“You’re not anywhere near healed yet,” Aidan pointed out, gripping the cotton shirt so tightly his knuckles went white.

  “We can be careful.” Zane let his gaze move over Aidan’s body, lingering on the bulge pressed up against his zipper. “Or not. Just… I need.” Zane groaned and pumped his prick, sliding his palm over the head. He flicked his thumbnail over the weeping slit and groaned again as his hips jerked. His body was a confusing mix of pleasure and pain and it stimulated him unbearably.

  He wanted to yell out in triumph when Aidan whipped the shirt over his head and kicked off his shoes. His hand fumbled mid-stroke, falling to the side as he visually devoured Aidan’s broad chest, humming in approval at the light smattering of blond hair there. Two flat, small brown nipples made Zane’s mouth water with the need to taste. They hardened as he stared, and Zane thought it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

  Then Aidan shoved his jeans down off his lean hips and kicked them aside. His prick stood up and tapped against his stomach, a white string of precome bridging the gap from his cock head to his chiselled abs. Zane couldn’t take his eyes away from the sight as Aidan stalked over to the bed and crawled between Zane’s thighs. He knelt then lay down, his broad shoulders pressing against the backs of Zane’s thighs as Aidan placed Zane’s legs over his shoulders.

  Zane met Aidan’s burning gaze and felt the air rush out of his lungs. He felt the presence of the other man pushing into his mind, seeking the link that scared the hell out of Zane. He resisted until Aidan, eyes still locked with Zane’s, lowered his head and ran his tongue from the base of Zane’s cock to the spongy head. Zane gasped, heat zinging from his prick to his balls and up his spine. Every reason he had for keeping Aidan out crumbled and then he was feeling the other man’s need, his hunger to be buried inside Zane’s ass, to dominate and force his mate to submit. Visions of being tied to Aidan’s bed flashed through Zane’s head, and he moaned, some part of him thrilling at the idea of being bound and at his mate’s mercy.

  Aidan’s moist mouth closed around the head of Zane’s prick and Zane thought his brain was going to melt. White sparks danced in his vision as Aidan’s head sank down and he swallowed Zane’s cock to the base. Zane fought against thrusting, muscles quivering with the need to move.

  “No.” The word was firm and clear in Zane’s mind, Aidan answering Zane’s unspoken need. Aidan’s rough hands gripped Zane’s hips, pinning them to the mattress. Zane opened his mouth to protest, but Aidan began sucking and swirling his tongue, sliding it over the slit of Zane’s prick, dipping into the little reservoir and draining the precome gathered there. Aidan’s tongue swirled again, teasing the small patch of nerves under the mushroomed head and Zane screamed. His balls drew tight as Aidan engulfed his cock again, swallowing when Zane’s cock hit the back of his throat.

  Zane fisted the sheets, muscles clenching as Aidan swallowed again. Zane tried to hold out, wanting to prolong the ecstasy coursing through him. One hand left his hip and Zane felt two fingers slide into Aidan’s mouth. Aidan’s head bobbed up and back down, bringing Zane’s thick length all the way in again.

  Aidan’s fingers slid out and teased Zane’s hole and that was all it took. Zane yelled and bucked as Aidan swallowed his cock and pushed a finger deep into Zane’s ass. The burning and stretching fuelled Zane’s orgasm, his cock throbbing as jet after jet of spunk shot out. The finger in his ass continued to pump in and out. Aidan worked a second finger into his ring, still sucking and licking Zane’s prick.

  Burning pain spread through Zane’s channel as Aidan scissored his fingers, stretching the resistant ring of muscles. Zane thought he might not be able to handle Aidan’s thick fingers, then Aidan did something with those digits, touching something inside Zane that made him scream again. “Never felt anything like that, Aidan!”

  Aidan lapped at Zane’s cock, keeping him hard. He rubbed the spot inside Zane again and again, fucking him thoroughly with his fingers. A third finger breached Zane’s opening, sending a scorching sensation shooting from Zane’s hole into his rectum, and he started to struggle. Aidan released Zane’s cock from his mouth with an audible pop and growled. He nipped the inside of Zane’s thigh and thrust his fingers hard and deep, adding a twist so he hit Zane’s prostate. He repeated the movement until Zane was writhing and begging for release.

  Zane protested when Aidan’s fingers left his body. He was panting and aching, his balls painfully tight. “Please, Aidan…”Zane heard the pleading note in his voice but didn’t care. He just knew that he needed to come; his balls ached even though Aidan had brought Zane to orgasm only moments earlier.

  Aidan crawled up the length of Zane’s body, holding himself up over Zane. Confusion washed over Zane. Had he done something wrong? He’d been sure that Aidan wanted to fuck him. He met Aidan’s heated stare, struggling to understand what was happening.

  “What are you…? I thought—oh God!” Zane’s breath rushed from his lungs when Aidan lowered his hips and rubbed their cocks together. The rumbling groan that tore from Aidan’s chest made Zane’s hips jerk as he chased after more of the pleasure that was zinging through his body. Aidan pressed his lower body down harder, and the friction against his prick nearly took the top of Zane’s head off.

  “Aidan, please, help me.” Zane thrashed almost violently, trying to thrust against Aidan’s greater weight. He fisted his hands into the sheets, then deeper into the mattress, trying to find something to cling to. Aidan ground his hips in a series of sharp, hard moves that had Zane’s eyes rolling back in his head.

  The sound of their sweat-slicked bodies rubbing together along with their panted grunts was an erotic medley that shoved Zane over the edge. Without warning, his balls drew up and his cock pulsed. Warm, tangy spunk spread between Zane and Aidan’s bodies, then Aidan was growling as his hips jerked frantically. Aidan tensed, his prick throbbing between them, then his mouth crashed down on Zane’s, nipping and invading as heated bursts of come shot out and mixed with Zane’s seed.

  Fine tremors shook Aidan’s big frame and seemed to pass to Zane as Aidan’s hips stilled and the kiss gentled. Zane felt sated and boneless, his muscles relaxed as Aidan’s tongue stroked over the roof of his mouth. Slowly he became aware of a cramping sensation in his hands. Aidan licked Zane’s lips then lifted his head, peering down at Zane with heavy lidded eyes.

  “Are you all right?” Aidan’s voice was a rough whisper that sent Zane’s mind spiralling right back to what they’d just done together. God, he’d had no idea sex included things other than blow jobs and fucking. He felt happy and ridiculously naïve—and his hands hurt like a bitch.

  “My hands… “ Zane and Aidan turned their heads at the same time, looking to where one of Zane’s hands was buried in the mattress, his fingers tangled with the inner springs. “Shit! Gabe is going to kill me!”

  Aidan’s eyes narrowed as he heard the edge of panic in Zane’s thoughts. He glanced at Zane’s other hand and saw that he had shredded the mattress there as well. “Not if we flip the mattress.” Zane started to speak but Aidan shook his head. “I’d bet that after all the noise we just made, at least one of those two are listening at the door. We will flip the mattress for now. I’ll replace it before we leave.”

  And that was something Zane wasn’t ready to think about. He hadn’t given any thought to what would happen after they had sex, any kind of sex. After all, he was still Zane Mitchell, ex-alpha, bigot, coward, hypocrite. Fuck up extraordinaire. Zane looked up to find Aidan studying him and hoped the man hadn’t picked up on any of his thoughts. Despite the fact he felt he was useless, Zane realised he didn’t want Aidan to know just how much he despised himself.

  Zane really didn’t want to feel like a pity fuck.

  Aidan stood and offered his hand to Zane. “Can you stand?”

  “Sure. I got it.” Zane had been able to walk after getting the shit beat out of him. He figured it should be easier today than it had been then. He sat up and put his feet on the floor. Aidan’s hand gripped his elbow and Zane fought the impulse to pull away. It would be petty and immature. Almost as immature as refusing to admit how much he liked feeling Aidan touch him, even in such a nonsexual manner.

  Zane pushed to his feet—and nearly toppled over. Aidan caught him to his chest, arms wrapping around him. Zane cursed as his bruised ribs were squeezed and Aidan immediately loosened his hold.

  “Sorry.” Aidan nuzzled Zane’s cheek as he petted Zane’s back. “Instinct, you know. Let’s get you to the bathroom.”

  “I don’t know what happened,” Zane muttered, embarrassment tinting his skin pink. “I shouldn’t be so weak.”

  The vibrations of Aidan’s soft laughter seeped into Zane. “Oh, I think I know, Zane.” Aidan tipped Zane’s head up and leered at him. “I just brought you off twice, mate—” Just hearing it spoke out loud had a near-devastating effect on Zane’s knees. “And I will do it again and again, until you get it through your head that you’re not running. And then I’ll do it just because we both want it.” The leer had disappeared and Aidan regarded him intently. “You’d better understand one thing, Zane Mitchell. I am the most relentless son of a bitch you’ll ever meet. And you will never be free of me unless I desire it.”

  Zane tried hard to suppress the icy shiver that ran down his spine. Aidan kept him pinned with that dark glare. What did Aidan want from him? Zane didn’t know and was too scared of the answer to ask.

  “I want you to understand that I mean what I say. You belong to me. Run from me again and I will be very unhappy with you, Zane.”

  Zane lowered his eyes in a sign of submission and refused to let himself think about what Aidan had just told him. He didn’t trust that the man wouldn’t be able to pick up on his thoughts, so for the time being, Zane decided to keep his mind carefully blank.

  Chapter Nine

  Pulling up his jeans, Aidan thought about what had just happened, his prick already half-hard again. It had been difficult, but Aidan had managed not to climb into the shower with his mate, cleaning himself at the sink instead. They had just had spine-meltingly hot orgasms, and Zane still looked bruised and battered, but Aidan had found himself wanting to mount Zane and ream his ass. His false show of submission hadn’t fooled Aidan, and the need to dominate and force his will on Zane was driving Aidan’s wolf into a frenzy. He had held back and kept from sinking his teeth into his mate earlier, and now, Aidan regretted that bit of compassion for Zane’s injured body that had kept him from being marked.

  Aidan wandered over to the bed and stripped the blanket and sheets from the mattress. Gripping the sides of the firm king-sized mattress, he flipped it over and straightened it on the box springs. He glanced at the headboard and was weighing the possibility of tying Zane to the heavy oak posts when he heard the water shut off. Hurrying to the bathroom, he opened the door and grabbed the towel from the towel bar just as Zane pushed the shower door aside.

  Glistening beads of water were trapped in the fine dark lashes surrounding Zane’s grey eyes. More droplets ran from his wet hair down his neck. Aidan stood entranced by the path one particular drop took, sliding down the centre of Zane’s broad chest, slipping into the line that divided the defined abs. Aidan licked his lips as that lucky bead of water trailed around Zane’s navel and into the thick, dark curls that nestled around the base of his cock.

  His very erect cock. Aidan’s gaze shot up to Zane’s, and he read the hunger in the man’s eyes. Aidan’s own cock was hard and aching as though he hadn’t just come less than half an hour ago. He wanted to taste Zane’s fat prick, but with the unresolved issues between them, Aidan wasn’t sure kneeling in front of the man was the wisest course he could take at this time.

  He could almost feel the caress as Zane’s gaze flitted down to his erection. The tip of Zane’s tongue peeked out and swiped along the full lower lip, leaving a slick trail of moisture. Aidan’s cock pressed painfully against his zipper and he knew what he wanted even more than to taste his mate’s prick.

  The towel landed on the floor in front of him, the movement causing Zane to jerk his head up and look at Aidan. A flash of irritation passed across Zane’s face but Aidan ignored it. He could feel what Zane wanted even if the man wouldn’t admit it.

  “Come here,” Aidan ground out, unbuttoning his jeans. Zane looked like he was going to resist, and Aidan wasn’t having it. “You forget, I can feel what you want. And right now, you want my cock fucking your mouth. You want to taste my come, feel me take control and fist my hands in your hair as I teach you how to please me.”

  Zane shook his head as though he could deny it, but he stepped out of the shower and walked to Aidan. “Why do I want that, Aidan? Not to blow you, but why do I want to give you that kind of control?” Zane seemed genuinely puzzled as he stopped at the edge of the towel. He blinked and shook his head again. “I don’t understand it. I’ve been an alpha, but with you, I want to fight you for dominance and obey at the same time.”

  Aidan had ideas about it but thought his mate needed to figure it out on his own, though if the man didn’t do it soon, Aidan would help him. For now, he would let Zane learn another lesson about the power of the attraction between mates. Aidan unzipped his jeans and shoved them down until they pooled at his ankles. He kicked the clothing aside and looked at his mate.

  “And which will you do now, Zane?” Aidan watched the play of emotions dance over his mate’s face. He knew the exact moment Zane made up his mind, felt the rush of heat surge through the man and saw it in Zane’s eyes.

  Zane didn’t break off eye contact as he gripped Aidan’s hips and dropped to his knees. Aidan felt the trembling of Zane’s hands and grunted when his mate dug his fingers in bruisingly deep. His prick was so hard he ached and the added bite of pain from Zane’s hands only heightened the need spiralling inside Aidan.

  His cock jerked, smacking into his stomach when Zane leant forward and ran his tongue from the base of Aidan’s cock to the underside of the plump head. The sight of that slick pink tongue on his shaft was too much. Aidan reached down and fisted the base of his cock with one hand and wound the other in Zane’s damp hair.

  “Open your mouth. I want to feed you my dick.” Aidan tapped Zane’s lips with his prick. He growled when Zane’s tongue darted out to swipe at the precome leaking from the heavy length. Aidan tugged at Zane’s hair and his mate’s mouth opened in a gasp. With a tip of his hips, he slid the head of his prick between Zane’s lips.

  Zane closed his eyes and moaned around Aidan’s cock, sending vibrations down it straight to Aidan’s balls. His hips jerked and more of his prick slid into the warm depths of Zane’s mouth. “Suck it.” Aidan sent a graphic image along with the thought, showing Zane what he wanted. A shudder shook Zane and his mouth tightened around Aidan’s cock.

  Aidan began rocking his hips slowly, not wanting to gag Zane as the man learned how to please him. He pushed in, stopping before he could hit the back of his mate’s throat, and pulled back out. Zane sucked harder and swirled his tongue along the underside of Aidan’s cock.

  When that probing muscle found the bundle of nerves under the spongy cock head, Aidan couldn’t hold back a moan. His fingers tightened in Zane’s hair, and Zane responded by swiping his tongue over the sensitive spot again.

  “Fuck. You learn fast.” Aidan’s control slipped as he gave in to his body’s demands. The sight of Zane’s mouth stretched wide, his full lips wrapped around Aidan’s prick, was an image that would be seared into his mind forever. Right now, it was the very thing that caused Aidan to snap.

  “Touch yourself. Now.” Aidan was moving before Zane’s hand left his hip to grip his own cock. Hips pumping in quick, short jerks, Aidan fucked Zane’s mouth. Watching his saliva-slicked prick work in and out while Zane jerked himself off had Aidan’s balls drawing tight. The tingling spread from the base of his spine as he thrust in harder than he’d intended. Zane gagged but didn’t pull back, diving forward instead to try to swallow Aidan’s prick.

  Zane sucked hard and moaned. The scent of his mate’s come hit Aidan and his thrusts became erratic as he chased his orgasm. With a swipe of his tongue into Aidan’s slit, Zane sent Aidan into overdrive. His head flung back, he yelled as he pumped his cock into Zane’s mouth, holding the man’s head still. Aidan felt Zane’s tongue sweeping over his cock, felt the humming sound of approval Zane made as he swallowed each jet of come that shot from Aidan’s prick. Aidan let go of his cock and reached back to support himself by grabbing the edge of the sink. Zane continued to suckle and lave Aidan’s softening cock, stopping only when Aidan pulled back. His cock slid from between Zane’s puffy lips. The man looked so fucking hot with his mouth opened and swollen, his pink tongue darting out to catch the lingering taste of Aidan on his lips.

  Aidan’s cock twitched and he almost snorted. Christ, at this rate, they were going to kill each other. He reached down and traced a finger over the chiselled planes of Zane’s face, feeling his heart twist when the man opened his grey eyes, soft and sated, to stare at Aidan.

  “I didn’t know,” Zane murmured, the hand still on Aidan’s hip caressing.

  Well, he wasn’t the only one. Aidan hadn’t known how intoxicating it would be to teach his mate how to please him. The man was a natural, with a mouth made for Aidan’s cock. Aidan caught the hand at his hip and pulled, signalling to Zane that he should stand.

  He did, and Aidan leant against the sink as he wrapped his other hand around the back of Zane’s neck. He tugged Zane closer, needing to taste his mate. Zane’s eyes drifted shut as Aidan brought his mouth down to Zane’s. The scent of his come on Zane’s lips made Aidan groan as he plundered Zane’s mouth, claiming him with lips, tongue and teeth.

  Zane let Aidan control the kiss, submitting to the near-violent assault with a whimper that Aidan swallowed. He swiped his tongue over the roof of Zane’s mouth and gentled the kiss, feeling the exhaustion that swept over his mate. The need to control the man before him worried Aidan somewhat, but he couldn’t fight it. If he was completely honest with himself, he didn’t want to. He placed a hard, closed-mouth kiss on Zane’s lips, then pulled back.