A cocky grin appeared on Leo’s lips. Leo bared his teeth, and the sight of those slightly pointed teeth paralyzed Barrett. “Oh I know I can take you.”
Jesus. Only another shifter could stand toe-to-toe with a werebear. Was Leo a shifter, too? If Barrett really thought hard about it, the signs had been there.
For crying out loud, he worked at a place called Wolf Ranch. Occasionally, he did see Leo and his brothers exhibiting animal-like characteristics. Not to mention they disappeared a couple of nights a week to go on a “run.” The ranch never had any other unwanted visitors either—human poachers or hungry wolves.
Considering Barrett agreed to go with Carl before Leo arrived, he shouldn’t be acting all high and mighty. Not the time to be pondering about the fact he had been working for shifters. He needed to deal with the present.
The bar grew silent, as if everyone there knew a fight was about to break out.
“Take it outside, fellas. Everything’s spanking new here. You break something, you pay for it,” the bartender hollered.
“Fine with me,” Leo said, keeping his gaze on Carl.
“You’re going to regret getting in my way, wolf,” Carl said.
“Whoa, guys. Break it off. No reason to fight. If you two are going to act like a pair of six-year-olds at the playground, then I’m not going home with either of you. Plenty of fish in the ocean,” Barrett cut in.
Both men glared at him, half in irritation and the other half probably in shock a human had the guts to interrupt.
“Leo, go home. Cool off,” Carl said carefully, tightening his hold on Barrett.
Barrett had enough. He tried to wrench his hand free, but Carl didn’t let go. “Hey, I’m no longer interested.”
“Be quiet, human,” Carl snapped.
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you hear what Barrett said?”
“You—” Carl began. He didn’t finish, because Leo’s figure blurred.
Barrett didn’t see his fist flying, only heard the crack of bone and felt the spray of blood. Carl released Barrett with a snarl. Barrett didn’t know what possessed him to quickly dart behind Leo and use him as a shield. But he figured a guy who would defend his honor would be a better option than someone who couldn’t take a hint.
Carl wiped the blood off his mouth with a hiss. Barrett noticed fur started to cover his arm, and his teeth lengthened to canines.
“Mine,” Leo said, bringing Barrett close.
Then Leo nosed his way up the side of Barrett’s neck. He didn’t know why he became suddenly aware of Leo’s proximity, of the trapped heat between their bodies. Leo’s solid frame blanketing his felt right and safe, comfy and perfect for cuddling even.
Barrett’s heart leaped in his throat when Leo grazed the slight edge of his teeth at his pulse. Any logical human being would start fighting back, or try getting away from a predator who saw him as something edible. He knew Leo wouldn’t hurt him, though, inconceivable as it sounded. Leo might see him as food, but Barrett was a kind of sustenance to feed another kind of hunger. Dark urges.
Leo nipped his way up Barrett’s jaw and finally took his lips. Barrett had been guilty of fantasizing about this exact moment. What it would be like when Leo kissed him for the first time. It was nothing like his fantasies. Leo thrust fire into him, making his head spin and his insides melt.
Barrett couldn’t remember the last time another man kissed him like this. Heck, Toby’s kisses seemed chaste compared to this. Leo deepened the kiss, and Barrett let his prodding tongue in. He felt weightless, but he knew by Leo’s strong arms cradling him close that Leo wouldn’t let him fall. By the time Leo released him, Barrett had forgotten where they were. His neck and cheeks heated when he realized they had an audience.
“Get a room,” someone yelled. Others whistled.
Leo only looked Carl in the eye. “See? Mine.”
For some reason, that had been enough to convince the werebear. Maybe it was a shifter thing. Barrett reminded himself to ask Leo later on.
“I see that,” Carl said. He let out a heavy sigh. “You two have a good evening.”
“After all that growling and threatening, that’s it?” Barrett whispered. Leo kept one arm around his shoulders, leading him out of the bar like a lover would.
“Contrary to the stories, we shifters are civilized folk. Didn’t your old shifter lover ever display aggression?” Leo asked.
“Well, not really. I suppose Toby thinks shifting is an inconvenience,” Barrett answered.
Leo snorted. “I bet. It sounds like the asshole has a stick up his ass.”
Barrett bit his lip. It was sort of true, and he had enough of defending his ex. “Would you really have challenged him to a fight?”
“Of course,” Leo said without hesitation. They finally emerged outside to the chilly night.
Barrett swallowed, but he finally found the courage to ask the most important question. “Leo, what happened in there…was it real? And please, don’t fuck with me. I need you to be honest.”
Chapter Four
“Took me awhile to admit the truth, but from now onwards I’ll be straight with you, Barrett,” Leo admitted.
A flurry of confusing emotions whirled inside Barrett’s head. On one hand, it was easier to take Leo at face value. Give in to the inevitable, because both of them knew how the night would end. The scorching kiss they shared whispered of promises, of an inferno waiting to happen, but Barrett had been stung before, broken so badly he had to leave the city and his job to pick up the pieces again.
“One moment you’re hot, the next you’re cold. You confuse the hell out of me, Leo.” The way Leo broke out of character in the bar told him volumes, though. A guy who viewed the world as a joke didn’t cave easy, but the way Leo reacted so possessively and protectively couldn’t be fabricated. It was simply too raw, too honest. “And I hate shifters,” Barrett added, although it was a low blow.
“The way I see it, you were about to let a big werebear bring you home for a ride,” Leo pointed out, amused, his moment of vulnerability clearly over. “What makes me different.”
“A one-night hookup with Carl is simple. Anything with you is complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be. Besides, are you going to lie to my face and tell me that kiss didn’t do anything for you?” Leo demanded.
“Of course it did.” He knew Leo could smell his arousal. The way his need rose up between his legs, drawing them close.
“All I’m asking you to do is take this chance with me, Barrett. Aren’t you curious to finally find out if I’m close to your fantasies?” Barrett didn’t trust Leo’s knowing smile one bit, especially with that bit of sharp canines flashing right at him, daring him to take the plunge. “What the hell do you mean by that statement?”
“The house isn’t big, Barrett. When I walk past the guest rooms, don’t you think I can hear you, pumping your cock as you utter my name?”
“Fuck you, you were spying on me?”
Barrett flushed. It still stumped him why every interaction with the cowboy seemed to verge on the extreme—hate Leo, or ride him…
“I’m not going to deny it. Heck, it was an accident at first, but I kept going back. You can’t imagine how hard it was not to go in and help you out.”
“Why didn’t you? I mean, it doesn’t seem like you to wait,” Barrett muttered. He knew his answer hadn’t been the one Leo was looking for, but Leo’s revelation stumped him. Prevented his brain from coming up with a smart and logical answer.
“Because I know you were hurting and that you needed time to get back on your feet, but if you think you’re ready to start dating again, why don’t you start with me?”
Is he kidding? Did Leo think he would cave after all the intense arguments they had? Only Leo would have the guts to lay everything out in the open. But as much as Barrett hated to admit it, Leo had a point. It wouldn’t hurt seeing if this would lead somewhere, right? Besides, thinking too much seemed like a good waste of
time, especially when the night wasn’t getting any younger.
Barrett snorted. “I don’t think the word ‘date’ is in your dictionary, but fine. I wanted to ride you the moment I saw you anyway.”
He swallowed when Leo drew him close, banding one arm around his waist. “Finally being honest with me? Before anything else, let’s get something straight. I’ll be the one doing the riding. Let’s face it, you love being on your knees and I like driving you there.”
A loose piece of the puzzle suddenly clicked in place. Barrett’s mouth went dry. “Hold on a damn second. Are you…in the lifestyle, too?”
Leo leaned in and bit down on his earlobe. “I like some bite to my pleasure. Now shut up and get on my bike.”
Barrett didn’t need any more convincing. He mounted Leo’s bike and wrapped his arms around the cowboy. Barrett had a dozen other questions, but for once he wasn’t uncertain. Maybe he’d started to believe the fates, gods, or whoever was out there had sent him to Wolf Ranch for a reason.
During the day, sunlight painted the ranch in a dusty golden glow. At night, only a couple of lights illuminated the quiet property. Leo parked his bike in the barn, and they headed inside via the back door. Barrett didn’t know if it was sheer dumb luck Lee and Lucas McLeod were out like the other ranch hands, but he was glad they were alone.
They passed by the kitchen-cum-dining room where everyone, the ranch owners and hands, ate three meals a day. Instead of heading to the corridor that led to the guest rooms where Barrett and the others slept, they turned toward the part of the house Barrett had seldom been in. Leo’s room was on the second floor, right in front of the stairs. They stepped inside.
Barrett curiously looked around the spacious and surprisingly neat room. Basic furnishings occupied the space—a king-sized bed with a sturdy wooden frame, dresser, cabinet, desk with a laptop, and a door leading to a private bathroom. The door clicked shut behind him. One section of the wall leapt at Barrett instantly.
Sure, they sometimes used whips to keep bulls in line, but Barrett was certain the collection lining the wall was used for a different purpose. The whips were too meticulously well oiled and maintained—an indication of Leo’s interest, maybe.
“Relax, Barrett.” Leo chuckled. “You look spooked, like I’m about to use those on you. Have a seat, and let’s talk about what’s going to happen. Your limits and safeword.”
Relieved they would iron out the technical details, Barrett sat. Talking to Leo’s Dom side vastly differed from having a heated debate with Leo, his boss. Leo sat beside him on the bed, listening intently and occasionally asking questions. Eventually, Barrett grew comfortable and Leo began giving him little touches here and there.
After, Leo rose. Without speaking, he pointed at his feet, and Barrett understood. He began shedding his clothes.
“Slowly, sub,” Leo added. His authoritative voice stirred Barrett’s cock from sleep.
Barrett didn’t know simply taking off his clothes under the careful watch of a man who wanted him on his knees could both be an erotic exercise and a test of his patience. With each piece of clothing he stripped away, Barrett felt strangely, completely bared and exposed, both body and soul.
He didn’t know why his body reacted like this with Leo when it never had before with Toby or any of his old Doms or lovers. It frightened the hell out of him, but excitement also crawled down his spine.
Once Barrett folded his clothes to one side, his knees hit the worn but polished hardwood floor. The texture tasted different on his skin, compared to Toby’s marbled floors, but the effect was the same. Remembered discipline and lessons made Barrett keep his head lowered, spine arched, and his hands resting on his thighs. Leo appraised him, circling his bowed form.
“Very nice.”
The unexpected praise filled Barrett with pride, but he didn’t move an inch. He let out a breath when Leo nudged a foot to spread his legs wider, to reveal his hardening member.
“Dirty little sub. Are you already getting hard, just from this?”
Barrett swore he wouldn’t rise to Leo’s bait.
“As hard as you, Sir.” The words rolled out of Barrett before he could stop them. Panicked, he raised his eyes, but Leo didn’t look mad. Hell, the bastard wanted him to react. Leo speared his fingers through Barrett’s hair, tugging it hard.
“Has it been so long for you, sub, that you’ve forgotten basic courtesy and manners?”
The pain—slight as it was, had been a welcome respite. Barrett realized Leo didn’t goad him because of sheer spite. Leo understood how much Barrett wanted, no, needed this.
Barrett dropped his gaze. “I’m sorry, Sir. How can I make it up to you?”
“I have ideas.” Leo released his hair and walked out of his line of sight.
Waiting had never been one of Barrett’s strong points, but he urged himself to be still, to wait for his Dom. After what felt like hours later, although only seconds had passed, Leo returned. The temptation to peek at the implement Leo selected rose, but Barrett urged himself to maintain position.
He’d always been an exemplary sub. Someone who dreaded punishment and avoided it at all costs, yet here he was, practically begging for Leo to take up the strap, whip or paddle. He needed to feel the kiss of the instrument colliding with his skin.
Jesus. It had been too long.
Something thick and long uncoiled, its edges caressing Barrett’s left thigh. It took him a second to figure it out. Rope. Did Leo plan on tying him up?
“Remember when I asked you specific questions about restraints, sub?” Leo asked. Barrett did. Leo had asked a couple of specific ones, like his experiences with Shibari and whether it fell under his limits.
“Yes, Sir?”
“Shibari is one of my favorites. You can say it’s one of my specialties. I give lessons at the local BDSM club in town every Friday.”
“There’s a BDSM club here?” Barrett blurted in surprise, breaking character.
He swallowed, but Leo didn’t look displeased. Leo was an expert in Shibari? So much information to take in, but Barrett did remember Leo always left for town every Friday, taking a plain gym bag with him. Who knew that bag contained his gear?
“I’ll take you sometime, if you want. Do you trust me to tie you up, Barrett?”
“Yes, Sir,” Barrett responded.
His experience with riggers and Shibari experts had been limited. Toby had been a possessive Dom, never allowing Barrett to play with other experts in the local club they frequented. Barrett had always been curious, though. He rather liked being bound, the feel of coarse rope or the snug fit of a leather cuff wrapped around his limbs. Seeing the subs strung up in a complicated rig—a thing of damn beauty—made him a little envious at times.
The old him would also have never agreed to such a proposition outside of club context, without some friends policing the public scene, but Barrett wanted to be reckless for once. To put his body and heart on the line because where did being too careful lead him?
Barrett didn’t agree due to instinct alone. Leo dragged out everything in the open, how he’d watched Barrett since day one. How he’d kept his respectful distance so Barrett could heal and find his way back again. Underneath his arrogance, teasing and armor was what Barrett’s mother would call a keeper.
He couldn’t quite shake off the incident at the bar either. How Leo had reacted on impulse and gone all territorial. To belong to a man so certain of his possession was mind-blowing. All his adult life, Barrett had searched for someone worthy to serve on his knees in the bedroom and be his equal partner in the daylight world. Maybe Leo could be both.
Worst that could happen? A horrible night and a broken heart Barrett wasn’t sure he could mend again, but risking big might lead to big rewards.
“I’m not going to ask you again, Barrett, but I’m going to remind you that once you take this path, there’s no backing out. We clear?”
“Crystal, Sir. I’m not going to change my mind. I want t
his. I want you.”
Chapter Five
Holy hell, had Barrett just said those embarrassing words aloud?
By the slight tilt of Leo’s mouth, he knew he had. Then Leo sobered up. “Repeat your safeword to me, sub.”
Standard procedure, he knew, but who knew Leo was such a careful Dom? Barrett sighed but did it all the same.
“Green, yellow and red. I won’t forget them, Sir.”
“Good enough. This is hemp, my favorite to work with. I’ll only be using this tonight. Someday, though, I’d want to rig that gorgeous body up if you let me.”
Gorgeous body? Barrett could feel his neck and cheeks heating up again. At this rate, Barrett knew he’d take whatever Leo wanted to give.
“Stand and keep still while I work,” Leo instructed. He obeyed, tense at first but Leo talked him through the process. Soon, the technicalities abandoned him. He watched, mystified, as Leo skillfully threaded the rope. It slid across his skin smoothly, restricting but not bruising. Sighing, incredibly aroused, Barrett marveled at how snug it felt. How right. Leo looped his arms behind his back, then used another length of rope to form a snug chest harness.
“How are you feeling, sub?”
“Kind of hot, actually. Sir,” Barrett remembered to add.
“I fucking love how honest you are.” Leo kissed him on the bridge of his nose, the gesture unexpected. Then Leo tapped his arousal. “I’m binding these too.”
“Yes, Sir.” Barrett sounded a little too breathy and eager to his own ears, but seeing the pleasure on Leo’s face had been worth it.
The rope slid around his balls and cock, and he saw how careful Leo was with his delicate bits. After Leo was done he took a step back to assess his work. Barrett caught sight of his reflection in the full-length mirror in the room.
At first, he didn’t recognize the restrained body of the powerful sub looking back at him. When he left the city, he knew he looked like a mess, but the man staring back at him was unbelievably fit. More importantly, he looked eager to yield. Ready once again to surrender his control to someone else and to live in the light, and yet not be afraid to play in the dark.
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