by Lynn Lorenz
“You could always try your hand in the cage, like you were saying,” Tor said. “You could win one.”
Ashland shook his head. “No, that’s all just talk. I’m not meant for the cages. Stoltz only lets me spar, and that works for me. Guess I’m just used to getting it whenever and wherever I can.” He shrugged, and then he stepped up to Tor and slapped him on the back. “Keep him safe, Tor. He’s something special.”
Tor nodded. Sky was special, and Tor knew he was only just beginning to see how much.
Tor wasn’t embarrassed about the blowjob. When werewolves and mates were involved, sex was always present. There in the sparring area, mates would fuck, sometimes in the cage, sometimes out of it. A guy going down on him was nothing new to Tor, except this time, Sky was doing it, not Jin.
A sharp pang of guilt hit Tor, and for a moment, he had to look away from Sky.
“I’ve got another spar booked later, but I’m not going to be worth shit now,” Ashland said, breaking Tor’s thoughts. He waved and stalked away, followed by Stoltz.
Marrack, flushed and shaky, fell into a chair. His eyes were dark, wide, fully aroused, as his prick strained his trousers. Tor could smell it in the air around Marrack. He hadn’t come, but he was close.
“What’s wrong, boss? Turn you on?” Tor grinned as he pulled Sky in under his arm. Despite knowing Marrack didn’t do cocks, he wasn’t surprised his owner had gotten hard. Still, owner or not, no one was getting close to Sky—not if he could help it.
Marrack caught his breath as he rubbed his prick through his clothing. “I’m not gay, but maybe I should have saved him for myself.”
“Too late. He’s mine.” Tor growled, knowing that if Marrack wanted Sky, he had every right as his owner to fuck him, and there was nothing Tor could do about it. Not without being punished or killed.
He strode over to his loincloth, put it on, pulled on his boots, and then they headed back toward the doors of the facility where the guards waited to return them to his quarters. “Eat your heart out, Marrack!” he grumbled under his breath.
Sky giggled.
Tor cuffed his head. “Quiet, you.” But he smiled at his boy.
In fact, Tor smiled all the way back to his room.
Chapter Ten
Sky unwrapped the burka before he laid it over a chair, then stepped out of his slippers. He wiped them off, removing the dirt and grime from the hallways off the soles so they wouldn’t be ruined, then laid them next to Tor’s boots. The difference in size between them reminded him how large Tor was compared to him. He liked that difference a lot.
Naked, he climbed into bed, bone tired. He hadn’t fought, yet the mix of excitement, fear, and arousal had exhausted him. Burying himself under the covers, he sighed.
“Come to bed.” Sky pouted as Tor flopped into his recliner.
“In a while. I have to think.” Tor’s face grew stern and sober, very unlike the smiles and laughs Sky had seen from his mate.
“About what? You bested Ashland both times in the cage.”
Tor laughed. “The first time he went easy on me.”
“And the second?” Sky couldn’t believe the other were had let Tor win, not with Sky and the blowjob at stake. He’d seen the hunger in Ashland’s eyes, and so had Tor.
“Well, that was better. But I have a lot of work to do. You do too.”
“I know.” Sky frowned at the reminder. Would he ever be as good as Jin had been in the cage? Probably not. He wouldn’t be around long enough in the first place. Not that he couldn’t be. He could. If he wanted to and if he stayed.
He’d made a deal with Marrack, after all.
“What can I do better?” he asked. He really wanted to know. He wanted Tor to be proud of him.
“Did you feel when he was going to shift?” Tor asked.
“Not at first. I mean, I felt a vibration, but I didn’t know what it meant. You’ve never shifted before.” Sky shrugged. “But once he did, I figured it out.”
“My fault.” Tor sighed. He ran his hand over his face. “I should have shifted for you before we left. Then you would have known.”
“Yes, you should have.” Sky sat up and put his hands in his lap. “Why didn’t you?”
Tor put his head back and his feet up. “Guess I wasn’t thinking clearly. Not with you around.”
“Well, that has to stop. If we’re going to get in the cage and win, you’re going to have to help me better than just throwing me in there without showing me stuff.” Sky huffed, and a piece of his bangs floated upward.
Tor looked at him. “You’re right. I apologize. I should have prepared you better.”
“If we’re going back there tomorrow, perhaps we should start now. I’m ready.”
“Are you?” Tor laughed. “I guess you are.” He straightened and closed the recliner. “First, you need to feel when I or my opponent shifts. Let’s practice.”
“Okay.” Sky sat forward.
Tor stood and walked around the large room. Sky watched and waited for the vibration. His mate paced, and then he felt it.
“Now! You’re shifting!” Sky cried out, pointing at Tor.
The change was almost too quick to see. A wolf, large and black with silver-tipped fur, stood in the room. His mouth opened, and his tongue lolled out. Then he sat on his haunches.
“You’re beautiful, Tor.” Sky got out of bed and went to the wolf. He kneeled in front of it and scratched its ear. The wolf leaned into the touch. “Do you like that?” He scratched the other ear and worked his way under its chin.
The wolf whined and slid down to its belly, stretched out for Sky. He ran his hand over the back of the beast, his fingers going deep into the fur. “You’re so soft, so lovely.”
Sky put his arms around the wolf’s neck and whispered, “I’m so glad you’re mine and I’m yours. You’re the most beautiful wolf I’ve ever seen. Okay, I’ve only seen you and Ashland, but you’re still the most beautiful.”
The wolf licked his cheek, and Sky laughed. “That tickles.” He sat back, and the wolf licked his chest, catching Sky’s nipple and pulling at the chain. “Mmm, that’s nice.” Sky closed his eyes as the wolf worked his slightly rough tongue over Sky’s chest to the other nipple. It took the chain between its bared teeth and gave a gentle pull. Sky moaned, and his cock stiffened.
“I didn’t know you could get me aroused as a wolf.” Sky sighed as the wolf tongued his belly. The wolf-Tor nudged him, and Sky fell backward onto the floor with a sigh, completely submissive. The wolf stood over him, planting its legs on either side of Sky. Then it licked him from his neck downward in slow, long, rough licks, as he worked his way lower on Sky’s body. Each lick felt magical. His skin tingled, and the sensation went straight to his balls, pulling them up toward his body.
Sky’s cock rose and lay on his belly, a string of precum oozing from it. He ran a finger through it and offered it to the wolf.
Tor found the pearl and lapped it up, then lowered his head to taste Sky’s cock. Sky cried out, the feel of his mate’s rough tongue on his prick almost too much to stand. But Tor didn’t stop. Despite Sky’s cries, Tor worked Sky’s shaft with long licks and moved over his balls, nuzzling his nose under them as Sky bent his knees and spread his legs wider apart, snuffling and licking and driving Sky insane with pleasure.
Sky grabbed his cock and pumped. “Lick me, Tor. More.” He held up his cock for the wolf to lick, the head deep red and weeping. The wolf licked it as Sky stroked, and as he humped off the floor, the world exploded, and he came with a shout.
White ropes shot into the air, painting his belly and the wolf’s chest fur.
“Oh, Tor. Oh damn. That was so wicked.” Sky panted as his heart slowed to normal. The wolf grinned, sat, and licked at the sticky spunk on its coat. Sky felt the vibration in the air, closed his eyes, and when he opened them a moment later, Tor kneeled over him, a man again.
“Oh, little one, what you do to me.” Tor pushed Sky’s legs apart, hooked Sky’s
knees over his shoulders, and rubbed the cum from Sky’s chest over his cock to ease the way. Then he sank into Sky with a moan.
“Fuck me!” Sky cried out as Tor worked his way inside. With each push in, Tor withdrew almost all the way out, then sank back in just a little deeper. And with each thrust, he raked over the spot inside Sky, setting him on fire.
“Yes, harder.” Sky grunted as Tor’s hips snapped and jerked. Tor wrapped his arms around Sky’s shoulders, bending low over him until he could claim Sky’s mouth.
They kissed as Tor fucked him, and Sky didn’t think it could get any better than this. Not ever. None of the boys had ever fucked like this, with a man, with a werewolf. With a mate.
Each time Tor fucked Sky, he felt the were claiming him, telling him without words You belong to me and You’re mine.
Tor broke their kiss and gazed into Sky’s eyes. Something lurked there; just under the softness, a thirst burned. One Sky knew he could never quench. He wanted to look away, but at the last moment, Tor took his mouth in a hard kiss. His tongue invaded and owned Sky’s, melting all the resistance with his body.
Sky came again, but this time, all he could let escape was a whimper, too afraid he’d howl at the pain of it, of knowing he’d never be enough for Tor.
Tor came, breaking his kiss to howl his pleasure as he stilled deep inside Sky and emptied. Warmth filled Sky. This would have to be enough. Tor rolled off Sky and pulled him tight to his chest. Sky wiggled his butt into place against his mate. He closed his eyes and sighed.
“None of that. Let’s get into bed.” Tor laughed, slapped him on the ass, and got up.
“No. Don’t want to.” Sky pouted, content to stay where he was.
“In bed, boy,” Tor ordered. When Sky didn’t move, he growled, scooped Sky up into his arms, and carried him to bed. Sky grinned. He’d gotten just what he wanted from Tor, and Tor knew it.
“Put me down,” Sky ordered with a jerk of his nose in the air.
Tor frowned, held him out, and dropped him onto the bed.
Sky squeaked as he fell, then bounced. He scrambled to get under the covers and in his place before Tor did.
Once the big man had settled, he reached out, grabbed Sky by the waist, and pulled him to his chest. No asking, just doing it. Sky might have felt slighted, but what he felt was a wonderful sense of belonging to this man.
“Let’s nap. When we wake up, I’ll feed you,” Tor mumbled, his breath ruffling Sky’s hair.
“Good, I’ll be very hungry then.” Sky nodded and put his hands over Tor’s arm.
“Marrack should have some good meat sent around tomorrow, and we’ll have the best dinner you’ve ever had,” Tor promised.
“If you cook it, I’m sure it will be wonderful.”
Tor laughed. “You’re easy to please.”
Sky shrugged. Everything there was so much better than in his harem. It wasn’t hard to enjoy the benefits of being a cage-fighting werewolf’s mate. Especially a champion like Tor.
He closed his eyes, safe and warm in his mate’s hold.
»»•««
That evening after they awoke, Tor fixed a delicious dinner, and they sat at the table and ate. He’d been careful to select foods he thought Sky would enjoy, but it didn’t seem to matter. Sky ate everything as if he’d never tasted food before in his life. The boy was nothing if not enthusiastic.
“Will you teach me to fight?” Sky asked.
Tor snapped his head up and looked at his mate. “Why?”
Sky shrugged. “I just thought maybe if I had more muscles, I could help in the cage.”
“No.” Tor shook his head. “Mates don’t fight.”
“Is there a rule against it? I thought in cage fights there were no rules.” The stubborn set of Sky’s jaw made Tor want to burst out laughing.
“No, no rules.” He continued to eat.
“Well, maybe they should fight.” Sky pushed the potatoes on his plate around, his bottom lip pouting like a child’s.
Tor put down his knife and fork and folded his arms on the table. “What’s brought all this about?”
“I just think you’re acting as if all I can do is stand there and direct you. I can…I can do more, that’s all.” Sky stared at him. “In the cage, you use everything at your disposal, your body, your wits, and your skill. Maybe you should use your mate too.”
Tor sat back. His first reaction was to scoff at the idea, but then he thought about it. What harm could it do to show Sky a few moves?
“Let’s get this clear. First—you’re not fighting in the cage. Second—I like your body just the way it is. You don’t need more muscles to make me happy, or be stronger, or…well, change in any way. However, if you really want to learn to defend yourself, I can show you how.” He pushed his chair back and stood.
Sky smiled up at him as if he’d just given the boy the best gift in the world, his freedom. The urge to make Sky smile like that all the time hit Tor, nearly knocking his knees from under him.
Then Sky jumped up, came around the table, and threw his arms around Tor.
“Thank you.”
Tor laughed, the sound rumbling around the room, reminding him it had been a long time since he’d heard that sound. He put Sky away from him, and they went to the corner where his punching bag hung.
“First thing, take a fighting stance. Like this.” Tor stood with his feet apart, knees slightly bent, arms flexed, fists raised close to his face.
Sky mimicked him.
“Good.” Tor nodded. “Now, get onto the balls of your feet. You have to be able to move and react quickly, and you can’t do that flat-footed.” Tor demonstrated a few steps, which Sky followed. “Okay. Looking good.”
“When you throw a punch, put your whole body into it, not just your arm.” Tor showed him a proper punch, hitting the bag with a satisfying thump, sending it rocking back and forth.
Sky danced around, staying on his toes, then punched. The bag swung away as he extended his arm, and he completely missed it. He’d punched so hard, he stumbled.
“See, that’s because you didn’t time it right. Timing is everything. You weren’t watching the bag swing.” Tor knocked the bag, setting it in motion. “Watch it, feel the timing inside.”
Sky nodded, his body swaying back and forth in time with the bag. He tensed; then as the bag traveled toward him, he swung and landed a hit. “Oof!” he barked out. Then he winced and shook his hand. “That hurt!”
“Yeah, forgot to warn you about that.” Tor scratched his head, but his eyes smiled.
“You forget a lot of things.” Sky frowned, licking his knuckles. Tor took the boy’s hand and brought it to his face to check it out.
“Nothing broken.” He let it drop. “Let’s try it again. If you learn how to throw a punch, it might come in handy someday.” He shrugged.
“I could punch a challenger right in the nose!” Sky mimicked hitting himself in the face and staggered around, then fell to the floor.
Tor roared with laughter. “No, you don’t fight.”
Sky sat up, hands on his hips. “Why not? I could learn. I could help you.”
“I said no.”
“But why won’t you let me try? I can do it. If you gave me a chance, you’d see,” Sky argued.
Tor had had enough. He bent down, grabbed Sky by the arm, and hoisted him to his feet. “Any werewolf who gets in the ring with me will be my size, boy. My size! I fight in my weight class. You”—he jabbed a finger into Sky’s chest—“are more than sixty pounds lighter than I am.”
“So?” Sky set his brow low over his eyes, and for the first time, Tor could see the stubborn streak in the boy a mile wide.
Tor knew the time for words was over. Time for action. He let Sky go. “Defend yourself,” he barked out.
Sky put his hands up. Tor leaned forward, swung, and caught Sky in the face with a light tap. The boy fell backward, blood spurting from his nose, and landed on his ass.
“That is why. I b
arely tapped you, Sky, and you’re laid out. If I had really hit you, your jaw would have been shattered.” Tor kneeled next to Sky and helped him to sit up.
Sky’s bottom lip quivered, and tears welled and spilled. “You hit me,” he sobbed, holding his nose as blood oozed between his fingers. Tor felt like shit, but he had to do it. Sky had to understand.
“I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen, so I had to show you. You’re no match for a werewolf in a fight. Get it out of your head you can fight in the cage.” Tor stood and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a towel, some ice, wrapped it up, then returned to Sky.
“Here, hold this on it. Lean your head back.”
Sky jerked away from him, snatched the ice pack, and got to his feet.
“I hate you,” he spat out, then ran for the bathroom and slammed the door.
Chapter Eleven
Tor exhaled and ran his hand through his hair, grabbing a handful and tugging on it.
Had Jin ever been like this? No, not even in the beginning. He’d been reasonable, not a brat. Older too, and with some experience in the cage with his first mate, a were who’d been injured and couldn’t fight anymore. Jin’s owner had offered him for sale, and Marrack had bought him for Tor.
But Sky? He was brat all the way. Way too young and inexperienced. A stubborn brat, but a brat who turned Tor on, and who’d given him a reason to fight again.
A pang of guilt hit Tor. Sky had been protected, sheltered from real life, as both a slave and as a virgin. All of this was new to him, and Tor should be glad the young man was eager to learn, not pissed because he stirred protective feelings in Tor, and feelings of failure. And it was the latter Tor knew had pushed him too far. He’d never struck Jin, had never needed to, but Sky? He’d needed the lesson.
Hadn’t he?
Tor dragged himself to the door of the bathroom and leaned against it.
“Sky? Come out. I’m sorry I hit you. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Tor was a big man, big enough to know he needed to make this right with his new mate. If they were ever going to stand in the cage together, they had to get past this…whatever this was.
