Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

BEN

He wanted to take Connor back to the grotto. He'd dreamed about it last night and now burned for it.

Ben watched the alpha spar with his wolves above the shoreline and felt the urge to knock him out and drag him into the water. He'd make it feel good, too, curl himself around Connor and drown him in pleasure.

Not literal drowning, but he'd rock the alpha's world.

Just watching those muscles flex, blue eyes calm and patient as he sent Jake tumbling across the strip of grass separating the deck from the pebbled shore. Ben wondered if Connor was the type to fight it, or if he'd accept the grotto like any good lover should. The depths didn't come naturally to wolves, but Ben would make it so good and safe while opening himself up to whatever Connor wanted.

"What's up with Ben?" Kris asked, stretching his arms and preparing for a spar with Anders.

"Pretty boy's looking feral," Seamus said with a grin.

Ben glared at the wolves but decided he wouldn't threaten them so long as they didn't get in his way.

"Connor showed him the little grotto," Anders said, looking bored as he stepped past the chalk line in the grass, indicating he was ready for a bout.

Seamus raised an eyebrow. "So that's why he's all—" He made a vague notion towards his eyes, and Ben wondered if they were being weird again.

Ben wasn't quite sure what it meant, and none of his kin were around for him to ask. The thrumming in his blood felt soaked in possessiveness, but the last thing he wanted was to be a danger to Connor.

The wolves all paused to watch him like he was an unexpected predator. Did he make a sound, or had his scent changed?

Connor suddenly squatted in front of him. "Hey, Ben, talk to me."

Ben blinked, feeling the world shift and calm down. Connor likely didn't realize how much the tiny grotto meant to Ben. It wasn't Connor's fault; he didn't know the dangers of sprites and priceless gifts.

"What do you need?" Connor asked softly.

Ben's gaze fell to the alpha's mouth before he looked away. Sunlight on the lake twinkled and beckoned him, but he feared what would happen if he gave in and chose not to return.

Swallowing, Ben said, "Can we spar? I need to shake off this… feeling."

Connor gripped his bicep, giving it a gentle squeeze. "You smell different." He searched Ben's face. "I'm sorry. I thought the grotto would help you."

Ben grabbed his sleeve. "It does. I just haven't been in one as an adult. It's taken me by surprise." Heat flooded his cheeks. There were reasons the home grotto held secret corners and private spaces. Ben hoped Connor didn't ask more questions, letting out a breath of relief when the alpha simply nodded and urged him to his feet.

"I won't go gentle on you," Connor warned.

"I'd be insulted if you did."

Anders made space for them, giving a low whistle. "A hundred bucks on the sprite's luck making him trip over his own feet again."

Ben made an insulted sound.

Seamus cackled. "I'll raise you another hundred that it happens within ten minutes," he said, the asshole.

The other wolves laughed as they moved to sit on the edge of the deck to watch.

"Concentrate on me," Connor said, settling into a ready stance on the grass.

Ben squared his shoulders, determined not to be distracted by the sight of olive skin and muscled thighs he wanted to climb. He watched for the shift in Connor's weight, giving himself a tiny moment to prepare before the alpha launched at him.

Connor went for quick, powerful jabs to Ben's torso, followed by a nasty uppercut meant to send Ben on his ass. Ben ducked and weaved, speed and flexibility his allies, the blows not making contact. He grinned at Connor, appreciating that the alpha didn't insult him by pulling any blows.

Connor smiled back and attacked again.

Ben met him with a few strikes, surprised to get under the alpha's guard to land several punches. He'd grown faster over the last few months, thriving under the care of the Oakford Pack.

The wolves cheered when Ben scored a punch to Connor's chin, snapping the alpha's head back as he stumbled a few paces.

Shaking his head to clear it, Connor grinned meanly. "Try that again, sweetheart."

Ben stepped in, confidence growing, and quickly discovered his mistake when Connor grabbed him by the arm and reeled him in before throwing Ben over his shoulder. Ben cartwheeled through the air and crashed near the shore.

Jake groaned in sympathy from the deck.

Determined, Ben leapt to his feet and flung his hand out toward the lake. Something inside him pulled , the sound of rushing water filling his ears. For a moment, Ben became like water, flowing and reflecting the light.

A sense of rightness came over Ben as the water danced around him. He remembered seeing elders pull water from the old grotto and disappear before his eyes. They'd liked to prank the little ones, pulling on hair or tweaking the noses of the unsuspecting amidst squeals of laughter.

Somehow, Ben had forgotten. Now, he was awake for the first time since poison blackened the grotto's water and dragged his dying kin to the bottom. He pulled more water, letting it swirl about him.

Connor stopped his advance to stare.

Anders jumped off the deck. "Um, where'd he go?" he asked amidst murmurs and shouts of surprise from the other enforcers.

Ben went for Connor's guts, a cheap shot that sent the alpha reeling.

Straightening, Connor rubbed his side, his eyes narrowing as he searched the shoreline. Ben moved in, wanting to tumble Connor into the water and wrap his legs around Connor's hips and taste his skin.

The alpha suddenly reached through the water and grabbed Ben by the wrist. He spun Ben about, pressing him against Connor's chest.

"Cheeky," Connor rumbled in his ear, making Ben's skin tingle.

Ben lost control of the water, revealing himself with a splash. "How?—?"

"I smell you," Connor said, pressing his nose behind Ben's ear and drawing a deep breath. "Every part of me knows you, Ben."

And didn't that do weird things inside his chest. He swallowed hard, unable to ignore the fire pooling in his guts and thickening his cock.

He felt an answering hardness against his ass. Connor's mouth pressed against his throat, and Ben was sure he felt a trace of tongue warming his skin.

"Jesus," Kris said, looking amused as he got to his feet and started backing towards the cabin. "I'm going to get started on dinner."

"It's eleven in the morning," Seamus called out because he was an asshole.

"Yeah, and you can fucking help us," Anders muttered, pulling a knife and making a shooing motion as he climbed the stairs.

Seamus rolled his eyes but got up. "Fine, it's like watching your parents fuck anyway."

Jake grimaced, giving Ben a polite nod before trotting to follow after the other enforcers.

Blushing, Ben went to pull away, disappointed when Connor's grip around his chest briefly tightened only to release him moments later.

The alpha bore a slightly shell-shocked look in his eyes as he turned Ben about and gripped his shoulders. He studied Ben anew. "Show me how you did that."

"The water thing? I don't know what I did," Ben said.

"You're connecting with your sprite heritage," Connor said, wonder in his voice. "I thought it meant sprites are shy?—"

Ben snorted at that.

"But I see now that it's something more." Connor looked over him, marveling. "All fae have magic, so of course that means sprites do, too. It's my mistake for thinking you didn't."

Ben shrugged, fighting the urge to preen under the alpha's gaze.

"Do it again," Connor said.

"I already told you I don't know how I did it."

Connor nodded and stepped close with raised fists. "Then we'll keep fighting until you figure it out."