Reclaiming Hunter: Wild Cross Family

Prologue

Aglass of 30-year-old scotch in one hand and five shit cards in the other, Hunter Cross dropped a few more chips in the pile at the middle of the table. He should never have let Calix talk him into joining this back-room poker game. Especially when there was much more interesting fun to be had at The Wolf's Den. The Wolf's Den was a run-of-the-mill dance club on the main floor, but a member’s only door at the back of the VIP area led to a space where all sorts of debauchery occurred. Anything from back-room business deals to illegal gambling, and of course, space for the more sexually adventurous to play.

Normally, he'd grab a drink and participate in a bit of voyeurism before seeking out a few willing partners for a scene in one of the private rooms. Yet Calix Lupin, one of the club owners, had caught him at the door and offered him a month of free drinks if he took his place at the poker table. Were he and Calix friends? Not in the least, but the man had seemed desperate, so here Hunter was about to lose his shirt, literally. His opponent, Florian Falconer, had the nerve to lick his lips before calling Hunter's bluff.

The move should have pissed Hunter off, but instead, he found himself shifting in his chair. There was no hiding the tent in his boxer briefs. They were playing on a table made of clear resin, specifically made to help deter cheating, however it also made Hunter's desire quite clear. The entire room could see he was hot for the man taking him down ruthlessly in this poker game. They'd lost the other two players; both having chickened out when the game had gone beyond financial gain and moved on to claiming the designer gear they all sported.

Sexual tension hung thick in the air. The room cleared out when it became clear this was becoming more than just a casual game. Giving Florian and Hunter privacy to work out the obvious attraction they both shared. Florian laid his cards on the table, his thick lips curling into a satisfied grin.

Don't chicken out now, Hunter. Show me what you're working with, Florian teased.

Hunter brought his drink to his lips, taking a long slow sip before tossing down his losing hand.

You wanna collect here or move to a private room? Hunter said.

Florian's eyes flashed with desire as he leaned forward.

Strip.

Hunter's dick pulsed at the command. He stood before slowly lifting his shirt over his head. He tossed the shirt on the table and waited for further instruction. Technically, the rules of the game had been restricted to underwear and not full nude, but that was when others had been in the room. Now it was just the two of them. Hunter had chosen to leave his shirt for last, wanting to see what Florian's reaction would be to the ink crisscrossing his chest and back. It was an homage to his family's legacy of putting logging above all else.

The piece started on his back, a gnarly oak tree whose branches wrapped around to the front of his body, twisting into various animal forms before giving way to storm clouds that swirled low onto his hips and faded into a graveyard on his thighs. In the graveyard were two headstones, one for each of his parents. The tattoo had taken years for him to conceptualize and complete, and he was proud of it, but not everyone got to see the whole thing.

Aside from his tattoo artist, Florian would be the first to see the full piece all at once. If he didn't back out. Florian stood and closed the distance between them, but didn't touch Hunter. Instead, he studied Hunter's tattoo, circling him like he was a statue in some museum.

You, Hunter Cross, have layers. Who knew?

Thanks? I think?

Is Calix a friend?

The question was about their sexual history. As best friends with Calix Lupin, Florian knew damn well he and Hunter didn't associate regularly.

Not friends, just two people who share similar interests, Hunter said.

Florian stepped closer, the heat emanating from his body searing into Hunter's back.

Interests?

Sex. We both really enjoy sex, and while we've never played together, we've had overlapping circles, Hunter said.

Overlapping, huh. Florian's tongue swept out to catch Hunter's earlobe.

Hunter hissed and leaned back into Florian. If Hunter thought the nearness of Florian was scorching, the skin to skin contact could melt steel. Speaking of steel, his cock ached with how hard he was just at Florian’s teasing. His thin boxers chafed his sensitive flesh as it tried to constrain his engorged length. Hunter had never had this strong of a reaction to anyone before. It was frightening, exhilarating, and he wanted more. It seemed Florian was just as eager to move things along as he reached around to grip Hunter’s cock. Florian began to rub him through his boxers; Hunter's hips moved of their own volition, seeking the release he so desperately craved.

Somebody’s impatient, Florian chuckled, releasing him and taking a step back.

Hunter stumbled without Florian there to support him. He tried to course correct but with a not so gentle shove from Florian, Hunter found himself falling into the poker table. Florian was right behind him once again. Hunter silently cursed the thin barrier separating them but doing nothing to hide Florian’s own thick cock pressing along Hunter’s backside.

How do you like to play, Hunter? Are you co-ed? Do you play well with others? Florian rolled his hips.

All of the above. What about you? Hunter breathed, pressing back to meet Florian’s rolling hips.

I dabble, but nothing serious, Florian replied.

Florian gripped the back of Hunter’s neck and pressed him down hard on the table and continued to rub himself on Hunter. The friction of his rubbing stimulated Hunter's puckered ring. He wanted more, but was afraid to push. This in itself was a game, a game in which Hunter was unsure of the rules, but he knew if he broke even one, it all would come to a devastating end.

Florian closed his eyes and released a slow, controlled breath as his traitorous hips kept grinding against Hunter’s ass. Hunter fucking Cross, the one man he had no business pursuing. He’d known it was a set up the moment Hunter had swaggered into the private gaming room. Calix had no doubt noticed the way Florian’s attention had been drawn to this particular piece of forbidden fruit and set up this scenario.

Calix Lupin was one of his best friends and saw his attraction as a source of amusement. No matter the history between the Cross Family and both the native and shifter community in the area, Florian’s whole being had responded to seeing Hunter at the Wolf’s Den for the first time last year. Ever since then, Florian had carefully avoided any interaction with the man, all while keeping a watchful eye. Hunter was hard to miss with his tall muscular frame and red, windswept hair.

Florian hadn’t wanted to succumb to another one of Calix’s manipulative sex games, but here he was, enjoying only a fraction of what he could with Hunter. The hot logger with the tragic family history, and the boulder on his shoulder to prove it.

It wasn’t the first time Calix had tried to set him up with Hunter. There had been the time Calix invited Florian to watch a scene in one of the private play rooms, only to find it wasn’t Calix’s scene at all. Hunter’s head thrown back in ecstasy while being sucked off was one view he’d never forget. Hell, he’d been jealous, not of Hunter’s pleasure but of the woman on her knees before him.

Jealousy was new to Florian, but what had made him even more upset was the reaction of his Falcon. His other half had wanted to claw the woman’s eyes out for touching what was theirs. The thought of having any claim or ownership of Hunter was enough to have him flee the room and give Hunter Cross the wide berth he had the last few months.

Calix had teased Florian mercilessly about his unwillingness to approach Hunter. So as payback, Florian had bought up three of the properties Calix needed for his arena building plans. He’d held the properties for ransom for months until Calix pointed out Florian’s own investments would suffer if Sowell City didn’t find another stream of tourist revenue.

That was probably why Calix had felt it safe to set him up once again. Only this time, Florian wasn’t sure if there was any payback worthy of this gross overstep by his best friend. Especially now that he’d finally succumbed to his instincts when it came to Hunter Cross.

I don’t think this table is going to hold us both for much longer. Hunter’s muffled groan brought Florian out of his mental cave.

Florian had lost himself in thought. He found himself leaning over Hunter’s back. The sensual wind of his hips had devolved into manic thrusting, and even the soft silk of his boxers was starting to feel like sandpaper against his sensitized cock. Even worse, he realized his scent mark was somehow seeping through the magic potion Artemis concocted to mask a shifter’s mating scent.

Fuck, he cursed and pulled away. His chest heaved up and down as the panic started to set in. It was one thing to indulge in his lust for Hunter. It was another to leave his scent on Hunter’s skin. Any supernatural outside of the Wolf’s Den would question his sanity for being involved with a Cross. They wouldn't understand, and it could cost Florian his standing in the community to be linked with Hunter in that way.

You okay? Hunter stood and faced him. Concern written clearly on his face.

I’m fine, Florian bit out, searching the room for his discarded clothing.

You don’t seem fine, Hunter said, crossing his thick, muscular arms over his chest.

The action made Hunter’s pecs bulge in a way that made Florian stop in his tracks. His panic was forgotten once again to unfettered lust.

Can you not look so hot when I’m literally trying to flee from your ass?

Why? Hunter cocked his head to the side, a smug smile spreading across his lips.

You should know why. You should be trying to flee whatever this is, too.

"I don’t run from shit. Otherwise, I would have reneged on my deal with Calix as soon as I saw this was all set up to force us into the same room