by Fel Fern
Zack didn’t show a hint of fear now, would he after he saw more of Santino?
Something told him his healer would stay his ground. The first time he laid eyes on Zack, he’d known the bobcat shifter was different. He breathed in the scent of Zack. His dick pulsed between his legs, but Zack needed comfort now, not sexual intimacy. Santino went over Zack’s words in his head. Perhaps to keep his group alive, Zack couldn’t afford to show weakness to any of his party members, but that didn’t apply to him.
So he held Zack. The bobcat shifter trembled. Tears glistened on Zack’s eyelids. Unable to help himself, Santino kissed them away. Zack widened his eyes and parted his lips slightly. So easy for Santino to close in and claim that tempting little mouth. He badly wanted to taste Zack on his lips, to make Zack’s body sing. They called him a Devil on the battlefield and in the bed for a reason. If Zack allowed it, he could give the bobcat shifter a night he’d never forget.
Santino would make sure he’d ruin Zack so completely, that Zack would only crave him, not any other man.
His wolf pushed him to do the inevitable, to make this healer theirs to love fiercely, to protect, so Zack would never shed those tears and Santino would never see the pain and grief etched on Zack’s face again. Santino leashed his inner wolf, as much as it hurt him.
To deny the beast wasn’t wise. They were partners in crime, he and his wolf. Zack traced the muscles of his arm, touch tentative at first. The bobcat shifter ducked his head and closed those soft lips over the old rake marks on his left shoulder, then bit him.
His wolf roared to life inside of him, eager to start the hunt where the outcome would only be one—Zack claimed and theirs. No one else’s. Santino was one hell of a possessive bastard and a persistent one.
A rumbling snarl of assent slipped out of his chest.
“Keep doing that and you might regret it,” he said, voice harsh.
Zack looked him in the eyes, breathing hard. “I want you. Instinct tells me you want me, too.”
“You don’t know what you’re getting into.” Santino tipped Zack’s chin, rubbing his thumb over the short stubble there.
“Lance warned me,” Zack whispered.
Lance? That infuriating Beta should mind his own damn business.
“What did the Beta say?” he asked in a dangerous tone.
“That everyone who dances with the Devil ends up being burned,” Zack said. “Guess what?”
“I’m not good with guesses. Say what you mean, little cat.”
“I don’t care. Santino, I’ve never felt like this, never wanted anyone so much, that it scares me a little.”
Santino took that as assent, and he wouldn’t ask again. He ran his thumb over Zack’s lower lip now, liking Zack’s tremble. Santino parted Zack’s lips, then zoned in for a kiss. Some assumed he only liked it rough, but it was the combination of seduction and plenty of bite in bed that made his ex-lovers give him that nickname.
He took his time, running his tongue across the seam of Zack’s mouth, muffling Zack’s moan as he slid his hand down the tempting length of Zack’s lean body. Santino gave Zack’s left nipple a squeeze, traced his fingers over Zack’s ribs, which housed a fierce and powerful heart that cared deeply.
Zack could have left the other survivors of Silver Thunder, could have gone to any paranormal community. Healers were valuable. Zack would have been accepted anywhere, but Zack had the balls to strike a bargain with an Alpha like Deacon, to play chase with a werewolf enforcer even feared by his own packmates.
Zack parted his lips and Santino slipped his tongue down Zack’s throat. Zack gripped his biceps as Santino finally curled his fingers over Zack’s rising cock. When he pulled his mouth away, Zack panted, pupils dilated.
“God, I didn’t know kisses can be like that,” Zack whispered, groaning when Santino gave Zack’s dick a few tugs and pulls. He swiped away the pre-cum at Zack’s tip and slowly edged Zack toward the bed, where he intended to ravish his little cat.
One gentle push and Zack’s ass landed on the edge of the bed.
“Scoot up,” he ordered, pleased Zack did as he asked.
Fuck, Zack’s creamy skin, still slicked with drying sweat from their run, looked tempting as hell. Seeing Zack’s prick at half-mast made him smile. He climbed into bed, making sure to keep his weight off Zack first, then he took Zack’s mouth again, the kiss all hunger and bite. Zack put his arms around his neck and responded with equal passion.
Santino’s own dick curved upward, the tip leaking pre-cum. Not yet, he told his wolf. He intended to help Zack forget about his grief for one evening, to make tonight all about Zack’s pleasure. Zack certainly deserved that. Santino left more kisses on the side of Zack’s mouth. He nipped and bit his way down Zack’s neck, paying attention to the spot where neck flowed to shoulder.
He licked at the spot, knowing that was where he’d put his personal brand, his mate mark. Santino wondered if Deacon, too, had known from first sight that Daryl was born to be his, the way he knew Zack had been made for him. Growing up, he’d been teased and taunted by the other children from the pack that someone like him and Sabine, created from a test tube, couldn’t possibly have a mate. Unnatural monsters.
Don’t let their words get to you, Sabine had told him once. They’re just afraid of your strength, so they’re using words to hurt you instead.
Fuck, Santino missed talking to his best friend. Soon, he thought. Fate had led Zack to him for a reason. Patience, he told his wolf, and moved lower. He ran his hands down Zack’s gorgeous body, leaving little bites as his mouth explored, too. When morning came, he wanted everyone in Devil Hills to know his little healer was off-limits. His.
“God, who knew a warrior like you had the patience to make me feel this good,” Zack murmured.
Santino paused from his task. “Since you can still talk, that means I’m not doing a good job.”
Santino worked Zack’s prick, alternating between fast and slow strokes. Just when Zack was on the verge of coming, he used his other hand to trace Zack’s puckered entrance. Soon, he’d claim Zack’s ass. One pinch to Zack’s tip did the trick. The healer came, groaning, emptying his balls and coating his hand with cum. Feeling satisfied, Santino licked Zack’s need clean off his fingers. Zack’s languid expression turned to surprise.
“Don’t get comfortable yet, little cat. Do you know what’s about to happen next?”
Chapter Nine
“You’re going to fuck me?” Zack managed to reply. Santino’s deep laugh turned his insides to jelly. God. A few minutes alone and Santino showed him that he could play his body like an instrument.
Every adult male shifter had certain needs, so Zack took care of that by finding a lover from one of the bobcat males in the pack once a month. Sex had been a necessity to him, but he’d never experienced anything like this. Santino stroked his body again, touched him the way a possessive yet skilled lover was only capable of. He purred for this werewolf, who seemed to know his body inside and out, even though they’d just met.
“Right answer,” Santino said, giving his dick a squeeze. The werewolf rolled off him, the motion graceful, more cat than wolf. Santino, he mused, had plenty of feline in him. Santino swore and Zack looked at him, eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?”
“Lube,” Santino grumbled.
Zack blushed, then said, “I have some in my pack, outside pocket.”
Santino raised his eyebrow but nonetheless found his backpack stuffed with his belongings beside the armchair next to the bed.
“I didn’t have time to sort my stuff, so I chucked everything in the bag,” he said, finding the need to explain.
Santino found the lube and returned to sit on the edge of the bed. “Tell me, little cat. How many other men have you been with?” Santino asked in that lethal voice of his.
“You can’t possibly be jealous. I bet you have plenty of lovers,” he blurted.
Santino stroked his rising prick. God, but his touch w
as maddening, addictive. He moaned as the werewolf lowered his head, lifted one leg, and blew at his prick and asshole. He blushed harder as Santino pressed his face to his prick and balls and used his tongue to trace his cockhead. Zack stilled, heart hammering. Dominant shifter males usually took, seldom paid attention to the needs of their submissive partners, so this took him by surprised.
Zack fisted the comforter as Santino continued exploring him. He’d seen Santino fully erect, and yet the werewolf hadn’t slid his dick into his hole. What control, he thought, no longer able to form coherent thoughts as Santino opened his mouth and began taking his dick down his throat.
Santino bobbed his head up and down, the sight of the muscular and powerful male going down on him amazing. He made protesting choking noises as Santino pulled away just as his climax began to build, leaving him on edge and wanting more.
“Bastard,” he whispered.
Santino made a ‘tsk’ noise. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I had maybe three lovers,” he said, wanting to feel Santino’s mouth and hands on his body again. “But sex has never been special to me, until you.”
“Complimenting already when I haven’t claimed that ass of yours, little cat?” Santino took position between his legs and uncapped the lube.
He pulled his knees wide, aware the position exposed his thickening prick, balls, and hole to Santino. Santino wore that devilish smile on his lips as he applied lube into his hole, then more on his fingers.
His breathing turned ragged as Santino slid one finger in him and then a second, widening him for access. The dominant werewolf seemed to take his time, slipping a third in. He moaned, wanting something bigger in him.
“Patience, little cat. I’m not exactly small,” Santino said.
“I know,” he murmured, eyeing Santino’s impressive shaft.
Santino finally extracted his digits, then put the lube aside. Without warning, the werewolf flipped him on his hands and knees with ease. Heartbeat accelerating, he pressed his face against the sheets and thrust his ass in offering to his werewolf.
His werewolf?
Despite how much Zack wanted to belong to this man who had the savage heart of a warrior and the skills of a world-class seducer, he still couldn’t forget the fact that he lied. Lied to Deacon, to Santino, about his healing abilities so he could provide shelter to the survivors of his old community.
No, Zack refused to dwell on the awful truth. For tonight, he wanted to forget about his guilt, his deception, and lose himself in this gorgeous silver-eyed male.
Santino didn’t take him immediately. The dominant werewolf ran his hand down his spine, the curve of his ass, his touches both possessive and gentle. He whimpered. How could the touch of this man affect him so much?
Santino finally gripped his hips and breached his hole. He gasped as Santino pushed the first few inches of his prick inside of his tight entrance. Zack knew the werewolf was massive. Pain flared, but he breathed in and out, aware Santino didn’t rush his way in. Once Santino slid past the thick ring of muscles, it became easier. Zack sighed as Santino buried his way hilt-deep, balls brushing against his ass.
The dominant werewolf blanketed his body over his, tipped his chin, and gave him a long and tender kiss that left him yearning for more.
“So good,” he whispered. “Ride me. Please, make me fly.”
“Anything you want, little cat.” Santino’s reply made him shudder.
The dominant werewolf started with slow and steady strokes as if Santino wanted Zack to get used to his size, before picking up the speed. Zack clutched at the sheets. Santino replaced the initial burn with sheer ecstasy, and he found himself meeting the werewolf for every thrust. He groaned into the sheets as Santino reached for his prick and began stroking him, disabling his ability to think coherently.
“More,” he managed to utter, before letting his body do all the talking.
Every muscle in his body tensed, his balls tightened against his body as Santino went deep and deeper, seemingly capable of penetrating his most intimate places. The room blurred, until the only thing that mattered was Santino’s and his bodies, colliding constantly. Zack didn’t know where he began and where Santino ended. He didn’t care.
Nothing felt so perfect, so certain in his life. His inner cat agreed, purring and repeatedly rubbing itself against Santino’s inner wolf. Santino growled, rolled his hips, his next entry quickly zoning in on Zack’s sensitive spot. Arching his back, Zack gasped as Santino kept brushing against his prostate. Santino began stroking his prick faster now, and the duel sensation of Santino repeatedly hammering him with his cock and giving him a hand job proved too much. At that last thrust, he shattered.
Every muscle in his body relaxed. The room ceased to exist as Santino sent him floating in a sea of bliss. He screamed out Santino’s name as he spilled his jizz all over Santino’s waiting hand. The werewolf pistoned in and out of him several more times before letting out a growl of triumph and shooting his seed down his ass. They both collapsed on the bed, panting, completely sated.
Santino tugged him close, settling Zack’s back against the solid wall of his chest. The werewolf snarled softly as he rubbed his ass against Santino’s prick.
“Cats like to snuggle,” he managed to say.
Santino nipped at his ear. He sighed, not aware of Santino closing his mouth on the curve of his shoulder until he felt the slight pinprick of teeth. Zack froze up. Half of him wanted Santino to give him the mate mark, but Santino would surely know about his deceit. Mates could sense each other’s emotions, after all, and Santino being half Esper, the mating bond would definitely have other side effects. Mind reading, perhaps?
It chilled him to the bone to think of Santino finding out about his ploy. Zack didn’t have a malicious bone in his body, he lied to ensure the survival of everyone else, but would Santino see it that way? What if Santino spent the rest of his life hating Zack?
He couldn’t have that. Santino must have sensed his hesitation, because he pulled away. Not wanting Santino to distance himself because he thought he hurt Zack, he gripped Santino’s arm.
“Please. Can you hold me? Just for tonight?” Zack pleaded.
He didn’t just want tonight but more nights to come. Zack had been taught by his mother that being a healer meant always putting the needs of others first. However, for the first time in his life, Zack wanted to be selfish, to belong to this amazing werewolf warrior. Santino would belong to him, too.
“Of course,” Santino murmured, but he sensed by pulling away that last second, Santino put up a wall between them.
The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Santino. Tomorrow, Zack decided as he snuggled closer to the warmth of Santino’s arms. Santino hugged him tighter, his big body draped over his, felt perfect.
The first thing he’d do in the morning, he decided, was come clean. Santino didn’t deserve to be lied to. The werewolf enforcer had welcomed Zack and his crew of misfits into Devil Hills, risked his life and the life of his wolves for them based on a promise, a bargain Zack couldn’t fulfill.
Santino even allowed him entry into his home, his private space, and he had a feeling a man like Santino relished his privacy. Zack had the distinct impression that even amongst his packmates, Santino didn’t exactly quite fit in. His conversation with Beta showed him that much.
“Go to sleep, little cat. We have a long day tomorrow,” Santino said against his ear.
“I don’t want this night to end.” Zack hadn’t realized he said those words out loud until Santino pressed his lips to the back of his neck.
“If you’ll have me, we’ll have plenty more nights like this,” Santino told him.
If you’ll have me. Somehow, those words held a hidden meaning he hadn’t quite grasped yet. He wound the fingers of his right hand over Santino’s. The werewolf’s sharp intake of breath told him Santino had been taken aback by the gesture.
“Santino, promise me one thing. We’ve just me
t, but once you finally see all of me, don’t judge me.”
“Little cat, I’ve seen everything there is to see, and you’re fucking perfect. Well, you can be stubborn as hell, but I like that about you.”
“I’m not perfect, far from it,” he whispered.
“None of us are, but it’s our flaws that make us who we are. Now, go to sleep.”
“Okay,” he whispered, squeezing Santino’s fingers hard, terrified of what tomorrow would bring.
Chapter Ten
Zack woke, feeling the sunlight on his face. Then felt something wet lick at his cheek and fur that smelled faintly of pie crumbs and bubble gum shampoo. He blearily opened his eyes, unsure of his surroundings at first. The soreness in his ass reminded him of what happened the night before. Even now, he missed the feel of Santino’s muscled arms wrapped around his body, Santino’s lips—
Someone licked his cheek again, and he focused on the tiny invader in his room. The werewolf pup let out what sounded like a happy bark and wagged her tail at him. She had distinctive white fur the color of snow and playful blue eyes. The cat in him lazily studied the energetic bundle with mild amusement. He lifted a hand only for her to pounce on him again.
“Sylvia!” a man’s voice yelled from somewhere nearby.
Zack turned to squint at where the source of the noise came from, behind the door. He groaned, not entirely awake, and realized what was missing. Santino. His stomach twisted into knots. Maybe Santino took it the wrong way when Zack pushed him away last night. Sylvia barked, and he noticed she had something between her jaws. A note.
“Thanks,” he told her, gently taking the note and read it out loud. “Gone for morning patrol. Daryl will come over and be your guide.”
There was a knock on the door. That must be Daryl, since Sylvia was here. He stumbled out of bed and found a fresh pair of jeans from his bag. Zack opened the door.
