by Desiree Holt
Alice preceded Jessica, and instead of waiting for the bride to enter, the crowd stood and followed Alice’s progress until she stopped at the front of the aisle and waited, then turned back to do the same for the bride. Jessica entered by herself, her brothers already placed on the bride’s side of the front row. She proceeded to meet Alice, bending to receive a kiss on her forehead from the other woman before turning to meet Cole. There was no giving away of the bride.
The couple seemed to have written their own vows instead of following the “for richer for poorer, ‘til death do us part.” They were very poetic, the specific meanings going over Evan’s head though he assumed that all in all, it was about the same as any other vow. Love, protection, dedication. He’d never really been much of a poetry guy. But they sounded pretty. Lots of descriptions about the moon and woods.
He might have understood more if he’d been able to keep his eyes from straying to Dare. While Jessica was a vision, as any bride should be on her wedding day, Dare was a fantasy. Knowing the Williams, Evan was sure Dare’s suit had been tailored to fit. He wouldn’t be surprised if Mindy’s was a one of a kind design, but it was Dare who captivated him. His beard was neatly trimmed, enhancing his strong jaw. And how had Evan not noticed how blue his eyes were before? Maybe it was the soft setting sun that made them pop so brightly.
The controlled upward quirk of Dare’s lips reminded Evan of the night at the pub, and the free smile the alcohol-relaxed Dare had bestowed on everyone. Evan didn’t dare think he might have received more than his fare share of Dare’s smiles that night.
He tried to draw his attention back to the wedding, but…oh, fuck it. It wasn’t often he had the opportunity to enjoy the sight of a beautiful man without covert glances or repercussions. It wasn’t often your best friend got married either, but… The important part was the kiss and the walk back up the aisle. Evan would pay attention to those. Until then, however, he was just going to watch Dare.
Chapter 12
Dare continued his rounds along the edge of the dance floor, wine in hand, reconnecting with White Falls pack members he hadn’t seen since his return as well as the visiting members of Jessica’s home pack. Many of them he already knew from trips his mother had sent him on in years previous, but some were new to him, having either immigrated from another pack or having been too young during his last visit.
He’d long since perfected the art of listening without paying active attention, which was holding him in good stead as his eyes continued to stray to Evan’s constantly moving form on the dance floor. The tall man had quickly worked his way through the majority of Jessica and Mindy’s friends, making each one of them smile as he purposefully exaggerated his movements on the dance floor, but Dare had seen enough professional dancers to know when someone had a clue about what they were doing and who wasn’t. Evan clearly knew how to dance, though nowhere near professional level, he just didn’t take it seriously.
While this attracted most of Dare’s attention, he still attempted to focus on the conversations at hand until Gage approached Evan and asked him to dance. While dancing with the women, Evan had lead, but as he picked up the steps with Gage, he seemed quite content to follow. Gage was actually taller than Evan, Dare realized. He’d been mistaken in his judgement the night they’d met at the pub.
Dare noticed his conversation partner take a step away and realized his hair was standing on end and he unconsciously rumbled with a low growl. He cleared his throat and apologized. “Excuse me, there’s something I must take care of.”
Dare downed his drink as he walked, his eyes locked on Evan. At some point, Dare’s brain had switched into predator mode, with Evan as its focus and Gage a threat. He broke his gaze momentarily to set his empty glass down. A hand touched his arm and he spun with a ferocity that startled his mother. He bit back the snarl that had risen in his throat.
“Dare, can you come outside for a moment? I think we need to talk.”
Those were nearly the same words that had preceded their conversation in the kitchen the day previous. “Dare, do you have a moment? I could use a pair of hands.” And then minutes later, “I think we need to talk.”
“No.” The word was guttural, edged with frustration. “I can’t have this conversation again, Mom. If we really need to talk about my mating situation more, it can wait until tomorrow. But I won’t have anything new to say. I meant it. I will leave.”
“It’s not about that,” she protested, flustered, for the first time in Dare’s memory. “Or it is, but not in the way you think.”
“Tomorrow,” he insisted, steel lining his words, and turned away.
As he stalked away from his mother, the people close enough to have overheard their conversation, nearly all wolves, shied away from him. Too late, he realized his words and attitude had challenged his mother’s authority. He’d deal with it tomorrow.
Nearing Evan and Gage, he crossed over the edge of the dance floor and placed a hand on the other wolf’s shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?”
Gage winced, and Dare realized his claws had popped out and he was grabbing the man’s shoulder. “Sure, no problem,” the man said, bearing his neck to Dare as he handed Evan over.
After a moment of confusion, Evan easily switched partners, sliding into Dare’s arms with ease. He’d lost the goofy exaggeration while dancing with Gage and Dare gave him no time to resume it, taking control of the dance even when logic said the larger partner should lead.
Dare didn’t trust himself to speak at first, even after the other man had disappeared into the sidelines. The only noises he felt his throat capable of making right now belonged to a wolf, not a man.
“So…” Evan drawled. “You come here often?”
Dare rolled his eyes. “You use that pick up line often?” The idea of Evan pursuing another man nearly froze Dare with a blinding rage, but his feet knew the steps without him and did not falter.
“Only with the extremely attractive brothers of my best friends.”
That better be only Dare.
“So to say, only with you.”
That was better. Feeling somewhat more calm now that the threat of the other wolf had been removed and Evan was in his arms, Dare spared a glance around the dance floor only to see his mother beelining toward him and his father glancing meaningful in their direction. Seriously? Not. Now.
He began to steer Evan toward the open barn door, glaring at the few people who blocked his way and sending them scattering. They crossed through into the night, away from other possible threats, away from his family, away from the noise.
Chapter 13
Evan didn’t protest as Dare guided them out of the crush of the party and into the cool night, closing his eyes and relaxing in the other man’s control. As much as being with the Williams was energizing, being surrounded by others was a little less so. Normally, parties were his element. Frat parties, wedding parties, family reunions—any group of people he could make laugh. But tonight all it seemed to do was remind him of what he no longer had.
He was uncharacteristically soothed by the silence of the night as they danced further and further away from the barn, far enough that the sound of the music was a faint hint on the wind with no discernible beat.
He suddenly realized they had stopped. He opened his eyes to see Dare staring at him. Burning into him. They were closer to the house than anything else, and the light illuminated Dare’s face just enough for Evan to see his odd expression. It made Evan want to drag the man inside to see him more clearly and make him explain himself.
Instead, Evan simply asked, “What?”
He immediately felt like kicking himself. Why could he handle women, parents, and children so well, but the moment an attractive man was actually within his reach, lose all ability to engage?
Dare unclasped the hand that held his and Evan felt a sharp drop of regret. But then that hand reached up to the back of Evan’s head, tangling in his hair, and pulled him down into a kiss.
Holy shit. Was this actually happening?
Dare didn’t waste time in tentative exploration. His kiss was firm, adventurous, and controlling. Evan gave himself up to the experience, opening his lips to Dare’s tongue and wrapping his free hand around Dare’s waist to pull them closer. The fingers in his hair stretched and pulled and Evan didn’t even attempt to muffle his groan of pleasure. The hand on Evan’s waist moved under his suit jacket and pushed upward, over his abs, chest, and shoulder, lifting the jacket off and pushing it down his arm. He should be saying no, right? This was his best friends’ brother. Wasn't there something in the best friend rule book that said this was a really bad idea? It wasn't too late to pull back, but those weren't the words that escaped Evan’s mouth.
“Maybe—” Evan attempted between the kiss and a breath. “Maybe we should—ah! Go inside?”
It seemed like Dare hadn’t heard him until a cheer erupted from the barn and he broke off, pulling his hands back then reaching out to straighten Evan’s jacket and hair. “Inside…” he mumbled.
“Right.” Dare seemed like he needed encouragement to realize exactly where they were. “Where we’re not in public…and won’t be interrupted?” Evan hoped he wasn’t overstepping, that this was headed where he thought it was.
Dare’s eyes seemed to focus finally. Without a word, he wrapped one arm around Evan’s waist and guided him into the house. Rushing past the staff cleaning up or delivering more food to the reception, they headed up the stairs. Instead of heading right on the second floor like Evan was used to, where Cole and Mindy’s rooms were, they headed up the stairs to the third floor. As Dare’s hand drifted lower and settled into a solid grip on his ass, Evan lost the ability to string thoughts together and simply went where Dare guided him.
Directly across from the top of the stairs, Dare opened the door and pushed Evan into a dark room. The arm left his waist, but a moment later Evan heard the click of a lamp and a soft warm glow lit the room. Seconds later, Dare was on him, turning him, pulling at his clothes, pushing him until the back of his legs hit the bed and he collapsed on it. Even as Dare crawled on top of him, he didn’t stop unbuttoning Evan’s shirt. He moved his mouth from Evan’s lips to his neck, leaving Evan gasping. As Dare removed and dropped the cufflinks on the bed, Evan realized Dare was still completely clothed. He scooted back to sit up as Dare removed the button-up shirt and then his undershirt. Evan got busy with Dare’s vest, but the other man pushed his hands away and leaned down to suck Evan’s nipple into his mouth. Evan collapsed back onto the bed, lifting his hips into Dare’s weight, his arms going under the jacket to grasp at the other man’s back. The feel of their equally hard and hot lengths rubbing against each other was so good, but it wasn’t enough. There was too much in the way.
Evan tried to focus again—to sit up and remove at least some of Dare’s clothes, but the other man growled at him, grabbing his shoulders and pushing him back into the bed. That was fucking hot. “Clothes,” Evan managed to get out, grabbing the suit pants at Dare’s knee and tugging at them.
After a couple of deep breaths, Dare jumped off the bed and had completely unclothed himself before Evan had finished raising himself to his elbows. His enthusiasm, his strength, the lust and confidence in his eyes was unlike anything Evan had experienced before. Evan caught a glimpse of the full length of Dare’s body—long, lean, muscled, and sporting a tall and thick erection. Uncut. The sudden surge of heat and pressure that reached up through Evan’s groin and seized his chest was almost unbearable. He reached down to press against his own hard length, but then Dare was between his legs, pinning his hands to either side of his hips. Without saying anything, Dare made it clear that Evan was to stay still.
Evan nodded his acquiescence and Dare slowly lifted his hands, placing them first on Evan’s pecs and then dragging them downward, his thumbs rasping against Evan’s sensitive nubs. He seemed encouraged by Evan’s desperate gasps and moans, slowing and deepening the pressure of his hands as he massaged them down Evan’s abs, tucking his thumbs under the hem of Evan’s pants and boxers, just grazing the edge of the hair hidden beneath. Evan had barely lifted his hands from the bed before Dare loosed a growl, leaning down to nip at his hip bone. Evan gasped, thrusting his hands back to the bed, desperately gripping the comforter as Dare began to undo the clasp and zipper of his pants with only his teeth. Not much longer after that, his pants and boxers were on the floor.
Dare teased his way up Evan’s thigh, beginning at the knee. His hands held Evan firmly at the waist, limiting his unconscious responses to the sensations assaulting him. Dare was taking forever, each kiss, each nip, closer to his center. Each spot higher and more sensitive.
Finally, Evan could feel Dare’s hot breath on his balls, and then the man lifted his face before taking Evan’s cock all the way into his mouth in one go.
“Holy shit!”
Dare pulled back up, sucking the tip, the skin tight and smooth. Evan couldn’t help but compare the image of his own cut length with Dare’s uncut. The image of the two of them together, along with Dare’s talented tongue, nearly made him come but he pushed it back.
Then Dare began to glide up and down, his cheeks hollowing as he sucked hard on the upward stroke.
“I—I’m close,” Evan warned, releasing the bedspread to grab Dare’s hair and pull him off. The gesture only seemed to egg Dare on, speeding up, his thumbs circling Evan’s hip bones.
Without the chance to further warn Dare that he was coming, Evan lost control. His fingers tightened in the silky short strands of Dare’s dark hair, his body spasming out of control. Dare slowed, milking Evan through the last throes of his release, swallowing it all. Just before it became too much, Dare pulled off, crawling back onto the bed and curling against Evan, his still hard shaft burning against Evan’s thigh.
Evan tried to force himself up to return the favor, but his bones had turned to jelly and Dare easily pushed him back down. Though Dare seemed to easily push him around even when he was at full strength. Dare’s hand drifted up and down Evan’s torso, caressing him, soothing him, almost putting him to sleep. But after just a few minutes, Dare rearranged himself and pulled Evan’s face sideways, kissing him slowly and softly. As the kiss and Dare’s stroking hand continued, Evan felt his cock and interest begin to stir again. He turned onto his side and Dare let him take a little control, wrapping their legs together, Evan leaning over Dare to deepen the kiss. Dare let Evan’s hands wander this time, exploring the angles and dips of Dare’s body. Just like his words and his movements, there was little extra on Dare…except for the man’s impressive length. Evan let his hand hover close enough to feel the heat radiating off the other man’s skin and Dare thrust his cock up into Evan’s hand. With that, Evan was back at full mast.
He lost himself in the kiss, in their hands, in their heat. He pulled Dare’s foreskin back, exploring his shape and feel. He broke the kiss momentarily to wet his fingers in his mouth, but as soon as Dare realized what he was doing, he captured Evan’s fingers in his own mouth, going down on each one, licking and twisting around it, staring deep into Evan’s eyes with his burning gaze, his tongue demonstrating just how he’d brought Evan so quickly to completion earlier.
When Dare released Evan’s fingers, Evan reached down to grasp Dare again, working his slick fingers around the base of his head, pulling the foreskin back. He didn’t try anything fancy, simply returning to their kiss and enjoying the moment.
He didn’t know how much later it was when Dare flipped him back over, claiming control once more. Evan had never been with someone who had such a thing for being in charge. Evan liked it.
Now wasn’t that the understatement of the year?
Dare pushed upward Evan in a suggestion he should move further onto the bed, and Evan immediately did so. He realized for the first time that the bed was huge—a king at least. All Evan’s tiny apartment could handle, and all he could afford, was a cheap twin that squeaked every time he turned over. This?
This was luxury. Soft and firm all at once.
Dare reached over to a bedside table, then hesitated. “Do you want to?” he asked, the first words he’d spoken since they’d entered the house.
It took Evan a moment to understand what Dare meant, and as the other man’s eyes glinted with disappointment and he started to move further onto the bed, Evan reached out and stopped him saying, “Yes, please.”
There was a subtle shift around Dare’s eyes and mouth, and Evan could have sworn that his eyes glinted gold. But the light was just bright enough to see while dim enough that every shadow hinted at sensual secrets. Dare grabbed a condom and lube from the drawer and leaned over to engage Evan in another long, deep kiss.
When Dare finally broke the kiss, Evan began to turn over, but Dare stopped him, pressing their lips together softly, his hand sliding to Evan’s jaw. With his other hand, he popped the bottle open and somehow managed to squeeze some of the contents out without ever removing the first hand from Evan’s face. Dare crawled between the other man’s spread legs and glided his fingers across Evan’s hole. The liquid was cold at first, and Evan tensed up, but that didn’t deter Dare and soon Evan was pushing his hips down, encouraging Dare to do more.
Just as Dare breached the ring of muscles with one finger, he nipped at Evan’s lip, distracting from the burn and stretch. Evan still hissed, both in pain and pleasure, and Dare leaned away a bit, checking Evan for any signs he wanted to stop. Thankfully he didn’t remove his finger and after a moment, Evan lifted his hips, encouraging him to continue.
Dare returned to kissing him, thrusting his finger steadily in and out. Evan slowly relaxed into the feeling, and as he began to whisper soft encouragements to Dare, the other man added another finger.
Evan wrapped his arms around Dare, burying his fingers in Dare’s hair again. He could get used to this.
Oh no he didn’t. Evan stopped that line of thinking right away. This didn’t mean forever, just one night. One night he intended to enjoy to the fullest.