He was primed, his mind clear. Cal couldn’t wait for Diesel to claim him, make him his.
Diesel guided his prick into his entrance and pushed in the first few inches. He gasped, digging his fingernails into Diesel’s massive shoulders. Next time, he wanted no obstruction of fabric between them.
Would there even be a next time?
He didn’t care. The only thing he could think about was Diesel’s large prick penetrating him. A burn started but Cal knew it would only be momentary. Diesel would soon make him fly. Once Diesel moved past the stubborn ring of muscles, it became easier. Diesel growled, finally sinking all the way in.
“You’re really huge,” was all he could manage to say.
Diesel stole a quick kiss to his lips, which instantly melted him like butter. The shifter began to move, slow, steady strokes at first, as if he wanted Cal to become used to his size. Sweat coated his skin as Diesel reduced them both to panting messes. His dick stirred to life, becoming harder with each thrust.
He found himself meeting Diesel for every push. Above them, the night sky looked abnormally bright, lit with stars. When they first got out of the restaurant, it had been chilly, but he hardly felt the cold, not when Diesel warmed him up.
The sound of Diesel’s balls slapping against his ass filled the air, merging with the animal noises they made. Diesel shifted the angle of his hips, found his prostate. Cal gasped, widening his eyes as he raked his nails across Diesel’s tense back muscles.
Cal’s balls tightened against his body as Diesel pounded him against the tree with more ferocity.
“More,” he uttered.
Diesel shoved his prick inside him one more time, at the same time pinching the tip of Cal’s dick. He gasped, seeing stars, and erupted. Diesel hammered in and out of him several more times before filling his ass with warmth.
He expelled a contented sigh, leaning his head against Diesel’s broad chest. Diesel didn’t pull out his softening cock right away, but he pressed another kiss to his bottom lip. It occurred to Cal that he could get drunk on those kisses and he wanted nothing more than for Diesel to claim him all over again.
“Wow,” he whispered. “Diesel, don’t end up breaking my heart.”
“That will never happen,” Diesel said vehemently, breath warm against his neck. The shifter licked at the skin and made him shudder as he felt the slight press of sharp teeth.
“Bite me.” Cal didn’t know where the hell that came from, but he didn’t mind wearing Diesel’s mark right there for anyone to see.
“Not tonight, but soon.” Diesel’s words sounded like some kind of promise.
Diesel held him for a few more moments, nuzzling his neck, and seemed fixated on the side of his neck. They didn’t speak, didn’t need to. Cal couldn’t remember the last time he felt this content, fulfilled. Eventually, Diesel set him down and closed his jeans before zipping his own.
“Let’s head back,” Diesel suggested.
He couldn’t remember the rest of the walk but dread filled the pit of his stomach when he recognized the numbers of his unit. Cal reached for his keys and dropped them. Diesel swiped them from the floor.
“Let me help,” Diesel said, about to open the door for him. Cal gripped Diesel’s hand.
“I don’t want to go in. Even after I sold all of Pierce’s stuff, this place never felt like it belonged to me.”
“Come over to my place then. Take my bed, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Really? That won’t be a bother?” he asked, wondering if Diesel found him too emotional.
“Not at all. Just promise me one thing.” Diesel handed him back his key and they began walking back to the elevator.
“What’s that?” he asked.
“When I wake up, I better not find you gone.” The elevator let out a ping and they stepped out into the third floor.
Cal laughed. The heavy feeling in his chest had disappeared. “That a threat?” Noticing Diesel’s serious expression, he snorted. “I’m not that kind of guy. Hell, I usually don’t have sex on the first date. I hope that doesn’t make you think badly of me.”
Diesel opened the door to his unit and turned on the lights. A studio with minimalist furniture looked back at him. Cal stepped inside, curiously looking around the space. It was odd, being in another man’s apartment.
“Why would I? That was the best sex I ever had.”
“You don’t have a lot of stuff,” Cal observed.
“The basics are enough for me. I usually just use this place to crash. I grew up in a noisy pack house so living alone was kind of a new experience for me. Shifters usually like being around their own kind. It was kind of strange at first.”
“I know what you mean.”
“Maybe you can help me furniture shopping sometime.”
Cal smiled at that. “You move fast. You’re asking me out on a second date?”
“Too soon?”
Cal shook his head. Diesel walked over to the cabinet by the bed and came back with a spare blanket and pillow. Cal accepted them.
“This feels more like a sleepover.”
“If I make another move too soon, I might end up scaring you off. Can’t have that after making plenty of progress tonight.”
“Even after we had sex at the park—” He paused, blushing. “You still want me?”
Diesel looked offended. The shifter crossed his arms, the muscles in his triceps and biceps bulging.
“I want all of you and I can’t wait to have you under me again,” Diesel said simply, with the confidence of a man certain of his conquest.
Except tonight made him feel more than a conquest. Special. He recalled climbing Diesel in the park, wrapping his legs around Diesel’s waist while Diesel took him against that tree. What a wild experience. Even as their breaths fogged and sweat slicked his body, Diesel possessed that amazing ability to make him forget where he was.
Diesel wasn’t done. Those amber eyes pinned his, rendering him completely speechless. “The next time I fuck you, I won’t hold back.”
Chapter Six
“What’s all this?” Diesel asked, woken by the smell of sizzling bacon and eggs. He put on his boxers and wandered over to the tiny kitchenette. Diesel appeared by Cal’s shoulder. Cal turned and he took that opportunity to steal a quick morning kiss on Cal’s cheek.
“I figured I make you breakfast. You’ve been working hard lately. Sit. Food will be ready soon.”
“Bossy human.” He turned on the coffee machine.
“Stubborn wolf.”
That got a big grin out of him. Once the coffee was done, he poured them two cups and took a seat at the table. Diesel felt a little guilty. They’d been dating for two weeks now. Cal spent most of the time at his place, and he wanted to suggest Cal move in with him. Too soon?
His wolf had grown restless inside of him, edgy, and Diesel knew he could no longer be patient. The next time Cal and he had sex, he’d finally bite and claim Cal as his mate. Even at work, his thoughts eventually returned to what Cal was doing. The times they went out for dinner, he’d easily become territorial, practically snarling at any guy who so much as gave Cal an interested look.
Soon, he promised his wolf.
“I know whenever I come home all I do is sleep, but we’ll be getting more manpower soon,” he said as Cal joined him at the table. His mouth watered as Cal placed a plate with a generous helping of scrambled eggs, bacon, and four slices of toast in front of him.
“That’s unavoidable. You’ve been working a lot of hours at the garage. You don’t need to worry about me.”
“You’ve been clocking in a lot of overtime at the firm too.” Diesel took a forkful of his eggs and bacon. “Very nice.”
“Really? I’m glad.”
This unexpected shy side of Cal always intrigued him. He took a sip of his coffee. “Let’s have dinner tonight, at that new Mexican place you said you wanted to try.”
“You always remember stuff like that,” Cal said.
During the first few days they were together, Cal would always somehow deviate to his ex, but not anymore. Finally, Cal was focused on them and that pleased Diesel immensely.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I pay attention? You’re the most important thing in my life.”
Cal shifted on his seat, cheeks and neck turning slightly pink. “Tonight’s dinner sounds different.”
“Maybe it is. Don’t wear yourself out too much at the office today, because you’ll need plenty of energy for tonight.”
“Oh? Maybe I’ll wear something nice then.”
“Don’t bother. I’ll just rip it off.”
He could smell Cal’s arousal and knew if he took a peek, Cal sported an erection. Diesel always loved it when he got that kind of reaction from his mate.
“I guess,” Diesel drawled. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
“Shut up,” Cal muttered, but Diesel didn’t miss the fondness in his voice. “I’m looking forward to tonight then.”
****
Cal studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror again and wondered if he should change his shirt. Most of his dates with Diesel were casual, comfortable, but tonight seemed different from the rest.
Cal knew Diesel had been holding back during sex. He’d done his research. Maybe tonight was finally the night Diesel would give him his mate mark. Just thinking of Diesel putting his personal brand on him made Cal tingle all over. Shifters mated for life, so it was a massive step, but never before had he been so certain of anything.
When he saw nothing but a dead end with his ex, he saw a future with Diesel, even if they were so different.
He put off some of his work for the weekend and dashed home early to change out of his work clothes. Cal also put on the special new underwear he bought online, as a special surprise for Diesel. He wondered how Diesel would react. Surprised? All growly? Cal had to admit he liked it when Diesel turned all feral during sex.
The doorbell rang and he wondered who it was. Maybe one of the kids from the down the hall, playing pranks again. Could it be Diesel? He did message Diesel that he got off early and planned to change clothes.
Heart racing, he opened the front door without thinking and stared, wishing he’d looked through the peephole at first. Just great. Tonight was supposed to be a game changer, something he’d been looking forward to all day and his stupid ex had to ruin the mood. This could become ugly, he thought sourly.
“Well, aren’t you going to invite me in?” Pierce asked in that same lofty voice he always hated.
“What do you want? I’m busy.”
“Busy?” Pierce snorted. “Doing what? You’re the most boring guy I know.”
He stilled, wondering why everything his ex did got on his nerves. Pierce had no business coming over here. He didn’t even live here anymore. At the very least, Pierce could have messaged him or something.
“Waiting for my date,” he said in a clipped tone, hoping Pierce would get the hint he wanted this—whatever this was, done fast.
Pierce laughed, an ugly sound, as if he couldn’t believe Cal would be dating so soon. Annoyed, he slammed the door into the bastard’s face, but Pierce wedged one shoulder in. With a sigh of frustration, he opened it back up. The sooner he found out what Pierce wanted, the quicker Pierce would leave.
He conjured up the image of the day Pierce left, how he sat on the living room sofa, paralyzed, throat hoarse from yelling while Pierce grabbed his things and walked out, luggage in hand.
“I came to pick up some of my stuff. Ian and I moved into our new place and—” Pierce halted, peered over his shoulder, and paled. “Where’s my Pacini white leather sofa?”
Pierce pushed, rather shoved his way in, and Cal stepped aside, crossing his arms and not feeling an inch of guilt as Pierce took a walk around the living room, dining room, and the rest of the space. Once, the mention of another man’s name from Pierce’s lips would have saddened him, but now he only pitied the poor fool stuck with Pierce.
Being with Diesel only showed him how toxic his relationship with Pierce had been.
“Cal, where the fuck’s all my furniture?”
“Don’t you mean our furniture? We bought everything from our shared account,” he said drily. “You said to do whatever I want with the place, so I did. I sold everything.”
Pierce clenched his fists by his sides. “Everything? You goddamn fool. Some of those were rare designer pieces.”
Did Pierce expect him to apologize? He pursed his lips, saying nothing, recalling all the arguments they had. Most of the time, Cal had desperately wanted to repair their relationship that he’d do all the compromising. Diesel asked him once how he could stomach being with Pierce for ten years. In the end, sentimentality made him stay, but whatever feelings of love he had for Pierce had fizzled out long ago.
Before Diesel, Cal didn’t think he could start dating again or go through another cycle of heartache. Diesel was exactly Pierce’s opposite. His wolf always made him feel special, loved.
Love. He loved Diesel, he realized with a jolt. Cal planned on telling his wolf tonight, but he needed to get this inconvenience out of the way first. If Cal was more vindictive, he’d have plenty to say to Pierce, but that would take too much unnecessary energy out of him.
He didn’t need to waste this time with this loser.
“How much?” Pierce finally asked. “Did you at least look at market price?”
“Let’s see. Two hundred for everything. I sold each piece of furniture for five dollars.”
Pierce didn’t look like he believed him. When he said nothing, Pierce balked. “You asshole. Tell me you’re joking.”
Looking at his ex now, he wondered how he ever fell for Pierce in the first place. Maybe back when they were teenagers, Piece had seemed like his only choice. Pierce had been smart, handsome, and confident. His exact opposite.
Moving to the city only brought up the worst side of Pierce. It took years for Cal to realize he was looking at a complete stranger who changed the way he spoke and dressed.
How many times had Pierce told him he needed to change, reminded Cal that he was the one who settled? Cal was getting worked up over nothing. He wished he could fast forward time so he could be with Diesel.
What was he thinking? Pierce left him to pay the bills. Cal would kick him out.
“Nope. I can give you half right now. Then leave. Like I’m said, I’m busy.”
Pierce took a few intimidating steps toward him but Cal held his ground, a little taken aback when Pierce shoved him backward. Pierce narrowed his eyes and the vein on his forehead seemed to pop.
“You little shit. You’re going to pay for everything, you—”
Bam. His front door flew open and a hair-raising growl made Pierce pause. One moment, Pierce was in his face, the next, Cal only saw a blur of motion. Diesel shoved Pierce to the closet wall and snarled, showing sharp teeth. Diesel wrapped his big hands around Pierce’s tanned throat and he didn’t move, couldn’t.
Cal’s heart raced as Diesel’s pupils turned dark amber, reflecting the rage of his wolf. So fast, he thought, Diesel looked like a force of nature to be reckoned with. Wait. He should stop crushing over his man and stop Diesel from doing something he might regret.
“If you threaten my mate again, or even come near him, I’ll rip out your throat, insect,” Diesel said, words accompanied by a growl.
Pierce choked as Cal neared Diesel and placed a firm hand over Diesel’s shoulder. He hated Pierce, was tempted to let Diesel reduce Pierce to a pulp, but if Diesel killed his ex by accident, then the paranormal police would get involved. The last thing he wanted was for Diesel to end up behind bars.
“He’s not worth it, baby,” he told Diesel. Diesel snarled, more wolf than man, but Cal was thankful he relaxed his hold on Pierce.
Pierce sputtered but looked unable to speak for the moment.
“I heard everything,” Diesel said. “You’ve been mooching off Cal’s paycheck for years to
buy shit you don’t need. So settle. Seems fair that you split what he earned from that sale. Right?”
Pierce nodded furiously, still looking terrified. Pierce looked like he might faint any moment. His ex seemed so small to him, so cowardly.
“Now leave. Cal’s the only reason you’re still breathing. Remember, if you so much as contact him or come within a hundred feet of him, I’ll tear your body to pieces and no one will recognize you.” Diesel took a step back and clenched his jaw. “Tell me you understand.”
“I understand perfectly,” Pierce muttered. Pierce didn’t look at either of them and simply ran out of the apartment.
Cal let out a breath and hugged Diesel tightly. Diesel wrapped those familiar and warm solid arms around him. All his anger and frustration at Pierce disappeared.
“I didn’t know he was capable of violence,” Cal said, raising his head. “You didn’t need to come in and rescue me. I could have held my own.”
Diesel didn’t seem amused, still appeared dead-serious. “When he pushed you back, I nearly cracked. My wolf only saw him as prey, even less than that.”
Diesel meant it, he realized. The old him would have been intimidated, but Cal only saw a protective boyfriend. More than that. Diesel called him his mate again.
“Why are you smiling?” Diesel asked.
“Because I liked it when you called me your mate.”
Cal had done his research, remembered that on their first date, Diesel had wanted to bite him. Everything suddenly made sense. Diesel had already known Cal was it for him but being human, it took him a little longer to come to the same conclusion. Looking at Diesel now, he understood. Maybe fate let him experience heartache, so it could lead him to this moment, to this man, his one true mate.
“Did you now?” Diesel’s smile never failed to make his heart flutter. “I think it’s time you let go of this place and move in with me.”
He let out a breath, then nodded. “I think so too. Actually, I told the landlord today I’m leaving.”
Denying the Alpha: Manlove Edition Page 14
