Chapter Three

"You told me not to worry." Alex lay on his back, sweat glistening on his skin while his chest heaved. "I think you're trying to kill me."

Slater crouched next to him, arms crossed over his bent knee. "That was just the warmup. We haven't even started the actual training yet."

The sight of Alex spread out beneath him was doing some crazy shit to Slater's body. He wanted those slender legs curled around his waist, squeezing and trembling while he sank his cock into his mate, their sweat mingling, breathing in each other's air, sweetness and passion blazing a path between them.

Alex lifted his head and stared incredulously at him. "That wasn't strength training?"

"No." Slater softly chuckled. "That was just some light aerobics and stretching."

"It wiped out my energy level." Alex dropped his head. "I've never done cardio in my life. I feel like I'm dying."

"You're being a bit dramatic, don't you think?" Slater helped him up, careful not to use too much force.

Alex bent over and rested his hands against his knees. "How long until my muscles stop burning like they're being held against a torch?"

"You just have to build up your endurance, hummingbird."

"Do you always give people nicknames as soon as you meet them?"

Grabbing a bottled water off the table, Slater handed it to his mate to quench his thirst. "When you stood next to Sheriff Harper, Deputy Tenshi, and me inside the store, I thought you looked like a hummingbird amongst eagles," he answered honestly.

Alex straightened and accepted the water, eyeing him. "I felt like one. How tall are you, anyway?"

"Six-five." Slater stared at the way Alex's throat moved as he drank. It was like a workout for his brain trying to stay focused. "And to answer your second question, your muscles will be sore for a while since they're not used to being stretched," he said, keeping his focus on his mate.

"Can't we just consider the ten-minute warmup as our workout?"

"Nice try." Slater smirked. "We'll start off with something easy."

"Like sitting or lying down? I could toss snacks into my mouth as a form of arm curls," Alex suggested, marching in place to ease the burn.

Slater felt like a goof at how much he liked watching his mate trying to stomp the burn right out of his slender legs. "Nope, we're doing lunges. And since you're so enthusiastic about working out, I'm adding an extra fifteen minutes to our session."

Not really, but it was fun seeing the shocked expression on Alex's face.

" What ?" His eyes widened in horror.

"You gonna stop whining now?" Slater raised an eyebrow.

Alex glared at him but remained silent.

They worked out for the next thirty minutes, with Slater alternating between moderate and easy exercises. A few times his mate stopped to shake out his arms and legs, but he seemed determined to keep going.

When they were done, his mate drank an entire bottle of water then used his arm to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "Can you show me at least one self-defense move, like the proper way to punch, before we call it a night?"

Slater tossed him a towel. "Punching will only break your hand. I'll show you something more effective."

Punching was effective for him because his hand was much more powerful than a human's.

Alex set the bottle and towel aside. "Like a chop to the neck?"

"Like a powerful kick." Slater stood in front of him. "If there isn't enough space between you and your target, you knee him as hard as you can in the nuts. But if there's enough space between you two, you can bring your knee up as far as you can and launch your heel at your target's chest."

"What if they're too tall?"

"Then go for their stomach." He demonstrated a wide stance then launched his heel, stopping when he was far enough away so he wouldn't accidentally kick his mate.

Alex squeaked, and his eyes widened as he jumped back. "For a second, I thought you were going to actually kick me."

Slater lowered his leg. "I would never hurt you, hummingbird. Now you try it."

With an awkward shuffling dance, Alex attempted to mimic Slater's stance. "Like this?"

"You're not doing the splits, hon." Slater squatted, forcing himself not to acknowledge how close Alex's groin was to him in those cotton shorts or how he could see the outline of his cock.

His tiger growled, longing for his mate's scent and taste. Slater pulled the guy's legs closer to adjust their stance, his fingers caressing warm, soft skin.

Damn if he didn't want to turn his little human into a buffet and indulge until his name was torn from those sultry lips.

Blowing out a breath, Slater stood and backed up a little. He highly doubted Alex would pull off a kick on his first try, so he didn't need to give the guy much room. "Remember what I showed you."

Why was his tiger being so cagey? Slater felt it trying to get close to surface, just like it had when he'd talked to his mate in the store.

"Here goes." Alex launched his leg, but instead of extending it straight forward the way Slater had demonstrated, it shot up toward the ceiling in a high kick.

Slater's jaw dropped as he watched gravity and momentum take over, causing the guy to spin wildly. Before he could react, Alex collided into him, his mate's knee glancing Slater's groin. Holy Fuck! Slater shouted in pain as he lost his balance and catapulted backward, taking Alex with him.

When they hit the floor, he realized in horror that the right side of Alex's body was under him. He scrambled to his knees, praying he hadn't injured his mate. "Are you hurt?"

Slater's fear intensified when the guy let out a lengthy groan. "I think my pride was crushed. It hurts like hell."

Relieved he hadn't caused Alex any damage, Slater rested his palms on his thighs and leaned forward, trying his damnedest to ride through the pain. Thank god it was a glancing blow and not a direct hit, but it still hurt like hell.

"I was worried about embarrassing myself while learning how to fight," Alex said with his eyes closed, clearly unaware he'd injured Slater. "Between this and smacking your face with a stack of papers, I exceeded my expectations."

If his mate wasn't there, Slater could've shifted to heal. It might not seem like a serious enough injury to warrant his tiger, but any minutes or seconds detracted from the pain of getting hit in the nuts was thankful relief. "I thought we needed to work on your strength first, but I think we should focus on your balance and coordination."

Because next time his mate's knee just might render Slater unconscious.

* * * *

Alex couldn't believe he'd screwed up a simple kick and caused such a fiasco. His embarrassment was only exacerbated when he learned he'd accidentally injured Slater's manhood with his knee.

Ugh!

If only he could time travel to when he'd been seated behind the counter at work, worrying he wouldn't be any good at fighting. Alex would tell his past self not to sweat it because, apparently, his knees were deadly weapons.

Slater walked onto the back porch where Alex was sitting, ice clinking inside the two glasses in his hands. While they had been inside, the evening had turned into night. It was relaxing just sitting there listening to the symphony of crickets filling the air. It almost felt like time had slowed down and the outside world had melted away.

After offering Alex one of the drinks, Slater relaxed in the chair next to him.

"Thanks." He took a sip and discovered it was lemonade infused with strawberries and tasted delicious.

To be honest, Alex wasn't sure what was happening between them, just that he was wildly attracted to the deputy. Attracted to the way Slater's features softened whenever they talked and how his smile brightened when their eyes met. It caused Alex's heart to beat faster than a hummingbird's wings.

The nickname fit a little better now.

"You impressed me tonight."

Alex choked on his drink. "Impressed?" The only thing that was impressive was the level of humiliation he'd achieved. "I nearly took out your baby-making factory."

Slater's booming laughter had Alex smiling, his heart squeezing a little at the infectious sound.

"Although I have no plans to make kittens, I'm grateful my factory was spared."

Was it possible for a person to spontaneously combust from sheer embarrassment? Because Alex was pretty sure he was about to turn Slater's porch into a bonfire.

But he found it cute that Slater referred to babies as kittens. That only made him more endearing in Alex's eyes.

"Despite my disastrous attempt at self-defense lessons, we managed to avoid a trip to the emergency room."

"The night is still young." Slater winked.

The small squeeze in Alex's heart turned into a pulse of arousal. "Don't jinx it. I've already endured enough embarrassment."

With a mischievous grin, Slater stroked his stubbled chin. "Who's to say it won't be me doing something blush-worthy?"

Was that a subtle innuendo, or was the deputy just trying to make him feel better?

"Please." Alex rolled his eyes. "Like you can top me."

The moonlight reflected in Slater's gaze, casting a glow in his bluish-green eyes. "I can definitely top you, hummingbird."

Alex couldn't breathe. There was something primal lurking beneath Slater's gaze, a raw power interlaced with strength and hunger. Its amber eyes were focused on Alex, the pull of the gaze calling to him and claiming him as its own. His body throbbed with a desperate urge to surrender to it, to let it claim his soul.

It's yours.

The beast faded, leaving Alex with a feeling that something powerful lay within Slater, waiting to be unleashed.

Had Alex truly felt something, or was it all just a figment of his imagination?

"You mentioned you had two nights off." Slater was still looking at him, but his eyes were only the beautiful bluish-green Alex had been attracted to since the moment their gazes met for the first time.

He sat there feeling as if he'd just had an out-of-body experience. "Uh, yeah. Two nights off."

Why did he want the beast to come back? Its pull had been so strong, and Alex still wanted it to claim his soul. What the hell?

"So do I. Do you want to try another lesson tomorrow?"

Alex forced himself to pay attention to Slater, to let go of something that couldn't have possibly happened.

"But you're not allowed to whine," Slater added with a smile.

"I didn't whine!" Alex huffed. "I was simply suggesting more enjoyable options."

Still not fully recovered but he was getting there.

"You almost convinced me with the arm-curling snacks," Slater teased.

Now Alex was back to crushing on the deputy.

"When's my next lesson in embarrassment?" Alex picked up his drink and took a sip.

"Are you zoning out on me?"

For a good reason .

"We'll just chalk it up to another embarrassing moment." Alex smiled. "I'm on a winning streak."

Slater reclined back and grabbed his glass. "I asked if you wanted to do another lesson tomorrow."

He gaped at Slater then stopped himself from whining about an intense workout two days in a row. Alex wasn't ungrateful. Slater had offered him lessons free of charge, and who better to teach him than a trained police officer with a body that showed he knew what he was doing?

Although Slater said he was homegrown, Alex was sure the guy also worked out. Genetics might have made him large, but only pumping iron produced those kind of muscles.

Forget about the beast .

"What time?" Alex's voice didn't hold any enthusiasm. He couldn't muster it when he was dreading the exercise. But on the bright side, he would get another chance to try and maim Slater. Why not strive for a two-day streak of embarrassing moments?

Slater leaned toward him. "I tell you what, since you're a beginner and I don't want you overdoing it, why don't we grab some breakfast instead? My treat."

"What time do you want to meet?" Alex tried not to sound so eager, but that ship was leaving the port. "I'm used to third shift, so I'll be up for the rest of the night. If you're an early riser, we could meet around six or seven."

"I'll rise any time for you." Slater's nose wrinkled with a playful smile.

"Now I know you're doing it on purpose!" Alex laughed. "I like your sense of humor."

"Now you have to ask yourself if I'm just having a bit of fun with you or if I'm giving you clear signals." Slater's lips curled into a smug smile as he sat back.

Alex's head snapped to the right as a sudden movement caught his attention. A large raccoon was sitting at the bottom of the porch steps, its beady eyes fixed on him. And to make matters worse, its paw was poised on the stairs as if it was about to climb them.

Alex had never been this close to a raccoon before, and he couldn't stop himself from screaming.

Panic set in as he frantically tried to climb over the back of his chair to get away from the menacing creature. He knocked over his drink in the process but didn't care as long as the raccoon stayed away.

The bulky animal seemed unfazed by Alex's reaction.

"Calm down. She's not going to hurt you, hummingbird." Slater grabbed for Alex, but fuck that.

He wasn't going to allow Slater to pull him closer to the dangerous pest. Raccoons carried diseases!

In a desperate attempt to put some distance between himself and the animal, Alex flung himself over the back of his chair—or at least that was his intention. But in his terror, he forgot to lift his legs and ended up folding over the back of the chair like a clothespin on a clothesline.

It all happened so quickly—within seconds, really—but for Alex, it felt like an eternity.

Alex shrieked as the front legs of the chair shot up, sending the whole thing careening backward. He just prayed the bruises on his face healed quickly, because he was heading straight for the exterior wall of the house.

Before he made contact, Slater yanked him backward just as the chair clattered to the floor.

"You really need those lessons." Slater started to lower him down, but Alex latched onto him, his arms and legs wrapping around the guy.

"Where did it go?" He frantically scanned their surroundings for any sign of the raccoon. "Do you see it? Where is it?"

Slater's voice was calm and low as he replied, "You scared Marbles away with all your yelling and thrashing."

" I scared off the raccoon?" He stared incredulously at Slater.

Then Alex noticed the guy was once again giving him his undivided attention. Those bluish-green eyes were locked onto him, smoldering.

His breath hitched when Slater leaned in closer, as if he was about to kiss him.

Finally, Slater pulled him close and brushed his lips over Alex's. The kiss wasn't demanding, but it still ignited want and need inside him. His hands instinctively gripped onto Slater's broad shoulders, feeling the hard muscles underneath.

This had to be a dream. No one kissed that damn good. God, how Alex missed this. It had been a good minute since he'd kissed a guy, and Slater made it worth his while. Alex even loved how the guy's stubble scraped against his sensitive skin and caused an eruption of tingles across his face.

It was so easy to surrender to the sensation, to get lost in it as he felt Slater's firm muscles under his hands.

Then the deputy pulled him even closer. The heat between them was consuming, and Alex couldn't resist pressing harder into his embrace.

He groaned. The sensation of Slater's warm breath on his skin sent waves of pleasure through Alex's body. He had never imagined that such a simple act could be so powerful—so perfect.

Slater ghosted his lips over Alex's his, and Alex was done for. He would give in to his man, just as long as Slater kept making tiny shivers race through him.

But Alex had thought the same thing about those amber eyes. Just like he'd wanted to surrender to that gaze, he wanted to do the same with Slater.

He arched his back, digging his fingers into Slater's shoulders. His body hummed, the sensation intensifying as Slater trailed a series of moist kisses down his throat.

Alex didn't even remember moving, let alone how they got into the living room, but the next thing he knew, Slater was easing him down onto the couch.

Mind lost. Caution thrown. Alex wasn't sure if this was the right thing to do, letting whatever this was between them go this far.

All he knew was he wanted Slater pressing those massive muscles down on him, like he was at the moment, those muscular legs on either side of him, trapping him between them.

Hell yeah.

"What are you doing to do to me?" Alex ran his fingers over Slater's throat. "You gonna give me some more of those mind-blowing kisses?"

"You like the way I kiss you?" Slater's eyes lit up.

"You should try kissing yourself and you'll see how addictive they are."

"And how would I kiss myself?" Slater frowned playfully.

Alex smirked. "I guess I'll just have to do it for you."

Snaking his hands up Slater's arm, Alex savored the feeling of flexing muscles under his palms.

"Then you better give me some kisses," Slater let go of a playful growl, then slid his arms under Alex before pulling him closer to the man's delicious heat. Slater's sweeping tongue and soft lips were toe-curling.

Then he simply pulled away, leaving Alex confused as hell as he lay there aching, and wanting more.

Slater pressed his left knee into the cushions and planted his right foot on the floor. Now he was in the perfect position to stare down at Alex. Slowly, teasingly, Slater reached for the edge of Alex's shorts.

Was he really going to do this? Have sex with the hot deputy he'd met a little under twenty-four hours ago?

Are you really going to pass up an opportunity to be with him?

Nope.

Especially when he looked up and saw Slater's eyes were filled with so much confidence, a beautiful bluish-green, and they were heavy-lidded as his hand drew closer and closer. Was this a game of power play, of dominance? Alex sank his teeth into his lower lip, gazing up into an expression that said Slater knew damn well Alex wasn't going to stop him.

And he was right.

Whatever Slater planned on doing, Alex wanted it, wanted to be wrung from the inside out. He loved being in the guy's powerful arms. Even though they'd just met, everything about the deputy turned him on. It was just surprising Slater was letting Alex anywhere near his nuts after what happened earlier.

But he was glad, because his heart thundered as Slater curled his fingers into the waistband of Alex's shorts, grazing his skin, and making Alex's stomach jerk from the touch.

Oh god. The guy even wore a cocky smirk as he framed Alex's vision and seemed to block out the world. Now all he could see was him , strength and desire and Slater's complete ability to ensnare him.

Alex wasn't even sure who he was anymore. He'd never been this willing to hand over so much to someone he barely knew.

"Say yes."

Slater was asking for his permission, even though he knew he already had it.

"Yes." Alex grinned.

Sweet mother of mercy! Slater's fingers delved into his shorts, scorching a path along his skin as he curled his beefy fist around Alex's heavy, throbbing cock. His hand moved slowly, stroking, his eyes never straying as Alex bucked into Slater's hand, desperately needing more friction.

Once again Alex was trapped in that mesmerizing gaze, becoming Dreamboat's sole focus. His attention intense, liquifying Alex's body with every movement, his burly arms flexing. Alex wanted release too badly to hold out, to try and prolong the moment.

As if reading his mind, Slater leaned forward, gripping the couch with his other hand, and stroked faster, capturing Alex's lips in a gentle, languid kiss.

"Come for me, hummingbird. Let me see you fall apart."

A cry ripped out of Alex as a delicious explosion shot up his spine. He shouted Slater's name, hips bucking.

"Look at me, Alex," Slater demanded. "Give me your gorgeous eyes."

His body still convulsing, Alex obeyed. The savage expression in Slater's gaze dragged him under and drowned him.

Their foreheads touched like a sweet kiss of skin. "That was so fucking beautiful."

Those words were spinning through Alex.

Slater settled down next to him then pulled Alex into his arms. There was hardly any room on the couch with Slater's large frame taking up most of the space. Alex was resting more so on the guy's body than the cushions.

Then Slater's chest vibrated with a low purr, mimicking the sound of a contented cat.

In that moment, Alex was positive Slater was that beast, was that "something" powerful waiting to be unleashed.

Instead of being terrified, Alex felt the pull of it calling him again. Only, it was Slater who owned that raw power and strength.

Somehow, Alex just knew this.

Slater pulled back, brushing his thumb over Alex's lips, and Alex knew in his heart he would let both man and beast claim him.