by Lynn Lorenz
Stoltz grinned. Leave it to Murphy to be sure to garner everyone’s attention.
Ashland wore only his sandals and a small towel wrapped around his waist, and it barely covered his ass, cock, and balls. Stoltz looked around. All eyes were on his man.
Thank God, Ashland knew how to make an entrance.
Murphy called over his werewolf, standing nearby. “Leif, this is Ashland. You two will spar today. Go easy on him, Leif; don’t hurt him.”
Leif, a large Swede, grinned and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Ashland. Let’s go. Show me what you’ve got.”
Ashland nodded as they shook. “You too, Leif.” He made no excuses, and Stoltz was proud of him for that. Both men stripped and tossed their towels onto the chairs.
∙•∙
Ashe followed as Leif led the way to the cage, up the short steps to the raised octagon, and through the door. He pointed to the other side of the cage. “That’s your corner.”
Stoltz came to the side and stood next to Murphy. “Let’s let them fool around a bit, get used to each other.”
He nodded. “Leif! No shifting yet.”
The big blond nodded back to him as Ashland took his place. Ash raised his hand to show he’d heard and understood. Murphy rang the bell, and both men started toward the center of the cage.
Eyeing each other, they moved around, circling, arms up and ready for contact, their feet cautiously stepping to avoid getting tangled up.
Leif made the first move, charging across the space toward Ashland. Ashland leaped to the side, holding out his arm, and clotheslined Leif. The big man fell backward and hit the floor.
Stoltz cheered. Murphy groaned. “Come on, Leif!”
Leif got to his feet, rubbing his ass. “Okay, wolf. No more nice guy.”
Ashland grinned. “Bring it on. Fuck easy.”
“No easy here in this cage.” Leif kicked out, landing a blow on Ashland’s thigh. He stumbled but stayed upright and spun away, out of reach.
Ashland danced a bit, then came in with a series of rapid punches to Leif’s middle, and ended it with an uppercut that rocked Leif backward. His hand hurt like hell, but the feel of bare knuckles on jaw thrilled him. This was what he’d been bred for, and the joy of fighting sang in his blood.
Leif regained his balance, but Ashland came in low, scooping him up and throwing him flat ontp his back. Leaping on top, he grabbed one leg and twisted Leif’s arm backward.
His opponent fought back and, with a hard shove off the floor, smacked Ash in the head as he flipped over, and landed on top of Ash.
“Pin him!” Murphy shouted.
“Come on, Ash! Buck him off!” Stoltz added. Ash struggled to obey, grunting as Leif rained hard blows to his kidneys. Blood from the gash he’d bitten in his lip flooded into his mouth, and he spit to clear it before it choked him.
Leif lifted Ash up, slipped his arm around Ash’s neck, and leaned back. Ash’s spine bent, shooting pain down his legs, but the hurt fled as his opponent cut off his breathing.
Leif was the superior fighter due to his experience and conditioning. Ash knew it, but he refused to believe it or give up. He gasped, sucking in what little air he could, but his vision blurred, and he knew he’d pass out in a few moments.
He was beaten. A roar welled up in his chest but found no air to ride, and it died where it started. Blood pounded in his head, his ears burning, face on fire, as Leif squeezed even tighter.
Stoltz’s face faded, sharpened, faded again…
∙•∙
Stoltz knew that was it. Ashland couldn’t break the hold, and if he didn’t tap out, Leif would only tighten even more until Ashland passed out. Stubborn damned wolf.
“Tap out, Ash!” he ordered.
Ashland grunted, his eyes wild, and Stoltz wondered if the man could hear him. He’d seen werewolves go deep inside themselves, and for a moment, he felt Ashland on the verge of shifting.
How could he know that? They’d only been master and slave for a short time, nowhere near long enough to form any bond, much less one where he knew when his werewolf would change. Mates knew that, not owners. Especially not new owners.
Leif wouldn’t expect the shift, and without some control over Ashland, once he’d shifted, Stoltz was afraid he’d do damage to the other man. They hadn’t tried shifting before, hadn’t even talked about it, but both fighters had to be controlled once they shifted.
Otherwise, it was a fucking dogfight.
Werewolves couldn’t talk once shifted, and they often couldn’t understand orders in the heat of the fight. Only mates spoke to them in shifted form. It was what made good mates great fighters, that mental communication.
Sparring partners usually didn’t shift unless someone nearby controlled them. Sometimes it was another werewolf, but rarely the owner. Stoltz knew Murphy did it with some of his, like Leif, but only years after they’d formed a strong bond of trust.
Ash vibrated with the need to shift. Now or never.
Stoltz wrapped his fingers in the steel mesh of the cage, closed his eyes, and reached out to Ashland in his mind. “Stop! Don’t shift!” He put all he could into sending it out, not knowing if he reached him or not. It was insane, but he gave it a shot.
In the cage, the two men grappled, Ashland straining against Leif, and Leif pushing against the floor and leaning back, trying like hell to put Ashland to sleep.
Ashland’s eyes opened, and he searched the cage, his gaze finding Stoltz. He blinked, focused, blinked again.
“Tap out!” Stoltz thought. “Now, wolf!”
Ashland huffed and let go of Leif. He pounded the floor three times, tapping out.
Leif let him go and fell back onto the floor, staring up at the ceiling, his chest rising and falling. Ashland’s chest heaved as he sucked in air, his red face fading to pink, but his neck carried what would soon be a bruise. He never shifted his gaze from Stoltz, refusing to break their connection.
Shock and questions lived in his eyes.
Leif looked up at his master. “Sorry, Master. Damn, the man got me going.”
Murphy waved him off and turned to Stoltz. “Dan! What the hell just happened?”
Stoltz didn’t look away. “Not sure.”
“He nearly shifted. If you can’t trust him to obey, he’s no use in the cage.”
“I know. He’s fine. I got it.” Stoltz wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm, still thrown by his connection with Ashland.
Murphy narrowed his eyes. “Were you controlling him?”
Stoltz swallowed and broke away from Ashland. “Not at first. He was going to shift…”
“You could tell? You felt it?” Murphy had his hand on Stoltz’s arm.
“Yeah. I felt it. He would have shifted. I just tried calling out to him. Had no idea if it would work or not.”
“Well, it worked.” Murphy shook his head. “Damn, kid. I never seen anyone establish a bond so fast.” He lowered his voice, and it went gritty and hard. “You sure you aren’t fucking him?”
“I told you no.” Stoltz ran his hand over the back of his neck. “Guess he just trusts me.”
“Guess so.” Murphy gave him a last stare, then called Leif over to him. The Norseman rolled to his side and sat up. He arranged his long braids, flipping them to the back, stood, and padded over to the cage door.
Ashland got to his feet a little slower. “What now, Master?” He rubbed his throat.
“Come on.” Stoltz motioned for him. He turned around and stopped dead in his tracks.
A crowd of men and women, trainers, owners, and werewolves had formed around the cage. Some whispered, some gave appreciative nods, and all looked impressed, if only slightly.
Murphy noticed. He raised his voice. “Never seen a werewolf with such a stubborn streak.” He shook his head. “Gonna be a real animal in the cages.”
He always knew just what to say, thank God. Stoltz added it to the list of what he owed his friend.
“What’s his
name, Murphy?” someone called out.
“Ashland. If you want him, contact Dan Stoltz.” Murphy jerked his thumb at Stoltz.
Several of them scribbled in their notepads.
Stoltz couldn’t have hoped for a better reaction.
Ashland trotted down the steps and to Stoltz’s side.
“I think we made our point.” Stoltz smiled. Mission accomplished. Even if Ashland was beaten, he’d made a great showing, fighting until the last moment, never giving up. “Sit down. Towel off and put your things on.”
Ashland nodded and did as instructed. Stoltz inspected Ashland’s throat to check for damage. “It’ll bruise. How do you feel?”
“Sore. But only a bit.”
“Good. Follow Leif and go get a massage. You’ve earned it.” He slapped Ashland on the shoulder. The big man stood, and Leif jerked his head for him to follow.
Stoltz turned around. A small line of men waited for him.
He smiled at them, and the questions started.
»»•««
Ash followed Leif to one of the doors on the side of the large room marked LOCKER ROOM. Although he’d never been in one before, he knew about them.
Leif stopped and leaned into a doorway. “Hey, got two men out here who need a rubdown.”
Ash came up next to him. “How’s the neck?” Leif asked. He scratched his balls. “Sorry, man.”
“I’m okay.” Ash shrugged it off. He wasn’t sure about the rubdown. “Does this cost?”
“Hell, no. It’s all part of the service.” He leaned in and winked. “More than service, if you get my drift.”
Ash frowned. “More?”
“Sure. What’s your pleasure? Male or female? Or both?”
“For a massage?”
“Fuck, no. Not just a massage. These slaves will do whatever you want, ain’t that right, Lea?” A young female slave came to the door, wearing only a thin strip of gauze wrapped around her waist and crossing between her breasts to tie in a bow behind her neck.
Leif leaned down and palmed her breast. She giggled, and he ducked down to capture her nipple in his mouth for a quick suck. “Come on, girl. I need a rubdown.” He slapped her on the ass. His cock had come alive.
“Looks like you need a rub up.” She laughed back at him and then dragged him through the door and shut it.
Ashland stood in the room, understanding dawning. From another doorway, a small male slave peered out. “You’re new. Male or female?”
Ash looked down at his half-hard cock. “Male?”
“No, not you. Which do you prefer? For your massage.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. “I hope it’s male.” He stroked his half-hard penis and grinned.
Ash looked over his shoulder for Stoltz. Had his master known about this when he’d sent him in here? “Does this happen all the time?”
“What?”
“More than massages.”
“Only if you want it to.” The boy shrugged.
“Do the trainers know?”
“Sure.”
So Stoltz did know, and he’d sent him here. Clearly he didn’t mind what happened between Ash and this young slave. Ash thought of how long it had been since he’d been pleasured.
“Male. I like men.” Ash made up his mind, if this was what his master wanted.
“Good.” The boy took his hand and led him into the room. He closed the door and pointed to a raised bed. “Get up there.”
Ash obeyed and stretched out.
“Roll over. We’ll start with your back and work around to the front.”
Ash got into position on his belly.
The slave squirted oil into his hands and started massaging. Nothing sexy about this, just firm hands rubbing his tired muscles. Ash grunted as the boy found his sore spots and kneaded the knots out of them.
He worked up and down Ash’s back, ass, and legs, then moved to his neck and arms. Ash floated in a haze of relaxation.
“Roll over.”
Ash did and wiggled to get comfortable on the bed.
The slave oiled up again and started with his shoulders and chest. Working his way across in long steady strokes, the boy circled his nipples for longer than necessary.
So long, they’d peaked and his cock had taken notice. He moaned soft and low. Before he could take another breath, a wet, hot mouth took his nipple in and sucked on it.
“Goddess!” he cried out. That felt so good. If this was the “and more” part, bring it on. His cock stiffened, and his balls ached.
The lad moved to the other nipple and teased it, all the while working his hands down Ash’s body. Then he trailed his tongue after them, skimming oiled skin down the line of hair leading to his thatch.
Ash’s cockhead rested just past his navel. The slave found it with his mouth and tongue, and Ash nearly bowed in half when the lad licked it.
He looked up to see, and he couldn’t take his gaze off the slave. He’d given hundreds of blowjobs to Durio and swapped them with the other young werewolves in the slave market before being sold, so he knew what it felt like to do it, but it’d been ages since it had been done to him.
He spread his knees apart, giving the lad more room.
“Yes! Suck me!” He humped up, trying to get more of his cock into the slave lad’s mouth.
He’d moved around to stretch between Ash’s legs. “Shhh…” He gripped the base of Ash’s shaft and held it up. Then he licked around the slit, bit it, and swallowed Ash’s cock down.
Ash’s prick hit the back of the lad’s throat, and he groaned. The young buck swallowed, and Ash reached for his head to hold him in place. Burying his fingers in dark tousled hair, Ash held on for dear life as he thrust into the heat and suction.
“Fuck!” So good. So what he needed. He only wished Dan Stoltz was doing this to him. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine it.
Chapter Eleven
Stoltz entered the locker room, but the two fighters weren’t there. He looked down the aisles of lockers. None of the showers were running, so Ashland couldn’t be there. He was just about to call out when a naked slave girl came out of a room.
“Master, may I help you?”
“I’m looking for my fighter. Big, redheaded werewolf. He came in for a massage. Do you know which room he’s in?”
She nodded. “In there, I believe. He came in with Leif.” She pointed to a closed door and then returned to her room.
He went to the door and opened it.
Ash lay on a table, legs spread, the head of a slave bobbing up and down on Ash’s cock.
Stoltz’s voice froze in his throat, followed by a sick feeling in his belly. He wanted to bellow, to cry out, to demand they stop right now, but he caught himself. He backed out, intent on closing the door, but at the last minute, he wavered, then gave in.
Holding the door open just enough to see inside, he leaned to the side. Feeling like a spy, yet excited by it, he watched as Ash found his pleasure with another slave.
Jealousy bloomed in Stoltz’s heart, but he stamped it down. This was what Ashland wanted. Maybe what he needed. Sex with someone who couldn’t control him, or hurt him or demand anything from him. Two slaves seeking mutual pleasure.
He forced himself to continue watching, punishing himself, burning the image into his mind so he would forever remember that he could never offer this to Ashland.
They would always be master and slave.
Ashland buried his fingers in the lad’s hair and half curled forward with his eyes shut as the slave sucked him off.
Stoltz’s cock stiffened, filling so fast he grew faint. He grabbed the doorknob and held on as his knuckles turned white. But he couldn’t look away. Ashland’s beauty in the height of pleasure mesmerized him even as sorrow filled his heart.
Again, he wanted to cry out, to stop them in the act, to grab the boy and pull him off and shout, Mine!
But he didn’t. He had no right.
He had every right.
The slave picked up speed.
“Suck me. Make me come!” Ashland pumped his hips up, jamming his cock down the slave’s throat, but the young man never choked. He probably rendered this service to any of the fighters who asked every day.
Had Ashland asked? Or had the lad offered?
What did it matter, you fool?
Ashland reached for his completion, moaning, arching his back, and thrusting deeper, holding down the slave to take his load of cum.
He shouldn’t watch this. This was for Ashland, something he had no part in.
Stoltz closed the door, taking care to be quiet and not do anything to disturb the couple.
He turned and left the locker room, heading back to where he belonged.
»»•««
Ash’s balls drew up and his cock swelled as his body reached a familiar place. But this time, it wasn’t his hand bringing him there. A warm, wet, strong mouth, a limber tongue, and a strong grip on his cock took him to his release.
In his mind, he could see Dan. Yes, Dan. Not Stoltz, not Master. He, not the masseur, looked up at Ash through half-lidded eyes, lust burning in his gaze, his lips wrapped around Ash’s cockhead.
His balls slammed up into his body; the final race of his cum surged up and out.
“Dan!” he cried out as he spilled down the slave’s throat.
He lay shuddering until the lad released him, and he struggled to catch his breath.
“Feel better?” the young slave asked as he licked Ash’s cock clean.
Ash nodded, unable to speak. The lad laughed and petted Ash’s chest. “There is water in the fridge over there. Help yourself. Make sure you drink the entire bottle to replenish your fluids. Massages take a lot out of you.” With a saucy wink, the young slave slipped out of the room.
Ash covered his face with his arm. He’d done it again. Come thinking about his master.
Was there any slave as sorry as he? Any as foolish? To fall in love with a master who would never return those feelings?
»»•««
Ash exited the locker room and found Stoltz waiting for him in the seats.
“I’m done, Master.”
Stoltz started, looking up at him. “What?”
“The massage. It’s over.” Weariness came over him, and he just wanted to crawl into his bed in his own quarters.
