by Lynn Hagen
Thoran’s gaze made Eaton feel…consumed. Branded. He started to tuck his hands into his pockets when he remembered that the battle suit had none. Instead, they fluttered at his side, looking for a place to rest. Finally, he clasped them behind his back, hoping Thoran didn’t notice how much they shook.
“I’m adjusting,” he answered. “I’ve never been outside Crossover. All of this is somewhat overwhelming.” That was an understatement. As crazy and dangerous as things had gotten at home, Eaton was getting homesick. The changes in his life were happening too fast for him to digest anything properly. What he needed was some downtime to explore this ship and grow used to the sounds, the hums, and the quiet hush that surrounded him on a constant basis.
Most of all, he needed time to absorb the fact that he was now onboard a ship with the notorious Breed Assassins. Thoran to be exact. His presence alone wreaked havoc on Eaton’s body and mind.
Thoran reached into his pocket and pulled out a small satchel. He held it out to Eaton. “This might help you adjust.”
Eaton had no idea what it was. The item fit in the palm of Thoran’s callused hand. Eaton lifted the soft material, noticing how feather-light the thing was. “Thank you.”
Thoran gave a low, husky chuckle. “Open it.”
“Oh.” Eaton pulled the strings apart and slid the gift into his hand. His heart beat a little faster when he realized it was a bright orange mPod. There was even an earpiece of the same color. He glanced up at Thoran. “I don’t understand.”
“How it works?”
“No. Well, yes. But I don’t understand why you bought this for me. I spent enough of your credits with the clothes I purchased.” Eaton had never received a gift before. Not something this shiny and new. Money had been tight back home and it was rare when his dad gave him something that wasn’t secondhand or found lying around.
“That’s why,” Thoran replied.
Eaton again didn’t understand. “What?”
“Because I know you’ll appreciate it.” Thoran reached his hand out and Eaton thought the man was going to cup his face. But his hand fell short. The side of Thoran’s mouth twitched in what he assumed was the start of a smile before Thoran shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Come to my office and I’ll load some music onto its hard drive.”
“Its what?”
This time Thoran did smile. “Just come to my office.”
Eaton followed Thoran, staring at the mPod in his hand. He had no clue what to do with it, but was anxious to listen to music of his choice. “How did you know?”
“I bought it off of Dax,” Thoran replied as they rounded the corner. “He bought it for himself but I talked him into letting me buy it from him. You could have bought it. I was hoping you wouldn’t break the bank, but I wouldn’t have minded if you’d indulged yourself a little.”
Eaton laughed. “Dax and Nyk were trying to talk me into buying the entire market.”
Thoran grunted. “Figures. Those two are nothing short of trouble when they’re together. Don’t let them talk you into anything.”
As they entered Thoran’s office, Eaton said, “I wasn’t comfortable spending your credits. I’m not used to—” Eaton wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. Should he have said people pampering him or someone being so generous? What he really wanted to say was he wasn’t used to hot guys paying him any attention, let alone giving him a credit card to use.
Thoran took the mPod from Eaton. When his fingers brushed over Eaton’s hand, Eaton shivered. What he wouldn’t give to feel those strong fingers caressing his body. Thoran’s eyes dropped to Eaton’s groin and Eaton became mortified when he realized he was rock hard and his battle suit did nothing to hide the fact.
Eaton’s breath caught when Thoran moved closer. The air became thick with desire, thick with Thoran’s ultimate power. Even if just for once, he wanted to know what it was like to be with someone. Eaton wanted to be enveloped in someone else’s arms, drowning in Thoran’s masculine scent, feeling his protection, writhing under his hard body.
In the quiet hush of the office, Thoran’s eyes began to shift to amber, his aura seemed to change right there in front of Eaton. There was some sort of darkness to him, something lethal, dangerous. Eaton swallowed hard, taking a step back. He wondered if maybe he should leave. But he didn’t want to. Eaton needed this, craved this.
“Have you ever felt like you were the only person—” He licked his lower lip, shoring up his nerves. He didn’t want to come off as some idiot to Thoran. There was no way the Breed Assassin could feel so damn lonely that he would give anything to have someone, anyone in his life.
“Feel like what?”
“So damn lonely? Like a thousand people could be standing around you, yet no one notices you’re even there? Like there’s fire under your skin and sometimes you can’t take another step because you’re drowning from the inside out?”
Thoran set the mPod on the desk. Eaton didn’t think the man was going to answer him. There was something different about Thoran. In the blink of an eye, he was no longer the laughing man from moments before, but a watchful predator.
Thoran crossed the room and locked the office door before turning toward Eaton. He shrugged, and Eaton could see the uncertainty in the man’s green eyes. “More than you would believe.”
“Even with your friends?”
A small smile tugged at the side of Thoran’s mouth. “They’re great guys and have pulled my ass out of more than one dangerous situation. But they’ve never touched that part of me that wonders if I have a beating heart, wonders if I’m destined to be alone forever.”
“You don’t have a best friend?” Eaton asked.
“Do you?” Thoran deflected the question with one of his own.
“No.” Eaton answered with the truth.
“Then it seems we have a few things in common.”
Before he could reply, Thoran moved in and hauled Eaton into his arms, anchoring him, crushing his mouth to Eaton’s.
Eaton moaned softly as Thoran’s hands ran possessively up his arms to clasp Eaton’s shoulders and then upward again, to his throat. His fingers lingered there, his hold firm without hurting. Thoran was kissing as if the man were starved for Eaton.
It was like he’d been caging his desires for too long and they were finally breaking free.
Once again, Eaton felt consumed, going up in flames as heat shot through his soul, setting it ablaze. The dominant move turned Eaton on to the point he was grabbing for Thoran, tearing at his shirt.
But Thoran used his free hand to leash Eaton’s. Thoran’s lips moved from Eaton’s lips to his jaw, and then to his neck where his hand was still firmly in place. Eaton’s body vibrated as Thoran took control. The show of dominance turned to a plea of capitulation.
And Eaton gave in, melting as Thoran yanked him closer. Eaton’s head fell to the side as his lips parted, his body begging for Thoran to take, to do whatever he desired to Eaton.
“So innocent,” Thoran whispered into his skin. “So obedient.”
Eaton’s cock was thick and throbbing between his legs. He was ready to beg for release. If Thoran kept doing what he was doing, Eaton might not have to beg. He was so close to coming already.
“I want to be yours.” The words slipped out before Eaton even knew they had formed in his mind. But he couldn’t find it in him to take them back. “I know you thought I was a whore, but I’m not. I swear.”
“I know.” Thoran’s hand smoothed down Eaton’s neck, unleashing goose bumps all over his body. His skin tingled from Thoran’s touch, from the closeness and the scent that filled Eaton’s lungs. It was a touch of spice without being overpowering. The natural scent tantalized with hints of male, ruggedness, outdoors, and…beast. The man was lethal to Eaton’s senses. “But I don’t think you know what you’re asking for, petit chat. How could you?”
Eaton clenched his jaw. “Just because I haven’t…I know what I want, Thoran.” Eaton hadn’t meant to sound so indign
ant, but it ticked him off that Thoran thought he was mindless when it came to what he wanted.
Eaton could feel Thoran’s hardness against his stomach. The man’s erection was rigid and strained against Eaton’s battle suit. The man was affecting Eaton in ways he never experienced before and he hadn’t even done anything to Eaton yet.
Thoran nipped Eaton’s chin with the canines that had descended. The sting shot through Eaton and went straight to his groin, eliciting a groan from him. Thoran’s eyes glittered as he stared down at Eaton. “Be very careful what you ask for, petit chat. I play for keeps.”
Chapter Six
Back off. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for.
But as much as Thoran tried to talk himself out of what he really wanted to do to Eaton, he couldn’t seem to let the man go. His wolf snarled for a piece of Eaton’s tender flesh, to take a bite, to dominate, to possess.
Since rescuing Eaton, he was all Thoran could think about, dream about, crave. The lonely, desperate need to belong to someone filled Eaton’s eyes, begged for Thoran to claim him.
His emotions rioted through him. Thoran wasn’t used to being this confused. He was a self-assured man who took what he wanted, when he wanted. But his inner voice cautioned him to go slow with Eaton, to ease him into this.
Whatever this was.
Even if Thoran was indecisive about how to proceed with Eaton, he was certain about one thing. The little cat shifter wasn’t leaving this office until Thoran had had a piece of the man. His cock was already straining to be released, to fill Eaton and taste what the man was offering.
“I know what I’m asking for,” Eaton said, and then added, “I think.”
Thoran chuckled. “You want a best friend, a lover, to be owned by someone who won’t betray you.”
“Yes!” Eaton grinned, his dimples deepening in his cheeks. “You summed it up in a nutshell.”
Thoran’s hand tightened around Eaton’s wrists while he used the other hand to card through Eaton’s raven-black hair, gripping the strands in a tight hold. “I wasn’t looking for a mate.”
“And I wasn’t looking to be mated,” Eaton countered in a breathless tone.
“Yet you are asking to bind yourself to me. Why, Eaton?” The cat shifter had become some twisted preoccupation for Thoran, and he wanted to try and understand where Eaton was coming from, what he desired the most. If this was going to happen, Thoran wanted Eaton to walk into this with his eyes open, not sleepwalking through some fantasy.
It was obvious to Thoran that Eaton’s emotional needs had been neglected for far too long, but was he willing to fill that void?
Eaton yanked at his wrists and Thoran let the man go. The cat shifter paced the room, seeming agitated as he slowly shook his head and chewed on his lower lip. Finally, he glanced up and the look in his eyes took Thoran’s breath away. “I hate being alone.” Eaton’s shoulders slumped.
Thoran was taken aback by Eaton’s confession. Had he ever seen anyone look so despondent? The expression hit home, reminding Thoran of how he’d felt most of his life. “Come here.”
He wanted Eaton to come to him, for this to be the shifter’s decision.
Eaton took cautious steps as Thoran’s gaze slid over the shifter in a lazy manner. That battle suit was killing Thoran. He wanted to rip the material free, to see Eaton naked. He became fixated on that thought as Eaton approached. “What is your definition of belonging to me?”
“To be honest, I’m not sure. All I know is that I don’t feel numb whenever I’m around you.”
Thoran hide his smile when Eaton blushed.
“I’m usually not this talkative or sappy,” Eaton confessed. “But you wanted to know and I want you to know.”
“I did,” Thoran answered as Eaton finally reached him. They both stood there, a breath apart as Eaton continued.
“You were right. I want a best friend and a lover. But there’s more to it than that. I need someone in my corner, someone who—” Eaton scratched his head. “It’s hard to put into words.”
Thoran waited for Eaton to gather his thoughts.
“When you touched me, I felt branded, owned, and I liked it.” Eaton shivered and Thoran felt his protective instincts kick into full gear. He’d never had anyone to look out for. Not once since he’d become a man had Thoran even thought of caring for anyone else. He was on the hunt for a sister he’d never met. Thoran wasn’t sure how she would react to him, if she would even accept him.
But Eaton was eager as he stood right here, almost begging to be Thoran’s.
He smiled as he kissed the tip of Eaton’s nose and ran his hands up the man’s back. Thoran enjoyed the way Eaton responded to his touch. “Yeah?” God help him but Thoran knew there was no way he could continue to push Eaton away. He wanted the man too much.
There was no use in denying the attraction any longer. Not when Eaton was so willing. The man’s scent taunted Thoran, teased him wickedly—just like it had all those years ago. He moved in even closer until Eaton’s scent and heat consumed Thoran. “And what are you willing to give me?”
“Everything.”
That wasn’t the answer Thoran had expected. He thought Eaton would say sex or something similar. That one word froze him to the spot and gave him pause. He cocked his head to the side. “Everything?”
“Are you going to betray me or toss me aside?”
Before he thought about the commitment he was diving into, Thoran shook his head. “Hadn’t planned on it.”
“Are you going to abuse the trust I give you?” Something crept into Eaton’s eyes, as if remembering how his very own father had done just that.
The pain Thoran could see pissed him off. “No.”
“What do you want from me?” he asked.
The question caught Thoran off guard. Until now, sex had been the only thing on his mind. He hadn’t thought past his orgasm. He had started to understand Eaton, to relate to him, but anything pertaining to the future hadn’t entered his mind. “Depends on how deep you want this to go.”
“I want you to mate me,” Eaton reminded Thoran. “That’s about as deep as one can get.”
That was true. Eaton’s soul would forever be bound to Thoran’s. It was a decision no shifter took lightly. Once done, only death could sever the tie. Eaton would be it for Thoran.
Thoran bared his canines as he took Eaton down to the floor, hovering over him. He dipped his head, inhaling the man’s scent deeply into his lungs. “You don’t even know me.”
Eaton’s eyes seemed to glow with pleasure as he stared up at Thoran. “You’ve already told me the most important things I need to know.”
The last vestige of resistance began to slip away. Until now, until Eaton had offered himself to Thoran, the idea of being mated hadn’t appealed to him. It had been the last thing Thoran wanted.
Thoran dipped his head in a fast motion, capturing Eaton’s lips. The man seemed surprised and then he gave a soft sigh. The kiss was hard, heated, and demanding. His tongue pushed inward, invading Eaton’s mouth as it glided over the shifter’s lips and plunged deep.
He wasn’t simply kissing Eaton, but devouring him.
Eaton melted in Thoran’s embrace, becoming boneless as a soft purr rumbled in his throat. Thoran sought more, more of Eaton’s touch and his sinful mouth. His teeth grazed over Eaton’s lips and nipped at the fullness, letting Eaton know who was in charge.
Then he gentled his movements. Thoran cupped Eaton’s face as he lapped the skin he’d nipped. “God help me, but I want you,” he said in a raspy voice. He wanted to ravage every inch of Eaton’s body. Not even in the pleasure house had he been this wound up.
When Eaton’s eyes turned amber and his thin, sharp canines descended, Thoran shattered. His pulse beat erratically as he took in the stunning sight. The temptation was too much. Thoran licked over the thin canines, watching as Eaton’s body shivered. The man rubbed himself on Thoran like a gentle housecat, purring, trying to get closer.
“My, petit chat. You tempt me to take you up on your offer.”
Eaton’s eyes filled with mischief. “And what would I have to do in order for you to agree?” He backed his question up by unzipping his battle suit, showing a hint of flawless skin. The man’s tiny claws were extended as he ran them up and down his exposed flesh, making Thoran salivate for a bite.
“You are about to get yourself into some serious trouble,” Thoran said with a growl.
The warning went unheeded as Eaton pulled the zipper down even lower, giving Thoran a glimpse of the man’s chest, his perfect pale nipples. Thoran dipped his head, biting down gently on one of them.
Eaton’s head fell back as his eyes filled with what Thoran could only describe as sheer pleasure. His gaze fixated on Eaton’s reaction, savoring every nuance, every sound. He knew he needed to consider the exact path he wanted to take with Eaton.
All of this was new to Thoran.
Eaton wasn’t just looking for a mate, but a dominant male who would give him…Hadn’t Eaton said everything?
Thoran had been blindsided and wasn’t sure what to do about this new revelation.
Who was he kidding? Thoran knew exactly what to do with Eaton. He’d known since first laying eyes on the shifter five years ago. Thoran had just been denying the strong attraction. But rescuing Eaton from a brothel owner should have been the first big clue that he was in this for the long haul.
“Am I that bad?”
Thoran could feel a wall going up. Eaton was emotionally pulling away. He took Thoran’s contemplative silence as a sign of rejection. The fire that had been in Eaton’s eyes was slipping away, replaced by uncertainty.
“Not at all,” Thoran replied. “I was just thinking about what you need.”
Eaton didn’t look convinced. His hands rested on the parted material of his battle suit, pulling the material back into place, covering himself.
“Do you really want to do that?” Thoran used the tip of his tongue to lick at Eaton’s fingers, lingering between each one. The cat shifter hissed before he lifted his index finger.
