Crossing the River Read online

  “Did you know when you came here? About the river?” Mai asked.

  “The river called to me. I was scared and hungry and sad, and I jumped in. It brought me home.”

  “Oh.” Mai seemed to ponder that a moment. “That’s good. Very good.”

  “I thought I was going to die, but I didn’t. It’s amazing what you think will kill you.”

  “And what makes you stronger.” Mai rested his forehead against Ash’s, breathing with him.

  “I don’t know that I’m stronger.”

  “You were always the strong one.”

  Ashkii knew better, and more than that, he knew Mai thought he was a runner, a coward.

  Mai pinched his butt. “No.”

  “Hey!” He laughed, though, because the action was pure Maicoh.

  “You ran, and I was furious. But I know why you did it.” Mai waggled his eyebrows.

  “I ran because I don’t like to fight, and I hate the idea of fighting because we’re told we have to.”

  “Like some kind of gladiator. I know.” Mai did know, but the fact was Mai had stayed behind a lot longer. Being the Omega wolf sucked.

  They floated, both of them unwilling to sour the mood anymore.

  The sun disappeared, the moon climbing, the light soft, cool. The water, fed by mineral springs, never cooled. They could sleep there if it wouldn’t wrinkle them beyond recognition.

  Ash had slept in these pools a hundred times.

  Mai stroked his back, happy little noises coming to him. Then when Ash drifted a bit, Mai lifted him and carried him to the cabin.

  Ash blinked awake. “Your house.”

  “Yep. I put your bag in the bedroom.” Mai settled on the bed with him, wet as they were. “Where do you keep the rest of your stuff?”

  “What stuff?” He loved Mai’s lap.

  “Your clothes and art supplies and all.”

  “It’s here, Mai. With you.” Silly mate.

  Mai blinked down at him. “What?”

  “You have my bag.”

  “There’s got to be more than that.”

  “That’s it. My things. I have my clay tools, my jeans, my other shirt, my hoodie. When it gets cold, someone lets me have a coat and a new pair of socks from the shelter.” Nathan hibernated all winter, so there was always room on the sofa there and lots of work in the coffee shop because the foxes, Ciera and Sam, managed it for Angela. Ash thought Sam was after him a little bit, actually.

  Mai blinked some more. “So, where do you usually sleep?”

  “Sometimes at Nathan’s. Sometimes in the river. Sometimes in the park. It depends on where there’s space and what the weather’s like.”

  A frown formed on Mai’s face, a dark cloud on an otherwise sunny day. “Why?”

  “Why what?” He’d missed something somewhere.

  “Why do you not have a place of your own?” Mai was getting growly.

  “Because I don’t have money or family. I work on the river. I can’t afford a place.” A wave of shame hit him, and he felt his cheeks heat.

  Oh.

  Oh, he…

  “I have soap in my bag. I wash.”

  “Shh.” Mal stroked Ash’s shoulder, fingers trailing down his arm. “Hush.”

  “I do. I’m not dirty. I just…I don’t have a room. I haven’t ever. I don’t even know how.”

  “I never said you were dirty. And you’re a wolf. Migrating is natural.”

  “I don’t have a home. You know that. My home is forfeit.” He’d left his pack, his mate, his family.

  “Bullshit. We came all the way to another world to get that back.” Mai laughed, the sound booming and full of joy.

  That laughter fascinated Ash, drew him right back in. He’d thought Mai would be so mad at him. So disappointed.

  Mai’s eyes heated, and those arms wrapped around him, a kiss brushing his nose. “I love you. You know that, hmm?”

  “I do.” He believed it, bone-deep.

  “Then you know I’m not mad. Worried, maybe.”

  “Worried?”

  “You need someplace safe.”

  “Safe? I haven’t had my bag stolen in over a year.”

  Mai growled, the sound pure wolf, raising the hair on the back of Ash’s neck. “Someone stole your things?”

  He nodded. “Couple times.”

  “Ash.” Mai petted him, his hair, his neck. “No more.”

  The touch made his eyes cross. So good, the connection, the energy zinging between them. He’d always loved how protective Mai was, but now they had no pack to fight over it.

  “My Ash.”

  “Yours?” he teased.

  “Mine. I need you like air.”

  Ash nuzzled in, chuffing softly. So good. Mai felt warm, strong and so familiar. The hardness rising under his hip felt lovely, as well.

  “Can I?” He stroked one finger along the shaft.

  “Anything you want, love.” Mai rolled his hips, breath hitching.

  “I want you.” He petted in long, lazy strokes, making sure to stroke base to tip.

  “Oh, good. I want you, too.” Mai took Ash’s touches, letting him explore.

  “I thought I’d never get to again…”

  “Now you can. I love your hands.”

  Ash traced the heavy vein then the ridge where head met shaft. Mai grew so hard for him, so heavy, and he felt the pulse of Mai’s heartbeat. Ash slid off Mai’s lap, chin nudging the fat, swollen prick on the way. Mai pressed up toward him, making these stunning noises, sounds of pleasure. Ash didn’t ask if Maicoh needed. He knew it, and he intended to give it to him.

  “Ash. Missed you so much.”

  The words made him grin, made his heart smile. He licked Mai’s cock, the heat against his lips astonishing as he let Mai slide along his tongue. The flavor of his mate mixed with the slightly burned taste of spring water and made him chuckle. The river was always there. Eternally. Home.

  “Are you laughing at me, baby?”

  “No, just happy.” He lapped at the tip of Mai’s cock, again and again.

  “Good. I want that.”

  He wanted Mai, but he’d already said that, and he thought Mai knew.

  “Ash. Ash, I want inside you.” Mai tugged at him, pulling him up for a kiss.

  “Inside,” Ash agreed, totally, eager. Wanton.

  “I have oil.”

  “Are you going to touch me?”

  “God, yes.” Mai rubbed noses with him. “I’m going to touch you everywhere.”

  Ash’s heart hiccupped, legs jerking with the flood of hunger. He wanted Mai to crack him open and see everything inside.

  As if Mai heard him, Ash was flipped over, slammed into the bed, their mouths crashing together. Mai covered him, completely dominating his body, holding him down for Mai’s pleasure. There was no fear, no worry, just pure desire. Ash let his head fall back on the bed, baring his throat.

  “My Ashkii.” Maicoh’s moan was triumphant then he bit Ash’s throat, hard enough to bruise the skin. Ash arched, his heels digging into the mattress, thrumming. He felt wide open, ready for anything.

  Mai shook him, side to side, groaning for him. Ash moved, trying to get closer to Mai, to give more. He raised his arms and legs, clinging. Mai’s fingers dragged over his side, his hip, nails scoring him.

  Ash whined, the sound lupine in his human throat. More. Please.

  Mai chuffed at him. Patience.

  No. No, I’ve been patient too long. He’d ached for this, for Mai to take him.

  Mai laughed, biting him one last time before turning to find the oil.

  He tweaked one of Mai’s nipples, making the big male roar. “No pinching, baby!”

  “No?” He reached up again, taunting.

  Mai grunted then rolled back on top of him, fingers wet with slick, yummy-smelling oil. Mai growled low in his chest, and that sent shivers of delight rocking through Ash.


  “Tight. You’re so tight, baby.” Mai pushed two fingers in, stretching him.

  “I am. Stretch me.”

  The sound Ash heard shook him to the core, desperate and needy, Mai so ready for him. Those fingers opened Ash, pushing him to his limit. Ash grabbed his cock, tugging in time with the fingers inside him.

  “No coming yet, baby. You can put on a show for me, but you have to wait.”

  “I swear.” He nodded, slowing down just the barest bit.

  “If you get too close, I’ll have to stop you, hold you down.” The sensual threat made Ash jerk, and Mai must have felt it, because he moaned, deep in his chest. Then he pushed another finger inside Ash’s body. Ash rode the pressure, his eyes crossed and sight unfocused. His body clamped down, pulling Mai in, and his hand stilled on his cock.

  “More. More, Maicoh.” He knew what he needed.

  “Yes. I want inside you.” Mai held him down hard, spreading his legs with the other hand.

  “Yes. More. Now.” Ash drew up one leg, ass sliding on the sheets.

  “Oh, baby, I love how you look like that.” Mai moved between his legs, closer, fingers sliding free.

  “I want you to. I needed to believe you missed me.”

  “I did. With every breath.” When Mai slid inside him with that big cock, Ash’s world snapped back into place, making him whole.

  “Maicoh.” His eyes rolled, the sudden pressure almost too perfect.

  “My Ashkii. I love you.” Mai was ever generous that way.

  “Love.” The world stopped, just squealed to an end, and all that existed was his Mai, touching him, talking to him in words as old as the birds. Ash wanted to swear his life, to beg for release, to sing one of a thousand songs of rejoicing, but his voice was trapped in his chest. He simply reached out and pressed his hand against Mai’s beating heart. Mai paused, staring down at him, a smile stretching his cheeks. Ash grinned back, licking his lips to wet them.

  Mai kissed him again, taking his mouth.

  This time, Ash’s groan had air behind it, deep and heady. He clung to Mai, wanting more, needing it in his soul.

  The thrusts started again, deep and steady, promising to undo him. He threw his head back and held Mai against him, joy bubbling up within him.

  “Fuck, baby. So fine.” Mai leaned down, teeth sinking into Ash’s shoulder.

  “More.” Ash felt greedy, as if he only had so much time to catch this feeling, this wave of need. No. No, they had all the time in the world, right?

  “Stop worrying. I have you.”

  “I can’t help it.”

  Mai licked the stinging bite mark on Ash’s throat. “I can make you.”

  Oh, please. Please, yes. He lifted his chin, begging wordlessly.

  Mai heard him, he could tell, because his mate moved, hands sliding on his skin, finding all his best spots.

  Nipple. Collarbone. Jaw. Each bite was sharp then the hot, wet tongue trailed over his skin. Ash shivered, his nipples like little rocks, his cock feeling enormous and too tight. He kept touching, stroking himself, showing off for his Maicoh.

  “So pretty, baby. Look at you, all decadent and happy.”

  “I am.” He had been content, but now, he was more than that. Delirious, in fact.

  Mai pressed closer, moved faster. His Maicoh was so beautiful.

  Ash reached up, fingers pushing into Mai’s long, silken hair. It was heavy, sweet and good. Not like his coarse dreads.

  “I like them. They’re so alive.”

  “You do?” He was pleased. He loved his braids, his adornments.

  “I do. They’re perfectly you.”

  Warmth that owed nothing to sex bloomed inside him, and his smile grew too. “They are. They are me.”

  “Ashkii.” Mai licked Ash’s lower lip, stroking his hair.

  “Maicoh.” They began to move again, rocking back and forth, riding together.

  Mai kissed, bit, and licked while letting Ash feel every inch of that amazing body. Fuzzy lover.

  The thought made them both chuckle and move that much faster. They came together with utter joy, with need that they might burn out the sun.

  “Soon,” Ash warned. His body was too small to contain all his passion.

  “Yes. Oh, yes. Want you to come this way.”

  Full and happy and together with his mate. He nodded, his beads jingling in his hair. Mai pressed in deep, cock rocking hard against Ash’s prostate, nudging it again and again. Ash’s heart clenched with it, tightening in his chest. Ash worked his hand faster, ready to explode with it.

  “Wait for my word, Ashkii.” The sound of his true name in Maicoh’s voice was almost too much to bear.

  Ash waited, his breath catching, his lungs trying hard to catch up. Wild keening sounds filled the air, fierce and needy.

  “Yeah. Now, baby. Now, please.” Mai slammed into him, grinding against him.

  “Please.” Ash’s balls ached, his cock heavy as he tugged hard.

  “Now!” Mai roared it, jerking mercilessly inside him, hot cum filling Ash. Ash’s orgasm pushed from him, his balls aching with it. He coated his hands in wetness, the heat making him moan.

  Mai grabbed his hand and spread the scent between them. Ash moaned, his body rippling with the echoes of orgasm.

  “Mate,” he whispered, his legs jerking.

  “Yes. Yours as you are mine.”

  He stroked Mai’s hair, focused on the lessening pressure inside him. He loved that hair, so heavy, like silk.

  Maicoh chuckled, leaning down to kiss him. “Mutual admiration society.”

  “Well, we have to have the honeymoon phase,” Ash said.

  Mai chuckled, tickling him right in the ribs. There, that was less afterglow and more play, right? Ash squealed, kicking.

  Mai’s eyes rolled as Ash clamped down, squeezing on Mai’s cock. “Baby. Oh, stop it unless you want to go again.”

  What a quandary. He focused on tightening and relaxing, over and over. Mai groaned, the sound torn from him, guttural and perfect. Oh, Ash had done that. Him. Ashkii. He squeezed harder, searching for more of those sounds.

  “Ashkii. You… I… Hot.”

  Ash’s growl rumbled out of him, purely satisfied. He wanted Mai wild and lost in this need. Every contraction of Ash’s muscles made Mai groan and jerk, hips humping again. Mai’s teeth snapped, and he grabbed onto Ash’s hips hard enough to bruise.

  Yes. He needed to be taken, needed Mai to give him everything. Mai groaned for him, hips slapping Ash’s ass, making his skin burn.

  “Ashkii. I love this. Missed you so much.” Mai was talking, his voice a deep growl, the words almost impossible to make out.

  “Maicoh. Deeper.” He wanted to burn with it.

  “Anything.” Mai pushed, pressing so deep Ash moaned with it, his body fighting to open more,

  His lips popped open, as if that would make space.

  Mai laughed wildly before bending to kiss him, tongue invading there just as Mai’s big cock speared him below. Everywhere. Mai filled him everywhere.

  Ash sobbed, caught in pleasure so intense he thought it would never crest, would just build and build.

  Mai didn’t do anything to back it off either, just letting it spread. They moved like the team they were, in perfect counterpoint. In his mind’s eye, he saw Mai’s wolf, hunting with his, running.

  Together. Their own pack. Just them.

  His balls drew up so tight they ached.

  Mai nodded. “Soon, love. Gonna come again.”

  “Yes. Yes, please.” And then a nap. Together. Please.

  Mai barked, the sound encouraging, happy, and that cock swelled farther in him.

  Ash bucked, one hand settling on his belly as if he could feel Mai’s prick inside.

  “Oh, baby. Yes.”

  He nodded, lips parted as he panted. He teetered on the edge of orgasm, just like a raft about to go over the falls. All he needed was a
little push.

  “My Ash.” Mai nipped at his skin, leaving a tiny sting, and that was all Ash needed to fall into pleasure.

  It was better than riding the river, for sure. This rush was like no other, leaving him limp and breathless.

  His eyes rolled, and he swallowed, again and again, as Maicoh kissed him, teeth against Ash’s lower lip. The song that rang through him was pure happiness, joy like a drug.

  Mai hummed, the sound almost a growl, but not threatening at all. Ash lifted his hand, fingers brushing through the heavy mane of loose hair. Not like his dreads with their little beads at all. Mai pushed into the touch, vibrating happily, all around him.

  Ash wanted to stay like this forever. He knew that was impossible. Knew it. Still, the heart wanted what it wanted. He nuzzled Mai’s chin, vocalizing softly.

  “I have you, Ashkii. I swear.”

  “Promise?” Even if it was a lie, he needed to hear.

  “I will never lose you again, mate. Never.” Maicoh held his stare, nodding.

  “Never.” Ash couldn’t bear to look away.

  “It’s my vow.”

  His breath caught in his chest. That sounded serious. Their people took vows very seriously. Oh, maybe he could believe.

  “Not maybe, Ashkii. Believe me. We can face anything together now. We’re not scared pups.”

  “No. No…I mean I might be scared, but I’m not a pup.”

  “There, you see?” Mai moved again, getting them rocking once more.

  “Uh-huh. I see you, Maicoh.”

  “I need you to see me, love.” Mai smiled, loving him so clearly.

  Ash’s breath came quicker, his heart threatening to race. He saw them together, even when they were old, even when the river passed them by.

  Insane.

  Insane but wonderful.

  He grinned, pushing up then down. This was perfect. Necessary.

  “Needy pup.” Maicoh’s grin was ferocious, toothy. Wild.

  “Not a pup.” Ash felt as though he were one again, but he knew better.

  “My pup.” Mai winked, nuzzled Ash’s jaw, lips on his throat, fingers on his bare belly.

  “Big jerk.” So there.

  “Your big jerk.” Mai’s laugh was like a balm, pouring over him. He’d never thought he’d hear it again. Now, he had this man back in his life, and he’d hold on with both hands.