Jaden's Price

by Lynn Hagen

  “I like how your beard feels against my skin.” Hilton sighed. “Scratchy and tingly.”

  “You will have abrasions.”

  “Don’t care.” Hilton tilted his head to the side, submitting to Jaden. “Just don’t stop, please.”

  Jaden glided his hands down Hilton’s sleek back, cupped his ass, and pulled him closer. Their cocks aligned, and Hilton was just as aroused as Jaden.

  “Feels weird that you’re dressed and I’m not.” Hilton inhaled sharply when Jaden’s clothes vanished and they were lying in bed.

  “Now you’re the one with too many clothes.” Jaden rolled to his back, pulling Hilton onto his lap. Hilton was breathtakingly beautiful atop him. His hazel eyes widened as he looked down at Jaden with innocence.

  “I’m not sure what I should do up here.” Hilton bit his lower lip as a deep blush appeared over his cheeks, neck, and chest.

  “Whatever comes natural.” Jaden couldn’t stop touching him. He explored the bunny’s back, ass, legs, stomach, and chest, then slid his hands down Hilton’s thin arms, coaxing him to lean forward.

  Jaden stared at the ceiling as he struggled with decisions that would seal Hilton’s fate and leave Jaden vulnerable for the first time in his existence. His need for Hilton was selfish, but Jaden had never wanted anything as much as he wanted to bond with Hilton.

  He’d never asked for a single thing. Why couldn’t he have this? Why did Life deserve to be happy, but not Death?

  All thoughts fled when Hilton began kissing along Jaden’s jaw. The moves were unsure, timid. Jaden placed his hands on Hilton’s hips and left them there, forcing himself not to move as the little bunny explored.

  Hilton looked up at him and grinned, and Jaden was a goner. He’d give his mate anything he asked. Jaden would start wars and raze nations to the ground if that made Hilton happy.

  “You know I’m just winging this, right?” Hilton rested an elbow on Jaden’s chest, tucking his chin in his hand. He played at the hairs on Jaden’s chest with his other hand. “I know the mechanics, but”—Hilton shrugged—“don’t make fun of me if I don’t get it right.”

  “I would never think of teasing you.”

  “You’re way too serious.” Hilton nipped at Jaden’s chin. “I may not have done this before, but it doesn’t have to be all grunts and groans. I’m pretty sure you’re allowed to smile, and maybe, just maybe, you can even laugh.”

  With a deep growl, Jaden gripped the back of Hilton’s hair and rolled them, placing his bunny beneath him. Jaden settled between Hilton’s legs and took his lips in a deep, consuming kiss.

  He made Hilton’s underwear vanish as he explored the interior of Hilton’s mouth.

  “I feel so…needy,” Hilton said when he broke the kiss. He ran his fingers through Jaden’s long hair, giving the strands a slight tug. “Is there something you can do to stop my body from feeling like it’s on fire?”

  Hilton was baiting him. A small voice in the back of Jaden’s mind told him to stop, to not wreck Hilton’s life. Jaden could watch over him for eternity without interfering, but again that selfish part of him refused to listen, refused to think of the consequences of taking Hilton.

  “I could get a fire hose.”

  Hilton laughed. “Oh my God. You made a joke.”

  “And you killed the joke by pointing that fact out.” Jaden wrapped his hand around Hilton’s hard cock. He’d never had fun with a lover before. Jaden fucked, and that was it. There was no teasing, no smiles, and he’d never felt this desperate to fuck anyone before.

  Jaden shut those thoughts down, refusing to analyze the strange way Hilton made him feel. He wanted to make this all about fucking, but for one, Hilton didn’t seem as though he would let that happen. Two, Jaden couldn’t bring himself to use his mate’s body in such a cold way. And three, this was Hilton’s first time and Jaden wanted to bring Hilton into the world of pleasure the right way.

  Hilton thrust his cock in and out of Jaden’s hand, moaning as he thrashed his head. Jaden held out his hand, and a bottle of lube appeared on his palm. He slicked his hand and curled it back around Hilton’s cock.

  “I love your freaky-deaky powers,” Hilton said. “Saves you from having to get up.”

  “Nothing short of the universe exploding would get me from between your legs.”

  “You say the sweetest things.” Hilton arched his back, his ass rising higher as Jaden stroked him faster. There was humor in Hilton’s voice, and even need, but Jaden also heard hesitation.

  Jaden scooted down the bed and took the tip of Hilton’s cock into his mouth. Instantly, Hilton shouted his name as ropes of cum spurted down Jaden’s throat.

  As Hilton rode his climax, Jaden wet his fingers and teased Hilton’s hole before he slid two inside his mate’s ass. The muscles clenched around them as Jaden worked to relax Hilton’s tight muscles.

  “It-It burns.” Hilton squeezed his cheeks around Jaden’s fingers as his own fingers curled into the bedding.

  “The pain will ease,” Jaden promised. He needed to take Hilton’s mind off what he was doing. Jaden’s fangs elongated and he sank them into Hilton’s femoral artery.

  “Jaden!”

  Jaden pressed an arm over Hilton’s stomach to hold him down. His mate thrashed, bucking as his cock erupted a second time. Jaden was enraptured as Hilton rode through his pleasure, adding a third finger as he watched.

  The muscles began to loosen, his fingers not fitting as snugly as when they’d first entered Hilton’s hole. Jaden pulled his fangs free and sealed the wound with a few swipes of his tongue.

  Hilton lay there babbling and moaning, his body jerking from the tiny aftershocks. Jaden had never tasted such sweet blood before and knew he was now addicted. Then again, everything about Hilton was an addiction that Jaden couldn’t refuse.

  He kissed and licked his way back up Hilton’s body, keeping his fingers buried deep in Hilton’s ass. Jaden kissed his mate, sharing Hilton’s taste with him while pulling his fingers free.

  “Now for the main course,” Jaden whispered against Hilton’s lips.

  He leaned back, lubed his cock and Hilton’s ass generously, then placed Hilton’s legs around his shoulders. Hilton looked up at him in awe as Jaden positioned the head of his cock at Hilton’s still-pulsing hole and pressed in, groaning as his cock was enveloped in tight, wet heat.

  “Too much,” Hilton whimpered. “You’re gonna break me.”

  Jaden ran his hands down Hilton’s legs. “Not gonna break you, my little bunny. I’m going to show you pleasures you never dreamed possible.”

  Hilton panted. “When does that start, because all I feel right now is pain.”

  “Calm,” Jaden whispered, and Hilton relaxed.

  “Okay, I won’t get mad this time about messing with my mind.” Hilton’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he let out a low, throaty moan. “Allergic to pain anyway.”

  “You are quite peculiar,” Jaden said.

  Hilton looked up at him. “Don’t you try and analyze me right now. Just shut up and fuck me already.”

  Jaden pushed harder into the tight sheath, gritting his teeth at how quickly his control was slipping away. His leathery wings shot outward as his skin changed to its natural purplish-blue color. His claws emerged, and Jaden eased his hold, afraid he would hurt his little bunny.

  Hilton stiffened.

  “Do not fear me, Hilton. This is my true form. I would never hurt you.”

  “I’m-I’m not so much afraid as I’m mesmerized.” Hilton glanced away. “Except for those spidery veins in your eyes. They still scare me.”

  Jaden lowered Hilton’s legs and pulled his mate up to straddle his waist. “I told you before that you are the safest man in the universe.”

  “Too much talking.” Hilton grabbed Jaden’s shoulders and rode his cock, plunging his hips up and down as he took his pleasure. Jaden grabbed Hilton’s hips and thrust up, meeting each downward stroke. His wings wrapped around them, makin
g everything seem that much more intimate, cocooning them in their own little world.

  Jaden cupped Hilton’s ass and fell to his back, gazing up as his mate rode him.

  Hilton grinned, his hazel eyes filled with lust. “I like this position. It feels like you went deeper.”

  “Never deep enough.” Jaden cupped Hilton’s jaw. His mate had changed something inside Jaden, something that had felt broken for too long. The loneliness was no longer there, but it had been replaced with fear, and that wasn’t an emotion Jaden had ever felt before. Rage, sadness, and despair were constant companions, but now he was afraid for Hilton’s safety, terrified something would happen to his mate.

  Hilton curled his fingers into Jaden’s chest, his nails biting into his flesh. His mate swiveled his hips, moaning as he looked down at Jaden. “You feel so damn good.”

  “This is just the beginning. I plan to show you so much more.”

  Hilton’s eyes slightly widened. “There’s more?”

  Jaden pulled him close. “You have so much to learn.”

  Their kiss was slow, soft, teasing tongues and the brushing of lips. Jaden’s hand went to Hilton’s swollen cock and stroked it gently.

  Hilton was so tight and hot around Jaden’s cock, the muscles gripping him like a slick, velvety fist. Jaden’s control slipped even further, his climax building to a fever pitch.

  “More,” Hilton cried out. “I need more.”

  With a feral growl, Jaden once again flipped them. He hovered over Hilton, moving his hard length in and out of Hilton’s tight hole and latched on to his mouth, where their tongues did a mating dance of their own.

  When Hilton clenched around Jaden’s cock, Jaden bit into his neck, sealing their bond as his mate surrendered to another release, his channel rippling around Jaden’s shaft.

  Jaden licked the wound closed and buried his head into Hilton’s damp hair. He wrapped his arms around his mate, holding his little bunny close as hot fingers of fire moved down his spine.

  Jaden threw back his head, and with a primal bellow of Hilton’s name, his seed flooded his mate’s still-shuddering body. He felt as if his orgasm had been ripped from his very soul as he slowed, his arms still wrapped around Hilton.

  Hilton gasped and shuddered as Jaden eased out of his body. Jaden had started to stretch out next to Hilton when he sensed a presence in the room.

  Chapter Six

  Hilton shouted as he was tossed from the bed and hit the floor. Jaden spun, his wings expanding as he snarled at the intruders. Hilton had no clue what was going on, but he was keeping his butt on the floor and away from those scary men.

  “Took me a long time to find you,” the man who stood in front of the others said.

  “How did you get past my wards?” Jaden asked.

  “A little dark-magic bartering,” the man said. “Enough talk.”

  Jaden leaped off the bed and stood between Hilton and the intruders. Power emanated through the room. It sizzled over Hilton’s body, making him cry out in pain as the guy who’d spoken spread his arms. Blue light zapped and arched from his hands, and electricity branched throughout the room.

  Before Jaden could attack, the man directed the current at him. Jaden flew backward, hitting the wall behind Hilton. But he didn’t stay down. Jaden let go of a feral growl before he was back on his feet, charging the guy as the others watched, malice gleaming in their eyes.

  With a swipe of Jaden’s arm, the man who had attacked Jaden exploded. Hilton covered his head, bile rising to the back of his throat as blood and other nasty, gooey parts hit the walls and him. He would need to scrub in a hot shower for the next year to get the feeling off him.

  Hilton scrambled under the bed when Jaden turned to the other men. He heard screams and what sounded like bones snapping, then the room fell silent. Hilton gasped for breath, afraid to move as Jaden dropped to one knee and looked under the bed. He was still in his true form.

  “Come out, my little bunny.”

  Hilton shifted and tried to scurry away, but Jaden grabbed his back leg and pulled him from under the bed. Hilton shook like crazy but noticed that both the men and the bloody mess were gone.

  “This is why I fought against claiming you.” Jaden’s clawed hand brushed down Hilton’s spine as he cradled Hilton close to his chest. “This is only the beginning. Death has many enemies, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on you.”

  For the first time since finding out Jaden was his mate, Hilton wondered if he could handle the baggage that came along with that role.

  “But it’s too late now.” Jaden kept caressing Hilton. “We are mated, but my promise still stands. You are the most protected being in the universe.”

  Hilton shifted and sat naked on Jaden’s lap. His heart beat so fast he should’ve had a heart attack. “You call that protected? What the hell was that guy?”

  “A demon who took exception to the fact I wouldn’t barter with him to avenge his brother’s death.”

  “I feel your anger.”

  “I’m shielding you from the worst of it.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if you felt the full force, your blood would boil and melt you from the inside out.” Jaden set Hilton on the bed and stood. “Being mated to me is dangerous. I shouldn’t have allowed my emotions to rule me.”

  “You regret claiming me?” Hilton got up and dressed. If they were about to have it out, he didn’t want to be naked.

  “Regret?” Jaden moved toward him, but Hilton backed away. He was still trying to process what had happened and Jaden’s words had hurt him and made him scared and angry.

  “Regret is not the word I would use.”

  “Then what would you call it?” Hilton pulled his jeans over his legs.

  “Sorrow for what I’ve done to you, for the life you now have.” Jaden shook his head. The action was weird considering he was still in his true form. “Forgive me. I’m not saying this right.”

  Jaden had no idea how to express himself other than in negative feelings. Hilton had picked up on that, so he cut his mate a break and flashed him a smile he didn’t quite feel. “I understand what you’re trying to say.”

  “You do?” Jaden seemed even more confused judging by the look in his eyes. “I don’t even understand it. Or I know what I want to say, but…I just don’t know how to articulate my thoughts.”

  “You’re not happy that bad guys will be coming after me. You’re not happy about mating me because this will happen now.” He winked at Jaden. “See, I fully understand.” He grabbed his shoes. “But I need to get to work.”

  “You cannot go to work.”

  “Why can’t I?”

  “Because it’s not safe.”

  “I have pepper spray.” Hilton headed to the door. “Lock up when you leave.”

  Jaden appeared in front of him so fast that Hilton’s head snapped back. “You cannot leave.”

  “And I’m not gonna hide in some hole for the rest of my life because I’m mated to you. I have a life, Jaden. I have a job I love, too. If bad guys come after me, I’ll just call your name.”

  Hilton wanted to go to work, but he also needed time to himself. The fact his life had ultimately changed wasn’t something he could process in five minutes.

  Jaden’s expression said he was struggling with what to do. They stood there in uneasy silence until Hilton made the choice simple. He opened his apartment door and walked out.

  * * * *

  There had been a car accident by the high school. Two teens were drag-racing and one lost control of his car. The clinic was filled with both boys’ families, all asking about the kids’ condition.

  “As soon as the doctor is done examining them, you’ll know.” Hilton was trying his best to be professional, but with the threat of bad guys coming after him lingering over his head, he felt edgy.

  He left the families in the waiting area and joined Dr. Sheehan in Exam Room One. The doctor was stitching Terry Brandt’s forehead. “Can
you get an x-ray of Dexter’s head for me?”

  “Sure.” Hilton went into the other exam room to find Dexter texting. He was sitting upright, his ass hanging out the back of his gown.

  “We need to get an x-ray of your noggin.”

  Dexter didn’t glance up from his phone. His fingers flew over the tiny keyboard as he nodded.

  Hilton plucked the phone from his hands and tossed it aside. “No phones while getting your x-ray.”

  “Ah, come on. My Twitter feed is blowing up over this.”

  “Your head might blow up too if we don’t get a picture of it. You have a bump on your head, Dexter. The doctor wants to make sure you’re all right.”

  “I feel fine.” Dexter reached for his phone, and Hilton grabbed it from the bed and shoved it into the pocket of his scrub shirt.

  “I don’t think you’ll keel over from ten minutes without your phone.”

  “I might.” Dexter flashed him a smile. The boy was charming, but he still wasn’t getting his phone back.

  Hilton took Dexter to the last room on the left. As soon as he wheeled his patient in, he felt a presence in the room. Hilton subtly glanced around, but no one was there except for them.

  “When can I get out of here?” Dexter climbed onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “My dad is gonna kill me. He just bought me that car.”

  “Then maybe you shouldn’t have been going eighty on the back road. You’re lucky to be alive, Dexter.” Hilton was surprised his injuries weren’t a hell of a lot worse than a bump on the head.

  Something brushed Hilton’s nape. He jumped and spun, then growled. It seemed Jaden had followed him to work.

  “You okay?” Dexter looked at Hilton as if Hilton should be the one getting his head examined. Maybe he should.

  He wanted to find an empty room and yell at Jaden for scaring him, but he had a job to do. He’d talk to Jaden later about playing Casper the Friendly Ghost.

  * * * *