by April Kelley
Jules put his phone down and shivered. Was that anticipation or fear?
It couldn’t be fear.
Hacen licked his lips when Jules unfolded his legs and leaned back on his hands, opening himself up for the invasion.
Hacen stopped when he got to the bed. Jules met his gaze and held it. Whatever staring contest Hacen wanted to have, Jules didn't, so he asked in that sassy tone he sometimes got, "What?"
"Are you gonna freak out if I kiss you?"
"Freak out?"
"Like that first time. With Tommy. When I jerked him off."
Jules blushed. It lit up his cheeks like a red stoplight. "No. It’s different now.”
How it was different, Hacen could only guess. At the moment, he didn’t care.
He smiled at the same time one of his knees hit the bed. Hacen crawled over Jules. He put a knee between Jules’ legs, opening them up, forcing him to lay flat on the mattress.
Jules' stared up at him, his throat bobbing twice, hesitation in his eyes. He bit his bottom lip, and then Hacen felt legs wrap around his waist.
Hacen's teeth elongated. The pulse in Jules’ neck beat out a delicious rhythm. He wanted to sink his teeth in his neck.
Instead, he buried his nose next to that pulse. "I can smell your arousal."
Jules wrapped his arms around Hacen's shoulders and clung. "Hacen."
"That's right. My mate. Tommy’s and mine."
Jules’ hard cock pressed against Hacen’s abdomen. "I know."
"By the gods, I want to bite you so fucking bad. I can smell your blood just underneath the surface of your skin. I hear it flow through your veins."
If anything were to make Jules cringe and turn away, it should be that. Maybe Hacen tested him. Trust had been hard won up to that point, and he needed to make sure he had it. At the same time, Hacen meant every word. Desperation coursed through him, feeding off his self-control.
"Okay."
Hacen's whole body stiffened, and he lifted his head, meeting Jules' gaze. Well, shit. He had expected an argument. "I'll settle for nothing short of bonding, Jules. I won't just feed from you."
"I know what you meant."
Hacen moved off him, standing on the side of the bed, pulling off his shirt. "We should wait for Tommy." Hacen unbuttoned his jeans. His hands shook with anticipation.
Jules didn’t move but watch Hacen strip. Whether he waited for the show or because he regretted agreeing, Hacen didn’t know. He had to find out, though. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Any time you want to change your mind, you just say the word. We’ll stop.”
Jules’ throat bobbed again, and he blinked when his eyes widened. He nodded even as his gaze went right to Hacen’s cock when he pushed his jeans down his thighs.
“Say you understand, honey. I need to know that you get you can say no, and I’ll stop immediately.”
Jules wiped his mouth with the back of his hand as if he had drool there. Hacen didn’t think Jules was even aware he did it. “I understand. Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
Hacen had one knee on the mattress when Jules asked, “Is that supposed to fit inside me?"
Every muscle in his body froze. "Have you done this before?"
"Not entirely."
"Shit." Hacen turned part way, the need deflating along with his cock. "We need to wait for Tommy."
When Jules sat up and pulled his shirt over his head, Hacen turned to face him again, watching his every move. Jules lay back down, lifting his hips as he pushed the sweatpants down. When they were all the way off, he threw them on the floor.
Jules had his thumbs hooked around the waistband of his underwear ready to push them down when Hacen pleaded with his eyes. "The last thing I want to do is hurt you."
"You won't." Jules pushed his underwear down and off. "We'll include Tommy next time. Just please. I couldn't take it if you walked away from me again."
Hacen cursed under his breath, hating the reminder of that mistake. He climbed back on the bed, moving over Jules. Arms came around his shoulders and pulled him down the rest of the way.
Hacen cupped Jules' cheek. "I'll never be separated from you again. Not without a fight."
"You promise?"
"Yes."
"Even if that means living with my family."
"Don't push it." Hacen smiled, taking some of the sting out of his words.
Jules chuckled. "That means yes.”
"No, it doesn't."
"Yes, it does. You'll let me have my way. You just don't know it y—"
Hacen cut him off with just a press of their lips. While the kiss was designed to shut Jules up and it had that effect, it also got the party started.
Jules’ bones turned to mush one at a time as he moved underneath Hacen sensually.
Their cocks pressed together.
Fingers laced through Hacen's long strands before fisting his hair, angling his head so he could deepen the kiss. Hacen gave over, letting Jules have his way. Jules ran his tongue along Hacen's lips.
Hacen broke the kiss, moving to Jules' nipple, licking it. Jules arched his back, clearly wanting more. Hacen didn't disappoint. He did it again only he ran his hand down Jules' torso at the same time. Jules moved into his touch, his body arching up, following Hacen as if on a slow sensual wave.
"Mmm. So responsive. Sexy.” Hacen moved to Jules' other nipple.
"Please.” Jules' breath hitched. "Touch me."
Hacen wrapped his hand around Jules' cock, stroking up once.
"Oh gods."
Hacen lifted his head, ending the sensual assault. Their gazes met and held even as he descended Jules’ body. Jules’ legs fell away. He sucked in a breath and held it an impossibly long period of time. Hacen wanted to plead with him to breathe. Instead, he hovered over Jules' cock before licking it from root to tip. Once he got to the tip, Hacen wrapped his lips around it and sank down.
Jules let air in through his lungs only to hold it again. When he finally released the breath, he panted. "Oh. Oh, gods."
Fingers threaded through Hacen's hair again, holding on as if fearful he would suddenly stop, which wouldn’t happen.
Hacen pulled up, rolling Jules' balls in his hand. When he sank down again, he ended with Jules' entire cock in his mouth. The head hit the back of his throat and Jules cried out.
Hacen reached over to the nightstand and pulled open the drawer without stopping the assault on Jules’ cock. He fished around for the bottle of lube, finding it after a few seconds. Once he had it in hand, he flipped the cap open and got some on his fingers.
Rubbing his fingers together to warm the stuff up had to come first. He wouldn’t shock Jules with the cold temperature.
When he brushed a slick finger against his pucker, Jules stiffened. Hacen picked up the pace on his cock at the same time he sank in up to his knuckle. He pulled out slowly, repeating the process continuously.
Jules lifted his leg to give Hacen room, and that was all he needed to know Jules liked it. That was confirmed when Jules began moving his hips into Hacen’s finger, chasing after more.
It wasn’t until Hacen put another finger in beside the first that Jules stiffened. Hacen’ stilled and pulled off his cock. “Am I hurting you?”
Jules shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut. "I just..." Jules opened his eyes and looked down. He smiled in what Hacen deciphered as relief and moved his hips, silently telling Hacen he wanted him to continue.
Hacen still didn't move. "Are you okay?"
Jules nodded. "I just need you."
Hacen growled and moved up, over Jules, until their faces were inches apart. Hacen pulled his finger out and sank down slowly.
Jules' muscles loosened, and his breathing picked up again.
Hacen pumped in and out without looking away. "Mine."
Jules lifted his hips. Hacen curled his fingers up, brushing over Jules’ prostate. Jules’ eyes widened, and he cried out. "Wh
a..."
Hacen grinned and added a third finger. He felt so tight, Hacen hissed just thinking about how it would feel surrounded by all that heat.
He brushed over that spot again, and Jules whined, gripping Hacen's shoulders before pulling him closer.
"If I hurt you, just say something."
Jules nodded. Hacen was pretty sure Jules would agree to anything. He pulled out slowly and pushed in again.
"By the gods, you're fucking sexy." Hacen pumped in a couple more times and then pulled his fingers out.
Jules stiffened when Hacen lined up his cock, pushing against his pucker. Hacen could tell the exact second Jules realized what was happening and wondered what went through his mind. The panic was clear.
Hacen was about to stop when Jules took his face in both hands, cupping his cheeks.
"You want to stop?"
Jules shook his head.
Hacen leaned down and bumped his nose next to Jules right before their lips touched. Hacen put just enough pressure against Jules’ opening that a tiny bit of his cock slipped in, letting Jules know what he intended. "Do you want this still?"
"Would you stop now if I asked you?"
"In a heartbeat." Hacen meant every word. He wasn’t an animal. He could stop if needed.
Jules smiled. "Okay. Then keep going."
"You play too many games."
"Just shut up and rub over that spot again."
Hacen chuckled, but it died when he pushed inside. He moaned and shut his eyes.
“Ow. Hold on.”
Hacen opened his eyes again, looking down to see Jules wincing.
"You okay?"
"Yeah."
"Want me to stop?"
"If you ask me that one more time..." Jules sighed. “You can move.”
Hacen hooked his arm around one of Jules' legs, opening him up a bit. At the same time, Hacen pushed in far enough to reach that spot Jules mentioned. As soon as he did, Jules moaned, and his eyes rolled into the back of his head.
Hacen pulled out slowly and entered him again.
Jules released Hacen's cheeks, gripping onto his shoulders instead. Hacen pegged that spot with every thrust. There was nothing better than feeling Jules surrounding him. Jules’ face went slack, and he looked at Hacen as if he were a god.
Hacen growled right before his teeth sank into Jules' shoulder. He wanted it to last a bit longer, but he had held off the bonding for far too long and couldn’t resist.
Jules cried out as warm, wetness coated both their abdomens.
Something clicked inside Hacen, and he could feel Jules in his mind.
Hacen pumped into him a few more times before his orgasm welled up and burst out in one white-hot flame. Hacen kept drinking long after they both were satisfied.
Jules hugged him so tightly it bordered on painful. Hacen sighed with contentment and then pulled his teeth out of Jules' shoulder. He licked the wound several times.
"Are you okay?" Hacen asked.
"More than." Jules kissed his shoulder. "We shoulda been doing that months ago."
Hacen chuckled. "Agreed."
The phone beeped with a text from Tommy, but neither of them moved right away. "It's gonna be so hot when Tommy's here."
Chapter Seventeen
Jules kissed the center of Hacen's chest and then moved over to his nipple. He kissed Tommy’s mating mark before licking his nipple. Hacen held the back of his head. "Behave."
Jules chuckled, licking it again. He decided to listen the second time around, apparently, because he pressed his cheek to Hacen's chest.
Hacen reached for the cell phone at the same time Jules closed his eyes and snuggled closer. Hacen stiffened. "Shit."
Hacen held Jules to him in an attempt to keep from jostling him around. Then Hacen let him go when he remembered Jules wasn’t injured anymore.
Shit. He couldn’t think.
"Get dressed, honey." Hacen scrambled out of bed and grabbed his jeans.
Jules sat up, the blankets pooling around his waist. He made a sexy picture, but Hacen couldn’t focus on him. "What's going on?"
Hacen nodded toward the phone. "Tommy's in trouble."
Jules scrambled out of bed, dressing so quickly Hacen had never seen anyone move that fast. He grabbed the phone from the nightstand, and that was when he finally looked at the message.
“Oh my gods, our Tommy is hurt. We should ask Ramsey for help."
"I don't need help from your family." Hacen pulled a shirt over his head, which was the last thing he needed. "Hurry up, Jules."
"I'm hurrying." Jules ran over and grabbed his shoes. "What if we need to fight warlocks? They're pretty strong. Shouldn't we at least find out if Ramsey has any contacts?"
Hacen turned to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "First of all, there is no we in this. I'm going. Not you. And secondly, Tommy could be out there lying in a bloody heap. I don't have time to waste. I'm especially not wasting any on someone who would most likely stab me in the back."
Jules opened his mouth once before closing it again. Instead of talking, he flipped Hacen off.
Hacen rolled his eyes at the same time he pulled the door open. “Grab a coat. It’s cold out.”
Jules ripped one of Tommy’s coats off the hook and then a coat for Hacen. He pressed it against Hacen’s chest and held it there. “You’re an idiot.”
"Jules. Damn it. I’ll be worried about you the whole time.” Hacen put the coat on as he made his way down the steps of the porch.
"Why are you so stubborn?"
"Why are you?”
"The last thing I want is for both of my mates to get in trouble. That's what's going to happen if you go by yourself.” Jules stopped talking long enough to clear his throat.
Hacen sighed and stopped long enough for Jules to catch up to him. He wrapped his arm around Jules’ shoulder.
Hacen sucked in a breath and pulled Jules to him. He sniffed the air, doubting his senses, wanting to be wrong. Hell, he hoped he was, but Nicolono’s scent was all over the area. “Get in the car and lock the door.”
“Why?” Jules tried to pry Hacen’s fingers from his arm. “Let go. You’re hurting me.”
Hacen let Jules’ arm go but kept a hold of his waist. He repeated, “Get in the car and lock the door.”
“Tell me why first.”
Hacen scanned the area, while still staying hidden in the trees. The car sat, still and silent, on the side of the dirt road. The distance between them and the car was maybe three yards, but it seemed like miles when he thought about Jules crossing it by himself.
“Are you gonna answer me?”
“Shh.” Everything around them was still and silent. The birds and small animals stayed hidden, which told him they knew a predator was nearby. The animals had nothing to worry about, though. The predator in question wanted Jules and no one else.
“Don’t shush me, Hac—” Hacen put a hand over Jules’ mouth to shut him up.
He leaned into Jules, whispering in his ear. “Nicolono’s nearby.”
Jules stiffened and moved into him. His body shook as he pressed himself as close to Hacen as he could get. “I’ve got you, honey. Just let me think.”
By the gods, he was out of his depth. His gut ached so bad it stole his thought process.
Hacen felt Jules fumble around between them and then pressed the cell phone against Hacen’s chest without moving at all.
He took it, staring for a full minute before his brain finally kicked in enough to use the damn thing. Searching the contacts for Ramsey’s number, he texted the situation as fast as he could and handed the phone back to Jules.
The next thing was to get Jules behind a locked door. Hacen took a deep breath through his mouth and released it slowly as he guided Jules the few feet to the car.
The second he touched it he knew it was a mistake. A wave of fatigue washed over him. He fought against it as he pulled the car door open. The tree line on the other side of the dirt road spun.
Hacen looked at Jules. Other than shaking like a leaf on a windy day, he seemed okay, so that meant Nicolono had meant the spell for him, not Jules.
Hacen fumbled in his pocket for the car keys. “Get in the car, lock the doors, and start driving.”
Hacen’s vision grayed around the edges. He braced himself with a hand on the hood of the car.
Jules pulled away from him far enough to give him a concerned look. “What’s wrong?”
“Just get it the car, Jules.” Hacen blinked and tried to shake away the dizziness. He reached for the door handle and found the thing after three tries. He pulled open the door and then let it go when his stomach knotted up.
“You’re getting in too, right?” Jules stood in the open space, one hand on the car’s window and the other on Hacen’s chest.
Hacen groaned when his heartbeat started pounding out a rhythm in his ears.
Jules sucked in a breath. His mouth moved, but Hacen couldn’t hear the words.
Nicolono’s scent consumed him.
Hacen pushed Jules so hard he fell on the car’s seat. Jules cried out and landed on the center console. It took Hacen two tries to find the doors lock, but he managed to press it. He threw his keys into the car and slammed the door just as Nicolono came out of hiding.
Hacen turned to face him and swayed on his feet before falling against the hood of the car.
Nicolono’s laughter echoed in his mind. The sound of it so loud Hacen covered his ears. “I always get what I want, Hacen. You should know that by now.”
“Stay away from him.” Hacen held up his hand when Nicolono got closer.
Nicolono smiled. “You surprise me. The spell should have knocked you out by now.”
Hacen lifted off the hood of the car. “If you touch him, you’ll die.” Someway, somehow that would be true. He wasn’t making the same mistake twice. He wouldn’t leave Jules to that fucker.
The world tilted so suddenly he couldn’t figure out why until the gravel of the road coated his mouth. His head bounced off the ground once, sending shards of pain through his body.