Page 40 of The Runaway

“Just like this,” Gabriel said. “You get to be in control.” The idea was laughable. The instant Gabriel was inside him, he was going to take over, grabbing Connor’s hips, rolling them over so he could thrust into him. This was all a nice bit of fantasy, pretending that Connor actually had control, but he knew he didn’t.

As he dithered there on his knees, it only took a few seconds for Gabriel to lose patience. He reached for Connor, and Connor braced himself to be shoved backwards, to feel that thick length pressing inside him…

But Gabriel only ran a gentle hand up his thigh. With his other hand, he grazed the underside of Connor’s erection with his knuckles, then circled his thumb around the head of his cock. “We can take some more time, if you like. I don’t want you to have to wait, if you need me now, but…” The hand on his hip climbed higher, and Connor flinched as it reached his waist.

“Sorry,” Gabriel apologised immediately. “You don’t like that?”

“No, it’s just… Sorry. I’m ticklish,” Connor said, feeling foolish. He’d had belt buckles and horse whips flaying his flesh, but he’d jumped from a few tentative fingers?

But Gabriel looked amused. “Are you really?”

“Just here,” he said, indicating his waist. “And my neck.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” His hand slid downwards to Connor’s hip again, then around the back to give a gentle squeeze to his butt cheek. Then he pulled both hands back to prop himself up on his elbows. “Has anyone ever kissed you?”

Connor’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Kissed me? No.” It was hard to say which was more shocking, the very idea of being kissed, or the sudden realisation that he wanted Gabriel to do it. His eyes flew to Gabriel’s lips. His upper lip was thin, his lower one fuller. What would they feel like against Connor’s lips? He felt his face flush as he thought about it. What would he taste like? Would he be firm or gentle?

Abruptly, Connor pulled himself out of the fantasy. Alphas didn’t kiss omegas. The only people he’d seen kissing each other were betas. Betas were the ones who had relationships, fell in love, got married. Alphas just used their omega slaves, and the omegas…

“Would you like to try it?” Gabriel looked cautious, but also eager at the idea.

“Um.. I haven’t… I don’t know how to…”

“It’s all right. We’ll take it slow. And you can pull away if you don’t like it.”

Pull away from an alpha in rut? Was he out of his mind? “Okay,” Connor said, because what else could he say? He couldn’t exactly refuse. Gabriel sat up, supporting himself with one hand on the mattress behind him. His other hand came up to cup Connor’s neck, rubbing gently against the cluster of nerves at the back. Connor felt himself instantly relax. He’d never liked having his neck touched before. Alphas would bite him there, releasing a chemical that shot straight to his brain, rendering him limp and pliable. And usually, as soon as the alpha had bitten him, they’d immediately mount him, using the trigger point as a way to force him into submission when they’d grown tired of his struggles.

But Gabriel only massaged the nerves gently, releasing a small dose of whatever chemical made Connor relax. He felt some of the tension ease out of his muscles and it took the edge off his fear. Maybe kissing wouldn’t be such a bad thing?

Gabriel leaned forward, and Connor held his breath. He felt the first, light brush of lips against his own, then Gabriel pulled back. Connor let him, but was surprised to feel the urge to follow him, forcing himself to hold back, to stay still. Was that it? Was that a kiss? It wasn’t bad, but it left him wanting more, craving a feeling he didn’t know how to explain. His eyes roamed over Gabriel’s lips again, then his tongue came out to wet his own.

“Okay?” Gabriel asked.

Connor nodded, unable to stop himself from leaning forward.

Gabriel leaned in again, and this time, the kiss was firmer and it went on for longer. Just a chaste meeting of lips, but Gabriel’s mouth against his was warm and tender, his lips nibbling just a fraction on Connor’s own. Despite his apprehension, he felt himself smile. “That’s nice,” he said, feeling suddenly bashful. Was he allowed to say that? Would saying he liked it make Gabriel keep doing it, or would he stop as a way of punishing Connor for enjoying this?

Gabriel’s mouth was back on his a moment later, and this time, Connor felt his tongue seeking entrance. He parted his lips, holding himself very still. Gabriel’s tongue pressed into his mouth, stroking over his own tongue. The taste of him was sublime, male and sweet, like a fresh, ripe pear. Connor heard a faint moan and realised he’d made the sound himself.

Gabriel eased back again, a smile tugging at his lips. “You like that, don’t you?” As Connor watched, threads of gold once again appeared in the alpha’s eyes.

“Yeah,” he agreed, momentarily letting go of his fear. Gabriel wasn’t like other alphas. Perhaps he really did want Connor to enjoy this. Perhaps he meant it when he said Connor could have a little control for himself. It was still early in the heat, and there was plenty that could still go wrong, but maybe it wouldn’t be as terrible as it had been before? Maybe Helen had been right, and Gabriel really wouldn’t hurt him?

Instinctively, Connor flexed his hips, feeling the long, hard shaft of Gabriel’s erection stroke against his ass. Oh, that felt nice. He did it again, feeling heat building up in his groin. Gabriel’s hand was back on his cock now, giving him slow, easy strokes that sent tingles through his erection. He felt his ass clench, feeling suddenly empty and bereft. “I like that,” he said, his eyes falling halfway closed.

Gabriel’s hand slid around to his ass, squeezing his cheeks gently. “Are you ready to try the next bit?”

Without thinking about it, Connor reached around, lining Gabriel’s impressive erection up with his entrance. He rubbed his hips back and forth for a moment, enjoying the sensation. There was no pain, no bruising grip or stinging stretch. Just little sparks of pleasure. Did he actually want this? Never before in his life had he enjoyed a mating. Even with his first master, it had always felt like an invasion, like his body was no longer his own and someone else was using him, like a cow to be milked or a sheep to be shorn; a means to an end that only ever served the master.

Gabriel was breathing harder now, but Connor felt no fear at his apparent excitement. He was lying still beneath him, letting Connor set the pace. He pressed back again and felt the head of Gabriel’s erection slip inside him.

An instant later, he froze. God, he couldn’t do this. He wasn’t even being forced this time. He was doing it himself,choosingto be filled and fucked and used, like a stray dog begging for scraps of meat. His vision clouded. His ears were ringing. He heard Gabriel say something, but he couldn’t make out the words.

With a cry of panic, Connor threw himself off Gabriel, off the side of the bed, across the floor and into a corner where he curled in on himself, memories assailing him as the past eight years caught up to him in one horrifying rush.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Eight Years Ago – Blanchet Estate