."

  "I feel it, too. It has been very hard to ignore, very hard not to pounce and take you and your mate."

  He gasped as Nat's mouth moved down, tickling and licking and oh... He leaned forward, licking at Syl's skin.

  Syl purred for him and pressed close so that the vibrations shook him. "Mmm... sexy kitties." The black eyes flashed and his mouth was taken, Syl's tongue pushing in.

  Cris melted, hands burying in the fine, gold hair. He whimpered as Nat's tongue swiped across his lower back, making his legs part. Syl's cock grew hard against his belly, a large, burning brand. He wrapped one leg around Syl's, scooting until they could rub together, Nat's tongue driving him wild, wetting him for his mate's prick.

  Syl's purrs grew wilder, feral. "What's he doing to you?"

  He tossed his head. "Lick... licking me. Opening me. Getting me ready for his cock." He cried out and arched as Nat spread him wider.

  A shudder moved through Syl and one of Syl's hands slid down along his back until Syl's fingers touched his opening, Nat's tongue. A long moan came from Syl.

  He could feel Nat, licking them both now, hear the low needy growl from his mate. Syl moved faster against him, harder, mouth on his neck now, licking and sucking his skin. Nat moved up along his body, hands baring his nape for sharp teeth as his mate's cock pushed in deep. They all moved together, bodies slapping, two sets of teeth worrying his skin.

  Oh, it was fine. The heat, the pleasure. The scents. The pressure. Cris twisted and rocked, body and hands moving against hot skin, mouth open and crying out his need. Syl's hands twisted with Nat's on his hips, the two of them moving him back and forth.

  Oh. Good. So good. So big. He gasped and arched impossibly, clenching around Nat's heat as he came, toes curling.

  Syl roared as his scent spread up from between them and Syl jerked hard against him. Syl's scent joined his, sharp and not yet familiar.

  Nat followed soon after, growling into his hair, marking him deep within.

  Yes. Yes, very good.

  Cris relaxed, purring from his toes to his nose. Syl purred as well, licking at the mark left on his neck, hand reaching back to touch Nat. Nat's hand reached out, slid between him and Syl, then brought a slick hand to his lips for him to feed on. He took the long fingers with a purr, licking and sucking happily.

  Still purring, Syl licked at Nat's hand as well, helping him clean it, tasting them together. He lapped at Syl's tongue, chuffing at the pleasure and the heat inside him.

  Syl moaned. "Oh, the two of you are a distraction. A temptation. I'm so glad you came along."

  "Mmm... Are we distracting? Cris and me? We just want to rest, to play, to feel."

  "Yes, those sound like good things." Syl nuzzled and leaned past him to kiss Nat.

  Nat moaned, pressing against him, pressing him between them. "Hot. Oh... Hot."

  Syl moaned. "How do either of you get anything done but each other?"

  "Mmm... we like to hunt. I cook. Nat makes clothes, blankets." He licked at their lips. "What do you do?"

  "Hunt. I bring furs in, cure them, make coats and mitts and hats and scarves and boots for the humans."

  Nat drew in a breath, eyes shining. "Yes? I know how to work with those, to make those."

  Sylvan purred. "Wonderful. We are well-matched then in more than just sex."

  He blinked up, making his eyes wide-wide. "We have
sex?" His Nathaniel's laughter tickled deep within him.

  Sylvan laughed. "Well that's what I call it..."

  He nodded, giggling and gasping as Nat slid from him and morphed, fur warm on his skin.