A sound at the door alerted him to the fact that someone had entered the room without him realizing it. Noah glanced over to see Blue, their resident Fae prince, regarding him with fond amusement.
The prince’s real name was Sariel, but he was widely known as Blue for his huge, gorgeous blue wings and matching hair.
“Hey,” Noah said, smiling. “What’s up?”
“I got word of your tussle with the tiger shifter. How are you feeling?” The prince moved to the chair Nix had vacated.
“Tired and sore. But glad to be alive.”
“No doubt.” He eyed Noah critically. “You’re looking well. More so than you probably should, even after Zan’s healing.”
“Maybe.” He frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to figure something out.”
“Perhaps that’s because I am trying to figure something out.” Moving his gaze away from Noah’s face, he stared at the cup on the rolling table for a long moment before pinning Noah with his golden eyes.
“I’ve been wondering for a while now . . . are you ever going to reveal to the others that you’re a Halfling?”
Noah’s jaw dropped open and he stared at Blue, stunned. “Say what?”
“A Halfling,” the prince repeated. “Half Fae, half human.”
“I know what a Halfling is, but why in the hell would you think I’m one? I’d know something like that! Wouldn’t I?”
Blue blinked at him. “You mean you didn’t have any idea?”
“Oh my God! Of course not!” He winced to hear himself practically yelling at Sariel. “Sorry. I’m just sort of shocked. How can you tell?”
“I’m a very powerful and ancient Fae,” Blue reminded him. “If another Fae were to cross into the human realm, I’d sense him from across your world. Sensing you in the same building wasn’t much of a challenge.”
“Huh. I don’t know whether to laugh or be insulted.”
“I don’t mean it to be insulting,” Sariel said quickly. “My abilities are simply fact, just as yours are.”
“Oh sure,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm. “My near-useless dab of elementary magic is a fact. Maybe I can look deep into their eyes and tell them what color underwear they have on, or levitate a rolling chair. I’ll be the envy of the whole Alpha Pack. I can’t imagine why I haven’t told them what I can do.”
His friend made a noise of disapproval. “That’s no way to talk, especially when you can learn to open up your abilities and sharpen them.”
“How?”
“I can show you, if you want.”
Noah stared at Blue, unable to believe this stroke of uncharacteristic good fortune. “Hey, if you can lift me anywhere above the level of magic school reject? That would be totally awesome.”
“Great! Kalen can help us.”
Kalen Black was the team’s Sorcerer/Necromancer/black panther shifter. He was also Blue’s half-brother. Kalen and Blue were badass, and together they could probably rule the world if they wanted. Fortunately for mankind, they were nothing like their evil sire, Malik, the deceased Unseelie king.
“That’ll be cool—if you’re sure he won’t mind.”
“The only thing he would mind is if he found out I helped you and he didn’t get to be a part of it. It won’t be a problem, it’ll be fun.”
“All right,” Noah said, excitement growing. “Blue, this could be it. This could be the thing that shows Nix I’m worthy of him.”
“Oh, no. You have that all wrong.” The prince’s lips turned up. “Your mate is going to finally see whether he is worthy of you.”
* * *
That kiss.
Nix had no real clue where he was going as he left Sanctuary. In a daze, he walked down the front steps, bypassed the hangar, and kept right on going until he reached the edge of the forest. Once there, he picked a trail at random and plunged forward, not really caring how far he went.
No matter how many miles his feet carried him, it would never be far enough.
He couldn’t shake the memory of Noah’s lips against his. So soft and yet with the right amount of firmness. Their mouths slowly devouring each other, Noah’s body responding so quickly to his attention. He’d enjoyed his mate’s hand in his hair, too, and wanted him to do that often.
And didn’t that just freak him the fuck out?
He wasn’t supposed to love the hell out of touching another dude. Kissing him. Wasn’t supposed to want to bury his cock inside his sweet nurse so badly he thought he’d die from the anticipation if he made himself wait much longer.
Sure, he’d been with both boys and girls in high school. And men and women later, when he joined the Navy. But his hookups with men were furtive, secret. Women were a cover for his true self and he knew it. Not a single one of those experiences could compare to the explosive reaction when he’d kissed Noah. Not even close.
None of them were his mate.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen,” he growled in anguish, stopping to stare at the sky through the treetops. “Why him?”
That was as much self-honesty as he could handle for now.
Stripping off his shorts, he shifted into his wolf form and ran. As fast as he could, he raced through the forest along the familiar trails. Wildlife stirred, small game that he chased but didn’t bother to kill and eat. He was out for the air, to clear his head. Maybe if he ran his wolf into exhaustion, the damned beast would be too tired to bitch and whine at him about not taking his mate yet.
As if.
Still, he ran anyway. When he finally came to his favorite stream, he stopped and shifted back into human form. His run had been exhilarating, but he was frustrated and pissed to find that it had done nothing to lessen his arousal. As he knelt in the mossy earth by the stream, his cock stood hard and proud, jutting out from his body, red and aching.
With a curse, Nix took himself in hand, palming the rigid length. Instantly he pictured Noah, on his knees, taking Nix’s cock between those plump lips and down his throat. He imagined that sweet face looking up at him, blue eyes heavy with desire. With the knowledge that as soon as Nix got finished shooting, he’d lap up the offering and get ready, because they were going for round two.
What would Noah look like on his hands and knees, firm ass stuck up in the air, ready for his cock? Fucking great, he imagined. Especially when Nix began to slide inside—
“Oh, fuck!”
That’s all the fantasizing it took, and he erupted over his fist, shooting ribbons of come into the stream in front of him. When the spasms faded, he sat back on his heels and heaved a deep breath, hands on his thighs.
“Man, you’re royally screwed,”
Yep. He had it bad. And he had no idea what the hell to do about it.
* * *
Melina was fond of comparing Noah to a squirrel on crack.
Nix couldn’t say he disagreed. When the man was forced to sit still for very long, it was not a good situation. Today he was being discharged from the hospital inside Sanctuary, which was great, but Noah didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word “rest.”
“You instruct your patients to take it easy all the time,” Nix pointed out. “Can’t you follow your own advice?”
His mate paused in the act of pulling on a pair of loose sweats and gave him the stink-eye. “Haven’t you heard that doctors and nurses make the absolute worst patients in the history of ever? I rarely follow my own advice.”
“That’s just stupid.”
“Oh no. You did not just call me stupid.” Blue eyes narrowed.
“No! Not you, just doctors and nurses in general. Christ, I don’t know why I thought having a man for a mate would be any different than having a woman! I still have to be super fucking careful about everything I say.”
/> “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Jeez. Never mind. Need some help?”
“I can manage, thanks.”
He was already worn out, though. He sat on the bed with a sigh, wearing nothing but the sweat pants, and looked as tired as if he’d gone three more rounds with the tiger.
“Here.” Grabbing the shirt he’d brought over this morning from his own quarters, he went to put it on over his mate’s head.
“I’m not completely helpless. I can put on a shirt.”
“Noah? Shut up.”
“Fine.”
Finally the man allowed himself to be dressed and assisted with his tennis shoes without further bitching. For his part, Nix was surprised to learn how much he enjoyed taking care of his mate.
This protectiveness was a strange new feeling. No one he’d ever been with, male or female, had inspired the need inside him to keep them close and safe. To rip apart any who might hurt them.
That feeling seemed to be reserved for one hot blond.
“Ready?” he asked Noah.
“As I’ll ever be.”
After getting the official discharge from Melina, Nix led them out of the room. Some of Noah’s coworkers said good-bye on the way out, advising him once again to take it easy before coming back. Nix led his mate to the corridor that connected Sanctuary with the main building at the compound where the Pack and the rest of the staff lived.
There were a couple of security doors to pass through along the way, and Nix keyed in the codes. Once they were in the main building, he took them down several turns until finally they stopped at his room. One more code and they were inside.
“This is nice,” Noah said, looking around. “A lot like mine, just a slightly different floor plan.”
“Yeah, I think they varied them up some. It’s still a one-bedroom, one-bath with a kitchen, though.”
“I like how you have it decorated, with the brown leather and accent rugs. It’s very manly.”
“Thanks. What’s yours done in? Hello Kitty pink?”
Immediately he knew he’d said the wrong thing. His teasing had been taken the wrong way, and Noah was staring at him with such a wounded look that Nix’s heart sank.
Quickly he dropped Noah’s bag on the floor, crossed the short distance between them, and stopped, uncertain what to do next. “I’m so sorry. I was just teasing, you know, because you love pink so much. Your shoelaces, and your shirts? I was picturing the rest matching, that’s all.”
Some of the hurt faded from Noah’s adorable face. “Really?”
Nix inched closer, touching his mate’s cheek. “Yes, I swear. I’d never make fun of you or do anything to hurt you intentionally. Please believe that.”
Noah must’ve heard the sincerity in his voice and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt, because his arms went around Nix. Then he turned his face up and looked at Nix under his long lashes. “There might be some pink.”
“I knew it!”
“But only as accents.”
“The mind boggles.”
“Hey, it all works.”
Unable to resist, Nix pulled Noah tight against him and tilted his chin up with one finger. Then he pressed his lips to his mate’s and savored them for a long moment, tasting and exploring. Noah smelled and tasted sweet, like vanilla and caramel, a scent unique to him. Nix’s wolf liked it, a lot.
Once they broke the kiss, it was apparent both of them had a slight problem. But Noah was still recovering and he couldn’t push, despite his wolf’s displeasure. Besides, am I really ready to make love to my mate? The truth was, he was nervous about their first time. His libido would have to suffer a bit longer.
“Come on, let’s get you settled. I want you to rest awhile before dinner.”
Noah bit his lip before asking shyly, “Will you lie down with me and hold me?”
“Sure,” he said, trying to keep the hesitance from his voice. It was the least he could do for his mate, right?
Taking his hand, Nix led him into the bedroom. Noah crawled onto the king-sized bed, and Nix helped him take off his shirt and shoes, then his own. Then he joined his mate in the middle of the big bed, got situated on his back, and settled in awkwardly. What the hell was he supposed to do now?
Fucking a guy, he’d done. This relationship stuff? Never. The idea was scarier than the danger posed by any demon or Sluagh Nix could ever battle.
Noah solved his dilemma when he smiled, happily cuddling into his side and laid his head on Nix’s chest, underneath his chin. Apparently, it was the perfect place. Pretty soon, Noah’s breathing evened out as he succumbed to a much-needed nap. Sleep wouldn’t come for Nix, though. Not right away.
Noah felt so odd in his arms. Different. Yet so good and right. So warm, and his.
The first real stirrings of something more than just protective instinct awakened inside him, in those quiet hours. Holding Noah. Just listening to him breathe.
And Nix knew he’d never again be the same.
3
The first thing Noah became aware of upon awakening from his nap was being comfortably pillowed on a warm man who smelled divine. Like pine and expensive cologne. He didn’t need a wolf’s nose to discern that, and it made him only want to get closer and go exploring.
The second thing he became aware of, upon cracking an eye open, was the glorious chest he was lying on. He found himself staring at a perfectly formed, taut nipple just begging to be licked and tasted. He’d never been one to deny himself such pleasure, and he sure didn’t want to start with his own mate.
Biting his lip nervously, he studied Nix’s sleeping face and wondered how he’d react to having his bones jumped. Would he flip his shit?
Maybe not. Nix might not be completely on board yet with the mating thing, but he’d come running quickly enough when Noah needed him. There’d been no mistaking how worried Nix had been, or the desire in his eyes when he looked at Noah. And when Nix kissed him.
Mind made up, he stretched languorously and wiggled onto his stomach so that he was lying half on top of Nix. Then he bent his head and went to work on the tiny nub, making sure to molest it as thoroughly as possible. The little brown bead tightened to an eraser point, and Nix moaned a bit in his sleep. Grinning, Noah continued his gentle assault, until long fingers wrapped themselves in his hair at the back of his head.
Noah froze, but Nix’s hand was encouraging, not trying to dissuade him. Emboldened, he continued his journey, kissing and licking his way over to the other nipple, where it received equal treatment. No point in leaving the poor thing out.
“Noah.”
His name, moaned with such longing, sent a bolt of arousal straight to his groin. The man might fight their mating every step of the way, but when his guard was down there was no mistaking his desires. He could lie in front of their friends, but not to Noah. Not now, like this.
Peppering kisses down Nix’s faint happy trail to the waistband of his shorts, Noah loved on every inch of skin. When he got to the button of the shorts, he undid them and looked up at Nix to gauge his reaction.
His mate was gazing at him through a fall of long, dark blond hair. His eyes were like glittering jade, the desire in them so white-hot that if they’d been a physical flame, Noah would’ve been burned to a crisp. He’d never seen anything sexier than Phoenix Monroe lifting his hips in invitation, without saying a word.
Indeed, no words were necessary.
Excitement caused Noah’s hands to shake as he slid his mate’s shorts and underwear off. Once he had them down over Nix’s ankles he cast them to the floor and returned his attention to the living god sprawled on the bed.
Nix was everything he could’ve hoped for in a man. Not just physically, though he was perfectly stunning. No, it was more than that. It was the way he was looking at Noah, as though he could see into his soul, a
nd liked what he saw.
Nix spread his legs, lips kicking up in a smile. Noah wasted no time discarding his own sweats and underwear before crawling between his mate’s sinewy thighs. His attention shifted to the rather impressive cock straining toward the ceiling. His mate’s rod was a respectable eight inches, at least, and a girth that would fill Noah nicely. He shivered in anticipation.
Nix’s cock was surrounded by a nest of neatly trimmed curlies that were a shade or so darker than the hair on his head, and a set of heavy balls rested underneath. Crouching, Noah grasped the shaft and tasted the pearly drop on the flared head, and was satisfied by the swift intake of breath, followed by a needy moan from his partner.
Next, he took the head in his mouth, sucking. Then he slowly worked his way to the base, licking and sucking more, until he was swallowing the whole member. Again and again he loved on Nix’s cock, getting to know every single spot while kneading the man’s balls.
“Noah,” he groaned. “Shit, baby! If you keep that up, I’m gonna come!”
“Isn’t that the point?” He grinned up at his mate.
“Eventually.” He raised a brow, smiling back and the sight took Noah’s breath away. “But I want to make sure you feel good, too, while I come inside you. I want to fuck you, now. Come here.”
Oh, God. Noah about combusted, right there. Heart pounding, he crawled up Nix’s body, into his arms, and found himself enfolded into a strong embrace. Nix rolled them, settled his bigger body over Noah’s, lowered his head, and took Noah’s mouth with a passion that curled his toes.
The kiss was fierce, possessive, and yet gentle at the same time. It left no doubt to whom Noah belonged, and made his heart soar. He could’ve wept with sheer joy.
Nix broke the kiss, stroking his face. “Shifters don’t need condoms. Of course, you know that.”
“I know.” Nix hadn’t needed to tell him that, given Noah’s job at Sanctuary. It was Nix’s way of making sure Noah was on the same page with where they were going. “I’m ready.”
“Good. Because I can’t wait any longer to be with you.”
Yes, finally. “Me, either. Please, Nix, don’t wait anymore.”