by Kasey Belle
He pressed Nick’s back against the wall and leaned in slanting his mouth over Nick’s. He opened immediately for Mal’s possessive assault. Mal kept kissing him until they had no choice but to either stop and breathe or pass out.
“Please Mal. I need you,” he whispered against Mal’s lips before plunging his tongue in once again to explore his man’s mouth. Mal tasted like heaven spicy and sweet at the same time. He would never get enough of him. By the Fates, he felt so blessed at this moment. He’d never thought he’d find a man like Mal and now that he had him and could have lost him, Nick needed that connection. Needed to feel Mal filling him. Taking him. Claiming him.
“Oh, baby. I need you, too.” Mal grabbed the hem of Nick’s shirt and tugged it up and over his head. He ran his calloused hands over Nick’s skin leaving goosebumps in his wake. Mal kissed and sucked his neck.
“You were so fucking hot, Mal. When you to told my uncle we belonged to you then fucking dared him to try to take us away? I almost came in my pants.”
Mal’s eyes glowed and he growled in response to Nick’s confession. “I’m gonna claim you so good. My Nico. Mine.”
“Yours. Always. My Malcolm.” He wanted to claim Mal, too. But, that would have to wait. Maybe after.
Mal’s crooked leering grin ticked up Nick’s heartbeat and made him harder than he thought possible. “What do you say we claim each other?” Had he voiced his wish out loud? Mal growled and nibbled on his neck. “I can sense your need. Plus, I like your idea better,” Mal murmured against Nick’s skin. “Don’t you?”
Wait. What? He couldn’t think when Mal sucked on his neck like that. Don’t I what? Oh, right. His idea. “Yeah. Me, too.” Nick’s mouth went suddenly dry. “Much better. Where should we do this claiming?”
“Rug in front of the fireplace. I don’t think we’ll make it to the bedroom.”
Nick giggled and tugged on Mal’s hand stopping when he made it to their destination. “Get naked, Mal.”
Both of them threw off the rest of their clothes in a blur of movement. They stood before each other naked and hard. Nick ran his eyes over Mal’s body memorizing every dip and curve. Damn, his mate was a beautiful man. Suntanned skin. Rippling muscles. Lickable happy trail. Bitable ass. Mmm. Mmm. Good.
“Mate,” Mal growled and snagged Nick around the waist pulling him flush to his chest.
The next thing Nick knew was their mouths melded together in another hot aggressive kiss. They lowered their bodies to the floor. Mal positioned himself between Nick’s thighs. They groaned when their naked cocks came into contact with each other. He loved the perfect weight of Mal pressing him into the floor. Mal was so much bigger than he was, but Nick never felt threatened. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Nick always felt protected, cherished, and loved when he was in his mate’s arms, regardless of the position.
Nick slowly slid his thighs up to Mal’s sides and wrapped his legs around his waist. He locked his ankles at the small of Mal’s back pulling their bodies closer together. Mal’s tongue caressed Nick’s in an erotic dance while he flexed his hips. A moan of ecstasy slipped through Nick’s lips as their erect cocks rubbed against each other, the friction making it hard to breathe, but not nearly enough to make them come and quench the fire raging between them. Only a claiming would do that and even then the effects would be temporary. Nick wasn’t complaining. That would never happen when it came to their never ending need for each other.
Mal pulled his lips from Nick’s and lifted his head. They stared at each other. The feelings that passed between them in that moment was more than desire. More than need. More than love. It was a deep awareness of their eternal fated connection. One they could now enjoy without Craden Speer hanging over their heads. He was no longer a threat to Nick and Leo thanks to Mal. Tears pricked his eyes at the thought. No more hiding. Leo was safe and Nick was free. Free to love. Free to live. Free to set down roots with Mal and Leo. Free to make a life with his mate.
“I love you. My beautiful Nico.” Mal’s eyes shone bright with the love he spoke of.
Nick blinked and tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. This moment was so beautiful, so right. “I love you, too Always. My sexy shutterbug.”
Mal barked a laugh. “Shutterbug?”
Nick shrugged a shoulder and shot him a saucy wink.
“Mine,” Mal whispered.
“Yours,” Nick responded in kind.
Mal’s fingers slid between Nick’s ass cheeks, lightly caressing his tight hole. He groaned at the promise that light touch held. Mal winked with a cheeky grin. “We need lube.”
“I stashed some in the coffee table.” Nick wagged his eyebrows. “Got to always be prepared you know.”
Mal rubbed his nose against Nick’s. “You’re like my own personal boy scout.” He paused and his lips curled up in disgust. “That sounded way better in my head. Forget I said that.”
Nick cracked up. “No shit. Consider it stricken from the record.”
Mal climbed off of him and knee walked to the coffee table, opened the padded top, and pulled out the bottle of lube holding it up in triumph. Mal quickly crawled to him and settled back between Nick’s thighs. He sat back on his haunches and squeezed a dollop of lube onto his finger. Nick pulled his legs back and Mal growled when his eyes zeroed in on his hole. He gradually put one, two, then three fingers inside of Nick making him moan.
His mate had gone from wild and ready to gentle and savoring each moment. It was torture. Oh, god, he was going to die if Mal didn’t take him soon. “Now, Mal I need you in me. Now.”
Mal positioned himself over Nick and dipped his head. His tongue licked over Nick’s lips demanding entrance. He grasped Nick’s thighs and placed them at his waist. He knew what Mal wanted and wrapped his legs around Mal the same way he had before. The blunt head of Mal’s cock kissed Nick’s stretched hole. Nick flexed his hips. Mal understood the silent plea and slowly pushed into him.
“By the Fates, I love how damn tight you are, baby. I can’t get enough of your snug heat.” Mal began thrusting, driving his cock deeper into Nick’s ass. As soon as he bottomed out, Mal stilled. Nick felt ready to explode, and he knew Mal was fighting the same fate. He buried his face in Nick’s neck, nibbling and licking at his skin.
Nick wrapped his arms around Mal and held him tight. He sucked on Mal’s shoulder. Waves of pleasure flowed between him and Mal through their link. Mal began to move flexing his hips. His cock moved in and out of Nick’s body. Mal’s hard length constantly came in contact with his prostate. Nick bowed at the sensations shooting through him as his cock began to leak where it was trapped between his and Mal’s body. Mal’s thrusts grew more frantic as the end drew near. His strokes became harder, his cock filling Nick over and over again.
Mal brushed his lips over Nick’s neck once again, teasing his already wet skin. He felt Mal’s canines prick his skin. He slammed into Nick’s ass before he sank his teeth into his neck hurtling Nick headlong into orgasm.
Mal removed his mouth from Nick’s skin and tilted his head. “Claim me. Now. Nico!”
Nick didn’t need to be told twice. He struck quickly. His canines pierced Mal’s skin. Mal cried out, “Oh, fuck. Yes!” Mal’s cock twitched as he flooded Nick’s channel with cum. Nick drank from him. The warmth of Mal’s blood not only filled his mouth, but also his soul. He would never tire of the sensation of feeling as one with his mate.
“Neither will I, baby.”
Nick smiled against Mal’s skin. He licked the wounds closed just as Mal had done for him. He placed a kiss on his mating mark before letting his head fall to the floor. He was completely spent.
Mal collapsed with a grunt. His face still buried in Nick’s neck, his breathing hard. “You okay, Nico?” He asked between gasps.
Unable to muster the strength to form words, Nick grunted, “Mmhmm.”
Mal’s cock finally softened and slid from Nick’s body. Both of them groaned at the loss of contact. Mal rolled them to thei
r sides and wrapped his arms around Nick holding him close. He pressed kisses to Nick’s forehead, cheeks, then lips as he murmured words of love.
Nick couldn’t stop the tears that filled his eyes once again. He didn’t wipe them away when they tracked down his cheeks. Mal wouldn’t judge him for becoming a weepy mess. Embarrassing though it may be.
Worry briefly clouded Mal’s eyes then was replaced by understanding. Mal nodded. “It’s amazing how our lovemaking gets better and better. Just when you think our bond can’t get any stronger, it does.”
“Exactly.” He reached up and cupped Mal’s cheek. “You hear the stories, but you can’t fully comprehend the gift a mating bond truly is until you experience it.”
Mal wiped Nick’s tears away with his fingers. “I thank the Fates every day for you. You and Leo. One day I want to give him a sibling.”
Happiness shot through Nick and he sat up. A smile spread across his lips as he stared down at his mate. “Really?” How they hell had he gotten so lucky?
“Really.”
“Can we adopt? I would love that.”
“Whatever you want, baby.”
Nick whooped and did a little seated dance butt wiggle thing.
A burst of laughter shot from Mal’s lips. “I adore you, baby.”
“Well. I am adorable, so…” Nick teased.
Still snickering, Mal tugged him back down beside him and hugged him tight. “That you are, and you are all mine.”
Chapter 31
“Lock them in the maintenance barn and arm yourselves with silver.” Declan fired off orders at Traynor and his brothers Sean and Steve. “I’ll send someone to relieve you in a few hours.”
He pinned Brody and Hardin with a deadly glare. “You’ll accept your fate and await the council emissaries like good little boys. If you attempt escape or shift, you’ll gain intimate knowledge of a slow and painful death caused by silver poisoning.” Brody and Hardin’s eyes widened in fear and they nodded.
“Paul and I will stick around and help the cousins here get these assholes settled.” Kell offered. Declan met his eyes and Kell quickly added, “If that’s cool?”
Declan’s lips twitched. He must really be throwing off some animosity filled vibes for Kell to think he had to ask permission to do his job. He nodded. “See you up at the house when you’re done.” He left without a backward glance. His feet ate up the distance as he stormed back to the house.
Cade jogged to catch up. “This is bad, Dec.”
“I know.” He snarled fighting the urge to go back and tear Brody and Hardin to shreds to give himself some relief from the seething rage.
“What are we going to do?”
Declan wanted to yell, he didn’t fucking know! But he couldn’t, because Cade needed him to know. He’d always trusted Declan to have a plan. When they were children and no matter the issue―which was usually of Cade’s making―he looked to Declan to make it right. He knew his big brother would fix everything.
“Let’s check on our woman and the cubs, then we can focus on what to do about Mal.”
When Mal used their pack link informing them it appeared Craden Speer had arrived, he’d worried about a diversion. He wouldn’t have put it past Speer to use a secondary team to attack the pack house while Declan and his enforcer’s focus was on their unauthorized visitor. He knew how much Speer wanted Leo and he wouldn’t have a problem slaughtering anyone who got in his way and that included a defenseless cub. Declan had ordered the women and cubs to the east wing and charged Gunnar with their protection knowing the ex-emissary could handle any shifter who by luck or skill got past Hunter, Alan, and Traynor.
They slammed through the front door and raced upstairs. He and Cade found Gunnar standing sentry outside their private quarters. Gunnar had already let them know everything was clear through their link, but knowing and seeing were two different things. Gunnar shot them a knowing grin and opened the door. Declan and Cade pushed past him. The sight that greeted him loosened the knot in Declan’s gut. His mate sat on the sectional with Lada and Maddie. Leo was asleep on a pallet on the floor and Emma Grace sat in Lada’s lap watching a movie. Fiona jumped up and rushed over to them with Emma Grace close behind. He should scold his mate for moving so quickly in her condition, but he was so damn happy to see her. He pulled Fiona into his arms while Cade grabbed Emma Grace. He and Cade held their girls between them.
“Cade and I need to meet with the boys discuss some things. Mal and Nick should be back in a few hours.”
“What is it?”
“Babygirl, go finish your movie while I talk to Mommy.”
Cade set Emma Grace on her feet and went to join Lada without argument. Declan glanced at his little girl debating whether they should use their mating link. He decided against it. The only person he had to shield from their discussion was Emma Grace. Word regarding today’s events would have already made its way through the pack. Declan leaned in and spoke in a low voice. “Mal killed Speer.”
“Okay. I’m sure it was self-defense.”
“It was. That’s not the problem, love.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“Then what is?”
“Speer was an alpha.” Fiona’s expression told him she wasn’t following where he was trying to lead her. “Kill an alpha. Inherit his pack.”
Fiona gasped. “No. Fix this Declan.”
“It can’t be undone, baby,” Cade responded.
“He can’t leave us.” Fiona’s lower lip quivered. He hated when she cried. His mate was so damn strong and it took a lot to make her cry, not so much since she’d become pregnant, but in general it did. “Fix this Declan,” she pleaded, again.
“We’ll figure something out.” He gave her slow gentle kiss. “Cade and I have to go.” He stepped back so Cade could say goodbye. His brother’s kiss was playful designed to tease a smile from their mate and it worked.
Gunnar followed them to Declan’s office. Kell, Paul, Hunter, and Alan were waiting on them when they arrived. “Good. The gang’s all here.”
Declan sat in his desk chair and studied the men he considered brothers even though a few of them didn’t share his blood. “The Fates have entrusted our pack with an omega, two conduits, and a possible seer.”
“Who’s the seer, Alpha?” Hunter asked.
“Leo.” Hunter and Alan’s faces expressed shock, but neither commented. “His late grandfather Alpha Terrell Speer was a seer. The gift didn’t pass to Nick or his sister Summer. Nick believes it skipped them and passed to Leo. We won’t know if he inherited the gift until he hits puberty, but that was beside the point. I don’t have to tell any of you how unscrupulous assholes would love to get their hands on them and what would happen if they did.”
“I’m tired of people coming onto my land uninvited. I put off making changes longer than I should because I don’t like the idea of living on a reinforced compound like some crazy cult or fundamentalist group. Texas has had enough of those. Unfortunately, it appears I no longer have a choice.”
Declan addressed Hunter and Alan. “Time to put that security expertise that earns you the big bucks to good use. I want the exterior fences reinforced and patrolled. Coordinate with Traynor on what will work best with the livestock. I want cameras throughout. We’ll need security room for the equipment and surveillance. I want a guard shack placed at the main entrance, manned twenty-four seven. Kell, will coordinate with you about scheduling the enforcers and work with you on the security room.” Kell nodded. “You have forty-eight hours to come up with a viable plan and a total cost. Spare no expense. Implementation will begin immediately.
“Yes, Alpha.” The three men responded in unison.
“Are we still needed here, Alpha?” Hunter asked. “If not, we’d like to go ahead and get started.”
Declan waved them off. Once the door shut behind Alan, he addressed Kell, Paul, and Gunnar. “We need to discuss what happened. I know you all realize the ramifications of what Mal was forced to do.�
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They nodded. Tension tainted with fear rolled off them in thick oppressive waves. Declan understood how they felt. He didn’t want to lose Mal either.
****
Three hours later and sore in all the right places, Mal left Nick in the kitchen feeding Leo and headed to Declan’s office. “I’m back Declan. What did you want to talk―” He stepped through the door and froze. Declan wasn’t alone. Cade along with Mal’s brothers were there, as well. He eyed the all with suspicion. “Hello? What’s going on?”
“Shut the door,” Declan ordered.
Mal did as instructed then asked, “Why does everyone look so grim?”
“You killed an alpha, Mal,” Gunnar replied as if Mal had forgotten the bloody fight to the death that occurred a few hours ago.
“Yeah,” he said slowly. “Will there be a problem with the council?”
Gunnar shook his head. “An alpha, Mal.”
Then it hit Mal what Gunnar was trying to tell him. “Shit.” Why hadn’t it occurred to him earlier? Mal knew the fucking rules. Certainly explained why they were all was acting so weird around him. “Fuck.” He shook his head. “No. No. No. I don’t want it.”
“Sit down, Mal.” Declan nodded to one of the chairs across from his desk. “When you killed Alpha Speer his pack technically became yours.”
“I know shifter law, Declan,” he snapped. “Sorry.” Declan waved off his outburst. “I’m an enforcer, not an alpha. Malcolm Creed, Alpha of Shenandoah River Pack? No fucking way. I know I act all laid back and awesome and shit, but I’m no diplomat.”
“You don’t say,” Declan deadpanned.
Mal felt the tips of his ears go hot. Yeah, he wasn’t known for his tact or his patience when it came to politics and bureaucratic bullshit.
