(MxM) Tales Of A Shifter (P1) - The Meeting

Chapter 61 - Urge To Protect

Ezekiel sat, with a hand full of wet clothing, staring at the stairs that Brandon had just fled up and disappeared from onto the second floor of the barn. Ezekiel didn't know what had prompted the mortal to run off, and since he was hardly in a position to chase after him, being mostly nude himself, Ezekiel resolved to leave Brandon to his own devices.

He took his time washing out the slop from his clothes and Brandon's, before ringing them out and placing them in the grass beyond the Barn to dry in the sunlight.

Soon enough the clothing were dry enough for him to redress himself. Then deciding that he had given Brandon sufficient time to hibernate Ezekiel made his way back inside of the barn, over to the stairs that lead to the second floor and called him down. It took a few more calls, but eventually Brandon appeared at the top of the stair case looking like he was dragging his feet. He also looked terribly self-conscious in the single long towel that he had wrapped around his hips.

Ezekiel watched him jog down the steps, but to his confusion Brandon stopped nearly five steps away, halfway down the stair case and just stood there. Hesitating...as if he didn't want to come any closer.

"Thanks...for washing them." Brandon murmured, making no moves to step any closer. Or to reach out for the clothing. There was this cloud of....embarrassment about him that Ezekiel didn't understand. His face flushed, his heart beat erratic.

So Ezekiel took a step up towards him climbing the steps to get closer and because he sensed Brandon's unease, he stopped short of him by three steps. "No problem...here." Ezekiel said holding out his clothes to him, and with little hesitation this time, Brandon snatched them up.

Ezekiel dropped his arms and because Brandon didn't immediately make any moves to go and get dressed he said. "The sweat pants may still be a bit wet, but after you get dressed let's get the rest of this hay laid down outside. And then it will be time to move on to our next stop for the day....unless you want to get back to the Mansion?" He asked and partially suggested, feeling the hesitation in Brandon's every move and knowing that he was terribly uncomfortable and wondering if it was somehow Ezekiel's own doing.

But with a head shake Brandon denied his suggestion "No... I'm not ready to go back yet." Brandon replied loudly. He clutched his clothes under one of his arms. "I don't mind shadowing you for a few more hours...I mean...if you dont mind and..."

"Good. Well finish rounds togeather...." Ezekiel told him cutting off his hesitant words.

And then, far from welcomed, silenced descended between them.

Ezekiel openly and unabashedly stared at him. He took no pains to hide it. Saw no reason that he should he didn't deny how the man drew his gaze in that moment. Like a soft magnet.

And then his eyes began to wander lower. He couldn't help it....he was just a Shifter. First his eyes settled on the increasing thrum of skin at Brandon's neck. His pulse picking up, jumping beneath his nape. He seemed so highly aware of Exekiels gaze that he seemed to buzz with anxiety. From there Ezekiels eyes and ears focused on his chest. The longer that Ezekiel focused on Brandon it was clear that he was definitely having a reaction to his proximity, but weather it was a fearful one or something else....Ezekiel didn't know.

The man glanced away, his graceful swan like neck inviting his attention once again as did the glimmer of the sun along his swale frame. But even though he found Brandon's psyche attractive, his attention was taken more with the numerous, and brutal scars that marred his chest and back like terrible tattoos.

Brandon's definition though obviously effected by whatever ordeals he had suffered was easily seen in his lean sides and arms, the flex and movement of his breathing outlining the slight muscular tone around his stomach, chest....his dusky brown nipples.....the duvet of hair beneath his navel that he wanted to caress...