by Lynn Lorenz
Muffled sobs. The water ran in the sink.
“Let me in. I can take care of you.”
The water turned off, and Tor held his breath.
“Go away.” Sky’s voice sounded strangled and nasal. Tor didn’t think he’d broken the boy’s nose, but…
“If you don’t let me help you, your nose could wind up with a bump or sideways.” Perhaps Sky was just vain enough to put his looks before his pride.
The lock snapped, and the door opened. Sky held the ice pack to his face. “Do you think?” Large, liquid blue eyes gazed over the pack at Tor, and Tor’s heart just melted.
He surged into the bathroom, gathering Sky into his arms. “Here. Let me look.” Sky released the pack to him and leaned against the sink so Tor could get a better look at his nose.
“Is it broken?” His pretty pink tongue flicked over his bottom lip in worry, and Tor wanted to catch it, suck it into his mouth, flick his tongue against it.
Instead he checked Sky’s nose out. “No. Just a little bruised. Your eye might blacken. The bleeding’s stopped, and there’s no sign of a break.”
Sky looked stricken. “Blacken?”
“Maybe not. We’ll have to see.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Sky looked at Tor as if he held the world in his hands.
“Afraid not.” Tor shrugged. He pulled Sky back into his arms. “Sky, have you ever been hit before?” He’d figured the boy had been pampered, but he had no idea what the training for a sex slave would be like. Tor’s youth in the litters had been rough-and-tumble to say the least.
Sky shook his head. “I was whipped once, a long time ago. I’ve been good… I’ll be good. You’ll see.” Now it sounded as if Sky feared him, feared another…beating? Was that what he’d done?
Oh fuck.
“Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I wasn’t punishing you, Sky. I wanted to show you how pointless and dangerous it was for you to think you could fight in the cage with me.” He held Sky’s shoulders and gazed deep into hurt-filled eyes. “I would never hurt you. Never.”
“Some owners beat—”
“I’m not your owner, Sky. Marrack owns you, just like he owns me. He has the right to do whatever he wants with both of us. You and me? We’re the same—slaves. But he knows he’d have to go through me to get to you, and I won’t ever let that happen.”
“We’re mates.” The look of hope in Sky’s eyes just about killed Tor.
“That’s right. Mates. We’re in this together, so get used to it.” Tor gave him a wink and a soft caress on his cheek.
Sky closed his eyes and leaned into Tor’s touch. “This isn’t at all like what I thought it would be.” He spoke into Tor’s chest.
“Being with me?”
Sky nodded. “A werewolf. A mate.”
“Yeah, well. I can be a pain in the ass. You’ll learn I’m not perfect.”
“I’m a brat,” Sky confessed with a sigh.
“I noticed.” Tor laughed. “So over the next month, we’ll be training together, living together, and we’ll get to know each other. I promise it’ll get better.”
Sky nodded. He touched his nose, grimaced, then gave Tor a hesitant smile.
“Now, will you come to bed? It’s almost time for lights out.” Tor stepped aside to let Sky pass.
The boy shimmied past him, silver chains dancing and singing. Tor’s cock awoke to the music, and he followed his mate to the bed.
Sky climbed in, holding the covers up for Tor in an invitation to his own bed. Tor’s laugh rumbled as he slid in next to his mate. Sky’s hand slid down Tor’s chest until he reached Tor’s cock, jutting stiffly under the covers.
Tor reached out and stilled Sky’s hand. “No. Tonight, I want to please you. Learn what you like.” He gave Sky a kiss on the end of his nose.
“Me?” Sky’s eyebrows rose.
“Yes. Mates, remember. We please each other.” Tor slipped his hand down to grasp Sky’s dick, just as stiff and hard as his own. Sky whimpered, closed his eyes, and pushed his cock into Tor’s hand. “You like that?”
Sky nodded and pushed again.
Tor leaned over, pushing Sky onto his back, and ran his tongue over Sky’s chest. When he reached those pierced, chained nipples, he laved them as Sky writhed and gasped.
“So responsive. Is that the training or me?” Tor wanted to know how deep he should let himself get in this, because if this was just Sky’s training doing all the responding, Tor needed to know. Needed to keep his heart out of this.
“Training?” Sky gasped as Tor plucked at one nipple, catching the ring between his teeth and tugging.
“It’s all right. I can handle that.” And Tor would. He could keep this all on a mutual-pleasure level. After all, he’d already had love with Jin. This would be comfortable. No emotions. Just sex.
“Nothing in my training prepared me for this…for you,” Sky breathed against Tor’s skin.
Tor smiled, despite his decision to keep this casual, but it pleased him to know he turned Sky on. Or maybe Sky had been taught to say that, and other things, to please his owner?
With a trained sex slave, how could you ever know? How could you trust? Each move, each sound, all trained. Just like his years of fighting. Every move trained into him until it was second nature.
He let go of the chain, and Sky gave a frustrated growl. His little brat sounded like a young wolf cub being denied. Tor liked that. Obviously, so did Sky.
“Put your hands over your head. Grab the headboard,” Tor ordered.
Sky obeyed, and Tor couldn’t help but notice the gleam in his brat’s eyes.
“Keep your hands there, don’t move them. You can’t touch me. You can’t come. Not unless I give you permission. Understand?” Tor ran his hands over Sky’s arms, making sure his mate had a firm grip on the bars.
Sky’s back arched as he tried to brush against Tor’s body. “No. Lie down. I’ll give you what you want, Sky. What you need.”
“I need you.”
“You’ll get me. It’s just going to be…prolonged.” Tor chuckled. Then he returned to Sky’s chains, tugging on the one that linked both nipples and giving it a jerk.
Sky cried out, his cock lying against his belly, dripping precum. His feet dug into the bed, his muscles tensed and taut. God, he was gorgeous.
Tor let the chain go, then skimmed his tongue down Sky’s belly, lower and lower, until he reached the wetness on his groin. He lapped at the drops, cleaning Sky’s skin, going all around his erection, tasting skin, precum, and the scented oil rubbed into Sky’s body. Tor let his hand drift lower, to caress Sky’s leg, his thigh, over his knee to his calf, as they strained into his touch.
“Tor,” Sky whimpered. “Please.”
Tor looked up. Sky’s cock, swollen to near bursting, balls drawn tight, sac wrinkled, all signs Sky was ready to come. But not yet.
“Don’t come. Not until I give you permission.” To warn him, Tor flicked his finger at Sky’s nipple, and the boy howled in pleasure. His hands, now white-knuckled, kept hold of the bars of the headboard, but his head tossed and turned with the effort of keeping his orgasm at bay.
Tor loved the way it felt to have such power over his mate. Sky was a true submissive, even if he had that bratty streak. To have this control? It was a gift, really. Sky gave him the control, and Tor gave Sky the chance to submit. They both got what they needed.
There was no way in hell Marrack had known Sky would be so perfect for Tor. No way. Tor hadn’t even realized it, not until this moment.
Sky had been born for him. Meant for Tor.
Tor growled low and deep, his mouth against Sky’s chest. Sky quieted, panting but not moving. Waiting for Tor to give him permission.
Chapter Twelve
Tor finally, finally, took Sky’s cock into his mouth, and Sky nearly exploded from the sheer pleasure of it.
“Please,” he begged. The urge to come had grown into a monster, threatening to overpower
Sky, but he fought back and mastered it. Tor wouldn’t let him suffer. He’d give the command, and Sky would be saved.
The warmth of Tor’s mouth surrounded Sky’s cock. He loved being sucked. Back in the harem, among the other boys and while doing his training, this was the most contact he’d been allowed. Now with Tor, he finally knew what it felt like to fuck, and that had been such an incredible moment.
Sky pumped into Tor’s mouth, but Tor held him down onto the bed. Each slow drag up and slide down felt as if someone had turned up the heat in Sky’s body, the warmth spreading outward from his dick, setting his body on fire.
Tor ran his hands over Sky’s thighs, forcing them apart so he could settle between them. He popped off Sky’s cock, then swallowed one tight ball into his mouth.
“Oh, yes!” Sky cried out. “Please, Tor. Soon.” The ache in his balls wasn’t soothed, especially when Tor switched to the other ball and sucked on it.
He let it go and returned to lap the precum leaking from Sky’s dick. He hummed, his lips against the head, the sound reverberating through Sky’s body.
Sky stretched, his hands holding tight on the bars, and his heels dug into the mattress of Tor’s bed. Every bit of his body wanted to explode. And all Tor had to do was tell him. Grant him permission. Just one word.
“Now, Sky. Come for me,” Tor whispered, then swallowed down Sky’s shaft.
At Tor’s permission, Sky howled as he leaped off the edge of the cliff he’d been hanging on. He let go, dropping into the abyss, falling, and then he was shooting upward, flying into the heavens, as his body released.
Hot cum spurted into Tor’s mouth as Sky keened his pleasure, but Tor kept sucking it down, swallowing around his tender shaft and sensitive head. It was madness, heaven, and all he wanted to do and to be, all rolled into one.
He collapsed with the last spasm, the last jet of cum, and Tor let his cock slip from his mouth. With a quick lick and a kiss on Sky’s hip, Tor climbed up and pulled Sky into his arms.
“Sleep now. We’ll practice more in the morning. Then we’ll go to the sparring cages.”
Sky, content, drained, exhausted, snuggled against the wall of muscle that was Tor’s body. For a drowsy moment, he thought of his lover. Had he been satisfied? If not, Sky should take care of it.
He reached down to find Tor’s hardness, grasped it, and gave it a tug.
“Not now. I’m fine.” Tor pushed his hand off, and Sky whimpered. “Sleep. You need your rest.”
“But you need…”
“I only need this.” His arms tightened around Sky, and he nuzzled the back of Sky’s neck as he inhaled. “Just this.”
Sky nodded. He closed his eyes and relaxed into Tor. He’d take care of Tor in the morning.
»»•««
The next morning, Sky awoke alone in the bed, the smell of breakfast filling his nostrils.
“Tor?” He sat up, pushing the covers off him.
“Get clean first, and we’ll eat.”
Tor stood in the kitchen, at the stove, cooking. He already wore his leather loincloth, but his feet were bare. How long had he been awake?
And how long had he let Sky sleep?
Sky scampered to the bathroom and shut the door. He pissed, then took a quick look in the mirror.
“Oh, no!” he cried out at the image frowning back at him.
“Sky?” The door opened, and Tor filled the doorway, a scowl on his face. “Are you hurt?”
Sky pointed at the mirror. “My eye!”
Tor glanced at it, then frowned. “It turned. I’m so sorry, Sky.”
Sky peered closer. The darkness around his eye was odd, deep purple in some places and a sort of sickly green in others. “How long will it look like this?”
“Maybe a week.” Tor shrugged. “It’s not so bad.” Tor’s voice told Sky that Tor deeply regretted dealing the blow, and all Sky wanted to do was comfort him.
He wrapped his arms around Tor. “It’ll be okay. I really did deserve it.”
“No, you didn’t.” Tor’s mouth formed a hard line, and his eyes held that same hardness they’d had the first time Sky had met him, just a few days ago. “I was out of line.” He pushed Sky away. “Get finished, and let’s eat.” He turned and went back to the kitchen.
They ate in silence. After Tor took the dishes away, Sky cleared his throat.
“You said we’d practice this morning.”
Tor nodded. “Right.” He clapped his hands together. “I want you to work on guiding me when I’m in wolf form.” He returned to the living space and pushed the couch out of the way.
“Okay. How do I do that?” Sky leaned against the wall, watching. Tor still hadn’t really looked at him. Maybe he was just too ugly with this black eye, and Tor didn’t want to see it.
“I’m going to shift. Then you tell me what to do. Give me some commands, and let’s see if I can hear you and obey. Remember, I’ll be in wolf form, and your voice will have to reach me deep inside. It won’t be easy. But with my mate helping, I have an advantage over the challenger. He has to go on sheer instinct alone.” Tor closed his eyes, the vibration started, and he shifted.
The wolf stood where Tor had been. Each time Sky watched the change, he marveled at it. Maybe a small part of him wished he could shift too.
Tor, wolf-Tor, sat and waited.
“Walk around the room.” Sky had no idea what he was doing or how to command a werewolf.
The wolf stayed put. He wasn’t listening. Tor had said it would be hard, but he’d have to reach Tor somehow.
Sky tried again. This time, he tried to sound like Tor, strong and in control. He deepened his voice and barked out, “Walk around the room.”
The were rose on all fours and trotted around the room, returning to his original place. Sky grinned at him.
“Sit,” Sky ordered.
The wolf sat.
This was great! Tor could hear and understand him. “Get on the bed.” This time, Sky pointed to where the wolf should go.
Tor trotted to the bed and jumped up on it.
“Now lie down.” The wolf followed his orders.
Sky ran to the bed and climbed up. He buried his hands in the wolf’s fur and sighed. “You’re so beautiful like this. So soft, but dangerous.” He stroked the wolf’s head and then got a lick on his face. Tor grinned at him, long tongue lolling from his mouth.
Sky took the wolf by the sides of his massive head and put their foreheads together. “I’m yours, Tor, whether you’re a man or a wolf.” Another lick had Sky laughing.
He lay down, his head resting on Tor’s side.
They stayed that way for a while, and then a soft woof from Tor, and Sky rose.
“It’s time to spar, isn’t it?” He wanted to stay this way all day long, but they had work to do.
The air vibrated, and Tor lay in bed with him. Sky looked up and met Tor’s gaze, but it danced away.
Sky’s eyes filled with tears. Tor didn’t like him anymore. Not like this, not damaged. “I’m sorry I look like this, but you said it’d only last a week. Don’t worry. I’ll be pretty again.” He clutched at Tor’s hand.
Tor’s frown deepened, and he pushed up against the headboard. “What did you say?”
“I said, I’ll be fine, just as pretty as before, and you can look at me again.” Sky picked at the covers, then looked up into Tor’s startled gaze.
Tor ran his hands over his face. “Fuck. That’s not what this is about, Sky.” He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I hit you. I hurt you. It was wrong, and I swear I’ll never touch you like that again. Ever. I swear.”
“I believe you.”
“I just…the thought of you fighting in the cage, standing up against another werewolf, someone so superior in strength, it just scared the fuck out of me, Sky.” Tor turned away again.
Sky pulled Tor to face him. “Look at me, Tor. We’re mates. Nothing will change that, unless you lose in the cage. And I’m putting all my faith in you that you won�
��t let that happen. I know you’ll protect me.”
“Like I protected Jin?” Tor shot off the bed and paced, fists clenched and fire flying from his eyes. He looked deadly, but Sky knew that Tor turned all his rage inward, not at Sky.
Sky watched his mate until he couldn’t stand it anymore. “Tell me what happened. How did you lose?” He couldn’t bring himself to ask how Jin died.
Tor froze. Exhaled. He turned around and faced Sky. “He was a Russian named Cosack. Big, strong, and crazy as hell. I should have known. I did know, but too late. He snapped, I guess. He’d been worked up into a froth, attacked his owner, and somewhere in all that, he picked up a blade.”
Sky wrapped his arms around his body, hugging himself. “A blade? That’s illegal.”
“Right. Guess he was too far gone to care. He started to shift, and Jin warned me. I shifted, but at the last moment, he didn’t. I charged, and he stabbed me. I went down.”
Sky gasped, and Tor looked up to meet his gaze. “He hit my lung. It collapsed, and I was helpless. I could barely breathe and couldn’t move.” Tor closed his eyes, and Sky knew Tor was reliving that horrible moment.
“He won?”
∙•∙
Tor shook himself out of the vision of Jin’s body, so still, so beautiful, even in death. “It was all illegal. That’s why I didn’t lose my title. But he took Jin, right then on the cage floor, and while he was fucking him, he snapped Jin’s neck. Killed him.” Tor’s heart still thudded to a stop as he remembered.
“Oh, Tor.” Sky’s voice held every bit of horror and sorrow Tor thought it could. But not pity. “I’m so sorry.” Sky didn’t move any closer, and for that Tor was grateful.
“You never hit Jin?”
Tor shook his head, careful not to say Jin had never given him a reason to strike him.
“Well, just goes to show you how smart Jin was and how dumb I am.”
“You’re not dumb. You’re…naive. You don’t know, don’t understand what it’s like in the cage. How dangerous it is. The stakes are high, and losers…” Tor exhaled. “I lost everything when Cosack killed Jin.”
“I know. You loved him.” Sky moved closer, touched Tor’s arm, and warmth spread from it. “And I know you don’t feel the same about me. I know you don’t really want to fight again, but you have to. I get that.”
