text: If there were other guests venturing out of their cabins to socialize while the storm raged on, Cooper didn't see any. The spa area of the lodge was deserted, though the lights were set to their relaxing dim and soothing music drifted through speakers, so he didn't feel quite like they were breaking in.
  
  De Luca and Terradas had brought a bottle of sparkling wine and plastic cups, and were drinking in the hot tub when Park and Cooper arrived. The muggy air of the pool room felt blissful after the chilled rain that had whipped them the entire walk from the cabin.
  
  "Finally!" De Luca said, toasting them. "We were beginning to worry you'd blown away." He had taken his glasses off and it made his face look different, older and sharper. Cooper could clearly see him studying Park strip in that same calculating way as before, eyeing his strong body and myriad of scars. So intent was he on Park that Cooper nearly made it down to his bathing suit and into the tub without attention until Terradas touched De Luca and murmured something, drawing his attention to the scars on Cooper's stomach.
  
  De Luca was visibly taken aback. "Oh, you poor thing. What happened?" he asked.
  
  "It was a long time ago. Mugging," Cooper said dismissively, quickly sliding into the water, slow adjustment to the heat be damned. The less time spent studying his body, the better. Park, on the other hand, stayed perched on the edge, intentionally or not forcing everyone to look up at him.
  
  "Did you know him then?" Terradas asked Park, in his quiet but beautifully melodic voice.
  
  "No, it was before we met," he replied.
  
  "Hmm, did the police ever catch the mugger?" De Luca looked slyly between the two of them. "Or did anyone...catch him?"
  
  "Not that I know of," Cooper said quickly. Under the water he wrapped a hand around Park's ankle.
  
  "How terrible," De Luca said, though he sounded a bit like he'd just heard a wonderfully titillating ghost story. "Though, on the bright side, I suppose you were already aware of our kind by the time Andrew came along."
  
  "Oh, right," Cooper said, surprised. He was vaguely offended by the "bright side" comment but ignored it. Mostly he was just struck by the thought of meeting and falling in love with Park if he hadn't been attacked and hadn't learned of werewolves' existence. If he hadn't been working for the BSI. When would Park have even told him something like that? I'm a Scorpio. Werewolves are real and I'm perhaps the most infamous one of them all. I have a big ole sweet tooth. No, not exactly first-date conversation. But would he have said something before they lived together? After?
  
  "You were not afraid?" Terradas asked. He was sitting very close to De Luca. They were practically in each other's laps. "With such a violent introduction to our kind, how could you know it would not happen again?"
  
  Beside him Park shifted and then eased himself into the water and onto the bench beside Cooper. The tension and annoyance in his body responsible for half the steam rising from the tub, at least. "No, I wasn't afraid," Cooper said distractedly, ignoring the second question which felt way too weighted. "That wouldn't be fair."
  
  "Not fair, no, but—" Terradas shrugged in that such is life sort of way.
  
  "Kyle is very brave," De Luca said, chastising his partner. "Look at him. He just found a dead man and he's not the least bit shaken." Cooper started to protest, but De Luca spoke over him. "Any idea what happened?"
  
  "I don't think we should be talking about it," Park said.
  
  "Don't talk about it? You make it sound like it might be criminal," De Luca said, observantly. "Was it not an accident?"
  
  "I have no idea."
  
  "Who would want to hurt him?" De Luca fired back.
  
  "I didn't even know the man."
  
  "But you fought with him just this afternoon."
  
  Park glanced at Cooper, clearly startled. "I didn't."
  
  "No?" De Luca cocked his head, a caricature of confusion. "That's not what the masseuse, Reggie, said. She's been telling everyone how nobly you distracted the ranger while she struggled to not lose control of her shift."
  
  From the rapid back-and-forth mere seconds ago, De Luca had suddenly slowed to something lazy and vaguely dangerous. All of Cooper's senses were on high alert.
  
  "Being a distraction and fighting are hardly the same," Park said carefully.
  
  "Of course not," De Luca agreed. "But young Miss Reggie also said the human ranger put his hands on you." He ran his own hand over the surface of the water. "Was she lying?"
  
  "It was nothing," Park said dismissively. "He's a weak man desperate to feel in charge."
  
  "Not anymore," De Luca said, bluntly. "Luckily for poor, dear Paul."
  
  "Is that why Paul invited you here?" Cooper asked, and felt more than heard Park's fond but exasperated sigh beside him. Across from them, De Luca and Terradas had frozen, surprised, and even the water itself seemed to smooth and quiet.
  
  "Sorry." Cooper laughed self-deprecatingly. "Maybe I'm wrong. I'm new to all this. I just thought that was the reason for this 'big packs controlling little packs' stuff. Protection." He blinked, face fixed in perfect innocent confusion and felt Park's hand settle on his thigh under the water in a "wait" gesture.
  
  "No, you're not wrong," De Luca said eventually. "Paul did ask us up here a week ago. He was interested in pledging the retreat to my sister, but as it turns out his mate, Vanessa, was not. And now it seems any threat they might have felt from the law has driven off the road."
  
  "He's hardly the only officer around," Park said evenly. "If anything, there will be an even greater investigation now."
  
  "I disagree," De Luca said. "Not if it really was an accident."
  
  "Enough," Terradas scolded. "How morbid we've gotten. This is not relaxing conversation at all. And before you've had a sip of drink. Daniel, get them wine."
  
  De Luca laughed. "You're right, my love. How rude of me." He leaned over the edge of the tub to refill their own cups and pour two more. Cooper couldn't help but notice he didn't appear to be wearing a bathing suit. Whether that was because wolves were generally less concerned with nudity—they had to be, they were constantly needing to get naked around each other—or because Cooper had completely misinterpreted the nature of this invite was unclear.
  
  He resisted looking wide-eyed at Park, and tried to play it cool. Like he too was an adult man who often found himself spending casual naked time at spas with other adult men. Yeah, casual.
  
  De Luca handed them wine and Cooper took a deep drink. "What about yourselves?" Terradas asked. "How did you meet?" He rested his arm around De Luca and began to lightly pet his arm.
  
  Park gave them their spiel about working at the college. Cooper occasionally added a nod or smile, but for the most part he drifted into quiet contemplation of what De Luca had said about Paul. When exactly had Vanessa discovered what Paul had done? Had it been him she was arguing with in the office that morning? Or was it later, when Beck was driving off with the conveniently appearing evidence that threatened to push them into the arms of the De Lucas?
  
  Eventually, talk shifted to gossip about nearby rebel packs, something Cooper didn't understand nearly well enough to add to, and so he continued to stay quiet. Apparently, there was talk that a number of rebel wolves had gone missing. Runaways rebel packs couldn't track down, and that was being blamed on the De Lucas.
  
  "As if we were sneaking around at night picking off a rebel every couple of months," De Luca scoffed.
  
  Cooper considered the alarming possibility that these were victims related to their own case. But the MO was so different it seemed unlikely. The retreat already had enough trouble on its hands between the law, property disputes and backstabbing spouses, without adding abduction of rebel wolves to the mix.
  
  Paul was trying to give control of this place over to the biggest ruling pack around behind Vanessa's back in exchange for protection from the prying eyes of Beck. She resisted and now the ranger was dead. There was certainly a theory or two in there. But how did Kreuger and Llcaj fit into it? Even if the retreat became part of the De Luca territory, how would that affect Nielsen's plan to sell to Monty?
  
  Vanessa seemed to be fending off people from taking the property from all angles: her partner, her brother, the De Lucas, Monty. A property she herself had once been desperate to never see again. A place she couldn't afford to keep as staff came in and out like a revolving door. Again, Cooper wondered what had changed her mind. And what she would do to keep this place.
  
  He was startled out of his thoughts when Park's arm wrapped around his back and Cooper realized that the others were looking at him expectantly. "God, I'm sorry," he said. "I was drifting off there."
  
  "You've had a terribly long day," De Luca said sympathetically. At some point in the last fifteen minutes, he had moved and was a hundred percent in Terradas's lap now. Terradas's hand was brushing up and down his chest.
  
  Cooper felt himself blushing a bit and looked to Park, who smiled neutrally. Still, there was something in the tightness at the corner of his eyes and the way his hand flexed against Cooper's body that indicated something was bothering him.
  
  "I was just saying to Andrew, I dated a human once," De Luca said.
  
  "Oh," Cooper said. "Okay...?" And he was supposed to do what with this information exactly? Offer a high five?
  
  "It was she who ended it," he continued. "It turned out there were just too many different expectations. She needed to be with her own kind." He bumped his cheek against Terradas's. "Things have a way of working out, obviously. And goodness knows I wish her well, but I wonder, do you ever feel doubt?"
  
  "Doubt?" Cooper repeated, confused.
  
  "As long as you and he are together, you're forced to take part in our world. The secrets, the lies, conversations like this—" he gestured with his wine cup "—rebel packs, threat of discovery, choosing who to follow for protection, choosing the location of your home because of whose territory it falls in. We were born to it, would not be the same people if we did not live these experiences every day. But you're an outsider visiting. You always will be. And you'll always have that option of an out. A life free of us and our customs and difficulties. So—" he shrugged "—for my own personal closure, do you ever feel doubt?"
  
  There was a long pause, the only sound, the gurgle of the tub jets and a gentle, melancholic jazz singer contemplating how close love and hate could be.
  
  Cooper looked at Park again, but this time Park didn't meet his eyes. His gaze was straight ahead, somewhere in the middle space, like he wasn't even listening. Cooper believed that was true like he believed De Luca was raising this question for the mere sake of closure.
  
  "I feel doubt that I can be the person Andrew deserves. I feel doubt because as an outsider I'm intruding in places and on people I shouldn't. But doubt for myself? Because it's inconvenient? I might as well decide to never look at the stars again because sometimes it gets cold at night."
  
  "Well, isn't that sweet," De Luca said.
  
  "Very dramatic," Terradas murmured, but didn't look too critical. In fact he began to pull his partner into a kiss.
  
  The only opinion Cooper was really interested in was Park's, though. He was still facing away from him, but there was a small smile on his lips, and he was glancing up at Cooper through his lashes. Cooper bumped his shoulder against Park's, and Park bumped him back.
  
  When Cooper looked back up, De Luca and Terradas were kissing in a slightly more intimate way than one would generally expect in public. It was at once a little uncomfortable to watch and difficult to look away. He shifted a bit.
  
  When they separated De Luca whispered something into Terradas's ear that made him smile and look at Cooper curiously. Cooper had no shot of hearing it, but whatever it was made Park cough suddenly and his hand press firmly into the crook of Cooper's thigh.
  
  "No," Park said sharply. "That's not how this works."
  
  "Are you sure?" De Luca said. "I guarantee Kyle will see more of those stars he likes so much."
  
  "I'm sure it's not me you should be asking," Park said. His voice was a little tight, like he was holding back anger. "Kyle can speak for himself."
  
  "Oh, no, thank you," Cooper said.
  
  "You don't even know what we're offering," De Luca said with a faux pout.
  
  "Well, I can only think of a couple of ways to see stars and I don't think that's a telescope you're sitting on," Cooper said.
  
  De Luca looked a little offended, but Terradas laughed. "Come," he said, pressing a kiss to De Luca's temple. "Let's go to bed."
  
  They got themselves up and out of the tub while being a little more touchy-feely than was strictly necessary, Terradas helping De Luca out with a steadying hand running up his inner thigh. They were indeed both au naturel, and Cooper politely looked away at the wall of windows. It was so dark by now all he could see of the storm was the occasional twig of still-living leaves flung against the glass. He couldn't even differentiate the sound of rain from the running water inside.
  
  "There's so much more I want to talk about," De Luca said, wrapping himself in a large, fluffy robe. "Come meet us at the pool tomorrow morning. And don't stay up too late," he added slyly.
  
  With that, they collected the empty bottle and exited the room.
  
  "I think that went quite well," Cooper said when he'd waited long enough for De Luca and Terradas to make it well out of earshot. "We picked up some key information and survived with no damage done, cover intact and ego boosted, I must say."
  
  Park rolled his eyes. "You could probably still catch up to them if you want."
  
  Cooper hoisted himself up on the edge of the tub, the cool air after so long in the water was both startling and a relief. "I try not to mix pleasure with business," he said archly.
  
  Park smiled up at him. "What a pity."
  
  "I was referring more to sexcapades with suspects," Cooper amended hastily. "I'm sure I could pencil you in for a meeting."
  
  "No, no," Park said. "I wouldn't want to distract you." He stood abruptly on the bench, water streaming off him, reversing their relative positions and leaving Cooper eye-level with his belly button.
  
  "You're looking very flushed, Mr. Davis," Park said. "C'mon. We've been in here much too long."
  
  That Cooper could agree with. He took Park's proffered hand and stood, climbing out of the tub. His limbs felt loose, almost floaty after the heat of the water, and he stumbled over the tiles walking to the dressing room.
  
  Park's arm wrapped around his waist, steadying him. "All right?"
  
  "Yes, of course," Cooper said, and pressed himself against Park's side, soaking in his warmth. He felt bone-deep longing to be close to him. To feel his touch and touch him in return. The adrenaline and violence and vulnerability of the day had scraped him raw and left him quivering. Watching De Luca and Terradas touch and tease each other had left him vaguely aroused, aware. The combination was exhausting. He tucked his face into Park's neck and inhaled the smell of chlorine.
  
  "Shower," Park said, guiding him through the locker and snagging a couple of fluffy towels and supplies. Under his breath he added, "God knows what was happening under the water."
  
  Cooper allowed himself to be pushed. "Fine. But stay with me? Please."
  
  "If I must." Park sounded amused. He led Cooper into one of the large stone stalls that was nearly the size of their cabin's bathroom, had two showerheads and an inviting-looking flat stone bench.
  
  "Help me slip into something a little more comfortable?" Cooper said innocently, holding his arms out to the side.
  
  "So demanding," Park sighed even as he reached to comply. His hands fumbled slightly at the waistband of the suit but carefully eased the wet fabric down Cooper's body without touching his half-hard dick too much. He turned the shower on, testing the temperature and then eased Cooper under the spray.
  
  Cooper groaned. There was something about clean, fresh water after marinating in chlorine that felt delicious. He opened one of the bottles of body wash Park had brought in, releasing a fragrant smell of eucalyptus, and poured a generous amount over his hands, rubbing it all over his skin and scrubbing the sticky layer of chemicals off.
  
  It took a while, but eventually Cooper realized Park was no longer at his side. When he looked for him, Cooper found Park leaning against the opposite wall of the shower, watching him with dark eyes. Park's mouth crooked in a half smile at being caught out.
  
  Cooper continued to soap himself down, watching Park watch him, and felt the indistinct sense of arousal clarify, grow hotter and brighter. Park looked utterly relaxed and content. It highlighted just how on edge he'd been in the tub, before.
  
  "What did De Luca whisper to Terradas?" Cooper asked, abruptly curious.
  
  Park looked confused for a moment, then faintly embarrassed. "You know what. He wanted to have sex with you."
  
  "That's specifically what he said?" Cooper asked. "I'm asking for my own closure," he added mischievously.
  
  Park smiled, but there was an underlying echo of that same annoyance bordering on anger from before. "He might have been a tad more specific about who was taking turns on you and how."
  
  "You're not jealous," Cooper said in disbelief. That wasn't really Park's style at all.
  
  "No," Park agreed. He paused. "It was the phrasing of it," he said finally, in a rush. "He wanted me to lend you out. Like a fucking blender. Like it was up to me."
  
  Cooper blinked rapidly, caught off guard by the complicated and varied surge of emotions he felt in response. "That's a bit...why would he think we'd be interested?"
  
  "I'm sure he gets offers from people trying to win favor and goodwill. I have," he added darkly.
  
  Cooper felt even more shocked than before. "People tried to barter off their spouses to you, Indecent Proposal-style?"
  
  "Something like that. Occasionally. Apparently, De Luca expected something similar from us. In exchange for what, I don't know." Park's body was very still and tense, clearly still pissed off about it. "I'm sorry."
  
  "I'm not upset," Cooper said. "They can think what they want to."
  
  Park's brow furrowed. "I hope you know I would never take advantage of someone who was desperate and being exploited like that."
  
  "I wouldn't love you if you did," Cooper said. He leaned back against the stone wall to the side of the spray and stretched lazily, feeling his heat-soft muscles ache. "But seeing as we both know that would never happen in real life... I'm a little curious what you'd do if you had just negotiated a night with me to do anything you want, carte blanche. Hypothetically, of course."
  
  Park raised an eyebrow and moved slowly toward Cooper. "Mmmm. Anything I want?"
  
  He was very close to him now. So close Cooper could feel the heat of his body, and his skin prickled as if trying to close the distance between them.
  
  Park put his hand against the wall by Cooper's head and bent slightly to whisper in his ear. "First I'd pick you up, kicking and screaming, and throw you into bed. Then I'd crawl in beside you and pull the covers up and say goodnight because we've both had a terribly long day and need sleep."
  
  Cooper made a face, and Park laughed and pecked him a quick kiss. "But hypothetically?" He dragged his thumb across Cooper's mouth, retracing his path. This time he slipped it between Cooper's parted lips.
  
  "Something like this, probably," Park murmured. Cooper shuddered and squirmed a bit and Park's other hand moved up to his chest, pinning him against the wall, the stones rough but cool on his back. "Don't move."
  
  Cooper pulled his mouth off Park's thumb. "Then how am I supposed to seduce you?"
  
  "You've been seducing me since the first moment I saw you," Park said. "Consider me thoroughly—" he kissed him, a light brushing of lips that ended in a soft nip "—utterly—" Park kissed him again, more deeply, moving to cup the back of Cooper's head and protect it from the stones "—seduced," he finished, resisting Cooper greedily trying to pull him back for more.
  
  Instead, Park gripped the back of Cooper's thigh and hiked his leg up over his hip, forcing Cooper to balance on the ball of one foot. "I think you said something about staying on your toes." He ground teasingly against him, studying Cooper's reactions. "Now it's my turn to do what I want while you just move where I move you, do what I tell you and take what I give you. Yes?" Park checked, thumb rubbing a gentle circle against his hip.
  
  "Yes." Cooper nodded eagerly.
  
  "Good. Thank you."
  
  Park's hand traveled slowly from Cooper's hip, down his thigh, around the back and then up to stroke lightly at the inner-under curve of his ass. Cooper jerked at the touch that treaded the line between ticklish and arousing. His standing leg was beginning to tremble from holding the balance.
  
  "Shhh shhh shhh," Park said, and it was only then that Cooper realized he'd been making little whimpering sounds. He bit his lip and pressed the back of his head against the stone to stay focused.
  
  Park's touch was becoming more firm and purposeful, massaging Cooper's taint. "Sore?"
  
  "I don't know what you mean," Cooper said innocently. "This is the first time we've ever fucked. I barely even know you."
  
  "Ah. Of course," Park said, then pressed two fingers up against Cooper's hole. "But someone's certainly had at you. Recently and hard."
  
  Cooper shuddered and his leg finally gave out. Park caught him easily and hoisted him up, both legs bent up and off the ground now, wrapping a little awkwardly around Park's waist.
  
  "Hold on to me while I finish getting you ready," Park said, and Cooper obediently clung to his shoulders, fingers digging into the muscles there. With some maneuvering, Park managed to slick his fingers with the single-use lube he'd apparently grabbed from the dressing room and work them gently inside of Cooper. "My god, you open up easy, don't you? What, do you just get passed around from cock to cock all day?"
  
  Cooper groaned and started to hump Park's hand as best he could in this position.
  
  "Is that what you are? A hole to be used? A plaything to be rented out?"
  
  Cooper choked on his answer and his fingers dragged down Park's back, unable to hold himself up anymore. Park carefully but quickly put him down and spun him around on the wet tiles. "Face the wall. Hands up."
  
  Park guided one of Cooper's legs back up so his foot was planted on the bench and he was bending over and gripping the stones.
  
  "Let's see, then," Park said, taking a couple steps back to survey him.
  
  Cooper looked over his shoulder with his best timid expression and hesitantly reached back to tug one cheek to the side. Park's eyes flickered.
  
  "Since the first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted you," Park said thoughtfully. "The way you smell, the way you look, the way you blushed so prettily when you spilled coffee all over yourself. I thought, I'm going to fuck this man and make him blush and squirm beneath me all night."
  
  Cooper shuddered. "Oliver."
  
  "The more I saw you, the more I wanted you. So sharp and prickly, like a wild animal snapping at whatever dares touch you, until you think no one is looking. That's the only time you go completely still, deep in thought, sweet and safe..." Park trailed off. "Now you're finally mine to touch. However I want. At least for tonight."
  
  "Yes, any way." Cooper rolled his back leadingly, begging. He might say any way, but there was one type of touch he was craving more than anything else. "Please, just ple-ease." His voice cracked slightly on the last word.
  
  Park stalked forward like he couldn't hold back anymore, slicking himself as he went, and knocked Cooper's hand out of the way. Gripping Cooper's hip, he guided himself inside, more gently than his jerky movements would imply.
  
  Cooper trembled and spasmed around his cock, tightening reflexively and prompting Park to curse. "Easy. Be good for me now." He slapped his ass lightly, then massaged the flesh. "That's it."
  
  Cooper exhaled, sinking back onto Park. Felt a lingering, affectionate kiss pressed behind his ear.
  
  "Okay?"
  
  "Yes. Mmm, ready."
  
  "Then show me what an experienced slut like you can do. Come on. Earn your fucking."
  
  Cooper pushed back, riding Park, enjoying the teasing drag and punch of taking him slow and deep. Park's big hands roamed his torso gripping his waist, belly and chest, mapping every dip and plane like it was the first time, claiming every inch of skin as his.
  
  Cooper reached over his own shoulder, elbow up, to pull Park's head closer to his own and hear his ragged breathing right against his ear. Park's hand dragged all the way up Cooper's body to grip his throat, just under the chin, forcing him to look up.
  
  "You look so pretty spitted on my dick," he said, and Cooper's eyes fluttered shut.
  
  "Please," he choked. "I need—"
  
  Park took over and began to thrust, gaining speed and strength, holding Cooper in place with one hand on his throat and the other arm wrapped around his belly. The slapping sounds of flesh on flesh echoed against the tiles. Anyone who wandered past the showers would know exactly what was happening in there, and the thought made Cooper groan.
  
  "Don't think I'll give you back. Rather keep you for myself. My own personal whore."
  
  He ran his hands adoringly up Cooper's outstretched arms, down his chest and lightly covered the scars on his belly, rubbing over them with his thumb.
  
  "Keep you forever," he murmured, almost more to himself. "Safe."
  
  Cooper laced his fingers through Park's. "Yes." He felt Park bury his face against the back of his neck and let out a shuddering sigh. His hand snaked down to grip Cooper's dick and began to stroke him in time to his thrusts.
  
  "Cooper," Park whispered over and over. "K-keep me, too. Please. Say you'll—"
  
  "I'll keep you," Cooper gasped through his tight throat, eyes stinging. "You're mine. You'll always be mine."
  
  Park dragged his teeth back and forth across Cooper's skin and jerked him faster now. Cooper curled back compulsively onto Park, every muscle in his body tightening, drawing back as if taking one last inhale before diving. Park pulled Cooper's bowing body back down hard onto his cock and with an almost pained sigh, pumped his release inside of him deep. This tipped Cooper over the edge and he came over Park's hand, raising up onto his toes higher than he could imagine going, but riding the crest of orgasm, he was beyond pain's reach.
  
  When his muscles suddenly relaxed, Park caught him, supporting him. For a long moment, all Cooper could focus on was the sound of water hitting tile in a soothing shush.
  
  Eventually he realized his and Park's hands were still loosely interlaced over Cooper's belly. He tightened his grip and snuggled back toward Park's body as best he could without rushing the inevitable disengagement. When Cooper shivered, Park shuffled them both under the hot water, and there they kissed, lazily. Combined with the water, it was a little tricky to breathe.
  
  Oh well, Cooper thought, brain fuzzy with pleasure. He'd spent thirty-seven years breathing already. Right now, in this moment, he had more important things to do.