Love's True Path

Jason stretched glad to be back in human form. He kissed Caleb's head.

The dark haired man frowned, hiding his face in Jason's side.

"Wake up..." Jason poked him in the side.

"No..." Caleb paused, then jerked his head up. "Jason!"

He kissed him. "That's my name."

Climbing into the blonde's lap, Caleb hugged him close. "God, you scared me!"

"I know. I'm sorry." Jason held him close.

"What happened?" Caleb began looking Jason over for injuries.

"I'm all right now." He assured him. "I took a break outside and he attacked me."

Kissing Jason, Caleb whimpered, slipping his fingers into the wolf's hair.

"I'm ok love." Jason murmured against his neck.

"You may be... I'm not." The cat swallowed, shaking.

"I know, but it'll be over soon."

Caleb shook his head. "You could have died... Jase could have... and Nathaniel.... Jason I..."

"But I didn't and neither did they." Jason held Caleb's face in his hands.

His dark eyes were nearly black, shining with tears. "I can't do this... I'm so scared..."

"I'm here with you Caleb. He can't touch us here." He kissed him slowly.

Caleb kissed him back, slowly running his hands over him, as if making sure he was still there.

"I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Jason kissed him again.

"How can you promise, Jason?"

"Because I'm not leaving your side until Shayne is dead."

Meeting Jason's gaze, Caleb bit his lip. "Swear it. Make it real, Jason. Show me you're here."

Jason kissed him and slid his tongue into his lover's mouth.

Caleb moaned, holding Jason to him.

He slid his arm around Caleb's waist.

The cat shifted closer, pressing himself against Jason.

Jason started to undress Caleb. He licked a line down the cat's neck.

He purred for him, sliding his hands over Jason's naked body.

"Purr for me again." He hold him as he removed Caleb's shirt.

Caleb shifted, letting out a purr closer to a growl as Jason's hands brushed his skin.

Jason undid his pants. "You are so lovely, my little kitten."

"How many times..." He gasped, "Do I have to say I'm not little?"

"I'll never stop saying it." He licked along the top of the cat's pants.

Caleb shook. "Why...?"

"Because you don't like it." Jason chuckled.

Growling slightly Caleb moved to roll away.

"Hey it was only a joke." He pouted.

"I'm not little." Caleb scowled.

Jason pounced on him. "I know that, but you're cute."

The air knocked out of him, Caleb blinked up at the wolf. "Says who?"

"Says me and I'm the only one who matters."

"Uh huh..." Caleb nipped at Jason's jaw.

Jason rubbed himself against Caleb.

"Jesus, Jason..." Caleb arched into him.

"Mmm, kitten."

"You're a tease..." Caleb nipped at the spot behind his ear.

"I'm only a tease if I don't do anything about it." He freed Caleb's cock from his pants and took him into his mouth.

The leopard screamed, unable to stop himself from thrusting upwards.

Jason took all of him into his mouth and moaned.

"Jason... Jason please..." He begged.

"Tell me what you want, kitten."

"You... God, Jason, I want..." The wolf did something with his tongue, and it was all he could do to stop himself from coming then.

"You want what, little kitten?" He licked down the length of his lover's cock.

"You... inside... please... fuck me..."

Jason didn't need to be asked twice. He finished undressing the cat and kissed him. He grabbed Caleb's hip and slowly worked his way inside of him.

Caleb growled, wrapping his legs around the wolf.

The wolf moaned as he slid inside of the cat. "I love you, Cale."

"Love... yes..."

He rocked his hips and drove himself into his love.

"Jason, I want more... please..." Caleb leaned up, marking Jason's shoulder.

Jason obliged by pounding even harder into him.

"Fuck... Jason..." Caleb reached down, stroking himself.

He growled and pushed Caleb's hand away. He replaced it with his own.

The leopard bucked upwards, the combined sensations making him come within moments

Jason came a few seconds later. He moaned Caleb's name.

They lay there spent, only to be disturbed as the door opened and Rissa skipped in, carrying Trooper, leading Savage on a leash.

Jason had heard her foot steps and grabbed the blanket. He pulled it over them so that they were decent. "Hi Rissa. Caleb isn't feeling very well. Do you mind coming back later?"

Rissa shook her head. "I can't later... Aunt Mika said later I have to do homework..." She crawled onto the bed, handing Jason the puppy. "You feel better? And Caleb, Aunt Mika says you have to eat soup if you're sick..."

Caleb's cheeks flushed. "Uh..."

"But Rissa....Caleb has cooties and we don't want you to catch them..."

Caleb smacked the wolf even as Rissa shrieked, falling off the bed. "EW! Cooties are gross! I hate boys!"

"Better run." Jason started coughing. "I think I got his cooties."

"I'm telling Aunt Mika you're icky!" She ran from the room.

The wolf laughed as she bolted out of the room.

Caleb smacked him on the ass. "That's not funny. I don't want to be icky!"

Jason kissed him and pulled on some pants.

The cat pouted. "I'm not icky..."

"I know that, but would you rather explain more about being gay to her?"

"No..." Caleb pinned Jason to the bed. "You're still making that up to me though!"

"She could come back with Mika." Jason warned him.

"Mika's not stupid... I'm sure she'll know what happened." Caleb leaned down, kissing Jason softly.

"How do you recover so quickly?" Jason asked.

The leopard paused. "I just do...?"

"It's not fair." He complained.

"Why?" Caleb tilted his head at the wolf.

"Because how am I supposed to be of any use to you if I'm still spent?" Jason pouted.

"I didn't say you were making it up to me now... but Mika's not going to care if she walks in on kissing..." Caleb straddled the wolf, sitting above him.

He pulled the cat down for a long, hot kiss.

He purred, his chocolate curls wild around his face.

Jason buried a hand in Caleb's lovely locks.

Caleb moaned, shifting slightly in his position over Jason.

Jason moaned into his mouth.

The leopard pulled back, smirking down at the erection pressed against his own. "Hmm... interesting..."

The wolf cursed himself for putting pants on. "Shut up and kiss me, kitten."

"Yes, Sir." Caleb leaned down, kissing Jason softly, teasingly.

Jason slid his tongue into his lover's mouth.

He purred, leaning forward more to deepen the kiss further.

He held Caleb tightly as they kissed.

"Fucking hell, Jason... you breath, and I'm hard..."

"And the door is still open. Maybe this time we should lock it."

Caleb rolled to the floor, and, giving Jason a seductive look over his shoulder, crawled to it.

Jason smiled as he watched him close and lock the door. He shed his pants.

Caleb paused, stretching, arching his back.

"God, Caleb." He closed his eyes. "Hurry up and get over here."

"Something wrong?" He smirked, climbing to his feet.

"I want you and I want you now."

"Impatient?" Caleb moved, stretching out on the bed. "What about slow?"

Jason growled at him as he crawled over to him. "You are evil..."

"How so?"

"Making me come to you." He rolled Caleb over so he was on his stomach. Jason ran a hand over his lover's ass.

Caleb pushed up into Jason's hand. "Mm... so?"

Jason smacked his ass. "That wasn't nice of you."

The leopard growled, arching his ass up for more. "Why not?"

"Because I'm too horny to be doing all this moving." He pinched Caleb's ass.

Caleb growled at the sharper pain. "Yet you just came."

"Hush." Jason ran his hand down Caleb's back.

Fine hairs raised on his body, and he couldn't stop the purr from emerging.

He placed his hand with his tongue.

"Jason..." Biting his lip, Caleb forced himself still, loving the feeling of his lover's mouth.

Jason bit him hard enough to leave a bruise. "Yes, kitten?"

Caleb's hips bucked forward, and he swore.

He laughed. "Too much?"

"No... Jason-" He tried to roll to face him.

Jason pushed him back down. "Tell me what you want, little kitten." He growled.

"I'm not little-" Shit. Dominant Jason was hot...

Jason bit down on his shoulder.

"Jason!" Caleb grabbed at the blankets, moaning.

"That my name, love." He growled.

Caleb pushed his bottom into the air. "Please..."

"Please what?" He breath was hot as it hit Caleb's neck.

Was he begging for more torture, or completion? He didn't know. "I... just please..."

Jason lifted his hips so he had a better angle. He caressed his backside before he slid into him.

Moaning, Caleb thrust back at him. "Yes... Jason..."

He growled low in his throat as he buried himself in his lover.

The wolf hit his prostate, and Caleb whimpered, reaching down to stroke his cock.

This time Jason let him. He threw his head back and moaned as he lost himself in Caleb.

"Jason... I want..." Caleb begged.

"Tell me." He told him.

"Use your mouth on me... bite me." Grinding backwards, Caleb cried out at the feeling.

Jason sank his teeth into the tender flesh of Caleb's neck and bit down.

That was too much, and it sent Caleb flying. He came hard, burying his face in the bed while screaming Jason's name.

The wolf shook as he came. "Caleb." He moaned against his lover's throat.

A soft knock came at the door. "Gentlemen?" Mika smiled to herself, fighting the urge to giggle.

Caleb moaned. "Ugh...."

"Fuck." He managed to somehow pull his pants on and stagger over to the door. "Yes Lupa?"

Mika looked at the floor, then at the wolf. "You are going to be apologizing to Rissa later and explaining that you don't in fact, have cooties. You don't have to tell her what you were doing- I'd prefer not, but..."

"We were naked and it seemed like a good idea at the time." Jason explained.

She laughed. "Oh, I don't doubt it. But you'll be explaining, as I said. She's already scared she has cooties, and won't listen to me."

"Ok." Jason kissed her cheek. "Sorry for scaring your niece, lupa."

"You're forgiven. You've not exactly had the easiest last while." Mika pushed him towards the bed. "Shoo. Go sleep and cuddle."

He smiled and closed the door after she left. He made sure it was locked before he made his way to the bed.

Caleb, the lazy cat, was fast asleep.

Jason grinned evilly, ran to the bed, and leaped onto the sleeping cat.

He growled, struggling to get away, honest fear rolling from him.

His fear hit him and the wolf froze. "Caleb it's me. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Caleb scrambled from the bed, tucking himself into the corner, covering his head the best he could.

Jason kicked himself mentally for being such a moron. He crawl over to Caleb, whimpering. "Cale, I'm sorry. You're safe."

Slowly, the wereleopard looked up. "Jason?"

"I'm sorry." He buried his face in Caleb's neck.

Holding Jason, Caleb swallowed. "Sorry..."

"It wasn't your fault. I'm the moron that jumped on you."

"It should have been funny." Caleb bit his lip.

"It was dumb and I'm sorry." He kissed him.

Caleb wrapped his arms tighter around the wolf, kissing him softly back.

Jason picked him up and carried him back to bed.

"What'd Mika want?" Caleb asked quietly, wanting to get Jason's mind off of it.

"I have to apologize to Rissa later." He smiled.

Caleb blinked. "Why?

"I have to convince her that she doesn't have cooties."

The leopard smiled. "She thinks she has cooties?"

Jason laughed. "Yep."

"Mean Jason... you gave me cooties, and Rissa?" He shook his head.

"No, you gave me cooties."

"Oh, really?"

"Yep. Cause I know I didn't have cooties."

"Sure. I believe you." Caleb yawned.

"So, back to bed." Jason pulled the covers up.

"We're in bed..."

"You know what I meant." He closed his eyes.

"Yes, Sir." Caleb paused. "I want Trooper."

"Go steal both of them from the kids." He yawned.

"No..."

Caleb sat up. "Please...?"

Jason rolled out of bed and commandeered the kitten and puppy for Caleb.

Caleb kissed him as he entered, cuddling his kitten. "Hey, Trooper..."

The kitten purred loudly. Jason set Savage down on the bed and crawled under the covers.

Cuddling the cat to him, Caleb soon fell asleep.

Jason stroked his hair as Savage pressed up against Trooper.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nathaniel lay in bed, unable to sleep. He just kept seeing Jason being attacked, again and again...

Jase rolled over in her sleep, naturally moving towards his warmth.

He wrapped his arms around her, crying softly.

She woke up. "Nate?" She said half-asleep. "You ok?"

He nodded, then shook his head, biting his lower lip. God, but he was weak.

Jase snuggled closer to him. "You want to walk about it?"

Nathaniel looked at her. "Jase..." He swallowed, hugging her close.

She kissed him. "Talk to me Nathaniel."

"Shayne stabbed him... and there was nothing I could do..."

"Oh, Babe. That wasn't your fault. He jumped Jason."

Shaking his head, Nathaniel sat up. "I should have done something..."

"You couldn't. Jason told me he was there and then he ran off like the coward he is."

"I should have done something... I didn't even do anything until he screamed. I shouldn't have left him alone..."

Jase stroked his hair. "You can't blame yourself for what Shayne did."

"He's hurting everyone, Jase..." Nathaniel shook his head.

"I know and we'll get him soon."

"I'm scared." He said softly.

"I am too." Jase told him. "But we'll get through this."

He hugged her close, leaning down and resting his cheek against her belly.

She smiled. "Lillian said everything is going well with the baby. We can find out the sex soon."

Nathaniel smiled there. "I'm so excited..."

"Me too. I can't wait to find out."

He leaned up, kissing her. "Sorry I'm such an idiot..."

"You're not an idiot." Jase said returning the kiss.

"I woke you up because I was crying..."

"You felt bad and I comforted you. What's wrong with that?"

He gave her a look. "That's one of those trick questions girls give men, isn't it?"

"No, it isn't. I don't give those very often."

"I just... feel weak. With everything that's happening and stuff..." He laid down, putting his head against her belly.

Jase buried her hand in his hair. "You're not weak, Nathaniel."

"It doesn't feel like it."

She ran her hand down his back. "Well you aren't weak."

Involuntarily, a purr escaped him. "I"m glad you think so."

"This will all be over soon."

Nathaniel shifted, kissing her softly. "I love you so much..."

"I love you as well." Jase smiled at him.

He kissed her again, cupping her face.

"So, do you want a boy or a girl?"

He shook his head. "I don't care... I would love either... but... I sort of want a little girl with your eyes..."

"It would be better if we had a boy. A girl would most likely be like me, able to carry children. I know how hard it can be to grow up with every male sniffing after you."

"I guess." He sighed. "I hate men."

"Me too." She smiled at him. "Except you."

"But of course." He grinned suddenly, pulling her into his lap. "You just want me for my gorgeous body..."

"And you hair." Jase buried her face in his shoulder.

He laughed, kissing her neck. "Where as I like your dirty mind."

"I do not have a dirty mind."

"Sweetheart... I've read your books."

Jase actually blushed. "Shut up."

"Come on... you know they're sexy. They turn me on..." He smirked. "And it turns me on that my wife is the one who came up with that..."

"I don't like that look you have in your eye." She told him.

Nathaniel gave her an innocent look. "Why not?"

"Because you're thinking naughty thoughts."

"And what's wrong with those?"

"Because I'm worried that one day you'll ask me to act out a scene or two from the books."

Nathaniel laughed. "Should I make a note not to?"

"Some of those scenes I don't think even we could do." Jase buried her face in the pillow.

"We can always make up our own." He rubbed a hand over her back.

"Oh we did. I'm sure some of the scenes in the latest book seemed familiar." She smiled.

"Yeah." He kissed her softly.

"My editor loved it by the way."

"Loved what?" He blinked.

"The book." Jase snickered.

"Oh." He tilted his head. "Well, why wouldn't she?"

"Well, usually she just yells at me, but this time she just kind of grumbled."

Nathaniel sat up, distracted from his attempted seduction (Not that he'd been trying). "What do you mean?"

"It's an editor thing. Her job is to sit down and tear the book apart. But I'm getting better at self editing, so she had very little work to do."

"Huh. That's a mean job..." Nathaniel frowned, not liking the idea of someone doing that to Jase's writing.

"No, it's a good thing. Do you realize how many errors she catches? If I put the version that you read into print it would be awful." Jase smiled at him.

"Uh huh..." Nathaniel frowned. "She could at least be nice about it..."

"She's just a very grumpy person." She patted his arm.

"So she should take a nap. Or get laid."

She laughed. "I don't know about all that."

Nathaniel shook his head. "She was really cranky and forceful... on the phone."

"Oh, that's just Lisa." Jase grinned.

"Uh huh..." Nathaniel leaned backwards, stretching and arching himself into the air, purring.

"Do you have to stretch like that?" She was watching him like a hungry wolf about to pounce.

"What?" He paused mid-stretch.

"Like you're making love to the air."

Nathaniel sat up, his hair sliding over his skin. "I hadn't intended that..."

"It's very sexy." Jase said.

"I'll make a note of that." He smirked, this time stretching his arms up in the air, arching his back like a cat yet again.

She ran a hand down his stomach.

His abs tightened, and Nathaniel's eyes were dark as he looked at her.

Jase smiled. "You look just like Trooper when you stretch like that."

"I think I'm cuter." He tickled her side.

"Definitely." She laughed.

He kissed her, holding her to him.

Jase put her arm around his waist.

Nathaniel licked along her lower lip, nibbling it softly.

She kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you too." He smiled.

She hugged him tightly. "I have a surprise Nathaniel."

He paused, "A good surprise?"

"Well I hope it's a good surprise."

"What is it?" Nathaniel asked quietly.

"I talked to Emiko..." She paused. "And Nicky flew here to here to see you again."

"No..." Nathaniel stood from the bed. "He... he's got to leave. He can't be here... not right now!"

"I-I didn't even think about it." She buried her face in her hands.

"Jase... Jase, I'm sorry." He hugged her. "Where are they? We'll get them to the Circus and they'll be safe."

"They're staying in a hotel. I'll call Emiko." She grabbed her cell phone. She was such a moron.

Nathaniel kissed her. "Hand me the phone after you dial."

She dialed the number and handed him the phone.

Biting his lip, Nathaniel paced away from her, his hair swinging behind him.

Jase fidgeted as he began to talk.

Emiko answered the phone. "Hello Jase."

"Hey, 'Miko. It's Nathaniel." He said quietly.

"Nathaniel." She said softly. "Hi."

"Look, you and Nick need to get to the Circus of the Damned. There's some major issues going on right now, and it's not safe."

Emiko frowned. "What's happening, Nate?"

"I'll explain when you get here, alright? It's easier in person. Do you know how to get here?" Nathaniel looked at Jase.

"Yes. I've driven past it a few times. We'll be there soon. See you when we get there."

"Emiko?" He paused. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" She asked.

"Everything." Nathaniel hung up, looking at Jase. "They're coming."

Jase nodded. "I should change then."

"Mm." He wrapped his arms around her. "This is insane."

"I finally get to meet Nicky." She smiled.

"Yeah." Nathaniel got up, pacing again.

"You're nervous." Jase said as she grabbed some clothes.

"He's going to hate me, Jase."

"No, he's not. He'll love you."

"I'm nasty, Jase. I was a whore, and I'm a stripper now. Hell, I'm not any sort of brother, let alone a father-!" He jumped as she cut him off.

"Nathaniel James Graison! I love you for the man you are. I don't care about those things and neither will Nicky!" Jase said.

Nathaniel jumped, staring at her. "I... um..."

She pulled on her clothes.

He looked down. "I'm sorry... I'm scared."

"I know, but stop beating yourself up." Jase told him.

He nodded. "I'll try."

"Good."

Nathaniel moved, crawling over to her, then pressing his face to her thigh.

She stroked his hair. "Don't be so submissive."

"I'm sorry." The leopard sat on the bed, looking at his hands.

"It's not something to be sorry about. You have been doing a lot better. And you will be a wonderful father."

"I guess." He leaned forward, placing his head in his hands. "What if he hurts Nicky?"

"He doesn't know about them and they'll be here soon." Jase rubbed his back.

"You're sure?" Nathaniel looked up at her, his violet eyes dark.

She nodded. "Yes."

He leaned up, pulling her mouth down to his and kissing her softly. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now put on some pants...and a shirt." Jase told him. "I don't been Emiko drooling on you."

He sighed. "I don't want to. I don't like clothes." Pouting, he stood, walking over to the dresser, his hips swaying alluringly.

"Don't make me forcibly dress you, love."

Nathaniel raised a brow at her. "Oh? Care to try?"

"Don't make me hurt you."

He smirked, facing her. "Please."

"You're so naughty." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Um..." He pretended to think, "Yeah."

"Oh, hush." She threw a pillow at him.

Sighing, Nathaniel turned, pulling out a pair of leather pants. "Crap! What should I wear?!"

"Those nice slacks and that shirt." Jase told him.

"You think? The shirt's not gay looking, is it?"

"It looks nice." She glared at him.

Sighing, he dressed, then looked at his hair. "I have to brush my hair!"

She grabbed the brush. "Sit. I'll do it."

Nathaniel sat, trying not to fidget, though his right leg bounced nervously.

Jase finished brushing his hair and began to kiss the back of his neck.

He moaned, purring. "They'll be here..."

"I know." She licked his neck.

"Jase..." He fisted his hands, his head falling forward.

"They're here." She said a second before someone knocked on the door.

Nathaniel swore, standing. "Do I look alright? Should I put on shoes? Maybe I should braid my hair-"

"Calm." She said as she crossed the room to open the door.

He took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. His brother was there... and he was about to meet him. Show time.