by Gale Stanley
There were few high rises, which probably accounted for fewer pedestrians out and about, but Slade couldn’t take the chance of someone confronting him while he tried to break in. He took a shortcut through an alley to the rear of the building and looked for a window. There were none at street level, but the backdoor looked promising.
Covert agents were a unique breed. Given a challenge, they would always do whatever it took to overcome an obstacle. Slade intended to gain entry while creating the least damage. He tried the door first. A man in his training class had once made a mess of forced entry only to discover the door had been unlocked the whole time. This door was locked.
The old technique of jimmying a door, spreading the door away from the jamb without damaging the lock, didn’t work on the stronger doors and more formidable locks that were made today. With his good working knowledge of various locks and a basic understanding of how they operated, Slade wasn’t concerned. Using a few simple tools, small enough to fit in his pocket, he forced the mortise lock open.
Slade slipped inside and found himself in a storage area with a door that led to a first floor foyer. No elevator. It actually made his job easier. Tracking Jaxon in a five-story walk-up would be a piece of cake. He scanned the mailboxes to see if any name rang a bell. Michael Donovan 404. Motherfucker!
Slade took the steps two at a time. Sure enough, Jaxon’s scent led him straight to 404. Slade waited outside Mike’s apartment long enough to know this was a private party for two. No rebel insurgents, human or otherwise, showed up. He pressed his ear against the closed door and was certain he heard sounds of lovemaking. The scent of aroused wolf seeped around the jamb and excited his own need to mate. He wanted to howl. His wolf wanted to bust through the door. Down, boy. When had he gotten so proprietary about Jaxon Castle? He’d do better to concentrate on business and figure out what the hell his target was doing in his partner’s apartment. Cross that out. He knew what they were doing. But why? Were Jax and Mike partners? Or was Mike playing the same get close to the target game as Slade? If he is, he damn well should have told me. Much as he wanted to, Slade couldn’t go charging in there until he had all the facts. He didn’t like Mike’s methods, but he wouldn’t screw up whatever the hell his so-called partner was doing. At least he had Mike’s address now.
Slade walked back to the parking garage. Images of a dark-haired wolf fucking a sexy blond flooded his mind and stiffened his dick. Fuck. He had the night off and nowhere to go.
* * * *
Jaxon had come flying into Mike’s apartment like a bat out of hell. Mike barely had time to say hello before his lover slammed him against the living room wall and captured his mouth with a punishing kiss. Mike submitted to the forceful domination of his lips and returned the passion eagerly. His thoughts fragmented as Jaxon’s tongue trailed a path along the side of his cheek and down his neck while his hands fumbled with the buttons of Mike’s shirt. Jax smoothed a hand over his chest, and Mike’s muscles quivered under the shifter’s touch.
Jax spent long minutes teasing Mike’s nipples with fingers then tongue. Meanwhile his nimble fingers worked on Mike’s zipper, reaching inside his slacks to free his cock. Mike groaned, kicked off his shoes, and helped Jax yank his pants and boxers over his hips.
Then suddenly, Jax was on his knees and licking a path up the side of his hardening erection. Mike’s head fell back against the wall, drops of precum beaded at the tip of his cock. Jaxon’s tongue searched the slit then swirled around the head.
Jaxon’s tight grip on his hips kept Mike pinned to the wall and unable to thrust deeper into his lover’s mouth. Mike groaned out his frustration, but then Jax swallowed his length and he felt his prick hit the back of Jax’s throat. Hot lips slid back up his cock, teeth lightly scraping his sensitive flesh. Jax released Mike’s hips giving him free rein, and Mike started to fuck Jaxon’s mouth in earnest. When Jax pressed a finger to his ass and pushed inside, Mike slammed his head back against the wall and shouted through an embarrassingly quick orgasm, shuddering as Jax swallowed and licked away any traces of his climax.
Mike slid down the wall to join his lover on the floor, who kissed him senseless. When Jax finally let him go, he took a moment to catch his breath. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“What a way to go, huh?” Jax grinned at him. “Wanna shower, eat?”
“Eat then shower.”
Jax stood and reached out a hand to pull Mike to his feet.
Hours later, they lay in bed, Jax sprawled on his stomach, Mike lost in thought. Jax seemed a little more relaxed now, not edgy and wired like he had been for the last week. Jax wouldn’t talk about it, but Mike had a few ideas about what was on his mind. Today had been all about the physical, and it seemed to relieve some of Jax’s tension, but it left Mike more anxious than ever. Every time he closed his eyes while Jax was sucking his cock, he imagined him doing the same thing to Slade. The thought of watching the two wolves only heightened his own arousal. The image of Slade’s naked body between him and Jax took root in his mind and made Mike harder than he’d ever been in his life. If only he and Jax could talk about it. But that would mean coming clean about everything. He would have to confess that he’d been spying on his lover. Jax would accept a threesome, but he’d never accept a human spy in his bed. Mike felt like they had lost something important between them—communication.
Relationships ended all the time and for a variety of reasons—incompatibility, boredom, a new piece of ass that catches the eye, and most of the time the breakup wasn’t mutual. But in Mike’s experience he’d always been the one to initiate the split. Heartbreak was a way of life—for other guys. But being with Jaxon put a whole new spin on things. He was crazy about the man, and his biggest fear was that Jax would break it off.
When Mike met Slade that fear had overwhelmed him. Not only was Slade extremely good looking, he was a wolf, one of Jaxon’s species. He’d been in Jaxon’s club, his home, and his bed. Places Mike could only dream about. It hurt.
Mike had so little of Jaxon’s time that thinking about his lover seeing Slade every day fueled his inner demons. He tried to hide his anger from Jax, but couldn’t always do it. Then suddenly everything changed. Jaxon started spending more and more time at Mike’s apartment. Mike suspected he was enjoying more of Jaxon’s company because his lover felt guilty about deceiving him, but Mike refused to look a gift horse in the mouth. He didn’t care why Jaxon was here, only that they were together. Besides, he had his own secrets he kept from Jax.
And Jax could hardly be blamed for being taken in by a deceiving undercover agent who just happened to be a sexy fuck and would use his body to get what he wanted. Mike could imagine him parading his bare ass in front of a bunch of salivating dogs. Hell, Mike knew who and what Slade really was, and yet he himself, felt physically attracted to the man. Yeah, he felt some lust for Slade. Much as he hated to admit it to himself, Slade had wormed his way into Mike’s head, and he wouldn’t leave. Unfortunately, a man couldn’t always choose who or what attracted him. Life would be much simpler if he could, but a guy never knew what was going to catch his fancy. Mostly, it just was what it was. The first time he saw Jax, he wanted to bed him. Real love came as he got to know the real person.
On the outside, Slade just reminded him too much of Jax. Tall, dark, and walking a fine line between handsome and rough. There was just something about him…Maybe Mike was addicted to wolves. Whatever, he felt guilty as hell over it—and over his part in the investigation. He tried to brush it aside by telling himself that he’d taken the assignment for one reason—to help Jaxon.
Mike looked over at Jax. His eyes were closed, dark lashes fanned out over his cheeks. All this time together and Mike had never noticed just how long Jaxon’s lashes were. He breathed in his lover’s familiar, musky scent, and thought about how devastated he would be if Jax walked out on him. And walk he would if he found out Mike had withheld information about the investigation. No question he would split.
&
nbsp; He wished he could tell him what was going on, but he feared an enraged Jaxon might do something that would get him into even bigger trouble. He was already drinking way too much, a recipe for disaster if he ever saw one. Mike felt guilty about the drinking as well. Their relationship was stressful for both of them. If he wasn’t on the force and a health nut besides, he’d be drinking right along with his lover. No, the best thing he could do for now was to play this close to the vest.
Mike felt Jaxon’s hand on his genitals, and his cock stirred with interest. Up, up, and away! That’s all it took to get him excited, just a touch from his lover and bingo, instant hard-on. Jaxon continued to stroke him until he let out a soft moan and rolled closer. His erection throbbed in Jaxon’s hand as his lover’s fingers played over the sensitive skin, his thumb circling the tip and spreading pre-cum over the shaft.
Mike was hot, and in Jaxon’s hands, well on his way to melting clear through the mattress. Suddenly Jax hauled him in for a deep, demanding kiss and ground his rising erection against Mike’s. “Feel what you do to me,” he whispered in Mike’s ear. Another fierce kiss rendered Mike speechless. Mike had never seen Jax so hungry for him, so needy, like he was trying to exorcise his demons through his cock. This new Jax scared Mike a little, but he also drove Mike to heights they hadn’t reached before. Sliding his hands around Jaxon’s body, he gripped his ass and rocked his hips against his lover’s.
“Want to fuck you,” Jax groaned, and his fingers dug into Mike’s arms hard enough to leave prints.
Yes! The words sent hot blood pulsing straight to Mike’s dick. “Fuck, yes,” he hissed and rolled to his back, pulling Jax with him.
Jax leaned over and pressed two long fingers slick with pre-cum into his ass. At first the penetration burned and had Mike clenching his teeth. But the pain soon turned to pleasure, and Mike’s muscles contracted around the intrusion. Moaning, he pushed back against Jaxon’s hand, wanting more.
Jaxon’s fingers left him as quickly as they’d entered him, and Mike groaned with frustration until Jaxon guided his cock to Mike’s hole. The naked lust in Jaxon’s eyes kicked Mike’s desire out of control.
“Beg me, baby. I love to hear you panting and moaning for me.” Jaxon’s breath came in quick, shallow gasps.
“Give it to me, Jax.” Mike’s heart pounded an erratic rhythm, sending hot blood pulsing through his veins. “For God’s sake. Fuck me.” Mike drew in breath as if he were drowning and gasped in sweet agony when Jax finally buried his length inside him in one hard thrust.
Mike urged him on, and Jax started moving in hard, hot thrusts that drove Mike wild.
“Yes, just like that…”
Jax leaned over and planted a rough, passionate kiss on his mouth then worked him hard. His lover’s dick felt hot as a blowtorch, taking Mike higher and higher with each forceful thrust. Beads of sweat covered Jaxon’s brow and the drops fell to Mike’s stomach, practically sizzling on his heated flesh. Mike held on for the ride. Unintelligible sounds came from the back of Mike’s throat as his orgasm boiled up, and his body told him it couldn’t hold back his release much longer. His need to come so great, it consumed him.
Jax wrapped his hand around Mike’s dick and tugged. Then cupped his balls and squeezed. That’s all it took.
“Fuck!” Mike’s orgasm was explosive.
One more hard thrust and Jax came, releasing his seed and collapsing on Mike’s body.
All over. Except Jax was still embedded between Mike’s legs, and that’s exactly where Mike wanted him, for as long as possible, for always. Mike licked his lips, swollen from Jaxon’s kisses. Their bodies, slippery with sweat and semen, were tightly bonded. He felt as if Jax owned him, body and soul. Then suddenly his lover pulled away and sat up, leaving him with an empty feeling. “Come back here.” Mike made a move to grab Jaxon’s arm, but he was already leaving the bed.
“Get some sleep, baby. I need a drink to relax me.”
The empty spot next to Mike grew cold long before he finally drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Jaxon Castle had one hell of a hangover. He forced his eyes open and the room started to spin. A headache pounded behind his eyes and his mouth was dry as toast. The smell of vomit hung in the air. He lay back on the bed and waited for it to stop moving. Too tired to think straight, he tried to piece together the previous night. Where did I go, what did I do, who did I do it with?
As if he’d heard him, Mike appeared in the doorway of the bedroom. Well, that answered one question. At least he hadn’t landed in some stranger’s bed—or worse, Slade’s.
“What time is it?” he managed to croak.
“6:00 a.m.,” Mike responded. “What’s going on, Jax? I’ve never seen you drink this much before.”
“You never spent so much time with me before.”
Mike had a worried look on his face. “I’m not joking. You can’t function like this.”
“Give me a break. I’m fine.” Jaxon sat up on his elbows and shook his head. Big mistake. The headache came back full force, and he flopped back on the pillows. “Coffee.” He croaked. “I need coffee.”
Mike wrinkled his nose like he smelled something bad and dumped a handful of vitamins on the nightstand. “This is better for you.” He held out a tall glass of something that was most definitely not coffee.
“What the fuck is it?”
“Fruit, soy milk, water, salt, and cayenne. Take a few swallows, then the vitamins.”
Jaxon shook his head. “Christ my head hurts. Just get me coffee and put a shot of something in it.”
“You’ve had enough to drink. Your eyes are bloodshot, and your skin is looking mauve-gray.”
Jaxon stretched his neck to get a glimpse of himself in the mirror over the dresser. Fuck, I look bad. “I admit it’s not my color, but I don’t think I look that bad.”
Mike rolled his eyes, and the telltale vein in his temple throbbed. He opened his mouth to speak but shut it again immediately.
“Okay, okay. I’m never drinking again.”
“I’ve heard that before.” Mike snorted derisively.
Why did he ever get mixed up with a health nut? Oh yeah. Maybe it was because Mike was six foot two, two hundred pounds of solid muscle, and loved to suck cock. Where did that come from? One night with the wolf and his thinking was all skewed. Yeah, Mike gave a great blow job, but they had a lot more than the sex going for them. Jaxon loved the intimacy and caring that came with a relationship. It was definitely worth putting up with Mike’s nagging and the fact that he was a human cop. What he couldn’t understand was why Mike put up with him. He was better off without him. He’d only fuck up Mike’s life. He was good at that. Look what he’d done to his own.
“I’d love to stay and argue with you, but I have an early shift. You can stay and sleep it off.”
“No, I’m getting up.” Jaxon tentatively swung his feet over the side of the bed and sat with his head in his hands. When the nausea stopped, he looked up at Mike. “Thanks for the hangover remedy, but I don’t think my stomach can handle it.” He stood up and looked down at his very early morning wood. His dick was standing at attention and telling him, “You’ve ignored me long enough and now I’m going to piss all over your feet.” “I’m gonna grab a shower and head out. I’ve been neglecting the club. I can’t keep dumping everything on Quinn.”
“Okay, Jax.” Mike leaned over to kiss him. “Will I see you tonight?”
“I’ll call you later.”
“Lock up when you leave.”
“Will do.”
Jaxon combed his hair with his fingers. Binge drinking wasn’t his thing. He never drank at the club—well, not until Slade showed up. Ever since the dancer came into his life, he’d been off-balance and feeling guilty as shit. He should just fire the guy. Then maybe he could go back to his club with no worries. Right now he knew the minute he laid eyes on Slade again he’d want to drag him off to bed and fuck him senseless.
For the life
of him, he couldn’t figure out why. Well, yeah, he did know why. Slade was a sexy fucker and lupine genetics had brought his wolf out of hibernation and set off a magnetic attraction between them that could not be denied. He’d hoped doing time in the sack would have been enough to scratch his itch. Instead, it made him want the other wolf more.
The first six months with Mike it was all butterflies and nonstop fucking as soon as they saw each other. Pretty much the way he felt now when he saw Slade. But he still loved Mike, and he was as territorial and monogamous as any other wolf. Human or not, he saw himself with Mike for the rest of his life and vice versa. So what was the problem? Too much predictability? Too little spontaneity? What?
Something was missing. If only he could bring Mike to the club…
They never saw each other enough. He thought spending this extra time together would fix things, and it did—sort of. But he still wanted Slade, wanted to be at the club watching the man’s sexy ass shake on the dance floor, knowing he would be inside it later that night. He’d gone over this again and again. Finally he had to admit this had nothing to do with Mike. Fate had worked its magic and brought him the mate he was meant to have. Suddenly the fog lifted and the light bulb went on.
Why hadn’t he seen it before? Humans were a repressed society when it came to sex. Jax wasn’t human, but he had a human lover and he was putting constraints on his behavior that weren’t natural for him. His kind believed in monogamous relationships too, but nobody ever said the bond couldn’t include more than two people. Ruling out sex with a third man was unrealistic—for him. He wanted to bring Slade into their bed without fear of destroying what he had with Mike, but deep down he knew Mike would never go for it.
