by Fel Fern
No, Zack had to be professional. Jared first, because he was critically injured. Elaine was right. One hurdle at a time. Santino and his wolves needed him now, and he wouldn’t fail the man his cat knew to be his mate, but might end up hating him for his lies.
* * * *
Satisfied Jared’s wounds began to close, Zack breathed a sigh of relief. He felt drained from expending all his healing energy on Jared, but it was worth it. If Deacon hadn’t kept Jared and Ariel alive using the power of pack bonds, and if Santino hadn’t extracted the poisonous silver bullets, he doubted these two had a chance of surviving.
Zack shut his eyes and placed his hands over Jared’s chest again, making sure the healing was progressing at a good rate. He opened his eyes. Santino remained silent during the time he healed Jared, worrying him a little. The Alpha left a while ago to check the security of that sector.
He wanted to check on Santino.
“Zack, I need your help,” Elaine said. He was about to wash his hands before joining her, but he felt a hand grab his elbow. Surprised, he looked at Jared, who’d regained consciousness.
“Please, help Ariel. She used her body to shield me,” Jared rasped, a haunted look in his eyes. “I was so careless. Santino warned me so many times not to play the hero.”
He squeezed back Jared’s hand. “Elaine and I will do our best.”
Looking satisfied, Jared shut his eyes. He washed his hands, about to go to Elaine’s side, but the healer shook her head.
“I can manage now. Tend to Santino.”
Relieved, he turned his attention to the enforcer, who slumped against one of the plastic chairs by the side. Seeing Santino unconscious, he sucked in a breath and ran to the enforcer. Santino’s shoulder looked bad, and the werewolf enforcer had on a pair of jogging pants, so he couldn’t tell if he was injured below.
He began to reach for the waistband of Santino’s pants, only to feel strong and callused fingers over his. Santino opened his tired silver eyes, a heartachingly familiar cocky smile on his lips.
“Thinking of sex even at a time like this?” Santino asked.
“Fuck, Santino. You scared me. I thought you were unconscious,” he complained. Zack didn’t see any bleeding on Santino’s legs, so he focused on the shoulder. It looked like Santino had taken out the bullet there, too. He placed his hand over the wound and sent more healing energy to his mate.
“Just resting,” Santino murmured, then shut his eyes. “Ariel and Jared?”
He snuck a look at Elaine, who met his gaze and gave him a curt nod. “They’ll heal just fine. Stay still so I can look after you now. Stubborn man.”
“Fussy healer,” Santino muttered, making him smile.
“I’m so sorry you got hurt,” he whispered.
As if Santino could sense his apprehension and guilt, Santino said, “That’s my job. There’s nothing to worry about. I’m tough as nails.”
“I know.” He shook his head. Zack would explain another time.
He needed to focus on diverting all his energy into Santino’s injuries and physical exhaustion. Santino cupped his cheek, surprising him. Santino curved his lips to a bigger smile, one that went right to his heart. The enforcer didn’t know it yet, but that heart already belonged to him. He only hoped when the time came for Santino to learn the truth, the werewolf would forgive him.
Chapter Fourteen
Zack groggily woke, unable to recall what happened earlier, only to find himself tucked against the familiar hard planes of Santino’s big body. He let out a satisfied purr, nestling closer to Santino’s warm skin. Damn, but this was a good dream. He twisted in Santino’s arms, ignoring the dominant werewolf’s snarl, so he could look at Santino’s face.
Glazed, sleepy, and beautiful silver eyes met his. Others would have run finding a graceful and lethal predator in their bed, but this gorgeous male, this werewolf, was his. Zack knew that in his heart and soul, which made telling the truth harder.
“Hey, how’s your injured shoulder?” he asked, alarmed. He sat up in bed, about to check the bandage over the injured area, but Santino only lifted a hand and swatted him back in the bed like he was some errant pet cat.
Zack glowered. “I need to check.”
“I’m fine. You fell unconscious healing me, remember?” Santino said with a growl.
“I did?” Zack asked with surprise, then recalled being so worried he probably overexerted himself too much.
“Fine, go look,” his grumpy werewolf said.
Zack leaned forward and looked under the bandage, surprised to find the bullet wound looked weeks-old. “Even with my help, it shouldn’t have healed that fast.”
Santino yawned and stretched out, the liquid motion making him think Santino was more feline than wolf. The enforcer sat up in bed. The blanket slid lower, unveiling more caramel skin and hard muscle. His mouth went dry. Santino wore what most shifters did to bed. Nothing.
“I heal faster than even most dominant wolves,” Santino remarked, the knowing glint in those silver eyes, telling Zack the werewolf knew he was watching and appreciated it.
“Because of your genetics?”
“Want to go for a run?” Santino asked instead of answering his question. “I want to bring you somewhere important.”
The question caught him off-guard. His inner cat leapt to the surface, eager to experience playing with their wolf again. Still, his human half hesitated, wondered if this was a trap. He studied his surroundings. This wasn’t his room at the inn, and the windows looked out to ancient and thick trees.
He started. This was probably Santino’s bedroom. Santino had taken him back to the house he shared with Sabine and his niece, his room. Why? It felt Santino crossed some line for him, because he overheard the other wolves in the pack mention Santino never took any lover to his home.
Realizing Santino patiently waited for his response, he asked, “Sylvia and your sister?”
“Daryl and Forrest are downstairs.” Forrest was another pack enforcer and one of his sister’s good friends.
“I see. Then I’d love to go on a run.” He looked down, surprised and pleased to find he was wearing one of Santino’s shirts and nothing else. Nice. Zack smelled of some kind of minty soap, too. Then he blushed as it sunk in. “You showered and undressed me?”
“Not like I haven’t seen everything.” Santino fisted his shirt, searched his eyes, and then lowered his mouth to his.
Heat slammed down his throat. God, he missed this. He responded to Santino’s rough and biting kiss, planting his hand on Santino’s left pectoral. Zack shamelessly rubbed himself against Santino, liking the contrast of his slender body against Santino’s hard skin. His dick pulsed to life between his legs. When Santino pulled his mouth away, he panted.
“I fucking missed you, little cat. You worried the hell out of me when you fainted,” Santino said, cupping his cheek and rubbing at the day-old stubble there, the gesture calming.
“Excuse me? I’m the one who’s supposed to be worried.” Zack bit his bottom lip. “I wanted to go heal you right away, but Jared was more critical.”
“You remained level-headed and professional,” Santino said with approval in his voice.
“Kiss me again?” he blurted.
Santino smirked, the devil in his smile, before complying. This time the werewolf kissed him slow and deep, taking his time. Teeth clashed and tongues tangled. More, he thought.
He leaned closer to Santino’s touch, wanted to scent mark this wolf. Zack already carried Santino’s scent on his skin, loved it, but he wanted to put his scent all over his wolf, too, as a warning to other shifters to stay away from his man. There was denying Santino was a beautiful man, one of the best warriors in the pack. Of course many would eye his wolf as potential mate material, but healers could be possessive, too.
How could he possibly think Santino was his when he hadn’t even told his mate the truth? No, Santino would know everything, but for now, he needed reassurance his mate was safe
.
“I can feel your hunger, little cat. You’re so fucking hard for me already, and it’s so sweet,” Santino said, fingers closing over his dick and stroking it back and forth.
He moaned. Santino certainly didn’t mince words, but then, the werewolf’s bluntness was one of the things Zack liked about him.
“What about that run you wanted?” he managed to ask.
“After I fuck you senseless,” Santino said.
“I agree,” Zack whispered. Because he planned to confess everything to Santino after their run so no secrets existed between them any longer. If Santino rejected him—he hated considering the possibility, but if that happened, he’d always have these precious moments with Santino.
Santino narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong? You look suddenly sad.”
Zack shook his head and placed his hand over Santino’s fingers still spread on his cheek, then sighed. “Nothing. This, you, us, it’s perfect.”
Santino tugged at his shirt and literally ripped it from his body. He widened his eyes.
“I wanted to keep that shirt,” he grumbled.
“You can have any of my shirts.”
Santino pressed a hand to his bare chest, urging him to lie flat on his back on the bed again. Then the dominant werewolf rolled on top of him, placing his hands on either side of Zack’s head and keeping his weight off Zack. He sucked in a breath, taking the time enjoy the hard dips and lines of Santino’s body, especially the thick and hardening cock between Santino’s leg.
Zack groaned, wanting so badly for Santino to push his big dick in him, remind him who he belonged to. Santino had other plans. The werewolf kissed him again, taking his time. His insides melted as Santino traced the inside of his mouth with his tongue before pressing a gentle kiss on his bottom lip, his jaw, the side of his neck.
He wound his hands into the thick silk of Santino’s rich dark chocolate hair, groaning when Santino bit at the side of his neck, hard enough to bruise but not draw blood. Zack understood. It was a subtle reminder that sooner or later, Zack would be his to claim. Zack never wanted anything more in his entire life.
Santino reached for his prick, began stroking it back and forth, silver gaze watching his expression. It was so hot, having those intense silver eyes pinning his down, as if Santino wanted to savor every expression on his face.
“Santino,” Zack said with a gasp as Santino pumped his dick faster. “I need you in me. Please.”
“I like it when you beg.” Santino got off him.
He mewled in protest, no longer feeling Santino’s callused and large hand holding his dick captive. Santino turned him on his side. The mattress dipped, but Santino returned moments later, curving his body against his. Santino placed a possessive hand on the curve of his waist. Santino slid his hand down the curve of his ass and he bent his knee, allowing Santino access. The werewolf uncapped the lube, and he felt Santino begin working the slick liquid inside him.
Zack squirmed, wanting something much bigger than Santino’s digits inside him. He jumped when Santino smacked his left ass cheek, surprised the gesture made him further aroused.
“Behave, little cat,” Santino warned in his ear.
“If I don’t, will the big bad wolf punish me?” Zack’s breath hitched when Santino rubbed his erect prick up and down the crease of his buttocks, teasing but not pushing in.
“Easy answer. I’ll keep you on the edge mercilessly until you beg me for permission to come.”
“Bastard.”
“You like me that way. Admit it.”
“No,” Zack replied. Cats liked games. Being a healer didn’t change that, and he relished bantering with Santino in and out of bed.
Santino pulled his fingers out and lifted his leg, then pushed in without warning. Zack gasped, clawing at the sheet. A burn started, but it was the kind he welcomed, knowing pleasure was on its heels. His mate knew how to make him feel good, to make his body fly.
Finally, Santino buried himself hilt deep, his shaft filling and stretching Zack’s inner ass muscles completely. He gripped the sheets, breathed in and out.
“Ready?”
“Ride me, wolf.”
Santino complied, strokes slow and easy at first, before building up speed. Zack panted, loved the clash of their flesh and Santino fucking him like he owned Zack’s body.
Zack met Santino for every thrust. Santino slid his hand to his prick and started giving him a hand job, timing it with his thrusts. Zack gasped when Santino brushed against his sweet spot. He arched his back, whimpering as Santino repeatedly found his prostate.
“Come for me, little cat. Do it now.” Santino pressed his lips to the side of his neck, at the same time squeezing the tip of his dick.
Zack shattered, the room falling away from his line of sight as he sprayed his jizz into the sheets and Santino’s waiting hand. He sighed in contentment, aware Santino pumped in and out of him several more times before filling his ass with his load.
Santino pulled his softening dick out after, and he cuddled close to the werewolf’s warmth, unable to speak for a couple of moments. Tucked against Santino’s body felt right, perfect. Zack felt wonderfully sore, sated. His cat was happy inside of him.
It wasn’t just his body Santino possessed, but also his heart. Zack was born for this fierce warrior, this wolf who didn’t hesitate to fight for his pack, for those he cared about. He was certain of that now, but was Zack a worthy mate?
Chapter Fifteen
Santino brushed his mouth over that tempting spot on Zack’s neck, that tender strip of skin which was missing his mate mark. It took all of Santino’s self-control not to sink his fangs all the way. Zack closed his fingers over his, gave it a squeeze.
“I want to be yours,” Zack whispered. “I’m a healer. I put others’ needs before mine usually, but this, you, us, I want so badly.”
Something about the phrasing of those words made Santino wary, raised the hackles of his inner wolf.
“What aren’t you telling me, little cat?” Santino asked.
“Let’s go for that run. Then I’ll tell you everything. Once that’s done, you can decide if you still want me or not.”
Santino narrowed his eyes at Zack as the bobcat shifter slipped out of bed, legs still a little shaky. His wolf tensed up inside of him, angry, expecting rejection. Bitter ex-lovers had spread numerous rumors about him, told lies that he too wild, too rough in bed and possessed a heart of ice. He wondered if Zack heard those tall tales. The fault always lay with him when it came to matters of relationships, except unlike any of those ex-lovers, Zack was special.
Didn’t Zack know that a man, a warrior like Santino, didn’t back away in the middle of a hunt?
“You want to run, little cat? Let’s go for a run,” he said in a dangerous voice.
Zack widened his eyes. “You don’t scare me, wolf.”
“You should be. Hasn’t anyone ever taught you that playing games with a predator isn’t wise?”
“This isn’t a game for me,” Zack snapped, then looked at his feet. “I’m sorry.”
Santino cooled his temper. Zack didn’t look like he was about to run, hadn’t rejected him outright, either, merely wanted to discuss something important with him. The first time they had sex, he’d been certain Zack had kept something for him. He had inkling of what it was. Santino hadn’t told Zack, but Elaine had taken him aside and voiced her suspicions.
Zack’s a good man, a dedicated healer, but there’s something you should know. He might not be able to do what you asked him to come here for.
Santino didn’t need Elaine to spell the words out for him. He knew deep in his heart the chances of Sabine waking up again were slim.
“Come on, little cat. A run will clear both our heads,” he suggested.
Zack pulled open a window. “I’ll wait for you outside.”
Amused, Santino watched as Zack shifted forms. A black-tipped spotted cat replaced the well-fucked slender man. Zack jumped on the bed and, un
able to help himself, Santino approached his little cat and rubbed at Zack’s ears. The bobcat shifter mewled, letting Santino pet him before Zack jumped on the window ledge and into the tree outside his room.
He grabbed a pair of jeans from his closet and headed out the room. Before going downstairs, he made a quick stop to his sister’s room. Her condition remained the same. Instinct made him look out the window. It was bright morning now and it was unlikely any stalker vampires with red hair were wandering about, but he had the feeling that Madeline had been outside the tree opposite Sabine’s room.
Letting out a huff, he went downstairs.
“I win,” came Sylvia’s voice from the living room. He peeked inside, unsurprised to see a wary looking Forrest and Daryl seated on the coffee table, playing Snakes and Ladders with Sylvia.
“Uncle ‘Tino, Sylvia win. Again.” Sylvia flashed him a gap-tooth smile.
“Only because you cheated,” Forrest grumbled.
Daryl let out an exasperated sigh. “How can one little girl beat us at Snakes and Ladders?”
“Zack’s outside?” Sylvia asked him. At his nod, she lit up. “Sylvia wants to play with Uncle Zack.”
“Uncle?” Daryl asked him with some amusement.
Santino shook his head. “Later, sweetheart. Zack and I have something important to discuss.”
“Okay! New game?” she asked the two other men, who groaned.
Before he could meet his bobcat healer outside, Forrest barred his path. He and the younger enforcer had clashed numerous times over the years. Santino didn’t agree with Deacon and his sister, who both helped trained Forrest, that Forrest was ready to take the role of pack enforcer. He was wrong. Forrest easily related to the younger members of the pack and the youths.
“I want to ask about Sabine,” Forrest said. “Will your healer be able to—”
“We don’t know.”
Forrest cracked his knuckles, not a threatening gesture, Santino realized, but a nervous one. He cooled the rising temper of his wolf. Before Sabine got shot, Santino let few people into the house, only Daryl and Deacon, but he made an exception for Forrest, knowing the young enforcer was a good friend of his sister.
