Too Hot to Handle

by Fel Fern

  Who knew that years after her death, Daniel be able to feel something for another again?

  I love you. Chad had uttered those words without hesitation. The boy was dangerous. Boy. What a laugh. Chad was clearly an adult, was only a year older than Max. Twenty-two. When Daniel was that age, he didn’t even know what he wanted.

  He could dismiss Chad’s confession as nothing more than infatuation, but deep down, he also knew the truth.

  Mate. That four-letter word haunted him. His wolf taunted him, berated him for being so stupid. Chad had been within his reach. So ripe for the taking. Chad wouldn’t even resist. His little wolf would yield, submit to him so sweetly. Easy pickings.

  Daniel didn’t like the thought of other men sniffing around Chad. Once he put his mate mark on Chad, no one would dare look at Chad wrong, knowing they had to deal with him. Daniel had a reputation for dispensing his enemies without mercy.

  He rose from the stiff chair, decided he needed a drink of water. Maybe he’d splash some on his face. The cold would jolt him awake. He was loath to leave the room and Chad, but he did so anyway. He left the room quietly, closed the door with care, only to find Ben waiting for him.

  “It’s late,” he said with a growl.

  “Chad’s in your bed.” Ben pointed out unhelpfully.

  “I didn’t touch him if that’s what you’re wondering,” he snapped.

  Daniel was being defensive, a touch possessive. He couldn’t help it. His own wolf felt grumpy, pissed-off they’d denied themselves of their mate. He’s not my mate yet, Daniel reminded himself.

  “There’s plenty of spare rooms upstairs,” Ben said.

  “Why are you even here? You needed to discuss something with me?” he demanded. A childish move, changing the topic, but his Beta remained unfazed.

  “If Allan Watson finds out you’re interested in his only son, his alliance with our pack will go up in smoke.”

  Daniel clenched his jaw. Ben didn’t need to remind him of the stakes. Daniel knew them himself. Then again, he relied on Ben for his honesty. That was why Ben was Beta. Someone had to keep the Alpha in line. Hell, he stayed away from Chad for those very reasons, for hurting the ones he loved and swore to protect.

  What about what Chad and he wanted though?

  “I’ll deal with Allan when the time comes.” Daniel acknowledged.

  “You’d risk the fate of the entire pack for temporary infatuation?”

  Daniel shoved Ben violently against the wall and snarled into Ben’s face, flashing his teeth. “If you realize your best friend’s son is your mate, what would you do? Can you walk away?”

  Chapter 5

  Chad heard voices outside Daniel’s room. He rubbed at his eyes. Lying in Daniel’s sheets felt too good to be true. Heavenly. He didn’t want to get up. Chad could roll in Daniel’s scent all day. Curiosity got the better of him. Slipping out of the bed, he padded towards the front door. He pressed his ear to the wood.

  “Your mate?” Ben’s shocked voice.

  “That’s right. Do you think I haven’t tried to talk my way out of the truth over the years? Chad appearing tonight isn’t sheer coincidence.”

  “What is it then?”

  “Fate.”

  Chad heard Ben swear in the background.

  “Alpha, all of us kept hoping that you’d eventually move on from your loss, but with him?”

  “It’s late, Ben. There’s a little wolf listening in our conversation. We’ll talk more tomorrow.” At Daniel’s words, Chad ran back to the bed. He slipped under the sheets again. The door opened, and he closed his eyes, pretended to sleep again.

  “If I don’t claim you soon, it’s going to drive me mad,” Daniel said quietly, before shutting the door again.

  The Alpha had left again.

  Chad curled on his side, watched the door just in case Daniel returned. He didn’t. Chad got out of bed again. If him being here caused Daniel pain, if he was such a bother, shouldn’t he leave?

  The thought didn’t sit well with his wolf. He walked to the window facing Daniel’s bed and looked out. Daniel’s room had a view of the extensive property, a mini forest outside. Sensing someone watching him, Chad looked at the dark cluster of trees. He thought he spotted a pair of green-gold eyes, a flash of dark chocolate-brown fur, and the outline of an enormous muscled wolf.

  His Alpha.

  Daniel disappeared into the trees. Out of sight, but not out of mind.

  “He’s not my Alpha, my anything yet,” he reminded his wolf. His heart yearned to be down there, running alongside Daniel in these woods.

  Chad belonged to his father’s pack, but he always felt like a stranger there, an inconvenience. He knew his dad wished he’d been born a dominant werewolf, a pack protector, not a weak submissive werewolf. Then again, Chad had always been a disappointment. He wasn’t particularly good at anything. Not at school, at running a business, although God knew his father tried.

  Some days, he felt so lost, like his life had no meaning. So he wasted himself away, hanging around expensive clubs with superficial people like himself. People with too much time and money on their hands. Another reason why he envied Max. Max at least had found new purpose in his life. He was happy for Grant and Max, but he resented Grant a little, because his best friend was changing so quickly in front of his eyes.

  If he became Daniel’s mate, what would that be like?

  He definitely needed to change his entire lifestyle. Becoming an Alpha’s mate also came with plenty of responsibilities. Was Chad even ready for that? An Alpha and his mate needed to take care of the pack. Chad could barely take care of himself. He was a screw-up.

  Chad could, however, envision Daniel and him moving somewhere. Perhaps a charming little town, far away from the chaos and politics of the city. A nice thought. An impossible one.

  He scoffed. “As if Daniel’s going to mate me anytime soon.”

  Daniel should shake off the guilt and just claim him. Live in the present. They’d think about the consequences later. Daniel had acknowledged to Ben that Chad was his mate, but the Alpha was as honorable as they come. Chad gripped the windowsill, tried to look for Daniel again, but he only saw trees.

  He lingered by the window a few moments, before climbing back to bed. Chad tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Still no Daniel. The Alpha was still probably out there, running himself ragged. Trying to forget him?

  Eventually, overthinking wore him out. Chad let sleep take him.

  * * * *

  The smell of freshly made waffles woke Chad up. His stomach growled as he sat up and spotted Daniel, entering the room with a tray of food and coffee. Chad released the breath he’d been holding. Not a dream.

  He really did sleep in Daniel’s bed the night before. That also meant Daniel spent hours in wolf form, trying to outrun his desire for Chad.

  “Morning. You feeling better?”

  “I am.”

  “Good.”

  “I had a nightmare,” Chad said, as Daniel used a foot to close the door behind him. “That I’d wake up to find you gone. You only left a note, telling me a driver’s waiting for me to drive me back home.”

  “Your father’s expecting you,” Daniel said unhelpfully, placing the tray on the side table next to the bed.

  This morning, Daniel only wore a pair of worn-in jeans, nothing else. Chad licked his lips.

  “I think I like this look more than you wearing your suits,” he said.

  Daniel regarded him with a thoughtful look on his face. Chad wanted to leap at him, climb Daniel like a tree. Then he’d rub himself all over Daniel’s firm, hard muscles. Touch him, except an Alpha only allowed intimate lovers that kind of privilege.

  Daniel took a mug from the tray and sat carefully, at the edge of the bed, far from him. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Aren’t you going to just feed me breakfast and send me back?” he couldn’t help but ask.

  “Last night, you heard me talking with Ben.”


  Chad was about to deny it, then realized, what was the point? “Yeah. I did, but you’re going to act like you usually do.”

  “What’s that?” Daniel took a sip of his coffee.

  God. Chad loved Daniel’s patient tone. Daniel was the quiet kind of man who seldom spoke, but was deadly when provoked. That also made Daniel an incredibly good listener.

  “All honorable and noble.”

  Daniel’s laughter caught him completely off-guard. Chad had never heard Daniel laugh like that before. Ever. “I’m none of those things.”

  “You haven’t touched me, much less kissed me, although you told Ben I was your mate,” Chad grumbled. He took a risk, sat closer to Daniel. The Alpha didn’t move an inch, didn’t stand when their shoulders touched. “Did you change your mind? Do you find me undesirable?”

  Chad never had any problems with men before, human, shifter, or other. They usually flirted with him and he flirted back. Easy as pie, except none of those men were Daniel. Daniel reached out, used his fingers to tip his chin.

  The Alpha’s touch burned, made him swallow. So close. Daniel’s face wasn’t one he’d normally consider pretty or typically handsome. His Alpha was hard and rough all over. One touch and Chad was becoming horny.

  “It’s the exact opposite,” Daniel told him. Then Alpha finally leaned in close to kiss him. No. Daniel didn’t kiss. He took without apology, leaving Chad gasping. He gripped Daniel’s muscled shoulder, kissed him back fervently.

  Daniel plundered his mouth, stuck his tongue down Chad’s throat, and rammed heat down his throat. Yes, he silently thought. That fire went all the way to his balls and thickening cock.

  All his doubts disappeared. Any logical thought emptied out. Daniel clutched at his shirt. One powerful jerk and the fabric tore. He moaned into Daniel’s mouth as Daniel pushed him back down on the bed so Chad lay on his back. The Alpha moved his hand down his tattered shirt to touch skin.

  Chad’s body felt feverish, his dick full and already leaking pre-cum. Daniel moved his fingers to the hem of his shorts. The Alpha shredded that too, leaving him completely naked.

  Daniel pinned his arms above his head, kissed him again. This time, it was slow, tender. Daniel pulled back, breathing hard.

  “Don’t stop.” Chad pleaded. “Please. Aren’t you sick of denying yourself? Last night, you escaped into the skin of your wolf. You must’ve decided something about me, about us.”

  “There is no us yet,” Daniel said. “But there will be.”

  Those words made his heart leap. “Truly? Because I’ll say it again. You’re the only man for me, Daniel Shepard. Always.”

  Daniel loosened his grip on his wrists. “Keep your hands there while I taste you.”

  This was it, Chad thought. All his fantasies were coming to life. He kept his hands obediently above his head as Daniel spoiled him with kisses. Daniel nipped, kissed his way down his chest, belly. Daniel closed his mouth over his dick and sucked softly on the tip. Chad groaned, lifting his hips off the mattress, but the Alpha only kept him in place with those strong hands.

  The Alpha traced his shaft from base to root with his tongue. Chad groaned, pleaded as Daniel opened his mouth wider and sucked on him slowly, carefully, like he was a sweet treat. He could’ve come right there and then, died and gone to heaven.

  Daniel lifted his head to gaze down at him. Chad’s heart nearly stopped as he spotted Daniel’s pure, gold eyes, his slightly lengthened fangs.

  “You’re not leaving this room,” Daniel said with a growl. “Not until I claim you in every single way.”

  Chad climaxed, painting Daniel’s stomach and abs with his cum.

  Chapter 6

  Fuck, seeing Chad undone only hardened his resolve. How could he have denied himself, them, for so long?

  If Chad showed any sign of hesitation, of having second thoughts, he’d back away immediately. Daniel had the discipline, the control of an experienced Alpha. Chad showed no signs of resistance. Only compliance. Submission.

  His blood roared in his ears. His cock felt like a steel pipe between his legs.

  “Yes,” Chad murmured. He could hear Chad’s thundering heartbeats, smell Chad’s need, mingling with his own. “Do it. Please. Fuck me.”

  That last word undid him. Daniel flipped Chad on his hands and knees. He got off the bed, got rid of his jeans. Chad didn’t need an order. The submissive werewolf planted himself right at the edge of the bed. Chad lowered his chest and shoulders into the sheets, pushed his ass higher, for Daniel’s easy penetration.

  Too easy. Then again, Chad would give himself to Daniel like this. Daniel didn’t share, and he’d rip apart any man who so much as looked at Chad, at what rightfully belonged to him, wrong.

  Daniel growled softly in appreciation. He was forgetting one more thing. Lube. Daniel made a quick trip to the bathroom, grabbed the lube and towels. Returning to Chad, he placed the towel underneath Chad. He slicked up his fingers, drizzled more lubrication down Chad’s crack. He pushed one digit in, then another.

  Chad mewled for him, squirmed.

  Daniel wanted to plow him, but he gritted his teeth. He wasn’t exactly small, and hurting Chad was the last thing he wanted. Patience, he told himself. They’d waited this long. Daniel had told Chad to think things over last night, but Chad reassured him his feelings remained the same. In the end, it was Daniel who kept stalling but not anymore.

  “Hurry, Alpha.”

  “Be patient.” Daniel gave Chad’s ass a playful swat.

  “Oh no. That’s only turning me on.”

  “Naughty little wolf.”

  He made twisting motions, pulled his digits out. Daniel gave Chad a few more playful slaps on the ass, decided he liked his handprints all over Chad’s smooth skin. He bit Chad lightly on the ass, which only made Chad groan. Daniel gripped Chad’s hips and angled his cock into Chad’s hole.

  He pushed in, met a little bit of resistance. Daniel urged himself to go in slow and steady, although the thought of plunging arose. No. Daniel gritted his teeth. Once he pushed past the thick ring of stubborn muscle, the passage went easier. Smoother. Chad groaned and clawed the sheets in front of him. Daniel finally seated himself fully inside Chad’s ass.

  “So tight, so good,” he murmured. He snarled when Chad’s ass muscles clamped on his dick hard. At this rate, Daniel didn’t think he’d last long. No matter. It looked like Chad was the same.

  “And you’re so big,” Chad said. “Take me, Daniel.”

  “I’m going to make you fly,” he promised.

  “Counting on it.”

  Daniel began to thrust in and out of Chad, settled on a rhythm which suited them both. Chad panted, groaned as Daniel picked up the pace. His cock felt full, close to bursting, but he was far from done.

  Sweat coated their bodies as Daniel pumped in and out of his mate. His mate. Those two words resonated deeply inside of him. About time, his wolf whispered. Screw what came after. Daniel had lost himself in his wolf hours before, only to come to a single clear conclusion.

  Chad was born to become his. When his first mate died, Daniel didn’t think he’d ever be able to find love again, yet here he was. This was his second chance. Daniel didn’t intend to screw it up. Chad was a gift, a treasure, and Daniel wasn’t about to let him go of him. Ever.

  Each time he penetrated Chad, Daniel could almost touch Chad’s soul, pure and beautiful. Daniel might not be worthy of such a prize, but there was no turning back. Not ever. He put himself on this path, knowing there was no return, but it was his right to take Chad as his mate. It didn’t matter what everyone else thought.

  “Right there!”

  Daniel must’ve hit Chad’s sweet spot, because the submissive werewolf arched his back and let out a whimper. He focused on Chad’s prostate, slid one hand between Chad’s legs to begin working Chad’s cock, which was already rock-hard. Daniel’s balls tightened against his body. All his muscles tensed up. Daniel was ready to blow his load. Not long now bef
ore Chad came either.

  He pounded Chad’s ass, working Chad’s prick at the same time. His mate let out a gasp, then came, screaming out Daniel’s name, the sound music to his ears. Daniel continued hammering in and out of Chad, until the pressure inside him broke open.

  Daniel let out a growl and emptied out his jizz into Chad’s waiting ass.

  He pulled his softening prick out, used the towel to clean them both up before joining Chad in bed. He sat up against the pillows, pleased Chad flashed him a shy smile before snuggling close to him, resting his head on the curve of Daniel’s shoulder. Chad rested the palm of his hand over his left pectoral, as if his mate wanted to feel his heart. The heart that beat for Chad.

  Not his mate yet, Daniel reminded himself. He moved his gaze to the sensitive line of skin between Chad’s shoulder and neck. Daniel could feel his fangs lengthening, knew his eyes were probably bright yellow by now. Both the man and wolf in him looked upon their mate.

  Want surged through him like an electric storm. Possession took hold of him as he leaned in close, brushed the sharp tips of his fangs against the spot. Chad bared his neck to him, made it easier.

  “Yes, Alpha. Please. Make me yours.”

  Daniel plunged his teeth deep into the side of Chad’s neck. Chad dug his nails into his skin hard but didn’t pull away. Daniel could feel his wolf, reaching out for Chad’s own inner beast.

  For a second, Daniel wondered if he failed. He’d lost his mate before, didn’t think he’d ever be able to find another, but the mating bond came to life, joined both his and Chad’s life forces as once. Daniel breathed hard as he pulled his mouth away and licked the blood that lingered on his lips.

  “Your turn,” he said.

  Chad opened his mouth and bit him on his left shoulder. Daniel could sense it, the ties that bound him to Chad. He also felt the surprise of the other werewolves linked to him though the pack bonds. Daniel wasn’t worried. They trusted their Alpha and would come to terms with Daniel’s decision. Besides, Daniel didn’t intend to remain Alpha for long.