Jared's Heart

by Fel Fern

  With obvious misery, Matthias looked away. Jesus Christ, was the bastard celibate?

  Jared’s anger ebbed away when Matthias shifted. A massive grizzly replaced the man, and seeing the bear rear up on his hind legs, roaring, Jared couldn’t help but smile. Matthias looked fucking adorable, well, deadly too, but he looked like a bear cub discovering shifting for the first time. Shedding his human skin for his wolf, Jared fell on all four paws. He darted to Matthias, circling the grizzly, tail swishing to and fro around Matthias’s hindquarters.

  Giving Jared an annoyed look, Matthias swatted at him with one paw. Not a serious swat, but a cuff nonetheless. Jared growled softly, showing Matthias teeth. Lowering himself Matthias shoved his face near Jared. He turned his furry neck, bearing his throat, and Jared understood the significance of his offering. My life is yours to take, Matthias seemed to say, I’m making this easy for both of us.

  Annoyed, Jared bit his nose. With a surprised snarl, Matthias swatted at him. If Jared were human, he’d laugh. He settled for falling back, glancing at Matthias, challenge in his gaze. Then Jared broke into a run, hearing the large bear lumber after him. Matthias’s simple and quiet joy at being able to shift again must have rubbed on Jared, because he’d never felt this playful, since he was a cub.

  Jared silently dared Matthias to play chase, and the bear became a good sport. Eventually, Matthias slowed down, and decided to roll on a bunch of fallen leaves. Amused, Jared trotted up to him. Matthias lay on his belly, laying his head on his paws, looking like the world’s largest teddy. Daring what his human half would not, Jared settled beside Matthias, their fur brushing against each other. After some time, Matthias eventually flung one paw over Jared’s smaller body, a possessive gesture.

  They lay like that, in companionable silence. Matthias took his paw off him, and rolled on his belly. Mimicking him, Jared soon saw what caught Matthias’s attention. The night sky spread above them, ink black with a scattering of stars. Did Matthias dream of a moment like this, in his second form, without bars to keep from looking at the sky? On the heels of that thought, a second, much darker one followed. Did a murderer deserve Jared’s pity?

  Didn’t Matthias deserve a second chance? Hell. Jared couldn’t even remember his parents anymore or how they were like, and neither did Jane. Sergio, Alessio and Michella raised them the best they could. It wasn’t smooth sailing, but they were family. Jared had family, and his pack, but what did Matthias have? Ghosts? What good were those?

  Jared got back on his paws, and jumped on Matthias. The bear stilled, watching him. Jared kept his claws sheathed, so they wouldn’t sink into Matthias’s tender underbelly. Again, Matthias offered his throat, and that pissed Jared off. He shifted, human skin replacing his coat. Reluctantly, Matthias did, until Jared laid on top of him, skin to skin, the sweat on their bodies drying. Jared straddled Matthias, noting his discomfort.

  “We can’t do this. This is fucking wrong, on so many levels,” Matthias whispered. The werebear said one thing, but Jake felt the tip of Matthias’s glistening dick, pressing at the curve of his ass, as if seeking entrance. His wolf howled inside him, pushing Jared to confirm the inevitable.

  Jared traced circles around Matthias’s right pectoral, fingertip brushing against the nipple. “If it’s so wrong, then why does it feel so fucking right? Perfect even?”

  Matthias let out a growl, fastening hands on Jared’s waist. He dug his fingers into the skin, studying Jared’s reaction. A needy moan came from Jared’s mouth. Jared played his role perfectly. As a wolf on the higher rung of the pack ladder, most expected him to lead, to be the dominant, but Jared harbored submissive tendencies, especially in the bedroom. He’d yield, but only to a man capable of making him fall to his knees. Without a doubt, Jared knew Matthias was that man. Matthias switched their positions, rolling on top of Jared, his weight a comforting, solid feel.

  “You’re one fucking persistent, pup.” Matthias growled. “You’re going to be the death of me. Why can’t you make things simple?”

  “Because nothing is ever simple between us, haven’t you learned that lesson?” Jared made the first move this time, leaning in to kiss Matthias. He didn’t imagine the explosion threatening to detonate between them. Closing a hand on the back of his head, Matthias responded with equal passion, thrusting heat into Jared, pushing his tongue deeper.

  Chapter Four

  When Jared pulled back, his eyes were wide, his lips slightly parted. His wolf wanted more, and according to his hard dick, so did his human half. “Stop fighting this.”

  “What is this, Jared, a last fuck or a final hurrah before the end?” Matthias asked.

  Would Matthias refuse Jared again, if he said he no longer knew what to do? Fuck that. Jared lied through his teeth. “Yes. You owe it to me, to us.”

  Matthias gave him a shaky laugh. “I paid my dues, and did my time, pup.”

  “But you wrote back. You fucking flirted with me though those letters. We’re like druggies, unable to shake off our addiction. One fuck, Matthias. Cure us both of this obsession.”

  Another lie. Jared seemed to be able to come up with them without effort. He didn’t want this, his bantering with Matthias to end. Weren’t hate and love the same side of the same coin? Part of Matthias’s reasoning made sense, but Jared didn’t care about the right thing anymore.

  “I hope you don’t regret this, pup,” Matthias warned. The werebear didn’t need any more convincing. The next thing Jared knew, Matthias switched their places. Jared’s back dug against grass and ground, and Jared became aware of the delicious press of Matthias’s body above him, straddling him.

  “Don’t back out now, bear,” Jared said.

  Matthias barked out a harsh laugh. “Fuck, pup. You have no idea how much I’ve wanted this. How often I imagine you beneath me, just like this, but—”

  “But nothing, bear.” Jared reached for Matthias’s dick between their bodies. Christ, Matthias’s cock was massive. He didn’t think he had anything so large in him. Then again, sex had only been distraction to Jared. A convenient way to forget about the only man he wanted, but Matthias was right in front of him now. Pulse racing, Jared gazed at the wounded man in front of him. Matthias’s eyes showed a soul, cracked and broken, same as his. Nothing ever felt so fucking right and perfect.

  Matthias groaned as Jared glided his fist up and down, cock head to base with slow halting motions, designed to torment.

  “Did you imagine taming me, and the moment I’d choose to yield?” Jared whispered against his ear, making Matthias growl.

  “Fuck, Jared.” That was all Matthias said. His assent. Matthias closed a large hand over Jared’s wrist, lifting Jared’s fingers, licking each one, tasting himself on Jared. Staring, Jared became stunned at the gesture, and by how fucking aroused he got at the sight. One handed, Matthias restrained Jared’s wrists and tugged them above his head, effective as any restraint.

  “What are you doing?” Jared asked, losing his composure.

  Matthias silenced him with another rough kiss, his mouth a hot vacuum against the side of Jared’s neck. Fixated on the spot between shoulder and neck, Matthias licked at the tiny bit of flesh. Any shifter knew what that place meant—the perfect spot to put a mating mark. Heart thudding, Jared didn’t protest. He held his breath, half dreading, half daring Matthias to make the decision for them. That way, Jared didn’t need to feel guilty for wanting his parents’ murderer, for the man responsible for turning Jane and he from human to monster.

  Looking pained, Matthias lifted his head from the spot to answer him. “You said I can do whatever I want.”

  “I did,” Jared whispered, frightened now of his attraction to Matthias and what it implied.

  He knew with some shame, he’d take whatever Matthias wanted to give. Worse, he’d beg for more. Matthias continued pelting hot kisses down his throat, releasing his hands. Jared threaded his fingers into Matthias’s short hair, tugging, but the werebear didn’t seem to mind. Closing hi
s mouth over Jared’s left nipple, Matthias sealed the hardening bud with heat. Matthias’s gaze pinned his, devouring Jared’s every reaction. Fuck, but that was hot.

  Feeling the slight edge of teeth, Jared groaned when Matthias bit down, leaving an imprint of his teeth on the nipple. Matthias moved on to his right, leaving an identical souvenir. It didn’t take for Jared to become aware of Matthias’s impressive dick, pressing up against his belly. Noticing Jared’s gaze, Matthias flashed him a lazy smile.

  “You want my cock, pup?”

  Jared could imagine wrapping his mouth around that meaty dick even before Matthias lifted himself and straddled his face. He saw the careful way Matthias positioned himself those, nudging his glistening cock head between Jared’s lips. Opening his jaws wider, Jared accepted his length. He gagged at first, unused to the size, but Matthias patiently waited for Jared. Sucking softly, Jared took Matthias’s dick in, marveling at the way Matthias groaned, the silky texture of his groin stretched over hard steel.

  “Your mouth feels unbelievably good, pup,” Matthias muttered, eyes shining with appreciation. Then he took control, fucking Jared’s mouth with relish. The sight of Matthias’s rough face tensing, filled with ecstasy made his own cock rock hard. Matthias rode his mouth, faster, and Jared imagined how that enormous dick felt like, pushing into his tight puckered hole.

  “Fuck,” Matthias said with a cry, holding Jared’s head in place as he shot strings of his cum into Jared’s waiting mouth.

  Jared caught each drop, licking his lips, savoring the salt and musk taste of Matthias. Seeing the large man lost control, after being confined in bars for so long, without another body to warm his at night, made Jared smile.

  “We’re not done,” Matthias managed after, eyes a feral gold, the hunger there, limitless. That look made Jared shiver and his balls draw in tight against his body with need. As if thinking the same thoughts, he did, Matthias went down on him, against, lowering his head to kiss the tip of his cock head. Jared jerked when Matthias’s tongue swept the pre-cum there, lashing at the tiny slit.

  “Matthias, please.” Jared didn’t know what exactly he was begging for. All he knew was the fact he wanted, no needed more.

  Gripping his hips steady, Matthias lowered his head, returning the favor by taking Jared’s dick in his mouth. Jared buckled, hand clawing at the ground, the other at Matthias’s hair, as Matthias drew in his shaft like a vacuum. He could have exploded then, like a horny undisciplined pup, but Matthias’s warning gaze stopped him cold. Without the need for words, Matthias told Jared he would be displeased if Jared reached climax, because that was his to give.

  Why Jared would surrender so much to Matthias, and never considered others stumped him. Matthias fingered the rim of his ass, stroking the puckered hole, driving Jared mad. He sunk one finger to the knuckle in, enough to tease Jared. On the verge of coming, Matthias drew out his mouth from Jared’s dick, mischievous smile on his gorgeous lips.

  “Taste yourself on me, pup,” Matthias instructed, kissing Jared, and Jared tasted himself on the werebear’s mouth. He left Jared’s mouth slightly swollen, and Jared whined, cock straining, wanting release. With a cruel little smile, Matthias gripped Jared’s prick again, already at half-mast. “See how fucking hard you are for me? Such a needy pup.”

  Jared found his tongue. “You get off on being a bastard, bear?”

  “And you get on denial, mine, especially,” Matthias finished.

  Jared flushed at that, but he couldn’t deny the truth in those shameful words. Should he tell Matthias it was Matthias’s face and body, he imagined when he fucked his hand alone in his room? That it was Matthias’s hand holding his cock captive, and Matthias’s dick penetrating and claiming his most intimate areas?

  “Aren’t you going to fuck me?” Jared had never acted like a brat with any of his former lovers before, but with Matthias he wanted to push. See how far he could go, and maybe, Matthias would decide Jared needed a fitting punishment.

  “On your hands and knees, pup. I want to go deep. I want you to feel me.” Matthias helped Jared get into position.

  He became aware of how he looked like, body bared, cock hard, ass thrust up at Matthias, and his cheeks flushed. In the pack, the weaker wolves played submissive to the more powerful wolves in exchange for protection. Jared had seen them, offering up themselves like this, when full moon came, begging, the way he did now. Oh God, it was a thousand shades fucked-up, the way Jared found this incredibly hot.

  Matthias palmed the curve of his ass, the texture of his callused fingers a contrast to the smooth skin. Impatient, Jared thrust his ass up at Matthias, earning him a startling slap on the left buttocks. Jared jumped, groaning. Shocked not by the smack, but how incredibly aroused he’d gotten he’d nearly shot out his load.

  “Like that, I see,” Matthias observed.

  Another slap made Jared groan, and his cock further thicken. Matthias delivered more, leaving his handprints over his ass, and Jared could almost imagine his ass, tanned with the exception of Matthias’s pink handprints. “Are you going to behave?”

  “Yes,” Jared managed, and then remembered what he had in his back pocket. “Lube, in my pants.”

  Matthias said nothing for a few moments. Then he bent down, picking up Jared’s jeans. Jared thought he’d make a smart remark about that. Instead, Matthias ran his hand over his tousled hair and bent down, kissing him, taking Jared by surprise. Saying nothing, Matthias positioned himself behind Jared, nudging Jared’s feet slightly apart.

  “W-what was that for?” Jared couldn’t help but ask. He should have kept his mouth shut, because he’d remember little intimate gestures later, after Matthias and he parted. Thinking about the future didn’t concern him now though. A different kind of need and hunger fueled his body, and his wolf refused to stop until Matthias claimed them.

  “I felt like it, and I take what I want.” Matthias slid one lubed finger in his opening then, making Jared groan.

  “I—please, Matthias. I need you in me. Now.”

  Matthias added in a second finger, curling, making Jared gasp. “Hush, baby. I’m going to make you feel good soon.”

  “You’re such a damn tease, Matthias,” Jared grumbled, glad Matthias drew his fingers out.

  “Tell me how much you want me, pup,” Matthias urged. He pressed his glistening tip against the curve of Jared’s ass, teasing his entrance, but not penetrating. The gesture drove Jared crazy with lust, enough for Jared to do and say anything.

  “Matthias, fuck me hard. Please. Put your big dick in me.” That did the trick.

  Matthias chuckled. “Fuck, pup. You’re one of a kind.”

  And I’m yours, came the unbidden thought Jared didn’t dare voice out loud. Matthias nudged his cock head into his crack, eliminating his need to think. Jared groaned as a burn settled in him. Not hesitating, Matthias sheathed himself completely inside Jared, the size of him overwhelming at first.

  “Breathe easy, pup. Feel me in you,” Matthias said in a coaxing voice. “Fuck, your ass is so tight, Jared. So fucking perfect around my cock.”

  As if Jared needed reminding. He urged his inner muscles to clamp around Matthias’s massive dick, satisfied to hear Matthias growl, his hands digging into the flesh of Jared’s hips. Jared could feel his cock, growing thick and long between his legs, eager for release. As if reading his mind, Matthias slipped a hand to hold his dick. Still buried in Jared’s ass, he began to stroke, thumb pressing against the slit on Jared’s tip, making him groan.

  “Matthias,” Jared uttered, a silent plea. It felt good saying Matthias’s name.

  “Remember this, baby. From now on, only I can claim this sexy ass of yours, and only I can give you release.” Matthias gave his cock head a little squeeze, making Jared gasp.

  Without another word, Matthias began to move. His thrusts began slow at first, and then picked up speed once he was certain Jared grew used to his size. Jared felt every entry. Matthias’s need as each stroke became
faster, deeper. Pumping his cock, Matthias tuned his hand movements to his thrusts. Jared felt every skin prickling sensation—the earth digging into his hands and knees, and the cool forest hair caressing his skin, the cold unable to touch him, because Matthias’s warmth chased it all away.

  Matthias shifted the angle of his hips, and hit Jared’s prostate, making him scream. Unrelenting, Matthias aimed for it again, reducing both of them to pants and snarls, to a pure kind of animalistic pleasure. Jared’s thoughts about how wrong all of this was, gave their taboo mating a keener edge. Balls tight against his body, Jared gasped, his cock so close to bursting.

  “Please, Matthias.”

  “Come all over my fingers, pup. Do it now.” The confident authority in Matthias’s voice made it hard to argue. With his mind reeling, Matthias hammered into Jared one last time, making him scream. With a shuddering cry, Jared reached climax. Body shaking, he sprayed strings of his cum all over Matthias’s hand. Matthias followed soon after. With a triumphant howl, Matthias sheathed himself inside Jared again, emptying his load in his ass.

  Jared swayed, wearing a foolish smile, but Matthias easily caught his frame. Matthias pulled him close to the ground, and Jared’s eyes widened as Matthias licked Jared’s cum over his fingers with relish. “You taste fucking better than honey.”

  Heat colored Jared’s cheeks then. Laughing, Matthias pulled him close, his warmth like a blanket. Snuggling close, Jared had plenty of time to examine Matthias’s hard body, the scars there and the scattering of ink.

  He traced the black ink curling below Matthias’s left pectoral, the branches of a tree that took up most of the space on his left side. On two other branches, Jared saw names he recognized, such as Olivia and Dorothy, the names of Matthias’s wife and daughter. Matthias mimicked the same gesture, callused fingertips exploring Jared’s body. His finger lingered on the names right below Jared’s rib cage—his parents’ names. Matthias drew in a shaky breath that turned into a rattling bark of humorless laughter.