by Anya Byrne
There was something peaceful and unique in carrying his mate through the forest toward a place he had made his own. The silence around them, Ward's scent, his warmth, his unconscious sensuality—it soothed the hole in Mathias's heart, the one he'd been desperately trying to patch since his argument with his mate.
And maybe he wasn't the only one who felt that way, because Ward murmured, "I missed you, Mathias."
"I missed you too, Ward," Mathias replied. "You have no idea how much."
"Is this really happening?" Ward tightened his hold on Mathias's neck. "Do you really want me for me?"
"You're all I've ever wanted. And I know that sounds a little crazy when I say it out loud, but inside... It feels right."
Ward nodded and set his head on Mathias's shoulder. "It does. Right."
That one word was perhaps the best way to describe what Mathias felt for his mate. His magic, his heart, his body all screamed it. No, the world wasn't perfect, and neither were the two of them, but together they fit perfectly nonetheless.
In no time, they reached Mathias's den. It was at that point that Mathias began to feel a little apprehensive. He'd cleaned up the place a bit, but in the end, it was still a cave. It might be suitable for Mathias's wolf, but for Ward, not so much.
Still, Ward scanned the den with obvious interest. He gasped lightly when he passed through the wards keeping the place secure. "What was that?"
"My magic. I'm not here a lot, so I cast a spell that would keep anyone, or anything, from wandering inside."
It didn't seem to have worked on his mate, at least not the way it was intended. In fact, Ward turned toward him, and his eyes flared with heat. "I like it."
Mathias almost swallowed his own tongue. Clearly, that was the understatement of the century, because the burst of his power had touched Ward at some level Mathias had not originally expected. "I like it a lot."
"I see," Mathias replied. He had not planned for anything sensual to happen—they were in the middle of nowhere, after all, and his mate deserved better. But Ward's gaze on him was so hot and open, full of every desire they'd done their best to suppress. Mathias's wolf howled, snarling at him to claim the beautiful human.
Still, they'd only just reached some form of agreement, and Mathias didn't want to waste that. He took a step back, having every intention of giving his mate a second to clear his head of the unexpected effect of the magic.
Ward followed, stepping back through the shields. "Sorry about that," Mathias told his mate. "I didn't expect my magic to—"
Before he could finish the phrase, Ward crossed the remaining distance between them and pressed his mouth to Mathias's. It was their first ever real kiss, and it was nothing like what Mathias had expected.
The magic pulsing over Ward's body had faded, but the spark it had ignited inside the human remained. Their kiss was gentle, almost chaste, not much beyond a close-mouthed lip-lock, but Mathias was still left breathless by the sheer want in it.
When they broke apart, their gazes met and Ward smiled. "I don't want to wait anymore. Just... Make me believe and make me forget."
For all his apparently carefree expression, there was an almost-apology in his eyes. It occurred to Mathias that Ward needed to exorcise his past with his human ex in more than one way. Mathias's reluctance to take things further worked up to a point, but after that, it might do more harm than good.
Still, there was one problem and something Mathias couldn't hide. "If we do this, Ward... I don't think I can stop myself from claiming you as my mate."
He'd never gotten the chance to explain to Ward what that meant, and when Ward pressed their bodies together, the words didn't come. His mate, however, seemed to understand. "You're right. We might not be ready for that kind of commitment." His smile widened, turning into a wicked grin. "But that doesn't mean we have to suffer in silence."
That was the only warning Mathias got before his mate shoved him against a tree trunk and dropped to his knees. Normally, Mathias's strength would have kept a human from managing to maneuver him into any sort of position, but he was so taken aback by this turn of events that he went along with it. His reward came when his mate palmed his already hard-as-nails cock through the material of his jeans. "Ward," he heard himself groan.
His mate chuckled, but didn't tease Mathias further. He unbuttoned Mathias's jeans and lowered his zipper with his teeth. Mathias's cock sprang out from its confines, drawing a small sound of awe and surprise from Ward. Mathias was inspired enough to look down, and the sight of his mate kneeling in front of him was almost enough to have him coming on the spot.
It certainly didn't help that Ward grabbed his cock in a tight, hot fist. Mathias hissed, burying his claws in the tree bark so that he wouldn't reach for his mate and accidentally hurt him.
In his long life, he'd done a lot of things, some kinkier than others. He'd needed the variety to compensate for the fact that for the most part, the actual touches felt empty. But this... This was so different. Ward's caresses could have been considered innocent compared to some of Mathias's previous sexual experiences, but they stirred his lust, his desire and his need like nothing ever had.
And then, Ward lowered his mouth over Mathias's dick, and Mathias released a choked groan. Enveloped in volcanic heat, Mathias was nearly overcome by the sensations, by the nearly impossible pleasure. He couldn't get enough of the sinful sight in front of him, of the view of his mate's lips obscenely spread around his dick as Ward bobbed his head up and down the shaft. The most beautiful thing was the look on Ward's face. There was no denying the bliss that settled on Ward's handsome features, the desire that echoed Mathias's, the need to sate the very same hunger that plagued Mathias's days and nights. He seemed to be enjoying this as much as Mathias was, which was quite a considerable feat indeed.
Just as the thought crossed Mathias's mind, Ward sped up the rhythm of his suction. Mathias's eyes rolled in his head and he had to look away from Ward to keep a measure of control. He stared at the foliage above him instead, trying to count the individual leaves, to feel the energy within them and use it as an anchor.
It didn't work. The fire of Ward's essence pulled at him, and nothing could temper it. When Ward rolled Mathias's balls in his palm, Mathias finally lost it. With a snarl, he finally gripped Ward's hair and started to fuck his mate's mouth in earnest.
Ward didn't seem to mind. At first, he let out a small gasp of surprise, but he adapted with striking ease. He set one of his hands on Mathias's hips, literally holding on for the ride while Mathias took his pleasure. With the other, he undid his own jeans, working his cock in the same rhythm as Mathias's thrusts.
Mathias's angle was all wrong, so he couldn't actually see what his mate was doing, not physically. Even so, his magic registered it for him. He reached out with his power, using that extension of him in an attempt to give Ward the same pleasure his mate showered him with.
Ward trembled through it, his whimpers muffled by Mathias's dick, but his response to the magic was more than satisfying. And then, Mathias zeroed in on Ward's cock, and this mate went rigid. The scent of semen filled the air as Ward came, and Mathias couldn't hold on either. With one last thrust, he climaxed, filling his mate's mouth with his seed.
It was quite possibly the most intense orgasm of Mathias's life, and it was over far too soon. Ward released Mathias's cock, licking his lips and panting. He looked up at Mathias with heavy lidded eyes, and Mathias dropped to his knees to press his mouth to Ward's.
He tasted himself on Ward's tongue, and it stirred the possessiveness and need to claim he was barely managing to hold in check. When he broke the kiss, he pressed his forehead to that of his lover. "You're going to be the death of me."
Ward grinned at him. "But what a way to go, eh?"
Mathias snorted and nodded. He couldn't have agreed more, and as he met Ward's gaze, he knew the feeling went both ways.
Chapter Seven
Over the following couple of days, Ward settled
into a new and comforting routine. He found renewed inspiration and painted with more zeal than he had in years. He even went to town, acquainting himself with Willow Cove and some of its inhabitants. More than once, it occurred to him that he could easily get used to this, to the peacefulness and the soothing warmth he'd found in this haven.
As for him and Mathias, their relationship truly flourished. They didn't do much beyond blow jobs and hand jobs, but that was fine with Ward. Somehow, it worked for them. It helped them build up an intimacy Ward had never thought he'd share with anyone, especially not after Peter.
Still, it was becoming harder and harder to break their kisses. Watching Mathias leave was a lesson in torture, and soon, Ward found himself wondering if he was over-thinking things again.
Ironically, it was Peter who made Ward's decision for him. Ward had been ignoring most attempts to contact him—including Peter's—but one afternoon, while distracted by his painting, he randomly accepted a call without looking at the display screen.
"Ward?" Peter breathed at the other end of the connection. "Oh, thank God."
"Hi, Peter," Ward greeted his ex. Oddly, he found the pain he'd felt at talking to the man was entirely missing. Oh, he was still angry, and probably a part of him would never forget the betrayal, but the agony that had chased him out of his home had faded.
He placed the phone on speaker since he hadn't gotten the chance to clean his hands. "What's up? Everything okay?"
A long pause followed, and Ward realized his nonchalance had surprised his ex. "Everything's fine," Peter replied at last, "at least with us. What about you? You've been away for so long. We're worried."
"It's only been a couple of weeks." Ward laughed. "Relax. I'm just catching up on my painting and fixing some things that were obviously wrong in my life. I'm perfectly okay. You should probably be more worried about your wife than your ex-boyfriend."
The biting remark put them in old territory and seemed to reassure Peter. "I know I hurt you, Ward, but that's no reason to push your family away. How long will you hold onto this grudge? You know as well as I do that we were never meant for one another."
"I never thought I'd agree with anything you said, but yeah, you're right. Which is really what I'm trying to say here." Ward sighed heavily. "I don't know what you want from me, Peter. Just leave it be and focus on Teresa. It's as easy as that. You're married now, and she should be your priority. Like I said, I'm fine."
"I can't just leave it be," Peter bristled. "I... You're... I still..." He cleared his throat and started again. "Listen, I've been thinking. This isn't an easy situation for either of us, and I had an idea I needed to talk to you about."
"I'm all ears," Ward drawled, leaving aside his painting and wiping his hands of the substance. He picked up the phone, already dreading whatever Peter had come up with. "Shoot."
"I'd have preferred it if we could talk about it in person," Peter offered hesitantly.
"Well, if you want that, it's your call," Ward replied disinterestedly, "but it's not going to happen anytime soon."
"Very well then. Here's the thing. I know you've missed me, and to be honest, I've missed you too. But I found the perfect solution for that. Come home, and you and I can pick up from where we left off."
Ward had deemed himself prepared for anything his ex-boyfriend might come up with, but he'd been terribly wrong. "Peter... Have you oh-so-conveniently forgotten you're married now? To my sister?"
"I've already spoken to Teresa and she agrees," Peter replied. "She's not all that adventurous in bed and she doesn't want to risk the baby, so she prefers it like this."
Ward didn't know if he felt shocked, disgusted or appalled. He truly hadn't thought Peter's relationship with Teresa was so toxic. He'd been too focused on his own pain to realize the consequences of Peter's choices on everyone else.
But this had been his sister's decision, and she knew all about Ward's history with the man. There was nothing Ward could do about it. "You've made your choice, Peter," he said tiredly. "There's no going back, not for you and not for me. I'm not your sex toy. If you're not happy in your marriage, you're going to have to find another solution."
Peter spluttered. "But Ward, baby..."
"Peter, enough! I'm seeing someone else and he makes me happy. What you and I had is long gone." Peter didn't answer, and Ward continued, "Congratulations on being a father soon. I know you wanted that. And at least try to make this marriage work, if not for Teresa's sake, for that of the child. No baby should have to live with parents who don't love each other. Goodbye."
He ended the call, his heart swirling with a mix of confused emotions. He supposed he should be more focused on the fact that his ex was apparently having a baby with his sister, but out of that conversation, one thing stood out the most. Mathias made Ward happy.
And maybe Peter had made him happy at one time too, but it had never been like this, so easy, so effortless. Ward stared at all the paintings in his bedroom and laughed. The truth had been right there for him to see all along, in his own artwork. He was in love with Mathias.
Love didn't solve anything, he knew that, but it went a long way to fixing what was broken. He wanted this, more than he had ever wanted his relationship with Peter to work out.
His great-uncle had told him humans didn't exactly process the mate thing like supernatural creatures did, and Ward agreed. But in some ways, it did register, in the fluttering of his stomach whenever Mathias was near, in his yearning to be at Mathias's side, and most of all, in his paintings. It was high time he left his doubts behind and embraced it.
He probably should have waited for Mathias to come to him this evening, but he knew his lover didn't actually need to stay with the Lone Wolf Pack all day. He just did it to settle them in a routine Ward could trust while they worked to push past it. So Ward only hesitated for a moment before he reached for his phone again and dialed Mathias's number.
It rang once, and then Mathias picked up. "Hey, Ward," Mathias greeted him. "Is everything okay?"
He sounded anxious, and Ward couldn't really blame him since he didn't usually call his lover during the day. "Everything's fine," he replied. "I just... I wanted to talk to you for a bit. Can you come over? It's nothing urgent if they need you there."
"I can come," Mathias said quickly. "I'll be there in ten minutes."
"I'll be waiting," Ward answered. "And don't panic. It's nothing bad, I promise."
"Very well then." Mathias took a deep breath, Ward's assurances having had the intended effect. "We'll speak in a bit."
Putting a halt to the conversation was somewhat awkward, because neither of them wanted to say goodbye. However, Ward wasn't willing to discuss their future while on the phone. He steeled himself and uttered a quick, "See you soon," before he ended the call.
When he set the device down, he considered what he was about to do. He waited for the panic to come, but it didn't. This was right, and the natural next step in their relationship.
As he waited for Mathias to arrive, he put his art supplies aside and took a quick shower. He was pulling on his clothes when he heard the knock announcing Mathias's arrival. "Be right there," he called out.
Quickly zipping up his jeans, Ward made his way to the door. He opened it and smiled brightly when he found his lover standing outside. "Hey. Thanks for coming so soon."
"How could I not?" Mathias arched a brow. "I might not be human, but I know that the 'we need to talk' line usually isn't a good sign."
Ward rolled his eyes, although inside, he felt a little warm at the familiarity of their banter. "In all fairness, that's not what I said. I said I wanted to talk to you."
"Semantics," Mathias replied as he stepped into the house and closed the door. "But it does seem that this time around, I was mistaken to worry."
The comment was light-hearted enough, but it held an obvious question. Ward plopped down on the couch, biting his lip and wondering how to address it.
"Ward?" Mathias prodded, sitti
ng down next to him. "Tell me. You know you can trust me."
Mathias reached for Ward's hand and twined their fingers together. It gave Ward the final push he needed. "Peter called."
Mathias's expression darkened. "One of these days, I'll pay a visit to that human."
"Not necessary," Ward replied with a smile. "I just... I spoke with him and I realized something very important. I don't care about him, not like I once did. You're my life now. And... I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm not afraid anymore."
Mathias's eyes widened. "Do you... Do you really mean that? You want to..."
He trailed off, obviously having trouble speaking, lest he utter something that would turn out to be false. Ward didn't want any more disappointments and doubts between them, so he nodded quickly. "I want to be your mate, yes. So... Claim me."
Mathias's eyes flashed with something dark and dangerous, and Ward was reminded that behind the polite veneer, Mathias was still half-shifter. It didn't scare him. He loved it when Mathias followed his impulses, since those times always ended with magnificent orgasms for him.
"Don't tease me, Ward. I can't... You know how much I want this, but if you're not sure..."
"I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't sure. I wouldn't toy with your feelings. You know that."
The smile that bloomed on Mathias's face was almost too shy for a man who was a centuries-old werewolf warrior. "Yes, I do know."
The shyness vanished in an instant, replaced by sensual decision. Mathias shot to his feet and snatched Ward off the couch. "Well, far be it from me to deny my beautiful mate," he purred.
Ward wrapped his arms around Mathias's neck and his legs around his lover's waist. "See. You're learning. Who said you can't teach an old wolf new tricks?"
The teasing comment earned him a growl from Mathias. The world went a little hazy around him, and Ward kept his focus on his lover's face, instinctively guessing Mathias was using his werewolf speed to make sure they reached their destination—the bedroom, most likely—as soon as possible. Despite that knowledge, he was surprised when, far sooner than expected, he was set on the mattress with almost excruciating gentleness.
