The Wolf's Man Friday

by Julia Talbot

  “Shh.” Sebastian stroked his back. “I’ve got you.”

  “Isn’t that my line?” He was the bodyguard.

  “You can try it later.”

  “I can.” He winked, then pressed the tips of his fingers to the zipper of Sebastian’s pants. “In fact, I intend to.”

  Sebastian groaned for him, moving restlessly.

  “Stopping at the drive-thru,” Tyrone said over the intercom. “No moaning.”

  “No moaning. I want crispy beef.” Sebastian sounded shredded.

  “I want chicken.” Jaxon had a craving. “See if they have slaw.”

  “You got it. Three each?”

  “Six.”

  “We never did get pasta.” Jaxon kinda mourned that meal, because the bread had been amazing, and the place had smelled like red-sauce heaven.

  “After Ron pays to have the damage fixed, we’ll go back. After the thaw.”

  “You know the way to my heart.”

  “I like their vegetarian Alfredo. Can I come?” Tyrone was laughing at them.

  “You can drive. You can have the caesar salad too.” Sebastian nuzzled his throat.

  “Cool.” Ty clicked off, clearly stopping teasing to order. The taco place did smell good.

  Jaxon put himself back together, feeling melted and happy. He couldn’t keep his hands off Sebastian, but it could be a slow burn now until they were home and fed.

  Then he would do what he’d promised.

  He could wait. Barely.

  Chapter Sixteen

  SEBASTIAN’S FRUSTRATION had gone up from some to drastic in a very short period of time.

  He’d walked into a bee’s hive of worry and stress, and then the rumor mill had started and he, as acting second, got slammed.

  Thank God they’d eaten their tacos on the way back to the pack headquarters in Boulder, or he would be horny, grumpy, and starving too.

  He held up a hand to one of Des’s people. “I need to talk to Terese before I do anything else.”

  “You do. Get your ass in here, Seb.” Oh, Mama Alpha was pissed.

  He went to her, offered her his throat. “Everything is getting worked out.”

  “Right.” She bit him, not hard, but enough that he felt it. “So, he’s replacing me?”

  “She’s a cougar, Terese. She can’t be the Alpha bitch. You know that. Little Daniel is going to form his own pack. You know that as well as I do.”

  She sniffed. “Well, yes.” Terese sighed. “Do you think they’ll get back together? Ron deserves to be happy.”

  “He’s lit up like a Christmas tree, lady. You should see him. It’s bizarre and wonderful.”

  “She’s his mate, then. But there are children?”

  “Twins. One is nuts. The other, well, the jury is out.” Sebastian shrugged. “They’re weird. Cats with wolf coloring. And undercoats.”

  And the scent was, at least with the sane one, undeniably pack.

  “I’m going to beat him.” She began to pace. “We didn’t need these sorts of complications. Why did they hide?”

  Sebastian shook his head. “I’m not sure they hid. It reads more like they broke up.”

  Terese pierced him with a glare. “You cannot break up with your mate.”

  The “idiot” was implied.

  “Tell that to Ron. I have no intention of breaking up with mine.”

  In fact, he reached out then with his mind, searching for Jaxon, who had stayed behind when he went to meet with Terese.

  A warm mental caress met him.

  “Uh-huh. When is he coming home?”

  “Soon? The one cat is broken. Sick. Fucked-up.”

  “And….”

  Sebastian threw his hands up. “I have no idea. They have to find him a hospital or something. Ron has Gray and Des, as well as Alan and literally a tiger bodyguard with him. He’ll be fine.”

  “A tiger? In Denver?”

  “I know, right? I feel utterly off-center.”

  She shook her head. “Gracious. That’s….” Terese clapped her hands and laughed. “Now I can’t wait to meet them all.”

  “Skip the nutball. Trust me.” He rubbed the back of his neck, so tired. “I’ll have Alan fill you in on anything new when he gets back. He was enjoying himself way too much.”

  “Are you going to challenge him for the Alpha spot?”

  “Alan?” Sebastian blinked at her. “I don’t even want to be in the Beta position, lady. I want to design and hold the eastern edge. That’s all I want.”

  He loved Ron and he adored Alan. He knew Alan would be a perfect Alpha. He wanted Jaxon and their den and hours of fabric and paint and color.

  “Oh, sweetie. You’d be so good at it.” Terese came to him and patted his cheeks. “I want you to be happy, though.”

  “Yeah. Hopefully Ron will understand.” Or be too busy to worry about him.

  “He will. If this woman is really his mate, he understands wanting to live a different life. Now, if you were his son….”

  He gave her a wry grin. “I know. There would be no choice, but he has a son now—two.”

  Even if one was nutso crazy.

  “No cat will ever lead this pack.” She growled the words.

  “Not alone.” Honestly, Alan would enjoy sparring with Cheyenne, assuming Cheyenne had the brainpower to run anything. Sebastian probably hadn’t seen him at his best.

  “Not at all.”

  “That’s not mine to say, lady. I will do what is best for the pack.”

  “Hmmph.” She shook her head. “I need to make some calls. We’ll see you at supper?”

  “I’m sure.” Unless he slipped out and went home before Ron could stop him. He was tired to the bone, and he wanted peace and quiet.

  He wanted the care Jaxon had promised.

  “I’ll see you soon, then.” She offered her hand, so Sebastian took it between his, then pulled her close for a hug.

  “You should come see me in the spring,” he told her.

  “You’ll take me somewhere lovely for supper?”

  “I will. And the rest of the time, my mate can cook. He’s amazing.”

  “I look forward to getting to know him.”

  “Me too.” For eons.

  “All right, sweetie. Go. Rest.” She knew he was gonna make a run for it. He could see it in her eyes.

  “I love you, lady wolf.”

  “I know.” She kissed his cheek. “Don’t be a stranger.”

  “I won’t.” He turned on his heel and left before he broke down and gibbered at her.

  Jaxon was waiting for him just outside the door. “What’s the plan, babe?”

  “Can we go? Please? The snows are coming. Ty needs to be home too.”

  “Then let’s go. You can call Alan on the road, just to make sure it’s all good.” Jaxon smiled, those green eyes dancing.

  “Yes. Better to beg forgiveness than to ask permission, right?”

  “Fuck yes.” Jaxon tugged out his sleek phone, fingers flying. “Ty says he’ll meet us at the garage.”

  His knees buckled. “Yeah?”

  “Yep. We can get someone to ship the few things we have here. Come on.” The phone disappeared into a pocket; then Jaxon took his hand to tug him into a run.

  They disappeared into the massive garage, ducking to where Ty waited for him. “I grabbed everything from our rooms. We need to beat the deep snows.”

  “Thank you.” He gave Tyrone a hard hug. “You’re always there for me.”

  “Always. Nan says she’s made stew and will stock the kitchen. Mom says come home.”

  “Let’s hit it.” Jaxon twirled him away from Ty and toward the car in a credible dance move.

  “Yeah.” It had been what? Two days? Two days that felt like a year.

  They climbed into the car, Tyrone getting them on the road. Jaxon crawled into his lap, warm and sweet, not revving him up. Just holding him.

  The farther they moved from Boulder, the higher they moved into the mountains, th
e easier he breathed. His home was in the high reaches; his place was guarding the very edges of the packlands.

  Too much, love. It’s just been too much in too short a time.

  “Mmm.” Jaxon stroked his hair. “But you have me now. I’ll protect you even from the pack.”

  His eyes closed and he floated away, not coming back to himself until the road became rough, the climb up to the house making the engine struggle.

  “Oh.” He breathed out the word, smiling, and of course that was when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen after he pulled it out of his pocket. Alan.

  “I’m not coming back right now.”

  “Dude! Did I say you had to? I just wanted to check in, make sure you weren’t hurt or something, bro.”

  “I’m home. I need a break. You can come, later.” Maybe spring.

  “I can. I’ll be busy awhile. This Cheyenne guy is hilarious. Every time he says something, I disagree. His head is going to explode. It’s awesome.”

  “Are you guys going back to the packlands?”

  “No idea. I’m in charge of making sure this dude doesn’t hurt anyone.”

  “Good deal. Keep me posted, huh? You know Ron won’t.” Sebastian knew his uncle too well.

  “He’ll be wooing his lady love and trying to recover.”

  “Then keep the pack in line.” He didn’t want to have to deal. That probably made him a jerk, but there it was. He was no Alpha.

  “I’m on it. Love you, man.”

  He blinked. Yeah, his situation must have been dire enough Alan had thought he was a goner. “Ditto.”

  “I’ll holler. Keep the outskirts safe and make gorgeous things.”

  “I bet you’ll be Hallie’s fave in no time. Later.” Alan hung up, and Sebastian breathed another sigh of relief.

  “All is well?” Jaxon asked it with a smile.

  “Alan’s on it. Do you want to come in, Ty?”

  “Have you seen the snow? I’m going home.”

  “Good deal. You need chains for your personal vehicle, you know where they are.”

  Tyrone beamed at them, then waved and headed over to his own SUV.

  Jaxon glanced at him sideways. “Alone at last.”

  “Yes. Home. Alone. Together.” He shivered, looking around. “It’s a good place, huh?”

  “The better place is our bedroom.” That look told him he was about to get his reward.

  “Is it?” He grabbed Jaxon’s hand, squeezing his fingers.

  “It is. Do you remember its location?” Now Jaxon was smiling, his eyes so bright.

  “I do. Maybe. Upstairs?” he teased.

  “I’ll show you if you can catch me.” Quick as, well, a fox, Jaxon raced for the stairs.

  Oh. He took off bounding after his mate, shedding his coat as he ran. He didn’t want to shift, because this was all about the human sides of them, but he was more aerodynamic this way.

  Going to make you howl, mate.

  Promise? Sebastian needed what Jaxon was going to give him. He needed to be taken out of himself, to let go.

  “I swear.” Jaxon stood at the bedroom door, naked, eyes glowing with an internal fire.

  Sebastian lunged for him, panting, needing more than ever before. Jaxon caught him, dragging him in toward the bed like a prize bit of prey. Or maybe something shiny. Jaxon had said he liked to fill his den with fun things.

  They fell to the bed, Jaxon flinging off Sebastian’s remaining clothes.

  “Mate.” He bit Jaxon’s shoulder, shaking his lover gently.

  “Yes. God, I need you.” Jaxon wrapped a hand around his cock and stroked, the sensation sudden and shocking.

  He arched, his teeth clacking on the air. “Give me what I need,” he demanded.

  “Always.” Jaxon let go, hands landing on his hips to flip him right over like a judo champion. He heard a slight rustle in the bedside table before Jaxon returned, pressing cool, slick fingers against his hole.

  He grunted softly, spreading his thighs, balls swinging.

  This was no gentle preparation, long and slow. Jaxon spread him wide, getting him wet and open. The burn was delicious, rich, and addictive.

  Sebastian arched his back, pressing down against Jaxon’s hand.

  “My pushy bottom.”

  His cheeks burned, but he didn’t argue. He needed to fly, and he wanted Jaxon to be the one to take him there.

  “I got you. I know what you crave.” Jaxon pinched his hip lightly, the other hand still busy getting him ready. “So close to where you need to be.”

  “Need you.” He groaned, the weight of his hunger almost overwhelming.

  “I know.” Jaxon reached down to grab Sebastian’s balls, tugging them lightly. “Hold on, babe.”

  That ache made his eyes cross, his knee pulling up with his desire.

  Jaxon pulled free, but Sebastian wasn’t empty for long. Only seconds passed before Jaxon was pushing into him again, that hard cock so much hotter, so much better. Jaxon gave him no quarter, taking him like there was nothing on earth his mate wanted more.

  Moaning, Jaxon pressed all the way in, hips flush with his ass. “Tight.”

  He focused on breathing, on squeezing, on not begging for more. His body was moving, shivering and rocking, and he had no control over it. None at all.

  Then Jaxon pulled back only to slam into him again.

  “I want everything, Sebastian. All of you.” Jaxon’s growl was deep, dark.

  “Everything,” he agreed. “Please. I’ll give it.” He pressed back, their bodies smacking audibly.

  Jaxon hauled him up, hips grinding into him, digging into his ass as sharp nails scored his chest. Even sharper teeth dug into his neck when it met his shoulder, Jaxon marking him.

  He cried out, the sound shocking in its pure joy.

  “Mmm-hmm.” Jaxon laughed, the sound utterly happy, vibrating against his skin. One hand slid down his belly, grasping Sebastian’s cock again. “Give me more, baby. Let me hear.”

  He squeezed Jaxon’s prick, his thighs screaming with the effort. His muscles quivered, sweat beading up on his skin.

  Jaxon stroked him and fucked him, never letting up on him for a moment. He began to sing, his voice tearing out of him. Jaxon really was making him howl.

  The feel of Jaxon inside him, the rubbing of their skin, was almost perfect. He just needed—The tiny slap to his cock made him shout, the shock of it sending him right over the edge.

  Spunk sprayed from him in pulses, his entire body shaking with his orgasm. Sebastian thought he might have screamed, but no one was there to hear them. Just the wind and snow outside.

  And me. I hear you. I see you. Everything.

  Fill me, love. Now Sebastian would beg. Only now.

  Jaxon lowered him down, the steady thrusts banging his hole. He slid along the sheets from the force of it, and he laughed breathlessly, glad he wasn’t actually on the floor.

  Jaxon held his hips, fingertips digging in tight, drawing him up for each deep press of that heavy cock. He felt every thrust thud against him, and he knew the very moment Jaxon was going to tip over the edge.

  A low growl ripped through the air, then heat flooded him, filled him.

  Sinking down against his back, Jaxon huffed for air, kissing his spine randomly.

  Home. Finally. Blessedly. Home.

  I told you I would get you here, babe.

  Now I will keep us here. His bed smelled like them. That was the best feeling in the world.

  “Promise?” Jaxon asked it out loud, and Sebastian understood. It was too important.

  “I swear. This is our den. Ours. Together.”

  “Good.” Jaxon drew free so they could face each other. “I think you have a permanent personal assistant.”

  Jaxon could be whatever he needed to be, so long as it was permanent.

  Sebastian had been pretty sure he hadn’t needed an assistant or a bodyguard.

  A mate was a whole other matter.

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