Ashland

by Lynn Lorenz

  »»•««

  Stoltz woke to knocking on the door of the quarters.

  He bolted upright and looked for the clock. Sometime during their last session, the clock had been knocked off the side table. He found it on the floor, as Ash sat up, yawning.

  “What’s going on?” Then, with more urgency, “What time is it?”

  “Fuck! Fuck. Durio’s here.” He grabbed the clock and stared at it. “It’s early. Too early. He said nine, and it’s only eight.” Stoltz tossed the sheet to the side, leaped out of bed, and threw the clock against the wall, shattering it. “Fuck!”

  Ash got out of bed, panic in his voice and on his face. “Quick. Dan, get the gun.”

  The knock came again, this time more insistent.

  “The gun?” Stoltz ran his hand through his hair. His brain wasn’t working. He grabbed his pants and staggered into them as he looked around the room for his jacket. He’d carried it in the pocket. He spotted the jacket on the back of the sofa and raced to it.

  Every bone in his body shook and rattled as he fumbled the gun out of the pocket. Murphy had shown him how to put the safety on. Stoltz flicked it off. An entire magazine was ready, but all he needed were two bullets.

  He turned to face Ash.

  White-faced, trembling, his eyes wide and his cheeks streaked with fresh tears, Ash stood in the center of the room. “Do it, Master.”

  “Ash.” Stoltz’s voice cracked as he brought the gun up.

  The banging on the door made both of them jump.

  Ash stepped closer, as if Stoltz couldn’t hit his target standing only six feet away. His hand shaking must have made Ash doubt his accuracy. He almost wanted to laugh.

  “Dan.” Ash’s gaze darted to the door. “I can’t go back to Durio…please.”

  Stoltz raised the gun. Took aim. Held his breath. One shot in the chest. No way could he do the head shot, destroy Ash’s face.

  He just had to squeeze the trigger, not jerk it.

  The knob rattled, and the door shook with the force of the banging.

  Stoltz took aim and prayed for forgiveness.

  Ash closed his eyes.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  “Dan! Open up! Stop! It’s Murphy!”

  Stoltz jerked his arm as he squeezed the trigger. The sound of the gun going off deafened him.

  Ash staggered back, grabbing at his chest. He stared at Stoltz, open mouthed and wide eyed.

  “Ash!” Stoltz dropped the gun and raced to him. “It’s okay! You’re not hit.”

  Ash looked down and moved his hands away. No blood. No wound. “You missed?” He gazed up at Stoltz. For a second, relief etched his face, and then he crumpled to the floor. “No!”

  Stoltz leaned over Ash, but Ash pushed Stoltz away. “You swore! You promised!”

  The pounding on the door sounded as if someone were throwing himself against it.

  “Murphy!” Stoltz tore himself away from Ash and rushed to the door. He put in the code and threw it open. The older man stumbled forward, but Stoltz caught him before he fell, pulled him inside, and then slammed the door shut.

  “What the hell?” Stoltz held Murphy away from him. “What are you doing here?”

  “I had to stop you.” Murphy stared at Ash kneeling on the floor. “I figured you’d do something like this. Fuck, Dan.”

  “Like what?” Stoltz knew better than to try to fool Murphy, but he gave it a try.

  Murphy pointed to the gun on the floor. “The gun. I suspected why you asked for it, but I couldn’t believe you’d be so stupid.”

  Ash looked up, his gaze following where Murphy pointed. He inhaled and lunged for the gun.

  “Stop him!” Murphy yelled.

  Stoltz leaped, but Ash got there first. He rolled away, bringing the gun to his head.

  “Dan, I have to do this. I’m so sorry.” Ash’s hand quivered as he pressed the gun to his temple.

  “Ash! Stop! Durio didn’t pay!” Murphy shouted.

  “What?” Ash lowered the gun just a bit.

  “What?” Stoltz echoed him.

  “His backer had a change of mind.” Murphy grinned. “He couldn’t make the payment on the taxes, so Ash is yours. Forever.”

  Stoltz froze. “That the truth? Don’t fuck with me, Murphy.”

  Murphy held up his hand. “Swear to God. The asshole’s funds got, uh, cut off.”

  Stoltz just bet Murphy had had something to do with it, but he’d find out later. Now he needed to make sure Ash didn’t kill himself by accident.

  “Ash. Put the gun on the floor. Please. You’re safe.”

  Ash looked from Murphy to Stoltz. “Really?”

  Both men nodded.

  “I belong to Dan?”

  “You’re mine, Ash. No one can take you from me. Not now.” Stoltz didn’t want to make any sudden moves, nothing to startle Ash, not until the gun was out of his hand.

  Ash lowered the gun to the floor and placed it carefully next to him. Murphy walked over and picked it up, set the safety, and shoved it into his pocket.

  Stoltz exhaled and went to Ash. “It’s over, wolf.”

  Ash looked up at him. Stoltz held out his hand. “Come on. Get up.”

  “I’m not sure my knees will hold.” Ash gave a chuckle blended with evident relief. But he took Stoltz’s hand and got to his feet.

  Stoltz pulled him into an embrace so hard neither of them could get a breath.

  Murphy cleared his throat. “Dan, we’ll talk tomorrow about my gun and your crazy-ass plan.”

  Stoltz just nodded. Murphy didn’t sound pissed, but he did sound like they’d have one of their “father-son” type talks. They’d had quite a few, whenever Murphy had felt Stoltz needed it, and most of the time he’d been right.

  Stoltz wouldn’t apologize for lying to get the gun. He wouldn’t apologize for loving Ash enough to do what needed to be done.

  “I’m going home. Leave you two to get your shit together.” Murphy headed to the door.

  “Thanks, Murphy.” Stoltz gave him a sharp nod, which Murphy returned. Maybe his friend understood more than Stoltz thought.

  Murphy left, closing the door behind him.

  “I…I can’t believe it. Maybe the goddess heard my prayers, after all.” Ash pressed his face into Stoltz’s neck.

  “Well, with both of us praying, someone had to listen.” Stoltz laughed. “You’re mine, wolf.”

  Ash laughed, grabbed Stoltz around the middle, lifted him, and spun around. They careened across the room and landed in the bed, with Stoltz on top of Ash.

  Stoltz cupped Ash’s face. “I almost lost you.” He stared into wet eyes.

  Ash nodded. He reached up and around Stoltz’s neck.

  “What are you doing?” Ash’s fingers tickled his nape.

  “Taking back my collar, Master.”

  He removed it, letting it slip off Stoltz, sending a shiver through Stoltz. God, he loved his wolf. Never again would Stoltz think of Ash as his slave.

  Ash put it on, running his fingers over the letter. “I’ve felt more naked without it than I have ever felt without clothes.”

  Stoltz admired it on his lover. “Looks good. Like it belongs on you.”

  “It does. It tells everyone I belong to someone.”

  Stoltz exhaled. “Ash, I plan to free you at the end of the three years. Until then I’m going to make you my partner in the sparring business. My real partner.”

  Ash frowned. “Free would be good, but it’s not necessary. Not if it means I’m on my own, without you.”

  “It means you’re free to come and go, free to leave if you want.”

  “Oh.” Ash’s brows drew together. “What do you mean when you say partner?”

  “It means I’m going to start paying you. It won’t be much at first, but I want you to have money saved for when I free you. Then you can do what you want, have the resources to leave.”

  “Why would I leave?” Ash tilted his head and stared at Stoltz.


  “Some freed slaves do. Leave.” Stoltz ran his finger over the collar.

  “But those slaves don’t love their masters, Dan.” Ash gave him a smile mixed with love and indulgence. “I do. Love my master.”

  “Your partner.” Stoltz corrected him.

  “The man who owns my heart.” And Ash corrected him right back. Pushy wolf.

  “Partners. I have your heart, and you have mine, wolf.”

  Ash growled, the sound rumbling in his chest. He entwined his fingers with Stoltz’s fingers, brought them to his lips, and kissed the back of Stoltz’s hand.

  “Master, your wolf wants you to fuck him.”

  “Is that a command?”

  “Do partners command?”

  “No, they ask.”

  Ash gave a sly smile. “Then I’m asking you to fuck me.”

  “I have a better idea.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. Wolf, your partner wants you to fuck him.”

  Ash gasped. “Really? Are you sure?”

  “Didn’t think I’d ever been fucked?”

  Ash shook his head.

  “Well, I don’t do it often or with just anyone. But I think this calls for something special.”

  “I think so too.” Ash gave Stoltz his most wolfish grin.

  Stoltz rolled over, taking Ash with him, until the werewolf was on top.

  “Fuck me, wolf.”

  And Stoltz’s wolf did.

  About the Author

  Lynn Lorenz lives in Texas, where she’s a fan of all things Texan, like Longhorns, big hair, and cowboys in tight jeans. She’s never met a comma she didn’t like, and enjoys editing and brainstorming with other writers.

  Lynn spends most of her time writing about hot sex with even hotter heroes, plot twists, werewolves, and medieval swashbucklers. She’s currently at work on her latest book, making herself giggle and blush, and avoiding all the housework.

  If you enjoyed this book, this author has other works available here:

  Author's Web Site

  Other Books by this Author on Amazon

  Other Books by this Author on Barnes & Noble

  Other Books by this Author on Kobo

  Other Books by this Author on Apple

  Hartwood Publishing delights in introducing authors and stories that open eyes, encourage thought, and resonate in the hearts of our readers.