Ch. 22: Jack's Training

September 4 | Day

I was the thing that went bump in the night, the creature in the shadows, the stuff of nightmares.

The yellow bathroom light washed my reflection. I had been at the Ashivants' for two days, and the valleys of my face had sunk deeper. In the mirror, dark circles ringed my eyes. My mouth was a razor. The scar above my lip stood out in 3D. I studied my arms and hands. Veins corded the lengths. The muscles bulged. Tattoos quivered as I turned my wrists to examine them. Fine, wiry hairs glinted along my skin.

I was changed, transformed into a hybrid at once familiar and foreign. All day and all night, the wolf within scratched at the door to be let out. It took little to wake it–hunger, lust, tiredness, anger–and even less to inspire such emotions. I walked around with hair-trigger sensitivity, exaggerated by heightened natural senses. Everything smelled complex. Everything felt amplified.

The notion I had entertained before full transformation, that Mal and Sunny weren't quite like other people, was confirmed. I knew they weren't human. I just didn't know what they were.

I thought of my paranormal experience near death. The Oracle's prophesy of defeat, the blatant common sense cloaked in mystery. Either I would overcome my enemy–provided I had the right team around me–or I would be fail. But I was plunged into a world of jarring supernatural elements. Trust was at a premium, and risk was off the charts. I needed to protect my mother and father, and a small part of me still wanted Zyr to taste payback. Even if I didn't survive.

A knock at the door alerted me to the time. I wrapped a towel around my waist and went to open it as Sunny poked his head into the room. "Coming down for breakfast? You have shapeshifting practice with Mal this morning. Then Cherie and Ava will train you in emotional regulation for noon."

"Where will you be?" I asked.

Despite my haggard appearance, he looked at me like I was everything he wanted to see. "You have sparring with me this evening," he replied.

"So we have our little daily routine, eh? I'm still not sure I'm convinced you're not working for them." I turned my back on him, but he stepped around to face me.

"We've been over this, Jack. I'm sticking around a few days to keep you safe. The only way I got Mal to agree to it was to make myself useful in case Darcy shows up. I'm here for nobody but you."

"I've seen the way you look at her." I smiled wryly.

Sunny blushed and bit his lip as he glanced away. "It's complicated."

"It's mutual," I admitted.

"I know. I see the way you look at her, too," he said. "But I'm not here for any of that. I mean it. I'm here to keep you alive for as long as I can. At least, to give you a fighting chance."

"Yeah, we both get the sense I might not make it out of this, huh."

"Why did you let yourself get caught up in visions of free money at another person's expense anyway?" He studied me curiously.

I shrugged as I settled at the foot of the bed, and the towel parted slightly. I lazily ignored it, pretending not to notice his gaze slipping to the slit. Scratching my chest, I thought of the bizarre set of circumstances that had ushered me to that decision.

"I was watching my world spiral apart, and I couldn't figure out how to assimilate the pieces. Darcy walked in with a plan to make my suffering disappear. All it took was a handshake. You know, the hardest choices always look easy to make when you're desperate."

He sat beside me and interlaced our fingers. "I guess I understand. Life does this thing where it narrows your options down until there seems to be only one." I nodded. He slanted his body to face mine. "What would it take for you not to go through with this now that you know what they want you to do?" he asked.

I peered at his mouth. He had a kissable mouth. Lips like plush pillows upon which to rest my inhibitions. Every stolen kiss sparked fireworks. I swallowed as I thought of his tongue gliding against mine. He made soft sounds I inhaled with panted urgency. Everytime, his frame went still, rigid with panic at what he felt for me.

"Jack," he said my name again.

My eyes darted to his. "Hm?"

"Why won't you escape this? Is it the money?"

"Of course not," I scoffed. "I couldn't give a shit less about the money. I told you, I've endangered my parents. I can't do anything else to jeopardize their lives. I can't believe I fucked this up so bad!"

I slammed my fists against my temples. There it was, familiarly. The rapid cycle of emotions from lust to fury to the bristling need to shapeshift. I squeezed my eyes shut and concentrated on remaining in my present form. I was Jakub Slobodnik, son of Lois and Jakub Senior, friend of Kato and Sunny Cezanne. The tension gathered in my core until I trembled.

Sunny placed his hands over mine at the sides of my head and bowed his forehead to mine. Standing there, he breathed slowly and deeply. Waves of cooling water rushed over my inner turmoil. I fell into the rhythm of his breathing, and the roar of emotions died to a distant rumble. Soothing tendrils floated through me like gold dust caught in the sunlight. My entire form relaxed.

I slid my fists from beneath his palms to draw him into my arms. He braced himself the barest fraction of a second before falling into me, planting his lips to mine with a heated groan. I chased his mouth into oblivion. My fingers dove into the collar of his shirt to the buttons to free him. I clutched his chin. I bit his jaw, ravenous.

He straddled my body. "Jack," he gasped. Finding my lips again, he kissed me deeper. I swore to God. The delicious frottage sent my eyes rolling skyward with excitement. My fingertips grazed the front of his pants in search of his zipper, and he whined low in his throat. His hand went to stop mine, but rather than push me away, he couldn't resist. He thrust into my hand.

"I thought I could trust you with a simple task of retrieving Jack for breakfast," Mal said from the door. Sunny flung himself away from me. He looked subtly relieved she had saved him from himself. As he rebuttoned his shirt, I straightened the towel and sat up.

Resentment toward her simmered. I traced the lines of her pantsuit to the heart-shaped neckline. The hills of her breasts promised treasure where golden skin glimmered. I held onto my vexation, but the topographic map of her scent beckoned me to let it go and follow her pheromones. I matched the silky aroma of desire to her mood.

Mal closed the door and locked it. "Darcy can make an appearance at any time, guys. You have to be more careful."

"Note taken." Sunny tried to skirt past her.

She gripped his sleeve in passing, and he paused. Her fingers tangled with his. She locked eyes with him and guided his hand to his erection. His chest shuddered with bated breath.

"May I?" she asked.

He closed his eyes and released a shaky exhale as her lips met his. I wanted to hate her, but I couldn't. I stared, fascinated by her effect on him. The way she catered to his experience the same way I did. Sunny dissolved at her touch. He melted on her tongue with a passion I felt across the room. He made me want to sandwich him to her naked body and plunder him until he dripped his last drop into her soaking sex.

The wolf again keened to get out, and I uttered an expletive. Sunny slumped away from her guiltily. He peeked at me before hurrying from the room. Did he think I was bothered? I was turned on. I swung my attention to Mal, who loitered a moment staring at the door. When she faced me, she studied her nails to avoid my gaze. I thought we would remain in awkward silence forever.

"You're upset with me," she said finally.

"Haven't I every reason to be?"

She tilted her head side to side in contrite agreement. "I have my reasons, too, you know."

I steeled my jaw. My eyes flicked from her figure to her body language. I had never seen her forlorn. The curve of her shoulders, the listless hands, the evasive eyes. She had her reasons, and whatever they were, they were mighty enough to put her at odds with herself. I considered the possibility she had been cornered by life in a similar manner as me. Choices whittled down to, "Pick your poison."

A resolute sigh shook loose. "I'm not upset with you," I grumbled. "I can't be upset with you. I go to sleep cursing your name and wake up swearing it. I dream you wide awake. I can't get you out of my head. What are you?"

She tightened her lips. "I can't tell you that."

"Part of the agreement with Cyprian?"

"No." She gulped.

I studied her. She scrubbed the toe of her shoe to the area rug and followed the whirl pattern with her lowered eyes. "I think we have a dilemma," I said.

"Don't we ever." She smiled at the floor.

"The three of us are going to hurt each other."

She nodded at the floor.

"We can't help it, and we can't stop it," I added.

"No, I don't imagine we can." She looked up. "If you're wondering what this is, I'll tell you: It's self-destruction at its finest. I just...didn't know I was so good at it."

"Rookie. I've been at it awhile." I left the bed and held the towel in place as I approached her. Inches apart, I laid my feelings bear. "Mal, I don't like how you deceived me. I don't trust you. I don't trust how you've ensnared Sunny. If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then I think maybe your lights are out.

"Wait a minute before you run away. I can't let go of you. It's like we're caught up in a riptide we have no control over, and I know I'll be dashed upon the rocks. You don't have to lie to me anymore. I know I'm not supposed to survive this."

"Jack, let me explain," she said.

"Go for it." I spread my arms and dropped them.

She floundered for words before giving up. "No, you're not supposed to survive this, but I swear on all things sacred that your family will be taken care of."

I digested the confirmation. "Then, what can I do but live like a man about to die? I don't want to waste time trying to make sense of why I feel the way I feel for you and Sunny. I want to feel it. You both have your own obstacles, but I'm telling you where I stand and what I wish. I want the both of you."

She didn't move. She used her thumb to pop the knuckles of one hand and slowly inclined her head. I didn't know if it was a yes or an acknowledgment that I had spoken. "Get dressed and meet me in the garden for shapeshifting practice," she said. "I'm afraid you've run out of time for breakfast, but I'll have the maid to prepare a protein shake for you so we can get started."

"Don't walk out that door until you tell me what you want, Mal."

She stopped at the threshold and showed me her profile. "I want to make you beg for it. How's that?" she said flippantly.

I got on my knees and let the towel drop. Head bowed, fists to the floor, I looked up at her. "Please, mistress."

I saw the craving flit over her face. Casting my eyes to ground-level, I witnessed the sexy stroll of her heels across the floor . When she stopped in front of me, I kneeled to kiss her shoes. Mal's airy exhale spilled pheromones into the room. The wild howl of my inner wolf sent chills down my spine as my tongue dabbed over the arch of her foot. I lifted her pantleg and closed my mouth over a sweet circle of her flesh. Her fingers twisted in my hair. I glanced up at her rapturous expression.

Rising, I palmed her buttocks and lifted her to the wall. Greater strength than I had ever possessed. She was feather-weight. Her hand migrated between our torsos. She stroked her mons as I borrowed her mouth for a spell. She sucked my lip. I cradled her face to get at the nectar of her moan.

"You make me a stranger to myself," she whispered.

"I'm not trying to get to know you. Does that make it easier?"

My manhood nudged her through her clothes. I glanced, and a fat, clear pearl beaded at the tip as I caressed the shaft in slow swirling pulls. The plump mushroom butted against the red fabric of her pants, leaving a stain of desire that mingled with the dampness saturating through her panties.

From grinding with Sunny to masturbating against Mal, I ached to let go.

She was an expert. Her toned thighs gripped my hips, and she clutched my shoulders. I was blown by how she rode my body like a carousel. Rising, she glided off my erection. Lowering, she strained against pounding cock. Her back arched like a tautly strung bow, thrumming with stimulation.

Along with the steel rod dipping into her wanton entrance, she touched herself. Frantic fingers circled her clit in ever-tightening orbits. I recaptured her mouth to muffle the sounds of my fierce arousal. I had never made such sounds, but she tapped into something primal. The soft cup of her womanhood, even through double layers of limitations, squeezed the head of my dick so perfectly I hovered near eruption.

Harder and faster, she rubbed her clit. Holding her closer, I bucked into my clenched fist and trembled. "Mal, oh God!" I groaned.

All at once, she seized in the throes of a soul-quaking orgasm. The shockwave battered my frame, and she clung to me as if to life. Head thrown back, her gaping mouth emitted not a sound. Then a gasp. A whimper. A zenith-reached sigh. She stared blindly at the ceiling. The bliss broke over her. I stared at the blur of my fingers around my loaded dick.

"Give it to me. Yes, please! Ah, Christ, Mal!" The gunpowder sparked, and the first explosion tore through the barrel. Bullets of ecstasy fired into the warm hollow between her legs. I regretted ruining her clothes, but I couldn't stop. "Shit, shit, shit!" I sputtered. A cry of elation fled my lips as I wrestled with powerful surges of pleasure that emptied me. "Oh, fuck!" I growled into her neck.

Mal cradled me to her chest. The last shuddering ripples petered out. I breathed heavily. Sweat beaded my forehead. She gave me a soulful kiss to keep me hostage a few seconds longer before sliding from my arms to her feet and assessing the damage to her wardrobe. I fell into a chair by the bedside.

"You can't go out like that," I said.

She lowered to her knees between my legs. "Everyone will know what an animal you've been." She smiled wickedly at my reaction. My manhood stirred awake as if it hadn't just been sated. She turned around so I could unzip her. Then, shimmying from the one-piece, she strode to my closet nude. I grinned, treated to a view of her in all her stunning glory.

"I do believe you're the devil, Mal." I chuckled.

"I've met him, and I wasn't impressed." She tugged a shirt from a hanger and put it on, belting it at the waist. It would suffice to get her to her bedroom. That is, if Darcy didn't show up. I tried not to think about the vampire to whom I had sold my soul. "Meet you in the garden."

We initiated the new routine. Mornings with Mal, afternoons with Ava and Cherie, evenings with Sunny. Gradually, I gained more control of my shifts, but none of my libido. With Sunny and Mal in perpetual close proximity, the driving need to take our threeway connection all the way to the summit couldn't be quelled.

Yet, they stayed in their respective roles: teachers, comrades, captors, liars, both.