Lucifer's Keys

Promises, Promises

    Mason pulled up to the small apartment building and didn't even bother finding a parking space.  He pulled as close to the curb as he could so that Nyah wouldn't need to walk far, and he wouldn't need to wait any longer than necessary to be near her again.  He briefly felt embarrassed about the quality of his car.  It was a silver 2010 Honda Accord with a few dings in the doors and some scratched paint.  It wasn't awful for a ten-year-old vehicle, but he wished it were better so he could impress her.  He shook away his self-doubt and as soon as he was in place, shot her a quick text.  It seemed that she was out the door and walking toward him less than two minutes later.  He studied her as she walked up to the car.  She wore black capris and a grey-purple tank top.  Perfectly comfortable and effortless for exercising.  For whatever reason though, to Mason, she may as well have come straight off of a runway.  She reached the car and opened the door, letting herself in and sliding into the passenger seat.  

    The moment she closed the door, her scent filled the small space and clouded his mind.  He stared at her unmoving for a moment before she broke the silence.

"Hi, ready when you are."

He blinked at her, clearing his vision and his mind.

"Right! Sorry, you just look and smell amazing and I'm really happy that you wanted to come and I can't wait to run with you." Mason said, smiling broadly.

Nyah smiled back at him.  "You smell pretty good yourself.  Let's get on the road and let these two out before our sense of smell drives us all crazy."

Mason nodded, put the car in drive, and headed toward the park.  

20 minutes later they were pulling into the parking lot of the Crestview State Park.  Mason put the car in park and they stepped out of the vehicle and walked into the large clearing in front of them.  

The park was beautifully green.  The trees were inviting with patches of undergrowth and moss and narrow walking trails leading off into the forest.  There were maps and informational fliers about the wildlife, natural hazards, and park rules posted on a large read board in the center of the clearing.  Reading it, Nyah pointed out the size of the park and its boundaries.  It was nearly noon now and they had just under five and a half hours to let Cyrus and Sage get to know one another.  

The smells around them were interesting and new and both Mason and Nyah could feel their wolves pushing to the surface, eager to see one another and explore together.  

"I brought a bag for our clothes," Mason told her as they started toward the tree line.  

"I also brought us a snack.  It's not much, but it's one of my favorites.  A little juvenile maybe, but healthy."

He reached into the bag and produced two Granny Smith apples, two pearing knives, and a small jar of peanut butter.

"I love peanut butter and apples!" Nyah exclaimed, an eager smile playing on her face. 

The ride had been mostly silent and tense, with both of them lost in their own thoughts and drowning in each other's scent.  They were still awkward.  Him trying to figure out how to be less of a boring spaz and her trying to figure out how to start a conversation in the first place.

"I'm glad you do," Said Mason "If I'm being honest I just keep thinking that once you really know me, you won't like me.  Just because we're supposed to be mates doesn't mean you will like who I am."

Nyah thought for a moment before responding.

"I've never really been able to be my true self around anyone except my Gran.  I mean, I'm me at work, at school, and just in general, but I've never had anyone close enough to see who I really am.  I've never trusted anyone enough.  It's been awkward and tense between us,"  

She paused, taking an apple and a knife and allowing him to hold the jar of peanut butter.

.."but I don't want it to feel like that.  I feel connected to you, and drawn to you, but I want us to have more than just the fact that we're mates.  We're in this together, both because we are mates and because of whatever these keys mean.  I think we have to build something on top of this foundation to be really fulfilled."  

She finished the thought, slicing her apple and dunking it into the jar of peanut butter that he held before taking it from him so that he could eat too.

Mason was dumbstruck.  He had felt the same thing, that they were distant, that the ride had been tense.  He didn't know how to break the tension or even how to start the conversation.  He felt as if he were failing already.  He sliced a piece of apple, dunked it, chewed, and thought.  He swallowed before replying.

"You're right.  Everything about you seems amazing to me right now because you are my mate.  But I can see there is so much more.  I want to know you.  I want to be the person you can be yourself around.  I want to know all of your hard edges and soft spots.  I want to know your moods and how your mind works.  I want to know your favorite foods and the stories you remember from your childhood.  I want to know all of these things about you and more, but first, you have to be willing to let me.  I know I'm not overly tall, or muscular, I know I'm not incredibly smart or talented, but I also know that if you let me, I'll be the best man you've ever known."

Nyah felt her cheeks heat up and it made her angry to feel this way.  She felt vulnerable, she felt a weakness that she didn't like, and she felt a pull.  Her brows furrowed as she fought her anger.  Anger at herself for feeling this way after Mason had said such heartfelt things to her.  She didn't understand any of it and that made her even angrier at herself.  She looked into his eyes and he seemed concerned and somewhat guarded as if her facial expression and her body language had made him recoil in fear.  

Fear, he was afraid.  She realized at that moment that he was afraid of her reactions.  The tension between them was caused by fear.  Her fear of getting close to him and being hurt, and his fear of being pushed away, rejected, and hurt.  This could all be solved if they just stopped being afraid of one another.  Nyah locked her gaze on his and took one step forward.  Then, eyes locked, she leaned into him and kissed him deeply.  For a second he was frozen, then he melted into the kiss.  She tasted his lips, his tongue, and his passion for her, and she breathed him in.  Their kiss lasted for about twenty seconds before she pulled away to cut another slice of apple.  

"I will try, and we will see."  That was all she said in response before popping another apple slice into her mouth.

Mason was stunned and happy and incredibly turned on. 

"I'll take what I can get, especially if it gets me more kisses like that!"

They finished their snacks then headed for the treeline.  When they were out of sight from the road and the main walking trails, they chose a soft mossy spot to shift.  

'Let me out!'

Cyrus ordered Mason.  

'Almost time, just be patient!'

'Well let me have control then! We only get a few hours!'

Mason ignored him and offered the bag to Nyah so that she could put her clothes in and change first.  

"We can do it together," Nyah said boldly.  

Mason looked at her stunned but pleased and barely able to contain his excitement. 

"Ok, but...if I see you naked, I can tell you without hesitation that I will be visibly excited and I'm not sure how you feel about that."

Nyah thought about that.  She also, with Sage's help, thought about how good it would make her feel to see him completely at her mercy.  She wasn't sure why, but the idea of her holding some sort of s****l power was exciting.  

"We made a promise," She said with a shrug. "We have to keep it.  After all, what good are we if we can't be trusted at our word hmmm?"  She asked coyly.  

She took the bag and set it down between them, then she peeled off her clothing at less than lightning speed, enjoying his eyes on her.  She could hear his heart pounding from where she stood, 4 feet away from him, and smell the excitement pouring off of him.  When she was completely naked she walked two steps and put her clothes in the bag.  Then she stood and looked at him, waiting patiently.  

Mason was entranced.  He couldn't take his eyes off her.  He memorized every scar and spot on her body, every curve, and dip.  She was a goddess and he wanted nothing more than to get on his knees and worship every inch of her.  Every inch of her was sheer perfection to him, even a scar below her ribs on the left side.  It only gave him more places he wanted to kiss and wash away any pain she had ever had.  Her breasts were amazingly perky and he could imagine the feel of them against his skin.  The curve of her hips and the way her round butt arched from the small of her back and dipped where her thighs began.  He was pulled out of his trance when she cleared her throat.  

"Time's ticking." He heard her say in a suggestively teasing voice.  

Mason removed his clothing, less confidently than she had, and walked over, placing them in the bag.  Then he stood facing her, letting her look as he had looked at her.

Nyah eyed him up and down.  He was very clearly excited, and his p***s pointed straight up at her.  He was perfect for her.  He was neither too large nor too small.  He was lean, not huge and his muscles were toned.  She had never liked overly muscular men.  She could see the slight washboard of his stomach and the definition in his arms and legs.  He was white but tanned and he reminded her of a very attractive surfer boy character that one might see in movies.  He had a handsome face, a sexy jawline, and tousled hair.  

"You don't look average to me." She said. "You look perfect for me."

His smile spread from ear to ear.

"Are you ready?" He asked her.

"Absolutely!" Sage answered, having taken over prematurely.

'Remember your promise!' Mason said to Cyrus

"I gave my word." He said, coming forward.

Sage and Cyrus looked at each other in human form for just moments before shifting.  Happily, they were the same height, but Cyrus was slightly broader in the chest and back.  He was a beautiful chocolate brown with fierce eyes and a confidant air.  Sage, on the other hand, was completely black, her amazing eyes bright against the darkness of her fur.  The two of them took off at a sprint, playfully chasing one another through the forest.  

The pull was strong, and several times one had to leap away from the other to keep from losing themselves in their mate.  The sheer joy they felt at being free together was like euphoria to the hearts of Mason and Nyah.  Though it was difficult, they kept their promise with only a nose or a tongue out of place every now and then.  Their bond was strong, and it would only grow stronger.