by Marie Harte
Anson jumped but soon eased under his lover’s mouth.
“That’s it, pup. This will only enhance your pleasure. Now give me that hot cum you’ve been holding just for me.”
“Fuck. What are you doing to me?” Anson rasped as he watched Liam take him to the back of his throat. The hot, wet sensation enveloped him and wouldn’t let him go. He bucked and squirmed but could do nothing but ride out the pleasure of Liam’s tongue, teeth and lips. Such firm suction, then the press of Liam’s tongue on the underside of his shaft made him go out of his mind.
Liam grazed his balls, cupping the taut sac with one hand while he shoved a finger inside Anson’s ass with the other.
Anson gripped Liam’s head as he cried out and came hard, emptying the magic inside him.
More than his seed flowed into Liam. He shared a burst of powerful emotion he was hard-pressed to name. The flow of pleasure seemed never-ending until Liam pulled away and licked Anson clean.
Anson was reassured to see Liam’s neon eyes burning with excitement. The athmae was far from unaffected. He panted, his dick tented his trousers, and his eyes burned with lust. So sexy, that wet spot growing as Liam stared.
“Come on me,” Anson demanded, hungry for more. “Shoot all over my belly.”
Liam hurriedly straddled Anson’s waist and lowered his trousers to free his shaft. “All over you,” Liam agreed in a thick voice and pumped his fat cock. In moments he stiffened and jetted over Anson’s body, the warmth of that life-giving seed like a balm to Anson’s enflamed flesh.
Without thinking about it, Anson rubbed the cream into his skin, loving the mingled scent of them, together.
The thought of having a male lover no longer bothered him, not when he’d found such incredible pleasure in the sharing.
Liam’s hair shifted and a pointed ear came into view, reminding Anson that for all their togetherness, it wouldn’t last. Anson had to get home to his clan, and wolves that could barely tolerate their own kind would never take to a half-breed demon wolf. Inexplicably saddened by the thought of never seeing Liam again, Anson forced himself to enjoy the here and now. He had only so much time before the Wolf in the Forest found his mate. But until then, Anson vowed to enjoy Liam to the fullest.
He smiled, and Liam smiled back. There would be time enough for regret later.
Chapter Six
Two weeks later, as Anson ran in the athmae forest, he still couldn’t get over how freeing it felt to live with demons so far from the Silver Clan. Initially he hadn’t wanted to stay so long, but the possible threat of the sorceress following him home stopped him from leaving. He couldn’t chance bringing danger back to the Silver Clan. Taking care of her would be the wisest course of action to take, so that she wouldn’t harm anyone ever again. So he’d called his uncle, left a brief message on his cell phone to ensure him of his health, and hadn’t called back since. Anson didn’t regret a moment of his decision.
As wolves, he and Liam hunted each morning and evening, accompanied by a score of Liam’s trusted guards. They played and raced while Liam introduced Anson to the wonderful forest all around them. Though humans lived within hours from the athmae, demon enchantments kept all but the stalwart far away.
The natural flora and fauna smelled fresh, as southern Germany was much more agricultural and less industrial than the north. The few sorcerers in the area gave the athmae a wide berth. Though the wolves didn’t think of demons as real, it seemed the rest of the world knew them for what they were. The athmae were only one type of demon, the most amicable of the bunch, from what Anson had learned, and the most fun.
It was nothing for him to stumble over demons fucking in the hallways, in the living areas or spell rooms of the large castle in which they all lived. The lower levels of the fortress expanded underground for miles, allowing for the huge numbers that called this place home.
Malem grunted and nudged Anson’s furry flank. “How much longer, pup? Aren’t you getting tired sniffing asses and chasing your tail?”
Anson gave him the equivalent of the finger with a rude bark and snapped at the guard when he laughed. Since Liam’s curse had broken, the entire compound teased Anson the way they did one another, yet still gave him the same respect they showed Liam and his mother, the queen.
The niggling suspicion that Liam had indeed claimed him as a mate refused to abate, even though Liam shrugged his concern away as unimportant. He hadn’t referred to Anson as his mate since that first night after the harvest moon ceremony.
Still, Liam constantly watched out for him. He gave Anson every courtesy, treat and desire he wanted. The sex was incredible, each and every time. The bonds between them continued to grow, and Anson only wanted more of the demon wolf. Liam acted possessive, and Anson liked the fact that for all his bluster about sharing, Liam kept Anson as his and his alone.
Ryder and Zain walked out to meet them in the woods, where Anson knew another dozen athmae remained armed and alert, ready for the enemy to show her face again.
“The queen wants to see you, Anson.” Ryder smiled. “You really are a handsome wolf. And you’re fierce on a hunt, just like our prince.”
Anson huffed and shifted back into man’s form. “Liam needs more practice. He spends too much time chasing rabbits and not enough time hunting real prey.”
Zain laughed. “He’s too happy to be himself again, thanks to you. Everyone’s been talking about what a difference you’ve made in the castle. Can’t you feel it?”
“The burgeoning joy, the songs and dance, the never-ending sex?”
Malem shrugged. “The sex has always been there, but yes. You’ve alleviated much of the queen’s stress, and it shows in her subjects. We’ve been much more productive lately. I think we’ve gathered twice as much energy this past week as we did all last month, and that’s saying something.”
Anson felt uncomfortable with all the praise and took the trousers Malem handed him. He dressed, ignoring the speculation the others gave him. It no longer made him uncomfortable when they stared and grew aroused. The athmae were sexual, he accepted that. But he hadn’t yet accepted Liam’s plan that Anson remain at the compound until the danger of the sorceress passed. What if it took years before she attacked again? Did Liam expect Anson to remain here all that time?
“You said the queen wanted to see me?”
Zain nodded and led the way. He, Ryder, Malem and Anson passed friendly athmae as they returned to the keep. Anson missed the open forest, but he’d grown to like the familiar scents and sounds in the castle and its grounds. Here, there was no play for dominance, no challenges or fights for conquest. Just sex, food and games to fill the playful hungers of demons with raw needs.
He admitted how much he liked it here. When he ran in the woods, he pretended he was Master of the Hunt and that Liam was his beta as they chased down the night’s meal.
Anson sighed and walked deeper into the heart of the athmae keep. Down another flight of stairs into the bowels of rock and dirt and magic. Malem cautioned him to wait as he went first into the queen’s meeting room. Lately, he’d taken to protecting Anson at all times while Zain and Ryder watched over Liam. Which begged the question…
He turned to the guards. “Where’s Liam?” What he should have asked ten minutes ago.
“With the queen.” Ryder motioned for Anson to follow Malem inside.
He did and found Liam smiling at a male athmae, one Anson didn’t recognize. A burn of rage took him by surprise, and he growled low in his throat and took a step toward Liam before he realized what he’d done.
Zain and Ryder grabbed him. “Easy, Anson. All’s well,” Zain reassured him.
Malem had a smug look on his face and said something under his breath to Liam, who glanced Anson’s way with satisfaction. When the athmae stranger reached out to grab Liam by the shoulder, something inside Anson snapped.
“Anson,” the queen said sharply, easing his sudden, inexplicable rage.
He shook his head and settled down, surpris
ed to see his fingers had become claws. He flushed and said to Ryder, “I’m fine.”
Ryder and Zain released him.
The queen sat some distance away with three females he’d first seen on the grounds a few days ago. “Anson, dear, would you come here a moment?”
He wanted to. He liked the queen very much. She had a maternal air about her despite the clear sexuality she wore like a second skin. But that male had yet to move away from Liam.
Slowly, as if daring Anson to say something, Liam stepped away from the male, closer to Malem. Freeing Anson from the need to protect the prince, maul the offender, and stake his claim.
Which made no sense.
Dizzy from the speeding emotions ripping though him, Anson made his way to the queen. As he did, Liam tensed. Malem whispered into Liam’s ear and grabbed his arm, holding tight. Then he told the athmae stranger to leave. Finally.
Anson shouldn’t have been so pleased to see a potential rival leave. And since when had he begun viewing other athmae as rivals? Rivals for what, Liam’s affection?
What the hell was going on in here?
The athmae stranger looked disappointed but left the room without a backwards glance.
Relieved Liam stood with Malem, and that Ryder and Zain moved to stand with him as well, Anson walked to the queen with a sure step. “Yes, Queen Shöen?”
“Anson, you’ve done more for us than you can know. You’ve brought Liam’s wolf back, and you’ve made him happy. Everyone is thriving, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
The female athmae sitting with her beamed their approval. The way they eyed Anson made him feel like their next meal, and he took a subtle step back, not sure why the distance calmed him. No one had tried to hurt him while he’d been there.
If anything, he should be more worried about his own behavior.
He and Liam had fucked—a lot—as both man and wolf. It didn’t take much more than what they’d already been doing to establish a mating between wolves. But Anson’s werewolf demanded he take his mate in all forms. Lately, it had been all Anson could do not to shift into his werewolf to take Liam as his own, and the notion surprised and scared him.
What if he bonded to Liam as a mate, then had to deal with the Wolf in the Forest when his chosen mate found him? He just knew when he returned to the clan he’d find a starry-eyed female waiting for him. Instead of filling him with the sense of morose inevitability he expected to feel, he experienced disgust and horror at the prospect.
“Anson?” the queen said again, and he realized he’d been woolgathering.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, what’s that?”
“Our greatest and most talented succubi have returned from some duties abroad, and I wondered if you’d allow them to reward you, as befitting the savior of my son?”
Anson’s skin itched when one of them stood and neared him. She was gorgeous, sexy as sin, and lust sparked off her creamy flesh with the promise of endless pleasure.
He took a hasty step back. “That’s not necessary, Queen Shöen. I’ve been amply rewarded just by being here.”
“And pleasured as well, I suspect,” she murmured with an odd smile on her face.
He glanced over his shoulder at Liam, who looked none too pleased with Anson. What the hell did I do? Anson frowned back at him and almost jumped out of his skin when the female touched his forearm. He didn’t like it, and the werewolf within him forced him to snap at her to back away.
Her eyes widened, and she raced behind the queen in fear.
“Oh shit. I mean, I, uh…” Anson stammered as he quickly thrust his werewolf back down and tried to ignore the burn on his forearm. The Mark of Lycos only swelled when something threatened his nature. Yet he could scent no danger from the female athmae.
“Anson, are you all right?” the queen asked softly.
“I think so.” To the succubus now cowering behind the queen, he said, “I didn’t mean to startle you. The Spirit knows you’re a beautiful demon.”
She preened and sent him a small smile.
The queen gestured to the other females. “Perhaps one of my others will do?”
“Do?” he said stupidly.
“To serve you, dear. In the few weeks you’ve been with us, you haven’t seen any females except myself, and though my incubi are exceptional when it comes to sexual pleasure, I was mated to a wolf. I’m sure you’ve been hungry for a female, having been starved for them since your arrival.”
Yet he wasn’t. Anson didn’t want any of the beautiful females before him. Nor did the thought of fucking a female do anything for him, unless he imagined her between himself and Liam. Now that thought had him growing hard. Hell, anything having to do with Liam aroused him.
“No, I’m fine.” He cleared his throat, a bit embarrassed when Liam’s mother continued to watch him with such interest.
“Liam, dear, come here.” The queen motioned to her son, and he hurried to stand by Anson.
A slight touch of Liam’s hand against his side and Anson found himself relaxing when he hadn’t sensed himself tensing.
“Which of them would you like, Liam?”
Personally, if Anson had to choose, he’d take the succubus still standing behind the queen. He’d fuck her pussy while Liam took her ass, because he well knew Liam had a thing for asses.
Liam shifted to stand closer to Anson, and Anson wondered if Liam realized they looked joined at the hip.
“I’m fine, Mother. Allow your subjects the rest they’re due.”
The females looked disappointed by Liam’s offer, not relieved. Anson wondered if any of them had lain with Liam before, and the notion annoyed him.
He deliberately crossed his arms over his chest, knowing his elbow would brush Liam’s arm, adding another point of contact between them.
“Ah. So I see.” She cleared her throat and waved to the female athmae to leave. Neither Liam nor Anson moved, standing impossibly close to one another. “Liam,” the queen continued, “the time has come to announce your mate.”
Stunned, Anson turned to stare into Liam’s sober gaze. “You’re mated?”
Liam nodded, not blinking. “Apparently, so are you. You didn’t take the females’ offer, and no one can resist the Blane sisters. They’ve conquered kings, presidents and godlings. You must be mated, Anson.” Liam smiled and stepped closer. “What do you think?”
Anson didn’t know what to say. Mated? When the female had touched him, he hadn’t wanted anything to do with them. It made sense, yet it didn’t. “But I can touch you. I don’t mind when we…” He paused, mindful of Queen Shöen. “You don’t bother me.”
He ignored Malem’s snicker behind him.
“That’s good to know.” Then Liam shocked him by leaning close and kissing him full on the mouth in front of his mother. The drugging kiss filled Anson with desire and a strange, deepening affection he’d only ever felt with Liam. “Pet, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“I’m not your pet,” Anson denied, his response automatic. He’d been saying the same thing ever since he’d arrived here.
“That’s up for debate.” Liam cupped Anson’s chin, the gesture clearly possessive. “But you’re my mate. Now and forever, wolf. You’re mine.” He narrowed his gaze at his mother. “I hadn’t expected to mate now, when we’re still in danger. But somehow we bonded.” He cleared his throat. “I’m not sorry it’s you.”
Anson blinked, stunned when his werewolf wanted to howl, not with anger or mistrust, but with delight. “Holy shit.”
Malem slapped Anson hard on the back. “You said it.”
Ryder and Zain joined them. “Welcome to the family, Anson.” Ryder laughed. “If you could see the look on your face.”
Anson turned to the queen, sure she’d correct her son.
She smiled. “We’ve been waiting a long time for you, Anson. Not only to break Liam’s curse, but to free his heart.”
“But I…I’m wolf. We can’t breed.”
Th
e queen huffed. “Really, Anson. You can do better than that. I have any number of breeders in residence when you and Liam are ready. Of course, you’ll both have to accept her. Only those you allow into your circle may stand with you without stirring the wrath of your animal spirits. The mating bond is such that sharing is only allowed when true hearts are in harmony.”
Anson glanced at the guards who stood so close to them, aware he’d never once been bothered by Ryder, Zain or Malem protecting Liam.
“Yep, we’re your new pack, pup,” Malem teased as he leaned close. He ignored Liam’s soft growl. “Your mate is a bit high-strung. You might want to help settle the wolf down.”
“You think Liam is high-strung?” He was one of the most laid-back people Anson had ever met.
“Only when it comes to you,” Liam answered in a gritty voice. “I know it’s a lot to expect, Anson. But I want this to be your new home. You and me, together.”
Malem cleared his throat, not to be ignored.
“And them,” Liam snapped. “Yes, yes, my guards go everywhere with me, unfortunately.”
“Now, Liam, I taught you better than that. As did Malem.” The queen tried to bite back her laughter, but Anson could feel her delight as clearly as he felt the connection between him and Liam.
Did he dare believe Liam could keep him? That the pleasure he’d felt living with the athmae for the past few weeks could be his for as long as he lived? Everything inside him screamed at him to say yes, but a lifetime of submitting to his alpha wouldn’t let him agree yet. He needed to think.
Frowning, he stepped back from Liam, not liking the pain he could see in Liam’s—in his mate’s—eyes. “I think I feel it. But I need time. This is…I’m not sure. We’re not mated yet.” Not until his werewolf had his say, and the damn beast wouldn’t stop pressing him to finalize the claiming right now, here, in front of everyone.
“I’ll give you time, Anson. I’ll give you anything you want,” Liam vowed. “Just promise me you’ll accept our protection while you’re thinking it over.”
“Because Danya isn’t done with you yet?”