Page 5

Gavin

He drank down every drop of seed that Stryker released into his mouth. Gavin was riding a high on his mate’s scent. His mate. Gavin had wondered. Levi had made vague suggestions. The hope had started to grow. Now Gavin knew.

Stryker was his.

Panting above him, Stryker was digging his fingers into Gavin’s shoulders while trying to catch his breath.

Gavin wrapped his fingers around Stryker’s wrists as he rose.

He kept hold of Stryker to lead him over the fallen log where Gavin had left his jeans.

“What?” Stryker asked. He blinked around in confusion. It was adorable. The boy was obviously cum-drunk.

Gavin cupped his face. The cotton mask under his fingers was soft but not as soft as Stryker’s skin. “I’m not done with you, boy.”

“O…okay.” Stryker nodded. “That’s…that’s good.”

Watching Stryker’s face, Gavin leaned down. He couldn’t wait any longer. Slowly he peeled the bottom of the mask from Stryker’s neck until he was uncovering the boy’s lips.

“I’m going to kiss you,” Gavin warned.

A puff of breath escaped through Stryker’s lips before he swallowed hard. “I might not be good at it. I don’t kiss often.”

A rush of pure possession washed over Gavin. “You’ll never kiss anyone else ever again.” To prove his point, Gavin captured Stryker’s mouth with his own.

He kissed the boy hard. Under their feet the ground rumbled. Gavin dropped his hands to Stryker’s ass, yanking him close. Above them the sky became alive with loud rolling thunder and bursts of bright lightning.

Gavin put all his pent-up emotions into the kiss. He would wipe out every other memory that Stryker had of kissing anyone who wasn’t him.

Stryker did not disappoint Gavin with his rection. He shoved his tongue inside Gavin’s mouth while clawing at Gavin’s bare shoulders. Gavin held the boy close as he fucked his tongue in and out of Stryker’s mouth. The boy was his. Gavin was claiming Stryker one body part at a time.

He had to pull away when Stryker attempted to climb up his body. Leaning back, Gavin grinned at Stryker’s lower half of his face revealed only.

“I’m not done yet,” Gavin reminded his boy. And Stryker was all his.

Stryker whined but released his firm hold on Gavin’s shoulders.

Gavin gave Stryker’s ass one last squeeze. He reached back up to peel the mask up high on Stryker’s face. Gavin brushed his lips over every new inch that he revealed. Over Stryker’s cheeks, on the tip of his nose, between his eyes, and finally right in the center of Stryker’s forehead.

His boy was gorgeous.

High cheekbones, a turned-up little nose, beautiful gray eyes.

Stryker was…well, striking.

The mask hadn’t been needed but Gavin was sort of glad that he was one of the few people that was able to see the boy’s face.

“Beautiful baby,” Gavin murmured before kissing him again.

Stryker pushed against Gavin’s chest. His hard cock brushing Gavin’s thigh. “You're killing me,” Stryker whined. “I need you to touch me!”

Gavin chuckled. “I am touching you.”

“More!” Stryker demanded.

“You aren’t making the rules, remember?”

Stryker huffed then nodded. “Sorry.”

Cupping the back of Stryker’s neck, Gavin smiled at him. “Noting to be sorry about. I’ve made you wait long enough tonight. It’s not nearly as long as you’ve made me wait though.”

Stryker laughed. He grabbed hold of Gavin’s upper arms. “I’m not even a little sorry if this is what I get.”

Gavin was pleased to see his sassy boy was back with him. “Now I get to have my fun. Over the log. Show me that tight ass you’ve been teasing me with.”

Stryker broke away from him and turned. He gave a little shimmy, shaking his ass at Gavin, before planting his hands beside Gavin’s jeans.

Stepping up behind his boy, Gavin ran his palms down Stryker’s back to his ass. Gavin might be a little obsessed. He had been dying to get his hands on Stryker’s ass since he’d gotten that first peek. Gavin might never stop touching Stryker.

“Are you just going to paw at me or do something more?” Stryker questioned, pushing back into Gavin’s touch.

“Keep taunting me, my little nugget,” Gavin said. “I have all night long.”

Stryker moaned. “You remember that I’m human, right? Pretty sure I can’t go all night long.”

How cute. Like Stryker had a choice. “You will if I tell you that you will.” Reaching around, Gavin grasped Stryker’s hard dick. “Look at this. You’re all ready for round two.”

Stryker shuddered. “Is round two happening soon?”

“Patience, boy.” Gavin stroked Stryker one time. Just once to show that he was in charge.

“Papi, please!”

Fuck! Gavin loved hearing that word from Stryker’s lips. Maybe he could speed things up just a little.

He grabbed his jeans to dig out the tube of travel lube he’d stuffed inside his pocket earlier. As paranormal Gavin didn’t need to use condoms, but he still needed Stryker’s consent. It was important that Stryker knew while the risks of Gavin taking him bare that Stryker had a choice. Even with the game playing Stryker would always have a choice.

“I can’t give or catch any human dieses to you. I’ll use a condom if you want,” Gavin said.

Stryker spotted the lube and laughed. “We don’t need a condom. Noah already told me that. I just want you. Want to feel you inside me. I guess I’m happy that you seem prepared?”

“For you,” Gavin replied. “Always prepared for you.” Using his teeth, he ripped the top off the tube. He squeezed some onto his fingers then ran those digits between Stryker’s cheeks.

“Yes,” Stryker hissed. “Finally.”

Gavin swallowed his laugh. He teased Stryker’s hole, circling, taunting, but never quite pushing his finger inside. He used the lube to wet the opening while holding Stryker open with one hand.

Stryker’s hole glistened as Gavin added more and more lube.

Eventually Stryker began to understand that Gavin was going to torture him. He tried to push back, to force penetration, but Gavin had expected that.

“Fucker!” Stryker whined.

Gavin smacked the cheek he wasn’t holding. His lubed fingers left a mark across the flesh. “That’s not how we ask for what we want.”

“Fuck me!” Stryker demanded.

Gavin smacked him again. “Who’s in charge here?”

“You!” Stryker squirmed. “Now fuck me!”

“Try again,” Gavin ordered.

“Please fuck me! Please.”

Gavin pressed the tip of his finger against Stryker’s hole. His own cock ached. He needed just as much as the boy did. He wanted to fuck Stryker more than Stryker needed him. Gavin also wanted to make sure this first time, their first time, was everything that they’d been teasing each other with.

There would be more firsts for them. This one was special. Stryker was a runner. Gavin had no doubts about that. Gavin planned on keeping the boy too exhausted to even consider leaving him.

“You said I was a good boy,” Stryker said suddenly. “Prove it!”

Stryker was his good boy. He was also a little brat that needed to be reminded who he belonged to. Of who was in charge. Gavin pressed his finger harder against Stryker’s hole.

“Beg,” Gavin told him.

“Please, please, please,” Stryker chanted. “I need you.”

“Such pretty words coming from your mouth,” Gavin praised. He slid his finger inside.

Stryker groaned, the sound echoing around them.

“This what you want?” Gavin slowly pushed his finger deep then pulled it back.

“More.”

Gavin withdrew his finger completely.

“No! I’m sorry. Please don’t stop.” Stryker shook. His entire body was taut.

Gavin grasped his cock, smearing the remaining lube over his shaft. He dropped the tube to pick up later before returning his fingers to Stryker’s hole. This time he wasn’t gentle. He plunged two fingers in deep without warning.

Stryker rose onto his tiptoes before pushing back. “Fuck! Papi!”

“Ride my fingers,” Gavin ordered. “Get yourself open so you can take my dick.”

Stryker went wild under him. He rocked himself as Gavin spread his fingers wide. Gavin added a third digit, making sure that Stryker was taking all of them to ensure he wouldn’t hurt him.

Lightning lit the entire sky above them. The canopy of leaves blocked out most of it but Gavin didn’t need any light to see. Soft rain fell as Gavin positioned the tip of his shaft at Stryker’s entrance.

Gavin held on firmly to Stryker’s hips pushing inside.

Even with the prep Stryker was tight.

He had to move his hips, working himself in and out, loosening Stryker to take all of him. Gavin had to bite his lip as he called on his patience. He would never hurt Stryker. Not his boy. His mate. It was too important. Stryker was too important.

“I can take it,” Stryker said. “Give it to me.”

Gavin tightened his hold. He gave a powerful thrust. “This what you want?”

Stryker shouted.

He drew his hips back before Gavin powered forward again.

Lightning arced above them again.

The ground shook with a rumble.

Rain began to fall faster and harder.

Everything from inside Gavin reflected in nature around them.

As Gavin started to ride Stryker hard, he closed his eyes and threw his head back. He plunged deep, making sure that he pegged Stryker’s prostate with every thrust.

Stryker met him each and every time.

They were making their own electricity. The connection between them alive.

Mates.

Forever.

Family.

Gavin’s entire body was alive. Almost like he felt right before shifting. Not that he planned on turning into his firebird right then. No, Gavin was claiming his mate.

He grasped Stryker’s cock and jerked him with each thrust of his hips.

Opening his mouth, he yelled out his release as Stryker covered his palm with his own seed.

* * * * *

Stryker

Gavin pulled out of him gently, but Stryker already missed him. Of being filled. He tried to capture Gavin’s arm, but Gavin was turning Stryker over and helped him sit on the log.

Gavin dropped to his knees in front of Stryker. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

The caring tone almost undid him.

“Baby?”

Stryker shook his head quickly. He needed to find the words that were stuck in the back of his dry throat. It was very important that he got this out. He cleared his throat. “That was perfect. You were perfect.”

Cupping his face, Gavin pushed closer to kiss Stryker.

Mmm, Stryker really loved being kissed by Gavin. He hadn’t been lying when he said that he probably wasn’t good at kissing. Bar bathroom hookups weren’t really the atmosphere that encouraged such intimacy. And kissing was intimate. At least to Stryker.

He had no problem finding a partner for a quick hand job, blowjob, or on the rare occasion, a fuck. Stryker had never been in a relationship in his entire life. Not that he was expecting anything more with Gavin. He wanted, ached, for more, but Stryker wouldn’t expect it.

Keeping one foot out the door always made things easier when Stryker wore out his welcome.

Gavin had ruined him.

Stryker would never be able to get the feel of Gavin’s hands, of his cock, of everything they shared from his mind.

In one night, Gavin had shown Stryker something he’d been missing his entire life. A connection to another person.

He whined as Gavin broke the kiss.

“It’s okay,” Gavin soothed. He rubbed his hands down Stryker’s arms. “I’m still not done with you. We need to take this inside though. It’s too cold to stay out here. And now we’re both soaked.”

Stryker blinked as he tried to gather his thoughts. Gavin wanted more?

“How about I make us a snack, you can wash up, then I’ll take you back to bed?”

That sounded like heaven to Stryker. “My RV is close.” Stryker waved his hand in the direction he thought he’d come from. He was too tired to really care.

“I think we need more than just chicken nuggets.”

Stryker popped his head up. “You went through my freezer?”

Gavin grunted as he rose. “And you wouldn’t have?”

“Chicken nuggies are the best!” Stryker claimed. It was very important that Gavin understood that. Stryker might sacrifice a lot to have some more time with Gavin but he was not going to give up his nuggies.

“I’m surprised you haven’t turned into a chicken nugget if that’s all you eat,” Gavin told him.

Wait a damn minute! “Is that why you called me nugget?”

Gavin offered his hand.

Stryker slipped his palm inside Gavin’s hold and allowed Gavin to help him up off the log. “Well?” He was curious after all.

“Does it matter?”

“I can think of a hundred other things you can call me,” Stryker argued.

“Brat?” Gavin offered.

Stryker grinned. “Sure.”

“Baby?”

He snorted. “Whatever floats your boat, Papi.”

“How about my good boy?” Gavin suggested.

He froze. Even if Stryker wanted to hide his reaction, there was no way that he could when Gavin said those two words.

“I think you like that,” Gavin said.

“I…”

“I think you really like being my good boy,” Gavin told him with a smirk.

Stryker shook his head. “Anyone who has ever met me will tell you that I’m anything but good. Evil, maybe. Wrong.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” Gavin replied.

Was this guy serious? “I know we just had some really great sex, but you’ve lost your mind. Do you even remember how we met?”

“I’m not talking about being morally good,” Gavin responded. “I’m under no illusions about what you do. You steal. You take.”

“Never from anyone who doesn’t deserve it!”

“I know that too.” Gavin wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling Stryker closer.

It didn’t even occur to Stryker to resist until he was already being held by Gavin. “I’m not a good boy.” That was really the only thing he knew to say.

“It’s okay to just be my good boy,” Gavin told him. He lifted Stryker off his feet. Literally picked him up and started to carry him away.

“Hey!” Stryker wrapped his arms and legs around Gavin. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking you back to the cabin,” Gavin said. “I already told you that I’d let you wash up while I made us some food. And the next time I’m buried deep inside you it will be in bed.”

Did Stryker really want to argue with that plan? “What about our stuff?”

“I’ll pick it up later,” Gavin replied. “No one will mess with it.”

It was too much of an effort to care really. Stryker laid his head on Gavin’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you’re carrying me. This is ridiculous.”

Gavin’s warm chuckle brushed across his neck. “I don’t want you to step on any sticks or something sharp.”

“You’re barefoot too,” Stryker pointed out.

“Shifter,” Gavin reminded him.

Well shit. Stryker hadn’t been thinking about that. Not that Stryker gave a damn that the man who’d just given him the best fucking of his life wasn’t exactly human. It wasn’t like humans had ever been kind to Stryker in the first place.

“Oh yeah, my big bad paranormal Papi,” Stryker teased. It was getting harder to keep his eyes open. Stryker was warm, Gavin giving off enough heat to sink into him, and even though both of their bodies were slick from the rain, Stryker couldn’t care less.

There was something to this being carried thing.

In his stalking, uh watching, Stryker had seen some of the other guys being carried by their partners. Stryker hadn’t really understood and had believed that it was something the more submissive partners wanted. Stryker got it now.

Gavin’s full attention was on him as he was intent on getting Stryker somewhere warm. Gavin spoke quietly but the words didn’t matter to Stryker. Not when he felt safe for the first time in his life.

They passed out of the tree line and onto the property that Stryker had seen from his cameras. As soon as Gavin stepped onto the lush grass, an electric jolt traveled up Stryker’s spine.

“That’s the magic ward,” Gavin said. “You get used to it.”

Stryker nodded. He’d suspected that was magic along the property. From what Stryker had gathered, Dean was one of the most powerful mages in the country. At least according to Noah. After Stryker’s interaction with the witches, he should probably be terrified of being surrounded by the paranormal. Instead, Stryker finally allowed his eyes to drift closed as Gavin carried him across the yard.

* * * * *

Gavin

Ushering Stryker into the hot bathtub, Gavin was glad he’d listened to River about making the space more modern and spa-like. Gavin hadn’t needed fancy, but River had insisted that he knew what the perfect bathroom would look like. All the extra-special features that were a must have.

Gavin had laughed at all the little things River had insisted were the perfect indulgence. Of course, Gavin hadn’t known that he would be helping his mate into that extravagant tub.

Stryker moaned as his foot sank into the water.

“Good?” Gavin questioned. He wanted everything perfect for his boy.

“It’s perfect.” Stryker held on to Gavin as he sank down. “This is nicer than I expected. I couldn’t really see anything from the cameras at the angle I had.”

“River designed it,” Gavin admitted. “I just let him do what he wanted.”

“River,” Stryker repeated. “Which one is that?”

“In charge of the construction here. Shawn owns the company, but River’s his right-hand man and manages our property. He’s a twin but Sebastian lives in the hell realm with his mate.”

“Who’s River’s mate?”

“Anton, who’s Axel’s younger brother, and Rainier, the king of the fae realm.”

Stryker’s eyes widened. “I think I missed something.”

Gavin crouched next to the tub. “There is only so much that you can learn from watching.”

“Hey! I talk to some of the guys too.”

“But even they will only reveal so much. They might like you, trust you on some level, but—”

“But I’m not one of you,” Stryker said.

“That isn’t what I was going to say.” Gavin hated the pain he’d heard in those words. Stryker was a master at pretending he didn’t care about people. It was obvious that Stryker cared more than he wanted people to believe. He’d kept tabs on Dean and Noah after they’d saved Stryker’s life.

“It’s true though,” Stryker argued.

“I don’t think it is.” The steam from the hot water made the air in the bathroom moist and warm. The protective side of him was pleased that his boy, his mate, was safe and relaxing in a hot tub. That Gavin was caring for him. Being a good mate.

“What?” Stryker’s face was flushed from the heat.

“I’m disagreeing that you’re not one of us,” Gavin told him.

Stryker snorted. “Sure, the human criminal fits right in with all you paranormals trying to save the world.”

Is that what the boy thought? “We’re not trying to save the world. Just our little piece of it.”

“It’s a nice little piece,” Stryker commented.

“We like it,” Gavin agreed.

“It rains more than I expected.”

Yeah, Gavin was going to have to explain more about his gifts and the entire paranormal world. Stryker thought he knew things. The boy didn’t. He had just enough information to get himself into trouble with.

“Are you hungry? I promised to make us some food,” Gavin offered.

“Well,” Stryker drawled. “If you stayed, are you going to remain out of the tub, or do you plan on getting in with me?”

Gavin chuckled. The boy did have a good idea. He rose. “I could join you if you’re sure you aren’t hungry.”

“There’s plenty of time for food. We’re not on a deadline, are we?”

“No, we’re not.” Gavin stepped closer to the tub. They had forever if Stryker would just stay without a fight. Gavin expected a fight.

“Pity you’re already naked. I wouldn’t mind getting another show.”

“You can have all the shows you want,” Gavin vowed. “Lean forward.”

Stryker grinned as he sat forward.

Gavin stepped into the tub before he sank down behind Stryker. Again, he was going to have to give River credit for this huge tub where they both fit. He pulled Stryker back to lean against his chest.

Stryker snorted. “Never shared a bath with someone before. It’s…nice.”

It was. He ran his hand down the center of Stryker’s chest. “And I like being able to touch you.”

Stryker placed his hands on Gavin’s thighs. “I get to touch you too.”

“All you want,” Gavin said. He had never been in the tub with another person before either. This felt right though. Perfect. He cupped some of the water to drip it over one of Stryker’s nipples.

Stryker gasped, his fingers tightening on Gavin’s flesh, all while pushing back against Gavin’s quickly growing dick.

Maybe he should have looked at making baths sexy before.

Gavin did it again. This time allowing his fingers to brush over Stryker’s pert nub.

The boy shook for him.

Gavin really liked that. Lowering his head, Gavin sucked on the back of Stryker’s neck.

“Gavin.” Stryker moaned out his name.

“Maybe I need to help you work up an appetite,” Gavin teased. He nipped at the bruised skin.

“I…” Stryker panted. “Whatever you want.”

That was right. Gavin was in charge and the sooner that Stryker accepted that, the easier it would be to keep him close.