by Stormy Glenn
Alpha Barker smiled. "I think you should get what's coming to you."
Leon grinned. He couldn't have said it better himself.
Chapter Sixteen
George sat up when he heard the distinctive beep of the electronic lock being disengaged. Once he'd been taken into custody by Alpha Barker, he'd been brought to this room and left alone. He hadn't seen a single person in two days except for Sheriff Garret, who brought him his food. The man never spoke, just dropped off George's food and left.
Which made George wonder if whoever was coming in was coming to take him to his execution. He had broken clan law when he attacked Raymond, even if he wasn't part of the clan. It was still the law.
George's biggest regret was that he hadn't gotten a chance to say good-bye to Leon. He would carry the man's image into the next life, but knowing he would never touch Leon or smell him, kiss him, brought tears to George's eyes every time he thought about it.
At this point, he welcomed his executioner.
When the door opened and Alpha Barker stepped into the room, George scooted off the bed and stood. "Sir."
Alpha Barker nodded to him before glancing over his shoulder. "You have two hours. You won't be disturbed," the man said before walking out, closing the door behind him.
George frowned. Two hours?
He gasped when his mate walked into the room. "Leon."
Leon walked straight across the room to him. "Hey, babe." He raised a hand and brushed it against the side of George's face. "How are you, mate?"
George swallowed hard. "Mate?"
Since when?
Leon smiled. "Yes, mate. My mate."
Again, since when?
"What—" George licked his lips then tried again. "What are you doing here?"
"Where else should I be? My mate is here."
"Yeah, but…Leon, they're going to execute me in the morning."
Leon leaned in close then lowered his voice when he replied, as if he had a secret to tell. "They're not going to execute you, George."
"Yes, they are. I attacked Raymond. That's a crime punishable by death." Raymond had reminded him of that fact over and over again as they headed to the vehicles to drive to the mansion. The man had been practically gleeful over the fact.
"They are not going to execute you, George," Leon said again. "I won't let them."
"I don't see how you can prevent it."
Leon's grin grew.
George's eyes narrowed. "What?"
"We have two hours, love." Leon grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head before dropping it to the floor. "Do you want to spend it standing here talking or…"
"Love?" George whispered as his entire being stilled, even his bear.
"Yeah." Leon caressed his cheek again. "Love."
Tears sprang to George's eyes. "Oh."
Leon chuckled. "I declare my love for you, and that's all you say? Oh?"
George's bear let out a roar and urged him on. He grabbed Leon and swung him around before peppering his face with kisses. "I love you, too. So much. I never thought you'd say the words, let alone feel them. I just…" George shook his head, overcome by the emotions welling up inside of him.
"Does that mean you don't want to fuck me?" Leon lifted one eyebrow as he pulled a small tube of lube out of his pocket. "Because I brought you a little present."
"Are you insane?" He'd have to be dead six months to not want to fuck Leon.
George was careful not to rip the clothes Sheriff Garret had supplied to him. He had no idea when he'd get some new ones. Still, he heard something rip when he pulled his shirt off, but come on. Leon was naked already and stretched out on the bed.
Hot damn!
His mate was a sexy hunk of man.
George's hand shook as he reached out to caress Leon's soft silky skin. George could touch him for days, years. Hell, centuries. Leon's soft skin felt glorious. He trailed his hand from the nape of Leon's neck down to his nipples, tugging at them one at a time. Leon groaned and bowed his back, pushing against George's hand.
George arched an eyebrow at his lover. "You like that, mate?"
Leon keened and his body bucked. George bit his lip, fighting back his impending orgasm. He was hanging on by a thread, and he hadn't done more than simply caress Leon. They hadn't even gotten to the good stuff yet.
But they were about to.
Screw the foreplay. He needed in his mate now.
George grabbed the lube and opened it. He squirted a liberal amount onto his cock and spread it around. His dick was so engorged, so sensitive he thought he might not make it inside of Leon before he exploded. He gripped the bottom of his shaft until the sensation to come lessened.
Once he was in control of himself again, George squirted more lube onto his fingers then dropped the small tube onto the bed. Leon's heavy panting and small whimpers nearly drove George crazy. The man spread his legs farther apart, giving George a glorious view of the full cock and tight ball sac that hung between Leon's legs.
"Grab your legs, Leon," he commanded, his voice catching in his throat when Leon immediately grabbed his legs and lifted them up to his chest. It was all George could do to keep from coming when he gazed down and saw Leon's tight puckered flesh.
Reaching down with one lubed finger, George watched Leon shake as he ran his fingers over his skin, down around the man's hole, and back up to the underside of his balls. Running around the edge, he slowly pushed one finger in. Leon's body bucked as George began pumping his finger in and out of Leon's tight hole.
"Oh fuck…yes…more," Leon pleaded, nearly losing his grip on his legs as he tried to push back against George's finger with his hips.
George inserted a second finger. He moved it around, rimming the edge in a circular pattern. He might not have done this with someone before, but he had done a lot of reading and a lot more playing with himself. He knew exactly what he was looking for. Leon suddenly arched up off the bed, his head dropping back as he let out a long wail of ecstasy.
Found it!
George could barely contain his delight. He zeroed in on Leon's sweet spot, stroking his fingers over it again and again as Leon writhed on the bed at the pleasure George was giving him. A third finger had Leon nearly screaming. George couldn't take any more. He just knew that if he didn't get inside of Leon in the next five seconds, he would die.
George picked Leon up and swung him around. Leon grabbed for him, which worked out just fine for George. He lay back on the bed and placed Leon's body so that the man straddled him.
"Ride me, mate."
Leon grinned and sat up on his knees. George's breath caught in his throat when he felt Leon's hands grip his cock, guiding it to Leon's tight entrance.
"Fuck," George groaned as Leon sank down on his hard shaft.
George knew Leon was trying to prove his point when the hot silky channel cradling him suddenly tightened around his cock. George groaned, arching up into Leon's body as he gripped the man's hips tightly with his hands.
George lifted Leon up, slowly drawing his cock back until just the head remained. Leon's mouth hung open, and rapid little pants huffed out. His eyes were wide, dazed, his skin flushed.
George slammed Leon back down on his cock. He wasn't sure whose cry was louder, his or Leon's. He just knew he needed to do it again. He lifted Leon away from him then rammed into him over and over again.
The pleasure was explosive. Every inch of Leon's hot grip wrapped around George's cock. It didn't matter if he pulled most of the way out or was buried to the root, Leon surrounded him, caressed him with his silky skin.
George rolled them over, covering Leon with his bigger body. He grabbed Leon's legs and wrapped them around his waist, spreading them farther when he leaned down to lick at the bite mark on the man's neck.
Leon lay there, his breathing rapid, punctured only by his moans. He gripped George's arms and hooked his ankles around George's waist. The harder George thrust, the tighter Leon's grip.
Geo
rge was in heaven watching Leon. The man was more responsive than anyone he'd ever met, even when he didn't say a word. George knew when he hit Leon's sweet spot. Leon's entire body suddenly stiffened, and he cried out as he seemed to try and crawl into George.
George took note of the particular position and continued pumping into the tight hole holding him, aiming for Leon's sweet spot with every thrust. He had to use one hand to hold Leon's thigh up close to his when Leon's body started to melt into the mattress.
He used the other hand to tweak Leon's nipples. He used his lips to suck up a deep mark on Leon's neck. When Leon's hands moved up George's arms to his shoulder and his fingernails dug in, George knew he was done for. He wasn't going to last another minute, maybe another second.
"Leon," George groaned. He pounded into Leon, losing all sense of restraint, intent on savoring the feelings of desire racing through his body. "I can't—gonna—"
"Yes!" Leon screamed. His entire body shuddered against George's. "Yes!"
George growled as he sank his teeth into the spot where he'd left his bite before. Leon's whole body stiffened. A loud cry sounded in George's ear, and streams of hot, wet cum filled the space between George and Leon's bodies.
George had just enough time to extract his teeth from Leon's neck before Leon's inner muscles tightened down on him and ripped his orgasm from him in a white-hot blaze of fire that consumed him.
"Leon," George roared as he filled Leon with his seed, Leon's body milking him for every last drop. His body languid, George collapsed. He planted little kisses along the bite mark as he waited for his heartbeat to return to normal.
George cradled Leon to his chest as he rolled them to their sides. "What now, Leon?"
"Well, after we get our snuggle on, we're going to get cleaned up and dressed then wait for Alpha Barker to come back."
"And then what?"
He totally didn't understand Leon's smile, but leaned into the hand the man placed against his cheek anyway.
"And then we go live the life fate intended for us."
That sounded great to George. He just didn't know how much life there was left for him to live. Despite the things Leon had said, he still didn't know what was going to happen when Alpha Barker came for him.
Whatever happened tomorrow would happen. The only thing he could do at this point was enjoy the time he had left with his mate.
George tightened his arms around Leon. "I love you, Leon."
Leon smiled at him. "I love you, too, George."
"Whatever happens tomorrow, I want you to know I don't regret taking you as my mate."
Leon's smile brightened, and his eyes began to sparkle. "I know I was a little slow to accept being your mate, and I'm sorry for that. My only excuse is that I'm human and I didn't understand."
George cocked his head to the side, curious. "Why did you change your mind?"
Leon chuckled. "I'm not sure I actually did."
George sucked in a breath.
"No, no, that didn't come out like I meant. I'm not sure I was ever against being mates. That's what I meant. I just needed time to wrap my head around it."
"And have you?" George asked. "Wrapped your head around it, I mean?"
"When they took you away, I thought I was going to die. I was so angry, I wanted to pound someone into the ground, and then I wanted to shout at the powers that be for allowing you to be taken away from me. I was devastated. I felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest."
George was well acquainted with that feeling.
He was still feeling it.
"Come on, babe." Leon pushed away and sat up. "We should get dressed. Alpha Barker will be back soon, and I don't know about you, but I'm a whole lot more comfortable meeting that man with my clothes on."
George snorted. "You know shifters don't think about being naked around each other, right?"
Leon arched an eyebrow. "Do you really want me naked in front of another man?"
George growled, his hands clenching with the need to rip someone's head off.
"Yeah," Leon said, "I didn't think so."
As much as he hated to do it, George rolled out of bed. He'd much rather spend the rest of eternity pressed up against his mate's naked body. He made a quick trip to the bathroom to clean up then took back a wet washcloth for Leon.
He smiled as he held it out. "Need any help?"
Leon chuckled as he took the washcloth. "This might take a little more than a washcloth." He gestured to the bathroom with his chin. "Is there a shower in there?"
"Oh, yeah."
"Okay, be out in a few minutes."
George walked over and started making the bed after Leon grabbed his clothes and went into the bathroom. He wanted to strip the sheets off the bed, but he wasn't sure if he would get new ones. Still, it was kind of disgusting making a cum-stained bed.
He was fluffing the pillows when he heard a door open behind him. "All cleaned up?"
When Leon didn't reply, George turned, then gasped. "Alpha Barker."
"I hope I didn't come at an inopportune time."
George felt the heat in his cheeks. "No, sir."
But if he had been five minutes earlier…
"Good, good."
George swallowed tightly as he shot a quick look toward the bathroom door. Maybe it was better that Leon didn't see him leave. "Is it that time, sir?"
Had it been two hours already?
Alpha Barker frowned. "What time, George?"
"Please don't make me say it."
"George, why do you think I'm here?" the alpha asked after a moment of heavy silence.
George wanted to roar at the man that he was there to kill him, but he didn't. The guy was an alpha after all. "To administer my punishment for attacking your son."
"Did you and your mate talk at all when he arrived?"
The flush in George's cheeks renewed itself. "We talked about the important stuff, sir."
"You don't consider your life important?"
"No, I do, but learning your mate loves you seems like it should be at the top of the list."
Alpha Barker chuckled. "Yes, I can see where that might be true."
"Why are you here, sir?"
The man smiled. "To tell you that you are free to go."
"I'm free?"
Alpha Barker nodded.
Hot damn!
Chapter Seventeen
"I'm free," George whispered. He lived in those two words for all of about two seconds before he realized that didn't make sense. "Why am I free?"
The alpha's eyebrows lifted in unison. "You don't want to be free?"
"Oh, I want to be free. I just don't understand why you're letting me go when I'm under a death sentence."
"Ah." Alpha Barker smiled. "Well, despite what many may believe, I am not as dense as everyone thinks I am. Unfortunately, there are times when my hands are tied." His smile grew sly. "And then there are times when I am able to do the right thing, even if I am the only one who knows about it."
Huh?
"Could you put that in English for me?"
"I had to detain you when I found out you attacked my son. It's clan law. But detaining you and executing you are two very different things."
Close enough in George's book.
"If you were planning on letting me go, then why detain me at all?"
"Like I said, sometimes my hands are tied. I had to wait until my wife and son had left town before I could release you. You and your mate need to leave King City, and don't come back."
"Ever?"
"It would be better if you stayed away for a while, at least until Raymond forgets his anger at you. I can't promise if you came back, that he'd heed my word."
While it saddened George to think he'd never be able to come back to town, or at least not for a long time, the alternative was even worse. He'd rather be alive somewhere else than dead in King City.
"Do I have time to go back to my place and pack my stuff?"
Alpha
Barker shook his head. "Better not. The quicker you get out of town, the better."
George's shoulders slumped. "Yes, sir."
"It's better this way, George. Your parents are in town."
George grew cold as the blood drained from his face. "My parents?"
"That's why we needed the two hours, or I would have let you go when Leon arrived. We had to wait until the authorities arrested your parents for trying to declare you dead and then steal your money."
George's jaw dropped. "What?"
The alpha smirked. "When I informed your parents that you would be dealt with as befitting a man who attacked the son of an alpha, they were quite ready to take every possession you had, including the contents of your bank account. I informed them that the council had granted me all of your possessions and assets as compensation for the pain and suffering me, my son, and my clan experienced at your hands."
George winced. "I'm sorry, sir."
Alpha Barker shook his head. "It's over now, George. The important thing is getting you and your mate out of town before anyone figures out I didn't carry out your execution."
"Yes, sir."
Alpha Barker held out a debit card. "This card goes to a bank account only you have access to. I've put some money in there to hold you over until you get on your feet and, hopefully, find a place to live that is far, far away from King City."
George frowned at the guy. "Why would you do that?"
"Because, despite how it may seem considering all that has transpired here, I am aware of my son's shortcomings. As much as I would like to think Raymond has what it takes to be the next alpha, we both know he doesn't. Unfortunately, as he is my son, he inherits the clan unless someone challenges me for it before he takes over." Alpha Barker lifted an eyebrow. "I don't suppose you'd be interested?"
"No!" George couldn't say it fast enough.
Alpha Barker chuckled. "I didn't think so."
"Sorry, sir, but I don't want to lead a clan."
"No, I understand." The man pulled a business card out of his pocket and handed it to George. "Once you get out of my territory, call that number. The man on the other end of that phone number is a good man, an alpha who understands unusual matings. Tell him I sent you to him. He'll help you out."