Shifting the Night Away Read Online Free

doctor.
    "I've no idea. Touch me." He held out his hand.  
    William hesitantly put his hand over it and closed his eyes to sense his body's reaction. There was an increased heart rate and his blood pressure rose slightly, but he didn't sense fear. Am I sensing arousal? He thought.
    "You seem fine now."
    "I think it's you, William. I think you're the only one that can touch me right now and I not freak out."
    William didn't move his hand, but slid his other hand under his to cradle it. His thumb rubbed his hand as his bear lusted. While he's had plenty of men in his bed, none have ever affected him as Lance did. He wanted Lance as his own.
    He moved close to him before asking, "Purely for scientific reasons, May I kiss you Lance?"
    He turned to look at him, his eyes looking him all over. He was broken in her eyes; too damaged. His eyes filled with tears as he answered, "Yes."
    His lips brushed against his softly, easily. When he didn't move or tense up, he kissed him with earnest. Licking at the upturned corners of Lance's mouth, exploring him as his lips parted. Tasting the sweetness of his latte. He wrapped an arm around him and pressed his body to his. He broke only long enough to whisper in his ear, "One day Lance, one day you're going to be mine."

    Chapter Nine

    William and Lance spent the next few days texting and calling: getting together every now and then to spend a few moments together. While they continued to grow close, they made sure to take it slowly for his sake.
    The next session, Lance went over precisely what part of the events that still haunted him. William made sure to also try to get him to hold on to the parts that helped him survive; knowing that he wasn't penetrated, knowing that he was saved, and knowing that even though he was accused at first, that he came out of it with the truth.
    "Is there anything that makes you hold on to those thoughts of the attack?" William asked.
    "I keep seeing the shifter. I know it sounds insane, but ever since our breakthrough where I realized the bear was a shifter I've keep replaying it so I can see him when he turns to look at me once more before leaving. I always wonder what he was thinking." He's far away, wistful as he spoke.
    "He was thinking you were the loveliest thing he's ever seen."
    "Excuse me, doctor?"
    Jesus, I said that aloud? he thought.
    "I'm sorry?"
    "You said something; I didn't quite catch it all."
    "Lance, I've two things I have to say to you - no three. One, I'm no longer able to be your psychotherapist and for that I'm sorry. Two, I said that he was thinking you were lovely. Three, well....three will come after I've explained one and two."
    He sat down on the couch beside him. His hand rested on his leg as he went to hold his hand. Slowly, he explained that his feelings for him couldn't be denied but that was only a portion of the reason he couldn't continue to be his therapist.  
    Lance looked confused, until the doctor looked up into his eyes, held him and said, "There's more I need to tell you, Lance. Something I've wanted to tell you since the first day you entered the clinic and told me your story. I just couldn't bring myself to do that though."
    William struggled. He rung his hands and got up to start pacing. Every cell in him was screaming at him not to do what he was about to do, that it could ruin everything he'd built establishing a trust with Lance. Still he forged on, wanting anything left with him to be built on truth.
    "Remember when you said that it was a bear shifter you saw in the woods?" he began, "well it was actually me you saw. I was the shifter who saved you that evening, and no, I didn't know it was you until you started to retell the story."
    Lance didn't know what to think. He'd already made peace with it being a shifter out there that night. He'd come a long way with William; he filled his mind lately. He was still the one man that could get close to him without recoil. He knew he wanted him, would this change