Crossing the River Read online

  Big hands slid down to press him close, tugging at his ass. Mai started moving him to the bed, and Ash couldn’t decide whether to rejoice or argue. They’d never touched in a bed in their whole lives.

  When Mai lowered him then lay down on top of him, Ash went with rejoicing. He arched up in a motion more desperate than graceful, and they rubbed together, pushing each other. This would be too fast, too needy, and Mai kept making amazing noises, guttural and hungry.

  Ash grabbed Mai’s ass, pulling him closer. That heavy cock rubbed his, so hot, like a brand. He touched the tip, shoving his hand between them to gather the wet drops.

  “Yes,” Mai grunted, thrusting against him, wild for him. Mai was shaking. His Mai.

  “Yes. Yes, I have you. Promise.”

  “Ashkii. I thought I’d lost you.”

  Maicoh had. For years. Ash wasn’t sure he wouldn’t again after this. It felt a bit inevitable.

  “Stop.” Mai bit his earlobe. “Stop running away in your head.”

  “I’m scared.” The words popped out of him.

  “I know. Me, too. We’re a mess.” Mal smiled, a gentle expression on a hard face.

  “Yes. Love me for a minute.”

  “Of course.” Mai was all over him, kissing his skin, licking and lapping him, making him shudder. Those hot lips felt so soft. So good.

  “Please.” He was going to explode.

  “Love how you taste. Salty.”

  “I like salty. I taste like the river.”

  “No sulfur, though.”

  Ash chuckled then that turned into a laugh. Maybe, he was losing his mind.

  “Not yet. I’m working on it.”

  He moaned, head thrown back. Mai nibbled on him, making hungry noises that should have sounded silly. Instead, they made Ash shiver. The thought that Mai would be hungry for him astounded him. Ash would take all he could, holding it inside him for when Mai had gone. Or he had, one of the two.

  Mai growled suddenly, flipped him and sank sharp teeth into his neck, shaking him. “Stop it!”

  He yelped then gave up his bare belly.

  “That’s better.” Mai bit again then again, marking him.

  Oh. Ash panted, wiggling, trying to get more. He couldn’t think. Hell, he didn’t want to think anymore. He wanted to feel.

  “I can do that.” Mai licked at his chin then nipped his lower lip. “Want you so much.”

  “Please. Please, it’s been so long.” He was absolutely a virgin again.

  “I know. I’m going to fuck you, baby. Soon. I swear.”

  “Now?”

  He got a luscious, sharp blow to his backside that stung so good. “When I say and not before then.”

  Mai was so damned good when he was forceful. That had always been so damned sexy.

  He groaned, his arousal not abating in the least. In fact, it swelled; his soul knew that Mai was the alpha male. One more slap made him arch, offering everything, his throat and chest and cock.

  “Beautiful man.” Mai sounded overwhelmed, incredibly honored.

  He preened a bit, showing off for his mate. Ash moaned softly, his fingers trailing over Mai’s skin.

  “Touch me. Yes.” Mai crowded closer, obviously needing more.

  The permission to explore was delicious, so he let himself touch, let his fingers trail over Maicoh’s fuzzy belly. Mai hummed, the pleasure clear in the sound, so he tugged the heavy curls, making Mai sting.

  Growling, Mai took his hand. “None of that. baby. That’s my job.”

  Ash barked, the sound one of pure excitement, the thrill of the command shooting right through him. Mai knew how to make him crazy, how to make his body jump with need.

  “Hungry.” Maicoh cupped his balls, rolled them in their sac.

  “I am. I love how you feel. I want to stop thinking.” He needed to stop worrying.

  “I can do that. Turn over.” Mai flipped him like a pancake.

  Ash blinked, the casual strength the most erotic thing he’d ever felt. Mai stroked his back, his ass then the backs of his thighs. Ash spread, toes curling as lightning shot up his muscles.

  Mai hummed, the sound pleased, then smacked him hard on one ass cheek.

  “Maicoh!” He felt every finger.

  “Yes, love. Feel everything. I want you to know I’m here with you.”

  As if he could forget, like this moment wasn’t branded into his soul. Still, he arched, his body begging. Mai’s nails scored his back, scratching him deep so he felt it in his bones. Ash moaned, his skin rising up with goose bumps. His cock felt like iron, harder than it had been since the last time with Mai. Since the last time with his mate.

  “So pretty, Ash. My beautiful one.”

  “Yours. Please. Please, I need you.”

  “I know. I want to be inside you.”

  He rolled his hips back and up, making a clear offer.

  “Yes.” Mai kissed his skin, lips so warm on his spine.

  The connection felt sweet, honest. Real.

  Then Mal slid a finger, slick with something that smelled amazing, against Ash’s hole, lighting up his nerve endings. His toes curled, and his legs drew up, exposing him further.

  “So trusting. Not sure I deserve it.”

  “Don’t you leave me. Not like this.” Ash would lose his goddamn mind if Mai left him.

  “No. No, I can’t do that. I need it.”

  “Then take me!”

  “Yes.” The slick fingers opened him quickly, and Mai pushed into him in moments. Then it was that beautiful, fat prick spreading him wide.

  Ash knew this so well, even if it had been years. He knew every inch of Mai, and it was exactly what he’d craved. Fucking perfection. He’d never known need like this before, but that wasn’t true was it? He’d needed Mai before, from the first moment they’d seen each other.

  “Oh, love. So good.” Mai could have been carved from stone he was so hard. Ash nodded, aching for it, driving himself down on Mai’s prick.

  They rocked together, both of them panting, really working together. They found a rhythm, and suddenly, he soared, the entire world lit up. Mai sounded like a freight train, breathing hard, praising Ash with little sounds. Best of all, Ash heard Mai, heard the song of his mate, pouring through him, the door between their minds blown open by the storm of their connection. Ash sobbed. He couldn’t lose this again.

  “Shh. Shh, Ashkii. I have you. I do.”

  “More, Maicoh. Please.” Don’t stop.

  “Never. All of me.” Mai grunted with every thrust, and the words echoed deep within Ash.

  Then Maicoh shouted, eyes wide, hot seed splashing inside Ash’s body. The heat was all Ash needed, and he bore down, eyes crossed, toes curled as he came.

  Mai nuzzled his cheek, his lips, watching him carefully. All Ash could do was pant, let himself feel the connection pulsing between them, a bright rope of emotion tying them together. Glorious.

  “Love.” Mai sounded happy.

  “Yes.” His entire self—man and wolf—was exhausted, drawn to the edge of the world.

  “Don’t leave me, love,” Mai told him. “Stay.”

  “Stay? Yes?” He didn’t want to move.

  “Good.” Mai pressed a kiss to his mouth, tender and weirdly chaste.

  Ash fell asleep, Mai still buried inside him, touching him so deep.

  Chapter Seven

  Mai woke cautiously, afraid he would be alone.

  When he felt Ash there with him, joy spread through him, little bursts of lightning-quick emotion under his skin. Ashkii murmured softly then reached for him. His mate was running in his dreams, chasing bunnies. Mai took Ash in his arms and joined the hunt, letting his Ash lead.

  Those beautiful green eyes met his, happy and laughing, and they tore off together. Oh, he’d missed his Ashkii’s dreams, so vivid, so wonderful and free. So much joy and youth. There was nothing but trust here.

  Not an ou
nce of doubt.

  Mai squeezed his eyes shut. His lovely one.

  Mai! Maicoh, love you!

  I love you, Ashkii. He fought the urge to look around and make sure none of the pack were there, waiting to jump them.

  They won’t come here. They don’t want me.

  I do. The pack didn’t want Mai, either, not now, and he was all right with that.

  Ashkii looked at him, dream self glowing, tongue lolling. You’re sure? You know I cannot lose you again.

  Mine. And I am yours. No matter what, they were together.

  Ash came to him, bowed deep, honoring him. His dream self nuzzled Ash’s wolf ears. He felt as if his world was beginning to spin, roll out of control. The one advantage of the pack was that everyone knew what to do next. All of their lives were well-ordered, if not always happy.

  Ashkii offered him a sad look, another bow.

  No. No, love. He petted Ash’s hair in the real world. I’m not sad. Just confused.

  Ash curled around him, humming softly, rubbing them together. That was better. No worried lovers, no frightened wolf. This was their time.

  He leaned down and kissed his mate, tongue tracing Ash’s lips. Wake up, love.

  Shh. Ash teased. Sleeping.

  I have fun ideas.

  One eye popped open. I like ideas.

  As do I. Mai chuckled, licking Ash’s lower lip.

  Ash leaned in, nuzzling him. Sweet touches. Gentle touches. He loved that, how careful his boy was. He dragged his hand down Ash’s side, hard enough that Ash couldn’t ignore it. Ash arched, moving against him, this happy noise sounding. Someone needed touching, petting. Now.

  Mal was happy to give what Ash needed, happy to be right where he lay. Then he wanted to tear that sweet ass up.

  Ash chuckled, the sound husky, warm. “Perv.”

  “That’s what they tell me.” Mai could laugh on it now that he’d had some sleep and some time with his mate.

  “Don’t listen to them. They just wanted you to make babies.”

  “Biological imperative, huh? My imperative, though, is you.” He nibbled skin, whatever he could reach.

  “I’m sorry. I know it’s not what you wanted.” Ashkii moved under his touch, wiggled like pup getting a belly scritch.

  “Never think that.” Mai stroked and admired. “I just let them get to me.” He had been young. Desperate to fit in. His brave Ashkii, though, he’d stuck to his guns, to his peace.

  Mai felt pride swell in his chest. His lover. His.

  Ash responded, cock filling, a soft, pleased sound escaping him.

  Yes. Mai pressed his palm to Ash’s cock, rubbing it gently. When Ash’s eyes crossed, Mai had to chuckle, Ash’s expression pure bliss.

  He wanted to add to that, to make Ash crazy with need. He knew he could, knew he had nothing to be ashamed of. So Mai kissed Ash hard, pushing in his tongue to taste that sweet mouth. Ashkii’s eyes went wide, and Mai saw himself in them, saw his hunger.

  Perfect and hot against him, that lean body made him want to howl. He grabbed a handful of the heavy dreads, tugged them, loving how they felt in his hand. The beads at the ends clacked together, causing him to laugh with joy.

  “I made the beads so that they come with me, inside.”

  “Really?” He blinked. “Wow.”

  “I figured it out, how to make things that follow you inside.”

  Oh, brilliant mate! Mai couldn’t believe it but knew it had to be true. “I have an amazing piece of turquoise to make a bead from.”

  “Ah. From Kell.”

  “The raven. Yeah. He took my hair.”

  “Making magic.” Ash didn’t look worried, so Mai guessed it wasn’t bad magic.

  “Good for him. We could make some now.”

  “Magic. Love. Music. Something.”

  “Sex magic, baby.”

  “I would love that.” Ashkii reached for him, cupped his cock and stroked him.

  “Me, too.” Mai arched his back, pushing his cock through Ash’s fingers. The callused touch felt like pure sex, like fire licking at his skin. He wanted more, wanted Ash’s hands, his beautiful mouth. Ashkii moaned for him, the sound low, and Mai was dragged up along Ash’s body. “What do you want, baby?”

  “You. Your cock. Please, Maicoh.”

  “God, yes.” Mai wanted that mouth on him now. Right now.

  He climbed up his mate’s body, painting Ash’s lips with the tip of his cock. Mai moaned then pressed forward with his hips, pushing Ash to open. Heat surrounded him, Ash tugging at him, swallowing around his prick.

  Fuck. Oh, spirits of the moon, that was perfect, the wet, hot velvet of Ash’s tongue stroking him.

  He balanced against the headboard of the bed, feeding his cock into Ash’s waiting mouth. This way, he had the leverage he needed, the strength to push in, take those lips as he wanted. Ash’s hands wrapped around his hips, and they kept pulling him in, tugging him deeper. Mai felt the imprint of every fingertip burning into his skin, the press of Ash’s lips to the base of his cock almost too much to bear. He needed, needed more, right now.

  His body knew what to do, rocking back and forth, all his muscles working toward one pleasurable goal. He moaned, hummed deep in his chest, and the same song wrapped around his cock.

  They moved together, their bodies like the river and the shore, coming together with liquid sounds. Ash’s expression was blissful, peaceful, the suction eager and steady.

  Mai gritted his teeth against the pressure in his balls. No way he was ready for this to be over yet. No fucking way.

  He gripped the headboard so hard it creaked, the wood trying to split. Mai had to remind himself this was a rental and ease his grip. Ash took him down to the root, swallowing hard, over and over. He made Mai stupid with need, made his body push for more.

  Mai cried out, his voice torn, his body shaking. His balls let loose his seed and he came so hard he nearly blacked out. Ashkii took him in, holding him in so Ash didn’t lose a drop.

  Mai stroked those heavy dreads, finding all the little variations in the braids. Ash’s mouth gentled, eased, keeping him hard, keeping him going. Nothing painful, just continuous little jolts of pleasure.

  He started to growl, so happy that he couldn’t stay silent. Then he had to have more than just Ash’s mouth. Had to. Mai pulled away, sliding down his mate’s body.

  They kissed, and he tasted his love there, on Ash’s lips. He cupped the back of Ash’s head, tilted his lover’s head and deepened their connection. He lost himself in the slide of lips-on-lips, in the silky heat of skin-on-skin. Oh, he needed more. He spread Ash’s legs, pushing between, rubbing his cock under the heavy balls.

  “Wanton hungry wolf.”

  “I am. Been too long.”

  “Uh-huh. Ages.”

  Mai nodded seriously. “Not again.”

  “No?” Ashkii looked so worried.

  “No.” The promise really was that easy.

  Ash nuzzled into the curve of Mai’s throat, teeth teasing, testing him.

  “No biting, baby. That’s my job.”

  “Your job? Are you sure?”

  He smiled. Someone was feeling safe enough to challenge him. Mai loved that, loved the way Ash shook and moaned when Mai bent to bite his shoulder. Mai was sure. This whole thing—belly, throat—Ash belonged with him. Every inch was his to explore and play with. Oh, that made him happy.

  “Love.” He bit along Ash’s collarbone then marked the hollow of his throat.

  Ash arched under him, hands scrabbling against his back. Yes, Mai loved that need, the desperation. He bit again then again, loving the way Ash’s skin tested his teeth. He left tiny marks, ones he would be able to trace later with his fingers, connecting the dots. Ash leaned up into each biting caress, and the tiny sounds ramped up and up.

  God, he wanted to turn Ash inside out, wanted to wallow in this for hours.

  “Please.” Ash smiled, the
look blissful. “Please, I’ve missed you for so long.”

  “I know. I know. God, to be able to touch.”

  He ran his fingers down Ash’s sides, over the lean hips. The skin there felt softer, not as exposed to sun and wind. He let the touch slide over Ash’s ass, the motion as easy as breathing.

  The muscles there quivered, Ash moaning for him.

  “Needy wolf.” Mai couldn’t help but laugh, his happiness was too big to hold in.

  “I do need you. So badly.” Ash kissed him, licking his lower lip. Then Ash nuzzled his chin, his jaw, the act so perfectly lupine.

  He smiled, his heart so full.

  Ash head-butted him, playing, hips rocking side to side to seduce him. As if he needed help to be aroused by this man. They were built for this, for pleasure. For each other. He moaned, rocking faster, and Ash grabbed him, pulling him closer. If they could merge together, their skin blending, they would.

  “It’s more fun like this.”

  “That’s true. I get to touch and taste.”

  And Ashkii had heard him, too. They were coming together so easily. He worried about what might go wrong, but he tried to hide that thought deep.

  Ash nuzzled him, rubbed their cheeks together.

  “Love your skin. Your scent,” Mai said.

  “I smell like the river.”

  “You smell like Ashkii to me.” He ran his nose along Ash’s jaw, inhaling deep. His lover. Older now. More mature, the musk heavier. His fingers counted ribs. His Ash was skinnier than he remembered. Mai would have to fix that.

  “Tickles, Mai.”

  “Does it?” He laughed and dug in a little, hoping for squirming.

  “Uh. Uh-huh.” Ash started wiggling, laughing, so Mai bent and blew a raspberry against Ash’s neck. “Maicoh!”

  Oh, goddess of the moon, that laugh. That wonderful laugh. They rolled together, caught together in their play, both of them cackling like big blackbirds. Ash licked Mai’s chin, nuzzled his rib cage, making his legs shake.

  Mai kicked a little but made sure no one got hurt. God, he’d missed play. Fun.

  In some ways, Ash was still a pup, goofy and happy, open. Mai needed that like winter needed the spring thaw. He craved the pop of joy his Ash seemed to find so easily.