CHAPTER THREE

Hugh took a deep breath, inhaling the scent that was uniquely Tobis. Slightly musky, with just a hint of pine, it wrapped around him, teasing him with every breath he took.

He had no idea what brand of cologne Tobis wore, but he approved. He wanted to wrap the little guy up and fuck his brains out. Never had a one-night stand made him feel this way.

The temptation to spill his guts astounded him. He wished Tobis could make him forget about his image, his family—just everything. Wouldn't that be nice? And so unlike him. With an unpleasant twist to his lips, he led Tobis to the elevator that would take them straight to his penthouse. Nice was for fairy tales. Nice was for losers.

When the elevator doors closed, Tobis moved closer, but Hugh stopped him with a shake of his head. "There are cameras in here."

"So?"

"It would be better to wait."

How could he tell Tobis the footage could be sold.

Not that he thought that would happen since his dad owned the building, but one never knew. Plus, he was afraid how he'd react once he got his hands on the little twink. Just being this close to him was heating his blood.

"Oh, I see."

Hugh started to ask what he saw, but he was suddenly too busy fighting off the need to shiver. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood at attention; and damned if it didn't feel like he'd just stuck his finger in an electrical socket.

What the hell was going on with these weird feelings he kept getting? He was tempted to ask Tobis if he felt that strange surge of…. He didn't know what to call it, but Tobis looked cool, as if nothing unusual was happening.

He was grateful to hear the elevator ding, signaling they were at his penthouse. He quickly led Tobis to his place, unlocked the door, and pulled him inside. At last they were private, and he could do what he wanted, what he'd been itching to do since he first laid eyes on Tobis.

Hugh whirled Tobis around and slammed him against the door, smashing his lips down on that sexy mouth so near to his. Tongues dueled and Hugh crowded closer, sinking his hands into all that silky light blond hair.

He was so hard he hurt, his dick straining against his fly. He'd come earlier, and here he was raging to go again. He'd thought having what's-his-name suck him off would make him last longer, but so far, it hadn't.

Finally, the need to breathe made him raise his head, his hands busy on the shirt that was in his way. Damn it, he wanted to see some skin. If there was any justice in the world, Tobis would be smooth.

If he didn't get this shirt out of the way soon, there was a good chance he'd rip it off. That and that damn leather jacket. He fingered it, unable to help himself.

"Seems like I'm not the only impatient one."

Tobis kissed Hugh on the lips. "We got all night, darlin'. What's the rush?"

Hugh was mortified. He'd all but attacked Tobis right there in the doorway. Where had his polish, the sophistication he was known for, disappeared to? This wasn't him. He rested his forehead against Tobis's. And damned if the little twink wasn't wearing a smirk too. He'd have to fix that, just as soon as he could think clearly again.

"We do have all night. I was just a bit anxious to see what's under—"

Hugh nearly bit through his bottom lip when Tobis pulled off his jacket and threw it off to the side. Then he undid his shirt and pulled that off.

Tattoos adorned his chest and arms, catching Hugh's attention. He couldn't help but trace the lines of one tattoo on Tobis' smooth chest. The vibrant colors and skilled artwork were impressive. As Hugh's eyes roamed, he noticed a small pink nipple peeking at him, causing him to swallow hard. Tobis had an incredible physique; he was absolutely ripped.

"Beautiful,"

Hugh whispered as he traced the tattoo. "Are there more?"

"Some, yeah. Like them, do you?"

Tobis captured the finger that was heading toward a nipple, brought it to his mouth, and nipped it.

"Mmm, like to bite, do you?"

Hugh looked at Tobis's chest. "You have no idea how lucky you are to have these. I wish—"

Hugh suddenly snapped his mouth closed. What the hell was he doing? This was nothing more than a one-night stand, and here he was on the verge of baring his soul about how desperately he wanted what Tobis had decorated all over himself. What the hell was it with this guy?

"You have the money, so why not do it?"

Hugh frowned at Tobis. He needed to get this situation back under control. "That's not really any of your concern. What you do need to be concerned about is that I'm going to strip you, put you on your knees, and make you beg to come, sexy. Then I'm going to fuck you until you can't walk straight."

"Well then, one question, darlin'. Is this place soundproofed?"

Tobis winked. "Just in case one of us is a screamer."

Hugh raised an eyebrow. "One of us? Sexy, you're going to be the one doing the screaming. What do you think of that?"

"What I think is that you need a reality check."

Hugh's eyes widened in surprise at how Tobis's voice had suddenly changed. The southern twang was still there, but gone was the sweet, slow charm. There was nothing but pure power in his voice now. Then Tobis put his hands on his chest and shoved.

"Son of a bitch!"

Hugh flew across the room, landing on his ass and sliding backward on the finely polished wood floors.

He ended up against the overstuffed leather chair he had Denny suck him off in earlier—the chair that was clear across the room.

"What the hell is wrong with you, you fucker? Are you completely nuts?"

He wasn't hurt, not really, just more surprised than anything.

Then he looked at how far he skidded and the first trembles of fear coursed through him. There was no way Tobis had that kind of strength in that tiny body, so how had he managed to throw him across the room?

Tobis lifted his head and sniffed. "You had someone in here earlier, didn't you, Hugh? I can still smell the scent of cum, humiliation, and apathy. Matter of fact, you had him service you right there in that very chair you're leaned against, right? And the poor guy didn't want to, did he?"

"How do you know that?"

Hugh righted himself. Had he just seen Tobis sniff? What kind of psycho fucking nutcase had he brought home with him?

Tobis ignored him. "You feed on those weaker than yourself, without thought or care to what you're doing to them. And you don't think about it because they're nothing, right? Just dirt beneath your feet. No one of importance. Oh yes, you're so coldly unconcerned about your fellow human. I like that about you, Hugh."

Fellow human? Did he just say human? This screwball has more than one bolt loose and I'm trapped in here with him. Trying not to panic, Hugh resorted to the only thing he knew might save him—his family's name and power.

"You should know my father is a very powerful man, with connections reaching as high up as Washington, DC, and he's a well-known lawyer too. He owns one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. You don't want to mess with him, trust me. Just take my wallet and get the hell out of here. I won't call the police."

"I'm not afraid of your father, Hugh. There's nothing he can do to me. And it's not your wallet I want, either."

* * *

Tobis allowed his eyes to turn that bright yellow, ringed-in-black, that signified what he was, as his nails grew into long points. The horrified scream from across the room made Tobis smile, exposing his canines even more. He just loved that sound. The sickly-sweet scent of fear filled the room, tickling his nose, and he breathed deeply, his dick hardening more. Just lovely.

Hugh cowered against the leather chair across from him, his face pale as milk, his body rigid with horror. He was willing to bet Hugh had never felt the emotions currently crashing through him.

Oh no, he was too used to being the one in control, to having all the power in any given situation. He was going to enjoy stripping that power away, exposing that need. This was going to be so much fun. His wolf agreed.

"What are you?"

"Straight to the point, I see. Good."

Tobis stepped away from the door, coming farther into the room, his attention back on the one across from him. "Versipellis. Which is Latin for double dealer, or, as modern man likes to call us, werewolves."

Hugh shrank into himself. "I-I-I…."

Tobis smiled, showing those teeth again. Neither said a word, just stared at each other in frozen silence while the grandfather clock in the hallway chimed out the hour. The dong, dong, dong echoed through the silent room, cutting through the tension.

He was actually surprised by Hugh's reaction, or lack thereof. Most humans babbled on about how his kind didn't exist, even with the evidence in front of them that stated otherwise. Then again, maybe Hugh's mind had snapped.

Just then Hugh launched himself away from the chair, lurched across the living area toward the back of the penthouse. Tobis shook his head even as his wolf howled in pleasure.

Guess that answered that. He strolled leisurely in pursuit of Hugh, his wolf ready to chase down what was his. Tensing, he leaped across the room. Even not fully transformed, he was stronger and faster than Hugh.

A few steps and he had Hugh wrapped in his arms, that bigger body struggling violently. He picked Hugh completely off his feet, slung him over his shoulder, and carried him to what he assumed was Hugh's bedroom.

"Fuck!"

Hugh thrashed madly.

Tobis walked into the bedroom, his hand spread across Hugh's ass to keep him in place while Hugh pounded his fists on his back. The wildly kicking legs amused him.

Did Hugh really think that would do a damn bit of good? He squeezed Hugh's ass, eliciting another shriek. He was so pleased with what he felt, he did it again. Hugh had a nice, firm, tight ass, and he couldn't wait to slide his aching dick in it.

"Put me the fuck down!"

"Okay."

Tobis dumped Hugh on the bed, followed him down, and straddled him.

He pinned Hugh's hands to the bed and waited out the frantic struggles. Once Hugh was done fighting, he leaned closer until they were eye to eye.

"Running isn't a good idea, Hugh. Makes me want to chase you. Probably not the best idea at the moment."

Frozen, pinned helplessly, Hugh stared up into Tobis's eyes. "Your eyes are yellow."

"Yes."

"And you—"

Tobias watched Hugh swallow, his throat working hard. "Those are fangs."

"Right again. Don't forget the nails too."

Tobis flexed his hands, watching in delight when Hugh's eyes widened more.

"You picked me up."

"Indeed. While I may be smaller than you, I'm much stronger, even in this form. Might want to remember that too."

"This… this form?"

Hugh's voice squeaked. "What does that mean?"

"It means in a couple of days when the moon is full, I can let my wolf out to play. And oh, how we are gonna play, Hugh."

"I-I-I…"

Hugh swallowed, then swallowed again. "What does that mean? What do you want with me?"

Tobis cocked his head. Why sugarcoat it? "You're my mate. Tonight I'm going to mark you as mine, infect you so you change, and then on the full moon you'll have your first shift. That clear enough?"

Hugh's mouth opened and closed; the saying about a fish out of water crossed Tobis's mind. That's exactly what Hugh reminded him of as seconds of pure silence passed.

"What?"

Hugh finally yelled, and Tobis hung on as Hugh's body started bucking again, fight blazing back with a vengeance. "Bite? Blood? Fucking hell… shift? Fuck that!"

Tobis held on while Hugh thrashed under him, trying to throw him off, fighting for all he was worth. Hugh managed to get one of his arms free and Tobis blocked the fist that flew at his face.

Restraining that hand, he slammed it back down on the bed, holding on until Hugh gave out and stopped fighting. Finally, things settled down and Tobis looked at Hugh, a slight grin on his face. Hugh was sweating, while he wasn't even breathing hard.

"What was it you said earlier? There are more things in heaven and earth… You were quoting Shakespeare, weren't you?"

Tobis chuckled, resting against Hugh. He wanted Hugh to feel how hard he was. "I do believe you said that very thing to your friends at that club, right? Ironic, wouldn't you say?"

Hugh blinked, then blinked again. "You were close enough to hear—no, wait. You couldn't have been. They don't allow just anyone upstairs."

Tobis laughed heartily. "There's that ego. No, I wasn't upstairs, but my hearing is very good. I heard how you led some poor sap on then took his cherry. Poor guy will probably be heartbroken when he doesn't hear from you again. What a morally reprehensible and cruel thing to do to another. I'm impressed."

Hugh licked his lips, afraid to ask, but wanting to know. "How do you know I won't be seeing him again?"

Tobis sat back, still straddling Hugh, and released his wrists. Already bruises were forming. His hands fastened on Hugh's shirt and ripped it down the middle. "Because, after tonight, you will be mine. And I don't share."

* * *

Hugh arched on the bed as Tobis's nails scraped his skin. His mind went blank as instinct took over and he fought, swinging wildly again. The fight was furious, but short, and just as useless as before.

The next thing Hugh knew, his shirt had been shredded and some of the strips used to tie his hands to the bottom of the padded leather headboard. Tobis had forced his limbs where he wanted them to be with little to no effort, and that frightened him almost more than what Tobis was. He was truly helpless.

Panting, chest heaving, tears in his eyes, Hugh collapsed on the bed, exhausted. He refused to even think about what Tobis meant by that remark of being his. "Please, please, don't do whatever it is you're going to do. I'll give you anything. I have money, jewels, bullion. Just let me go."

"Anything?"

Tobis ran a finger down the center of Hugh's chest, stopping to flick the nipples that lay waiting.

Hugh gasped as they perked up immediately. What the hell was happening? How could he be responding? The more Tobis twisted and rolled his nipples, the more he wanted to… what? Beg for more? He didn't beg for anything.

Tobis's finger left his swollen nipples and moved down to his pants, pausing at the waistband. "But I don't want your money or your jewels or even your gold. I want you. You are my mate, Hugh, and I want you to tell me what that need was I sensed earlier."

Hugh tossed his head as Tobis undid his pants, those small fingers slipping inside his briefs. Hugh jumped. When had the claws disappeared? And thank fuck they had, since Tobis had his dick in his hands.

He was barely able to see through the tears rolling down his face, but even fear couldn't stop him from sporting wood as Tobis stroked him, mumbling happily as he responded. Even those hellish yellow eyes and fangs weren't enough. What the fuck was wrong with him?

"There we go, much better. Jesus, you are huge."

Tobis crawled off Hugh and made his way to the end of the bed, removing Hugh's shoes.

A few tugs, another short battle that ended with Hugh's legs tied open, and he had Hugh stripped, all except his underwear.

"Now answer my question, darlin'. What secret desires do you have, besides wanting a tattoo?"

Hugh closed his eyes as Tobis climbed between his legs and resumed stroking his dick. Tobis's voice had changed again. The power was still there, but the sweetness and charm were back, and that brought more tears to his eyes. How had he missed that power that flowed from Tobis? How much of an idiot was he?

He jerked when Tobis patted his dick, tightening his fingers slightly.

"Hugh? You will answer me. We can do this the hard way or the easy way, but you will always respond when I ask you something."

Hugh whimpered, horrified at the sound Tobis dragged out of him, but he didn't want to say, he really didn't. Did this thing know what he was demanding of him? Giving up control was giving up the very essence of himself. He'd been taught from an early age that power and control were what made a man, and without those things, you were a nonentity.

"I… nothing. There's nothing else."

"Now darlin', you're lying to me. I won't allow that."

Hugh muffled the small scream that threatened to break loose when Tobis shredded his underwear. Claws, with sharp deadly points, returned to caress his hips; the threat was there, just waiting to be acted upon.

Sweat bloomed over his body, his skin prickling. Surely Tobis wouldn't…? Head pounding with another spike of fear, he watched as Tobis drew those lethal claws closer to his erection—the damn thing still hadn't gone down.

What the fuck was his problem? His dick should be shriveled up instead of begging for attention. What was Tobis doing to him? This wasn't him.

Just as Tobis reached for his manhood, Hugh yelled out the truth. "Okay, stop! Jesus, please don't. Just please don't, not there! Not with those things. Aw shit, leather. I have a thing for leather. I want to wear it, love the smell, the feel… but I don't dare. I can't."

"So stubborn,"

Tobis sighed as his claws retracted. "You're going to fight me every step of the way, I can see that. So, tell me, why can't you indulge your wants? Wearing leather isn't that big of a deal, just like having a tattoo isn't a big thing."

"Image,"

Hugh whispered finally when Tobis raised an eyebrow at him. "Only those from the lower class do things like that."

Tobis raised an eyebrow. "Ah, I see. And do you believe that, or are you parroting what you've been taught?"

Hugh released a shaky breath. Tobis seemed relaxed now, thank hell, and those damn claws were gone again. "Doesn't matter really. I want things I can't have."

Tobis fondled Hugh's erection, a frown on his face. "Why can't you have them? Tell me, Hugh."

Hugh's breathing slowly picked back up. Tobis frowning worried him, and when had he ever given a damn about someone's facial features? The light touch that Tobis used to stroke his dick was making him insane also.

He wanted to come but Tobis was only teasing him, not giving him what he needed, which was a firmer stroke. He knew what Tobis was doing. He'd done the very same thing to the men he used. Tobis was using his own body against him.

"Hugh?"

Hugh's fists tightened. The need to fight came on him again but now the need to keep Tobis happy warred against his own instinct. He'd heard the warning in Tobis's voice.

"You don't understand. I'd be disowned, cut off. I can't do that. Just be a regular person? No. I'd be a nobody. I'm not a nobody, damn it."

Tobis leaned closer to Hugh's erection. "After tonight, you won't have to worry about that. You will be someone—mine. As my mate, you will be very important."

Hugh gasped as Tobis's warm breath touched his skin, right before Tobis sucked his dick down to the root. Fucking hell, he could feel those damn sharp-assed teeth. How the hell was he going to get out of this?

He looked back at the ties around his wrists even as his head swam with pleasure. Shit, was he going to get out of this? What was Tobis going to do to him? What was a mate? Oh fuck, how did one become a mate?

The better question might be why was he even thinking this way?

Hugh moaned as Tobis played with his balls, then stiffened when a slim finger eased closer to his hole. More sweat covered his skin. And why was Tobis touching him there? Surely Tobis didn't think he was going to bottom.

"Ah, ah."

Hugh flinched as that finger rubbed against him. "What are you—aw, shit."

Hugh felt his eyes roll back as Tobis hummed around his cock. Damn, that felt good. He had to bite his lip when Tobis pulled off.

"I'm going to fuck you, Hugh. Gonna take that cherry and make you yell with pleasure. That's what I'm going to do."

Hugh's breath whistled in and out of his mouth as that finger continued to tease at his hole. "But I don't bottom!"

Tobis kissed the head of Hugh's cock. "Still fighting for control, huh? By the time I'm done, you'll be begging me to fuck you, and you'll love every minute of it too. Now, where's the lube?"