Fifty Miles

Malcolm threw his bag in the back of the truck and slid into Byron's truck. It would only fit three people tops. It wasn't a fancy truck and Malcolm thought that it suited Byron. The rest fit in Trevor's SUV. They were going to stay out of whatever was happening in the truck in front of them.

"You think they're talking about us?" Malcolm asked. "I can't help but ask. I would be if this were someone else."

"I'm sure they are and they probably have the same information we have." Byron took a deep breath. "I feel stupid. Can I hold your hand?" Byron looked worried.

"Why not? We already made out!" Malcolm was nervous as he took Byron's hand but then he melted. "Oh, that's nice." Their fingers entwined.

"Holy shit! That is nice." Was Malcolm his mate? That would explain the date and maybe that was why he drove to Trevor and Emma's tonight. He thought Emma was the reason but maybe that was the excuse. He...damn. He drove to Emma's for Malcolm.

Was Malcolm his mate? How did that happen? That did explain a lot of this stuff. He felt a huge attraction toward Malcolm that was getting stronger and his wolf was very interested. What did he do with that? He didn't look gay and then be had no idea what gay men looked like. He was stupid.

"You alright?" Malcolm hated himself because he was worried about Byron.

"Uh, not sure. I was just thinking. Maybe we can talk when we get there. I'm just a little distracted. I may have an actual problem here." Byron sighed.

"Not a real problem but something unexpected. Normally it's unexpected but this is very unexpected. I don't even know if it's possible." Byron was babbling a little. He was freaking out.

"Freaking out, huh?" Malcolm knew that was happening.

"More than a little. I can't wait to kiss you again. I'm sorry!" Byron watched the road. "I was thinking about driving to Trevor and Emma's. Tonight? I thought it was to talk to Emma but I think it was to see you! Then I began to freak out!"

"Awesome." Malcolm was flattered. "I'm sorry for flirting with you. I didn't mean for it to get serious. How long is this drive?"

"Not long enough. I really am enjoying our time together, Malcolm." Byron admitted.

Malcolm smiled. "I am too...Byron." They were still using their names and Malcolm loved it. "So, was that boyfriend stuff real because I may have to pinch myself! I mean you are you! I grew up with stories about you." Malcolm sighed. "I knew who you were before I got my first sword!"

Byron smiled. "If you don't sit closer to me, I will drag you closer." Byron warned out of nowhere.

"What?" Malcolm was lost.

"I just wanted you to sit closer. I'm an idiot." Byron sighed and felt Malcolm slide over as he let go of his hand. His whole body felt like air and lightning. He never felt anything like that. "Fuck me!"

"Later!" Malcolm covered his face. "I'm sorry. That was a knee jerk response to that statement. Sorry!" He was very attracted to Byron and wanted to spend some more time alone with him and that feeling was getting stronger. He loved the feeling of his body touching Byron's body.

They both just started laughing. "I'm in deep shit, Malcolm."

"Byron, I'm not doing well either!" Malcolm smiled. "Can I put my head on your shoulder like a woman?" He half joked. He wanted to get closer. First date closer.

"Please." Byron sighed when Malcolm actually laid his head on his shoulder. "I hope I don't crash!" He put his arm around Malcolm and Malcolm's head was resting on his shoulder as Byron held on tighter. His arm was hard and muscled.

"I know. Maybe I should sit back over there?" Malcolm said that but made no attempt to move even though he probably should. He slid his hand over Byron's chest. He just couldn't resist.

"Please don't. This is too nice." Byron realized he had no idea where they were on the drive. He had driven this fifty miles thousands of times and had no idea where they were.

He lost any attempt to think when Malcolm started rubbing his chest. Byron could feel his wolf at the surface again. His wolf wanted Malcolm soon.

"Damn it!" Byron was freaking out again. "I'm having a tough time, Malcolm. The more time I spend with you the worse this gets. It's stronger now. I'm not sure riding in this truck together was a good idea, I don't mean that as an insult."

Byron smelled Malcolm's hair and sighed. He smelled like whatever hair product he used and it smelled good. He wanted to bury his nose in Malcolm's hair and inhale deeper. What the hell. He put his nose against Malcolm's scalp and inhaled. Both Byron and the wolf sighed with pleasure.

"How much farther?" Malcolm's voice was very thick with lust. He knew it was weird that Byron just smelled his head but Malcolm really enjoyed it. He was hoping he would do that again and that was weird. Nothing about this was normal.

"Not quite sure but I think about ten miles." Byron growled and sped up. Malcolm chuckled. "I didn't answer the boyfriend question. I don't know! I normally know everything but I don't know. It sounds fantastic."

"Right. Should I ask about that?" Malcolm asked. He rubbed Byron's chest and almost moaned.

"It's a wolf thing that I'm not quite ready to talk about yet. If that's okay, Malcolm." Byron was asking him for permission. He never did that. He was in trouble. "Just don't stop touching me!" He realized that he was in trouble when Malcolm didn't stop moving or stop touching him.

"I'm trying not to rip your shirt off!" Malcolm whispered.

Byron growled. He never thought about finding a mate and then never thought his mate would be a man. He was thinking about it now. He took a chance and smelled Malcolm's scalp again and heard Malcolm sigh.

Malcolm cleared his throat. "I had a dream about you the night after we met." His hand roamed over Bryon's chest as requested. It was a tough chore but someone had to do it. Malcolm was happy to fill that request.

Byron looked straight ahead. He was pretty sure this was his mate. He knew that was what this was. "Really? What, uh, really?"

Malcolm turned to look at Byron. "I didn't want to mention it the other night but yes. I was fighting some vampires. I think twelve of them and you jumped in to help. Well, the wolf. I knew it was you in the dream even though I have no idea what your wolf looks like. We fought together. It was fun. Your wolf is a huge silver wolf, right?"

Byron smiled. He had the same dream. He was keeping that quiet for now. "Nice." He knew how that dream ended. "Yes, Malcolm. Large silver wolf, like the streaks in my hair. We all match our wolf. We are part of the other."

"So does that mean something because I haven't stopped thinking about you since and well, this is happening." He rubbed Byron's chest.

Byron was going to pass out. He took a breath. "Uh, let's just get to the house and then we'll talk. Okay?" There he was again asking for permission. He didn't need someone's permission or opinion ...except Malcolm's. His opinion was very important.

Malcolm watched the road turn to gravel and then it turned to dirt. They were silent as they reached the house. No one came back here even if they were lost. There was a large house way back in the lane. It was a wood cabin with a wrap-around porch.

"Nice house. Yours?" They pulled around to the driveway and he could see other buildings. The road went behind his house and off into the woods. There were people sitting on benches talking. It was peaceful back here. Trees created a canopy to block out the sky. It was very heavily wooded here.

"Yes. You're always welcome here, Malcolm. You're staying in my house tonight, you know that right?" Byron wasn't asking.

Malcolm was staying in his room because he didn't want to be that far away from his boyfriend. This exposure was long enough to seal the bond. That was Byron's fault. Malcolm could have rode with the others and they could have avoided this but it was too late now.

"I know."

*********************************************************

This is the end of the first half of the story and would have been the first book... I couldn't decide so here we are... I thought this was an easier way to read it! I hope you are enjoying the story and really, thanks for reading!