Arrow Inferno
Chapter 41: Jeremy Stanton vs. Ryan Hicks Feral attraction in the midst of hatred… Back to school!

***

Ryan came awake to delicious wetness on his face. He opened his eyes and saw a huge wolf licking his face. Jeremy. Ryan came wide awake and giggle through their link.

'Isn't it too early to be awake?' He purred, enjoying the feel of that amazing tongue on his coat.

'It's actually late prof.' Jeremy nibbled under Ryan's neck. 'You'll be late for lectures if you don't get ready now.'

'Oh snap.' Ryan groaned as he jumped up and stretched.

'Hey, don't forget our plan to go for a run.' Jeremy said nuzzling Ryan's neck, breathing in his well-loved scent.

'It's a date.' Ryan said and promptly grimaced. To think his first date was going to be as a wolf.

'We can always go on a real human date.' Jeremy said softly.

Ryan guffawed. 'You really think Goody Two...' Ryan trailed off, remembering that his human was no longer sleeping. The two wolves burst into laughter to the annoyance of Ryan's human and amusement of Jeremy's. Though they were both awake, they'd remained silent throughout the exchange between their wolves. Of course, Ryan chose that moment to prompt his wolf to get going.

'It was nice spending time with you.' The white wolf told Jeremy. 'When are we going for that run?'

'Whenever you can.'

'Tonight.' Ryan said immediately.

'It's a date.' Jeremy grinned. 'Now shift with me.' He said softly. 'Let's piss 'em off.'

Ryan's wolf laughed. 'You mean piss ME off. I like the idea. Let's.' The white wolf laughed as he shifted back to human. The human looked down at his exposed nakedness and felt no urgency to cover up. Ryan realized he actually felt comfortable in his nakedness around Jeremy. Speaking of whom... He looked up to see a gloriously naked Jeremy standing before him. That body...that cock... Damn! He wanted to trace his hands and tongue along the mouthwatering ridges of muscle covering Jeremy's body. Ryan tore his eyes away from Jeremy's body with difficulty and looked up at the projected clock on the wall. "Just great." He muttered.

"Not my fault," Jeremy mumbled. "You asked to see my wolf."

Ryan flounce past Jeremy with a scowl on his face and grabbed his stuff off the couch. Then without a word to his mate, he went to his room to get ready for his lecture. But even as he got ready, Ryan couldn't stop the smile that turned up the corners of his mouth. Though his wolf had been in charge throughout the night, he couldn't deny the contentment he felt within. And that kiss at the arena had been something else. Just thinking about it made his lips tingle. "God, what am I going to do?" Ryan whispered to himself. Jeremy was gradually getting past his defenses. And that scared the shit out of Ryan.

***

Ryan looked at the packed auditorium in shock. His class had never been that filled to capacity. He could guess why it was so though. The Vice-chancellor had told him that morning that there were rumours on campus that he'd been taken by an animal.

"I hear you got devoured or sacrificed by tigers or wolves at the Stanton Woods." The amused elderly man had said by way of greeted when he'd seen Ryan that morning. "Really?" Ryan had gasped with a pounding heart.

"I think it was rather vampires." The man frowned as he tried very hard to remember what exactly the rumour was. "Ugh I can't remember. You know students and their stories. Glad you're back Professor Hicks."

So Ryan wasn't surprised at all at the crowd. They probably wanted to ask him silly questions about supernatural beings. Damn that Timmy York. Ryan quickly moved his eyes around but couldn't see Timmy in the crowd. Good riddance to bad rubbish, he thought as he adjusted the tiny microphone attached to the lapel of his black blazer.

"Wow," Ryan said, looking at the curious faces. The students laughed.

Most of them were not supposed to be in his lecture but there they were. Ryan knew students very well. So rather than drive the non-zoology students out, he decided to take the opportunity to advise them before they trooped into Stanton Woods in their numbers, in hopes of seeing a werewolf.

"Now, I'm not going to pretend my good looks is the reason this class is so full." The students erupted into laughter.

"You're gorgeous, Professor Hicks." One female student screamed, causing more laughter.

"Why, thank you." Ryan grinned. He was used to the female students passing such comments. "So...Stanton Woods." More laughter.

"I've heard the same stories you've heard about Stanton Woods. But don't believe everything you hear and try not to get tempted to go and see for yourself." Ryan paused and looked at the attentive but curious faces. "Because I'm pretty sure the only thing you're likely to get if you make that trip, is a trespassing ticket. So do me a favour and stay out."

The laughter that erupted was deafening. Everyone was hooting with laughter. Ryan couldn't help laughing himself. The look on the faces of the students immediately after he'd mentioned the trespassing ticket had been priceless. They'd obviously been expecting something revealing from Ryan. Definitely not a threat of a ticket.

"Now, can all non-zoology students kindly leave my lecture hall for me please?"

More than half the class stood to leave. They were still laughing their arses off.

'Nicely done.' Ryan heard Jeremy in his head and looked around to see where his mate was.

He spotted Jeremy at the top right corner of the lecture hall and just stared at the man. 'Why didn't I smell you?' Ryan asked in surprise.

'That's 'cause I've masked my scent.' Jeremy replied smugly.

'What are you doing here?'

'Watching you teach, Prof.' Jeremy grinned, and then actually laughed when he saw Ryan blush.

'You're not my student.' Ryan stated the obvious as he moved behind the lectern to look down at his notes. 'I'm teaching Animal Behaviour today. You already know your behaviour first hand so...' 'Ouch.' Jeremy pinched the bridge of his nose. 'I still want to listen.'

'Suit yourself.' Ryan said and then began his lecture. His students wouldn't mind Jeremy being there because they were used to having observing lecturers in their lectures once in a while.