by Fel Fern
Abram could have taken them by surprise, attacked them the moment they walked into Abram’s den, but Abram didn’t. That meant something.
Don’t be foolish. Lions are patient predators.
“Careful, Kane,” Mike whispered behind him, not helping at all.
No. It wasn’t just that. If Kane didn’t believe in his mate, who else could? His heart bled every time Abram woke in the middle of the night, plagued by nightmares. Kane always wished he could do more, had asked Abram what else he could do. What did Abram ask of him? Only to stay with Abram until it stopped.
Those moments seemed so profound to Kane, meant so much because Abram would let him share his most vulnerable moments and dominant shifters despised weakness. By sharing his, Abram showed how much Kane meant to him.
God how could this happen? Abram was doing so well. Kane refused to believe Abram was hiding secrets from him, because Abram had been all but honest in their relationship. Trust took time to build and he trusted Abram fully, even when Abram was like this.
“Kane,” Mike repeated. “Don’t be foolish.”
Abram snarled again.
“Shut up, Mike. Let me handle this.”
Abram shifted his full focus on him.
Ignoring the tiger shifter, he looked into Abram’s eyes and decided to speak. Maybe he could reach out to Abram’s human half. He was sure Abram wasn’t completely gone, because Abram was strong, made of steel. Other men who’d gone through the same horrors Abram did, couldn’t get back not their feet. Not his mate.
Abram got his men out when their lives were at stake back in the desert and Abram made a living helping others like him keep in shape. Abram wasn’t dangerous. Well, his mate could be lethal when those closest to him were threatened, but Abram was a protector first. Not many people knew Abram had a tender heart underneath those layers of scars and muscles.
“Hey, baby. It’s me, Kane. Don’t you recognize me?” he whispered.
Abram’s golden eyes met his and he suppressed a shiver when Abram dragged his claws down the concrete floor. The screeching sound made him swallow, made him aware of Abram’s ebony claws and teeth. One swipe, one snap, and he was gone, but he still believed Abram could rise above and return to him.
“There’s a reason you haven’t attacked Mike or me. You know us. Mike’s your brother-in-arms, your second-in-command, and I’m your mate. Part of you still remembers what it’s like, being human. The lion is only one part of you.” Kane fell to his knees, still holding out a hand.
Abram padded close, swishing his tail back and forth. At this height, Abram was still taller than him and all of Abram was made of muscle. This was unlike any lion he’d seen at the zoo. Abram was built like a killing machine, but the outside never mattered to Kane.
“Baby.” Tears dripped down his face freely now. Kane poured his heart and soul into his next words, knowing they could make or break the situation. “Come back to me. Come back home. Don’t lose to your demons, because I’m fucking selfish. I don’t think I can live the rest of my life without you in it. So please.”
Abram came within touching distance now and a tongue extended, licking at his hand.
Mike breathed a sigh of relief behind him. Abram snarled at Mike, eyes narrowed, but feeling braver now that he knew Abram was back, Kane pulled his lion into a tight hug.
“Baby, it’s okay. Everything’s okay now. Can you turn back to human for me?”
One second turned to several. The panic returned. What if Abram didn’t harm him but couldn’t turn back anymore? To his relief, the fur under his hand turned back to human skin until Abram enveloped him in a full embrace, skin covered in a sheen of sweat.
Then Abram locked lips with him, the kiss all heat and bite, just the way Kane liked it. He ran his hands over Abram’s body, over and over, still unable to believe he’d actually did it, convinced Abram to return to human form. Abram kissed him like it was the end of the world. In a way, it was, because Kane was aware of how close he’d come to losing his mate.
Mike cleared his throat. “Well, I’ll leave you two.”
Abram drew away. “Mike, wait. I need to explain why I lost control. Dusty came here earlier and we…had an argument. My lion reacted badly to his leopard, but he left, and my lion dragged me back to the past, to that day.”
Mike swore.
Concerned, Kane pressed a hand over Abram’s chest, but he remained silent, knowing to let Abram explain.
Abram continued, “I’m lucky, because Kane’s here, to tether me back to reality, but Dusty’s all alone. He’s worse off than we thought.”
Mike seemed to know what to do, because the tiger shifter nodded. “I’m getting Grover. We’ll find him.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No,” Mike immediately said.
Abram growled and Kane reached out, stroking Abram’s arm. Abram flashed him a weak, thankful smile. His mate might be a bad-ass lion, but Abram knew when he needed support.
“Abram, we can’t risk you shifting again, and once you see Dusty, your lion will think you guys have unfinished business.”
“Mike’s right, baby.”
“I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
“Please, baby. Let Mike and Grover handle this. You’ve trained them, know how capable they are. Fighting your lion must have tired you out. Gather your strength, so when Dusty or Grover call you for back-up, you’ll have better control over your lion.”
Abram considered him. Back when they first met, Abram had been stubborn as hell, and would sometimes act recklessly. Now, Abram nodded, conceding.
“Fine, I don’t like it, but you two made your point. I wouldn’t want to compromise Dusty’s safety. I know my lion would want another rematch.”
“Don’t worry. Grover and I will get him back.” With that, Mike left. Abram rose to his feet and Kane followed.
“Abram?” he whispered softly. Abram cupped his cheek, expression softening. His mate’s lion was still there, but it was no longer acting crazy or berserk.
“Thank you,” Abram said. “Your voice reached into my depths and pulled me out of my funk. That incident kept playing over and over in my head. I thought it was better to give up control to my lion. You gave me incentive to confront my fears.”
He rubbed his head all over Abram’s broad chest, liking the sound of Abram’s beating heart.
“That’s my job as your mate. We help each other out, remember?”
There was an intense look in Abram’s eyes now, which made him shiver in anticipation. His dick pulsed in his jeans and sex would certainly help keep Abram’s mind off Dusty. Abram ran his hand down his chest and gave his cock a squeeze through the denim. He groaned, unable to help himself.
“Missed me much, baby?”
“In those few moments, I thought of how I’d be able to live my life without you. I couldn’t.”
Abram kissed him again, this time slow and tender. A flame sparked in his insides and traveled to his dick and the rest of him. “I swear on my life, baby. I’ll always be by your side. Leaving you is the last thing on my mind.”
“Promise?” he asked.
“Yes.” Abram dragged his mouth to the side of his neck. His pulse raced. “Don’t you think I’ve made you wait long enough?”
Laughter slipped out of him. “Yes, yes you did.”
“No more waiting. I’m ready. Are you?” Abram asked, looking into his eyes, probably seeing if Kane wanted the same thing.
“I knew the first time you walked into my office that you were the one.” Kane beamed at his mate. “So yes, I’m ready and I want this so much.”
Chapter Eleven
One moment, Abram felt like he was drowning. After bad memories started replaying in his head, he’d surrendered his control to his lion, relieved to let the beast do all the driving. The best Abram could describe the sensation as was going to sleep. Rest, his lion told him, and I’ll take care of the rest. Abram had been nearly tempted to let go, too, despite knowing he mi
ght never turn back to human, until Kane started calling out to him.
Kane’s voice dragged him back to reality and Abram wrestled his lion to submission, knowing he wanted to see Kane’s face again, to touch his mate, and claim Kane as his forever. Looking into Kane’s eyes in the present and savoring the sweet words of Kane’s compliance, Abram knew this was the one moment in his life he’d been waiting for.
“I’m not going to ask again,” Abram said. “I’m going to fuck you, then mark you as mine. There’s no escape.”
“Don’t want you to and I don’t plan on backing out anytime soon.”
Their faces touched and Abram grabbed Kane’s jaw and gave his mate a deep kiss, telling Kane how much Abram missed him. Abram came this close to dying, because letting the lion take over would reduce him to an animal lacking human consciousness. As Kane’s body touched his, he knew with a certainty that once their animals were tied together, nothing like that would ever happen again.
Some part of his heart still worried about Dusty and the others, but he trusted Mike and Grover to bring Dusty back in one piece. Abram should have been part of the hunt, but he knew he would be more deterrence than help. They parted from the kiss.
“Are you worried about Dusty?” Kane asked, as if reading his mind.
“A little,” Abram admitted. “But Mike and Grover will find him.”
Kane nodded.
“You’re still wearing clothes,” Abram observed out loud. Without waiting for Kane’s reply, he stripped his mate with haste, licking his lips at the sight of Kane, nude and glorious for him. It was then his ringtone went off. Swearing under his breath, he found his phone on the table. It was Mike.
He answered. “Did you find Dusty?”
“Yeah.” Mike sounded out of breath. “Dusty was in the woods bordering town. Grover has him now. Dusty’s unconscious and they’re both scratched up, but he’s in human form.”
“Do you need me there?” Abram wanted to check on Dusty’s condition for himself, but it warred with the urge to stay with Kane and take their relationship to the next level.
“No. We’ll take care of him. You can see him once he’s conscious and a lot better.” Mike paused on the phone. “It seems Dusty hasn’t been seeing his assigned therapist or taking his medication.”
“We’ll help him sort it out,” Abram said with confidence he felt. Before, he’d always viewed living out his civilian life with a kind of negativity. He’d probably continue living that way, if Kane hadn’t barged into his life. Abram hadn’t cared for the mating bond before, but only because he was terrified no one would accept a broken lion.
“You sound optimistic.”
“I am.”
“You’re one lucky bastard, you know that? I can see why you can’t get enough of your tabby cat. I’ve never seen anything like what happened just now, how he brought you back.”
“Someday, you, Grover, and Dusty will find your mates, too, or they’ll make their way to you all.”
“Not everyone’s that lucky, Abram.”
He detected a hint of jealousy and longing in Mike’s voice and decided not to rub his relationship with Kane in Mike’s face, so instead he said, “Call me if there’s a change in Dusty’s condition.”
“Will do.”
They ended the call. Kane was instantly by his side and with his hearing, had probably heard the conversation. Abram pulled Kane into his embrace, liking how his little cat automatically leaned against his frame.
“I’m glad they found Dusty,” Kane said. “Will he really be okay?”
“Dusty’s strong.”
Except in Abram’s case, he needed Kane to bring him back. They had been lucky this time around. If Dusty succumbed to his animal again, Abram wasn’t sure how to bring the other man back. After all, he knew how Dusty felt, how isolating and incredibly lonely it was, to face every single day, being weighed by the past, by reminders that they’d once been whole shifters.
“Dusty’s not alone. He has you and the others,” Kane said.
“Will it be enough?”
Kane didn’t answer him.
Abram kissed the side of Kane’s neck, grazing his teeth against the smooth, tempting line of skin. “We can’t change anything now. We’ll handle one problem at a time.”
Kane only sighed as Abram broke from the hug to tug Kane to the bed. Their hands were all over each other. He liked touching his mate, loved running his hand up and down every familiar inch of Kane, and it seemed Kane was the same. He locked his mouth over Kane’s, savoring the heat and taste of Kane. His submissive mate opened his mouth by reflex so Abram could thrust his tongue down Kane’s throat.
Kane rubbed his body against him, making Abram aware of Kane’s thickening dick and his own. Turned on, he moved his hand lower, curled his fingers over Kane’s prick, and gave it a few tugs. They broke from the kiss and Kane moaned into his mouth.
“This time, I want to fuck you on all fours,” he declared.
Kane took his hand and gave each of his fingers a kiss, even licking at the droplets of pre-cum there. “Then I’m going to make you ready.”
“Then go on all fours, baby.”
Kane got into position, but Abram took a couple of seconds, admiring his sexy and slender mate.
“Are you just going to keep looking at me like I’m good to eat?” Kane whispered.
“It’s my right to admire what rightfully belongs to me,” he said with a grin.
Kane blushed all the way to the roots of his hair. Sometimes, Abram couldn’t believe this wonderful man was his mate. He wove his fingers into Kane’s hair and tugged him close to his dick. His little cat seemed more eager as opposed to playful today. Kane circle his cockhead with his tongue, paying attention to the slit and the sensitive spot under the head. He groaned, stopped the urge to start fucking Kane’s mouth, and let Kane take the lead, for the moment at least.
Kane licked him like a piece of candy, the sensation of Kane’s tongue slick against his ridged length. Finally, his mate opened his mouth and took Abram’s dick in. A growl tickled out of Abram as Kane went down on him, slow and steady, until he felt his tip hit the back of Kane’s throat.
“Fuck, baby. You’ve gotten real good at this.”
Kane met his gaze, a mischievous glint there. Then his mate began bobbing his head up and down. Heat coiled from his belly and went right to his member. At this rate, Abram wouldn’t be able to hold out long. He tightened his grip on Kane’s hair, then gave it a tug a few moments later. His little cat paused.
“I’m taking over.”
Kane relaxed his mouth as Abram began to push his prick in and out, grunting as the pressure inside him continue to build.
“I’m close, swallow,” he ordered. With his last entry, he growled out his pleasure and his load down Kane’s throat. His mate obediently lapped at his jizz, not spilling a single drop. All that practice had paid off. Kane was wonderful when it came to sex, eager to learn and try new things.
“Good job, baby.” Abram pulled his prick away and kissed his mate on the mouth, tasting himself on Kane. “Now, I want to hear you come.”
Abram took position behind Kane and reached for Kane’s prick. He jerked Kane off with his hand, movements fast. It didn’t take long for Kane’s breathing to turn ragged.
“Beg me,” Abram said.
“Please!”
“Please what, baby?”
“I need to come.”
“Then do it.” Abram gave Kane’s balls a squeeze, which did the trick. With a loud cry, Kane came on his fingers. Abram patted the curve of Kane’s ass. “We’re not yet done.”
“You haven’t fucked me yet.”
“I’m not worried. You’ll be hard for me soon enough.” Abram’s own dick came back to life, seeing Kane come undone. He grabbed the lube from the bathroom and a couple of wet wipes. Returning to Kane, he cleaned them both off before moving behind Kane’s legs again. Abram uncapped the lube. “I was thinking the two of us should head
out-of-town over the weekend.”
Kane peered at him over a shoulder. “Are we one of those couples who go on weekend trips now?”
The little cat was grinning so smugly at him, Abram paused from his task to give Kane’s ass a swat. Kane jumped, but the smile was still there. Cheeky little thing.
“You mean you don’t want to?” he teased.
Kane scowled. “Of course I do. We can find a cozy little inn, have brunch, and do couple stuff together.”
Kane was beginning to sound excited. Well, whatever made his mate happy. “Or I can lock you in the room all the time when we’re not sightseeing so I can fuck you senseless.”
Kane looked thoughtful. “That works, too.”
Chuckling, Abram worked a generous amount of lube into Kane’s ass. No matter how many times he made love to Kane, Kane’s puckered entrance was always tight. He groaned. Abram couldn’t wait to be inside Kane again. He slid a finger in, then added a second to prep Kane quickly. Kane wiggled suggestively against him.
“Hurry, baby. I need you in me now.”
That earned Kane another slap but Abram could see Kane’s prick lengthening. His little cat was incredibly aroused.
“Demanding little cat. You need to learn patience,” Abram teased back. Adding a third, he made twisting motions until he was certain Kane could take him. Discarding the lube, Abram guided his dick inside Kane’s entrance. Gripping Kane’s waist, he entered his mate. Kane drew a shaky breath but he kept on going. “Breathe, baby. I’ll make you see stars, too.”
The rest of the entrance went smoother and Abram finally buried himself to the hilt. Kane moaned and Abram began to move, strokes sure and steady. Each time he breached Kane, he could sense his lion and Kane’s tabby getting closer, eager to complete the mating dance. He fucked his mate faster, going deeper.
“That’s it, so good,” Kane whispered.
Abram pistoned in and out of Kane to a rhythm that suited both of them. He shifted his hips a little and must have hit Kane’s sweet spot, because Kane gasped. Smirking, Abram aimed for Kane’s prostate repeatedly, and at the same time, reached for Kane’s dick and began stroking it. He reduced them both to animal pants and grunts.