by Fel Fern
“Can you kiss me again?” Dale blurted.
Malik smirked, turning to Dale, who looked a little fearful but also flushed and excited. Another human who wasn’t used to being around the paranormal would have searched for the nearest exit door, but not Dale.
He hooked his fingers into Dale’s shirt and tugged the human close for a kiss. This time, he took his time, putting skill into it. Malik sucked on Dale’s bottom lip, nipped at his upper one. Using his tongue, he gently pried Dale’s mouth open, deepened the kiss.
Dale reached out, slipping a hand under his shirt, petting him. Oh, his cat liked that. Brave little human didn’t know what was coming to him, that after crossing this step, he was going to make sure no one would mistake Dale was exclusively his.
He pulled away, leaving Dale panting. Malik planted his mouth where Dale’s shoulder flowed to his neck and bit. Dale’s eyes widened.
“You bit me,” Dale accused, moaning when Malik gave Dale’s dick a squeeze through his jeans.
“Don’t you know, little human? Cats like to bite, to mark their lovers.”
“L-let’s go inside,” Dale suggested. “Continue this upstairs.”
They got out of the car. In the elevator, he grabbed Dale once more, plundered his mouth. Dale seemed to have gotten braver and clutched at his shirt. Malik slipped his hands underneath Dale’s shirt, touching heated skin. His cock dug painfully against the zipper of his pants, seeking to be free.
The elevator doors opened and they stumbled out, like drunk lovers. Malik had the door opened in seconds. He flicked the lights on, gave the door a kick and looked at the sassy little human he’d been obsessing about since Dale moved into his place.
“Now, then. Let’s get you off those clothes,” he suggested.
* * * *
Dale wondered if he’d bitten off more than he could chew. He’d been waiting for this, hoping they’d eventually start tearing at each other’s clothes and Malik would have him at his complete mercy. It only occurred to him that Malik had been holding back, because it wasn’t just the man assessing him with those exotic green eyes, but also the cat.
His dick pulsed in his pants, telling him it had been so long. His skin felt stretched thin over his body, too, as if he, too, held a beast inside of him. Fumbling for his shirt, Dale seemed to have trouble getting it off, much to his frustration.
Hesitation rose to the surface, not about this of course. Dale had dreamt of this moment many times, but what if Malik suddenly found him disappointing? He was certainly average when it came to the looks department, and he wasn’t exactly Malik’s type. When not practicing or writing new songs, he had a little geek in him, too, but Malik played computer games with him and watched the same shows.
God. Why was he so nervous? The last thing Dale wanted was to ruin the mood.
He found Malik had crossed the distance between them in seconds.
Dale hadn’t even heard the jaguar Alpha’s footsteps, but he admired the feline grace Malik possessed. Well, he’d seen glimpses of it a couple of times, since they lived together, but only now he was reminded he was with a predatory dominant shifter male. God, but Malik was gorgeous, all hard gleaming muscles and that face. Pure want stared at him, and Dale knew his own eyes also reflected the same emotions.
He’d never had a shifter for a lover before. Then again, Dale’s love life had been nonexistent, since Malik. He’d been too focused on his career to consider dating, but Malik was certainly worth the wait.
“Need some assistance, little human?” Malik asked.
God, but that voice. It seemed like Malik’s voice went an octave deeper, and a growl accompanied the words. Claws slid out from Malik’s left hand, and he nearly jumped. But the slash was quick, painless, and the tattered remains of his shirt fell from his body.
“Oh. That was kind of hot,” he whispered.
“That’s a curious reaction. Most humans would be quivering in their toes by now.”
“If you intended to scare me off, cat, then think again. I’ve been waiting for you to ride me, since forever.”
Malik sheathed his claws, hooked a finger of Dale’s belt, and pulled him close. He let out an embarrassing little squeak.
“You ready to play with this cat, little human?”
Oh God. This conversation shouldn’t be turning him on this much, but it did and Dale was sure he was going to explode any time now. Don’t ruin this, he reminded himself.
“You ready to dance with this awesome human?” he managed to quip back.
Malik threw his head back and laughed the sound so carefree, so genuine it struck him speechless for a moment. Then Malik flicked the button of his jeans, had the zip undone soon after, and before he knew it, Dale’s pants pooled at his ankle. He wondered why Malik paused. Maybe the jaguar Alpha started to wonder what he was doing with a boring human like Dale, who had only failed dreams to his name and this—whatever this was.
Malik coughed.
To his shame, he realized he was wearing the boxers Wren had given him for his birthday, the one with SpongeBob SquarePants wearing a cowboy hat and holding a guitar. His face burned. Shit. This was over just as it begun.
Chapter Seven
“Sexy,” Malik murmured, much to Dale’s surprise. Maybe the shifter sensed his apprehension. “I like it.”
“Really?” he blurted.
“Now I know what to get you for Christmas,” Malik said.
“Um, why am I a little worried about that?” Still, Christmas was a couple of months away. God, but he hoped they were still going strong in the relationship department then.
Focus on the now, Dale silently told himself.
“Let’s get rid of these, too, until later, SpongeBob,” Malik murmured, sliding them off his hips and unveiling his erection.
He stepped out of his bottoms and kicked his clothes out of the way.
“Okay, what next?” he asked.
The jaguar Alpha flicked the pre-cum gathered on his tip, thumbed his cock head, and gave his dick a squeeze, large fingers rough, lined with calluses and warm. He moaned, tossed shame out of the window, and thrust his hips into Malik’s hand.
“Eager, little human. That’s it, relax. It’s my job to make you feel good tonight.”
“You say that to all the men you’ve dated.” Shit. Why did he say that?
Unaffected, Malik clasped the back of his neck, put his mouth to his ear, and nipped at his earlobe. The shifter still held his dick captive and started to stroke it.
“But only you managed to get under my skin, past my shields, and carve a path right to my heart.”
Those words instantly warmed his heart. Dale understood Malik revealing the secrets he’d kept so long from most people was a huge deal, that the other man was finally opening up to him, trusting him. Dale would make sure to never break that trust. He wanted to show this gorgeous male that he was in this a hundred percent.
“W-wait,” he blurted. Malik paused, and he tugged at Malik’s shirt. “Why do I have to be the only one naked? I want to see the goods.”
“Goods? Is that all you think of me?” The jaguar Alpha was teasing him, he realized.
Malik tugged his shirt off, and Dale took several long appreciative moments, before hesitantly reaching out, running his fingers over those six-pack abs, up Malik’s torso to rest his hand on Malik’s left pectoral, right over the heart.
“Nice,” he whispered.
“You’re very nice, too, little human.” Then Malik blinked when Dale dropped to his knees and looked up at Malik. Malik recovered quickly, smiled seductively at him, and speared his fingers through his hair, pulling his face close to his groin.
Dale fumbled for the button of Malik’s jeans, took out Malik’s cock, amazed at the thick, massive, and tempting engorged length, the veins standing out. A challenge. “You’re bigger than I thought.”
He could already imagine Malik sliding that huge prick inside his ass. The thought made his own dick thicken. Down boy.
Dale had to focus on his task. He pressed his lips to Malik’s cock head, tonguing the slit, tasting Malik’s pre-cum.
Malik hissed above him. Encouraged by the sound, he continued his exploration. Using his tongue, he explored every bump and ridge and sucked Malik’s balls into his mouth. At Malik’s snarl, he opened his mouth wide and took Malik’s prick inch by inch. He gagged at first, but hollowed out his cheeks and did better. Dale couldn’t take all of Malik’s prick yet, but Malik gripped his hair.
“Let me take over,” Malik instructed.
He held his mouth open as Malik thrust in and out, slow and steady. The jaguar Alpha must have been close, because Malik began to pull away, but he sucked on Malik’s prick. Malik let out a growl, spilling his seed down his throat. Dale struggled to swallow all of it, but a few drops dripped on the side of his mouth. Malik flicked them away then licked at them lazily, reminding Dale of a very big and sexy cat.
Malik pulled his prick away from his lips and chucked off the rest of his jeans and underwear, which joined the mound of clothes on the floor. Those green eyes burned with an intensity Dale hadn’t seen before.
“Come,” Malik ordered, offered him a hand up, which he accepted.
They didn’t get any further than the living room. Malik shoved him until he lay on the couch. The Alpha gave his chest a gentle push, urging him to lay on his back, then Malik rolled on top of him, wrenching his hands above his head, caging his body, preventing escape.
A thrill went down his spine. Malik took his lips again and used one hand to capture his wrists while the other squeezed and fondled his cock. His mind scattered at the contact of Malik’s mouth with his. Heat traveled from his insides to his prick. Malik left a trail of kisses down his neck, his chest, took one nipple into his mouth, and bit, leaving a mark. He groaned as Malik looked at him.
“I’m going to burst,” he confessed.
“Then come for me, little human.” Malik worked his prick faster, until the pressure inside him grew too much to bear. He exploded, spilling his load all over Malik’s hand and stomach. Dale expelled a sigh, shutting his eyes in contentment. When he opened them, he could feel the press of Malik’s thick prick, already at half-mast, against his belly. If possible, passion spiked inside him again.
“So soon?” he whispered.
“Don’t you know, little human? We Alphas are kind of like those batteries that never stop.”
“Never?”
Malik laughed. “It was a joke, but we do recover fast. So don’t sleep yet, because I plan on sinking my dick in you.”
“I want you inside me, too,” he answered.
Malik got off him. “I’ll be back.”
The jaguar shifter returned moments later, with a couple of towels and a tube of lube. He remembered reading somewhere that shifters didn’t catch anything, which eliminated the need for a condom. His pulse raced faster at the thought of Malik fucking him bareback.
“I want to take you from behind,” Malik said, cleaning the mess away with the cloth. The second towel, Malik used to spread on the couch.
Then Malik helped him up and urged him to drape his body over the arm of the couch. The thoughtful Alpha grabbed some of the couch pillows to place under his belly, making him feel comfortable. He pressed his cheek against the leather, blushing when Malik nudged his legs apart.
The Alpha didn’t take him immediately. Instead, Malik ran a possessive hand down his back, teased his cleft of his buttocks, and circled his asshole with his finger.
“Don’t tease me anymore,” he pleaded, relieved to hear the sound of lube being uncapped.
He felt the cool liquid on his hole a second later. Malik pushed a finger in, making him squirm. When Malik added a second and began making twisting motions, Dale began to long for something bigger in him. Malik gripped the globes of his ass, and he tensed as Malik pushed in. Dale clutched at the leather. It burned but Malik didn’t hammer all the way in. Once Malik pushed past the thick ring of muscles, it was easier to breathe.
Finally, Malik sheathed himself balls deep inside Dale. He let out a breath, all too aware of Malik’s massive cock, stretching him to his limits.
“Good job, baby.” Malik’s voice soothed him, and that term of endearment went right to his heart. “Now I’m going to make you fly.”
Then Malik gripped him tight and began to piston in and out of him. Starting with a slow rhythm at first, the Alpha quickly built up speed. Dale soon forgot about the pain. Tiny bolts of electricity ran through his body, went right to his dick. His balls felt full, and he had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to hold out long.
Malik went faster, deeper with each turn, breaching his most intimate places. He cried out, clawed at the leather. Lust rode him, both of them, and he wanted more, for Malik to claim every inch of his body.
“More, please.”
Malik must have shifted angle, because his next stroke made Dale arch his back and gasp as his vision hazed. The Alpha aimed for prostate again, each rough thrust nearly sending him over the edge.
“That’s it, baby. I want to see you undone by me again.”
Two orgasms in the span of a few minutes seemed mighty fine with Dale. If sex with Malik was always this intense, this mind-blowing, then he wondered why they hadn’t done this earlier. Oh, he knew messy emotions would always get in the way but if Malik was willing to work out his issues with him, Dale would do the same.
Then Malik brushed against his sweet spot again, and he nearly lost it. Malik reached between his balls and gave his dick an encouraging squeeze. That did it. Dale saw stars and spilled his jizz all over the towel beneath him. Malik drilled in and out of him several more times, before he let out a growl, unloading his cum down his ass. Then he felt Malik’s hand against his throat, Malik’s mouth at the spot between his shoulder and neck.
The significance of the act didn’t escape Dale. He wove fingers into Malik’s curls, making the Alpha pause.
“Do it, make me yours. You and I know we’re meant to be together,” he cried out. “Please, Malik.”
Then Malik unsheathed his fangs and drove them deep into the side of his neck. He cried out but didn’t struggle. The pain wasn’t so bad, because his mind still floated in the sea of post-orgasm bliss.
Malik pulled his mouth away, green pupils nearly swallowing his eyes. It was clear the jaguar was in command. For a moment, Dale was terrified of being reckless, but those words hadn’t spilled out in the heat of the moment; they’d come right from his heart, his soul, but what if Malik resented him after?
It turned out he had nothing to worry about, because Malik spoke, voice rough, edged with desire, but also tenderness. “You need to bite me back to complete the mating bond.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere you want.”
He decided on the curve of Malik’s left shoulder. Dale bit down, pulled away, and satisfaction filled him at the sight of his tiny bite. Malik’s roar startled him for a moment, but he could tell it was a sound of triumph. Then he felt it, the mating bond closing in place, like he had a direct connection to Malik’s animal. Dale could see it now, a powerful, sleek jaguar, but he wasn’t afraid, knowing his mate would give his life for him and he’d do the same.
“You’re mine now,” Malik said in that deep voice.
“Yes,” he replied, smiling. “I’m yours and you’re mine.”
Chapter Eight
Malik woke up before his alarm went off, only to find a slender and warm body tucked against him. Dale snored loudly. That he hadn’t expected. It had kept him up, but he didn’t mind. He watched his mate sleeping for a few moments, unable to believe this gorgeous man had taken a leap of faith with him. Well, his jaguar had known ever since they’d met Dale at the club.
It was the man who’d been hesitant, terrified of wrecking a potential relationship between them. Mate, he thought fondly. Sunlight peered from his blinds, painting their entwined bodies in stripes, but Dale didn’t wake from the heat.
He
thought panic and old fears would kick in, but only a sense of peace and contentment enveloped him. So, he mused, this was what it was like to be mated. No wonder Cole and Spencer wore those goofy faces all the time. He’d been envious of them, he realized, but not anymore.
Malik’s gaze lingered possessively on Dale’s bandaged neck. Dale had fallen asleep by the time they’d both finished showering, and Malik had tended to the wound. That didn’t stop his human, however, from using him as a pillow for the rest of the night.
He stroked Dale’s hair thoughtfully. Dale shifted in his arms, snuggled close to his chest, snores filling the room. Hmm. Malik made a mental note to buy some earplugs. Although, he had to admit Dale with his mouth slightly open was cute.
Malik grabbed his phone from the table beside the bed.
“Mine,” Dale mumbled in his sleep.
Malik took a picture, but realized he hadn’t turned off the flash. Dale grumbled under his breath and rubbed at his eyes. Oh, he knew Dale wasn’t a morning person. Each time they met in the kitchen for breakfast, Dale looked like a zombie, but he took pleasure in making Dale and him coffee. Dale stating his was the best was a nice little compliment, too.
Dale yawned and frowned at him. “Wait, did you like, just take a picture of me without my permission?”
“Check it out.” Malik showed Dale his sleeping profile and the bandage on Dale’s neck also showed. “This is going to be my new phone desktop.”
“Wait, seriously?” Dale attempted to swipe at it, but Malik held it at arm’s length. Dale pouted. “I want one of you, too.”
“Oh?” Amused, Malik pretended to think about it for a while longer. “Sure, for a price.”
Dale furrowed his brows. “A price?” Then like an excited puppy, his mate’s eyes widened. “Like sex?”
Malik placed his phone down and, within seconds, straddled his mate. “I was about to say you cook breakfast for a change, but since you insist, how can I refuse?”