by Odessa Lynne
Alpha Craig must have heard him, because he stopped again and looked over his shoulder, eyeing Matthew with his cool gaze. “That’s not necessary.”
Ian patted Matthew on the shoulder and urged him on. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to,” Matthew said. “But it’ll be easier this way. He’s already claimed me for a heat mate. Just fix my hand and then lock us in a room together.” Matthew thrust aside the limb in his path and resumed walking. “For God’s sake, I need a good hard fuck from someone I actually like anyway. I’ve been so goddamn lonely I’ve started fucking the enemy to keep from going crazy.”
Ian gave Matthew a look he couldn’t decipher and then exchanged a look with Alpha Craig that was just as obscure. What the hell was going on?
“If you want to accept Ashikid’s claim on you, I won’t interfere,” Alpha Craig said. “But you should know that the drugs aren’t going to be very effective and he could be … difficult after challenging Alpha Paetarikeille—”
“Rick,” Ian cut in.
Craig’s lips pulled back in a show of teeth that struck Matthew as weirdly humorous. “Alpha Rick,” he corrected. “He challenged an alpha for you and survived. He probably won’t want to let you go after heat season.”
“He’ll let me go,” Matthew said, the burn of anger rekindling in his gut. “He’s already told me that much. We’ll be heat mates, that’s all.”
Craig studied him for a moment longer. “Remarkable,” Craig said, a thoughtful cadence behind the accented word. But then he turned away and began walking again before Matthew could ask what the hell that was supposed to mean.
“Unbelievable couple of days,” Ian said, gaze flickering over Matthew, a contemplative look in his eyes.
Matthew didn’t respond, merely hiked along beside Ian. He was too busy asking himself why the hell he hadn’t just let them find Ash someone else to fuck for the next few weeks so he could leave the wolves to their goddamn heat and find himself that quiet place somewhere where he wouldn’t have to talk to anyone for the rest of his fucking life if he didn’t want to.
But the question was rhetorical, because he already knew why he hadn’t done it and it had very little to do with wanting a good hard fuck from someone he liked for a change.
He’d liked Sal just fine.
But he hadn’t loved him.
Chapter 13
Ash’s warm brown eyes were so glassy Matthew would have said Ash was drunk if he’d been human. Several of Craig’s wolves’ helped Ash into the small ship that reminded Matthew of the one he, Ash, and Ian had used to get Brendan back to Earth from one of the wolves’ big ships three years ago. Matthew had not had the opportunity to ride inside one of the rarely used ships since.
He assumed the only reason he was riding in one now was because of the renegade attack and heat season.
Craig didn’t allow Ian or him to enter the ship until the wolves had placed Ash inside and taken up positions in a separate section of the ship.
Ash sat in the middle of the ship. Matthew didn’t bother asking where he was supposed to sit. He fell into the seat next to Ash, who roused, nostrils flaring wide and eyes snapping open, while the straps holding him to his seat pulled taut over his chest.
Ash’s hand landed with a sudden weight high on Matthew’s thigh, his fingers clenching tight, his claws pricking through the fabric of Matthew’s jeans. Matthew winced and covered Ash’s hand with his own, and the claws slid back under the dark material of Ash’s fingernails.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Ash spoke in the wolves’ language, and his words came slowly, carefully, not quite slurred.
Matthew caught Ian’s gaze as Ian sat down as far from Matthew and Ash as their section of the ship allowed, at a right angle to the seats Matthew and Ash occupied.
“What’s wrong with him?” Matthew asked.
“He’s drugged,” Ian said. “Heavily. The stuff wears off too quick when they’re healing from injuries, and—well, it’s a tight fit in here.”
“He’s a danger to both of you,” Craig said, taking a seat beside Ian.
Almost immediately, Craig dropped his head to Ian’s shoulder and buried his face in the crease of Ian’s neck and shoulder, breathing in deeply through his nose and mouth.
The bright light made Matthew’s tired eyes burn but he could still see the sheen of sweat on Craig’s face and neck. Alpha Craig had mated Ian during the last heat season. That had really been the beginning of what had led to Matthew meeting Ash. He’d hardly known Ian at the time. He still didn’t know him much better; they weren’t friends and they never had been, even though Ian had been partially responsible for Matthew agreeing to work with the wolves.
Ian reached over and rubbed the back of Craig’s head before he strapped himself in. He waved his hand at Matthew’s torso. “This is going to be a quick trip. We’ll send someone to recover the bullet you hid once we’re back at the den.”
Matthew took the hint and strapped himself in, then exhaled and let his head fall back on the seat. Fatigue had settled bone deep, and he drifted in and out as the ship departed for the wolves’ main den complex.
He woke up once to see a strange mask in his face, but it was a wolf and he said, “Shh. This won’t hurt.”
Matthew fell asleep in earnest after that, and when he woke, he was in the middle of a low bed covered in pillows, wearing the same filthy pants he’d been in when he got on the ship, chest covered in dried blood and his broken hand freshly bandaged from fingertips to wrist with a clear tape that allowed him to see the thin cuts beneath. Sunlight streamed down on him from a wide window above the bed, the thick metalwork covering the glass casting sharp shadows across the bed and floor.
He rolled over and then sat slowly on the edge of the low bed.
A knock came from the door across the room—possibly what had woken him. He yawned, and then called out, “Come in.”
The door opened, and Matthew blinked as Gerald came through the doorway.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Matthew asked.
“Lane wanted me to deliver a message without going through the usual channels,” Gerald said. “I volunteered. Heat season started before I could get out.”
Gerald’s ex-brother-in-law worked for the States’ anti-renegade department. Matthew didn’t know the whole story, but Gerald had somehow become a go-between for Alpha Craig’s pack and his ex-brother-in-law.
Wolves usually met humans well outside the den complex because of how much security the permanent den required. If Gerald had been inside or near the den when the wolves’ heat season began, it made sense that he wouldn’t have been allowed to leave.
“You’re volunteering for a lot of shit these days, aren’t you?”
Gerald’s eyebrows drew together.
“Never mind,” Matthew said. He scratched at his chest where dried blood pulled his hair every time he moved his arm. “Where am I? Where’s Ash?”
“He’s with his pack. Someone’s coming for you after you clean up and eat. I’m supposed to ask if you’re okay or if you’ve changed your mind?”
Gerald’s gaze skimmed over Matthew’s chest, down to his dirt-coated knees where his gaze lingered for a moment—possibly not on his knees but Matthew didn’t care—and then back to Matthew’s face. “How’s the hand?”
Gerald was a few years older than him, but he liked Gerald, most of the time.
Matthew twisted his wrist and flexed his fingers. No pain, and he had his flexibility back. “Not bad. And no I haven’t changed my—” But a yawn interrupted him before he could finish what he’d been saying.
“Unbelievable,” Gerald said. “I watched them break every bone in your hand.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Gerald grinned. “I almost threw up.”
Matthew snorted a laugh.
“I fucked a wolf through his heat last season. I was scared out of my mind, but it turned out to be the most intense fu
ck I’ve ever had. I’d do it again if I was sure I wasn’t going to get stuck with one of them.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
Gerald shrugged. “Someone said you were going to be that Ash wolf’s heat mate or something. Thought you might want someone to commiserate with.”
“Commiserate?”
“You don’t want to end up in some permanent mating with one of them, do you?”
“Not really.” Except for Ash. He’d let Ash claim him without a second thought, but of course he wasn’t going to tell Gerald that. He wasn’t going to tell anybody that.
Gerald rubbed his hand over his t-shirt covered chest. “Well, I like fucking them too much to want to limit myself to just one. When heat season’s over, I’ll go back to making the rounds. Figure you will too.”
Matthew frowned. “I haven’t been making the rounds.”
Gerald gave him a wide-eyed look. “Are you crazy? More than half the wolf population is into fucking guys. You don’t get that many options outside of a veo flick. And—” Gerald’s mouth quirked. “No condoms. Best day of my life finding that out.”
“Pretty sure they still claim mates outside of heat season. You could still end up mated.”
“Don’t think so. They’re not usually supposed to claim humans for mates. That’s what one of them told me. He said heat season’s different. He better not have just been saying that so I’d agree to fuck. And I’ve fucked—well, probably more than’s good for me. One of those bastards would’ve probably claimed me by now if they were allowed.”
Matthew raised his eyebrows. He wanted to ask how many Gerald had fucked, but he probably didn’t want to know.
What if Ash was one of them?
Shit. Ash was probably one of them.
Goddammit.
Matthew pushed himself off the edge of the bed and stood. “Well, I haven’t changed my mind. So go tell whoever needs to be told that I’m ready.”
Gerald stared at Matthew. He was clearly fighting a grin.
Matthew looked down, then exhaled roughly. “Alright, fuck. I’ll need a quick shower first.”
“Yeah, and don’t forget to lube up good if you want to be able to walk later.”
Matthew tried not to let that matter-of-fact statement get to him, but the look Gerald gave him heated his face anyway.
Son of a bitch.
He’d made a mistake. He didn’t like Gerald after all.
* * *
Less than an hour later, after a shower and food, Matthew stood inside another home in the wolves’ den complex, watching a wolf open the door to Ash’s room for him.
He must have stood on the threshold too long, because the second wolf who had accompanied him pushed him gently between the shoulders and Matthew staggered forward.
Ash was stretched out on a bed wearing nothing but a pair of trousers, eyes closed, muscled chest rising and falling with every quick breath.
The door slammed behind Matthew and he jumped.
Ash’s eyes snapped open, nostrils flaring wide, and he rolled off the bed in one swift move, landing on bare feet with a thud that jarred the floor.
Ash reached Matthew so quickly he didn’t have time to figure out what he was supposed to do.
“Hi,” Matthew said.
Ash’s answer was a sudden kiss, mouth coming down on Matthew’s with a fierce pressure, warm and wet and tasting like nothing Matthew could explain.
It was their first kiss.
It didn’t last long, not nearly as long as Matthew would have liked. Ash’s fingers clamped on Matthew’s upper arms and he dropped to his knees, pulling Matthew down with him.
“Wait,” he mumbled against Ash’s mouth. “What—the bed.”
Ash nipped Matthew’s bottom lip, teeth biting hard enough to sting. “Submit,” he growled.
“Bed,” Matthew said again, because fuck if he was going to offer his ass up on the cold hard floor when there was a soft bed less than ten feet away.
Claws pricked Matthew’s arms. “Submit!”
Ash leaned over Matthew, inexorably pushing him backward, until Matthew had to give or be bent in half at the knees. Matthew gave. All he had to do was let Ash fuck him. Ash might not seem like himself at the moment, but once he’d fucked, he would—he would—
He would what?
Matthew didn’t know. He should’ve paid more attention on the walk over. The wolves had told him Ash was no longer responding to the drugs. That he needed to mate as soon as possible. That—that—
Matthew couldn’t remember any of the rest. Nerves had gotten to him and the sight of the home where Ash lived with several other wolves had tightened his throat and made him question his sanity.
Fucking Ash might be something he’d always wanted, but he also knew he was an idiot for doing it. Besides which, he was going to be miserable when this was over.
Ash wedged one knee between Matthew’s thighs, dropping his hold on Matthew’s arms and caging Matthew in against the floor. He started pushing the hard bulge of his cock against Matthew’s hip and Matthew winced at the power behind Ash’s rutting as his spine dug into the hardwood under him.
Goddamn.
He pushed at Ash’s shoulder. “Come on, Ash. There’s a bed.”
His tone or his action must have come across as more challenging than he meant, because Ash lunged forward.
Matthew jerked his head to the side, and tried to block Ash, but it was too late.
Ash’s teeth clamped around the column of Mathew’s throat.
Chapter 14
Matthew’s heart thudded painfully hard in his chest and he stared up at the beamed ceiling and tried not to swallow.
The sharp points of Ash’s eyeteeth bit into the flesh of Matthew’s throat, not a crushing bite, not too deep, but Ash had definitely broken skin. A warm tickle of blood trailed toward the backside of Matthew’s neck and he focused on breathing evenly, deeply, before he hyperventilated.
It was a little late to be rethinking things, and panic wasn’t going to do either one of them any favors.
Alpha Craig had warned him Ash might be difficult. Matthew had chosen to do this; he could handle it.
Ash’s rutting motion resumed and Matthew just let him do whatever he needed to do.
A few minutes later, maybe not even that long, and Ash released Matthew’s throat so he could rise up on his knees and tear open his trousers.
Matthew breathed out in a rush, swallowing convulsively. He tried to sit up but Ash flattened his hand in the center of Matthew’s chest and shoved him back to the floor. “Submit!”
“I—”
Ash roared at him.
Matthew winced at the way the sound crawled over his skin. “I submit, I swear. I’m not fighting you, can’t you see that?” His own breath came faster as his heart pounded and his blood rushed, but he didn’t try to sit up again.
His reaction seemed to satisfy Ash for the moment, because Ash reached down and gripped his long penis and started jerking off right over Matthew’s crotch.
He came quickly, head back, a low growl rising up through his chest, and semen shot out to soak into the fabric covering Matthew’s cock. Ash’s throat worked with his panting breaths and his chest gleamed with sweat. His short hair stuck up wildly in places, and Matthew had never seen anyone so beautiful.
Matthew’s cock twitched, coming alive for the first time since he’d entered the room.
Ash released his cock and wiped his hand carelessly across the thigh of his trousers before he started yanking at the fastenings of Matthew’s pants, hands trembling visibly.
Matthew’s hips came up off the floor and his shoulder blades dug in. He moved his hands to help, but Ash swatted his efforts away.
“Mine,” Ash said, in the wolves’ language. “You are mine.”
His fingers curled against the floor. He was going to have to ignore everything that came out of Ash’s mouth for the next few hours or this experience was going to rip his heart out la
ter.
“That’s right, I’m yours. Just yours.”
“Mine,” Ash said again, eyes bright and hot on Matthew’s face, teeth glimmering pink with Matthew’s blood.
“Yours,” Matthew said, soft and low, the burn behind his eyes so fierce he could barely control it.
He blinked a few times and to distract himself he fisted his hands in his hair and just left his arms there above his head while Ash stripped him from the waist down.
The cool air felt good against his bared feet and sweaty skin. He curled his toes against the smooth floor.
Then Ash leaned over and licked the length of Matthew’s stiffening cock.
His hips jerked as pleasure washed over him. He wanted to thrust his hips toward Ash but his earlier mistake made him keep a tight control over his reaction. He’d rather not have his throat ripped out before he had a chance to actually fuck.
But he loved having his dick sucked. Maybe—
Sure enough, Ash nuzzled into Matthew’s groin, lips grazing Matthew’s flesh, and then he took Matthew’s cock into his hot mouth.
“Unngg,” Matthew groaned out, hoping the entire time that Ash would be able to keep his teeth away from tender flesh but more than willing to risk it just to feel the length of his cock slide across Ash’s tongue.
Ash’s hands gripped Matthew’s hips, and those claws came out again, pricking at Matthew’s skin.
Ash’s mouth slid off Matthew and Matthew gasped, “No.”
“Touch me,” Ash said, and then he swallowed Matthew down to the root.
Matthew whined. He couldn’t thrust, couldn’t move his hips, couldn’t do anything because of the hard grip Ash had on him. He blinked his eyes open and forced himself to watch, reaching for the back of Ash’s head. He tangled his fingers in Ash’s soft hair.
He came in Ash’s mouth, the rush of pleasure hitting him hard and shooting through him and out his dick.
Ash swallowed but when he pulled away, his eyes glimmered bright with the haze of his lust and a streak of milky white semen clung to his bottom lip. His lips pulled back from his teeth and he grabbed his own cock again and jerked himself with a few hard strokes until he came, his thinner semen landing on Matthew’s spit damp cock. He felt the tickle of liquid trailing across his balls and down the crack of his ass.