by Lynn Hagen
Now he was horny and wanted Ben’s big fat cock in his mouth. He wanted Ben to dominate him, to show him who was in charge. He wanted to cry out for Ben to fuck him as Ben slowly and seductively tortured him.
Jericho’s jeans grew a bit tight as his chewed on his lower lip.
“Did you hear me?” Ben looked over his shoulder and caught Jericho staring at his ass.
“Yes.” Jericho cleared his throat. “I think this bedroom is spacious.”
Ben turned fully around, and now Jericho was staring at the man’s groin. Too bad his mate still had his jeans on. Jericho would love an unobstructed view.
“What’s on your mind, kit?” One of Ben’s brows rose as he leaned against the window frame. Thank goodness the window was double-paned and could hold Ben’s weight.
“I was just admiring the hardwood floors.” Jericho felt himself blush. “They look shiny enough to slide across.”
“Are you talking about sliding across it with your socks on?”
Hell no. Jericho was talking about sliding across it as they fucked. He’d have to put Ben’s shirt under him since Jericho’s ass would probably get stuck if it was in direct contact with the wood. The thought made him snicker.
Ben pushed away from the window and drew closer. “Or are you thinking about gliding across it with our naked bodies?”
They were already mates. Ben had claimed Jericho in the woods. But Jericho wanted to be owned by this dominant wolf shifter. He wanted to be branded on a deeper level that would leave no doubt who he belonged to.
Jericho felt dizzy as Ben reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head. The cool air of the room made his nipples hard. Ben backed Jericho up to the wall and placed a hand on either side of him. “Take the rest of your clothes off.”
Jericho ducked from under one arm and spun around. “This is crazy. What if someone else comes to look at the house?”
“I have the key, and the door is locked. No one can get in.” Ben stalked toward him. “Now get fucking naked.”
The command in Ben’s voice had Jericho toeing his shoes off. His hands shook as he unfastened his pants and pushed them and his underwear down his legs. Lastly, he peeled his socks off.
“Aren’t you going to get naked, too?” Jericho asked.
Once again Ben backed Jericho against the wall. His lips ghosted over Jericho’s ear, his breath wisped against his skin. Jericho felt Ben’s whiskers scrape along his jaw. Jericho was trembling as he pressed his hands to Ben’s hard chest.
“Get on your knees,” Ben said into Jericho’s ear. “Suck my cock, kit.”
This was exactly what Jericho had wanted. It was as though Ben had read his mind or had the ability to see right into his soul and know his deepest desires, know what Jericho had been craving his entire life.
“Are you afraid, Jericho?” Ben said against his ear when Jericho hadn’t moved. “Do you need me to guide you, or do you want to back out of this?” Ben pressed a kiss to Jericho’s cheek. The kiss was soft, a simple whisper of lips. “Tell me what you need.”
You. I just need you.
With a shuddering breath, Jericho lowered to his knees. He worked to free Ben’s cock, and the thick length sprang free. The head was an angry blush of red, swollen and begging for Jericho’s mouth.
“Taste me.” Ben sounded as if he were fighting to keep control of himself. When Jericho looked up at his mate, Ben’s canines were showing, and he had a look of wildness and passion in his gray eyes.
Jericho used the flat of his tongue to glide up the side of Ben’s cock, and then he twirled his tongue around the pre-cum beading at the tip.
Ben hissed, and Jericho moaned. The salty flavor made Jericho’s taste buds come to life. He drew in the clear liquid, devouring it, probing for more. Ben’s hands glided through Jericho’s hair, playing with the strands, tugging them gently as Jericho took the length into his mouth.
Ben groaned a few guttural words as his hips punched forward in short bursts, fucking Jericho’s mouth with ease. This was the second craziest thing Jericho had done in his life. The first was fucking in the woods. It seemed Ben brought out the slut in him, and Jericho loved it.
He whimpered against Ben’s cock when his mate’s fingernails scraped his scalp, sending a riot of sensations through his body. Jericho pulled Ben’s jeans and underwear down to his knees then slid his fingers up the man’s thighs as Ben’s cock stretched his mouth wide.
“Best. Head. Ever.” Ben hissed and grabbed a handful of Jericho’s hair. For a fleeting moment Jericho thought Ben was referring to his actual head. He rolled his eyes when he realized what his mate was talking about.
Sucking dick.
The guy was laying on the compliments because Jericho wasn’t a pro. He’d sucked cock a handful of times in his life, and he was mediocre at best. But he thrilled at Ben’s praise as he swallowed his mate’s cock over and over again.
Ben’s thrusts grew faster. His breathing was choppy. A low, rumbling growl erupted from his chest. Jericho knew Ben was close because his dick grew impossibly thicker and harder. He cupped Ben’s balls and rolled them in his hands, giving them a slight tug.
His mate threw his head back and shouted as his cum erupted in pulsing spurts down Jericho’s throat. Jericho swallowed every drop and licked his lips when he pulled Ben’s shaft from his mouth.
“Round one,” Ben snarled. “Now for round two.”
Jericho was shocked that Ben’s cock was still rock-hard. The man had the stamina of a god. His own cock was hard and throbbing between his legs as Ben lifted him to his feet.
He pressed Jericho back against the wall. Jericho’s mate’s erection was wedged between them as Ben caged Jericho’s throat with his hand. He should have feared such dominant moves, but this was Ben, not Landon, and his mate wasn’t going to harm him.
* * * *
Ben felt the tremble of Jericho’s body as he pressed against it. His mate was so small compared to him, and all he wanted to do was protect the guy. There was no way that Jericho was just tired this morning. Something had happened while Ben had been sleeping in his motel room.
But Jericho wouldn’t tell him what was going on, and all Ben could do was prove he was there for his little bunny.
He kicked his shoes off then removed the rest of his clothing. All the while Jericho stayed with his back against the wall. Ben had gone on a hunch that his mate wanted to be dominated, and damn if Ben hadn’t been right.
“Turn around,” Ben said as he dug the lube packet from his front pocket. He used his teeth to open it while Jericho turned, giving Ben a glorious view of his mate’s ass. It was small and flared, and Ben couldn’t wait to sink his cock into it.
But first he was gonna have fun and take Jericho to the very edge before he gave his mate release. He loved how obedient Jericho was, although this was a mere game to Ben. He didn’t want to control his mate’s life. He wanted the bunny to shine under his own rainbow.
After lubing his fingers, Ben slid one into Jericho’s ass. His mate whimpered and wiggled around, but one firm hand to his hip and Jericho settled.
Ben pressed his lips against his mate’s nape and trailed kisses along one shoulder. He had to bend a bit to reach his shoulder, but Ben didn’t care. He would bend himself in half if he had to in order to bring Jericho so much pleasure.
“Oh hell,” Jericho moaned as Ben moved his finger in and out of his mate’s ass before adding a second. Jericho grabbed for the wall, as though he were trying to climb it as Ben worked the tight band of muscles.
“Where’re you going?” he teased.
“Insane,” Jericho breathed out. “Y-You’re driving me crazy.”
That was exactly what Ben wanted to do. He smirked, thankful Jericho couldn’t see it as he commanded his mate to settle back down. The little bunny was too damn easy and submissive. Ben loved it, and his wolf loved it too. His beast was panting and howling and trying to get close to the surface as Ben added a third finger in Jerich
o’s ass, closing his eyes at the tight squeeze around his fingers.
“Ben, please.”
Nope. He wasn’t going to rush this. Not when Jericho was so fucking beautiful when he begged and made all those crazy sex noises. They filled the room and echoed off the walls, sending ripples of pleasure through Ben as he opened his eyes.
He nipped Jericho’s shoulder. “Is my little bunny desperate?”
“Your little bunny is about to come.”
Ben snatched his fingers out of Jericho’s ass. Clearly Jericho didn’t want that to happen, because he cried out and slammed the side of his fist against the wall. “You put them back right now!”
Ben crowded Jericho, pressing his chest into his mate’s back, his cock trapped against his mate’s lower back. He fit into the crook of Ben’s body so fucking perfectly, as though he was made just for him. “How about I put my dick in there instead?”
“Please, please, please.” Jericho shoved his ass against Ben.
The little shit was driving him mad. Ben took a deep breath and calmed his raging body as he slid a hand up Jericho’s stomach. His mate’s stomach contracted and jerked under his touch as Ben purposely avoided touching Jericho’s hard cock.
He tweaked his mate’s nipples as he nipped Jericho’s nape. The guy shuddered and squirmed as he tried to press his ass against Ben again.
“Please fuck me,” Jericho keened.
And that was Ben’s undoing.
Finally having mercy on Jericho, Ben pulled back and saw the line of pre-cum from the tip of his cock to Jericho’s lower back. Motherfuck that was beautiful. His pre-cum was on his mate’s skin, glistening and marking the little bunny.
Grabbing the base of his cock, Ben lined it up and slowly inched inside him. The tight grip had his eyes rolling back as Ben grabbed Jericho’s wrists and pulled his arms above his head, trapping them as he punched his hips forward, delving deep into the heat of his mate’s body.
But the leverage wasn’t right. Jericho was too damn short. Ben eased out of Jericho’s body, turned his mate, and lifted him off his feet. Jericho instinctively curled his legs around Ben’s waist before Ben slid back into Jericho’s ass.
“Much better.” Ben kissed his way around Jericho’s neck as he thrust hard and deep, his wolf howling at the intimate connection. He had Jericho’s back against the wall, and his mate rose and fell over and over again as he clung to Ben.
Jericho’s ass was like a fist around Ben’s cock, and the tight band of muscles jacked him off as Ben pistoned into him. He held Jericho close to him, burying his face in the nape of his mate’s neck, cherishing the fact that fate had given the shifter to him, that Ben had found him.
He sank his canines into Jericho’s shoulder as his mate cried out. Ben’s cock pulsed deep in Jericho’s ass as he pulled his teeth free and licked the wound.
Ben kept Jericho folded in his arms, inhaling his wild scent as he kissed his temple.
“Now we have to get this house,” Jericho said between pants. “We just christened it.”
Ben chuckled. “I guess we do.”
After they dressed, they went through the house again. Ben really liked it. The flooring throughout was hardwood, and he especially loved the breakfast nook and the French doors that led to the backyard. There was a free-standing garage, and behind that were a dozen trees that lent to shade and made the property seem more intimate and private.
There was even a tire swing hanging from one tree.
Ben finally felt as though he’d found a place he could settle down in. It just felt…right. What he hadn’t told Jericho was that Ben was looking to buy, not rent. Owning a home would solidify his life in Maple Grove.
“I think we can work wonders in this kitchen.” Ben was talking about renovating, but his mate must’ve thought he was talking about cooking.
“I’m okay at cooking,” Jericho said. “I hope you can do better than me.”
Ben wasn’t a gourmet chef, but he got by with a few of his mother’s recipes, which she’d taught him to cook when he was younger. He recalled spending endless hours kneeling on a chair, his hands folded under his chin as he rested his head on the counter and watched her. When he was old enough, around five, she put him to work, teaching him how to make pot roasts and meatloaf and all the comfort foods a person could want.
His chest ached as he thought of his parents. He missed them so fucking much.
Ben looked at Jericho, who was peering out the French doors. He wanted to create that kind of memory with his bunny. He wanted to snuggle on winter mornings or make pumpkin pies for the holidays. Ben wanted to create a life with Jericho, and he couldn’t wait to get started.
Chapter Six
That evening Jericho dropped Ben off at his motel and drove home for a change of clothes. He didn’t plan on staying at the house long, but Jericho also wanted to know who was buried in his backyard.
Every instinct in him had told him to bring Ben with him, but Jericho couldn’t take that risk. He would be devastated if anything happened to his mate.
And he was still riding his high of spending his entire day with his mate. Ben was charming, funny, and sexy as fuck. Jericho couldn’t find a bad thing about him.
And he’d been looking.
His mate had even treated him to dinner at the diner, and then they went for a long drive down country roads. Jericho had never really given motorcycles a second thought, but now he was addicted to riding on them.
He eased the side door open and crept inside, praying Landon wasn’t home. Jericho quickly packed a gym bag with not only clothes but hygiene products, too. He slung the bag over his shoulder and headed out the door. But once he tossed the bag into the backseat, Jericho looked toward the backyard.
Landon wasn’t home. This was the perfect time for Jericho to find out who was buried back there. He looked around before he hurried behind the garage and explored. Jericho doubted his uncle buried the body close to the house, so he walked deeper into the woods, looking for disturbed ground.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out there searching when he heard someone talking. Jericho ducked behind a tree and held his breath as the voices drew closer.
“He has to be around here somewhere,” Landon said. “His car is in the driveway, but he’s not in the house.”
Jericho cursed under his breath. He should have waited before he’d come back here. It was too soon, and Landon was probably too spooked not to continually check on the grave.
“Find him,” Ivan snarled. “If he’s out here, we’ll deal with him.”
“Are you talking about killing my nephew?” Landon sounded shocked.
“He can’t run to the cops, Landon. If he tells the sheriff that we buried the mayor’s son, we’re finished.”
Jericho slapped a hand over his mouth. He didn’t know the mayor well enough, nor his son Robert. But there was one thing the residents of Maple Grove knew. Robbie was Mayor Thornton’s entire world. Ted worshiped the ground Robbie walked on.
Why the fuck had Ivan killed Robbie? From what very little Jericho knew about the guy, Robbie was a sweet man who was uber polite to people and went out of his way to help at the church bake sales. He also volunteered at the children’s hospital one town over in Falls Bend.
Then again, everyone had secrets they didn’t show the world. Maybe Robbie wasn’t as shiny as a new penny like he led everyone to believe.
Even so, he didn’t deserve to be buried in an unmarked grave, and Mayor Thornton didn’t deserve to not know what had happened to his only child. The guy had already lost his wife to a car accident the year before.
This was going to kill Ted, but Jericho didn’t want to be the one to tell him. He would find a way to tell Sheriff Copache and let the sheriff break the bad news.
Just as soon as he got away from Landon and Ivan.
Jericho had no choice but to shift. That was the only way he could sneak from the woods without either man seeing him. Thank goodness he’d left hi
s wallet and keys in his car.
He wasn’t sure what to do about his cell phone, though. Jericho would just have to carry it in his mouth.
Taking a step back from the tree, Jericho set his phone on the ground before he shifted. Once in his bunny form, he grabbed his phone and quickly hopped away, avoiding twigs or anything else that would make noise.
He froze behind a bush when he heard footsteps moving past him. All Jericho had to do was make it to his car, and then he was never coming back here, at least not without Ben. Ivan was on to him, and Jericho would be buried next to Robbie if the bear shifter got his hands on him.
He waited another heartbeat before he ran from under the bushes and bolted toward his car. When he looked behind him, Landon and Ivan were still searching the woods, their backs turned to him.
Jericho made it to his car, shifted, grabbed his phone from the ground, and then eased his car door open.
He didn’t take time to breathe. Jericho started his car and reversed down the driveway, sitting buck-ass naked in his seat as he pointed the nose of his car toward town. He drove straight to Ben’s motel room, stopping long enough to dig some clothes out and dress.
By the time he made it to his mate, Jericho was a quivering mess. He sat there shaking with the knowledge that Ivan letting him live wouldn’t last long. The polar bear would be on the hunt for Jericho.
Taking a deep breath, Jericho got out of his car and headed for Ben’s room. To hell with Landon and Ivan and the fucked-up bullshit they’d inadvertently pulled Jericho into. He was about to tell Ben everything.
And pray his mate didn’t walk away from the mess Jericho was in.
* * * *
Ben had just gotten out of the shower when someone knocked on his door. He walked to it and opened it to find Jericho on the other side. His smile faded when he saw the freaked-out look in his mate’s eyes.