by Jane Perky
Today held limitless potential and he wanted to find out where this would lead with Axel.
Axel pressed a gentle hand on his chest, urging him to lie down. He lowered himself until his back touched the cool wooden surface. Axel pushed the rest of the tableware and plates way out of the way but grabbed the syrup bottle.
“W-what are you planning to do with that?” Ryan asked as Axel set it next to him.
“Why I’m planning to enjoy the rest of my sweet breakfast.”
Ryan swallowed. “I’m dessert?”
“Save the best for the last, right?” Axel hooked his fingers into his belt loops and without warning, slid his jeans off. He sucked in a breath at the speed.
“Look at that,” Axel drawled, gaze on his rising prick. “Already hard for me?”
“I can’t help it,” he mumbled. “I mean, you should know it’s been awhile for me, so—”
Ryan faltered. He didn’t want to disappoint Axel, didn’t want to screw this up so badly that the werewolf would leave and never return.
“What’s going on in this little head of yours?” Axel asked, hand on his dick.
“Nothing,” Ryan quickly said.
Axel’s brown eyes shifted to shades of gold as the werewolf gave his dick a squeeze through his briefs. “No lying to me, little human. Just the truth.”
Ryan told him, much to his embarrassment.
Axel let out a soft growl. “That’s never going to happen.”
“Really?”
“How can I convince you that I’m here to stay?” Axel gave his cock a squeeze, making him groan, before lowering his mouth to his again.
His insides turned to jelly as Axel took him, all heat and beat. The werewolf gave his cock another squeeze before ripping off his underwear, the sound of the tearing fabric startling him slightly from the kiss.
Ryan panted. “Are you going to keep ripping all of my clothes?”
“It was in the way,” Axel said with a growl to his voice, and he saw Axel’s pupils were bright amber now. Ryan had a feeling it wasn’t just the man he was seeing but also Axel’s wolf, peering at him.
“Does your wolf approve of me?” he had to ask.
Axel chuckled, as if he asked the most obvious question in the world. “Little human, my wolf knew from the start you were meant to be mine. No doubts.”
Axel nuzzled his neck, scraped his teeth against his racing pulse point, before moving lower. The werewolf grabbed the bottle of maple syrup, uncapped it, and drizzled a couple of droplets over his chest. Axel set it down, lowered his head, and flicked his tongue over his left nipple.
He groaned, clawing at the wood as Axel sucked and nipped his way across the places where Axel dripped the syrup. Axel took his left nipple into his mouth, sucked, and at the same time, closed his fingers over his thickening shaft.
God. He was so aroused Ryan didn’t know how long he could last at this rate. Axel took the bottle again and gave his dick a few pumps. Ryan knew what was coming next but he didn’t mind, because no one ever looked at him the way Axel did, like he was the most desirable and precious thing in the world.
Axel let a few drops down his shaft, his balls. Then the werewolf bent down, tongued at his cockhead, licking away the pre-cum and sweet syrup. The cocky bastard took his time, tasting and lashing his tongue down his length. Axel also took in his balls into his mouth, sucking softly. All the while, Axel pinned his gaze on his, expression intense.
Ryan moaned as Axel ran a finger down his crease and found his asshole. He squirmed but Axel pressed his free hand on his belly, keeping him in place.
Axel paused from his task to say, “Fuck, little human. You taste so much better than I imagined.”
What could Ryan say to that? Axel had rendered him completely speechless, and Axel’s mouth and fingers felt too good. Axel fingered his hole and opened his mouth to take Ryan’s cock in. He gasped, watching his dick disappear down Axel’s throat.
Although Axel was the one giving him the blowjob, it was Ryan who was under Axel’s complete mercy. The werewolf bobbed his head up and down. When he was on the verge of coming, Axel pulled his mouth away, licking his lips.
He let out a hiss of frustration. “Why did you stop?”
“Because I don’t want you to come yet, little human. Remember, I lead the dance here, not you.”
Somehow, Axel’s words made sense, because when Axel ran the show, he realized he liked it, liked when his dominant werewolf gave him orders. Could he call Axel his? Did Ryan dare hope?
“Okay,” he whispered, excitement and anticipation running in his veins.
Axel got off him and picked up his discarded jeans, grabbing a condom and lube from his back pocket.
“Do you carry those with you all the time?” he asked. He hated sounding petty, but a good-looking guy like Axel would have no problem finding lovers. Why would Axel want him, if Axel could have anyone he wanted?
Axel silenced his doubts with a scorching look that was all naked, savage need. When Axel spoke, he caught a hint of sharp teeth under the dining room light. “I figured I might get lucky sooner or later,” Axel answered.
“With me?”
Axel walked over to him, giving his tormented prick a pull. Ryan nearly came then but he held back, not wanting to spoil the game. “Do you want to learn the truth, little human?”
Oh no. Axel sounded dead serious, even the look in Axel’s eyes scared him a little, but he knew Axel would kill himself first before harming him. “Yes?”
“I need to own you, to make you mine, because I’m a possessive, jealous fucker. I can’t let anyone else have you,” Axel said simply.
His heart started on a staccato rhythm. Those words should have made him a little weary, reminded him having a werewolf lover could be incredibly scary, but it didn’t. Instead, it gave him reassurance that this gorgeous man saw no other man in the world except him.
“It’s not like anyone’s lining up for me,” he joked.
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Devalue yourself. Enough. I’m going to show you how important you are to me. You’re the treasure I’ve been searching for my entire life.” Axel hefted Ryan’s legs over his shoulders, making him squeak. “My mate.”
Only now did Ryan dare to believe those words. He kept quiet as Axel uncapped the lube and applied a generous amount inside his hole. Axel pushed one finger in, added in a second, making him groan.
The werewolf began widening him for his access and making twisting motions.
“You ready?” Axel asked, and he nodded as Axel took his fingers away.
The last time Ryan had sex had been with his high school boyfriend Todd. It had been quick and messy, the act between two young men who had no idea what they were doing. With Axel, it felt immensely different. He gripped Axel’s biceps and nodded again.
“Yes.”
Axel replaced his fingers with his cock, angling it to Ryan’s entrance. He sucked in a breath as Axel breached his ass.
“So big,” he uttered.
A burn started, but he wanted the same thing Axel did, to be claimed by the man who called him soul mate. Finally, he understood his instant attraction to Axel, because he was made for his wolf as much as Axel was his match.
“Breathe in and out for me, little human,” Axel commanded, eyes like flecks of amber.
He realized the werewolf could have taken him with a single thrust, but Axel had slowed down for his sake, careful not to hurt him. Ryan loved his wolf, he realized, even if they only just met. Neither Axel nor he were conventional, normal, and neither was their scorching, fast-paced romance, but he didn’t care.
Ryan intended to see this through.
Ryan breathed as instructed, and he felt it helped. Once Axel pushed past the thick ring of muscles, it became a lot easier. Finally, Axel sheathed himself fully inside him. He groaned, feeling Axel’s balls brushing against his ass.
Axel closed his mouth over his and he relaxed, responding with
equal passion. He dug his nails into Axel’s shoulders, ready to be ridden. When Axel withdrew from the kiss, he realized he was crying.
The werewolf looked concerned, about to pull away, but Ryan shook his head. He had trouble getting the words out.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Axel regarded him with those wild, gorgeous wolf eyes of his. “What for, baby?”
“For waking me up from what felt like a long sleep, for helping me remember what’s it like to live again.”
Chapter Eight
Ryan’s words cut Axel to the core. Axel began to believe he and his crew got this job for a reason, for his and Ryan’s paths to cross. All he wanted to do now was comfort his mate. Leaning in close, he licked away Ryan’s tears. The human clutched at him harder and without words, he knew it was time to move.
He started on a slow rhythm, although it tested every bit of his control. All his wolf wanted to do was rut their mate and, in the heat of passion, bite Ryan and give their human their mate mark. That way, Ryan would become theirs in every sense of the word. Forever. Until death do they part, at least.
Patience, he told his animal.
“Faster, please,” Ryan pleaded.
“Say that again,” he demanded.
“Please?”
He growled in approval and picked up the pace, going faster and deeper with each thrust. Their hips clashed and Ryan moved his legs from his shoulders to wrap them around his waist, tugging him close. He grinned. Sexy little mate.
With each push, Axel felt like he breached Ryan’s most intimate places. His dick was rock-hard, close to bursting, and his balls tightened against his body. He must have brushed against Ryan’s prostate that last entry, because Ryan gasped, body arching.
Axel aimed for the spot again just to hear his human make that sweet sound once more.
“God, Axel. I’m going to come,” Ryan uttered.
“I’m close, too,” Axel admitted.
He pounded inside Ryan’s ass repeatedly, at the same time reaching over to squeeze Ryan’s dick. Ryan moaned beneath him, raking nails across his back muscles, drawing blood. Oh, he liked that. Who knew his little human could be a wild cat in bed?
Ryan didn’t turn down his volume either, which suited Axel just fine. He liked his lover loud and expressive. Axel stroked Ryan’s prick faster and gave Ryan’s tip a squeeze. That did the trick. Ryan came, screaming out his name and spilling his load all over Axel’s waiting fingers, spraying some on Axel’s stomach.
Hearing his mate orgasm triggered his own. A few thrusts inside Ryan and the pressure inside him broke open. He emptied out his balls, growling under his breath. Ryan looked at him with bliss-filled eyes, smile on his lips, then offered the side of his neck to him.
Axel wasn’t sure if the human understood what he was about to do, but he no longer cared. His wolf rode him, and both man and animal agreed on one thing. They had to make Ryan theirs before someone else came along.
He unsheathed his fangs, unable to say no to what had been offered so freely. Ryan didn’t look the least bit scared. Brave mate. Axel struck the side of Ryan’s neck, fangs piercing through skin and finally hitting bone.
Ryan cried out, but he held his mate, making sure Ryan wouldn’t pull away from him. Ryan calmed down though as he pulled his mouth back. Seeing the bite mark on Ryan filled him with an overwhelming sense of possession. Ryan would protect and love his mate. Always.
Anyone dumb enough to get between them, he’d rip to shreds.
“Hurt?” he asked his mate.
Ryan shook his head. “Not as much as I thought.”
“You understand what this means?” Axel gestured to the still bloody bite.
“Yes. I belong to you, right?” Ryan asked with some hesitation.
Someday soon, his amazing mate would be able to say that with complete confidence. Ryan still didn’t believe he wasn’t good enough for Axel, but it was the exact opposite. Axel only hoped he’d be more worthy of his mate.
“Absolutely,” he answered, nuzzling Ryan’s neck. “Come on, let’s clean up, and I want to bandage your neck up. Humans heal slowly.”
Ryan scoffed. “Who mated a human?”
He grinned at that. Oh yeah. He loved Ryan’s sass. Getting off his mate, he offered Ryan a hand, which his mate grasped. His heart hammered against his chest and his wolf howled inside of him in triumph.
All his life, Axel felt like he followed someone else’s orders. As a member of the paranormal special ops, precision and obedience were demanded of him. He seldom made his choices, but mating Ryan, he concluded, was the best decision he ever made in his life.
* * * *
Ryan touched the bandage on the side of his neck and thought about what just happened in the last few hours. Behind him, Axel snored lightly, big body wrapped around him. His werewolf mate was incredibly warm, better than a blanket. He snuggled closer with a happy sigh.
Outside, it was mid-afternoon. They were already in bed, but screw time. It felt like they had forever. Part of him still couldn’t believe what had happened, that this gorgeous, sexy male behind him was now his mate.
Oh, Ryan was aware of the complications. He still couldn’t walk in the outside world, but he swore he’d try. Things were changing and for the better. He paused from his line of thoughts when Axel kissed the nape of his neck.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“Axel, I promise to be better. I’ll work on being better,” he explained. He took a deep breath, let it slowly out. “I want to have dinners in the city with you, to go to movies together, even spend a lazy Sunday in the park with you.”
Ryan could see the vision in his head now. Him, healthy, still socially awkward but working on it with Axel beside him. He’d get his strength from his mate. With Axel, he could be fearless. New and different. The best version of him.
“I’d love that, too,” Axel said behind him. “We’ll do things step-by-step, little human. If you rush things too fast, you might end up backtracking.”
“You’ll never leave me, right?” Ryan hated how whiney he sounded, but Axel told him to be honest, to voice his fears.
“Never. This mark means you’re mine and I’m yours,” Axel told him. “I’ll be there, even when you want me gone.”
“I don’t think that’ll ever happen. For most of my life, I’ve felt isolated and alone, but not anymore. I can’t go back to that state.”
“You’ll never have to, little human.”
Relieved, he settled comfortably against his mate. This time, he wasn’t afraid to fall asleep, terrified all that happened would be a dream. The faint ache from Axel’s mate mark told him this was real. Ryan would no longer be alone. When he woke, the man he loved would be waiting for him so they could both make breakfast again.
* * * *
“Are you sure about this?” Ryan asked, biting his lip.
Both Axel and he were in his now tidy and trimmed backyard. They spent the weekend taming the jungle that his yard had become. Hard to believe it had been a week since Axel mated him, and yet every day and moment spent with Axel had been a treasure.
Since Axel spent so much time in his home, they both decided it would be better for the werewolf to move in. Ryan woke up to the sight of his mate each morning. They separated for their respective work during the day, but nights were theirs. He couldn’t ask for anything more, except he promised himself he’d make progress when it came to his fears.
“You can do this, baby. Come take a walk outside with me. It’s quiet on the street this time of the day,” Axel said. His werewolf stood by the gate leading to the street on the edge of the yard. Axel wore a thin shirt, which hugged his powerful body nicely, and a pair of faded jeans despite the cool weather.
Axel looked good.
Ryan still couldn’t believe he belonged to this incredibly amazing and patient man.
“Okay.” He breathed in and out.
Ryan walked over to his mate with resolve, but the clos
er he got to the gate, the more his nervousness spiked. The last few steps made him wobble. From here, right between the two iconic pine trees where he first spotted Axel in wolf form, he could hear the sound of a passing car and the voices of other people.
A honk made him jump, and he swore he could hear wheels screeching on gravel. Images of the covered bodies of family leapt back in his mind. The night had been cold, he remembered, the red blinking lights of the police cruiser too bright. Ryan couldn’t do this.
He panicked, turned his heel and began to run back to the house, but he felt strong arms around him, stopping him. Axel pulled him into a hug. Ryan wanted to yell at his mate, start a stupid fight about Axel making him do this, except hadn’t he wanted this, too? It was a late Monday afternoon and Axel even took off time from work to be with him.
“I can’t,” he whispered. “It’s too hard.”
“Try again,” Axel insisted.
“You don’t know what it’s like.”
Other men would have lost their patience, would have given up or walked away, but not his mate. Axel began pelting kisses on his throat, on his lips. The kiss started out soft but grew wet and hungry. When Axel pulled away, he panted.
“Tell me,” Axel urged.
“I keep remembering that night, when a cop woke up in my own bed. There was a police car outside the house and paramedics. Sergeant Fields held me back, not wanting me to see the carnage, but I saw my family covered in sheets. They were pronounced dead on site. I was told they didn’t suffer.”
Most of the time when he recalled that moment, he’d curl into a tiny pathetic ball on the floor, rocking back and forth, unaware how much time had passed, but out here under the sun, with Axel holding him, he felt anchored. Steady.
He continued, “Hearing the cars outside scared me. Any one of them can run over me. I know it’s paranoid thinking. Am I crazy?”
“No,” Axel said in a firm voice, turning him by the shoulder so Ryan looked at him. “Small steps, baby. We’ll try another day.”
“But you took time off tonight.”
“Well, I can afford to. You’re more important.” Axel gave him another kiss, and he felt better all over again.
