Day: July 14, 2023

**On my last Friday of vacation, let’s have the conclusion of Jace and Ian’s story. New job starts on Monday and I’m making no promises about new flashes/serial. While I will try to get something done, it’s going to involve getting into a new rhythm so bear with me. In the meantime, enjoy!**

I was sort of astounded at the amount of goats Ian owned. Hundreds of them. All separated into smaller herds and held in different paddocks on his massive amount of acres. Mack had taken me on a tour because I asked, all to happy to show off. He’d worked here since he was a teen and even though the goats didn’t like it when he shifted, they loved him as a human. Every paddock we entered, the goats came running for pets and, apparently, the treats he usually had with him.

I’d taken a chance and shown up at Ian’s even knowing he might not be home. Though the goats on the land adjacent to mine and done their job and had been brought back home, he had several other contracts at the moment and Ian made it a point to try and check in on his goats every day.

He was a protection dog, and though he trusted the actual dogs who stayed with the herds, he felt better when he had eyes on them himself. I would be lying if I said that mile-wide protective streak wasn’t one of the things I liked about him best. He was tall and handsome, unfailingly kind and had a huge heart. All of that endeared him to me. But that protectiveness was something I valued as well. It got my blood humming and my heart singing.

I’d be in trouble once Ian figured that out.

We’d been dating for a few weeks by now. Ian liked to take me out, but we often ended up in my bed at the end of the night. We talked for hours, and Ian was as good a listener as he was a sharer. But more often than not, when we made it back to my house, the kiss on the porch didn’t end until we were naked, sweaty, and mutually satisfied. Then he’d curl around me, keeping me close as we fell asleep. If I managed to wiggle free in the night, he’d chase me over the bed until he had me snugged up against him again.

I loved it. Ian knew it. And I wanted more.

Ian knew that too.

I’d been out to the farm once before, but hadn’t gotten a real look at the place. It wasn’t because Ian was keeping anything from me. The schedules just hadn’t lined up. But today I had an unexpected afternoon free, so I took a chance and showed up. Ian wasn’t around, but he’d be back soon, and I wouldn’t put it past Mack to send his boss a message that his boyfriend had shown up. Ian wouldn’t shirk his duties to come back, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he hurried things along.

We were in one of the far pastures when the dogs—all three of them, there were always three with each sub-herd—suddenly stood, attention off in the distance. I knew what that meant, and turned to look where they were, to see a huge white blur speeding toward us. My heart pounded and the smile that bloomed across my face made my cheeks ache.

Mack mumbled something and walked away, but I barely noticed or cared. Ian was here and that had my entire focus.

He shifted as soon as he skidded to a stop in front of me. His gaze never left mine as he stood, and he gave the dogs a quick command that had them running off after the herd that had meandered away. I gave Ian a once over, my smile turning to a leer. He preened, which made me laugh.

“Hey there, sweetheart. Whatcha doin’ here?”

“Wanted to see the place.” I tried for non-chalant and failed. “Wanted to see you?”

Ian’s soft smile made my heart melt, and he grabbed me, pulling me in and kissed me util I couldn’t breathe. It took a few minutes, and I was more than happy to allow it. When I finally had to pull back, Ian rested his forehead against mine.

“Wanna run with me?” He murmured.

“Oh, I, uh…” I took a breath. “I don’t want to scare the goats.”

Ian chuckled, a soft sound. “They’re goats, honey. Scared, curious troublemakers is kind of their default. Besides, they need to get used to you. They’re never going to be comfortable, but they at least won’t be as wary.”

It took a second for his words, and their implication, to sink in. Ian wanted me around for a long time, and therefore, his herd would need to get used to my scent. I practically melted into a puddle, because it was too fast, too soon, but my heart didn’t care. I wanted that too. We might have met under strange circumstances, and our first few days might have been a whirlwind of weirdness, but it was clear we were compatible. Every moment we spent together was proof of that.

“If you’re sure?”

“I’ll keep you, and them, safe.”

I knew he would.

I stripped fast, leaving my clothes on the back of the ATV Mack had driven us out here in. The man himself was nowhere to be seen but I hoped if he took this back to the house, at least I’d have my clothes. And if he didn’t, at least they wouldn’t be laying in the dirt. And maybe the goats wouldn’t eat them.

I crouched and shifted, my transformation not as quick as Ian’s. I was slightly taller, but he was much more muscled. All in all, we were roughly the same size and I loved that. Ian didn’t waste any time scenting me all over, leaving his mark, and I let him. When he was done, I returned the favor.

Then he gave one big booming bark and took off. It took me a split second, but I was right behind him. We ran over his fields, jumping fences, chasing each other, tagging and pouncing. I hadn’t played like that since I was a pup, and my heart soared with the sheer freeness of it. Eventually, he herded me back toward the house where the ATV now sat by the porch but when I veered toward it for my clothes, Ian blocked my path.

He shifted. I followed suit. He was breathing hard, but his pupils were dilated and he licked his lips. He grabbed me and tossed me over his shoulder, and I laughed.

“You won’t be needing those.”

He carried me into the house, and I couldn’t stop laughing, because I hadn’t felt that carefree and cared for in a long time. I knew, with startling clarity, that this was one the beginning of a long life for us.