by Rider, Liv
Mahon hesitated. “The Therian is worried about the power structure of the city and who’s going to replace Lord Piron. The fae king keeps talking about the werewolves taking over and the Therian keeps pushing back and saying that city-level territory issues aren’t the Triumvirate’s problem.”
Sabas, he didn’t say, but Aidan knew that’s what it was ultimately about. Sabas was an incredibly strong Alpha, easily the strongest on the West Coast. He’d only begun BlackEdge a few years ago, but already they claimed more territory than the other supernatural factions in Stormton City. The local fae court would need an equally strong ruler to have a hope of holding ground against BlackEdge. But if any of the contenders had been that strong, they would already be ruling. Hell, they’d have already have long-since deposed Lord Piron themselves.
“Sounds like it’s way above your paygrade.” Aidan couldn’t ask him for advice about mates on top of that.
“Pretty much. At least we seem to have convinced them me and Oscar really are mates. Only took five fucking hours of questions, thanks to the fae king’s son. For some reason they named him chief questioner, and Prince Ruarc is an even bigger asshole than his father.” Mahon gave a long, heartfelt sigh. “I forgot how much I hate daoine sidhe politics. Also, Oscar says if you’re human you need to add him on Snapchat and send him pictures of Marshmallow.”
Aidan laughed. “I can do that.”
“And buy a damn phone, for god’s sake. I know I pay you enough salary that you can afford a good one.”
Aidan promised, but the words hit uncomfortably. Technically he was a part-time employee of Mahon’s security consulting firm—and he did do what work a wolf could contribute. He’d never felt like Mahon really got his money’s worth, but he hadn’t had much choice, had he, and it was better than outright charity. And it wasn’t like he’d had much in the way of expenses.
But now…at least in theory he’d be able to pull his weight more now. So long as Dev stayed close. He looked morosely at his swelling hands, wishing he were better at human things.
Chapter 20
Dev wanted to drag his mate to the nearest doctor, but Aidan refused to be dragged.
“I’m a werewolf!” he kept repeating. “If it’s still sore tomorrow, I’ll take it to the pack healer. They can heal fellow packmates.”
Dev did at least manage to get him to take some shifter-grade painkillers once they got back to the house. The painkillers made Aidan drowsy, and he curled up on the couch in front of the TV, telling Dev to stop fussing and get some work done.
Dev couldn’t focus, his mind spinning back to that moment after the attack, the red-hot rage that had risen in him. The emotion superimposed over a much older memory. The feeling was the same in both, though in the memory, warm blood dripped down his arm.
Not just his own blood.
He shook his head and got up from the kitchen bench where he’d set up his laptop. It was just a reminder of how important it was that he not lose control. That was all. He balled his hands into fists and breathed in, out. I’m human. Not a wolf. He couldn’t hurt people.
The screen was full of colorful fish when he brought Aidan hot chocolate a half-hour later. To Dev’s amusement, his chilling TV of choice was apparently nature documentaries. Aidan had the sound turned way down, subtitles on, and was apparently fascinated by the footage. But he looked up when Dev padded in, blue eyes brightening when he caught sight of the hot chocolate.
“You’re really getting into this whole ‘coddle Aidan’ mood, aren’t you?” He uncurled himself. Dev put the mug down on the coffee table and sat down next to him. “It’s not even that bad. And aren’t you supposed to be doing work?”
“I’m taking a break. Perks of being the boss.”
Who knew Aidan would be so prickly about being taken care of? Dev didn’t know why he found that so endearing, but he did. He nuzzled at Aidan’s neck. He smelled like soap and mint and Dev couldn’t help nibbling at his earlobe. Aidan’s breathing hitched, and he craned his neck, inviting more. Dev didn’t think he was even aware he was doing it. Gotcha, he thought with satisfaction. Fae ears. He traced the shell of Aidan’s ear, and Aidan made a needy sound low in his throat. Dev wrapped an arm around his waist and pulled him into his lap. Gently, so as not to jostle him.
“Tease,” Aidan gasped. He hadn’t got the ‘gentle’ memo, twisting frantically so he could kiss Dev. There was enough heat in it to have them both hard in a matter of seconds. Aidan shifted restlessly, reaching for him, and then let out a sharp hiss of pain when he bumped his hand on Dev’s chest.
“Sorry,” Dev apologized, starting to extract himself. Think with your brains rather than your dick for once! Aidan was injured. He was supposed to be resting. Dev really should go get some work done.
“Only be sorry if you’re not planning to finish what you started.” Even one-handed, Aidan still managed to wrap himself around Dev like a determined python. “You want to coddle me? I need something to distract me from the pain. And you know what’s really distracting? Oh, please, big manly man-wolf, can’t you help me out?” He rocked his hips suggestively.
Dev couldn’t help laughing, even with the ‘wolf’ comment thrown in. “All right, but you have to stay still or we’re just going to hurt you more. Think you can do that?”
Aidan sat back and looked thoughtfully down, back up. “Not sure,” he admitted. “But keen to try.” He spared a brief frown for his hand. “Though when this thing is working properly again, I want a turn. I didn’t get to touch you half as much as I wanted to last night.”
The thought of Aidan torturing him with that addictive mixture of curiosity and devilry was enough to make his throat go dry.
“Beautiful, you can touch me anytime you want,” he rasped. “Except maybe not right now with a broken hand.”
He rearranged them so that Aidan was propped up on a bunch of cushions against the couch arm. “Wait right there,” he told him, kissing his forehead.
* * *
Every inch of Aidan’s skin shivered with anticipation.
Dev raised his eyebrows when he returned, lube in hand. “You going to be good and stay still or am I calling this off?”
Aidan leaned back on the cushions with a huff. “I’ll be good.” Because aching hand or not, he was going to die if he didn’t feel Dev’s hands on him soon. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Dev, sitting beside him now. “See? Good.”
Dev grinned, slow and wicked, as he undid Aidan’s jeans, not touching anything meaningful as he worked them off. The cool air against his skin made every hair stand on end, as if they were trying to breach the space between them. His cock was already half-hard, but Dev ignored it and nudged up the bottom of Aidan’s shirt, baring a few inches of his stomach.
“Mmmm,” he said, bending down to kiss the skin there. “I’ll be gentle.” He feathered kisses across Aidan’s lower abdomen, lingering in the hollows. A jolt of sharp desire went through him, even though it was only the barest touch. Dev’s warm breath stirred the fine hairs arrowing downwards, and Aidan swallowed, hard, resisting the urge to buck his hips.
Even with all the sex they’d had last night, every touch still felt world-shattering. It was worth staying human just for this, the red-hot burn in his veins, the hyper-awareness of his body, the tightening spiral of lust. He let his head fall back with a stifled groan as Dev stroked up his thighs and placed a kiss lower, in the hollow of his hip bones. His cock jerked, desperately seeking contact, the heat of Dev maddeningly close.
But instead, Dev kissed his way up Aidan’s stomach, finding one of his nipples and swirling his tongue lazily around it. Aidan took a sharp breath, fighting to keep still under the arcing sensation. It wasn’t easy, as Dev tormented first one nipple and then the other, the slight bristle of his clipped beard a delicious contrast to the soft, flicking exploration of his tongue. Aidan couldn’t help arching into the sensation with a whimper.
“Mmm, what a pretty picture you make,”
Dev said with satisfaction, sitting back.
Aidan looked down at himself. His nipples were flushed bright red and making hard points. His cock was so hard it throbbed, a glistening dot of pre-come at the end.
He shook with the effort of not moving as Dev drew an agonizingly slow line down his abs. A whine of protest forced its way out of his throat before he could stop it.
“Patience, beautiful,” Dev murmured, drawing his fingertips down to circle Aidan’s cock, so close but not close enough. “But you’re being very good, and I suppose that deserves a reward.”
“Damn right it does—”
The first touch of Dev’s mouth shattered his thoughts, sent them flying out in all directions along with his self-control. He reached for Dev, needing touch, the distant echo of pain insignificant compared to the lust roaring through him.
And then Dev’s mouth was gone, his hand holding Aidan’s hips down in silent rebuke.
“Dev,” Aidan complained. “You’re bloody killing me.”
Dev’s eyes gleamed. “That’s the idea.” He huffed a laugh. “Drive us both mad. Human Lesson Forty-Seven: Anticipation can be fucking hot as sin.” Before Aidan could object that Dev’s numbering system didn’t make sense, he licked at the tip of Aidan’s cock.
His good hand spasmed on the arm rest, and the world sectioned into pieces of pleasure as Dev sucked him in slow, thorough strokes.
When Dev paused briefly for lube, Aidan still hadn’t found his way back to the English language, his only answer to Dev’s questioning eyebrow a long, strangled sound of desperation and a fierce nod.
There’d been some of this, last night, but Aidan already knew he’d never grow bored of the sensation as Dev’s fingers pressing inside him. He couldn’t help writhing at the stretch around the intrusion.
Dev paused, releasing his cock with a wet sound. “What did I say?” Aidan whined and wriggled, but Dev held his hips still again. “You going to stay still and take this?” His finger moved a fraction.
“Oh god,” Aidan moaned. “Fuck.” His whole body vibrated with the effort of not moving as Dev licked a long, deliberate stripe down the side of his cock, paying extra attention to the head. He added another finger, crooked them so they pressed against his prostate.
“You like that, don’t you?”
Aidan made an incoherent sound of agreement. It felt…he didn’t have words for how good it felt as Dev added fingers. God, he wanted cock. Before last night, he wouldn’t have believed anyone could want something that big inside them, but now he knew better. He wanted it so badly he burned with its absence.
And he couldn’t have it, not like this, and it only made him burn hotter. Dev was right; anticipation was hot as sin. When his hand was better, he was going to demand fucking cock.
Dev released his cock with a wet sound, but his fingers didn’t stop moving with ruthless deliberation as he looked up and met Aidan’s eyes. He added another finger and Aidan let out another wordless cry at the stretch.
Dev took him back in his mouth and growled, low in his throat, the vibration going straight from Aidan’s cock down to his balls as Dev sucked him ruthlessly.
“I can’t…I’m going to….”
The world turned inside out, and he came in long spurts in Dev’s mouth.
Dev rose, jerkily, squeezing his cock with one hand, and came within a few strokes across Aidan’s stomach.
“Mine,” he growled, leaning forward to kiss him roughly. “You’re mine.”
Aidan didn’t bother to point out that possessiveness was a very werewolf trait; he was still having difficulty getting his lungs to fill. But a warm contentedness curled up in his belly at Dev’s words. Dev wanted him.
What about when he gets tired of being tied to me with a hundred-foot leash? What about when the full moon comes? The nagging uncertainty threatened to puncture his happiness. He tried to push it away. Aidan had been rejected before, for not being the right thing. For the first time in years, his mother’s voice came back to him, her parting words before she’d thrown him out of the court he’d grown up in: You’re a werewolf, a beast. You don’t belong here.
That wasn’t going to happen this time, he told himself. This was different. Dev was his mate.
Still, he could use some reassurance.
“Come to Wolf Club,” he said, after they’d cleaned up. “Please.” He hated how raw his voice sounded.
Dev looked down at him, his eyes dark and unreadable. “All right.”
The tightness in his chest unwound. It would all be fine. He was sure of it.
Chapter 21
The next day, Dev waited in the backyard with Aidan and wondered why the hell he’d agreed to this. He’d thought about telling Aidan he’d changed his mind multiple times in the last twenty-four hours, but then Aidan would glance up at him with that woebegone longing expression, and how was Dev supposed to refuse him anything when he looked like that?
Plus, Aidan was in his wolf form tonight, and Dev couldn’t leave him alone in that form, knowing he couldn’t change back without Dev’s help.
Even in wolf form, Aidan was still so…Aidan-ish, the way he moved with bright energy, sunlight glinting in his blue fur. He shot Dev a look just before the first wolf pups burst into the yard in a pile of furry enthusiasm, shepherded by an adult wolf.
Dev shook his head. “I won’t freak out.” Anyway, the sight of the approaching wolves didn’t trigger the usual assault of dark emotions. They couldn’t have presented a greater contrast from his memories if they’d tried, yelping excitement, their mind-voices blending together, unhindered by the need to breathe.
The adult wolf accompanying them rolled its eyes.
Aidan laughed.
Ray looked him over curiously.
Dev jumped, but couldn’t answer without Aidan and the pups overhearing, so he settled on glaring at Ray instead. It seemed unfair that every pack member Dev had so far met assumed he would hurt Aidan when he was trying so hard to keep that from happening. He dug his nails into his palms. He would keep it from happening.
It took a while for all the pups to assemble. The adults all treated Dev with a kind of standoffish caution, and Ray’s wasn’t the only private warning he got. Jamila arrived in wolf form and dropped off a small black-furred wolf pup, giving him a meaningful look as she did.
Once it was just pups left in the yard, Aidan went and sat next to Dev. They were ringed by fifteen wolf pups ranging in age and size.
There was a chorus of “Hii!” and wagging tails. Dev gave an awkward wave in return while he mouthed ‘sidekick?’ at Aidan indignantly. Aidan’s tongue lolled out in a wolf-grin.
There was a restless shuffle as the pups avoided Aidan’s gaze. Eventually one female pup spoke up. Dev was pretty sure it was Jamila’s daughter.
Aidan nodded.
circle, and then flicked his head towards the line of trees.
There was a groan from the pups.
There was a pause before Lilah piped up again.
Dev could feel the pups’ eagerness now. They trembled with excitement.
Dev gave Aidan an incredulous look. “Seriously?”
“I’m going to kill you.”
Aidan grinned and switched to public broadcast.
