Marked

by Sean Michael

  Barker went down to his haunches and called Cody over, wanting to touch that thick fur again. His mate ran for him, tongue lolling as he loped over. Barker wrapped his arms around the beautiful beast, fingers digging into Cody’s fur. Cody pushed closer, growling happily, nuzzling him. He rubbed their cheeks together. Fuck, Cody’s fur was soft.

  The wolf leaned into him hard, making him take all the weight.

  “Damn, you’re solid, aren’t you?”

  Cody’s chuffing laughter made him grin.

  He rubbed his face in the fur at Cody’s neck, hands sliding along his mate’s flanks. The tension he’d been seeing in Cody was gone, melted away, replaced by a wagging tail.

  “Everything’s simpler when you’re the wolf, huh?”

  Thump. Thump. Thump.

  A hot tongue dragged on his throat. He laughed. This was…well, it was kind of magical. He felt Cody shivering, and he knew the change was going to come again. Barker tugged off his shirt, ready to put it on his mate as soon as Cody changed. A man on the side of a road with a dog wouldn’t be that weird; one with another man who was naked was not so normal. Cody whined softly, pushing closer, trying to get his touch.

  “It’s okay, mate. It’s okay.” Barker stroked and petted as much of Cody as he could reach. “Easy does it.”

  He felt the change, and he hummed softly, gentling his mate. “Skin instead of fur. A mouth instead of a muzzle. Just think of the things that make you human.” He murmured the words, hands still working.

  Cody came back to him, leaning hard, shivering. “Sorry.”

  “For what?” He held out his shirt for Cody, helping him into it.

  “I had to run.” Cody cuddled in even closer. “Is it always this cold, after?”

  “Yeah, pretty much. You’re going from fur to naked.” He rubbed Cody’s skin.

  “Yeah.” Cody pushed into his arms, let him lead the way to the truck.

  He found Cody’s jeans and passed them over. “I can put the heat on in the truck if the clothes don’t help.”

  “You don’t have to. I’m getting better.”

  “Oh, good. I hate being hot.” He grinned and kissed Cody before hustling him into the truck.

  Cody settled in, eyelids heavy. Barker squeezed his shoulder, closed the door, and headed around to the other side. Climbing in, Barker started the engine up and headed them back toward the city.

  Cody dozed for a few miles then woke up, eyes on the horizon.

  “You feeling okay?” It was still a little startling, those pretty blue eyes instead of the shining gold.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I feel much better.”

  “Just needed to let the beast out for a bit, huh?” It was going to be a learning curve, figuring out what Cody needed, how exactly his change worked.

  “I think so, yeah. It was huge.” Cody’s fingers brushed his wrist.

  “Huh.” Barker took his hand off the wheel and twined his fingers with Cody’s.

  “I wonder if that’s because you can change during the day, too. Or because you didn’t change for so long, and now your wolf wants out.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this, obviously.”

  He squeezed Cody’s hand. “It’s okay, we’ll learn together.”

  His mate sighed, squeezed back. “I don’t know, man. What if it’s a fluke?”

  Everything in him tightened for a moment. “It’s lasted for days, Cody. That’s a hell of a fluke.”

  “Only two days. But…it doesn’t seemed tied to the moon.”

  “No, it doesn’t seem tied to the moon at all.” Barker shook his head. He didn’t know what the explanation was, but that much was clear.

  “I’m still a freak of nature, hmm?” Poor, bittersweet lover.

  “You’re not a freak—you’re special. I mean, you can control it. How cool is that?”

  “I’m trying to control it.”

  “Yeah, well, practice is everything. The ability is still there.”

  Cody looked at him like he’d lost his mind.

  “What? You don’t think that going back and forth won’t help you get control?” It made sense to him.

  “I honestly don’t know.” Cody growled a bit. “I don’t know anything anymore.”

  “It’s still better than how it was.” Cody had to remember that.

  He heard his mate take a deep, deep breath. “Yes. Yes, it is. So much.”

  “The pain’s gone, right?” Like the eyes had changed.

  “Yeah.”

  Thank God. He never wanted to have to see his mate writhing like that again. Never. “Good. It’ll all work out then.”

  They slowed as the traffic got heavier for rush hour, the city busy with people coming and going. He glanced over at Cody to see how his lover was handling it. The man was wide-eyed, looking almost scared.

  “Hey, mate. It’s all right. We’re just going to go straight to my place. You’ve been there before.”

  “It smells. And it’s loud. Has it always been so loud?”

  “Yeah, yeah, it has. It’s always worse when I first get back. You get used to it again.”

  “Yeah?” Cody looked unsure.

  “Yeah. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

  “I don’t know…I don’t know if I can stay at your house. You have a normal life…”

  He could scent the worry, the beginnings of panic in the cab.

  “And you’re aiming for what?”

  “Huh?”

  “I know you haven’t had a normal life so far, but now that you can change, what kind of life is it you want? Something not normal?”

  That scent of panic got stronger. “I don’t know.”

  “Hey.” Barker reached over and squeezed Cody’s thigh. “You know my place. We’ll be there soon, and you can shut everything else out for a while, not have to think. Hell, you can even shift if you want. Once we’re there.”

  “I’m sorry, man. Really. I feel all fucking wigged out.”

  “It’s okay. I tell you what, once we get there, I’ll drag you into my bed and it’ll be just like old times.”

  He heard a soft, husky chuckle. “Does that mean I leave at dawn?”

  “No, not at all. At dawn, you’re going to have to pretend my place is the hotel room you always snuck away to.” He wasn’t letting Cody get away this time. Especially as there wasn’t a reason to go.

  “I didn’t always stay there. I couldn’t afford it. I traveled around.” One hand found his thigh.

  “Now you have a place to stay.” He dropped his hand to cover Cody’s, holding it against his thigh.

  “Still? Even after all this mess?”

  “You’re my mate.”

  Barker pulled into the parking garage. He couldn’t quite believe it, that he was going to have his mate, his lover, home with him for good. He parked and leaned over, placing a quick, hard kiss on Cody’s lips. “Welcome home.”

  “Thank you.” Cody shivered and reached for him. “I’m fucking wigged out.”

  “I know. It’ll be better at my place. Trust me.”

  He had nature sounds on his surround sound, and the smell of the woods to cover up the asphalt and smog the air filter couldn’t quite get rid of. Subtle things that made all the difference. Cody hadn’t ever noticed, and he could just imagine the attack on the man’s senses.

  “Come on. It’ll be better once we get home.” He climbed out and came right around to give Cody a hand, or at least a warm, familiar body to lean on.

  Cody sat there on the seat, disheveled and pale. “Barker, I don’t know if I can handle this, man. I don’t know about this anymore.”

  “Trust me, yeah? Come on upstairs. You’ll be much easier in your skin once you’re there.” Barker wrapped his hands around Cody’s arms and tugged, encouraging him to get out of the damn truck.

  He thought for a second that Cody would fight him, but he growled softly and Cody came, trusted him. He got them into the elevator and moving up to his apartment. />
  “This is the first time I’ve come here during the day.”

  “It’s the first time you’ve come here when it’s been your home, too.” He held onto Cody’s hand, squeezing it.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I guess.”

  His mate. His mate coming home. Barker could howl with it.

  The elevator stopped and he pulled Cody out. How many times had he done this over the last ten years? Dragged his mate in here and fucked him into the mattress? Not enough times, actually. Nowhere near enough.

  He kept hold of Cody’s wrist, making sure no one disappeared while he opened the door.

  Door open, he pulled his mate in, just like he had all those times. Although he didn’t throw the man up against the wall this time.

  As soon as the door closed, the noise and smell of the city faded away.

  “Oh.” Cody’s knees buckled. “It’s you.”

  Okay, maybe he was going to throw the man up against the wall. “Uh-huh.” He bent and took Cody’s mouth.

  Cody’s cry was pure happiness, wild and free, and Barker almost shot his load. His mate. Home. He slammed Cody up against the wall, grinding against the increasingly familiar body. Strong fingers tangled in his hair and kept him close while Cody’s tongue fucked his lips. He sucked on that tongue, his hips imitating it.

  Sounds filled his mouth, made him wild, made him need to taste and lick and bite every inch of his mate. He tore at Cody’s clothing, needing skin.

  Cody’s fingers pulled him closer, dragged him in. “More.”

  “Yes. More.” He pressed against Cody, rubbing all up along him.

  Cody wrapped around him, licking and biting at his lips. “Fuck me.”

  “Yes.” He grabbed Cody’s ass and raised him off the floor, moving to his bed.

  “Thank God.” Cody held on, not fighting, not struggling.

  He climbed onto the bed with his mate, mouth devouring as he laid Cody down and pressed on top of him. Cody spread for him, legs cradling him, hips rocking up into him. Hungry, wanton mate. That suited Barker just fine.

  Growling, he spread Cody’s legs even farther apart with his knees.

  “It smells like you. Everywhere. God, it’s so good.”

  Barker could smell his mate, though, could smell the need pouring off the smooth skin. He let his cock nudge Cody’s hole, a promise of the rutting to come.

  “Don’t fucking tease.”

  “Not teasing.” He reached for the lube and slicked up a couple fingers, pushing them into Cody’s body.

  The grunt he got was amazing. Deep. Feral. He pushed them deeper, bumping against that little gland inside Cody’s body.

  Cody’s eyes went wide, rolled. “More. More.” Pushy.

  He pulled out his fingers and pushed them back in, hard.

  “Fuck.”

  He added another finger, that sweet hole stretching for him. “Gonna fuck you good and hard.”

  Cody nodded, but Barker wasn’t sure the man was listening to him, wasn’t sure Cody was hearing anything at all.

  He slid his fingers away—enough preparation, he wanted in that tight heat.

  “Please. Please. I need.” Cody was almost howling for him.

  “Right here.” He pushed Cody’s legs back and thrust into the sweet body.

  “Yes!” Cody pushed back, hips slamming up toward him.

  “Mate,” He growled the word and pushed in again.

  “Harder.”

  “Pushy.” He did it, though, didn’t he?

  “Yes. Fuck, you feel so good…”

  “You, too.” So fucking good. He moved harder, faster.

  Cody wasn’t fighting him, wasn’t hiding, and he felt his heart swell. Barker wanted to howl. Cody’s hands wrapped around his shoulders, tugged him close. He took Cody’s lips, let his howl fill his mate’s mouth.

  That tight ass squeezed his prick rhythmically, pulling at him, tugging him in deeper. He found Cody’s cock, squeezed it as he thrust harder. He felt Cody jerk—in his hand, around his cock.

  “That’s it. Come for me.”

  “Yes. Mate.” Cody looked at him, those blue eyes warm, focused. Sure.

  “Mate.” Barker pushed in, nailing Cody’s gland.

  Heat poured over his hand, Cody’s moan splitting the air.

  “Yes! Mate!” He thrust in two more times, and then came hard, filling his mate. The scent of them filled the air, filled his home. “Mmm. Cody.”

  One hand stroked his hair. “Barker. Oh, God. This place smells like you.”

  He nuzzled into Cody’s neck. “With a little bit of you thrown in.”

  Cody stilled at the touch then his chin lifted, giving Barker access. It made Barker growl a little, happy in his bones at the movement. He nibbled and nuzzled, let his teeth threaten some. His fingers stroked Cody’s belly, scratching lightly, petting.

  “Welcome home,” he murmured.

  “Thank you.” Cody kissed the corner of his mouth. “Mate.”

  “That’s right. Mate.” He felt a surge of pride go through him at having Cody herewith him, special and wonderful and all his.

  Chapter Eight

  Barker was napping and Cody was curious, so he slipped from the bed and started exploring. He hadn’t really looked at Barker’s home before. It didn’t hurt that he was starving.

  The place was basically one big, open space, with a bar separating the kitchen and a small hall leading to a huge bathroom and a couple of closets.

  There were a lot of plants spread around the place, and aside from the bed and barstools, there were only two huge armchairs and a great big flat-screen TV. A small desk had papers on it, and a laptop. It was simple, utilitarian, and yet everything about it smelled and felt like home.

  He found a jar of peanut butter and a spoon, eating three spoonfuls in quick succession. Oh. Better. Then he found the milk.

  There was a note on the fridge. “Buy more steak, idiot.”

  Cody chuffed softly, found some eggs. Starving. He was starving.

  He heard Barker groan, and move in his sleep. He hummed softly, let his voice fill the space, let Barker know he wasn’t gone.

  He thought he heard a murmured, “Mate.”

  He found a pan and started scrambling eggs.

  It wasn’t long before Barker come prowling into the kitchen, eyes like a touch on him. “Mate. You’re still here.”

  “I made eggs.” Cody didn’t know what else to say.

  “We need steak.” Barker’s arms went around him, nose sliding on his skin. “Mmm.”

  “You left yourself a note.” He let his head fall forward, let Barker nibble.

  Barker looked at the fridge and laughed before getting back to making a snack of him.

  He finished the eggs up, elbowing his mate gently. “Plates?”

  Barker elbowed him back. “Cupboards.”

  “You want to give me a better clue?” He had a spatula. He was willing to use it.

  “Try the one over the sink. There’s only six—you could have opened them all.”

  “Don’t make me beat you.” He grinned, stretched, found two plates.

  “I’d like to see you try.” Barker lounged against the counter, grinning back.

  He met Barker’s eyes, hit with the realization that he was here, standing in Barker’s home, and he could change. He could. “It did happen, right? I’m not dreaming.”

  “It happened. You’re a stunning wolf.”

  His hands shook for a second, and he took a deep breath, telling himself to get it together. “Yeah. Yeah, it did. Let’s eat.”

  “You can change after if you want. You just need to promise not to do your business on my floor.”

  Cody blinked at Barker then cracked up, laughing so hard it hurt.

  “What? I’m not joking!”

  He shoved the plate of eggs at his asshole mate.

  Barker moved over to one of the barstools and dug into the food like he was starving. “S’good.”

  Cody nodd
ed, leaning against the counter and sucking the eggs down. Hungry.

  “I could take you out for steak. Nice and rare, twenty ounces.”

  He met Barker’s eyes, a growl pushing out of him.

  “You like that idea? Fresh meat.”

  “Hungry.” His belly went tight-tight.

  “You up to it? There’s all the city out there. I have a guy—I could get something delivered.”

  Cody nodded. “I can go out without my glasses, huh?”

  Barker’s smile was slow and lazy. “You can.”

  “I need to wash my clothes at some point.”

  “We need to buy you more stuff. Jeans, T-shirts. Crap like that.”

  “I don’t need much. I travel light.”

  “You’re not traveling anymore. You’re home.”

  Cody shrugged, still a little uncomfortable with that. “I don’t know how to do that.”

  “You’ll learn.” Barker always sounded so confident.

  “Is the offer of steak still open?”

  Barker laughed and nodded. “You bet. Delivered in or go out?”

  “If we deliver, I can wash clothes.”

  “Or mate.” Barker gave him one of those wolfish grins of his.

  “My mate needs washing?”

  “What?” Barker blinked at him and tilted his head.

  “You said I could wash clothes or my mate.”

  Barker snorted and then chuckled. “I mean or we could mate. You know, go back to bed and rub on each other?”

  “Oh!” He grinned at Barker. “Right. Got it.”

  “Butthead.” Barker threw a napkin at him.

  “Bitch.” He yipped happily.

  “So delivery and making out?”

  “Yeah. Delivery and making out.”

  It sounded perfect.

  * * * * *

  The knock on the door interrupted Barker’s kiss, but he’d had plenty and could have plenty more, so he wasn’t complaining too hard. Besides, that knock came with steak. He grabbed his jeans and slipped into them, finding his wallet in the back pocket. Excellent.

  Answering the door, he gave Kristos the hot delivery boy a grin. He handed over the money as the smell of the food filled his nostrils. “Your dad make my order?”

  “You know he did, Mr. Barker.”

  “Excellent.” He gave Kristos a good tip and closed the door before the man’s scent could penetrate too far into the apartment and worry Cody.