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Title: Once In A Lifetime Love
Author: Mystical_Dreamer
Rating: R to NC-17
Characters: Luke Snyder, Reid Oliver, Casey Hughes, Bob Hughes, The douche and his father, a few OC’s.
Disclaimer: : All characters belong to their respective copyrights. While I love to take them out and play with them from time to time, I do not own any of the characters, except the OC's. Those silly bastards are mine.
Author's Notes: A huge thanks to bmak08 and moonchilddj for taking the time to beta this for me, but in the end each and every mistake is mine and mine alone. Also, I need to thank the wonderful moonchilddj....aka my best friend...for posting this story for me. Live Journal and I DO NOT get along when it comes to posting, so Dee has agreed to take on the task for me. LOVE YA GIRL!!! AND THANKS AGAIN!!!!
Chapter 9
********
Reid fell to his knees, feeling his long, lean body start to change. He arched his back, feeling his spine pop and thicken. He stretched his arms out in front of him, and rested his weight on the balls of his feet as he felt his feet and hands change into fur covered paws, the muscles of his arms and legs thickening. He bit back a moan as he felt his face change. His eyes sunk and became blood red. His nose and mouth jutted forward, his ears changed and his teeth grew, his whole face taking on a canine appearance. His whole body hummed, and he couldn't hold back the howl as thick coarse animal hair covered his body. If truth be known, this was his favorite part. It was as powerful as an orgasm, making every fiber on his being come alive.
Once his metamorphosis was complete, he huffed softly, and a low growl escaped him as he looked up once again into the starless night, paying homage to the moon with another howl. He waited for the answer of the others, before he took off to join the fun.
*****
Luke was more than confused about his mysterious host. Had the firelight just caught on the edge of his hosts eyes, making them appear red for a moment? Perturbed, he had watched the man practically fly out of his room, his brows furrowing. What was wrong with the man? And what had been all that talk about restlessness and freedom? He was very confused.
His teacup nearly became a flying projectile, as he started at the howl that soared up into the night air. Closer than the earlier howls that had seemed to set his host on edge.
Wolves, Luke thought with a shiver as he pulled the bathrobe tighter around himself. The scent that drifted from it, still a strange scent that eluded him, wafted up to his nose, calming him a bit, and he sighed, taking another sip of his tea. "What a strange, strange night this has turned out to be."
**
Gabriel knew that Lord Oliver would be gone for a few hours. He always was, when the need to be free overtook him. He watched from the hallway window as Reid bounded off into the woods, the telltale grey streak of fur giving away that it was him. He said the silent prayer that he always said with his Lordship transformed, before he lifted his eyes to the starless night. "Be safe, my Lord."
He gave Luke a few minutes before he knocked softly on the door. "Master Luke? May I come in?" he asked as he knocked again, opening the door and peeking inside just in time to see him pinching his arm lightly. "Um...I can assure you, young master Luke, that you are not dreaming."
Luke gazed up at Gabriel, his nerves having finally calmed enough that he was able to recognize faces. The man had interrupted Winston and Noah, when Winston had been about to...he pushed that thought away from him, and recognized him from helping him to Lord Oliver's car.
"Feels like one. Only I'm not this imaginative." he murmured with a small frown. "Is this like...some sting operation? You were at the auction, too. Noah and Winston knew you. Or...halfway knew you. And you got me out of there..."
"May I sit?" Gabriel asked, smiling when Luke nodded. He moved with his own grace but not as elegant as Reid's. "Yes. I was there....undercover as the saying goes. I was there to make sure you weren't hurt."
"Me?" Luke gazed at him. "Why am I so important? There were plenty of others there that looked just as scared. It's not the virgin thing, is it?" he asked, wrinkling his nose. That Noah, the whole auction, had put such an importance on that, creeped him out.
"Oh, no. No..Lord Oliver has no interest in you, sexually." Gabriel said, before he clamped his hand over his mouth, his eyes wide in horror. "Oh...I didn't mean that to sound like it did!"
Luke blushed, and waved his hand. He ought to be relieved to hear that, and he was, sort of. But he felt strangely disappointed at the same time, and shook it away. "It's all right. After what happened..." He shivered at the memories, and took a deep breath, focusing his hands around the warmth of the teacup, placing himself in the here and now. "I should be grateful that he isn't looking at me sexually."
"It is not that you aren't attractive, Master Luke, because you are. You could make the straightest man question themselves. It's just that...." Gabriel bit his lip, not sure how much to reveal. "Lord Oliver...is a very complicated and mysterious man and..." He paused, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Wait...you almost sound a little disappointed when I said that he wasn't interested in you sexually."
Luke was amused, to hear the other man use the same words that Reid had used. Really, he didn't see the potency. He was just himself, it was not like he'd had people just falling over themselves back home. When it came to Gabriel's last words, though, he blanched, and shook his head. "What? No, no. I'm not disappointed at all. I'm not looking for a hookup, either." he protested, looking away.
Gabriel smiled when the younger man looked away. "I think thou doth protest too much." he said with a smile as he reached for a piece of fruit. "It is all right. Lord Oliver is a very handsome man."
Handsome, yes. The blue of his eyes were so bright, and he had a handsome face, regal almost, with high cheekbones and such. Long legs and--Luke shook off the thoughts, and frowned to himself. It was stupid. He didn't even know the man, the strange pull was just ridiculous.
"Is he sick, though?" Luke asked instead, gazing at Gabriel and studiously ignoring the comment about his looks. "He looked so strange, and he needed to leave very quickly."
Gabriel could tell that the younger man was thinking about Lord Oliver. He heard his heart rate pick up and he saw a slight pink stain take over his cheeks. So, he thought, Master Luke is drawn to Lord Oliver. Interesting.
"Sick? No." he answered honestly, trying to find a way to explain Reid's sudden departure. "Sometimes, Lord Oliver just...has to leave. He's claustrophobic, and even though his home is large, sometimes he needs the openness of the outside."
"Oh." Luke replied, his furrowed brow clearing with some relief. At least he wasn't sick. "Guess that explains the muttering about the restlessness and freedom bit." he murmured. "He'll be all right, though?"
"You're concerned." Gabriel observed, his tone gentle as he smiled at Luke. "Yes. He'll be all right. He just,” Gabriel paused, chewing his bottom lip as the thought of the right word. “…Changed and went out for a run." It wasn't a lie, not relly. Reid had changed and he was out running, so his words held a level of truth to them.
"Well, I was a sickly kid, and I've had a few health scares." Luke murmured, blushing. "I just, I was worried when he rushed out. That's all. If he went out running, needed a break, then..."
"He will be fine. You needn't worry about him, I assure you." Gabriel reached for the teapot and poured himself a cup before he nodded towards Luke. "Another cup, Master Luke, before I look at those nasty cuts on your back?"
It wasn't weird to be concerned, right? Any other man would worry about another human being. Luke gazed out to the window, wondering, before he glanced to Gabriel again. "Yes, thank you." he replied softly.
As he poured the tea, Gabriel noticed that Luke was looking out the window. "Something on your mind?" he asked as he set the pot back on the warming plate, before he added two lumps of sugar to his cup, stirring gently.
"I. No, not really." Other than the odd speech Reid had made, the questions he'd asked him. He shifted, and shook his head, before he took a sip of his tea. His eyes glanced up again, however, when he heard the sound of wolves, distant this time, barely audible.
"You are free here, Master Luke. Free to say whatever you wish." He knew Luke had his suspicions about why Lord Oliver left in such a hurry. "I, we need you feel comfortable here."
"That's very nice of you." Luke lowered his teacup, and smiled a bit. "Why do you care so much, though? I'm, well, a so-called guest, I suppose. What do my needs matter?" he asked, gazing down at his teacup.
"They matter, Master Luke, because you ARE a guest. Even though Lord Oliver....bought you," Gabriel shook his head softly, "God how I HATE that word." He took a sip of his tea before he continued. "...You are not his property. While you are here, you will be treated with respect and thought of as one of the family."
Luke shivered a little as well, preferring to not think of the situation he'd left behind. It'd been demoralizing, and so very embarrassing. He gave Gabriel a grateful smile. "I don't mean any offense to Lord Oliver. I really don't. He could've left me there. Let someone else buy me. But I feel...imprisoned. I can't see my family, and he said I have to be here for months. He said I could call them in the morning, assure them I'm safe...but what do I even say to them?"
"I don't know, Master Luke." Gabriel responded, taking another sip of his tea before he glanced up at the young man. "What if you tell them that you and that dreadful Mr. Mayer had a fight and you broke up? You need some time to figure some things out and you won't be home for a while?"
"I...guess that could work." He swirled his tea around, gazing to the contents. "I wish I could do more than that. I don't even know what's happening here. With me, with Lord Oliver, with anything." Luke shook his head and forced himself to sip at his tea, to calm himself down. "Anyways. Your food smells very good, but I'm afraid I won't be able to eat it. I'm sorry. Could you...maybe check these scratches and I’ll rest. Or try to."
"Lord Oliver will explain all in good time. Just hold on to the knowledge that you are not a prisoner here, young Master Luke. You are free to explore the house and grounds, but all we ask is that you do not stray too far. Lord Oliver and I are here to protect you. Keep you safe."
Gabriel wished he could tell Luke why he was here, but he knew that was up to Reid when, and if, he felt the time was right.
He glanced towards the window and he heard another wolf howl, low and deep, and he smiled as he finished his tea, setting the cup down. "My Lord is having a grand time." he muttered under his breath, before turning back to Luke. "Your scratches. Yes. Of course." he replied as he reached for Reid's medical bag and opened it up. "I need....would you mind taking off your robe to your waist?"
Luke was mildly puzzled by Gabriel's words. Keep him safe? From what? He was sure the wolves didn't drift too close to the house, and he didn't know of anything else he would need protection from. But then, he didn't know much at all, so he left it be, and nodded. "Sure." he replied softly, before he set his half-finished tea down with a slightly-shaky clack to its saucer, and he turned, wincing a little as the muscles on his back pulled against the scratches. With his back to Gabriel, he loosened the tie at his waist, letting the robe sink down, until it was to waist level.
"Is that all right?" he asked, biting his lip as cool air brushed against his back.
"Yeah." Gabriel whispered softly. Wow! He thought. No wonder Luke fetched such a high price tonight. Even with the scratches marring his back, Luke was beautiful.
"..Um....okay. I am not as well versed as Lord Oliver is with things like this, so it might sting a bit." he explained as he soaked a cotton ball with alcohol and dabbed at the bloodied scratches on his back. "I don't think any of them will need stitches, but you will need to take it easy for the next few days..." He paused noticing that some of the less severe lacerations and bruises had already started to heal right before his eyes.
Flinching when the first touch of the alcohol came, Luke let out a shaky sigh, and nodded, wincing. "No problem. They sting enough to give me a warning." he murmured, fingers clutched tight to his robe so he didn't pull away. "Thank you."
"Oh...you are more than welcome, Master Luke. I just wish I could have done something sooner." he said as he dabbed at the cuts as gently as he could, cleaning them up as best he could before he reached for the antibiotic cream. "This will help ease the pain of the larger cuts." He applied the ointment and bandages to the larger wounds, before securing them with tape. "There. How does that feel?"
"Better." Luke could still feel the sting, but it wasn’t as bad a earlier. "I'm really sorry I couldn't eat your good food, though. I hope you won't be offended?" he asked as he gazed over his shoulder at him, pulling the robe backup where it belonged.
"Oh, no offense taken. I understand completely. I can warm it up later for Lord Oliver." Gabriel said as he put the supplies back in the medical bag. "I'm sure he’ll will be back in to see to those cuts when he gets back from his....run."
He set the bag down by the chair and turned back to Luke. "Would you like me to bring you more tea? Or something stronger?"
"Luke’s smile was easy as he tied the robe, and pushed his fingers through his hair. ”No. Thank you. I'll just try to rest a little, if that's all right?"
"Nothing wrong with indulging in a little drink every now and then, and Lord Oliver does have some excellent choices." Gabriel smiled as he stood up. "But I understand. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask, all right?"
"I'm not the best drinker. At least I tend to be a happy drunk." Luke laughed a bit. "Thank you, though, and I will." he replied, before he shifted to carefully climb his way proper into the bed. The size of it was huge, taking over the whole corner of the room, that he was sure he wouldn't have to worry about rolling off. He wasn't certain if he'd be able to sleep, but he could at least try. He crawled under the blankets, easing his way to his side with a deep sigh. "Thank you again for your help, Gabriel."
Gabriel smiled as he moved to the side of the bed and actually tucked Luke in, pulling the blankets gently over him. "Put your mind at ease, Master Luke. You have nothing to fear."
He smiled as he pushed the trolley to the door. "I shall be up for a while, so if you need anything....just press the button by the bed. It sends a message to my phone and I shall come to see you."
Luke gave a noise of acknowledgement, and turned on his side slightly as the door closed behind the man. The moon was high, bright and full through the windows, and bathed the room in a silvery-golden glow. He gazed up at the large orb, a hint of smile on his full lips as the moon glinted in his eyes.
"Well, now I know why the wolves were baying. “he murmured, “It’s beautiful.” He felt a calm wash over him as he gazed at the moon until his eyes couldn't stay open anymore, and drifted into a restless slumber.