'Miss Nettie' was the old woman who lived by herself in the middle of the Territory and who was generally known was a spry, contrary old girl. Vin had taken a liking to her and dropped by several times a month, just to see how she was doing. Nettie Wells was of an undetermined age, had always lived at the small house, and she refused to move closer to the town or even install a more modern radio. Hers was held together by what Tanner called spit and prayers, and Ezra sometimes wondered what museum it might have belonged to.
Then again, a museum would pay a hefty dollar to get their hands on a working antique like that. Like almost all her furniture and installations. Her only more modern possession was a wind generator and a solar array, though those still looked like they had been handed down as well. She had installed everything herself, Vin had once told Ezra, and she maintained it.
Nettie still had her own garden, grew her own vegetables, and she hunted. She had Casey, who visited regularly from town, sometimes stayed with the older woman for weeks, and helped her. Casey called her 'aunt', but Ezra doubted they were related, despite sharing the same last name. There might be a common ancestor somewhere, but according to Vin, Nettie had never married, had had a few siblings who she knew nothing of at all, and Casey's mother had been an only child.
Nettie was simply one of those more colorful, unique souls out here, the kind of people who made up the Four Corners Territory.
The storm hadn't done a lot of damage in this area and it looked almost peaceful, until the moment Nettie was out on her porch with a rifle pointing at the two new-arrivals.
"Hey, Miss Nettie!" Vin called.
"Tanner! Nearly shot your furry ass! What got your hide up here?" She squinted at Ezra. "And who's that?"
"We're just checking in on you," Vin replied. "And you know Ezra."
"Standish? Can't say I ever saw you shifted." She lowered the gun. "Fox, huh? Figures." She regarded him closely. "Fitting."
Of course fit. That had always been the plan. Deceive, obfuscate, hide.
"How are you?" Vin asked, walking closer, ignoring the comment.
"A little weather doesn't do me in, Tanner. You know that. There's folks out here who run screaming from a distant thunder. I've lived through storms before." Nettie shrugged as she secured the gun.
"I know. We're just making rounds, have a look around the outer houses and farms."
"Wasn't so bad out here. Some moaning and groaning, some rain. Nothing else. House is still standing." Nettie put her weapon on the table. "You want a bite to eat? Got some clothes that might fit you, just in case you're shy."
Her eyes lit up with what Ezra clearly saw as mischief and the fox grimaced. Shifters rarely if ever carried clothes with them. He didn't mind nudity, but not around Nettie.
"Just passing through," Vin came to the rescue. "You need anything?"
Like a new radio, Standish thought sarcastically.
"No, all's well. You boys look after the others. I'll give a holler when there's something I can't handle."
With what? Ezra mused, tilting his head.
"Don't give me that look, Standish," Nettie warned him, hand resting on the gun.
It was as old as her, probably older, and Ezra wondered if it was even functional. And if it was, could she hit anything with it?
"I've been in Four Corners since before you were born, pup," she went on. "The fancy tech doesn't work anyway. Saw some of them scientists traipse around, too. They never believe it either."
"Yeah, they came back a while ago," Vin laughed. "As usual they complained about gear breaking."
"Hard heads," the old woman agreed. "Idiots, too. Now, make yourselves comfortable. I got some stuff to do."
"Where's Casey?" Ezra asked, looking for the young woman.
"In town. She's picking up some delivery."
And would most likely spend some time falling over her feet around JD. Their sheriff and Casey had an on and off thing, mostly consisting of awkward flirting and even more awkward near-dates. Ezra had cringed a few times as he had watched the interactions. Buck had tried to explain the finer details of turning a man's head to Casey, but she wasn't the type for skirts and dresses. And JD was trying a little too hard to be the rough and tough regulator to pick up on the little nuances between them.
Vin grinned, apparently picking up Ezra's thoughts. "Let's catch a breath here, Ez," he decided. "Chris won't mind if we don't get back until night fall."
No, he probably wouldn't.
xXxXxXxXxXxX
Despite her claims that others might need them more, Nettie didn't mind the two shifters staying as she puttered around the homestead. Pots and pans were banging around in the dark interior and she carried her wash to the cloths line, refusing help before either man could other.
Ezra just sat on the porch, watching the peaceful land, more at ease out here than he would confess out loud.
The way Vin looked at him, the other shifter knew.
Finally Nettie took some very sweet, fruity cake out of her small fridge and pointedly served it on platters.
Good lord, Ezra thought with resignation.
Vin had no modesty and shifted, shooting the fox a pointed look as Ezra contemplated killing him. Nettie dug out two shirts and pants for them to wear, then dished out more cake and made coffee. Her comment of "Nothing I haven't seen a hundred times before" didn't help. Ezra's evil look just had her grin.
So much for not wanting a bite to eat, the crossbreed mused as his pack mate eyed the treat appreciatively. The man had a massive sweet tooth.
Vin polished off three slices, looking full and content when he was done.
"That tasted wonderful, Miz Nettie," he sighed, patting his stomach.
"Old family recipe," she replied, looking pleased.
Ezra had to confess it was one of the best dried fruit cakes he had had in a while. Even if the clothing was atrocious and he had been sitting bare-foot at the table.
"You're still more like them fancy city boys than Territory," Nettie told him out of the blue, though not unkindly.
"I was born in a city, Ms. Wells," Ezra pointed out.
She waved it off. "Doesn't matter for shifters. They got it in their very bones. You can feel it. You know this is right."
Ezra glanced at Vin, who had his eyes closed, apparently dozing, but the smile on his lips belied that.
"You're here, one of us, Standish. After two years the land can tell what and who belongs. You do."
Ezra refused to read anything deeper in the words and simply chewed on his last fruit cake. Vin's eloquent eyebrow-raising did nothing to help, even if the man still had his eyes closed.
He simply ignored them both.
Nettie snorted, shaking her head. "Hard-headed. Of course. You got a pack, Standish. You got an alpha. Rumors have it you got more."
He felt his poker face slip into place, giving nothing away. Nettie grimaced and shook her head again.
"Don't play, boy. This is your Territory as much as it is Larabee's. Might wanna explore it past the settlements one day. Might surprise you."
"I'm quite fine where I am," he replied warily.
There had been a few trips past the homestead borders, deeper into the place that Vin knew so intimately, but aside from Tanner, and maybe Chris once in a while, the regulators never broadened their patrols to head into the heart of the Territory.
Vin opened his eyes and raised another eyebrow. Ezra went back to ignoring him.
xXxXxXxXxXxX
They left the old woman to her business an hour later and continued along the ancient animal path that snaked through the rocks, bushes and small patches of forest.
Ezra huffed a little sigh of contentment as the wind swept around them, ruffling his fur. Vin didn't comment, but his blue eyes sparkled.
xXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Ezra had been out to Chris' cabin several times in the past. It was a rather large place, bigger than what he had expected when he had first come here. In Ezra's mind the cabin would have been a one room affair, a basic kitchen, maybe an outhouse.
It wasn't. The rather large building was on private land, Larabee's territory within the Territory, and trespassers were usually only of the animal kind. The cabin held all the amenities of civilization, down to running water and power, which had surprised Ezra the first time.
"I'm not some savage cave-dweller," had been Chris' annoyed rumble.
No, he wasn't.
Now, looking at the man sitting on the porch, only in his black pants and boots, the suntanned upper body bare in the warm noon sun, Ezra felt something inside him of him twist with longing. He loved every inch of the man, loved to wrap his arms around the slim waist and hold on to him. He could lose himself in that body.
But what he felt, what was between them, wasn't purely sexual.
Yes, sex was part of their relationship. But this… this was more. It was a connection so much stronger. So intense. Requiring complete trust and openness. Ezra knew that this man held his very soul in his hands, that he had given it willingly, under no duress, and he didn't regret it.
Square hole, round peg, he thought. But they fit. Good lord, they fit. It was amazing.
There had never been talk about him moving in with his alpha and mate. For one, Ezra liked staying in town. Then there was the fact that, despite the romance novels Vin had mentioned, the mate didn't spend all his time with his partner. They didn't pine after one another, didn't snuggle up together at night, or went at it like bunnies because of some mystical bonding time. Nor did he ache when he didn't wake up with his mate next to him each morning. People loved to read all that fiction and Ezra had found it amusing, but it wasn't even close to real.
Reality was different and still so much more intense. They came together naturally, shared bed space, shared Chris' cabin or Ezra's room, and there was no pining involved. It didn't mean he couldn't appreciate the lean, muscular form, the grace and power inherit in each move, and enjoy just looking.
"The pack's not coming?" he now asked as he approached, looking around.
"Nope. Just us. I think Buck told me that we might need some alone-time, as he phrased it. Work out the last kinks. Get it out of the system. And I'm not going to put quotes on that."
Ezra chuckled. That would be just like the man.
"So it's just us now, Ezra," came the low purr. "With a lot of time on our hands."
Oh dear lord…
Chris regarded him steadily. Those intense eyes flashed wolfishly and Ezra felt his breath catch. Anyone who had ever met Chris Larabee, the regulator, would claim the man had no humor, no playful bone in his body, and seduction was foreign to him. Ezra knew it was all untrue. If he wanted to, Chris could be all of the above and he could be very, very… actually intensely… sexual.
The kiss that came next was filled with longing, need and a claim that underlined every other claim he had on Ezra. Yes, that was something the romance novels got right, he thought faintly. That singular intensity.
"Mine," Chris whispered against the wet lips and nipped at them.
Ezra made a low noise deep within his throat, managing a nod. The raw passion inside him rose, always there when he was with Chris, something that hadn't abated.
"Mate," Chris murmured, nosing against his neck, up his jaw and cheek. "Always. Didn't tell you, but I will again and again, using words. As often as you want to hear it."
He felt a little laugh bubble up inside him. "I like words, Chris," he replied, lips moving against lips. "But I know. Have always known. I don't need the repetition."
"Good."
Strong, sure fingers removed his coat, opened his plain white shirt, pushing it all off the muscular frame and exploring warm, soft skin, as well as old and new scars. Ezra closed his eyes, exposed, feeling vulnerable and still stronger than ever when with Chris. He let the other man run his fingers and his lips over the hard planes, let him lick, nip and deliver tiny bites that sent thrills through his body. He loved to feel that strength. He reveled in the power. He needed that man so badly, it hurt sometimes.
"As much as I enjoy what you're doing," he murmured throatily, "I much prefer a bed for the rest of it."
Chris laughed against his neck, the next bite a little harder. "Not much for exhibitionism."
"Never were."
Larabee bared his teeth. Still human teeth, but they looked dangerous. A feral grin. "Let's find a place you approve then."
Ezra was all too eager to take him up on that.
xXxXxX
Chris lay on the mattress, breathing hard, pulse hammering against his neck, his breath coming in short gasps.
"Fuck!" he managed.
Ezra grinned, equally exhausted and pleasantly sated, almost drained. One of Chris' hands was curled around his wrist, holding on tight, and he let him.
Grounding.
In oh so many ways.
Chris looked as relaxed as Ezra felt, at ease, and still there was so much coiled strength underneath the deceptively human façade. Ready to spring into action should anything be stupid enough to attack.
Shifters didn't spontaneously grow fangs and claws in human form. There were no half-shifts, though the Fenris line was rumored to be the source of the werewolf myth. Chris had only rolled his eyes back when Ezra had teased him mercilessly with it.
It had gotten him a hickey he had had to hide under the collar of an always buttoned up shirt and a tie. Buck's knowing smirk had followed him the whole day.
He leaned over the blond and captured Chris' lips, who opened up under his gentle assault. Clever hands stroked up Ezra's sides, skimming over the new scars. He wrapped an arm around the smaller man's waist, kissing him softly, clearly enjoying the feel of them together. Their kisses continued, deep and loving and quite hot, but aside from a little caressing and stroking, neither initiated the next step.
It was like a low-key thrill, something to have and to hold and to enjoy, something no one else but him could ever feel this way. Nothing could ever compare to this amazing feeling of belonging, of having his mate.
"You're heading somewhere with this, Mr. Larabee?" Ezra teased.
"Hm, I don't know, Ez. Got any ideas?"
Chris hand was now a lot more southern and when it wrapped around Ezra's cock, the crossbreed hummed in appreciation.
"Lots."
The hand started stroking. Slowly. Applying just a little more pressure each time.
"We might wanna start testing them then," Chris murmured, the light in his eyes promising a lot of good things.
"We might," was the playful reply.
Chris was all for it.
tbc...