Ashland

by Lynn Lorenz

  Stoltz had forgotten about his mental bond with Ash. The werewolf could always tell when his emotions were in turmoil. There was no sense in denying it, and he’d decided to tell him anyway. Get it over with.

  “Sit down, Ash.”

  Ash went to the couch and dropped down onto it. He put his arm over the back of the sofa and waited.

  “You need to know. I got a letter from Durio’s lawyer. He means to get you back.”

  “What?” Ash jerked forward, his grip rending the couch’s fabric. “Durio? I can’t go back. He lost me for back taxes. You own me now.”

  “Yeah, I know. But he’s got this lawyer who says the league didn’t wait the correct number of days for him to pay the bill. That they had no right to take you from him and sell you. And that my purchase of you is invalid.”

  Ash, his eyes wild and white-rimmed, bolted off the sofa and to the other side of the room. He paced around the small enclosure, shaking his head and clenching and unclenching his hands. He turned and crouched low, a fierceness in his eyes Stoltz had seen only in the cages.

  “No! I won’t go,” he roared.

  “I’m trying my best to keep that from happening, but you have to know, it’s a possibility.”

  “No!” Ash’s furious yell echoed in the room. “I. Won’t. Go.”

  “Ash. If he wins, you’ll have to go. I can’t keep you. You won’t be mine.”

  “But I’m yours,” he howled. “Yours. All yours. Not Durio’s. Never, ever Durio.” The air around him vibrated, and Stoltz knew the man was on the verge of shifting.

  “Ash. Calm down. Please.”

  Ash shifted. His wolf stood in the corner of the room, hackles raised and green eyes almost glowing in anger.

  “Ash. I’m sorry. But I thought you should know, so you could be prepared. In case.”

  The wolf shook his head, ruffling his coat all the way down his back, his hackles raised. How lustrous his fur was now, compared to months ago when Stoltz had bought him. Being with Stoltz was the best thing for Ash, and both of them knew it.

  “Change back, Ash.”

  The wolf bared his teeth.

  “I know. I hate Durio too.”

  The room vibrated, and Ash stood in the room again, his back against the wall.

  “You promised you’d keep me safe.”

  Stoltz closed his eyes and sighed. “I did. And I mean it. But if they take you from me, I can’t.”

  “I won’t go.”

  “You’ll have to, Ash.”

  “You don’t know what he was like.” Ash shuddered. “How he…treated me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry you had such a shit for a master.”

  “I can’t go back to him. To that. Life. Not life. Living hell.” He stuttered his words out as he ran his hands over his arms. He lowered his head into his hands and groaned.

  Stoltz didn’t know how to help. He’d made a mistake telling Ash.

  Ash looked up, his face calm. “If he wins. If Durio wins, I want you to kill me.”

  “What?” Stoltz started, his heart staggering in his chest.

  His werewolf stared into Stoltz’s eyes. “I mean it. Swear to me. You said you’d protect me. If you care for me at all, if you love me even a little, please. Swear you’ll keep me from him, even if you have to kill me to do it.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “You don’t know what you’re asking me.” His master shook his head. “I can’t do that.”

  Ash knew he could never go back to Durio, and Stoltz was the only thing standing between him and a life of never-ending misery. Death would be a relief. The only way out. The only freedom.

  “If you don’t kill me, I’ll kill him. And then the league will have to put me down.”

  Stoltz grabbed his hair and pulled it. “You can’t mean that. I get that he abused you—”

  “No. You don’t. If you did, you’d understand. You’d swear to keep me from him. Master. Dan. Please, I’m begging you. Promise you’ll kill me.” He fell to his knees and grabbed Stoltz’s hands. “I need you to understand. To keep me from him.”

  “Oh God. I can’t.” Stoltz shook his head. He held Ash’s hands. “Don’t you see? You’re asking me to kill the man I love. How can I do that?”

  Ash smiled, then shook his head. “If you truly loved me, you’d never let me go back to Durio. Do you want him beating me?”

  “No,” he whispered.

  “Fucking me?”

  “No!” Stoltz barked out.

  “Making me suck him off?”

  “God. No.” Stoltz groaned.

  “Starving me?” Ash had to make his master understand. His life wouldn’t be worth living if he had to answer to Durio.

  “You know I don’t want that. None of it.” Stoltz held his hands so tight it hurt.

  “Then you know I will kill Durio before I let him abuse me again. Until I met you, I had no idea how good it could be between a master and slave. Until you cared for me, no one had cared whether I lived or died.” He kissed the knuckles of Stoltz’s hands.

  “I love you. How can I kill you?”

  Ash looked up into his master’s eyes, wet with tears. “Because you love me.”

  Stoltz shuddered.

  “Either way, I’m dead.” Ash whispered, “I’ll kill him somewhere public, and when the guards come, I’ll attack them. They’ll kill me. Shoot me down like a crazed animal. Is that what you want?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Or you can do it. We can be together at the end. I’d be happy just to die in your arms, Master.” He surged up and took Dan’s mouth in a brutal kiss. “I’d die for a moment of time with you. With how you make me feel. Like I’m a man. Like I’m worth something more than what I am to the others.”

  “Please, don’t ask me to do this.”

  Ash kissed him again, this time bullying his way inside Dan’s mouth, stroking his tongue around Dan’s, tasting and memorizing it for what little time he had left.

  Dan clutched him, grabbed his ass, and pulled him tight against him. Their cocks, both hard and rigid, rubbed against each other.

  Dan groaned. “Ash.”

  “Master. Dan.” Ash spread his legs so Dan could fit between them, and he thrust into the man’s groin, seeking his touch. Ash pulled his wrap off and then grabbed Stoltz’s hand to guide it to his cock. “Touch me. Like you did the other night.”

  “I shouldn’t. Don’t you see? I’d be no better than Durio. You’re only giving yourself to me because I’m your master.”

  Ash loved Dan for just this reason. But how could he make Dan see he wasn’t anything at all like Durio?

  “The difference is I love you. I hated Durio. Hated him. Every time he put his hands on me to beat me, shoved his cock in my ass until I tore and bled, forced me to suck him off until I couldn’t breathe, I hated and despised him.”

  “But…”

  “I know the difference between love and hate. You taught me that. I love you. I respect you. I want to grow old with you and fight in the cages until I can’t. But if I can’t have you, I don’t want to live. Not with Durio. You’d be condemning me to a living hell.”

  Stoltz swore and kissed Ash. Ash melted in his arms. This was true love and so much more than lust. Nothing like the way he’d felt when Durio used him. During those times, he’d never been aroused, not truly. His body responded, but not his heart, not his soul.

  “I want you, Dan. Take me to bed. Show me what it’s like to be loved. What it’s like to be held in the arms of someone who cares about you. Who doesn’t want to hurt you, because that’s all I’ve ever known. Sex and pain. I want to know love. Joy. I want to bond with you, to be happy. Is that so much to ask?”

  Tears fell down Stoltz’s cheeks. “Damn you, Ash. I’d do anything for you.”

  “Even kill me?”

  Stoltz nodded, wiping away the tears with the back of his hand.

  “Say it. Promise me.” Dan’s nod wasn’t enough. Ash had to hear the
words.

  “If they take you from me, I’ll kill you.”

  Ash sighed. “Good. Then tell them I went berserk. That I attacked you and you had to kill me. They won’t do anything to you. You can buy another fighter. Keep your business.”

  “I don’t want another fighter, Ash. Just you.”

  “I’m yours. Now take me to bed. Show me how love feels. Show me you love me.” Ash gazed at his master, hoping his words would change Dan’s mind.

  It must have worked, because Stoltz took his hand and led him to the bed.

  Ash climbed up onto it, and Stoltz ran his hand over Ash’s leg, sending shivers coursing through his body. He moved back to rest against the wall, ready to watch as Dan undressed.

  Dan pulled his shirt over his head as he kicked off his shoes, then tossed it to the floor. Ash swallowed hard. Dan was cut, his muscles well-formed but not bulging, his skin smooth and clear. When he shucked out of his pants and briefs, Ash moaned. Dan’s cock snapped to his belly, standing up and eager to mate with Ash.

  After he gave his cock a stroke or two, Dan kneeled on the bed.

  Ash rolled over and shoved his ass into the air. He grabbed the oil from under the pillow, popped the top, and squeezed some onto his fingers. Dan watched as Ash prepped himself, his gaze unswerving from Ash’s ass.

  “God, Ash. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so hot as you getting ready for me.” Stoltz ran his hand over one cheek, dipping his fingers in the crack, dragging them through the slickness coating his opening.

  Ash moaned. This was nothing like being with Durio. There was no fear. Dan was all tender, soft touches, longing looks, and soft gasps of pleasure and surprise.

  Durio had been hard, mean, cruel, and painful.

  Ash reached back and pulled one cheek to the side. “Fuck me, Dan. I need you now.”

  Dan groaned. He ran his finger down the rift to the hole, circled it with his fingertip, and then pushed in.

  His finger popped through the tight muscles, and Ash cried out. He loved this invasion. Loved how Dan finger-fucked him—smooth, gliding strokes, aimed to bring him pleasure, not pain.

  When Dan rubbed across Ash’s pleasure spot, Ash jumped. “Yes! There. Please. Again.”

  His begging brought a new, deeper invasion. Dan pushed harder, added another finger, and dragged over his button until Ash hung on the edge of coming.

  “Oh goddess! That’s it. Gonna make me come.” Ash hadn’t even touched his own cock, and he was ready to spill. With Durio, who refused to let him come or touch himself, he’d had to wait until the man had left to get off. Not that there were many times after Durio’s visits Ash wanted to come, but even a slave had occasional needs.

  Dan pulled out, and Ash gasped. He felt so empty. So incomplete.

  Then Dan pressed the head of his cock against Ash’s opening.

  “Yes!” Ash pushed back, impaling himself on Dan’s dick. Dan grabbed him by the hips and eased in, slowing Ash down. But Ash wanted him in all the way.

  Dan thrust once, going deeper, angled to hit Ash’s button. Ash cried out again and met his next thrust. Dan pushed harder until he had buried himself balls-deep in Ash’s ass.

  “Damn, Ash. You’re so tight and hot. Fuck.” Dan groaned and leaned over to kiss Ash’s back.

  Just that small gesture nearly undid Ash. He grabbed his balls and pulled on them to keep from shooting. He wanted Dan to ride him, fuck him hard, before he lost it.

  “Come on, Dan. Do it. Fuck me. Make me yours. Claim me.”

  Dan growled and pulled out, only to slam back in. He set a hard pace, but Ash met each stroke in with a push out. His grip on Ash tightened.

  “Shit. Can’t last. It’s just too fucking good. Ash. Wolf. Lover. Mine.” Dan slammed home furiously, then froze and cried out, shouting to the ceiling, “Ash!”

  He came, shooting his hot load into Ash’s tunnel, warming it, filling it. Drips of cum ran down the insides of Ash’s thighs. He loved it. Loved each and every moment of this taking.

  Dan wrapped his arms around Ash and rolled them over, not pulling out. They lay on their sides, still joined, as Dan’s cock shrank. Dan kissed and nuzzled the back of Ash’s neck and shoulders.

  This was it. This was love.

  And he might lose it. To Durio.

  Ash’s eyes filled with tears as his heart filled with love. He couldn’t stop the rush of emotion or the sob bursting from deep inside him.

  “Shh. Ash. It’s going to be all right. We’ll figure something out. I promise.”

  “I have the only promise I want from you.” Ash wiped his tears off with the corner of the sheet as Dan stroked his arm.

  They lay together for a few moments, and then Dan cursed.

  “Damn, we missed our sparring appointment.”

  “Oh God. I’m sorry, Master.”

  “Not your fault.” Dan got up and went to the phone. He dialed down to the gym, spoke to the manager, and then returned to the bed. He climbed in and pulled the sheet over him.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. Told them we’d reschedule for tomorrow. Don’t worry.”

  “Sure?”

  “Yeah. We’ll get clean, dressed, and make the one later this afternoon.”

  “Good. I feel like I could take on the world.” Ash’s heart swelled with this newfound love. He felt as if he were invincible with Dan next to him.

  Dan chuckled. “Good. Because we’re going to have to work really hard. This guy is an up-and-comer in the league. He might even be a champion one day. Getting his business would be very, very good.”

  Ash snuggled closer to his master, his lover. “So, when will we know what’s going to happen with Durio?”

  “I’m not sure. When the lawyer finds out, I suppose.”

  Ash shuddered. “Dan?”

  “Yeah.” Dan exhaled, and his breath tickled Ash’s ear.

  “I want you to make it quick. Can you get a gun? One shot?”

  Dan squeezed his arms around Ash so tight, Ash almost couldn’t get a breath, and then he slacked off a bit. He bit Ash on the shoulder.

  “Ouch!” Ash laughed. “You’re not a wolf, Master. You don’t get to bite.”

  “When I want a taste, I’ll bite.” Dan chuckled.

  Ash knew Dan was trying to change the subject, but he wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

  “Can you get a gun?”

  Dan sighed. “Murphy has one. I can borrow it.”

  “Good. You’ll only need one bullet.”

  Dan kissed him on the shoulder and then rolled him over. He looked down into Ash’s face, cupped it with his hand, and kissed him so tenderly Ash thought his heart would stop.

  Ash knew what Dan was doing.

  Sealing their vow with a kiss.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Stoltz and Ash headed down to the sparring cages. Even if he’d missed the last appointment, he’d make damn sure he was early for his next one. Chances like this didn’t come around often, and Stoltz knew it.

  The werewolf they were going to spar had been moving up the ranks for the last two seasons and now stood poised to take the title in his weight category. If Stoltz’s training got him there, all the better for everyone.

  Right now, Stoltz couldn’t think about what he’d promised Ash or whether or not he could keep it. But he did know that if he had to kill Ash to keep him from Durio, if there was no other choice, then his life would be over also.

  The doors of the training facility swung open, and they marched inside. Stoltz stopped and looked around. He’d reserved the middle cage, so he headed that way with Ash on his heels.

  Three men stood near the cage, one of them a large Hispanic werewolf. Being nearly naked and the WWFL logo tattooed on his chest gave him away. Must be his new clients. Stoltz strode over to them. They turned to face him, and the owner stepped forward, hand outstretched.

  “Hello. I’m Dan Stoltz.”

  “Rick Granger.” The man looked about t
he same age as Stoltz, but he’d never seen him before. “This is Antonio.” He pointed to the werewolf. Tall, dark-skinned, his long, sleek, black hair pulled back from his face into a tight braid that hung down his back.

  Stoltz gave the man a nod. “I haven’t seen you or Antonio before. A werewolf like him I’d remember.” The man looked good, not overly muscled. He’d fight in the middleweight category.

  “No. We’ve just moved here. Thought he’d do better in this conference. Got my clearance from the league to fight in the next season, so we need to get ready. Word around here is you’ve got the chops and your werewolf is one of the best sparring partners at the facility.”

  Stoltz smiled. “Good to know. Ashland is better than most around here, except for a few of Murphy’s men.”

  “Yeah, I asked him first, but he was booked. Recommended you to me.”

  Stoltz made a mental note to thank Murphy. Again. The man always had his back, no matter what. And for what was coming down the road, he’d need a good friend like Murphy standing beside him.

  “Let’s get them introduced.” Stoltz motioned Ash forward. “Ashland, this is Antonio.”

  “Call me Ash.” He stuck out his hand.

  Antonio looked at it, then to his owner. Once he got the nod, he shook hands. “Antonio, but everyone calls me Tony.”

  They stepped back behind their owners and struck their submission poses.

  Stoltz was glad to see the werewolf was well trained. Showed his master cared for him enough to teach him some manners.

  “So, what’s in store today?” Granger asked.

  “Usually, first time out, I want to see his skills. Full range.”

  “He’s got it all, the full package.” Granger grinned. “I’m lucky as hell to have him. He’s a natural. And he wants a mate, so he’s motivated.”

  Stoltz looked over at the werewolf. “You been keeping him on a short chain?”

  “No. He fucks all the time. But he wants one, so…” Granger shrugged. “I told him, if he can win a mate, and he can keep it, go for it.”

  Stoltz looked Antonio over. “Male or female mate?”

  Granger leaned forward. “He fucks whatever is around and offering. But I think he’s partial to males.”