Fluid

Quill still felt the dull ache in his ribs. It was a lingering reminder of his father's anger. The sad thing? He couldn't even tell you what his Dad was mad about. He couldn't quite tell what hurt more. The bruises, the gashes from his father's claws after he shifted, or the humiliation of being thrown out of the house yet again. He stumbled around until he crossed into neighboring territory. Minutes later, a patrol noticed him and notified the Alpha's son. Like they always did when this happened. Hawk had instructed them to. He also told them to keep it from his father and mother whenever possible. He told them it was to stop unnecessary fighting between the neighboring Alphas. Hawk's Dad already hated Quills. There was no reason to make it worse. Hawk insisted on dragging Quill to his family's house after the latest blow-up. Like he always did. "Let me see the cut," he urged as they walked into the guest bedroom. They should probably just call it Quill's bedroom at this p

Hawk stood outside his gym with his arms crossed as he watched Lilly disappear in and out of her new shop. The black paper covering the windows irritated him more than it should have. Blocking his view felt personal. But that wasn't the only thing eating at him. He knew Quill had been watching her just as much.It wasn't just about Lilly anymore. It was about everything between him and Quill. Years of unspoken pressure had resurfaced the moment she moved in. Hell, the moment she signed that damn lease and left with that odd smile on her face. Hawk tried to shake the thought. Quill had always known how to get under his skin, and lately, it was becoming unbearable.Quill walked out to take a break from a long session when Lilly stepped back out of her storefront with her face splattered with paint.She had a bright blue streak drying stubbornly across her nose. She smiled at him as he jogged over."Wearing your art, I see," he teased as he tried to wipe the paint away. He chuckled whe

"So you're saying you don't care who you're with? Doesn't matter if it's a guy or a girl?" Hawk pressed.Lilly shrugged. "If there's a connection, it doesn't matter to me. Gender isn't what makes me feel attracted to someone. Body parts can be fun, sensual, but for me it ends there. The person's genitalia doesn't make me attracted to them. It's the person, their energy, their mind. If I feel it, if I feel them. That's what I need. I don't base it on anything else."Quill finally looked over at Hawk, unsure how to feel about what he was hearing. He'd never thought about sexuality in such fluid terms. It had always been black and white. Men were with women. Anything else was…wrong. Or at least that's what their fathers always said.What his Father beat into him whenever he caught him acting in a way they didn't like. He looked back at Hawk, but he was looking at the floor, obviously uncomfortable. He feared Hawk's reaction. He never handled things like this well. "Labels are for people

Quill stepped out of Lilly's apartment after walking her back to it, despite the jokes she kept making about him being such a gentleman and how cute it was. His body still hummed, his mind rampant with all the sensations she'd managed to stir. He walked down the hall, lost in the afterglow as he grinned.Hawk suddenly shoved him hard against the wall.Quill's back hit the rough surface, knocking the air from his lungs. The shift from euphoria to disorientation happened so fast. Hawk's forearm pressed firmly against his chest, holding him pinned in place, his face inches from Quill's."You smell like her," Hawk growled. His eyes swept over Quill's face, taking in every detail. How flushed he was. How his eyes seemed to be dancing with that look. "You were with her just now, weren't you?"Quill's pulse hammered as he was caught between the rush from Lilly and this raw, unexpected confrontation with Hawk. He could feel Hawk's breath, anger, and something else radiating from him."What's

Lilly followed Hawk to his gym after Quill finished the tattoo. She knew this place was his refuge, his second home, the one spot he could sink into when the rest of the world became too complicated. She slipped in after him. Hawk was already behind the front desk, hunched over paperwork. When she entered, he didn't look up. He knew she was there.She made herself at home, dropping onto the bench across from him and watching as he scribbled something down. Hawk glanced up briefly, annoyance clear on his face before he quickly masked it."Do you make yourself at home everywhere?" he muttered, keeping his eyes on the paperwork."Only where I feel welcome," she replied. She looked around the room, taking in the heavy-duty weight racks, hanging punching bags, and the slight hum of the gym equipment. This place was rugged, simple, and practical. Just like Hawk.He didn't respond, and she almost felt him resisting her presence like she was dangerous or something."You two are something el