Arrow Inferno
Chapter 62: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Craving him!

***

"Never. But allow me to ask... That day y'all fucked, did you feel compelled to fuck?" Gaia tilted her head as she focused on Will's face. "How?" he frowned.

"Did you feel you were doing something you didn't want to do?"

"No. I wanted to do it. Fact is I'd wanted to do it for a while but that guy didn't want to." He threw his hands up. "Now I know why. But that night, I felt like...I wanted him to know exactly want I wanted. And I wasn't ready to take no for an answer. He did try to stop me. And I was ready to give up at some point. But then he relented. What has all this got to do with anything?"

"Kwame compelled you that night at the party to have fun."

"What?" His eyes widened. "Wait, I remember speaking to him at some point that night and thinking there was no harm in having fun." He murmured.

"You're not even supposed to remember that." Gaia frowned. "Anyway, Stan would have killed me if I'd ever compelled you." She stretched. "He's so protective of you."

"So were you," Will said softly. "I've thought about some of the things you used to do. Especially at those parties."

"They were crawling with bloodsuckers." She shrugged. "If anything had happened to you, your crazy mate would have slain a thousand vampires and brought war on our hands. I couldn't take any chances."

Will couldn't suppress his smile. "Thank you. But is Stan that..."

"Ferocious?" Gaia chuckled. "You have no idea. The guy is a warrior and the beta to the alpha of the most powerful pack in the world."

"But I fought him once. And..." Will trailed off, remembering that first time he'd kissed Stan.

"You thought you were his match? He could have killed you with just a finger." She got to her feet.

"Fuck!"

"Fuck just about sums it up. Gotta go."

"So soon?" Will looked disappointed.

"Off to Italy to see my dad. The great Leonardo Jilani summons." She rolled her eyes as she slipped her feet into her heels. "I came because I wanted to see you before I leave. And I did promise to get in touch when I get back so..." Will got to his feet and hugged Gaia. "It was good to see you."

"Same here." She stepped back and reached up to palm Will's cheeks. "Hear him out, Will. You can scream at him, hit him, fuck him, hell...shoot his ass if you want to. But clear this shit up. Why waste time when you know you're crazy about each other? I'll call you when I'm done with my father. I expect you to tell me something better when I call."

"Aw come on..." Will groaned but Gaia was already headed for the door.

"I'm actually surprised you didn't ask how old I am." Gaia turned to look at Will. "Not curious at all?"

"A gentleman never asks." Will chuckled. "Besides, I can take a wild guess." "Really? Hit me."

"A hundred and eighty-four." The look on Gaia's face at Will's answer was priceless. She looked both shocked and awed. And Will couldn't help his smug grin. "You said it more than once that it would be great to look twenty-five at the age of a hundred and eighty-four. I merely connected the dots." He shrugged.

"Smart! You did pay attention after all. I'm impressed." Her eyes conveyed how proud she was of Will. "Wanna see something cool?" She asked when she got to the door.

Will chuckled. "Sure."

"Talk to him," Gaia said softly and then smiled when Will nodded. Then she blew him a kiss... and then disappeared. "Holy fuck!"

For a long moment, Will just started at the door. Then he burst into laughter. Indeed, the world was not as it seemed.

***

"So let me get this straight." Jackson shifted to the edge of his seat and focused on Will. "You like the guy. But he scares you." "Yep."

Will had been at Jackson's for a little over three hours, working on their report. They'd been waiting for Jean to come home from work before they set off for the admiral's party. After they were done with the report, their conversation had finally turned to Stan. Jackson wanted to know how they were getting along.

"Since when did people start scaring you?" Jackson frowned.

"It's how he makes me feel that scares me, pay attention fucker. Of course, I'm not scared of the guy. Why should I be?"

"Hmmm..." Jackson relaxed into the couch again. "Meaning whatever he makes you feel is very intense."

"Never felt that in my life. I thought I was just having fun initially. I mean no disrespect to you and Jean but he's a guy. And I like my babes. No offense."

"None taken," Jackson chuckled. He'd confessed to Will after he and Jean got together that he'd always preferred guys.

"I don't know at what point it changed but...I kinda don't see myself without him. Does that even make sense?"

"Go on..."

"Do you ever crave someone? Not for sex. But for their touch, kiss, voice, or even just their presence." Will looked lost in whatever emotion he was feeling that very moment. "He makes me feel alive." "That's deep." A knowing smile played around Jackson's mouth.

"Shit, I can't believe I just said that." Will groaned. "But that's how I feel. I just want to be with him. He's so annoying, Jackson. But surprisingly, I find all the shit he does adorable. I would go off on him but them immediately after he steps away from me, I'd dissolve into laughter. He's unique, fun, thoughtful, and just perfect. But I never planned on spending my life with a guy."

"No, and plans can't change at all. Just forget about his arse and go find your dream woman to settle down with. Simple!" He suggested with a straight face.

"You're not listening," Will muttered, the sarcasm completely lost on him. "The mere thought of not being with him hurts."

"Damn, he's dense." Jackson groaned, rubbing his face.

"I

agree he's den..."

"You, moron. Not Stan." Jackson gushed. "You're in love with the guy and don't even know it."

"No, I'm not. I just..." He trailed off when they heard the sound of a car.

"Jean's home," Jackson answered Will's silent question. "How does he feel about you? Have any idea?"

"He told me he loves me." He shrugged.

"Do you believe him?"

"Hundred percent." He turned to look at the door when Jean entered.

"So why are you dragging this?"

"Hey, Will." Jean grinned as he dropped his keys on the fireplace mantle. He was on his phone.

"Hey, Jean." Will relaxed into his seat as he watched Jean make a beeline for his husband.

"Well, some babies were dropped on their heads but you were clearly thrown at a wall." Jean said to whoever he was talking to. "Who might have done that to you?"

Without telling the person to excuse him, Jean threw his phone onto the couch and leaned over Jackson who was laughing softly. The doctor cupped the face of his husband, tilted his head back, and then captured his mouth in a plundering kiss. Of course, Jackson opened his mouth to Jean's possession, kissing him back as hard as he was receiving. Their kiss was deep and ravenous but then gentled into a soft caress that drew a moan from Jackson. The kiss was so passionate Will felt as if he was intruding. He suddenly missed Stan so much.

When he couldn't watch anymore, Will's eyes dropped from the blatant display of intimacy before him to his colleague's bare feet. He had to stifle his groan when he saw Jackson's toes curl in obvious pleasure. He rather drained the glass of whiskey in his hand.

"Will you two get a fucking room already," Will growled, drawing chuckles from both men.