by Sean Michael
Yes. Mate. Mate.
The strength of Grio's thrusts increased, needy sounds filling the air. Phoenix tightened, swallowing hard.
Shouting, Grio pushed in deep, come pulsing out of his prick, and Phoenix drank Grio down, pulling to get every drop. Grio's sweet moans accompanied his swallows, and soft kisses landed on his thighs, on his balls.
He shivered, his body heavy with pleasure, with the urge to shift. "Grio..."
His mate pulled away from his mouth and moved to wrap around him, already furry by the time the big body circled his. That was all he needed, his body taking its other form easily. He chuffed softly, nuzzled Grio's whiskers.
One big paw landed on his head, Grio's rough tongue licking at his muzzle. He melted into the mattress, his chest rumbling with pleasure.
This tiger thing wasn't so bad. In fact, it was fun.
Chapter 5
Grio didn't like it. He didn't want Headquarters anywhere near his mate. He knew they wouldn't hurt Phoenix. They needed him. But that didn't mean they wouldn't try to snatch him.
Phoenix had just bought them coffee, but he waved it off, pacing next to the bench they were going to meet the boss at. He didn't like this. He didn't like it at all.
Phoenix was blossoming, laughing and relaxed, totally at ease. It was unnatural under the circumstances.
"Aren't you even a little bit nervous?"
"Nah. I've got you, coffee, and I've survived both meetings with my advisors this week."
"You put me first." It always made him smile, the way Phoenix did that.
"Always. You're mine."
And simple as that, Phoenix nailed it.
"I am." He'd never expected to belong to anyone. Especially not a royal. But he couldn't deny this and he didn't want to. It was scary telling the boss to go to hell, but he would continue to do it if he was called to--Phoenix took precedence in everything.
Grio saw the boss out of the corner of his eyes and he stiffened.
"Easy, love. We're in control." Phoenix's tone was low, soothing.
"He was my boss for a long time."
"He was. He'll come around. I have faith."
"I have faith in you." He would trust his mate.
Phoenix beamed at him, then stood to meet Nigel. "Hey there. How's it going?"
"I can't decide if you're stupid or just arrogant."
"Oh, I'm definitely not stupid." Phoenix smile disappeared and a soft warning growl sounded. "I suggest you be polite."
Grio relaxed. Phoenix so had this. He might be new to being a royal Saffron Tiger, but he wore it like a second skin.
Nigel's mouth tightened, then he took a very long breath and visibly relaxed. "My apologies. Your highness."
Phoenix nodded once, polite and sure. "Apology accepted." Then he waited.
Nigel didn't try to outwait Phoenix, obviously choosing to let their prince run with the meeting. Honestly, he had very little choice. "We were hoping you'd let us find you an appropriate match. We can make you very comfortable."
An appropriate match and a ton of cubs, Grio was sure. He had to work hard not to growl, even a little.
"I have an appropriate match. Grio is my mate. That is non-negotiable."
Was it any wonder Grio loved Phoenix?
"You are the only royal left. We are a dying species." Nigel leaned in, as if confiding in Phoenix. "You have a duty."
"I don't perform with females. However, I am willing to donate sperm, with Grio's help, of course, so that the children can have parents that want them."
Sure, confident. Grio couldn't be more proud.
Hope blossomed across Nigel's face. "You'll father more royals. Let us choose the mothers?"
"Who else would I trust to do that? You are the expert. You know who is safe. The only thing I ask is that you protect the children from what happened to me."
"Your progeny will be cared for, revered. They are the future of our kind."
Grio believed him. Nigel was focused entirely on the survival of the Saffron Tiger.
It looked like Phoenix believed Nigel, too. "That's all I ask for. Happy stable kids."
"That's what I want, too, Professor Lamoure. When can we expect our first...down payment?"
"I guess as soon as we figure out how to preserve everything." Phoenix looked at Grio. "Guess we have some research to do, hmm?"
He grinned. "That's your department, mate. I'm the uh... collection agent." He gave Phoenix a wink.
Nigel looked at him, and then, to his utter shock, the elder tiger bust out with laughter.
Shit, did this mean he actually was getting his job back? If so, Phoenix had been right about that, too.
"I'll leave you to that. Your job is to protect the royal family and his seed. If that's acceptable?" Nigel added, as if realizing it was an offer not an order.
Oh, damn. "As in a paid position?"
"Absolutely. You've been an excellent protector of our kind, Grio."
Fuck, yes. Grio nodded and bowed slightly, offering Nigel thanks, honor. "I will not disappoint you." Then he turned to Phoenix. "Or you."
"Of course you won't." No one had believed in him so utterly, so totally.
"Okay, we're going. You'll keep in touch, Grio. We're hoping for our first shipment of precious cargo soon. And thank you." With that Nigel and his right-hand man both bowed to Phoenix and left.
Grio waited until they were out of sight, then sat next to Phoenix, grinning. "They're going to pay me to keep you safe."
"See, I told you it would work out."
"You did and you were right. That's because you're the brains."
And he was the brawn. It was what he was good at. That and loving Phoenix. He was going to be phenomenal at that.
"I think we should head home, practice our new duties." Phoenix's eyes twinkled merrily. "Maybe a few times."
"See? You are the brains."
"What can I say, mate? It's good to be king."
Sean Michael
Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the Kama Sutra by channeling the long-lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to Chicago.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, Sean is currently attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate-spinning and soap-carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
To learn more about Sean, please visit: www.seanmichaelwrites.com.
* * * *
Don't miss Carved In Wood, by Sean Michael,
available at AmberQuill.com!
Can a rescue turn into love?
In a brutal world where werewolves are hunted and killed, Wood runs a group that smuggles wolves out of the city to safety. But when Wood meets Daniel, nearly dead from the silver bullet in his shoulder and with a story about entire packs being stolen and forced to work in labor camps, Wood begins to question whether or not he's really helping anyone at all. Is he simply smuggling wolves out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire?
Meanwhile, as Daniel heals, he and Wood form a bond, coming together in a way neither man ever expected, and bringing up feelings neither man has ever experienced. Will their becoming mates muddy the waters, or make everything perfectly clear?
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Sean Michael, Royal Line