Chapter 2

My mate let out a manly yelp and, unfortunately, removed his hand from my back as he jolted away. But at least his movement sent a whiff of his scent into my nose. I took in a big lungful. It reminded me of savoring a mug of warm chocolate milk in the deepest part of a forest while hunting for prey.

Hmm, yum.But would my mate even like hot chocolate? I had to search his cupboards to see if he had any chocolate at all. I liked Rio’s chocolate muffins and cookies. He made the best ones.

“What the fuck, Riker,” Corbin bit out.

I kneeled at his feet. A position I wouldn’t mind doing anytime he asked, or demanded, or forced.

Yeah, I would like to see his tattooed hand—tatts that also ran up his arm, just the one because he was the coolest guy I’d ever met—grip the back of my neck and force me to the floor to take his stiff cock into my mouth until I choked on it.

“Why the fuck are you hard?” he growled.

I grinned, slowly running my tongue out over my lips as I watched my mate’s stern eyes follow it.

The scent of arousal kept coming and going. Right then, it was strong and intense, and I could get drunk off it. I wanted to lean back to grip my prick and jerk off while he stared.

No, no. I wanted to lean into him and brush my face over his crotch to see if he was as erect as I was, and then I could sneak his zipper down and swallow around his hardness. He would be firm. I mean, I was naked in front of him.

“My dick likes you and the position I’m in.” I flicked my gaze to his crotch and back up.

He ground his teeth together. “Fuckin’ hell, you shouldn’t talk shit like that.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Why not?”

He stilled when he felt my fingers walking up his leg.

“Riker,” he warned.

“Hmm?” I tried for a sweet smile and innocent eyes.

I was positive he didn’t mind what I was saying and doing since another wave of his desire slammed into me. Stronger. Headier. Besides, he hadn’t punched me for my teasing actions.

He shook his leg out and glowered. “Quit it.”

“Why?” I whined. It didn’t make sense. My mouth already watered at the thought of having his dick in it.

He sighed and rubbed at his temples before running his palm over his face. Another glare followed. “How old are you?”

“Thirty-six.”

A bark of laughter left him, but he cut it off quickly, which had me pouting. I liked his laugh. It was deep and rough like his voice. I wanted to hear more of it. I could tickle him. But if he wasn’t ticklish, it was likely he’d get irritated with me like Nox and Deacon did every time I tried to get them to laugh when they were being a pain.

“Bullshit,” my mate accused.

“Nuh-uh,” I said.

I rolled up to my feet and paused for a moment so he could look at my amazing hard dick again. Then I walked over to my jeans and took out my wallet. Of course, my ID was forged since Blackwood was Deacon’s last name. Nox and I changed ours to his when we were younger, so we all matched. But my mate wouldn’t know it was fake.

At least it did show my actual age.

I looked younger. I took after my mother apparently. But she was killed soon after I was born when the monster saw how small I was and presumed I wouldn’t be alpha enough.

I showed him, though. I showed all of them.

The memory conjured up the image of their dead bodies on the living room floor of my childhood house. I’d had blood on every inch of my six-year-old body. Even in my mouth and teeth. I’d fought them in animal and human forms, changing back and forth quickly. That was when they’d discovered I was the fastest in the pack at shifting.

Four bodies had lain lifeless on the carpet.

A father. An uncle. A grandfather. And a cousin.

All who had tormented my tiny body and soul.

“Hey.”

I blinked, focusing on my wallet in my hand before I drew my gaze up to my mate who stood in front of me.

He pinched my chin and tilted my head back a little more, maybe so he could keep my eyes on his. “You okay?”

“Yep.” I grinned. I hadn’t been good seconds ago with those thoughts. But I now was. Yes, I was very good because he was touching me. My fated was concerned for me. I wanted to reach up to brush my finger over his pinched brows, but I didn’t.

I needed to slow my wooing down. I didn’t want to scare him, and I was pretty good at pursuing.

At least, I was pretty sure I had to slow down. I’d wait and see.

If he fisted my cock right then, I wouldn’t stop him.

“Where did your head go?” he asked.

I slumped my shoulders when I guessed we weren’t getting handsy and he was talking about why I spaced before.

“In the past.”

He grunted. “Didn’t look fun.”

I shrugged. He wouldn’t be ready to hear what I’d done.

What happened if he couldn’t love me?

Fear gripped my throat, even as I stared up at him as his eyes roamed over my face.

Please love me. Love me like no one else. Love me like you can’t live without me because I’ll be doing the same for you.

He removed his fingers from my chin and coldness seeped in.

Corbin took my wallet from my hand and ordered, “Put your jeans on.”

Boo. Even my fox released an annoyed chitter of disappointment.

I liked being naked. It was freeing and reminded me of my fox in his form with no restriction on his body.

However, I liked my mate more, as did my fox, and we wanted him to be comfortable.

While I slipped into my jeans, I watched him open my wallet and pull my license from it. His jaw clenched as he read it, eyes narrowing.

“Is this real?”

“The only thing fake is my last name. I’m really thirty-six. Ask my brothers. Ask my foster mom, who’s also a shifter. A wolf. You’ll love her, but not too much. Not more than me.”

He snorted. “Why would I love you?”

Why wouldn’t he? I was a catch.

Unless he wasn’t gay or bi. Oh, he’d better not have a woman.

“Riker?”

“What?” I snapped, anger from the thought of him already in a relationship hardening the word.

“Now where’s your head gone? Fuck me, it’s like I’m on a roller coaster or havin’ a bad trip. Only I haven’t done that shit in twenty years.”

Laughing, I reached out and patted his arm. Then I stared at his arm before I curled both hands around his bicep and grinned when he flexed it.

“You done touching me up now?” he asked with humor in his lighter tone.

“No. I could go all night long.”

“Riker—”

“All night, Corbin. I’d be better than any other woman or man.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Christ, what the fuck, kid?”

“I may look like a kid, but this kid has stamina. You could pound my ass all the time and I’d still come back for more because I love cock in my ass, my mouth?—”

“Shut your mouth,” he snarled, cupping the side of my neck and dragging me close.

“Oh, I like this.” I grinned up at him as I ran my hands over his chest under his vest.

“Why do I want to fuck you?” He asked in a way that told me he’d never thought about fucking a guy before.

Goody, I’m gonna be his first.

Hip hip hooray!

Even my dick was singing its own tune since it already ached that much.

“I’m fuckable,” I told him. “But once you have my ass, you’ll have to keep me forever.”

“It’s not only me wanting to be in you. There’s something about you that…. Fucked if I know. It calls to me. Any other time I wouldn’t put up with someone jumping from one thing to another. I’d either make them talk, and not in a pleasant way, or get rid of them. But you, even when it drives me crazy, I’m willing to wait and see what else comes out of your mouth next.”

I winked. “I guess I’m just that lucky guy.”

“Not sure if it’s luck, Riker.”

It was luck and fate, but I wouldn’t tell him just yet. Maybe soon. I’d see where this would go. If he picked me. Wanted me. Though, it was hard to focus when I had his mouth this close. A shadow of stubble surrounded a mouth that I very much wanted to kiss and nibble at. I didn’t mind either way. I’d even take a lick if he gave me the chance. What would it look like wrapped around my cock? Would he give head if he’d never been with a guy?

I couldn’t believe he was already admitting he wanted to fuck me.

His honesty was refreshing.

Concentrate, Riker.

What are we talking about?

Oh, right.He wasn’t sure if him wanting me was luck on my part. “Why?”

His jaw clenched. “Don’t know yet.” His eyes locked onto his hand at the side of my neck. His fingers flexed before he swung his gaze back to mine. “Who the hell are you?”

Smiling, I gently tapped his chest. “Riker Blackwood. A messed-up fox shifter who has two annoying brothers, a doting mother, and two pretty cool brother-in-laws. I’m also standing before a man I’d very much like to get to know because it’s not every day a stranger kidnaps you to protect you.”

With a snort, he shook his head. “It’s crazy there’s shifters.”

That was what he latched onto?

Oh well.

“And vampires and fae.”

He stilled.

Shit, it was probably wrong to say that and shock him more.

“But we can talk about that another night. Can I stay the night? In bed with you? We can cuddle or you could fuck my mouth?—”

“Jesus, boy.” His eyes darkened in a pissed way, not a good way. “You don’t know me. Don’t tell me you offer your body up to just anyone?”

His grip at my neck went to the front and tightened to drag me up into his body.

I thought he was trying to be intimidating, but honestly, I was just trying not to moan aloud. It probably wasn’t the right moment.

Right?

“Tell me,” he ordered, squeezing.

Screw it.The moan slipped free, and he froze. Only his eyes moved to run over my features. He probably saw the lust written clearly.

Would it be wrong to beg for him to grab me harder?

Probably.

“I don’t offer to everybody. Haven’t been with anyone in five years. What about you—No, don’t answer that. It won’t be good if you do.”

His brows pinched again as his jaw clenched.

My poor guy is having a rough night.

I wondered if he still had his headache. I could offer to suck it out of him through his cock.

“Why wouldn’t it be good?” he demanded, thumb sliding up and down on my skin.

Looking off to the side, I tried to stop the thought of my mate with someone else. It didn’t help, though. Which was why my gaze narrowed when I stared back at him. I answered a little snappishly with the truth, “Because I’m a possessive shifter and if I think of you with someone else, I’ll get very cranky. But if I saw you with someone else…” I laughed low, more sinister than humorous. “I will kill them. I’ll slice at their throats, their stomachs, and hearts. I’ll bath in their blood gleefully, knowing they’ll never touch you again.”

Panting, I closed my eyes and dropped my hands from him, stilling.

He’d stop touching me soon.

He’d seen what a freak I was. How hungry I could be for violence, and he’d run.

No, he’d kick me out and tell me he never wanted to see me again.

Invisible claws raked through my chest to dig into my heart.

His rejection would come.

A lead ball in my gut dropped to my feet.

I’d messed up already.

There wasn’t a chance I could keep my cool, though. Not with that thought.

“I’m tired.” His hand slipped from my throat.

I lifted my head so fast, I was surprised I didn’t get whiplash.

“It’s late. I need to go to bed,” he added.

Oh.

Messaged received. He wanted me to leave. Bile, along with dread, rose. I swallowed it down.

Nodding, I took a step back, picked up my tee, and made it to the door.

There I heard, “Where the fuck’re you goin’?”

Spinning back, I clasped my hands under my chin to try and hold my rapid heart inside my chest.

“You want to go to bed,” I said.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you want me to leave so you can do it?”

He shook his head and made his way to the hallway, dropping my wallet, which I’d forgotten, on the stand close by.

He wanted me to follow, right? I wanted to follow, so I was going to follow.

“I’ll get the light,” I called, plunging the room into darkness because the curtains were already drawn.

Then, in a thrilled skip, I went down the hall. It was his fault for not kicking me out when he had the chance after he’d discovered what a possessive fucker I was from what I’d said.

I stopped in the doorway he’d disappeared through. There were no curtains, so it left the moon to do the work of lighting the room. Not that it mattered if it was as dark as the living room. I’d be able to see him anyway.

Since I hadn’t been far behind him, I didn’t miss much. He’d already removed his vest and hung it over the arm of the chair in the corner. As he went back to the bed, which had to be a king size with how big it was, he took off his tee.

Biting down on my bottom lip, I pressed a hand to my belly as it tingled from the mouthwatering sight in front of me. The tattoos on his arm ended at his shoulder, and I couldn’t see any more ink. What I did see was a hard, tanned, firm body with a dusting of chest hair. Enough I could rub against while I rode his cock.

He undid his jeans and pushed them down.

Boo.

His tight boxers stayed in place.

As soon as he’d kicked his jeans away, he climbed under the blankets and lay back with his hands behind his head while he watched me. I wanted to know what he was thinking. I wanted to pry his skull open to see how his brain ticked.

But I’d never hurt him.

Never. Not ever.

Thankfully, I hadn’t put my tee back on. I just dropped it to the floor and went for my jeans, only to pause. “Is this an underwear sleepover or can I take them off?”

“On,” he clipped.

Rolling my eyes, I smiled so he didn’t think I was overly annoyed. If my mate wanted to get to know me before fucking my brains out, then I didn’t mind at all.

The most special thing had already happened that night. Actually, there was more than one certain thing. There were a few things that showed me he was leaning toward wanting to keep me forever.

He’d saved me. Kidnapped me. Touched me. Wanted to fuck me. Was honest, and knew I was different, but he seemed to accept me the way I was. So far.

Nodding, I got rid of my jeans, then ran and jumped, landing on my hand and knees where I crawled up the mattress until I slumped down next to him under the blanket. I grinned at being beside my mate, happiness making my body hum.

I cocked a brow. “Sleep and no sexy time?”

His lips twitched, but he thinned them. Why did he keep stopping himself? “Sleep.”

“Boo. But… can we cuddle a little at least?”

He sighed. “Fine.”

“Yay!” I cried and scooted close. So close that my front was glued to his side, and I placed my arm over his wide chest, rubbing my cheek there. The hairs tickled. I liked it.

This was my favorite, forever man.

My fated mate.

I was so damn lucky. I hugged him tighter and mewed when he rested his arm along my back, hand to my waist.

Perfect.