by Lynn Hagen
This felt so intimate, so right, that Steven cupped Derek’s face and kissed him back, wiggling his bottom to wordlessly tell Derek to get a move on it.
The man chuckled against Steven’s lips. “I get the hint.”
When Derek started kissing him again, Steven felt the tip of teeth under his tongue. He pulled back and stared at two long, sharp canines in Derek’s mouth. What the…
“Don’t be afraid,” Derek whispered as he kissed his way across Steven’s throat.
“I’m not,” Steven admitted. “I’m fascinated. Why do you have two long teeth?”
“I’m a Bengal shifter.” Derek licked a path from Steven’s jaw to his ear then nipped his lobe. “And you’re my mate, kitten.”
“I don’t know what that means,” Steven confessed.
“It means I can change into a tiger and that you’re mine.” Derek thrust into Steven, and Steven lost his train of thought. He threw his arms around Derek’s neck and held on as ripples of pleasure chased through his body.
“It means no one else is allowed to have this beautiful body but me.” Derek reared back and shoved Steven’s legs against his chest. He stared down at where they were connected, and Steven blushed as Derek moved in and out of him at a slower pace. “Fuck, this looks erotic as hell.”
It felt erotic as hell. Steven arched his back and grabbed at Derek, but Derek didn’t come back down to him. He continued to watch as his cock thrust in and out of Steven’s hole.
Then Derek glanced at him. The look was predatory and possessive. Steven tried to imagine Derek turning into a soft and fluffy tiger. He thought about Derek stating that Steven was his.
He wasn’t sure what to think about either of those things. He just wanted to get fucked. “Harder, faster,” he begged.
Because if he allowed himself to believe what Derek was saying, he would fall for him.
But Derek just said you were his.
Derek unwound Steven’s legs from his waist, held his ankles, spread his legs apart, and pounded into Steven’s ass as beads of sweat gathered over his brow.
Steven closed his eyes and tossed his head back, crying out and forgetting their conversation. He was admittedly naïve, but Steven wasn’t that gullible. Men said all kinds of crazy things while having sex, although Steven wouldn’t know because no one had ever talked to him during the act.
But Steven had internet, and he’d read up on the subject. Men would promise the world just to get into someone’s pants. Was that what Derek was doing? Telling Steven anything he wanted to hear?
Derek moved faster, pulling Steven from his thoughts. The guy was a beast in bed. He pulled Steven onto his lap, holding Steven against his muscled body as he drove his cock upward, hitting Steven’s prostate on every stroke.
Steven’s heart hammered. Eruptions of pleasure sliced through him. His body tingled in ways Steven had never experienced before.
Derek kissed along his shoulder. Steven held on for dear life as those sensations continued to bombard him. He matched Derek stroke for stroke as his cock bobbed between them, sliding up and down his lover’s body.
“I’m about to make you mine,” Derek said between choppy pants. He sank his sharp teeth into Steven’s shoulder.
Steven arched his back as every sensation inside him amplified. He cried out, his second orgasm stronger, hitting him like crashing waves against the shore.
Something moved inside him. Steven felt as though something deep in his chest tightened like a rubber band being snapped. His heart stuttered as his climax swept him under.
Derek removed his teeth and licked at Steven’s wound, purrs bursting from his throat.
Steven felt Derek’s cock pulsing in his ass as he laid his head against the man’s shoulder. What the hell just happened? Had Derek really bitten him?
Steven needed to make an excuse and get out of there. Although the sex had been mind-blowing, Derek suddenly scared him. Steven wasn’t sure how to handle the barrage of emotions suffocating him. He was used to fast sex and no feelings getting involved.
I knew I shouldn’t have looked him in the eyes.
“Don’t.” Derek cupped the back of Steven’s head and pulled him back until they were looking at each other. “Don’t get scared.”
“How did you know?”
“I felt you tense up,” Derek said. “Talk to me, kitten.”
“I feel exposed,” Steven admitted. “Confused and scared.” There he went, talking too much again. Steven should’ve just kept his big mouth shut. Now Derek would look at him like Steven was a needy, unstable guy.
“Why?” Derek gave him a soft, quick kiss.
“I’m overwhelmed.” He just couldn’t seem to stop talking.
“Because we’re strangers?”
“Because you’re too good to be true,” Steven said. And he did want Derek to call him later.
“What if I said I felt the same way about you?” Derek eased out of Steven’s body and settled them on the bed, making Steven face him as they stretched out. Derek kept touching him, stroking Steven’s side and hip.
“You?” Steven asked. “What could you possibly feel confused and scared about?”
“I found my mate,” Derek said. “What if I say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing and you run from me? I get only one mate, and that person is my happiness. You’re my happiness, Steven. And that overwhelms me.”
With the pad of his thumb, Steven brushed the wrinkles between Derek’s eyes. He liked touching Derek. The guy’s skin was soft and smooth.
“Would you be mad if I told you I still don’t understand what you’re talking about?”
Derek grinned and pulled Steven into a tight hug. “Nope. I’ll take all the time you need to try and make you understand.” He rested his hand on Steven’s hip after he released him. “But you have to promise me you won’t see other guys.”
Steven crossed his heart with his finger. “I promise.”
Did this mean Derek would call him later? Steven needed to go home so he could clear his head.
Derek curled around Steven and gave a hearty laugh. “That’s good, kitten. Real good.”
Chapter Three
“I have those papers you wanted,” Katie said as she entered Derek’s home office. When she placed the folder on his desk, she smiled at him. “What’s got you so deep in thought?”
“Huh?” Derek had been staring at his computer screen, but he hadn’t been concentrating on anything but thoughts of Steven. His mate had demanded to go home, and Derek hadn’t liked the idea of Steven leaving his side, but he’d taken him. What was he supposed to have done, kidnapped his mate?
The thought had been tempting, especially after Steven had spouted off about his independence.
“Thanks, and I’m just busy with work.”
She plopped down on the sofa and set aside the other folders in her hands. “I’ve known you a very long time, Derek. Don’t think you can sneak anything past me.”
Katie was a Bengal tiger, too. She had lived just down the road from him in Wyoming. They’d grown up together, and if he’d been straight, he would’ve most definitely been with her. Katie was tall, lithe, and so damn pretty that Derek had chased off too many horny bastards to count.
He also liked that she walked her own line. Her hair was short and spiky, she loved to laugh and show the world her amazing smile, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
Or bug the shit out of him.
He leaned back in his chair and gave her a look that told her not to push her luck. “What else do you have for me?”
Katie didn’t look happy but sighed and picked the remaining folders up. “Tristan sent you flowers again. They were a gorgeous bouquet of roses. They’re currently sitting on my kitchen island.” She smirked. “They brightened up the room.”
“I’m glad you made use of them.” No matter how many times Derek told Tristan to piss off, the guy wouldn’t get the message. The bastard had cheated on him, and that was a crossed li
ne Derek refused to forgive. He knew why Tristan was hounding him. The guy was a greedy fucker who wanted to blow through some of Derek’s money again.
That would never happen. He seriously doubted the guy had ever cared about him to begin with. The sad truth was Derek had cared deeply for Tristan and had allowed the guy to use him.
“And I have your flight info.” She waved the other folder at him.
“Flight info?”
“Your family reunion,” she reminded him.
Fuck. Derek had completely forgotten about that. Once a year the Mitchells got together at some venue, like his parents’ large backyard, and had the time of their lives. Derek was looking forward to seeing everyone again, but he wasn’t looking forward to the flight. He hated to fly.
He’d also made the mistake of taking Tristan last year, thinking their relationship had been heading somewhere. Tristan had gotten along with Derek’s sister, Bree.
But Derek’s brothers hadn’t liked the guy. He should have seen what a fake son of a bitch Tristan had been back then.
“But I thought that was two months away,” Derek said when he pulled from his thoughts.
“It was,” Katie said. “Two months ago.”
“Thanks.”
She nodded. “You leave Saturday night.” Katie tossed the folder onto Derek’s desk. “The rest of the information is in there.”
The reunion would last only a weekend, but Derek was uncomfortable leaving his mate behind. He didn’t need anyone else putting a gun to Steven’s head. A cold sweat broke out over him when he thought of Steven being hurt in any way. “Book another ticket.”
She grinned widely. “I knew there was a reason for your head to be in clouds.” She sat on the side of his desk. “Tell me who he is and how cute is this new guy?” Katie frowned. “He isn’t some loon like Tristan, is he?”
Derek might as well tell her. Katie was like a dog with a bone when she wanted information. That was one reason he loved her so much.
“I found my mate.”
She squealed as she threw her arms around him. “I’m so happy for you. Tell me everything.”
And Derek did, except the part about claiming Steven. Derek was a gentleman and wouldn’t divulge those intimate details. “But I think he might have issues.”
“Like what?” Katie settled back on the couch, only this time she tucked her legs under her after kicking off her low heels.
“I can’t quite put my finger on it, and I don’t want to sound disparaging, but I think…” How did Derek say it without making Steven sound as though he wasn’t the brightest bulb?
“Yes?”
“I think he might be mentally challenged.” Derek rubbed a hand over his jaw. “Not severely, but he seems to catch onto things a bit slowly, and there’s a lot he doesn’t know and terms that any person should be able to grasp.”
He thought about how Steven had understood Derek when he explained about the investments he was interested in. Steven had understood that perfectly.
“But he gets excited easily and wasn’t afraid when I told him I was a shifter.”
Katie’s dark brows rose. “He’s human?” She grinned. “He sounds sweet, Derek. You have to let me meet him.”
Steven was sweet, and Katie would eat him up. His mom would love Steven, too. Derek just didn’t want to think about his entire family meeting his mate. They would descend on him, trying to make him feel like part of the family.
Would that scare Steven? The Mitchells could be overzealous, and he didn’t want his mate to feel uncomfortable.
“Why isn’t he here now?” she asked.
Derek wasn’t surprised by her question. He and Steven were in their honeymoon period, and instead of having Steven in his bed so he could enjoy his mate’s body, the little imp was at home.
Shifters normally didn’t let their mates out of their sight. The nonhuman world was a dangerous place, and leaving Steven’s safety to chance was a foolish idea.
“I’m actually headed over to his apartment after I’m done speaking with you.”
“I’ll book him a seat next to yours, but you have to give me his information.”
“I’ll get it tonight,” Derek said.
“Don’t dally,” she warned. “I don’t want the flight sold out.”
“If you can’t get him a seat next to mine, book us a later flight.” Derek pushed from his desk and grabbed his keys. “Was there anything else you needed before I take off?”
“Nope.” She hopped up and slid her feet back into her heels. “I take it I’m done for the night?”
“That you are.” Derek walked her out, and she gave him a huge hug. “I’m so happy for you.”
He hugged her tightly. “Thanks, Katie.”
Derek wasn’t sure how his independent mate would feel about him showing up, but Steven was the one who should’ve been in his embrace. He could still smell his mate on his skin, still remember the noises he’d made while Derek claimed him, still felt the man’s touch as if Steven were standing right there.
He needed to be buried in Steven’s ass. His tiger demanded it.
Derek set his security alarm and locked his door.
Katie honked her horn as she drove away. Derek slid into his car and headed to Steven’s.
* * * *
Steven had just finished making himself dinner when someone knocked on his door. No one had called to say they were coming over, so he could think of only one person who could be on the other side.
Steven eased back quietly, praying a floorboard didn’t creak. If Emilio heard any signs of life, he wouldn’t go away. Steven looked at his plate of pasta on the counter and was tempted to take it with him, but he didn’t want to add an extra steps.
Dang it. Steven had been looking forward to eating it. But Emilio wouldn’t give up easily, and by the time he went away, Steven’s food would be cold.
“It’s me, kitten. Open up.”
Derek? Why was Derek there? Steven’s heart sped as he moved toward the door, flinging it open. Derek strode in, closed the door behind him, and pulled Steven into his arms.
Oh god that felt nice. Steven had been missing Derek all evening. More than once he’d almost walked to Derek’s house, although that would have been a long hump there on foot.
Steven jumped up and wrapped his legs around Derek’s waist, resting his head on the man’s broad chest. “What’re you doing here?”
This was better than waiting on a phone call. Derek was there in person.
“I missed you.”
Steven looked up into Derek’s eyes. “I missed you, too.”
It felt wonderful to be held. Derek ran a soothing hand down Steven’s back as he walked them to the couch and sat. “You should’ve called me. I would’ve been over here sooner.”
Steven didn’t have a chance to answer him. Derek’s soft lips descended on his, and Steven felt the prickle of his goatee, the warmth of his mouth as their breaths sped up. Had Steven died and gone to heaven?
A moan escaped Derek’s throat, and Steven was lost.
“Mine,” Derek murmured into Steven’s mouth. “Spend the night with me, kitten.”
When the kiss ended, Steven rested his forehead on Derek’s shoulder. “I have to…I have to call Kenny.”
That was Kenny’s number-one rule. To always let him know where Steven was. Not for small stuff, though. Like when Steven had gone into town for ice cream. Kenny didn’t want to know his every move. But spending the night somewhere else? Kenny would be really upset if Steven didn’t tell him.
“Why do you have to call your brother?” Derek asked. “You’re an adult.”
“I’m twenty-five,” Steven said. He explained Kenny’s rule. “And I don’t like to make him upset with me.”
Steven’s eyes fluttered closed as Derek brushed his fingers along his neck. “Why does he keep such a close eye on you?”
“When my mama was pregnant with me, Kenny says she did drugs. He says it affected my brain.
”
Sadness filtered into Derek’s pretty brown eyes. He held Steven close, nearly crushing him. “I’m so sorry she did that to you, sweetheart.”
Steven sighed as he rested his head back on Derek’s shoulder. It felt so good to be held by this strong and powerful man. For the first time in his life, he felt safe and cared for by someone other than his brother.
Those strange needy feelings crept back into Steven. The ones where he felt really close to Derek. The ones where he wanted to crawl inside the man and never come out.
Derek’s hands slid to Steven’s waist and held it as his lips chased Steven’s. Steven moaned into Derek’s mouth, the heat in his body rising as his cock thickened.
He felt dazed when Derek pulled back and grinned. He wiped the moisture from Steven’s lips. “Come stay the night with me?”
“Let me make the call.” Steven looked at the counter. “My dinner is ruined now.”
Derek squeezed Steven’s ass cheeks. “I’ll make you dinner.”
“You can cook?”
“I get by,” Derek said.
Steven crawled off Derek’s lap and walked to his bedroom. He pulled out his phone and texted his brother. He didn’t want Kenny to say he couldn’t go.
Seconds later his phone rang.
Drat. “Hello?”
“You don’t even know him,” Kenny said. “I don’t care who he is, Steven. Derek Mitchell is a stranger to you.”
“Give me the phone,” Russell said in the background. “Steven?”
“Yes?”
“Have fun, hon. If at any point you’re not comfortable, call me and I’ll come get you, okay?”
Steven loved the hell out of Russell. “Okay.”
He heard Kenny and Russell arguing as Steven hung up. He packed an overnight bag and returned to the living room. Derek was at the sink washing Steven’s dishes and the pot he’d used.
“You don’t have to do that.” Steven set his bag by the door. “I could’ve gotten it.”
Derek grinned, and Steven’s heart swelled. “Your apartment is immaculate, so I figured you wouldn’t want to leave dirty dishes lying around.”