Page 10 of Whisper Woods (Legends of the Whisper Woods #3)

Seff

Dad wasn’t exactly happy when I let him know I wasn’t coming in to work tomorrow. He was even less happy when I argued I am meant to be running my own jobs and therefore my own hours, and I wasn’t impressed that he’s been changing that up scheduling me in with him. It’s been happening far too often lately.

He gave me a whole bunch of excuses about being short staffed and other things before he came clean that he’s doing it on purpose. To help give me “direction” apparently. To help me “step up” and “take on my proper duties as his son.” The “as an alpha” was the silent part of the conversation. Because despite Dad trying, really, genuinely trying, he still has the same ingrained biases he was born with.

Benny, his best friend and the second in charge in Dad’s crew, nodded along with everything Dad said. He even threw in a few key points himself. Like I'm drifting—specifically away from the pack.

I hadn’t been able to argue because all I could think was, “Is that such a bad thing?” But of course, for them, it is. It’s like, the very worst thing they can imagine.

Our current job’s an easy one, a residential renovation my dad should be able to do in his sleep, but delays in deliveries have us running behind. We didn’t finish up till late last night, but I’d been determined to get out on time today. I rode the guys hard— which, strangely enough, seemed to build a bit of a bridge between me and Dad before I blew it up—and we managed to even clock out early .

My apartment over a hair salon isn’t exactly my dream home. But the little two-bedroom place is convenient for getting to work. Kicking off my boots, I throw my keys in the little bowl Mum made me get for my shit and chuck my phone on the charger. The screen is filled with notifications, but none from Rafe.

Still.

It hurts, really fucking hurts. Worse than all the times we’ve had to walk away from each other. Maybe I fucked up by not saying goodbye. I just… couldn’t. And maybe this is what I deserve for being chicken shit.

My fingers trail the centaur blanket draped over the back of my couch, as I make my way past the living area. Its rich earthy colours don’t really match the “I bought this matching furniture set from a cheap furniture chain” aesthetic of my apartment, but I don’t care. It’s a reminder. A reminder that there is more out there in this world.

For the four years I’ve lived here I’ve been meaning to upgrade and do something with the place, but work’s filled in every second. And if I’m not working or hanging out with the pack, I’m usually at the Black Stump, so I’ve just never gotten around to it.

I’m pretty gross from some demolition work this morning, so I strip in the laundry and make my way to the kitchen to get a drink before jumping in the shower. I try to keep myself together while I get cleaned up but without the distraction of work, Rafe’s silence is a heavy weight around my neck. It gets so loud in my head I even give Nana B a call on my way to the Black Stump, letting her fill me in on all the gossip of who's sleeping or fighting—or both—with who in her care home. Those beings get wild in their old age.

I’m almost calm by the time my reception gets all wonky and I need to let her go. Wolf, on the other hand, is nothing even resembling calm. Or chill.

The closer we get to the Black Stump, the worse his pathetic, excited whimpers get. He doesn’t give a single shit that Rafe has ghosted us. By the time the place comes into view my ass is practically twitching in my seat with the force of his tail wags in our shared consciousness. The very worst part is that it’s kind of infectious. He’s amping me up until I’m a chaotic jumble of feelings.

My tires skid a little on the gravel of the car park as I pull into the first available free spot. I’m not even sure that the car is locked properly, pressing the button while shoving the keys into the back pocket of my shorts while jogging up to the patio.

With all the excitement recently, the Black Stump is buzzing with activity once again. I nod to the beings I know on the patio, but wave off their calls to join them. I’m too keyed up to stop and chat. Wolf yips excitedly as I rush through the doors of the tavern, that sweet, smokey smell sending us both slightly insane.

And there he is. Fuck.

My gut bottoms out with relief at the sight of him, leaning against the bar, the warm overhead lights making the dark tan of his skin glow. He’s deep in conversation with the being seated next to him, but through the crowd I can’t see who it’s with. When he throws his head back and laughs that knot of tension that had loosened inside me tightens again, stealing my breath.

Feeling slightly sick—and more than a little stupid—I watch as he leans in close to the other being, his body angled in towards them. He smiles at the other being, warm, friendly, inviting, interested and I want to vomit.

I’ve been so caught up in my own feelings, I never considered that maybe… maybe he hadn’t messaged because he’d been busy with someone else.

Well shit.

Expelling a harsh breath, I lift my cap and run my hands through my hair, flipping the bill forward and tugging it low over my brow. Jamming my hands into my pockets, jaw clenching in irritation and embarrassment, I start to turn around. Some of my friends from the pack are outside, maybe I could just have a drink with them and go home?

If I hadn’t looked back one last time, I would have missed it. The subtle way Rafe’s eyes cut to me. The shift in his body. The way his hand flexes around his glass.

He looks almost angry? With me? What the fuck is that about? He’s the one that had my number and didn’t call. And you’re the dumbass who left him without saying goodbye after he took care of us the other night, Wolf points out, done with all the pesky, complex emotions. They aren’t his thing.

Debate rages in me for a moment. Do I stay or do I go? Do I bail or do I go and claim what’s mine?

The seconds tick by and Rafe looks at me again, the subtle tick in his jaw visible to my predator instincts. His nostrils flare and he shifts his weight on his feet.

Impatient. He’s impatient.

Interesting.

Fuck it, what’s the worst that can happen? I decide. Wrapping myself in my mask of confidence, I inject a little swagger into my step, sauntering over to the bar.

I can barely hide my surprise when I see it’s Finn at the bar with Rafe. The shy little blonde looks almost overwhelmed with Rafe’s attention, tucked on his stool, sipping at his cocktail with an infatuated look on his face.

I like Finn. He’s a good guy. But I’ll break him in half and eat him for a snack if he doesn’t stop looking at my guy like that.

As I approach the bar, I give Woodsy an up-nod in greeting and reach an arm up to scratch at the back of my neck. Between the cut off sleeves and cropped hem of my tee, I know the move not only shows the perfect hint of skin, but shows it to the best advantage.

Just ‘cuz I gotta be wearing clothes, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to still show off my assets.

The move doesn’t go unnoticed. By Finn anyway. He blushes, eyes going wide as I slide up to the bar behind him. I think he chokes on his drink a little, judging by his gasping breath.

Meeting Rafe's eyes over Finn’s head, I pat the poor guys back. Rafe’s dark brows pucker into a frown as his good eye tracks my hand as it slides around Finn’s shoulder.

“Finn! It’s been forever! How’ve you been?” Wolf is losing his shit, but I ignore him, focusing a thousand percent of my attention down at Finn.

He’s tipped his head back to look up at me, but it kind of leaves him shoved into my armpit. Which I happen to know he likes , but because I’m not a total dick, I move so he’s not smothered.

“Uh, yeah, good. Busy. Good.” He stammers his answer and looks back and forth between Rafe and I. The tension between us is growing by the second, and I feel a little bad dragging Finn in the middle of it.

“That’s good to hear.” I wink at Finn, making the pink blush turn a fiery red.

Woodsy appears on the other side of the bar, arms spread wide, an exasperated look on his face. He looks at the three of us in turn, sniffing the air. His eyes narrow and he looks back at Rafe and then me. “We’re not going to have any problems here tonight are we? Because I can tell you now, I’m not in the mood to deal with any more shit.”

“Trouble? Me? I’m offended, Woodsy! I thought we were friends.” I laugh and pout, adding a little layer of flirting, even though Woodsy is as straight as an arrow.

Woodsy scoffs, throwing a tea towel over his shoulder and crossing his arms over his chest. It’s not quite as impressive as when Roan does it, but it has a pretty similar effect.

I don’t even look at Rafe. Nope. Not even in the mirror behind the bar. So I entirely miss the way his nose scrunches up, making his nose ring glint in the lights over the bar. And the way runs his hands through the white streak in his hair, making it look all sexy tousled. Obviously.

“Yeah, right. That’s you. Sweet and innocent. What do you want?” His smile takes the edge off his words, and so I order myself a soda and offer to grab a fresh drink for Finn and Rafe. Finn takes me up on the offer. Rafe doesn’t.

The silence is awkward while we wait for the drinks. It’s like a game of chicken, who’s gonna spill first. Which is super unfair because they don’t have Wolf carrying on like a total berk, demanding I haul Rafe upstairs. Or provoke him so he hauls me upstairs. Wolf’s much preferred scenario.

Thankfully, Finn cracks first. “So, Seff. How’ve you been? What are you up to?” Finn turns on his stool so his back isn’t facing me any more, leaving him sandwiched between us.

“You know me, Finny-babe, I’m always good.” I smirk down at him, bumping my elbow into his shoulder conspiratorially. Finn laughs, a giggly sort of snort and nods. “Just thought I’d swing by tonight, see how everyone is. I’ve gotta help Theo with some stuff at the house tomorrow. ”

Rafe is listening far too intently, but I don’t know why. So I ignore him, focusing entirely on Finn. Afterall, that’s what he was so interested in before anyway. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”

Finn seems grateful for the topic change, leaping on it with two hands and explaining about how he’d moved to Ulydessia for a new job and how he’d come back to visit his family.

“I was just talking to Rafe about it, actually.” He wraps up, sending a shy glance up at Rafe, whose body is locked with tension, his eyes focused on me like lasers. At the mention of his name, it seems to shake him free. His frosty demeanour melts entirely, and he smiles at Finn with this charming half smile thing he does. “He was telling me all these places I should go visit and stuff. He’s been really helpful.”

“My pleasure entirely.” Rafe practically purrs at Finn. The fucker.

Jealousy fries my good sense and I growl. Low, and mean, the sound rumbles through my chest. The sound sparks a ripple of fear through the less predator-orientated beings in the tavern, including Finn who whimpers softly.

Rafe’s nostrils flair, our eyes meeting again.

“Uh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on here, and if I’ve stepped in the middle of something, I’m sorry, but I’m out.” Finn throws back the last of his drink and slides off his stool. “Thanks for the drink, Seff. Rafe, it’s been cool chatting.”

“Wait, you don’t need to leave.” Rafe stands up from the bar, just as I take half a step forward towards Finn.

“Finn, fuck, I’m sorry.” I apologise, feeling like a total ass.

Finn shakes his head, holding his hands in front of him. “It’s all good. Not gonna lie, whatever this is,” he points a finger between two of us, “it was kinda hot to be in the middle of it. But it’s above my pay grade.”

I bite my lip to keep my retort inside when Rafe scoffs next to me, his arms brushing mine when he crosses them in a defensive stance. A coy smile pulls at Finn’s lips while he considers us. “Seriously, you two have a good night.”

We watch him go, and the moment he’s out of sight, Rafe spins towards me, his face blazing in anger. “What in the name of the Gods was that about? ”

Wolf cows under the scrutiny, almost rolling over onto his back in submission. Not me, no, I’ve never been that smart. I’m all fired up and, quite frankly, the heated way he’s fronting up to me, the brush of his chest against mine, is making me all kinds of hot and bothered.

“I was just catching up with a friend. Sorry if I interrupted .” I inject as much tone into the word as I can, drawing upon a lifetime's worth of experience of having a younger sister. Rafe scoffs indignantly, his shoes touching mine as he moves closer.

“Fight it out, or fuck it out,” a voice interjects, Seldon whacking me lightly on the butt with his serving tray. “Either way, you can’t do it here. You’re scaring the dryads.” He waits for us both to acknowledge him with our grunts before he leaves us. Rafe’s jaw clenches, and every one of his hard breaths fans over my skin, taunting my already frazzled senses.

“My room. Now.” He grinds out, in a no-nonsense tone that instantly makes me harder than a railroad spike. Rafe doesn’t wait for a response. Just turns on his boot heel and stalks out of the tavern and up the stairs without a backwards glance, leaving me scrambling after him like an idiot. I can feel the eyes of everyone in the tavern on me as I dash up the stairs two at a time.

Rafe’s door is ajar, and I can see him pacing back and forth, muttering angrily to himself.

It’s nice to see him unravelled for once, and I linger in the doorway, watching him. My weird flash of anger has cooled, I’ve never been good at maintaining it for long, but his is still burning hot. I grip the top of the door frame, letting my body fill the space while I stretch.

“What are you doing here?” Rafe spits, stopping his pacing on the opposite side of the bed.

“Why are you so shocked? I said I’d be back? Also, I basically live here.” I huff a laugh, shaking my head. My amusement only seems to make Rafe more irritated, which only makes him hotter, and me hornier.

It all feels kinda dangerous.

I like it.

With his own angry snarl, Rafe prowls across the room towards me. I watch eagerly, trying not to smirk when he reaches out to haul me to him by the back of my neck.

He slams my lips to his with punishing ferocity, and I melt into it. Agreeing with Wolf when he howls his approval. Between us, we manage to get the door shut and then Rafe is hustling me backwards until I’m pinned against it. With lightning speed he snatches my wrists, pinning them above my head with his impossible strength.

His body is plastered against me, and there is no way that he doesn’t feel the jerk of my cock against his thigh. He grinds himself against me, rubbing his matching hardness against my thigh.

“You didn’t say goodbye. You just left . We do not do that, Seff.” He breathes against my neck, his lips tantalisingly close. I swallow hard, and he brushes his beard roughly against my bobbing throat. He moves like he’s scenting me, marking me and I’m desperate for it. “That isn’t us .”

Us . Fuck me. I whimper, a soft whine breaking free of me as I writhe against him. I can’t move much, but I need the friction. Every nerve is singing.

“I’m sorry.” I pant when his free hand slides under my tee, caressing my skin with rough fingers.

“You didn’t reply to my message,” He accuses, the grip on my wrists tightening and his fingers digging sharply into me, almost like points.

The pain, and the out of my mind horniness, nearly distracts me. But his words permeate the fog clouding my brain.

“Message? You didn’t send any messages?” My words are sluggish, but he gets the point. When he pulls away in confusion I whine, following with my hips for more of that delicious pressure.

“Yes, I did.” He says indignantly, his usually honeyed voice still rough from his earlier anger. He releases my hands, but I don’t drop them from their position just yet.

“No, you didn’t. I didn’t get any messages.”

Rafe scoffs again, and roughly pulls out his phone from his back pocket, thumbing at the screen. I’m forced to drop my stance when he thrusts the phone towards me, a message on the screen .

“See?” He sounds hurt, when I take the phone from him. I look at the message—and the little alert symbol next to it—and back up to Rafe.

“Rafe, I never got the message. It didn’t send. It says that, right here.” I show him the alert, his confusion matching mine. I look at the phone again. Maybe it’s a new phone, and that’s why he doesn’t know? “It’s on flight mode. You have no service.” I hand the phone back and he takes it, confusion dimming him around the edges.

I hate it.

Immediately I want that fire back. I want to burn with it. I want him looking at me, not his phone. And so I step away from the door, crowding him in, bumping him with my chest until he stops looking at the stupid thing with that horrible, confused look on his face.

“You messaged me, hey? You wanted me to come back? What did you want to do with me?” There we are. Heat once again flashes in Rafe’s eyes and he throws the stupid phone on to the table by the fire.

“I did message you. I messaged you because you left.” His voice drips with danger and lust. “I was rather put out. My feelings were hurt, especially when you have been so good for me, Seff.”

I groan at his words, my legs turning to lead. My blood is pumping too far, too fast and I drop my forehead to his.

Fucking Rafe knows he has me right where he wants me, and he presses his lips against my ear. “Don’t you want to be good for me, Seff?”

I whimper again, nodding dumbly, lucky I don’t come in my jeans from the husky timbre of his voice vibrating down my neck. One hand trails lightly up the bare skin of my arm, and it is as good as him stroking my cock with how turned on it makes me.

“Strip and get on the bed.”

I almost break the land speed record following his command, getting naked, launching myself on the bed with a bounce. Rafe laughs, breaking out of his role in the game for just a moment, and the sound of his joy makes me feel like I could fly.

How he gets me so drunk on him I don’t know. But after only sips of him for years, I have drowned in him over the past few days. It feels like I’m addicted.

The days without him were like torture, my anxiety amplified a thousand times. Everything was grey and cold and hopeless. Watching him slowly unbutton his shirt, eyeing me like I’m the only being in the entire world, everything feels back in focus again.

The wait is agony, and from the look in his eye, the pain is my punishment. Goosebumps ripple across my skin, even though the room is warm. Every inch of delectable skin exposed, the glimpses of his dusky pink nipples, the trail of dark hair that leads down into his waistband, every single bit of it sends tremors of anticipation through me until I am nothing but a puddle of want. And I haven’t even seen his cock yet.

Speaking of which, his teasing hands stop their undressing, pausing at the button of his pants. I want to cry, pout, shred his clothes, but instead I wait. Because what I want more is him. He considers me, sprawled on the unmade sheets, head propped on my hand so I have a better view.

“Lie on your stomach. Eyes shut.” I snap into position so fast, my foot gets caught and something on the bed tears, making Rafe laugh again. He takes forever to get back to me, and I can hear the rustling of his clothes and him rummaging around for something.

My dick is practically leaking a river underneath me and it takes every shred of my limited willpower to not rock my hips to get some relief.

Rafe returns to the bed just as I hit my breaking point, the bed shifting under his weight as he climbs up and straddles my legs. His heavy balls rest on my thighs, his rock hard cock against my cheeks, drawing a deeply rattling moan from me. The fucker chuckles darkly, rocking his hips, dragging his dick over the seam of my ass.

“Please, Rafe.” I plead, not entirely sure what I’m asking for. Something. Anything. He doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t need to. Warm oil drizzles along my spine. I have no idea what is coming, but I am here for it.

I grunt when his hands rub the oil into my skin. With long, firm strokes, his work is masterful.

“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.” He mutters, the words scrambling my brain along with his massaging fingers. I am left helpless and moaning underneath him, as he works each individual muscle in my back and neck, all while his cock teases my ass, the friction just the wrong side of enough.

When my back is completely oiled, massaged and loose, he applies the same dedication to my shoulders, my neck, my arms.

It’s almost like he’s worshipping my body. Anointing me like they do the statues at the temples. The perfumed oil invades my senses, and every so often, his lips brush against my skin, like he’s unable to resist.

“Look at these muscles. You are so strong, Seff. You carry the weight of the world on them. Relax for me, let me ease you. You’re doing so good for me, sweet kushinavya. So good. I am so proud of you.” His words completely undo me. I can’t even protest when he climbs off me to apply the same careful attention to each leg.

I’m not a foot guy, it’s not and has never been my thing, but when he drives his thumb into the sole of my foot, releasing some crazy-ass knot there, my hips lift from the bed, dangerously close to coming from overstimulation.

“Stay good for me, Seff.” He warns, and I can hear the smirk in his voice. He knows how hard it is. How hard I am.

“Fuuuuuuuuck.” I half sob, half moan, when that slick oil is once again poured over me. This time, coating the soft hair of my ass. Rafe huffs another laugh and dives right in, massaging my ass until I am sobbing into the mattress beneath me. Only then do his slick fingers dip between my cheeks, running up and down the cleft of my ass. I hiss my consent, tilting my hips into his touch as he circles the puckered rim of my hole.

Every nerve in my body is on fire. My cock is so hard it hurts , my knot swollen and throbbing, trapped against the sheets. With one hand, Rafe slips a hand between my thighs to fondle my balls, tight against me.

“Ugh, please, Rafe. Need you.” My words are slurred, and I have definitely drooled a puddle in my horny stupor. But rather than give me what I need , he withdraws his hands.

I think he’s enjoying my cries and whimpers, so I give him more.

“Not yet, sweetness. Roll over.”

Are you fucking kidding me?! I want to yell. Protest. Fist my dick and just come already. Jump on him and pin him down and rub on him till I do. But I don’t do any of that. No, I just obediently roll over just as pathetically as Wolf, lying on my back desperate for Rafe’s touch.

He repeats the same process on my front. Oiling me up and lavishing every inch of me with his firm touch. He spends a long time on my pecs, the valleys that line my hips. My biceps. He tries circling the circumference of my arms with his hands, but struggles and I get to feel his cock get a little harder where it rests against my belly.

I’m delirious by the time he actually wraps both hands around my dick, twisting and jerking with his oiled hands. His ass had spent the whole time taunting me with soft “accidental” brushes. But now he works me with purpose, watching my face intently as I moan and gasp. My head tips back and my feet grapple at the sheets as I drive myself into his fists.

I’m so close , one hand squeezes rhythmically around my knot, while the other shuttles over my length. I can’t speak, can barely breathe, right on the precipice of coming when he lets me go.

My eyes snap open and I snarl viciously when I catch him darting back along the bed with a smirk on his face that shouldn’t be as hot as it is.

I want to kill him. I want to fuck him.

“ The fuck, Rafe ?” My voice is hoarse, rough with lust and anger and an edge of Wolf who is just as pissed as I am. Breathing hurts as I suck in wheezing lungfuls, trying to get back ahold of myself.

On his knees at the end of the bed, Rafe bites his lip, his cock straining in his lap, obviously enjoying the show. Absently, he strokes a hand over his belly, leaving a glistening trail of oil in its wake.

Remaining on his knees, he leans forward to crawl up my body, tapping my thigh when he wants me to spread my legs. Down the length of my body I watch him; in the golden lights of the room he looks magnificent leaning over me like this.

He still strokes my legs, almost as if it’s a compulsion. His leaking dick brushes against mine with his movements. After a moment he leans over me, and captures my lips in a spirit searing kiss. His tongue fucks into my mouth and I cannot breathe. I don’t want to. My hands grip at him, pinning him to me. But still, he manages to pull free when he demands it.

“Don’t do that to me again, Seff.” His next words are muffled as he dives on me, kissing and nibbling along the scruff of my jaw until he is sucking, hard biting kisses on the tendons of my neck. It’s definitely only wishful thinking that has me convinced his next words would have been don’t leave me again .

I mumble my agreement anyway. Never again. Fuck.

With his lips firmly attached to my collarbone, his fingers dip between my ass again. I don’t know when he slicked his fingers with the oil again, but when his first finger delves inside me, it slides in like he’s made for me.

Sweet words of praise drip from his lips as he works me open, turning me into an incoherent mess. One finger, two, three. I would have protested the time he’s taking but I can’t think, let alone speak.

And when he pushes my knees to my chest and notches the head of his cock against my hole, pressing inside me with that same torturous slowness, my cries can probably be heard in the Falls.

“Sweet kushinavya, Seff. I don’t think I’m going to last.” He pants, the strain of holding back showing in his reddened face, the tenseness of his neck as he drives into me again and again. He says it like an apology. Like I’m not one big, overstimulated mess and he’s not hitting that amazing spot inside me over and over. I can’t even reply—I’m completely lost in the feeling of him.

He changes our position, bringing my legs up over his shoulders and I see fucking stars. It's not the fact that, like this, he can hit further, deeper inside me. It’s the way he turns his head and nuzzles my calf, kissing it so tenderly something fractures inside me.

My orgasm thunders down on me in an uncontrollable tidal wave. My arms, useless limp lumps, finally gain some function and I grab him again, tangling my hands in his hair, dragging him down for a kiss, completely ignoring the way it folds me further in half. The new angle provides the relief my knot desperately needs. And as he powers through to his own release, his hips pounding my ass in a vicious rhythm, I come, spurting between us, my cock throbbing so hard it's painful.

Rafe brackets my head with his arms and lifts his chest off me enough to pound into me even harder. I meet his rhythm, arching my hips into him to match his intensity. With half-lidded eyes I watch Rafe come, clenching my ass around his swelling cock as he slams inside one last time. His beautiful face contorts in pleasure, his eyes squeezing tight as he throws his head back on his cry.

His cock is still twitching when he collapses on top of me. Our heavy breathing fills the room, over the ringing in my ears. He tries to slide off, probably thinking his weight is too much, but I need it. I need the weight of him to ground me back into my body and tether me to reality. He’s just sent me out into space—he can’t just leave me floating like that. He gets the hint when he tries to move again and I tighten my arms into steel bands around him.

He hums a satisfied little sound and resigns himself to his fate, relaxing completely on top of me and tucking his head into my neck. He’ll have to move eventually, I know that. But for right now, I have him inside me, around me. Pressing a kiss to the dark hair on the crown of his head, I know I have to accept that it’s enough. But I’m greedy. A black hole of need, only for Rafe.

He answers my kiss with one of his own to my pulse beating rapidly in my neck.

Our breathing eventually settles, my cum cooling between us, his leaking from my ass where his cock still rests. If I shut my eyes, I can pretend that we’re one being. That this feeling, this rightness , will be with me forever. That he won’t disappear to wherever it is he goes. That this night will never end.

That everything will be right and good forever.

And I fall asleep.