King sat on the stone bench at the center, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. I’d never seen him look vulnerable. He didn’t look powerful like he usually did; he looked exhausted. I approached him slowly. He looked up, his expression grim. “You couldn’t stay away.”
“I knew you needed me, even if you’re too stubborn to admit it.”
“Bold words considering what I told you earlier.”
“Maybe. But giving you what you need is worth the risk.” I took a few more steps, knelt in front of him, and placed my hands on his thighs. His eyes widened, and I could feel tension vibrating in him. “Let me help you.”
“Emerson, I—”
“I know you need to be in control. I know you want me to submit to whatever you ask, but right now, you need someone to take care of you.”
He slid a hand through my hair as his intense gaze held my own. “You’re so beautiful.”
I shook my head. “I’m not—”
“What did I say about contradicting me?”
I didn’t answer. I just reached for his fly. I slipped the button loose and began to lower his zipper. My heart raced, and I could barely breathe. Would he punish me for being so bold? Or would he let me give him the relief he was denying me?
“Emerson, you’re safest back at the guesthouse.”
“I don’t want to be safe. I want to be yours.”
He sucked in his breath. “You are mine.”
“Then let me serve you.” I lowered his zipper the rest of the way, pulled his cock free, and wrapped my hand around it. He might not let me come ever again. But I couldn’t stop myself. I couldn’t stay away when he was crying out for someone to love him.
“You’re very stubborn.”
“And you’re about to get distracted from whatever is bothering you with a really good blow job, so why don’t you lie back and enjoy it.”
“You need some serious training about what submission means.”
“Later I’ll take whatever you think I deserve for this, but just this once, give in.”
His body tensed under my hands. For a moment, I thought he was going to shove me away, then he leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes. “Suck me, Emerson.”
“As you wish.”
I ran my tongue slowly up his length. I could feel the wetness of the grass soaking through my sweats and my knees were already sore from the hard ground, but none of that mattered. All I cared about was giving King pleasure, making him forget whatever was weighing so heavily on him.
I took just the head of his cock in my mouth at first, tongued the slit, and sucked gently. He groaned. “More.”
I would give him more. I would give him anything he asked for. I slid my wet lips along his length, then pulled back and teased him again.
He growled. “Take it all, or I’ll make you.”
I smiled around the thick flesh in my mouth before taking him deep into my throat and swallowing around him. He pressed my face against his body and held it there. I couldn’t breathe, but I held still, letting him control it.
A few seconds later, he let go, and I pulled back, gasping.
“Fuck, Emerson. This is—”
I took him down again, cutting off his words. I worked him relentlessly after that, sucking him deep, using my tongue and just a hint of teeth. I fondled his balls and pressed my fingers against his taint before skimming them over his hole. I wondered if he’d ever been fucked or if he’d only topped. He was so fucking dominant, but that didn’t mean he didn’t enjoy some prostate stimulation.
His hand slid into my hair, and I could tell he was trying to hold back from driving into my mouth. He didn’t want to hurt me, and with his strength I knew he could. But in that moment, I wasn’t afraid. I’d been afraid in the dark woods when he wasn’t with me. I’d been afraid in the guesthouse when I was all alone. But as long as I was touching him, I was safe. I was home.
“I’m close, Emerson. I’m going to spill my load down your throat. I want you to take every drop.”
I moaned around him and felt him shudder. It felt good to have such power. To be able to bring him pleasure, to make him barely able to keep his control. I felt the prick of claws against my scalp. I glanced up and saw that his eyes had gone wolfish.
“Emerson, I can’t hold on. I can’t—” With a fierce snarl, he bucked against my mouth, driving his cock all the way in. Hot cum spilled into me, and I swallowed frantically, desperate to do as he’d asked and not lose a drop of it. His orgasm seemed endless. He thrust into me again and again, but I took it all and swallowed every bit of his essence. I needed it. I needed to be claimed by him, owned by him, marked by him.
When his climax finally ended, he pulled out of my mouth and lifted me under the arms, pulling me up until he settled me on his lap. He pulled me against his shoulder and stroked my back. “Are you okay?”
I hummed against him, not sure I could use words. My throat was raw and scratchy, and my head was swimming. I hadn’t imagined my cock could ever hurt so bad. The cage felt like a vise. My balls were heavy and full, and my need to come was more intense than I’d ever imagined.
“I know this is hard for you, being caged and expected to submit, but that is also part of what I need. I need to be in charge, especially right now, when many things in my life feel like they’re spiraling out of control. Having you willing to give yourself to me is the one thing keeping me sane right now. When I met you the other night, I thought this was absolutely the wrong time to have a new submissive come into my life. I didn’t think I was ready to have someone I wanted to keep, not just use and walk away from. I was wrong.”
Warmth surged through me. I knew instinctively that King rarely admitted he was wrong, but he’d done so for me.
He kissed the top of my head and nuzzled me. “You’re exactly what I need right now. But I need to know that you will submit to my control, that you’ll let me direct things, that you’ll let me decide when you come and when I play with you. Tonight was an exception. I’m stubborn too, and I’m also trying to find my own limits. I can’t ever let myself forget that you’re human.”
I was tempted to suggest that maybe humans couldn’t bear the same amount of time in a cock cage as shifters, but I knew that wasn’t likely true.
King lifted my chin and kissed me. “Can you bear this for me? Can you be with me tonight while wearing my cage? Can you wait until I decide it’s time for you to get relief, even when you brought such sweet relief to me?”
I drew in a shaky breath. Could I? “You need to make me suffer, don’t you?”
“Yes and no. I do enjoy making submissives suffer. I like to challenge them, to push limits, but with you, things are different. I need to control you and I need you to let me.”
“I can take it. For you.” Somehow, I would find the strength.
11
King
Mate. Claim. My wolf wanted me to rip Emerson’s clothes from his body, drive into him, and give him the claiming bite that would bind us together. But Emerson didn’t even know we were mates. What would he think if I insisted fate had drawn us together, and he was now mine forever? Most humans didn’t even believe in the concept. Some insisted it was nonconsensual, others saw it as too animalistic and thus beneath them, and then there were those who simply scoffed at the concept since science couldn’t explain it. I’d doubted it myself at times, but not anymore. Emerson was my mate, and eventually I’d tell him and claim him.
He reached out and stroked my stubbly cheek. “I won’t ask you to take the cage off. I’m not asking you to give me anything, I just want to take care of you. I can’t leave you out here in the dark.”
Had anyone ever put my needs first like that? My brothers loved me. I was certain of that. Their love for me was as strong as mine for them, but they also relied on me. I was their leader, the one who kept them safe. Storm tried to make me take care of myself, and he had sent Emerson to the club, but he still looked to me for guidance. He knew I was the o
ne who would stand between him and any danger. I would do the same for Emerson, of course. It was my nature as an alpha to protect, but as the protector, I’d never had anyone to take my burdens away.
How was it that I could long for Emerson to do that for me, while also wanting to control him, to know he would suffer for me, that he would do anything I said? Was I too cruel? Would he hate me for it?
“You’re thinking too hard.”
The depth of emotion in his eyes startled me. Even in the dark I could see well enough to know that he was worried about me while at the same time wanting me, and he was also a little frightened. I breathed deep, taking in the scent of his lust and fear. My cock hardened again, even though Emerson’s mouth had just brought me the most exquisite orgasm.
I took Emerson’s outstretched hand, brought it to my lips, and brushed them over the back of it. Then I stood and fastened my pants.
“We’re going to the guesthouse now if you wish to follow.” I directed the words at the guard Storm had sent to look after me.
“Yes, sir.”
I held Emerson’s hand as we walked down the path that led from the rose garden to the guesthouse. I was pleased to see Jax there by the porch. “I’ll be here with Emerson for a while,” I told him. “Go get some rest.”
Jax inclined his head. “Thank you, sir. Good night.”
“Good night,” Emerson and I said at the same time. I opened the door and pulled him in after me.
As soon as the door closed behind us, Emerson spoke. “Would you let me bathe you and give you a massage?”
I stopped walking and turned to look at him. “You want to do that?”
Emerson nodded. “I know it might sound silly.”
“No. It sounds like one of the nicest things anyone’s ever offered me.”
“Maybe you’ve been with the wrong people.”
“I have, because you’re the right person for me. You’re the man I’ve been waiting for.”
He shivered. “How do you—”
“Don’t ask me questions about that now.”
He looked like he was going to protest, but instead he said, “This is something I’ve always fantasized about doing for my Dom. I mean, if I ever got to have one.”
“You have one now, and I would love for you to do that for me.”
“There’s a really big tub in my bathroom. I mean, I guess you know that since this is your house.”
“You’d be surprised how little I know about some details of my own properties. I’ve never stayed in the guesthouse, and Storm was in charge of having it designed. But I’m glad there’s adequate space for you to fulfill this fantasy, and me to luxuriate in it.”
Emerson took my hand. This time he was the one who led. I was strangely okay with that. We reached the bathroom, and I saw the large garden tub with massaging jets. It would do nicely.
Emerson started the water, testing the temperature again and again until he was satisfied. All I could do was watch. As he bent over, his round ass stuck out toward me. I considered yanking his pants off and fucking him right there while keeping him in the cock cage, but I also liked the idea of what he’d suggested, and I was afraid that if I got started playing with him, we’d never get to the bath.
“Take your clothes off,” I ordered.
Emerson frowned. “I wasn’t going to get in the bath. I was just going to kneel by the side to massage your shoulders and wash you.”
“Wherever you are, I want you naked. In fact, whenever we’re together in private, I want you naked.”
Emerson’s eyes widened, but he obeyed. I watched as he bared his lean body, enjoying every inch that was revealed. He was exquisite, and he was all mine. His balls were bright red, full and straining. Seeing Emerson’s obvious pain and his willingness to bear it had a growl rumbling in my chest. My wolf wanted out.
“You like seeing the cage, don’t you?” Emerson asked.
“I like having a visible sign of my control.”
“You could have chosen a collar.”
“I like this better.” I took hold of his waist and pulled him to me for a kiss. My cock brushed against his trapped one. He groaned and I deepened the kiss, needing to taste him, needing to touch and hold and rub against him. When we’d kissed so long we were both desperate for air, I stepped back.
“May I undress you now?” Emerson asked.
His soft voice and his obvious desire to please sent warmth through me. “Yes, please.”
He smiled, looking more confident now. It wasn’t easy for me to stand still while he slowly pushed my jacket from my shoulders, then folded it and laid it on a bench under the towel rack. Next he unbuttoned my shirt, stopping to kiss the skin he’d exposed after each button. I was breathing hard by the time he undid the cuffs and slid the garment from my shoulders.
Once it was also folded, he unfastened my pants. This was supposed to be about him caring for me, but as his fingers grazed my cock, I wanted to wrap them around it or force him to his knees and feed him my length. He pushed my pants and boxers down and knelt to remove my shoes and socks. When he finally had me completely naked and he’d taken care of all my clothes, he turned to look at me. “You’re so gorgeous.”
I felt heat creep up my neck and into my face. Since when did I blush? That shouldn’t be something that happened to an alpha wolf. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now, if you’re ready, step into the tub and I’ll give you a massage while you soak.”
I did as he said. The warm water felt delicious on my tense muscles.
Emerson moved to stand behind me. He dropped his hands to my shoulders and worked the muscles, using lots of pressure. I groaned and leaned forward a bit to give better access to my back as he loosened me up with the help of the steaming hot water.
“Tell me what it’s like to shift into wolf form,” he said, once he had me lulled half to sleep.
“It doesn’t hurt like on all those ridiculous human movies. And it’s not forced by the cycle of the moon or anything else, though it can be hard to resist when feeling strong emotions that allow the more primitive brain of our wolves to take over.”
“Is it the same for other shifters?”
“As far as I know. Most of the time it’s soothing to shift to animal form. It’s a relief to let our animal instincts take charge. My youngest brother, Shadow, had a really hard childhood. We adopted him as a teen. Well, my brothers and I did. My father wanted nothing to do with him. He spends a lot of time in wolf form, because it’s comforting for him.”
“Do you spend much time as a wolf?”
I sighed. “Not as much as I’d like.”
“Are you comforted by shifting? Is it something you use when you’re feeling like you are tonight?”
It was. I’d considered shifting and exploring the grounds as a wolf instead of sitting in the garden, but the garden reminded me of my mother, and it had called to me tonight. I wished she’d been able to meet Emerson. They would’ve liked each other a lot. “It’s comforting for me, but I’m limited in that form, and I have too many responsibilities that require my human form to spend much time as a wolf.”
“Sometimes you probably just need to let go of your responsibilities for a while.”
“My wolf thinks so too.”
Emerson brushed his lips against my temple and nipped at the edge of my ear. “Your wolf may be smarter than you give him credit for.” His warm breath sent a shiver through me. I almost reached up and yanked him into the water.
Emerson took a washcloth, soaped it up, and washed me carefully; every single part of me. When he touched my cock, it wasn’t truly sexual, but I grew hard and heavy in his hand anyway. He smiled up at me. He liked what he did to me, and I liked it too. I liked everything about him. Of course I did, he was my mate. I needed to tell him, but I was still afraid of scaring him off.
Did he truly feel the mate bond pulling at him like I did? What was it like for a human to have a fated mate?
Aft
er he’d washed me, Emerson ran more water to pour over me, soothing me with the warmth and his concern for my comfort. When he was finished, I stepped from the bath, and he brought a towel to wrap around me. He dried me, kneeling before me, even running the towel over my feet. I’d never felt so cared for, so loved and cherished in my life. That this man would do this for me when his own body was begging for release touched me deep inside. He deserved a reward for his selflessness. I wouldn’t give him all he wanted, but I would let him find out what it was like to come after having been trapped in the cage.
“Take a seat.” I gestured toward the bench where he’d laid my clothes. He did, and I picked up my jacket so I could retrieve the key to his cock cage.
When he saw what I was doing, Emerson’s eyes widened. “I thought—”
I laid a finger over his lips. “Don’t talk. Just do as I say.”
“O-Okay.”
I knelt in front of him, and he instinctively opened his legs. As I fitted the key to the lock, I said, “You’ve been so good to me tonight that you’ve earned the right to come. Once I release you, you’re going to touch yourself, and I’m going to watch.”
“You… you’re not going to—”
My glare cut his words off. “I’m going to watch, and when you’re done, you’re going to clean yourself up and put the cage back on. Do you understand, little human?”
“I do.” The words were so soft, I barely heard them. I twisted the key, removed the lock, and laid it and the two halves of the cage on the bench beside Emerson. He gasped as his cock swelled impossibly fast. “It… It hurts.”
I smiled as I stood and backed away. “Yes, I imagine it does.”
His hand was shaking as he wrapped it around his cock, but he met my gaze as he began his first tentative strokes.
“Faster—show me what you would be doing if you were alone.”
He whimpered as he worked his hand faster. Precum leaked from his tip. His cock was so red and hard that I knew he wouldn’t last much longer; not after what I’d put him through.
Claiming Bite Page 9
