Jerking on Asher’s wrist, Zaiden hauled the man against him, his small body fitting perfectly against Zaiden’s chest. Leaning down to whisper in Asher’s ear, Zaiden brushed his lips across the delicate shell. “So, what’s it going to be, little birdy?”
Asher groaned, gyrating his hips and grinding his erection against Zaiden’s thigh. “Not so little,” he teased.
Everything inside Zaiden screamed for him to claim the phoenix, force him to submit, and take him as his own. The need clawed and scraped, burning in his belly and spreading out to his entire body.
Asher tugged on Zaiden’s shirt, walking backward until he leaned against the stone wall. Zaiden covered his body, pressing Asher firmly against the wall as he trailed his lips up the smooth column of his throat.
Asher arched against him, dropping his head to the side to give Zaiden more room to play. His small hands fumbled with the button on Zaiden’s fly, yanking and tugging until it popped open. The zipper followed quickly, and long fingers wrapped around Zaiden’s leaking cock, pulling him free on his confinement.
Groaning loudly, he thrust into Asher’s loose grip. “Harder,” he panted.
Asher’s grip tightened, and his hand began to move, stroking Zaiden in long, fast strokes. Doing a little fumbling of his own, Zaiden continued his assault on the supple skin along Asher’s shoulders as he worked to divest the man of his clothing.
Getting the buttons undone, he pushed the denim down Asher’s lean hips, until his thick cock sprang free, jumping up to meet Zaiden’s waiting palm. “Damn, you’re short,” he mumbled against Asher’s jaw.
Grabbing his lover’s cute little bubble butt, Zaiden squeezed, lifting Asher off his feet and pinning him against the wall. They both groaned as Asher wrapped his hand around their heated pricks, stroking them together as he humped against Zaiden’s groin.
“Fuck. Close,” Asher panted, letting his head fall back against the cool stones. He jerked them faster, arching his back as his hips rocked and swirled.
Zaiden closed his eyes, his breathing becoming shallow as his balls drew close to his body, and electricity raced along his spine. Close, so close. He needed more. Just a little something more to push him over the edge.
His eyes flew open when Asher’s free hand tangled in his hair, yanking him forward until their mouths collided in a demanding kiss. Zaiden gasped in surprise as new sensations zinged through his body. Asher took full advantage of his shock, thrusting his tongue between Zaiden’s lips and laying siege the warm depths of his mouth.
Oh, hell, he’d never felt anything like it before. Asher’s tongue tangled with his, twisting, twining, and demanding a response. Lost in his pleasure, Zaiden dueled back, swirling his tongue around Asher’s before sucking the man’s bottom lip into his mouth and nipping at it.
Asher cried out, the sound muffled against Zaiden’s mouth, and never-ending ropes of hot, sticky semen erupted from Asher’s slit, coating his hand and Zaiden’s shirt.
A thin, silver smoke floated from Asher’s mouth, bathing Zaiden’s face as he breathed in the deliciously sweet smell. He didn’t know what it meant, where it came from, or why it excited him. He only knew he wanted more.
Claiming Asher’s lips again, Zaiden licked inside his mouth as his hips jerked, and his orgasm rocketed through him. His muscles tensed, and he shuddered as his cock pulsed inside Asher’s hold, and creamy cum erupted from the engorged head of his shaft to bathe the space between them.
Finally sated, the burn began to lessen, and Zaiden’s mind cleared as he braced himself against the wall and slowly lowered his lover to his feet. “Fuck,” he breathed, resting his brow against the cold wall and grinding his teeth together.
“We just did. Kind of,” Asher quipped as he tucked his flaccid dick back inside his jeans and grinned. “Or were you referring to us mating?”
“Yep,” Zaiden mumbled as he pushed away from the wall and began to put himself to rights. “That’s the one.”
Chapter Two
“Did you do that on purpose?”
Asher finished zipping his pants and looked up to see one seriously pissed off fae. “What are you?” He tilted his head to the side as he inspected his new mate. Slightly pointed ears, shining emerald green eyes, pale, flawless skin—Zaiden was stunning.
“Did you just intentionally ignore me?” Zaiden took a threatening step forward, his hands fisting at his sides as he snarled down at Asher.
Asher rolled his eyes. He’d make charcoal out of the guy in three seconds flat. Zaiden’s bark didn’t scare him one damn bit. “I would like to know exactly who I just mated.” He arched a brow, crossing his arms over his chest, and waited.
“Sprite.” Zaiden bit off the word, practically spitting it at him.
Asher’s eyes widened, and his mouth fell open in a rather undignified display of shock. “Fan-fucking-tabulous. I totally just tongue-raped your virgin mouth.” His brow wrinkled, and he glared at Zaiden. “Way to make me feel like an asshole. You should be ashamed of yourself.” Then he stuck his nose in the air and turned his back on the man.
He didn’t know much about any of the faes, but he did know that sprites mated through a chemical exchange in their saliva. They never played tonsil hockey until they chose a mate, and it seemed Asher had just been awarded that honor. Still, if he’d known, he wouldn’t have just attacked Zaiden like that. Now he felt bad, and it was all the damn sprite’s fault.
Then Zaiden smacked him in the back of the head. Asher spun around, his mouth hanging open again. “What the hell was that for?”
“Would you get over yourself for five minutes so we can figure out what to do now?” Zaiden crossed his arms over his muscled chest and glared. “Yeah, it was my first kiss, but I liked it. Stop being such a drama queen.”
Asher preened at the compliment, puckering his lips and puffing his chest out. “Would you like another one?”
Zaiden cuffed him in the back of the head again. “Focus.”
Rubbing his head, Asher glared. “Are you always this violent?”
“Asher!”
“Okay, okay.” He held his hands up in surrender. “Well, we can’t undo it, so I guess we make the best of it.”
“Wait.” Zaiden started pacing the hallway, staring down at his feet as he waved his hands around wildly. “We mated. We get the seal and get out of this damn castle.” He stopped and looked down at Asher with a mischievous smile. “After we get the seal, we’re golden. You go back to your life, and I’ll go back to mine. Everyone’s happy.”
Asher’s lips spread into a wide grin as well. “I like the way you think, Zaiden Reed.” He held his hand out and bowed slightly. “Let’s get hitched.”
Zaiden snorted, ignored his hand, and turned to walk down the hallway in the direction they’d come from. Asher shook his head and stuck his tongue out at Zaiden’s back. Hell, they were essentially saying, “I do.” Couldn’t a man offer up a little romance to his betrothed?
“Move your ass, Asher!”
Apparently not.
“Hey, wait up!” Asher jogged up to his mate’s side. “Can anyone else claim us before we get the seal?”
Zaiden’s steps stuttered, but he kept walking. “Not sure, but we should get our name in that book fast.”
Asher dipped his head in agreement, but otherwise didn’t comment. Somehow, he didn’t think it would be that easy.
Entering the doors of the ballroom, he immediately realized just how correct he’d been in his assumption. He hadn’t taken more than two steps before someone tackled him from the side, sending them both sliding across the floor. The guy bared his teeth, snarling and hissing as he pinned Asher to the floor.
Before Asher could shake off the surprise, Zaiden appeared over them, lifting the redhead to his feet and tossing him aside like a ragdoll. “Guess that answers our question,” he mumbled as he reached down to help Asher up from the floor. It seemed he’d been spending a lot of time there since the elders’ announcement.
<
br /> Instead of standing to his feet, Asher grabbed Zaiden’s hand and yanked him to the floor as a petite blonde woman threw herself at his back. Zaiden landed heavily beside him, and the shifter went sailing over their heads to hit the ground and roll before jumping to her feet and scanning the room for her next victim.
“Okay, new plan.” Zaiden stood quickly and grabbed Asher, hauling him over his shoulder. “You watch the back. I’ll get the front.”
Though he didn’t exactly care to be carted around like a sack of potatoes, Asher understood the need. “Hurry.”
Zaiden sprinted across the room, spinning and sidestepping when someone came too close. Asher held a small ball of flickering flames in his hand, daring anyone to try and attack Zaiden’s back.
He breathed a silent sigh of relief when Zaiden bounded up the stairs to the platform and lowered Asher to his feet. Extinguishing his fire, he turned with his mate to face the elders. “Asher Deacon,” he said.
“Zaiden Reed.”
“And you’ve mated?” one of the elders asked.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Asher just nodded in response.
“Yes, we’ve mated, sir,” Zaiden said respectfully.
The elder smiled and nodded in return as he bent and etched their names into the record book before him.
Asher heard Zaiden hiss beside him. As he turned to ask what had happened, white-hot pain burned the inside of his thigh. That mating seal was a bitch and a half. Bouncing from foot to foot, he clamped his lips together and tried not to cry out as his mating mark branded its way onto his skin.
“Are we done?” Zaiden asked in a shaky voice.
The elder smiled again as he handed over an envelope with the UPAC seal on it. “These are your mating instructions. It is of the upmost importance that you read them.”
“Uh, right.” Asher took the envelope and tucked it into the back pocket of his jeans. “Well, yeah, this sucked, but at least it wasn’t boring.” He gave a little wave and leapt off the stage with Zaiden right behind him.
* * * *
“I need to see your mating marks,” the guard announced as they lugged their bags toward the front door. He didn’t approach them this time and looked a little wary. Zaiden had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
Asher huffed and dropped his bag, reaching for the buttons on his jeans.
“It’s really on your ass?” Zaiden did laugh this time.
“Inside of my thigh, and shut up,” Asher grumbled.
Zaiden placed a hand on his mate’s shoulder as he chuckled. “Let me.” He stepped forward and spun around, tugging his shirt off to show the guard his mating mark just between his shoulder blades.
He had no idea what the mark looked like, but apparently it appeased the guard because he grunted his acceptance and stepped away. Pulling his shirt back over his head, Zaiden lifted his bag off the floor and jerked his head from Asher toward the door. “After you, my little birdy.”
Asher rolled his eyes as he hoisted his bag over his shoulder and led the way through the doors. “You really have to stop calling me that.”
“Oh, don’t get your feathers all ruffled.”
“Ugh! You are impossible.” Asher bitched and moaned the entire way down the steps and out to the waiting UPAC vehicles.
“Why is the United Paranormal Alliance of Cooperation based in Scotland?” Zaiden asked as he slipped into the backseat beside Asher.
“Really? After everything that happened last night, that’s your big question?”
Zaiden shrugged. “Just trying to make conversation. So, where do you live?”
Asher slumped down in his seat and closed his eyes. “Isla Blanca, Mexico. You?”
“Just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee.”
Asher’s eyes fluttered open, and he sat up a little straighter. “Should we exchange numbers or something?”
Zaiden nodded slowly. “Yeah, might be a good idea.” He pulled his cell phone out and opened up the contact application before passing it to Asher. “Just program your number in there.”
Asher did as asked before pulling out his own cell phone and passing it to Zaiden with instructions to do the same. Once finished, they settled back in their seats and stared out their windows in silence.
Arriving at the airport, they unloaded their luggage and made their way inside the sliding glass doors. “I’m this way,” Asher said, pointing in the opposite direction of Zaiden’s check-in counter. He stuck his hand out and waited for Zaiden to grasp it. “Well, it’s been…yeah. Maybe I’ll see you at the next gathering.”
Zaiden released his mate’s hand and nodded. He didn’t know the guy, honestly had nothing invested in their mating. So why did the thought of not seeing the little phoenix again make his gut tighten?
Pushing away the irrational feeling, Zaiden stepped away and grinned. “Take care, little birdy. You have my number if something comes up.”
Asher dipped his head and gave a little wave. “Later, dude.” Then he turned without another word and disappeared into the crowd.
Chapter Three
Fifteen hours later, Asher dropped down on the love seat in his living room and groaned. He scratched his jeans, just over where the mating mark was on his thigh. The damn thing had been itching like crazy since he’d left Zaiden in the airport. He hoped it wouldn’t be a permanent situation.
Though his brain was tired and his eyes burned, the rest of his body felt keyed up and anxious. The entire trip home, he’d felt as though he was waiting on something. He just didn’t have a clue what.
Glancing at the clock in the DVD player, Asher shook his head and sighed. He wondered if Zaiden had made it home safely, what the man was doing, if he was thinking about Asher. Pushing to his feet, Asher began pacing the small space in front of the coffee table. He’d gotten exactly what he wanted—a no-strings-attached mating that would allow him to live his life as he chose.
So, why did he miss the big sprite already? Barely twenty-four hours since they mated, and less than that since he’d seen Zaiden, and Asher couldn’t get the guy out of his head. Good grief, he was losing it.
He continued to pace, scratching absently at his neck, his arms, then his chest. When had it gotten so hot? Pulling his shirt over his head, Asher mopped his sweaty brow with it before flinging it to the side. He marched over to the thermostat and cranked his air conditioner as high as it would go.
He stripped out of the rest of his clothes and continued his pacing. His body shook, his hands trembled, and a raging firestorm worked its way through his body until he felt his skin would melt right off the bones.
Hurrying down the hallway, he tripped into the bathroom, turning the shower on and jumping under the icy cold spray. His skin continued to heat, and his cock filled and swelled, pulsing between his legs and screaming for attention.
Sharp cramps stabbed his belly, and his muscles felt sore and tired. His breathing came in short, shallow pants, and his head swam, making him reach out for the wall to steady himself.
What the hell was going on?
His cock ached, leaking more pre-cum than he’d ever seen as it jerked and throbbed to the point of pain. Slumping back in the corner of the small shower tall, Asher palmed is overheated erection and stroked himself quickly.
It only took three pumps and a slight twist under the head before he threw his head back and cried out as his orgasm ripped through him. Rather than soothing the burn, the need and carnal hunger clawed more desperately at him.
His erection never flagged, but seemed to grow harder, and the pressure built in his balls until Asher was afraid they’d explode. Images of Zaiden flashed through his mind, and his body reacted by bombarding him with another breath-stealing orgasm. Scalding ropes of cum exploded from his slit without any provocation at all.
Asher slowly lowered himself to the shower floor, too weak to stand. The fire built and burned, his skin scrawling, and his dick still hard as stone. Not even bothering to tur
n off the water, he crawled from the shower and stumbled down the hall toward the living room and his phone.
Fumbling with his discarded jeans, he pulled his phone from the pocket and opened up his contacts, trying to get his bleary eyes to focus. Finally finding Zaiden’s name, he sent the call, pressed the phone to his ear and waited.
“Oh, thank fuck,” Zaiden’s breathless voice came over the receiver after the second ring. “What the hell is going on? My dick is hard enough to pound nails. I’ve jerked off like four times, but it just keeps getting worse.”
“Yeah, same here. I shot my load without even touching myself. I was hoping you’d have some ideas.”
“Did you read the instructions the elders gave us?”
Asher wanted to smack himself. He’d tucked the envelope into his back pocket and completely forgotten about it. “Hold on.” Snatching his jeans up again, he grabbed the instructions and ripped open the envelope.
After withdrawing the parchment inside, he unfolded it with shaking hands and skimmed over the writing. “You sitting down?”
“I can barely stand,” Zaiden replied, his voice thin and strained.
“Well, not only are we connected now, and I’m talking mind, body, and spirit, but we have to consummate our mating at least once every twenty-four hours until the next gathering.”
“Wait. It feels like my brain is melting. Start over and go slower. One thing at a time.”
Asher understood the feeling, but he still had to swallow back him impatience. “We’re bonded, Zaiden. As in if you die, I die, and vice versa.”
“Oh fuck me,” Zaiden groaned.
“Yeah, that’s the next part.” Asher rolled to his side, curling up in a ball as his stomach cramped violently. Sweat rolled off him in rivers, soaking the floor beneath him. His eyes widened, and he gasped as flames flickered and died across his skin, singeing the carpet beneath him.
“Asher? What’s the next part? What’s going on?”
“I’m going to burn down my damn house,” Asher mumbled. Shaking his head to clear it, he looked over the instructions again before responding to Zaiden’s frantic questions. “We have to consummate our mating at least once every twenty-four hours.”
Evans, Gabrielle - Fire and Ash [Midnight Matings 3] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 2