Wounded [The Angel Pack 9] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove)

by Maggie Walsh

Shelby stretched his body out and sighed. It had been a great night. Even though he and Xander couldn’t sneak away to their room for a few hours, he had a lot of fun with his new family. He and Taylor danced until they dropped and drank until they laughed at everything. Xander even danced with him to a few slow songs. As much as he wanted to go back to their room, rip his mate’s clothes from his body, and fuck his brains out all night, he was having so much fun at the party he didn’t want to leave.

  King Dante made an appearance for about an hour with his mates and their two new babies. They were truly the cutest babies Shelby had ever seen, and King Dante and his dragon mate Dare held those little ones like they were the most precious things on the planet. Both men's eyes glowed with pride and filled with love when they looked at their sons and their other mate, Dale. They also doted on Dale as if he were a queen. It was beautiful to see.

  Shelby felt so blessed to be a part of this family. The love and respect they all had for one another was visible in everything they did, and they showered Shelby with it. No one judged him or asked anything of him. They just accepted him as one of their own. It was the best feeling ever to be a part of what they all shared, and they did make him feel a part of it. He never wanted to lose these people. Shelby would fight any foe to the death to protect any one of his new family members.

  Right before midnight, Xander picked him up and carried him to their room. Xander undressed him and laid him on the bed, then undressed himself and climbed in. Xander kissed and licked his way up Shelby’s body, stopping in certain sensitive places to give him a little nip. Then he would lick the spot to soothe the sting and continue on. Xander captured on of his nipples between his teeth and gave the peak a tug with his teeth. Shelby’s back arched and he grabbed the back of his mate’s head. The sensation was mind-blowing.

  “I want to taste you, mate,” Shelby said in a husky voice.

  Xander pulled back from his chest and their gazes met. “I want to taste you and feel that beautiful cock against my tongue.” Xander’s eyes filled with want and lust. He rolled off Shelby and lay on his back. Shelby sat up and crawled down the bed. Xander spread his legs to allow Shelby to move in closer.

  Shelby knelt between Xander’s spread legs and shifted onto his stomach, his face hovering above Xander’s swollen shaft. He licked his lips and leaned closer, taking the leaking tip into his mouth. Shelby licked and sucked his way down the velvet steel shaft and nipped the base, causing his mate to moan and his hips to buck. A small drop of Xander’s blood coated Shelby’s lips and he loved the taste of Xander’s cum mixed with his blood.

  A thought crossed his mind and he wondered if his mate would be angry at him if he did what he thought. Shelby moved his lips back up the thick cock and engulfed Xander down to the back of his throat in one motion. He sucked him hard and Xander’s fingers thrust through his hair, grabbing the back of his head.

  Shelby continued to lick and suck his mate with abandon. He was worshiping his mate’s beautiful cock. The thought from before pushed into his brain again and the more he thought about it, the more he craved it. Xander was losing control under him as he started to writhe and thrust his hips. Xander released his head and grasped the sheets below him. The cock in his mouth thickened and Shelby knew his mate was about to blow.

  He waited for the perfect moment and when it came, he struck. He felt Xander’s balls pull up tight against his body and the cock in his mouth throbbed. Shelby allowed his fangs to drop from his gums and just as Xander was on the edge of his release, Shelby struck. He pierced Xander’s cock with his fangs and sucked as hard as he could, drawing his mates blood from him. Xander screamed out at the top of his lungs and Shelby thought for sure he heard the windows rattle.

  Xander’s orgasm exploded out of him and his cum mixed with his blood in Shelby’s mouth. The taste of the mixture was like nothing Shelby had ever tasted before. He loved the taste of his mate’s cum and he loved the taste of his blood, but mixed together it was better than anything in this world. It was beyond ambrosia. Shelby’s eyes rolled to the back of his head and he wanted more. He continued to suck until Xander had no more to give. Then he pulled back and released Xander’s cock. He licked the sides where he had bit him, closing the punctures.

  Xander lay very still, the only sound coming from his heavy breathing, and suddenly Shelby got this feeling of dread. Had he pushed too far? Had he freaked his mate out? Slowly he raised his head and looked up to meet Xander’s eyes. Shelby’s breath caught from the look in his mate’s eyes. They were full of wonder and love. Xander sat up slightly and reached for Shelby, grabbing him under the arms. Then, as fast as lightning, Xander pulled him up and suddenly Shelby found himself on his back with his mate above him.

  “What the hell was that, mate?” Xander asked, but his voice held no anger or disgust, just excitement and love. Shelby looked at him shyly and shrugged his shoulders. “That was the most amazing, most incredible thing I have ever experienced, and we are definitely doing that again,” Xander said with a smile and then attacked Shelby’s lips. His mate kissed him with so much need and passion, Shelby’s whole world shook. Relief flooded him as he felt Xander’s love of what he had done.

  Suddenly he felt a wet finger at his hole and Shelby opened his legs wider. Xander continued to devour his mouth as he slid one, then two fingers inside him. Xander pulled back from the kiss and attacked Shelby’s throat. He knew there was going to be a huge hickey there tomorrow, but it only made him smile. His mate was marking him for all to see.

  Xander pulled back, releasing his flesh. “I need to be inside you,” he growled against Shelby’s heated skin, and it caused a shiver to ripple through him. Xander pulled his fingers from Shelby’s hole and sat up. Then Shelby felt the blunt tip of Xander’s delicious cock press against him. Xander pushed forward and slid completely inside him with one thrust. Shelby cried out from the invasion. His body arching off the mattress as a loud moan escaped his lips.

  Xander’s thrusts became harder and faster, almost feral, and Shelby loved it. His mate was losing control because of him and that thought made him giddy. He pushed his hips down, meeting his mate thrust for thrust. Xander dropped down on top of him and began to attack his neck again. Shelby wrapped his arms around Xander’s shoulders and held him tight. They rutted together like animals and Shelby’s cock thickened. His orgasm was racing toward him, but he didn’t want this beautiful moment to end.

  Xander’s head shot up and his neck muscles strained as he thrust hard into Shelby and his body froze. Shelby felt the warm gush of Xander’s release inside him and it pushed him over the edge. Shelby screamed out Xander’s name as he shot his load between them, and gripped onto Xander’s shoulders tighter.

  They both relaxed and his mate’s big body pressed down on him as he buried his face in Shelby’s throat. Shelby loved the feeling. They lay there, trying to catch their breaths. After a few minutes, Xander pulled up and kissed Shelby softly then rolled off him. Shelby hated the loss of his mate.

  Xander rolled off the bed and went to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he returned carrying a wet cloth. He climbed onto the bed and tenderly cleaned Shelby’s chest and stomach, then lowered the cloth and cleaned his cock and balls, then gently cleaned his hole. Xander threw the cloth into the open doorway of the bathroom and lay back down beside him, stretching his body out, and kissed Shelby tenderly.

  Shelby’s head spun from the care his mate had shown him. No one had ever cared for him before, and the tenderness that his mate bestowed upon him made tears sting the backs of his eyes.

  “What’s wrong, mate? Did I hurt you?” Xander asked in concern.

  Shelby blinked his eyes to hold of the tears and shook his head. “No. I just…thank you, mate. Thank you for taking care of me. No one has ever done that before,” Shelby choked out through his tears.

  Xander wrapped Shelby in his arms and kissed his forehead. “I always want to take care of you, beautiful Shelby.”

  Shelby cu
ddled up in Xander’s arms and closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of complete love that washed through his body.

  The alarm beeped, warning them that the sun was about to rise and the metal blinds were about to close and lock into place. When he moved into Xander’s room, his wonderful mate called the vampire contractor that put the motion shades on Dante’s coven house and had him do the same to the windows in their room.

  That’s how wonderful his mate was. He thought of everything that would keep Shelby safe and happy, and his mate did make him happy. Shelby smiled as he thought of their night together and then spending the day sleeping in his mate’s arms. Since they mated, Xander changed his schedule to fit with Shelby’s life. Raith even put him on night patrols only, so that they would keep the same hours, but on those nights that Xander was gone, Shelby was bored. Everyone else in the house was in their rooms doing their thing and sleeping. Most nights Jesse was at the club until about two and he always had at least four guards when he left the house. It was usually the fae and Legion warriors that stayed with him.

  Shelby wanted to go back to the club. He wanted something to do. He loved to dance and he missed it, but he knew it wouldn’t go over well with Xander. He didn’t want to cause his mate any more stress, so he kept quiet. There was also the fact that King Dante and Alpha Prime Micah still wouldn’t let him leave the pack house for his own safety. His father and siblings were still out there trying to find him, after all. Shelby closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

  * * * *

  “Good morning, beautiful,” Xander’s sleepy voice came from next to him as he wrapped his thick arm over Shelby’s waist and pulled him close. Shelby cuddled in as Xander pressed his face against the crook of his neck and nibbled on his kin.

  “Mmm, good morning, love.”

  Shelby could feel the smile cross Xander's lips against his skin. “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas.”

  “What time is it?” Xander asked as he kissed his way down Shelby's throat.

  “Almost five. I can feel the sun setting.” As if on cue, the alarm buzzed, letting them know the metal shades were about to rise. They heard the click of the locks and the shades began to move.

  “Everyone probably opened their presents by now. So it looks like it’s just you and me.”

  “That’s okay,” Shelby answered, trying to keep the hint of disappointment from his voice. He wasn’t disappointed that it would only be him and Xander. He liked the thought of them having their private time, but a part of him also wished he could have been there with the rest of the family when they opened their gifts.

  “It’s our first year, sweetheart. We’ll open our presents together. Maybe next year we can ask everyone to wait for us or to open their presents before they all go to bed after the party,” Xander offered.

  Shelby smiled and turned his head, looking at his mate. “I keep forgetting you can hear my thoughts.”

  “Not always. Just when your emotions are high. Then you broadcast your thoughts.”

  “I guess it will take me awhile to get used to that.”

  “Come on, starshine. You must be hungry,” Xander said and sat up.

  “Starshine?” Shelby questioned as he sat up, too.

  Xander smiled. “Yeah. Starshine. You're up at night and asleep during the day, just like the stars, and you shine as brightly as they do.” Xander leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.

  If vampires could actually blush, Shelby would have been pink as an Easter egg at that point. He smiled shyly at his mate. “That was beautiful. Thank you, Xander.”

  “You’re welcome. So what do you say we feed you first, make a little love, take a shower, then we can head downstairs and grab some food? We’ll bring it into the den and open our presents by the tree.”

  “Sounds like a great plan to me, sunshine.” Shelby gave him a teasing smile.

  * * * *

  Another week had passed and everyone was getting ready to celebrate the New Year. Micah and Jesse asked that they all come down and have a family dinner before anyone left to have their own celebrations. Or they could stay at the house and join those that were staying here to watch the ball drop.

  Everyone gathered around the table and trays of food began to pass around. Plates filled and everyone began to eat. As the hour passed, they all talked and laughed, until Cass dropped a bomb of a question. “It’s been months since we’ve heard anything from Minos. How much longer do you think we have until he strikes again?”

  The room went quiet as people looked to Micah and Phenex. Phenex lowered his fork, placing it on his plate, and cleared his throat. “We’re not sure where he is exactly, but I’m sure wherever it is, he’s making plans to attack, and I’m sure he won’t be doing it alone.”

  “Do you think he has Brett?” Christian asked.

  “We’re not sure. We do know that Malachi infected Brett, turning him into a rogue, and he was given a disease to attack my realm, but he was able to escape before I locked up the realm,” Ryland added.

  “And what about Shelby’s family? We know they were the ones who attacked Dante’s, and we’re pretty sure they were at least a part of the attack that injured Xander. It sounds to me like Shelby’s family may be involved with Minos. He’s the one that controls the rogues,” Aaron said.

  “We have no definite answers yet on any of that. I know Dante has some men that were able to pick up the rogues’ trail, and they have been following them, trying to find out where they came from and who sent them,” Micah answered.

  The room got quiet after that as everyone thought about what was said and what it meant for all of them. They may be sitting here having a good time and celebrating, but they knew they had a big bullseye on their backs. Minos was planning and it must be something big, seeing as they hadn’t heard from him in such a long time.

  Everyone sat around the table quietly eating. The only sounds now were the tapping of forks on plates and the occasional scrape of a knife. The tension in the air was so thick it could almost be seen. Bailey squeezed Lexi’s hand under the table and Lexi looked to his mate. When their eyes met, Bailey gave Lexi a “What do we do?” look. Lexi shrugged and then smiled. He winked at his mate and turned his head to look at Taylor. He caught his best friend’s eye and lifted his chin as he wiggled his eyebrows. Taylor smiled and nodded.

  Lexi cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “So, Taylor, what do you call a gay cowboy?”

  Taylor smirked at him and answered, “I don’t know, Lex, what?”

  “A jolly rancher.” He broke out laughing and was joined by a few chuckles.

  “Such an amateur,” Taylor quipped.

  “Oh yeah, you got something better, little man?” Lexi laughed.

  Taylor stared at Lexi and an evil smirk crossed his lips. “What’s better than a rose on your piano?”

  “I don’t know. What?”

  “Tulips on your organ,” Taylor answered and gave Lexi a shit-eating grin. Lexi stared at Taylor for a second until it dawned on him, then he burst out laughing. It must have taken the others a few minutes to catch up, too, but once they did, more laughter rang through the room.

  “Taylor?” Crew asked and Taylor looked at him. “What do you call balls on your chin?”

  “Lucky?” Taylor answered with a laugh.

  “No, a dick in your mouth,” Crew answered and cracked up. A few more laughs joined the mix.

  “Hey, Crew. Why do men pay more for car insurance than women?” Taylor asked.

  “I don’t know, why?”

  “Because women don’t get blowjobs while they’re driving.” Crew slapped the table hard as he laughed.

  “I don’t get it. What’s car insurance?” Laylen asked, causing everyone to laugh harder.

  “The teacher asks the class what comes after sixty-nine,” Shelby began. Everyone looked to him and he continued. “Apparently mouthwash was the wrong answer.” He shrugs.

  “Not bad, Shel. Hey, did you know th
ey’re announcing a new Transformer? It’s a gay one. It morphs into a Prius.”

  “Oh shit. They’re not gonna stop are they?” Jesse whispered to Micah.

  “Probably not, baby. Let them go. I think everyone needs it,” he answered and gave Jesse’s hand a squeeze.

  “Not bad, Tay,” Shelby says.

  “Not bad? I’m a fucking genius,” Taylor said and lifted his chin.

  “Taylor? Roses are red, violets are blue, the Gods made me smoking hot. What the hell happened to you?” Shelby smiled and then stuck his tongue out at Taylor.

  “I’m the flower, you’re the bee, why don’t you suck the sweet pollen from me?”

  “Ooh,” a few voices called out.

  A growl came from beside Taylor and everyone turned to look at Gabriel. He wrapped his arms around Taylor’s waist and hauled him onto his lap. “Mine, and only I get that pollen.”

  “It was just a joke, man of mine,” Taylor soothed as he caressed his mate's cheek.

  “Do you work at Subway, Taylor? Because you’re giving me a foot-long.” Shelby snickered and a low, threatening growl came from next to him. His gaze shifted to Xander’s and his mate’s eyes turned golden with his wolf. Everyone went silent again and the tension began to build.

  “Hey, Bailey?”

  “Yes, Lexi?”

  “Do you want to go play lion tamer?”

  “What? What’s that?”

  “When you get on all fours and I put my head in your mouth,” Lexi said with a sexy grin.

  Bailey blushed and looked down at his lap as everyone else started to yell and laugh at Lexi while throwing food at him.

  “Seeing as I’m the only cat here. I guess I will have to play that game with my mates,” Haven added, laughing.

  “What am I, chopped liver?” Aaron asked in annoyance. “I may not be a big bad mountain lion like you, Haven, but my cat can still scratch your eyes out.”

  Papa Angel cleared his throat, and everyone quieted down and looked at him with guilty eyes, like kids being called to the principal’s office. “Why don’t women have men’s brains?” he asked, straight-faced, in all seriousness.