by Fel Fern
Before Chad could protest that he’d just dirty up the fabric, Daniel wiped the corner of his mouth for him.
“Don’t worry about it,” Daniel said smoothly. The Alpha handed him the piece of cloth, which he accepted.
“How old-fashioned,” he whispered.
Was it his imagination or did amusement flash through Daniel’s eyes? Right now, he realized, heartbeat spiking up, Daniel’s eyes weren’t their usual dark forest-green color. They were a bright green-gold, telling him Daniel’s wolf was also peeking out.
“Are you calling me a relic?” Daniel asked him.
“No way,” he blurted. “You’re far from that.”
“Inside,” Daniel repeated.
Daniel gently tugged his arm and led him inside the house. Chad had to admit, Daniel manhandling him was kind of hot. Well, technically, Daniel wasn’t using much force although Chad wished Daniel would use more. He didn’t mind being ordered around as long as the commands came from Daniel.
“Your shoes,” he began.
Daniel stepped out of said shoes. “There. Someone will take care of them. Not to worry. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
“Ben said the same thing.”
Daniel growled softly under his breath, making him jump. “Ben?”
“Yeah, your Beta passed me earlier, suggested the same thing.” Chad had trouble putting one foot over the other. They were climbing up the stairs. “Ooh, where are we heading?”
“My bedroom. It’s the nearest room with a bathroom.”
“Your bedroom?” Chad asked suggestively. He winked at the Alpha. “Scandalous.”
Daniel snorted. “You’re flirting with me. Right now?”
That bruised his ego a little. Of course. Daniel wouldn’t find him attractive in this state. No one would.
“I’m surprised you haven’t kicked me out of your house,” he said. Daniel reached for the doorknob to the room in front of them and opened it. Chad was finally treated to the rare sight of where the Alpha slept. Where the rest of the pack house was lavished with expensive and designer furniture, Daniel’s room almost looked spartan. It contained a queen-sized bed, a desk, a closet. A few pieces of workout equipment.
“Why would I?” Daniel sounded puzzled. “You’re my son’s best friend, and Allan’s kid.”
“Kid? Is that how you see me?” Chad demanded as Daniel somehow managed to usher him to the bathroom. Chad was slightly taken aback when Daniel turned on the lights. The bathroom was massive. Marble tiles lined it, and it came with a jacuzzi. His mouth hung open a few seconds.
“Kid? No.” Daniel spun him by the shoulders so Chad looked him in the eye.
Nausea hit him again. Daniel seemed to sense he was about to vomit, because the Alpha stepped aside. Chad ran to the water closet and unloaded the last contents of his dinner.
“I’m so pathetic,” he whispered, still sitting on the floor. “Just leave me here to rot.”
“Don’t be overdramatic.” When Daniel tried to help him up again, Chad angrily brushed him off and said, “I can stand on my own.”
Chapter 3
Daniel took a step back, narrowed his eyes as he watched Chad clumsily get back on his feet. The submissive werewolf started to peel off his clothes. The right thing to do was leave, but Daniel couldn’t seem to move. When Chad’s foot got caught in his jeans and Chad nearly slipped, Daniel easily gripped his arm.
This time, Chad didn’t push him away. Chad stared at the floor and Daniel wondered if he’d throw up again.
“Are you sure you’re capable of doing this on your own?” Daniel demanded.
He couldn’t stop looking or appraising Chad’s slender body, that creamy expanse of skin, waiting to be littered with his marks. Daniel wanted to reach out, brush aside the strands of blond hair that had fallen across Chad’s face.
“I am,” Chad said, finally looking at him.
“I’m not going anywhere until I’m satisfied you’re not going to slip again.” Daniel said, finally releasing Chad. He crossed his arms over his chest.
Chad bit on his bottom lip. The defiant look in the submissive werewolf’s eyes sent blood surging to Daniel’s dick. His trousers felt uncomfortably tight.
“You have an erection,” Chad told him, sounding a little shocked.
“Look who’s talking,” Daniel said, flashing Chad a wolfish smile.
Chad blushed, placed both his hands over his dick, then hopped inside the shower. “You weren’t supposed to see that,” Daniel heard Chad mumble.
Chad turned the water on. At the very least, Chad seemed to have sobered up. Daniel left the bathroom, before he did something he’d regret. Daniel shut the door behind him. He stared at his bedroom for a few moments, unsure of what to do.
He should’ve have invited Chad here. An Alpha’s bedroom was his private space, his den. He didn’t allow pack mates in here, but why had he made an exception for Chad? You know the answer to that, his wolf whispered. Ignoring the wolf, Daniel tried to think of less sexy things.
The clothes he wore suddenly felt stuffy. He changed out of his white button-down shirt and trousers to a pair of boxers. Daniel usually slept nude like most shifters, but he didn’t want to send the wrong message to Chad. His dick hadn’t calmed down at all. Maybe he should put on a long shirt or robe.
Ridiculous. Daniel was the Alpha. This was his pack house, and yet here he was, acting like a nervous teenager. This was Chad, he reminded himself. Allan’s son. Right. Allan and Max were probably still looking for him. Daniel grabbed his phone. He contacted Max first, not sure what he should tell Allan yet.
“He’s there? I should’ve known,” Max said. “For some reason, he must’ve thought I still hang around the pack house.”
He was waiting for me. Daniel didn’t say the words out loud. A presumptuous assumption, but he knew it to be true. He hadn’t missed the way Chad’s entire face lit up when he got out of the car.
“Then again,” Max continued, “Chad always runs to you whenever he has problems at home. Thanks for taking care of him always, Dad.”
“You’re welcome.” His voice came out harsh, uncontrolled. Thankfully, Max seemed to think nothing of it. Max bid him good night and ended the call.
He phoned Allan next. Daniel left out plenty of details, like the fact Chad was in his personal bathroom right now. “He’s in the bathroom. I told him to clean himself up,” he told Allan. “I’ll get one of my men to send him home right after this.”
Allan let out a tired sigh from the other end. “Do me a favor. Can he stay there for the night? I don’t think I can deal with him right now.”
Daniel pursued his lips. That was one of Allan’s problems. Allan always put the needs of his pack or himself above his son’s. Then again, the same could be said for him. How many times had Max acted out, because Daniel was too busy managing the pack and his business? Daniel had no right passing judgment on anyone, especially not his best friend.
“Fine,” he said with a grunt. “We have plenty of spare bedrooms.”
“Thanks, Dan. I really owe you one. What would I do without you?”
His wolf taunted him to tell Allan about the dirty things he’d like to do to Chad. Daniel silenced that voice. He ended the call only to find Chad staring at him. Chad had a towel around his neck and his blond hair was still wet.
It didn’t help his libido at all when Daniel caught sight of what Chad was wearing. One of his old jogging shorts and shirts. They were too big on Chad’s smaller frame, but part of him liked seeing Chad in his clothes. Possession took hold of him. The room suddenly felt hot.
Daniel breathed hard.
Chad tugged at his shirt. “I’m sorry. I wanted to get out of my own clothes, so I grabbed the first thing I saw. Do you mind?”
Daniel certainly did. Chad’s scent would linger on those clothes. Perhaps he wouldn’t wash them for a few days, so he could inhale Chad’s scent whenever he wanted. Daniel closed the distance between them.
&nb
sp; “You look good in them.” Daniel didn’t know why he said those words. “You smell and look a lot better, too.”
Chad snorted. “Yeah, I’d never live this one down. The last thing I wanted you to see was me hurling the entire contents of my stomach into your shoes. Let me pay for them?”
“Shoes don’t matter,” Daniel said. What was wrong with him? He should march Chad out of his bedroom and into one of the spare bedrooms upstairs. The more distance he put between them, the better. He was the adult here. Daniel should re-establish boundaries. The thought of sleeping in an empty bed, however, suddenly depressed him.
Chad cleared his throat. “Was that my father you were talking to?”
“You heard everything?” Daniel asked.
Chad shuffled his feet. A yes then. “You really wanted to send me back home, huh?”
Daniel wasn’t aware of maneuvering Chad a few steps backwards, or using his body to trap Chad against the closest wall. A taste. One kiss. That was all he wanted. Daniel could smell the minty toothpaste he liked to use on Chad’s mouth. This little wolf didn’t know it, but Chad drove him mad, pushed him into doing the unthinkable.
“Kiss me.”
It didn’t help that Chad uttered those words. Daniel rested his hands on either side of Chad’s face. He could hear it. Chad’s thundering pulse. His quickened breathing.
“I shouldn’t. Can’t.” He practically growled out those words. Yet, Daniel couldn’t move. He remained where he was.
“You can,” Chad whispered.
The submissive werewolf reached out, rested his hand on Daniel’s left cheek. Chad’s warm touch felt like a shock to his entire system. Daniel couldn’t remember the last time anyone touched him tenderly like that. It had been too long.
A few men had tried to get close to him, but none of them truly managed to dig past the surface and reach in deep. Chad might be twenty years younger than him, but he was capable of doing what none could do. See the real him.
“You’re my best friend’s son.”
“When are you going to stop giving me that excuse? Alpha, you’ve known for a long time, haven’t you?”
“Known?”
“What I felt for you.”
“You’ve gone out with other men before.” For some reason, hearing jealousy in his voice made him feel petty. Daniel had no right to be jealous, because Chad and he were nothing. You can change that, his wolf whispered in his ear. Chad was so close, within his reach.
“You sound angry. That turns me on.”
“You’re drunk. You need to sleep it off. Tomorrow, you won’t be saying these things.”
Daniel needed to get the words out. Boundaries, he reminded himself. This was line he couldn’t cross. Out of respect for Allan, for Max, and yet, part of him wondered what it would be like to have Chad as his mate. Chad was always full of life, never failed to make him smile. Cut it out, he reminded himself.
Daniel took a deep breath. “Come on. There’s a guest bedroom upstairs you can use.”
“No,” Chad simply said. Seriously? No one in his pack dared to defy his orders. Then again, Chad always had the nerve to refuse or argue with him. Chad apparently wasn’t done, because he continued, “I’ll say them now, the truth to your face. Then if I need to repeat them tomorrow, I’ll do it again.”
The submissive werewolf sounded wide awake. Sober. The fire of determination in Chad’s eyes only made Daniel rock hard. Could Chad feel his dick, his need, through the thin fabric of his boxers?
“I love you,” Chad blurted. “I’ve been in love with you ever since I was a teenager. I kept hoping it was just one of those crushes that would go away. It’s not.”
Daniel had been hit by silver bullets before. Somehow, Chad’s words were more lethal.
“I came here tonight, because my own house never felt like my true home. Even drunk and stupid, I knew one place I could go to. Here. To you. So don’t tell me you want me to sleep in the guest bedroom tonight.”
Chapter 4
Daniel’s intense golden gaze reminded Chad he was not dealing with just any dominant werewolf but an Alpha. A dangerous predator, one Chad wanted to devour him whole. He could feel it, Daniel’s dick nearly spilling out of those cotton boxers.
God. When he emerged from the bathroom and heard Daniel talking to his dad, he’d been a little annoyed. They spoke about him like he was still a kid. Then Chad only took one look at Daniel, wearing just those boxers, and he became tongue-tied. He didn’t even know how they ended up like this, with Daniel pressing him against the wall.
Chad didn’t mind one bit. Could the Alpha get any sexier? Chad trailed his hand from Daniel’s face to touch Daniel’s impressive chest, but the Alpha caught his fingers. He drew a sharp breath.
“I love you,” Chad repeated, just in case Daniel didn’t hear him. Most likely, Daniel chose to ignore his confession, but the Alpha hadn’t pulled away. Daniel hadn’t suggested the guest bedroom again. A good sign.
Daniel growled softly. “Don’t throw those words easily around.”
“I don’t,” Chad said simply. “I only reserve them for you.”
“It’s late,” Daniel said, finally letting him go. Disappointment hit him as Daniel took a few steps away from him.
“Can I sleep here?” Chad asked. A bold move, but if he didn’t make these decisions, they would be going nowhere. Now that he knew Daniel wanted him as well, Chad’s energy was revitalized. He had an Alpha to win.
If only Daniel stopped holding himself back and being so damn honorable, then things would be so much easier.
“Fine,” Daniel muttered, to his complete surprise. “You can take the bed.”
“Really? Nice.” Since he knew Daniel wasn’t going to make any moves on him tonight, Chad ran up to the bed and jumped on it. He could feel Daniel’s disapproving stare even without looking at him.
Chad lifted the comforter and slipped in. Ah. Heaven. The pillows and sheets, they all smelled like Daniel. Like his Alpha. He wiggled and gave Daniel his best pouting look. “You sure you don’t want to join me?”
“Certain.” Daniel grabbed a robe from his closet. A pity, because Chad could no longer ogle Daniel’s ripped body. Daniel put the robe on and sunk into arm chair next to the bed.
“That doesn’t look comfortable.”
“You took my bed. Want to trade?”
Wow. Was Daniel actually joking with him? Chad would even go so far as to call it flirting.
“I can sit on your lap,” he suggested.
“You’re incorrigible.”
“Ooh. Never had an older man use that word to describe me before. It’s really hot.” Oh crap. He wished he could take back those words. Older man. Chad had just reminded Daniel about their age differences.
Daniel continued to stare at him.
“I thought you’d be home earlier,” Chad finally said.
He might be too much. A few of the guys he dated in the past said he needed to change his personality. Chad knew sometimes he could be overwhelming. A turn-off as his ex told him the day they split up. His ex. Chad could barely remember the guy’s name, especially when he had the attention of an Alpha who was his every definition of a real manly man.
“Today’s special.”
It took Chad a few seconds to process Daniel’s words. Friday. He silently counted the days of the month in his head and swallowed. It was Teri’s death anniversary. He remembered Max mentioning it a few days ago. How could Chad forget?
He sobered up, recalled being eleven years old again. Allan had dragged him to the funeral. He didn’t even want to go, had some excuse or another. For some reason or another, his father had left him alone to speak with Ben. It was only him and Daniel in that funeral parlor. Chad remembered the Alpha looked so sad, broken.
“I’m sorry,” he finally said. Chad felt like the world’s biggest insensitive jerk.
“For what?” Daniel sounded genuinely confused.
“Being a jerk. You didn’t need to de
al with me right now, but you took care of me.”
“Teri died a long time ago, Chad. These visits, they’ve become a habit of mine. Taking care of others is what an Alpha does.”
Who takes care of you? Chad kept his mouth shut.
Chad wasn’t convinced. Daniel wasn’t a hundred percent fine. He wanted to get out of the bed, comfort Daniel. Give the Alpha a hug, but he’d already acted too much of a brat tonight. A spoiled, insensitive ass. He couldn’t turn back the clock. Chad had to somehow make it up to Daniel.
“Look at me. I nearly did the unthinkable just now after visiting the grave of my dead mate.” Daniel let out a dry laugh. “I’m despicable.”
“No, you’re not. I’m the one at fault. I practically threw myself at you.”
“Let’s not play the blame game,” Daniel finally said. “Get some sleep, Chad. You’ll feel better in the morning.”
“My feelings for you remain the same,” he said.
Daniel said nothing to that. Chad didn’t think he’d be able to fall asleep, but Daniel’s pillows were so soft. He memorized the scent of the man he loved, hugged a pillow, and pretended it was Daniel. In minutes, Chad drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Daniel couldn’t sleep, not when temptation lay close at hand. He watched Chad for a few moments. Chad, it turned out, was a complete bed hogger. Chad pushed the comforter away and lay like a starfish, with his limbs spread out. The submissive werewolf started to snore and continued to hug one of his pillows.
He looked on enviously. It would be easy, to join Chad, gather Chad close to his chest. He bet Chad would be a perfect fit in his arms. Teri would’ve approved of Chad, he knew. Teri was a rare soul. She would’ve have wanted him to move on, find a new reason to live. Daniel always knew he was bisexual. Teri knew it as well before they started even dating.
