BlackMoonRising (9 page)

The dogs ran down the stairs. When they reached the bottom,
they stopped and listened before running to their left. The basement was
partially finished with rooms built but no doors attached to them.

Steve stopped short at the second doorway, like a car
braking at an intersection. He thought he heard moaning coming from the inside.
He entered slowly, with Eric right behind him. In the corner of the room on the
floor sat Herman in his robe, a locked metal collar around his neck. That was
chained to the wall. He looked up when he saw them.

Steve whimpered as he went over to Herman. He could barely
stand to see him this way without getting choked up. His face, legs and feet
were dirty and there was a bloody scratch down his left calf. His robe was
untied and he was naked underneath.

“Steve, is that you?” Herman looked with widened eyes as
Steve shifted to a man.

“Oh baby, I thought I had lost you.” Steve let out a breath.
“Are you okay? What did those monsters do?” He put his hands to each side of
Herman’s face and kissed his cheeks, his forehead and then his lips.

“Nothing yet. I haven’t even seen Merlotti.” Herman
shrugged. “He’ll be here later to talk to me. All his underlings did was rough
me up and throw me down here after they grabbed me from your apartment. I’m
okay.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“You have to be careful. Wolves patrol the grounds at night.
I heard them say if you and Eric showed up, you wouldn’t have a chance. They’d
kill you.”

“I think they’re being a little sure of themselves. They
don’t give us enough credit for our experience. That last incident at this club
was a one-time thing. No more than that.”

Steve turned to Eric, who was still a Chihuahua. “We may
need everything in that dog backpack that Suzy has. If you go upstairs and get
it, I’ll stay with Herman.”

Eric took off toward the stairs. Steve checked the chain,
but was unable to set Herman free. It was only moments before Eric returned. He
had on a backpack with small saddlebags on each side. Steve pulled it off.

Eric shifted to a man and flashed a grin. “We’re prepared
this time. No worries.”

Steve grabbed the phone from the backpack and texted Suzy to
get out of the building fast. His next text was to Nahla. The potential Plan B
they had discussed was needed.

“Guess we’ll have to wait on this.” Eric folded his arms.
“No easy way out.”

Steve took another object out of the backpack. It was no
bigger than a finger. “This is a wireless video and audio recorder with an FM
wireless transmitter. It easily captures conversations. My mom will pick up the
signal and will be able to listen. If Merlotti says anything to implicate himself,
we’ll have it. I’m sorry baby, but you need to get information out of him any
way you can. Make him talk.”

“What will happen then?”

“My mom will have the police on standby to help arrest a
murderer whose name is not Herman Fleming.” Steve tried to smile. “Be tough.”

“I can be tough.” Herman frowned. “No worries there.
Remember that I run into fires to save people and property.”

“I know you do.” Steve kissed him, but worried anyway.

“How about setting the transmitter on those rows of stacked
boxes in the corner. “ Eric walked that way. “It can point towards Herman and,
hopefully, Merlotti.”

“Good idea.” Steve followed and positioned the recorder
until he was satisfied.

Steve and Eric moved the boxes enough that they could hide
behind them. Now it was time to do something they knew well from their jobs.

Wait.

* * * * *

Hours later they heard voices and people coming down the
steps. Steve saw Merlotti. He entered the room like an approaching storm, dark
and looming. He was dressed in a tuxedo and the two men next to him were in
street clothes.

“Well, what do we have here in chains? My future stepson?”

“Never!” barked a defiant Herman.

Merlotti laughed. “I’m afraid you’re correct. You won’t live
to be my stepson. All loose ends must be eliminated.”

“You monster! You killed my father!”

“Correct, but the sequence of events didn’t turn out the way
I intended that day. I thought that Barbara would pull the knife out of him
when she came home.”

Herman frowned. “You planned on framing her?”

“Once she was arrested, I would be her loyal supporter and
use all my resources to get her released and find the real killer. I’d pin the
murder on an unlucky bastard I hate, who happened to be found with a key to the
house, cash, bonds and jewelry and a criminal record that included
safecracking. When that happened, she would marry me without thinking twice.”
Merlotti put a finger to his lips and looked away. “I still need to get rid of
that guy.”

“How did you get the combination to the safe?”

“Barbara kept it on her phone.” He laughed. “I had no idea
you would show up that day and change the plan. You’ve actually made things
easier because I can get rid of you earlier than intended. You were a fugitive
who broke into my club tonight. I’ll call the police in the morning but you
will already be dead.”

“What would have been my motive for stealing from the safe?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Merlotti shrugged. “Those questions will
never be asked because you’ll be dead. Perhaps you and your father had a fight
that day. Perhaps you were scared after you killed him and planned on running
away, which is what you did.”

Herman looked down to the floor.

Merlotti sighed. “I don’t want you to have any part of the
estate either. That home is perfect for me and so close to my new den.” He put
a gloved finger to his lip and tapped it. “I actually don’t want to split the
estate with anyone, but that story continues another day.”

Steve took that to mean that not only was Merlotti going to
kill Herman, but also Barbara, once they were married. He would then be the
sole heir to the estate.
Bastard!
He glanced at the recorder. It
appeared to be working, and hopefully his mom and the police were listening and
on their way.

One of the men with Merlotti twitched his nose. “What’s that
smell? Is it cologne or something else?”

Merlotti sniffed the air with a perplexed look on his face.
“It could be a couple of things, Jimmy. I’m not sure which one right now.”

“It’s my cologne, you idiots,” snapped Herman. “Hope it
repels you.”

“Pretty cocky for a chained man.” Merlotti chuckled.

“I think I like the smell,” muttered Jimmy, staring at
Herman. “You are quite a looker, aren’t you? Tall, dark and especially freaking
handsome.”

Merlotti laughed. “My gamma here was excited to be one of
the chosen wolves to tear you apart. Once I told him you were gay too, he
requested to take a few liberties before he did the deed.” He shrugged. “I
don’t care one way or another what he does to you. He’s all yours, Jimmy.”

Jimmy walked closer to Herman and eyed him up and down. “I
think I’d like that pretty mouth to suck me before I shift and eat you.” He
pulled Herman’s robe open and stared. “Damn. Look at this hard body. I might
need a day or two with him, boss. He’s too fine to kill right away.”

“Fuck off!” cried Herman, his chest heaving in rage.

“I bet you’ve got a nice ass, too.” Jimmy licked his lips.
“I like his spirit and a whole lot more.”

“Sorry, not in the plan.” Merlotti shook his head. “This
ends tonight.”

Jimmy unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down in front of
Herman’s face. He jiggled his hardening shaft and grinned. “Time to get moving
with those lips, lover boy. Feel free to suck as hard as your anger makes you.
I can take it. Don’t think otherwise.”

Merlotti turned to leave the group.

Steve seethed. This wasn’t going to happen. He glanced at
his phone. Not time yet.
Damn!
Nahla needed a few more minutes for
maximum black-moon effectiveness, but he couldn’t wait any longer. Herman would
not be sucking anyone’s dick. He burst from behind the boxes. “Get away from
him, you fucking wolf!”

Merlotti and his underlings quickly turned to Steve with
surprised looks.

“What’s this?” Merlotti crossed his arms. “A naked
shapeshifter. So that’s what the cologne hid. I wondered if anything was up.”
He laughed. “And by the looks of him, I believe this one is Steven Beck.”

“Yeah, I’m Steven Beck.”

“You actually helped me find Herman, so I owe you a bit of
thanks. Really had no idea you had him holed up in your own bed.” His eyebrows
rose. “Color me surprised.”

“Not only did you kill Lawrence Fleming, you killed my
father fifteen years ago,” Steve spouted as he pointed a finger. “I saw you!
He’s the one who hurt your eye, caused your facial scars and took your
fingers.”

“Hmm.” Merlotti frowned. “That’s right. I forgot you were
there. How sad for a young boy to see all of that mess.” He pulled off a glove
and held the hand with the missing fingers up high. “Look familiar? Your father
put my brother in jail and that is where he still sits today. He received just
desserts. But I do give him credit for being a great fighter.”

“When my dad was killed, I couldn’t do anything to stop it.
I wasn’t strong enough.” Steve suddenly felt a power come over him unlike
anything he had ever known before. It was a rushed tingling from his head, down
his torso to his arms and legs. He felt blood traveling throughout his body,
could almost see it as his muscles filled with strength.

Nahla’s intoxicating voice entered his brain. “The power of
the black moon is upon you! Shift, shapeshifters, shift!”

He glared at Merlotti. “Well asshole, I’m strong enough
now!”

Eric rushed from behind the boxes in the same power mode as
Steve. Not one but two forces to be reckoned with. As they stared at each other
their minds synchronized and the beasts within them rose.

They swiftly shifted into massive dogs, Steve into a
Rottweiler, Eric a mastiff — with teeth triple the size they would normally be.
Saliva fell from their mouths in copious amounts. Their barks were deep, loud
and downright scary. The foundation of the basement shook and the windows
rattled from the forcefulness of the noise.

The three werewolves shifted and attacked but it was too
late. The dogs were already upon them with a superpower that took the
werewolves by surprise. The gamma with the revolting interest in Herman was
immediately castrated, his balls yanked from their sac and thrown against the
wall. He screamed in pain. Heads were kicked. Spines dislocated and crushed.
Throats squeezed until breath was gone. It wasn’t hard for the commanding dogs.

The wolves didn’t stand a chance.

More wolves ran down the basement stairs in startling
numbers to help, but came to a standstill at the horror they encountered. Many
retreated but others joined the fight. Once Steve’s sharp teeth pulled
Merlotti’s heart from his chest, all movement in the room ceased. Every wolf’s
eye was upon him. The super-powered Rottweiler dangled the still-beating,
bloody heart on his lower left canine tooth and looked into his victim’s barely
alive eyes. There was no remorse there for sins of the past.

A flick of his head and the heart was thrown into Eric’s
waiting mouth.

“I love your hair now that it’s back to brown. Sexy.” Herman
bent over and kissed Steve. “Thanks for doing that for me. Blond hair did not
go with your coloring or a brown five o’clock shadow.”

“Yeah, yeah. You sound like my brother. I expect yours to be
growing longer on top anytime now. I can’t wait to see it tousled when you
throw your head back in ecstasy from something I did to you.” Steve beamed.

“I do like my hair longer. No problem there, babe.”

“Thanks for shaving for me. I like that smooth face.” His
fingers fluttered down Herman’s soft cheek.

“You might want to start wearing sunglasses more. All that
squinting you do is putting lines between your eyes. I want my man to stay
young-looking.”

Steve chuckled. He looked up into the clear blue sky and
squinted. “All right. I see your point.”

It had been a long day in the hot Cancun sun and Herman
looked good enough to eat in his clinging black trunks. No other tourists were
close by as they lay on towels in the sand sunbathing. Paradise.

Steve had trouble keeping erotic thoughts tucked away about
what he’d like to do to that beautiful dick hiding underneath the trunks.
Imagining it in his mouth gave him a hard-on. He had plenty of those since
being with Herman.

They waved to Eric, who walked down the beach with a man
he’d met at the neighboring hotel. Looked like he finally came out.

They glanced at Suzy, who sipped rum drinks at the pool bar
with her boyfriend. A nice family vacation. Too bad their mom couldn’t join
them this time but someone had to run Beck Recovery. Mom would be getting a
well-deserved vacation in sunny Hawaii soon with Aunt Lisa.

He wrapped his arms around Herman. “I love you.”

Herman sighed. “I love you too.”

“When I think that I might have lost you, might not never
have seen your eyes or touched your body again, it makes it hard not to cry.”

“But it didn’t happen.” Herman shook his head. “Everything
is perfect.”

“Just looking at you makes my cock hard.”

“Ditto.”

Steve grinned. “I want to fuck that beautiful ass of yours
and eat you alive.”

“Eww.” Herman stiffened and pushed him away. “Fucking my ass
is fine but after that spectacle I saw at the country club, I don’t think I
want words like eating me alive used anymore, even in jest. You scared me half
to death.”

“I know that must have been rough.” Steve kissed him gently.
“I’m sorry but it had to be done. At least it was over quickly. I didn’t plan
to kill the wolves but they weren’t going to let us go. I had no doubt that my
mom would get there with the police after they heard Merlotti confess to
everything. And I had the chance to cover my baby before anyone else got an
eyeful of his hotness.” He placed a hand on Herman’s shaft and gently squeezed.

“’Here comes my hero.’ That’s exactly what I thought when
you finally shifted back to a man and came over to me. But I have to tell you
that when you and Eric became those scary dogs, I was terrified.” Herman
shuddered.

Steve clenched his teeth. “Sorry that you saw me shift into
something frightening. Remember that I can be a cute dog too.”

“Like the Chihuahua.” Herman grinned.

“Or any other lovable dog.” Steve put a hand up. “Knot your
fingers through mine. I want to hold hands.”

Herman intertwined his fingers with Steve’s and squeezed.
“Since we can’t decide if we should move into your apartment or mine, maybe we
should look into a condo. A big one, so we can have parties. I have extra money
and I don’t have a problem keeping the place clean.”

“I’m sad for the way you got the money.”

“But I’m lucky to have had so much time with him. I’m sorry
that you didn’t have that kind of time with your father.”

“Everyone has their memories and nightmares. Some more than
others.”

Herman shrugged. “Time to move forward. For both of us.”

“I’m crazy in love with you, baby. I need you to know that.
All I want is in your gorgeous eyes.”

“We’ll do it all together.” Herman grinned. “Everything.”

“I don’t ever want this feeling to go away. You’re the
perfect partner.” He stared at Herman. Handsome, muscular, hard-bodied. And a
fireman? This was what dreams were made of. “I can’t wait to see you in your
work clothes. Or somewhat in them. Hat on. Shirt off. Holding an ax. Pants
partly unbuttoned, so I can dream about what’s in them. I’m imagining it now.”

“I was in a fireman calendar once. Almost that exact pose.”

Steve sat up. “What? I have to see it! You better have a
copy!”

“I do, I do. You’ll see it when we get home.” Herman
laughed.

They smiled at each other and kissed.

“So are you giving Nahla some kind of job?”

“After I check all her references.” Steve lifted his
eyebrows. “I’m going to check one of them right now.” As he slipped his hand
inside Herman’s trunks, his breath caught in his throat. His mouth went dry as
he looked at Herman. The joy he felt every time he touched this man made him
shiver.

Herman laughed as he leaned back on his elbows. “I’m glad I
give good reference.”

Steve played with Herman’s dick, touching the head and
rubbing the pre-come around the tip. It was all he could do not to dip his head
down to Herman’s trunks and take that hardening rod into his mouth right here
on the beach. Wouldn’t that be a sight for all the tourists?

Herman closed his eyes and sighed. “I can’t believe after
everything that happened that we remembered to do your black-moon nightmare
chant once we finally made it home.”

“Happy to say it worked, although I’m not sure if it worked
because Merlotti confessed to killing our fathers or because of the chant.”

“Maybe both.” Herman shrugged. “You had the power of the
black moon two different ways that night.”

“I want you two different ways right now.” Steve smirked as
he removed his hand from Herman’s trunks. “Pack your beach bag, lover. We’re
going to the room.”

“Oh. Is there a monster hard-on coming my way?”

“You’d better believe it.”

Once they made it to the elevator they kissed liked
teenagers, excited to be together and barely coming up for air. Herman threw
his arms around Steve’s neck and pulled him close. Steve grabbed Herman’s
biceps and squeezed. Herman cupped Steve’s face between his hands and swept his
thumbs over Steve’s cheekbones. Their kisses were deep and passionate.

“You’re such a good kisser,” murmured Herman.

Steve broke free once the elevator door opened and ran to
their hotel room ahead of Herman. When Herman finally made it to the room,
Steve was already naked and lying on his side on top of the bed. He had a red
rose dangling from his mouth.

“Where’s my phone?” asked Herman. “That looks like a perfect
picture for my computer screensaver.”

Steve grinned.

Herman laughed out loud as he plopped on the bed and Steve
removed his swimming trunks.

Steve kissed Herman’s mouth, his chest, his stomach. “I lost
you before but I don’t want us to ever have regrets over the past.”

“Everything happens for a reason. It was my failure. We lost
each other through my actions.”

Steve put a finger to Herman’s lip. “Don’t say that. We need
to let the past go.”

“I believe in you. We can do that.”

“Then we’ll move on. Let me taste that gorgeous cock of
yours.” Steve licked his lips and did the same to Herman’s shaft. He pulled his
thighs apart and sucked his balls, one lovingly after the other. After he
applied lube to a finger, he skimmed the rim of Herman’s ass and slid it in
past the tight ring of muscles. “Does my baby like?”

“Oh!” Herman cried out as he moved his hips. “Yeah. You
better believe it.”

Steve pulled Herman’s dick in and out of his mouth. Herman
lifted his hips and fed the whole thing to Steve. Steve licked and sucked and
smiled at him whenever he could. It was obvious that Herman enjoyed receiving
as much as Steve enjoyed giving.

Herman’s grin beamed like lights on an airfield. Those
lights were telling Steve that the plane ride wasn’t over, it was just
beginning.

He loved Herman so much. They would never lose each other
again. It wasn’t long before Herman moaned and pumped his passion into Steve’s
waiting mouth. They lay intertwined together minutes later, eyes closed, the
sheet barely covering their legs.

“Ready?”

“Huh?” Herman opened his eyes.

“I’m not finished with you. I didn’t come yet.” After
applying the condom and lube, Steve pushed Herman flat on his back and crawled
on top of him. His hands moved over Herman’s thighs, lifting them up and
pushing them against his chest. After stretching him with his fingers, Steve
slid his rod slowly into Herman’s ass.

Herman let out a deep breath.

“I want you to look into my eyes as we fuck. I want to know
you’re mine and that we’ll always be together.” Steve stared into Herman’s
eyes. It reminded him of the first time he’d seen Herman’s picture at his
father’s house, but was unable to see his eyes because sunglasses covered them.

He’d always thought that you could see a person’s intentions
in their eyes. Herman’s beautiful chestnut-colored eyes had the look of love as
they stared back at Steve.
The perfect intention.

“I’m yours, all right.” Herman moaned. “Nobody else’s.”

“You’re the love of my life.”

Herman smiled. “Are you happy now?”

“Happier than I’ve ever been.”

“I want to be with you forever, Steve. I want to spend every
night lying in bed with you and sucking on that big gorgeous cock of yours.”

“Same here.” Steve grinned. “I know now that it’s always
been yours. Fate had to bring us together again.”

Herman had brought him back to life. He’d never felt this
type of happiness before. He had never thought he would hear the word “forever”
in a sentence that concerned him with somebody else.

Herman’s eyes went wide as the pace increased and they
reached their boiling point. They both came seconds later. As they slowly
recovered from their lovemaking, Herman stroked Steve’s chest. Steve wrapped
Herman in his arms and held him close.

Nothing had ever felt more physically or emotionally
perfect. This was what love did to you. It made you never want to let go. They
had been through so much together already. But now they had the future.
Their
future. And it would be filled with love and joy and excitement and
passion.

Everything seemed bright and sunny with Herman in his life.
Herman was the light that Steve had been searching for.

The end