8. Caught
8
CAUGHT
Ivo’s phone was almost dead.
His battery was at five percent, a fact he only realized after he’d been texting his friends for far too long.
There were no electrical outlets in Ace’s front yard. Not that Ivo had a charging cord, either.
“Damn it,” he muttered, tucking his phone into his nest.
Mary had just fallen asleep on his lap. It was dark now, the full moon casting an eerie silver glow on the grass and trees. The creek’s merry gurgling soothed his nerves, and further away, some of the windows in Ace’s mansion were lit up warm and golden.
It was... unexpectedly inviting. A pang of homesickness struck Ivo. Not that he had anyone in Colorado to return to; his friends had all been kidnapped, and their rescuers had brought them to Cartfalls and housed them in the same apartment.
What were Nat and the others doing right now? Did they miss him?
Probably not; they had their own babies to care for.
His thoughts drifted to Ace. What was the dragon doing in his mansion? Was he settled in comfortably, his feet kicked up on a desk, his shirt buttons undone to reveal a hint of his chest...?
Or maybe Ace had a hand down his pants, and he was taking the time to stroke himself.
Ivo swallowed against the sudden dryness in his throat. He placed Mary on a bed of soft grass and climbed out of his nest. Then he spent the better part of an hour padding out its walls, until he ran out of the cut grass Ace had given him.
He hopped across the creek next, weaving in the rest of the twigs that were still sticking out of Ace’s nest. And now it finally looked comfortable on the outside. Ivo badly wanted to climb into the huge nest and feel how big it was around him.
He didn’t want Ace to find him invading his nest, though. That would be mortifying.
When Ivo returned to the creek, his skin itched. All that nest-building had left him sweaty, but the creek was barely the width of his body.
There was one way he could make the creek comfortable enough to swim in.
Ivo glanced around to make sure no one was nearby. Then he shifted in his clothes, squirming out through his neckline to scamper into the creek.
Water splashed around him. In this shape, the creek was so much wider, deep enough for him to do a back flip.
Ivo played in the water. He swam up and down the creek, ducking between the reeds. The water was cool on his nose and paws, and on the parts of his skin where his water-repellent fur never grew back.
It was possible that he lost track of time.
He only noticed the strange golden glow when it bounced off the grass nearby.
Ivo poked his head out of the water to investigate.
And he found Ace moving through the grass, a lantern swinging from his hand.
Ivo panicked. Ace would recognize his mink shape for sure; he couldn’t stay like this. But he couldn’t run and leave Mary alone with Ace, either.
So he shifted back into a human and clambered out of the water, trying to distance himself from the creek so it wouldn’t seem so suspicious.
Ace froze. “Ivo?”
“Um.” Ivo turned, still on his hands and knees. Then he grew extremely aware of his missing clothes. All he wore was a thin layer of water, his skin glistening under the golden lamplight.
This close, Ace had to have seen the scars covering his body. Several of them were broad swathes of deliberate shapes, places where his fur had been separated from muscle.
Ivo hunched in on himself, trying to hide the worst of it. But there was so much damage everywhere that he felt so damn ugly in front of Ace.
Ace’s expression softened. “Hey.”
“Don’t look!”
“Is this about your scars?” Ace stepped closer. Ivo only realized then that Ace had a huge bundle of blankets under one arm.
“W-what’re you doing here?”
“Bringing you blankets, like I said I would.” Ace raised his eyebrows. “Are you cold?”
A light breeze brushed across Ivo’s skin. He shivered, and his nipples pebbled.
“Here. Let me give you a blanket.” Ace set down the lantern and dropped most of his bundle in his nest. He held onto a fluffy blanket, though, raking his gaze up and down Ivo’s body.
“Why are you still looking?” Ivo mumbled, trying to hide himself. “I’m ugly.”
Ace’s eyes flashed red. “No. You’re not.”
He stepped easily over the creek and through the grass, closer and closer to where Ivo had sat down gingerly on his ass. Ivo closed his legs, but he still felt so vulnerable with his cock and balls out in the open.
Ace stopped in front of Ivo. Then he knelt and wrapped the blanket snugly around Ivo’s shivering body. “I should’ve brought a towel. Damn it! I didn’t think you’d go for a dip in the creek.”
“I—I wanted a bath,” Ivo mumbled.
Ace huffed. “You could’ve mentioned it, and I would’ve let you use one of my several bathrooms.”
Ivo shrugged. Swimming in a bathtub wasn’t the same as swimming in a creek.
“May I—” Ace wet his lips. “May I dry you off?”
Heat swept up Ivo’s chest and neck. Was this... Ace asking to touch him? Everywhere? He remembered Ace’s strong fingers at the glory hole, and nodded before Ace had a chance to change his mind.
“Okay.” Ace swallowed. “Tell me if there’s anywhere you don’t want my hands to be.”
He began petting Ivo through the blanket, his touch muffled. His large hands cupped Ivo’s throat, strong and gentle, smoothing over Ivo’s pulse point and collarbones. He pressed the blanket against Ivo’s shoulders and gripped his arms, squeezing down along them.
“It’s like you’re trying to squeeze toothpaste out of a tube,” Ivo blurted.
Ace grinned. “Would you like me to squeeze your tube?”
Ivo’s blood rushed south. “Oh, gods.”
What would Ace’s hand feel like around his cock?
Ace watched him, his gaze turning more pointed when Ivo didn’t give him a straight answer. Ivo couldn’t. His cock was fuller now, flopping against the grass, and it was still growing when Ace remained in front of him, a single blanket the only thing separating them.
“I’m going to dry your chest now,” Ace murmured. He pressed his hands over Ivo’s pecs, grinding the blanket lightly into his nipples. Ivo gasped.
Ace’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t react. Instead, he patted down Ivo’s belly, moving his hands to Ivo’s sides before he could go much further south.
Ivo tried not to feel disappointed.
Ace reached around him to pat the blanket down his back. It almost felt like a hug, being in the circle of Ace’s arms. Ace was warm, his breath heavy on Ivo’s neck. His hands went lower and lower, and he finally patted the blanket against Ivo’s ass.
Then Ace cupped his cheeks and gave them a slow squeeze.
Ivo moaned. He smacked his hands over his mouth immediately, trying to take it back.
“Don’t,” Ace whispered. “I want to hear you.”
“Mary’s sleeping, ” Ivo hissed.
“All right. Try not to make any sound, then.” Ace grinned, a spark of something in his eyes. Ivo’s heart raced.
Ace brought his hands around to cup Ivo’s outer thighs, patting the blanket along them to soak up the water droplets. He patted dry Ivo’s shins, too, and down his feet.
And now the only parts of Ivo that were still wet, were his inner thighs and crotch.
“Open your legs,” Ace murmured.
Ivo’s breath rushed out. He opened for Ace, flushing when Ace patted the blanket against the inside of his knees, then down his inner thigh. Ace’s fingers crept closer and closer to Ivo’s cock, except he switched legs, drying Ivo’s other thigh instead.
And now all that was left, was Ivo’s hard cock, his balls, and his hole.
Ivo whimpered.
“Your heart is pounding,” Ace whispered with a smile. He sounded so loud in the scant space between them. “Are there any other parts I need to dry?”
Ivo nodded wordlessly.
“Yeah? Where? What about here?” Ace brushed his knuckles lower, to the right. Through the blanket, his fingers bumped against Ivo’s base.
Ivo’s entire body jerked.
He’s touching my cock! Ivo blushed and looked down, unable to believe what he was seeing. There was no hiding how hard he was anymore.
Ace smiled. And he wrapped his hand around Ivo’s cock, squeezing him lightly.
Ivo hissed, his precum squirting into the blanket.
“You like that?” Ace slowly squeezed him again, his hand so big that it almost swallowed Ivo’s length.
It was all Ivo could do to nod.
He wanted Ace’s bare hand on him. Not Ace touching him through the blanket like this. But Ivo was too shy to ask for it.
“What else do you want?” Ace murmured. He slid his fingers down to Ivo’s base, up to his tip, and back down again. Except this time, he went further south, nudging Ivo’s balls. Ivo exhaled raggedly.
Ace pulled his hand away. Ivo made a sound of despair; Ace looked him in the eye.
And he reached under the blanket, grasping Ivo’s ankle. Those warm fingers skimmed up his leg, down his inner thigh. Ivo almost fainted when Ace caught his sac, tugging lightly on him.
“Such a tight little sac,” Ace purred, brushing his thumb across it. He slid his fingers behind Ivo’s balls, just enough that Ivo thought Ace might touch his hole. Ivo held his breath.
But Ace pulled his fingers away with a little smile, and stroked the base of Ivo’s cock.
“No!”
“What do you want?” Ace murmured.
Ivo couldn’t even look up. Barely audible, he whispered, “Touch me.”
“May I look?”
Ivo froze. It was unthinkable that anyone would be interested in his body. It was no longer perfect. The wounds had healed wrong; most days, his scar tissues twinged or hurt outright. In comparison, most other people hadn’t been through the crap he had. Most people didn’t have constant nightmares, either. He couldn’t understand why Ace would bother with him. “Why?”
“Because I’m interested in getting to know you,” Ace murmured.
“Because I’m convenient?”
“ No. I think you’re brave.” Ace raked his gaze over Ivo’s face. Then he glanced down, as though he was trying to see through the blanket. “You made pretty sounds for me. I would like to see how red and hard you get, see your thighs clench and your cock squirt.”
Ivo blushed, his face going blotchy pink. No one had talked about his body so obscenely before, either. It made him so self-conscious... and so hot. “Y-you won’t think I’m ugly?”
“I promise I won’t.”
“O-okay.”
Ace smiled softly. He cupped the back of Ivo’s neck and pulled him forward, pressing his soft lips against Ivo’s forehead.
Ivo startled. Why did he kiss me?
With his other hand, Ace lifted the edge of the blanket, a little at a time. He watched Ivo carefully as he did, pulling the blanket higher and higher until the bulk of it rested on top of Ivo’s knees. Ivo couldn’t see himself, but Ace had full view of Ivo’s bare legs now, and all his sensitive parts.
Ivo shivered and flushed, squeezing his eye shut.
Except Ace groaned, a low, rumbling sound that made Ivo’s skin light up.
“You’re so hard for me,” Ace whispered. His calloused fingertips skimmed along Ivo’s leg. Then he wrapped his hand around Ivo’s bare cock, and Ivo had to shove his hands over his mouth to stifle his shout.
“What does it feel like?” Ace murmured, stroking him from base to tip.
Pleasure jolted through Ivo. He couldn’t think. He’s touching me there!
“Ivo?” Ace sounded like he was smiling. “Sweetheart, answer my question. Does it feel good?”
Ivo opened his mouth and tried to answer. What came out was a soft moan, and again when Ace caught his tip and squeezed.
“You like this, huh?” Ace rubbed his thumb around Ivo’s tip, over and over until a steady stream of precum leaked out of him. Ivo shook so hard, he thought he might come any second.
“F-feels s-so good,” he gasped.
“Good.” Ace tightened his grip, his strokes turning firm and demanding. He began caressing Ivo’s thighs with his other hand. Ivo tingled everywhere, more so when Ace’s fingertips brushed his sac.
Ace slipped his fingers behind Ivo’s balls, going all the way to Ivo’s hole. All he did was rub it once, firmly, as though he was going to push in.
Ivo came hard, pleasure exploding through his body as his cum shot all over Ace’s forearm.
“That’s it,” Ace growled. “So fucking hot, Ivo. So good for me.”
“Y-you d-didn’t—” Ivo gasped, grinding down onto Ace’s finger. He felt so empty inside. “You didn’t—”
“Didn’t what?” Ace leaned in, catching Ivo’s earlobe between his teeth. “I didn’t touch inside you?”
Ivo whimpered. He was nodding before he could even think, spreading his legs wider.
Ace groaned and palmed the thick line in his own pants. “You’re so eager for me.”
He pushed two fingers into Ivo’s wet hole, stretching him easily.
Ivo clutched at Ace, needing to hang on to something. He hadn’t thought he would miss this after just one night. But his body stopped aching so much the moment Ace slid inside him. Ace thrust his fingers lightly, back and forth. Then he pushed deeper, hooking inside like he was trying to find Ivo’s sweet spot.
He found it. Ivo shuddered at the burst of pleasure, trying to breathe.
“You like that?” Ace whispered. “This makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”
He crooked his fingers hard against Ivo’s prostate and kept massaging it.
Ivo came all over Ace, shaking, barely keeping his moans stifled.
“So perfect,” Ace growled, still working that spot. “Coming all over me just like I wanted.”
“I-I didn’t mean to!” Ivo hid his face.
“Don’t hide from me,” Ace murmured. “You’re beautiful just the way you are.”
“I’m not—”
Ace slid his fist up Ivo’s cock, and the words fled Ivo’s tongue. Ace said, “I want you to come again.”
“I d-don’t think I c-can—” Ivo choked when Ace pressed down on his prostate, his entire body shuddering.
“Look at your pretty cock,” Ace whispered hoarsely. “So red for me, so desperate to obey me.”
And he worked his fingers against that sweet spot, over and over until Ivo choked on his moan and came. Ace smeared Ivo’s cum all over his cock, the lubrication turning his strokes sinful. He pushed Ivo into another orgasm. And another. Until Ivo didn’t even know what his name was; he was floating in a cloud of bliss, his entire body loose and relaxed.
“Beautiful,” Ace growled. He laid Ivo back onto the grass, a soft touch dragging up Ivo’s cock. Something hot and wet closed around it, and sucked.
Ivo keened.
“Just cleaning you up,” Ace said around his cock. He continued to lick. Then he pulled his fingers out of Ivo and scooped him up, carrying him over to his nest.
Ace didn’t put Ivo in with Mary, though. Instead, he set Ivo on the ground and walked away. Ivo whined.
“I’m coming back.” Grass rustled. Footsteps thumped. Something soft and heavy landed on the ground next to Ivo, and Ace set Mary gently in Ivo’s lap.
“Mary?” Ivo slurred.
“I’m adding blankets to your nest,” Ace said. “And charging your phone. Brought a power bank with me. Hang on.”
When Ivo cracked his eye open, he found a folded-up blanket tucked into his nest. Ace scooped him up along with Mary, setting them in the middle of the blanket.
“There.” Ace shook out a second blanket and wrapped it around Ivo and Mary. “That should keep you warm tonight.”
Ivo blushed and snuggled deeper into his nest. The walls still weren’t high enough. Ace tucked Ivo’s phone in next to him, now attached to a cord and a power bank. He squeezed in a bottle of water, too.
Ivo must’ve lost some time; when he opened his eye again, his clothes were folded on the edge of his nest, and Ace was picking up the lantern to take it away.
Ivo cuddled Mary closer to himself. “Don’t shift in front of him,” he mumbled to her.
She continued to sleep.
“Why shouldn’t she shift in front of me?” Ace asked quietly.
“Because.”
The last thing Ivo saw, was Ace laying out some blankets in his own twig nest. Ace shed some of his clothes. Then he climbed into the nest, and pulled a blanket over himself.
“What kind of shifter is she?” Ace asked from across the creek.
“She’s a mmmm...”
Ivo fell asleep, missing Ace’s thoughtful gaze on him.