Water poured freely on Reece’s unclad body while he lazily scrubbed his skin with a loofah, lost in thoughts as he replayed the iconic scene of the previous night.

‘How can anyone be that agile and strong while looking so calm, collected and intense at the same time?’ he rhetorically soliloquized.

The incessant ringing of his phone called his attention to time and he hastened to dress up and headed for work. At work, he couldn’t help but marvel at how calm Ryan was, the raw power emitting from him.

Reece imagined that they’d get along just well and a romance would bud instead, Ryan ignored him. For the first few days, he thought he was just being busy but after a painful two long weeks, Reece realized something was amiss.

It became evident that Ryan was cold towards him and wouldn’t even look him in the eye which killed Reece, the height of it was when Ryan stopped talking to him altogether unless it was work related.

Reece couldn’t take it anymore and luckily for him, one night just as he was done with his work, he caught Ryan alone in his office.

“I need to speak with you Doctor Alan.”

Ryan briefly glanced at him. ”I’m busy, come back later.”

Reece was taken aback by the white lie, Ryan was only playing with a Rubik’s cube.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Reece asked, bluntly.

Ryan scoffed. “You’re dismissed Doctor Lionel.”

Reece covered the distance between and banged his fist on the table, startling Ryan. “We need to talk and we’ll talk now! Why the hell are you acting this way? Is my feelings a joke to you? Am I a toy that you can play with and toss away at will?” He demanded, angrily, his eyes narrowed.

“Doctor Lionel, it’s best if you-“

“Oh don’t give me that Doctor Lionel crap Ryan, you know what I’m talking!” Reece declared as his eyes blazed with anger, his voice low and menacing.

Ryan averted his gaze from Reece and let go of the cube he held. “Yes, I’ve been purposely avoiding you Reece and you’d better get used to it.” He uttered, coldly.

Reece’s face twisted with frustration. “Why?”

Ryan sighed deeply. “I’m attracted to you” He admitted, and the room fell silent.

“You feel the same way I do?” Reece asked, his voice softened, a mixture of surprise and unexpected excitement.

“I feel a strong connection between us and I’m afraid of what it could mean, what will become of it.” Ryan added.

“What?” Reece blurted, confused.

Ryan stood up and walked up to Reece, hands in pocket. “Let it go Reece, this attraction, it’s fatal but I have no intention of pursuing it be-:

“What do you mean let it go? You cannot tell me to love or stop loving you! What are you so afraid of anyways?” Reece barked, hurt, his stare intense.

“Don’t be dramatic Reece, move on. You wouldn’t understand.” Ryan said, dismissively.

The air was thick with tension, Reece fumed in anger at how easily Ryan could dismiss their connection, he expected more.

“Are you invalidating my feelings?” Reece asked, his voice low and even and he ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated.

Ryan knew his words hurt Reece but it hurt him even more. “Reece, my feelings scare me, I’m scared my past will somehow find a way to ruin this, ruin us and it would be brutal, I’d know, so please, please stop.” He pleaded, his voice barely audible as he masked his shuddering breath with a deep frown.

Reece softened for a moment but clicked his tongue, refusing to let go, he reached out for Ryan, trying to offer a warm healing hug but Ryan turned it down, moving farther away from him.

“Everyone has been broken at some time, I can take whatever ruin comes our way, I’ll bear it, it’s on me!” Reece offered, eagerly as the fear of losing Ryan gripped him.

Ryan laughed sadly and a tear almost slid down his face. “What don’t you understand Reece? There is so much you don’t know about me!”

Reece threw his hands up in the air, exasperated. “I don’t care! Why don’t you accept the fact that it’s my decision to love you!”

“Stop being dramati-“

Reece cut in abruptly by roughly grabbing Ryan’s shirt. “I’ll be damn dramatic about this if I want, I love you and you’re not letting me!”

Ryan tried to free himself but Reece’s grip tightened, his jaws clenched, reeking with raw emotions. “Let me go Reece..”

“No! What the hell are you scared of anyway-“

“I’m a werewolf Reece! I’m not human!” Ryan blurted, frustrated.

Slowly, Reece let go of his shirt.

“Yes, I’m not human, I’m half-human, half-wolf, at full moon I transform into a wolf and race through the woods, I stay away from you because your scent is intoxicating and you’re my mate!” Ryan added, huffing.

“You’re a…a werewolf?” Reece asked then laughed but Reece’s stern expression sank his heart, Ryan wasn’t joking.

His mind reeled from the revelation, his eyes fixed on Ryan’s face searching for any sign of deception but there was none.

Ryan saw the petrified look on his face and instantly regretted mentioning it.

“A werewolf? You mean like that big-eyed monster in scary movies that morphs into human?” Reece asked, his voice shaky.

Ryan’s hopes shattered, what was he thinking? A human would accept him? But it did hurt for Reece to see and refer to him as a monster so he inhaled deeply and nodded a chasm of bitterness stirred in his throat and as he took steps closer to Reece, Reece moved backwards until his back hit the wall. “Yes, like a monster, see how scared you are of me? A minute ago you seemed fired up about us.” Ryan laughed, sadistically masking his torment, he hated the look in Reece’s eyes.

“I love you.” Reece confessed, out of the blues which shocked Ryan.

“What?” Ryan blurted, perplexed.

“I said, I love you.” He repeated and without warning, leaned in, subconsciously pressing his weight against Ryan, their eyes locked in a piercing gaze. “Ryan, all that matters is this feelings inside of me for you and it tells me that you’re right and I love you, whatever or whoever you are.” Reece whispered, huskily. His heart racing.

Ryan growled lowly, his hardness threatening to bulge out of his pants, the air electric with anticipation, sensing he couldn’t take the torture anymore, he gently grabbed Reece and crashed his lips on his.

Overwhelmed by the blaring passion, Reece’s pupils dilated, their tongues entwined as the kiss deepened, a low, primal growly rumbled from Ryan’s throat. His hands roamed freely on Reece’s body, tracing the contours of his muscles. He kissed him like his life depended on it as his mouth was warm and inviting, drawing him in, intensifying the burning desires in their groins.

As the sound of their ragged breathing filled the air, Ryan tightened his hold on Reece, sending everything on his desk crashing to the ground to make space, he tried breaking the kiss but Reece pulled him back in, this time, his trembling hands began to unbuckle Ryan’s trousers.

Ryan suddenly grabbed his hands, breaking the kiss and their eyes locked in a passionate gaze. “Do you wanna do this?” He huskily whispered to Reece, sending ripples down Reece’s spine.

Reece’s face flushed closed and he nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, I do.”

Ryan relaxed his grip on Reece’s hand, he threw his head back. “Finish what you started.” He whispered, his voice husky with desire.