Made for Him

by Lynn Hagen

  “Mine,” Jude growled at him with a tight command in his tone.

  “Yours,” Reese said as his chest contracted rapidly. “All yours.”

  Jude nipped Reese on his chin and then attached his lips to one of Reese’s nipples. Reese’s body was still riding the high of his climax, which made his nipples ultrasensitive. Reese hissed, running his hands through Jude’s hair, pulling at the strands.

  Jude pressed one hand into Reese’s chest as he used the other to grab the lube. He wet his fingers and then slid them into his ass, the whole time never breaking eye contact. Reese was going out of his mind. He wanted to watch Jude stretch himself, but his mate wasn’t letting him up.

  Reese let out a low growl.

  Jude narrowed his eyes.

  To hell with this. Reese rolled with Jude, intending on watching his mate’s fingers slide in and out of his ass, but instead, they ended up wrestling on the bed.

  Which was an even bigger turn-on.

  He pinned Jude then grinned down at him. “I’m a rhino shifter.”

  Jude’s dark eyes widened. “I was just trying to have some fun.”

  Reese winked. “I know.”

  He lubed his cock and inched his way inside his mate’s ass. Jude groaned, his fingernails digging into Reese’s upper arms.

  Reese pulled at Jude’s head until his mate looked up, and then Reese cupped his face. “Never kick me out again. I don’t take rejection well.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Hooking an arm under one of Jude’s legs, Reese lifted it higher, driving his cock deeper, drowning in the intoxication of Jude’s body wrapped around him. His mate was warm and vibrant, and the feel of Jude soaked through Reese’s skin and into his blood.

  Jude threw his head back and groaned, his eyes fluttering closed. Reese gave a small growl when Jude pressed the heel of his free foot into Reese’s buttocks to impale himself deeper onto Reese’s cock.

  “That’s right, sweetheart, take what you need from me.”

  Jude lifted his ass higher, giving Reese room to plunge deeper. He thrust harder, letting the scent of his mate’s arousal fill his lungs. It was the sweetest scent in the world to Reese. His thrusts picked up as he pistoned in and out of Jude’s ass.

  They began to move together in a rhythm. His mate was so tight that it felt like a velvety fist surrounded his cock. Burying his head in Jude’s hair, Reese moved a little faster, his thrusts becoming a little more desperate. “You feel so good wrapped around my cock.”

  Jude turned his head, gazing up at Reese with his gorgeous dark eyes. “And you feel good buried inside me.”

  Jude was his mate. His to take care of. His to hold and cherish. He couldn’t let the man go. He just couldn’t, no matter how much of a head fuck it was to have a vampire as his mate.

  It was the stark truth, and Reese knew it.

  When Jude arched his back, his lips parting, he knew the man was driving him insane with pleasure as it washed over Reese’s body. He gritted his teeth to fight for control. Tonight wasn’t about being rough or rushed. Reese was making love to his mate, slow and sensually.

  The muscles around Jude’s hole flexed, and Reese damn near lost his mind. When he glanced down at his mate, Jude gave him a devilish smile. “You’re thinking too hard.”

  Reese leaned down and kissed each cheek. “I’m thinking about you.”

  “Stop thinking about me and let’s get on with this.”

  Reese gladly did as Jude demanded. He reared back and grabbed the other leg, pushing them forward as he glanced down at his cock pushing and pulling from his mate’s ass. “You are so damn beautiful.”

  His mate’s balls were drawn tight to his body as Jude began to twist and struggle underneath him. Reese knew his mate was close. He could not only tell by the way his mate moved but by the glassy look in Jude’s eyes.

  They were filled with raw pleasure.

  Reese thrust inside the hot depths of Jude’s body, groaning on every stroke at the tight heat clasping him. His fingers curled around Jude’s ankles, holding them as he began to push harder.

  “Yes!” Jude hissed.

  Reese could feel the white-hot fingers of fire moving down his spine now. His thrusts became feral and erratic as he fought for release. Reese wanted to fly the same time Jude did. “Stroke your cock, baby.”

  Jude’s hand moved down his stomach, and then his fingers curled around his bouncing cock, stroking it at a rapid rate. The pre-cum was leaking faster, dripping down the sides of Jude’s fingers.

  The sight and scent drove Reese close to the edge, dangling him over the abyss, and then Reese fell, flying free as his entire body shattered. Jude’s body arched, his eyes widened, and he stared at Reese in a daze for a second before his cock began to spurt white ribbons of seed.

  His mate’s climax milked Reese’s cock in a vise grip, tearing his own release from his body, making Reese howl out at the intensity. The orgasm destroyed his sense of balance and Reese tumbled forward but caught himself before he crushed Jude beneath him.

  Then he sank his canines into Jude’s shoulder, which made Jude cry out even louder. Reese felt the bond snap into place, their hearts synchronizing. When he pulled his canines free, Jude attacked, gripping the back of Reese’s head and drinking from his jugular.

  Reese had never fed a vampire before, but the experience was intoxicating, driving his orgasm higher as he ground his teeth and buried his still-throbbing cock all the way inside Jude’s body.

  He shuddered when Jude licked the wound closed. This had been the best sex Reese had ever had. There was no way he would keep Jude at arm’s length. That wasn’t going to happen. They were bonded now, and Reese would do whatever it took to keep Jude safe.

  Chapter Three

  It was almost dawn when Jude pulled away from Reese’s arms. He needed to get home. Reese’s house wasn’t adequate enough to protect Jude from the sun, so he needed to get out of there.

  Reese grumbled and turned over as Jude slipped from the bed and dressed. He would return tonight to see his mate, but for now, he crept from the room and slipped out the front door. Not before looking at the handsome man asleep on the couch.

  The living room smelled like bear. Jude gave the man one last glance before the door clicked behind him. He could feel the tiny prickles that let him know he was cutting it close. Jude should have never allowed himself to fall asleep in Reese’s arms, no matter how good it had felt to be held.

  He squinted, hurrying along, wishing at that moment that he owned a car. For one, he’d never learned how to drive. Two, Jude had inhuman speed on his side. But he couldn’t use it. A few people were already out, walking down the street or driving by.

  His lungs felt as though they were on fire as he pushed forward, moving as fast as his feet would carry him without giving himself away. Jude wiped the sweat from his forehead and winced as the tiny prickles turned into tiny stabs, as if a hundred bees were stinging him all over his body.

  Dawn was approaching at a quick rate. He needed to move faster.

  Jude cut behind the diner, using the alley as a shortcut as a sharp pain sliced through his stomach. It felt as though someone had just stabbed him with a knife. He wasn’t sure what was wrong, but Jude kept pushing forward as he pressed a hand over his belly.

  He was now less than a minute from his house. Once inside, Jude would be able to close his room-darkening curtains and be saved from the rays of the rising sun.

  God, how Jude hated that one weakness in vampires. It was a constant reminder that, no matter how powerful his race was, they could still be killed.

  And that thought made him think of Ingmar, which made him think of Merk. Of course Jude wished he could go back and change the events from unfolding, but it had been Merk who’d started that ball rolling. If he’d just left Calhoun and Roy alone, Jude wouldn’t have been forced to kill his uncle.

  And that was something he couldn’t regret, wouldn’t regret, because that decision had sav
ed Roy’s life. If he had to do it all over again, Jude would’ve still plunged his hand into his uncle’s chest and ripped out Merk’s evil heart.

  “Okay, stop thinking of that,” he chastised himself.

  Jude finally walked through his front door and slammed it behind him. The dark, cool interior was a relief as his skin stopped hurting. Damn, it was good to be home, although he already missed Reese.

  But Jude had left his mate sound asleep. Reese had already had a long night after working at the tavern and then claiming Jude. The guy would probably be knocked out for the rest of the day.

  A rhino.

  Jude shook his head and smiled as he toed off his shoes. He never would have guessed that in a million years. Reese had muscles Jude wouldn’t mind worshipping for the next decade, but he never would have figured out what Reese was if his mate hadn’t told him.

  He drew himself a bath, thankful his stomach felt better, and sank into the hot water with a sigh. His body ached in all the right places as he recalled how he and Reese had claimed each other. He could still taste his mate on his lips, the cum and the blood. It was a wicked combination that made Jude grin.

  Now he had a fresh source to drink from. He wouldn’t need the bagged blood any longer. That alone had Jude euphoric as he let the heat from the water relax him.

  Of course, he hadn’t asked Reese yet about the drinking blood. But he didn’t think his mate would mind. Why would Reese have a reason to object?

  Jude jerked upright when another, more intense pain sliced through his midsection. He gripped the side of the tub, breathing in and out as the pain faded.

  “What the hell?” Jude lay there, his chin resting on the side of the tub as he waited to see what would happen next. He’d never experienced pain like this before—not when his coven wasn’t beating the shit out of him.

  He slammed a lid on those thoughts and slowly eased back into the water. But he couldn’t relax, not when he feared the pain would return. So Jude washed up and got out then headed to his bedroom for his pajamas.

  No sooner had he gotten dressed than the pain returned, more intense than before, making Jude drop to his hands and knees. His muscles locked as he rolled to his back, cursing as he cried out.

  Jude wished that was the worst of what was going on. He suddenly smelled smoke. He tried to get up, but the pain kept him pinned to the floor. It felt as though someone was ripping his guts out. Jude clutched his stomach, rocking back and forth as the smell grew stronger.

  His house was on fire.

  Jude heard a crash, a curse, then a door slam. Someone was inside, or they were fleeing. He couldn’t be sure because he couldn’t peel himself off the goddamn floor.

  Gritting his teeth, Jude crawled on his hands and knees, every single move agonizing as he made slow progression to his bedroom door. He dragged himself into the hallway but didn’t make it far before he dropped back down, crying out at the sheer agony tearing through him.

  Smoke began to fill the hallway. Jude had to get up and get out of there. But where would he go? It was daylight out. Jude couldn’t run outside unless he wanted to burst into flames.

  He was stuck, with no way out. Even if a neighbor saw the smoke and flames and called the fire department, they would try to pull him out of his burning house.

  Jude crawled back to his room and closed the door, collapsing on the floor. He lay there panting, unable to focus. The pain in his body and the fire were all too much. He had no idea what to do.

  The pain intensified, making Jude see spots in front of his eyes. He struggled to hold on to consciousness but lost the fight as he fell into darkness.

  * * * *

  Reese was stunned to see smoke billowing from the back of Jude’s house. He’d woken to find Jude gone, and Reese’s first instinct had been to go after his mate. After all, he may or may not have vampires after him for what he’d done to Merk.

  And Reese was glad he’d decided to check on Jude. He raced through the front door, throwing his arm up as flames licked at him. The heat was intense as Reese dropped and crawled toward the hallway, calling out Jude’s name.

  His mate didn’t answer him, and Reese prayed the vampire hadn’t been in the kitchen when the fire started. There was no way he would be able to get in there. Smoke and fire had consumed the archway. If Jude had been in there, his mate was lost to him.

  Reese refused to believe Jude was gone. He forced his way down the hallway, trying his best not to inhale the heavy smoke. His eyes were already watering, and his throat burned, but he kept crawling until he reached the first door. Standing up, Reese swung the door open to find an empty bathroom.

  Something snapped behind him then something crashed to the floor. Reese looked over his shoulder and saw leaving the way he’d come was no longer an option. The roaring fire was consuming the living room, eating up everything in its path.

  Somewhere in the distant he heard the sound of sirens. Reese needed to find Jude and get him out of there before the firemen showed up. They would want to pull Jude out, and since it was daylight outside, that would be fatal.

  “Jude!” Reese’s voice was low and scratchy. His throat hurt badly as he screamed his mate’s name. There was no way Jude would hear him. He couldn’t suck in enough air to shout any louder. Every breath was torturous.

  Reese reached another door and shoved it open. He slammed it closed behind him when he saw Jude passed out on the floor. Reese dropped to his knees and shook his mate. “Jude, wake up.”

  His mate moaned and clutched his stomach. “Hurts so badly.”

  “Did you get burned?” Reese rolled Jude to his back and lifted his T-shirt. His skin was smooth and flawless.

  The sirens neared, and smoke started to creep under the door space. Reese grabbed the comforter on the bed and wrapped Jude inside it. That would have to do. Reese didn’t know any other way to protect his mate, and they were running out of time.

  He opened the bedroom window and the door to the bedroom caught fire. The oxygen was feeding it. The smoke filled the room in an instant. Reese grabbed Jude and climbed out the window, dropping to his feet before he rushed toward his car and tucked Jude into the backseat.

  Neighbors were on their lawns, watching the fire, some looking Reese’s way with curious glances. Yep, it looked as though he was carrying a dead body to his car. There was nothing Reese could do about that as he drove away. He’d call Sheriff Copache later and explain the situation.

  “Just stay covered,” Reese said. “We’re almost to my house.”

  “The pain,” Jude moaned from the concealment in the blanket.

  Was it that agonizing for a vampire to be out in the sun, even though he was completely covered? Unwilling to take any chances, Reese blew through the stop sign and cursed when he nearly sideswiped a sedan.

  “Sorry!” he shouted out his window.

  He white-knuckled his steering wheel as he listened to Jude whimper. Reese never felt so terrified in his life. He hated to see Jude in so much pain. He careened around two corners and nearly ran a red light, and then he finally pulled into his driveway.

  “I’m taking you inside.” He opened the back door and scooped Jude into his arms, hurrying inside.

  Aiden was sitting up, drinking a cup of coffee. His brows shot to his hairline as he watched Reese come in with a rolled-up blanket in the shape of a body.

  “Do I need to get a shovel?” Aiden asked. “It’s too damn early to be digging a grave.”

  “Just get something to cover my bedroom windows. I need my room to be completely dark.”

  Aiden got up and headed toward the kitchen as Reese took his mate to his room. He had sheer curtains. There was no way he could unwrap Jude until Aiden returned with something useable.

  “How’re you feeling?” Reese asked.

  Jude didn’t answer him.

  Reese gently shook his mate. “Hey, are you awake?”

  Total silence.

  “Aiden, hurry up!” Reese slid his ha
nd inside the blanket and felt for a pulse, relieved when he found Jude’s beating strong.

  Aiden entered the room. “I got black trash bags and some tape. That’s the best I could do.”

  Easing Jude to the bed, Reese and Aiden worked to cover both windows. Reese’s finished work was clean and symmetrical. Aiden’s work looked as though the duct tape had waged a war with the trash bags and window. The tape was everywhere.

  “Really?” Reese asked.

  Aiden shrugged. “I’m not an artist like you, but it’s secure.” He looked down at the blanket. “The vampire?”

  Reese nodded then ran a shaky hand over his head. “My mate.” He told Aiden what he’d found when he’d gone to Jude’s house.

  “Are you serious?” Aiden asked. “You have a goddamn mate?”

  “Go find something to do,” Reese grumbled. “And thanks for asking if Jude is all right.”

  With a deep scowl, Aiden waved a hand at Jude’s covered form. “Clearly he’s fine.”

  Aiden knew about Reese’s tragedy. He knew that it had been a vampire who’d taken Thomas’s life. Reese couldn’t fault the bear shifter for seeming pissed off or, at the very least, uninterested in Jude’s welfare.

  His best friend wasn’t a fan of vampires, and until Reese had met Jude, he hadn’t been either. But Jude was his mate, and Reese would work through his conflicting emotions later.

  And they were conflicting. Reese had told himself earlier that it didn’t matter that Jude was a vampire. That he would do whatever it took to protect the guy. And Reese would, but now that his need to claim Jude had passed, those dark feelings had returned.

  When Aiden left and closed the door behind him, Reese carefully unwrapped his mate. Jude was in a ball, still clutching his stomach, a painful expression on his face.

  “Jude, what’s wrong?”

  “I-I don’t know,” Jude said with a whimper. “It feels like someone is trying to cut out my stomach.”

  Reese used to live in Brac Village before he’d moved to Maple Grove over three decades ago. He knew there were preternatural doctors there.