Chapter Three

Dax was shocked beyond words. In all the years he had pictured his perfect match, he had never even considered the possibility that the man would be an Alpha. At almost six and a half feet tall and two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle, Dax was nearly an Alpha himself. With a healthy dose of strength and assertiveness, the only thing he lacked was the drive to lead. Dax’s laid-back attitude and ability to accept orders kept him just within the Beta range, a fact he had no problem with. Being Alpha came with more responsibility than Dax cared to deal with. Let someone else handle the drama.

Noah and Dax were powerful men, nearly identical in size and build. The strength Dax sensed emanating from Noah was similar to his own, albeit stronger and more refined. Dominance came with the package. How the hell was this going to work?

Running a large hand through his hair, Dax let out an agitated breath. Both he and his wolf tended to like sex on the rougher side. He didn’t want to run the risk of harming his partner when things got a little wild in the sack. However, despite his proclivities, he’d never bedded anyone stronger than a mid-level Beta. Dax loved the feeling of hard muscles beneath him, but he’d always been careful never to start up with anyone who thought that they were going to be the one running the show. What did he possibly have to offer an Alpha?

A sense of chagrin washed over him as soon as the question entered his head. He knew exactly what he had to offer an Alpha, and while the idea of offering up his ass to anyone left him nearly shaking with ball-numbing fear, the thought of Noah Steele pounding into his still-virgin hole had his traitorous cock immediately up and ready to say hello.

Clenching his hands tight at his sides, he fought the urge to palm his swollen shaft and relieve some of the building tension. He needed something to ease him. Despite the growing trepidation that filled him as he observed the massive bulge in Noah’s jeans, he couldn’t stop his mouth from watering as the thought of tasting it became foremost in his mind.

“Noah.”

“Look, Dax.” Noah’s deep voice interrupted his new fantasy. “Nothing says we have to be mates. From what I hear, you’re a great guy. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to be saddled with me.”

Dax growled, the sound rumbling through the room and shocking both of them with its ferocity. Without a thought, he grabbed Noah’s shoulders and gave him a firm shake. “Enough of this, Noah. You’re my mate, and there’s not a damn thing wrong with you. Anyone who says otherwise can go screw themselves.”

The startled expression on Noah’s face would have made Dax laugh if he wasn’t still so pissed off.

“Is that so?” Noah hedged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Do you think you could let me go now or do you want to keep shaking me to see if I puke all over you?”

Dax released him with a grunt of disgust but didn’t step away. With their bodies so close, the heat between the two of them was like standing next to an open furnace. Dax took a breath, drawing in the spicy, musky scent of his mate. His cock tightened painfully, damn near begging for release. A quick thrust of hips proved that Noah’s arousal was nowhere near diminished.

Before he could make a move, Noah had him up against the nearest hard surface, hands pinned over his head, and was pushing his tongue between his lips. Spreading his legs wider, he allowed Noah to bring their bodies flush, connecting them from thigh to chest. With their new closeness, Dax could feel every hot, hard inch of Noah’s excitement digging into his hip as he ground against him. Noah shoved a thickly muscled thigh between Dax’s legs, allowing him to ride it and rut. The contact sent sparks of awareness coursing through his body, leaving him panting and needy for more. Dax wrapped a leg around Noah’s hip and pulled him in tight, desperate to get closer.

Noah’s hands carded through his hair, gripping it tight and holding him in place as he moved in to plunder the cavern of Dax’s mouth. The softness of Noah’s lips and the forcefulness of his tongued strokes had Dax gasping into the kiss. Never in his life had he been kissed with such an all-consuming intensity. The moan that escaped him was low and needy, resonating through him and signaling the demise of the last vestiges of his restraint.

Reaching for Noah’s shirt, Dax was fully prepared to rip it from his body when the sound of muffled laughter and a throat clearing nearby had him freezing in his tracks.

“Guys, while the show has been really fucking hot, some of us do have places to be. If you wouldn’t mind moving aside so the rest of us can head out, you can pick up right where you left off after we’re gone.”

The words cut through the fog that was filling Dax’s brain. Lowering his leg and struggling to regain his footing, Dax blinked as he looked over Noah’s shoulder and noticed that the room was still nearly filled from the meeting. There were many amused and aroused faces around them, causing his own face to flame. Apparently, in their haste to get at each other, the surface Noah had decided to pin him against just happened to be the only door out of the room.

“Fuck,” Dax groaned, lowering his face into his hands to hide his discomfort.

“Oh, I think Noah is planning on handling that task.” Dylan Cantwell, Head Beta and one of Dax’s closest friends, grinned as he approached. “I didn’t know you guys were seeing each other.”

“It’s kind of a new development,” Dax muttered, running a hand through his hair in agitation. Embarrassment filled him while he cursed his own lack of control that was responsible for putting him on display. For all his joking and playful banter, he preferred to keep his intimate life out of the public eye. Having so many witnesses to what should have been a private moment was making him increasingly uncomfortable.

Wrapping a possessive arm around Dax’s waist, Noah pulled him into the shelter of his muscled body. “Mine,” he roared, casting a menacing glare around the room.

Dylan gave him a gentle smile and raised his hands in a signal of peace. “Don’t worry. I think you’ve made your claim more than clear.” Regret flickered in the Beta’s eyes. “A mate is a precious thing. No one would dare to dishonor your bond by moving in on Dax. Isn’t that right?”

Murmurs of agreement sounded around the room.

Dylan focused his attention on Dax. “Our team is part of the group heading out tomorrow. We’re meeting in the dining hall and taking off at first light. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“You got it,” Dax answered with a nod.

Noah’s stance had begun to relax, the tension slowly seeping from his body. He loosened his hold on Dax’s waist, placed a warm hand on his back and gave him a gentle push toward the door.

They were silent as they made their way through the house. Dax took a risk and glanced over at his mate. Noah’s jaw was clenched tight, a steely look in his eyes. When they reached Dax’s room, he unlocked the door then turned to face his Alpha mate.

“Are you coming in?”

Noah shook his head and took a step back. “That’s probably not a good idea. We have a mission to get ready for and we both need to be at the top of our game. If I come in, I can guarantee that neither of us will be getting any rest.”

“I didn’t know you were coming with us?”

“Anywhere you go, I go,” Noah snapped. “I tried to give you an out, but you refused to take it. Now you’re stuck with me. You’re gonna to have to get used to me being on your ass from now on.”

Dax swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as the Sahara. “I don’t know about ‘on’ my ass, but I have a feeling I’m definitely going to have to get used to you being ‘in’ it.”

Shaking his head in disgust, Noah leered at him. “I can’t believe you went there. That was pathetic, even for you.”

“Oh, come on! You had to know there was no way I was going to let that one pass. It was too easy.” Dax flashed him a cocky smile and licked his lips salaciously. Noah’s answering smile was a small, yet heated twist of the lips that left Dax’s heart pounding and his libido revving into overdrive. “You need to come inside, Noah.”

“Why?”

“Do you really need to ask?”

“I want to hear you say it.” Noah’s voice was deeper than normal and rough like gravel.

The sound went right to Dax’s dick, leaving him hot and aching. “I want you to come inside and claim what’s yours. Want to feel you sink your teeth into my neck as your cock sinks into my body. I need your mark on me, so that everyone who sees it will know that I belong to you and you alone. Then, I want to do the same to you so that there will never be any doubt that you are off the market.”

Noah’s pupils dilated until there was just a small ring of blue still visible. The heat burning in his mate’s eyes was amazing and ignited a matching heat within himself. Dax’s wolf needed to be claimed. That was not to say that it would submit easily. The beast wanted nothing to do with tempered passion and control. It wanted their mate unrestrained and primal. If Noah wanted dominance over him, he would have to prove his strength and force him to submit.

Leaning in, Dax blew a stream of hot air over Noah’s ear before laving the lobe with a wet stroke of his hot tongue. “I want you to pin me down on the bed, mount me and fuck me until I can’t see straight. I want to feel the Alpha in you.”

A loud snarl was all the warning he got before Noah was on him, slamming his back into the door and holding him there with hands on his upper arms. One look in his eyes and Dax knew Noah’s wolf was in control. There was a feral glint in the blue orbs that spoke of something not entirely human.

“Is this what you want?” Noah growled, tightening his grip on Dax’s arms as he ground their groins together. “To be held down, manhandled and fucked so hard your ass is raw and aching?”

“God, yes!” Dax practically shouted, thrusting his hips forward to rub his dick along Noah’s muscled thigh. He was desperate, aching and ready to do just about anything to find some release. If he didn’t get Noah inside him soon, he was pretty sure he was going to explode.

Noah chuckled, the sound low and rich as he allowed Dax to rut against him in a half-crazed attempt to find some relief. Dropping his hands to Dax’s butt, Noah lifted him up, encouraging him to wrap his long legs around his hips. The move shocked Dax into stillness. None of his past lovers had ever picked him up, nor would he have let them if they’d tried. He had always liked being in control and had never imagined that his preference would change. That, however, was before he had met Noah Steele. Maybe it was the Alpha blood running in the man’s veins or the power that seemed to roll off him in waves, but there was something about the dark-haired wolf that made Dax want to roll over and present himself for the taking.

As if sensing Dax’s train of thought, Noah ran a hand down the seam of his jeans, tracing the crack of his ass with his middle finger. Unable to bite it back, Dax let out a desperate moan that brought a wicked grin to Noah’s lips.

“You like that, don’t you? Can you imagine it? My cock sliding into you, riding you hard, pumping you full of my seed.”

As he passed over Dax’s hole, Noah exerted more pressure, rubbing the rough denim over his sensitive flesh. The sensation was a jolt to Dax’s system. He jerked in Noah’s arms and if the big Alpha had been a weaker man, they both would have gone tumbling to the ground.

“Fuck,” Dax groaned, thrusting his hips back onto Noah’s probing finger. “Please, come inside. I need to feel you inside me. Please!”

Noah roared, crushing their mouths together in a searing kiss that screamed of ownership. Not one to naturally submit, it just took a moment for Dax to respond to Noah’s carnal attack. Giving as good as he got, Dax licked and nipped at the surprisingly soft, fleshy surface. He teased the seam of Noah’s lips and continued to play, waiting for his chance for entrance. When air became a necessity, Noah drew back and Dax saw his opportunity and took it. As Noah’s kiss-swollen lips parted, Dax moved in, thrusting his tongue between them.

Dax swept his tongue inside, desperate to get a taste of the powerful man. As soon as the man’s flavor touched his tongue, Dax knew he was lost. Never in his life had he tasted anything even close to as amazing as Noah Steele. A tart hint of citrus merged with something dark and rich to create a flavor that was completely Noah and absolutely addicting. Their tongues came together in a twisting battle for dominance. The pleasure of the kiss drove every other thought from his mind until the room started to spin, forcing Dax to withdraw. The move left him gasping and struggling to get air back into his lungs. A look at Noah showed he was in a similar state.

“Get your ass inside,” Noah ordered, rubbing his cock against the unforgiving material of Dax’s pants. “I’m gonna fuck you until you pass out.”

“Thank God,” Dax breathed, reaching behind himself to struggle with the doorknob. Just as he was seconds away from kicking it, the latch finally released, allowing the door to swing open. Storming into the room, Noah had the presence of mind to kick the door shut then turned and literally threw Dax onto his bed. He hit the mattress with a bone-rattling thud before settling into the thick mattress.

“Strip.”

Noah’s eyes were intense as they bore into Dax. He stood ramrod straight with his hands fisted tight and remained at the end of the bed, making no move to remove his own clothing as Dax hurried to comply. Dax rose to his knees and grabbed the bottom of his shirt, stripping it over his head quickly and baring his upper body for Noah’s perusal. Noah’s eyes widened and he looked like he damn near swallowed his tongue at the sight that had been uncovered.

Dax had always had a thing for ink. He loved the permanence of it. The idea of immortalizing important parts of his life on his skin. His tattoos were his story, both the good and the bad, etched into his flesh as a reminder to himself of the lessons he had learned and the things he’d experienced. The work had involved hundreds of hours, blood, sweat and tears, but that was part of the process.

The ink started part way up his neck, following the line of his body, spread out over his chest and the length of his left arm, then disappeared into the denim riding low on his waist. Meticulous thought and detail had gone into each beautiful piece. From the wolf pack chasing each other around his biceps to the Celtic symbols for strength, family and protection running down his forearm, every piece was unique and held a special place in his heart.

“Jesus Christ, D. I wanna trace every inch of these with my tongue.” Noah groaned, the sound deep and guttural. “No more games. Get your fucking clothes off, now.”

With a smile and a wink, Dax went to work, divesting himself of his remaining clothing in mere seconds then kneeling blessedly naked in the center of the bed. His long, thick shaft stood out proudly from the thatch of blond curls at his groin. The wet, drooling tip aimed directly at Noah, begging for attention. If the bulge behind the zipper of Noah’s pants was any indication, Dax’s reward was going to be huge. Wrapping a hand around his dick, Dax gave his shaft a few rough tugs, gracing Noah with a lazy smile. Lust was too tame a word for the heat burning in Noah’s eyes as they locked on his chest. The powerful man was predatory and wild, and Dax couldn’t get enough.

“Christ,” Noah groaned. “You’re pierced?”

A glance down was all it took for Dax to realize Noah had finally noticed the small stainless steel rings that were threaded through each of his nipples. Their weight was slight enough that they weren’t constantly tugging on his sensitive flesh. Only when he was in bed with a lover did he let himself enjoy the feeling of pleasure-pain that came from a good, sharp jerk on the rings. The piercings themselves had been a guilty pleasure when he’d gotten them done and had been the catalyst for another bit of jewelry he was pretty sure Noah hadn’t noticed yet.

Dax pinched one of the rings between his finger and thumb and gave it a small pull. The sting was small but enough to illicit an unconscious moan. “Do you like them?” he asked, still pulling at the shiny metal ring.

“Fuck, yeah,” Noah growled, licking his lips hungrily.

“Then you’re gonna love this.” Dax leaned back and spread his legs wide, giving Noah an unobstructed view of his groin. Never pausing in his nipple play, he lowered his free hand to take a firm grip on the girth of his cock. Lifting it up against his belly, he revealed a gleaming set of metal balls that protruded from the underside of his dick, one from just beneath the head and the other part way down his shaft. Dax saw Noah’s throat work as he tried to swallow, his eyes never leaving his dick.

“What the hell is that?” Noah ground out between clenched teeth.

“It’s called a dolphin,” Dax murmured.

His eyelids drooped as Noah reached out a hand to tentatively touch one of the gleaming metal orbs. The barely there touch had his dick tightening and caused a bead of pearly fluid form at the tip. Noah’s long fingers traced the prominent vein that ran the length of his shaft, causing Dax’s breath to catch and hold. Reaching the head, he circled the swollen cap then swiped a finger across the weeping slit, gathering up a dollop of the viscous fluid. Noah contemplated it for a moment before flicking out his tongue for a taste. His eyes flared and a look of surprise lit his face. Without any further hesitation, Noah drew the finger into his mouth, sucking and licking until it was clean of any remaining fluid. The Alpha’s eyes fluttered closed and a hum of pleasure vibrated up from his chest. Dax couldn’t bite back his moan when Noah’s full lips enclosed the digit, drawing in the flavor of his essence.

“How do I taste?”

Dax had to fight the urge to take a step back when Noah’s eyes snapped open, revealing the feral heat that burned within them. “Amazing,” he moaned. “Like musk and man. But most importantly, you taste like mine.”

In a move faster than Dax would have believed, Noah had him flat on his back with his big body positioned between Dax’s knees. His eyes were locked on Noah’s face with rapt attention, the Alpha leaned forward to nuzzle the crease between Dax’s thigh and groin. Breathing deeply, Noah licked and nipped his way south until his nose rubbed against the softly furred flesh of Dax’s sack.

“You smell so good,” he groaned, licking a wet path across the wrinkled skin. “I could fucking eat you.”

“Whatever you want,” Dax gasped as Noah sucked one of his testicles into the hot cavern of his mouth. Applying suction, the Alpha licked his way around the circumference in a move that Dax was sure was designed to drive him out of his mind before allowing it to pop free of his mouth and repeating the action to its twin. “Fuck!”

Noah gave the fleshy ball one last lick then pulled back with a smug grin. “How did that feel?”

“So good. Don’t stop,” Dax pleaded, desperate for more.

Noah chuckled, his eyes once again riveted on the metal extending from Dax’s thick rod. The intensity of his stare left Dax squirming, needy and ready to be taken.

“Please, Noah. I need you.”

“Soon,” Noah murmured. “There’s just one more thing I need to do.”

Without another word, Noah lowered his head and engulfed Dax’s shaft, swallowing him down to the root. Unprepared for the carnal assault, Dax cried out as pleasure overloaded his senses. It was like every nerve ending in his body was firing at once, leaving him helpless to do anything but feel. Noah gave him no quarter, only hollowed his cheeks and increased the suction on his shaft. Pulling back slightly, he tongued Dax’s length then moved up to tease the sensitive skin of his glans. A slight nip to the underside of the head caused the perfect amount of pleasure-pain to have Dax howling out his satisfaction.

Sliding his mouth over Dax’s shaft, Noah moved on to focus his attention on the gleaming metal jewelry protruding from Dax’s length. Snagging the ball right below the head between his teeth, Noah gave it a tug followed by a quick lick with the flat of his tongue to lave away the sting. The move left Dax a gasping, mumbling, incoherent mess. Dax’s impaired state seemed to further encourage the voraciousness of Noah’s attentions. Warm saliva ran over Dax’s shaft and around his balls, leaving a wet path down his crack.

He was so lost in the pleasure of Noah’s talented mouth that he almost jumped out of his skin at the cool touch of fingers at his entrance.

“Relax,” Noah soothed. “I have to get you ready for me. I don’t want to hurt you when I take you.”

Thoughtful as it was, Dax didn’t want to wait another minute to feel Noah inside him. “Now,” he demanded. “I need you inside me.”

His words were cut short when a thick finger was shoved inside him, effectively robbing him of the ability to speak. The pain was intense and immediate, like his ass was being set on fire. Barely managing to choke back the cry of pain, Dax struggled to force his body to relax and adjust to the intrusion. Little by little, his muscles began to loosen, allowing Noah deeper penetration.

“You are so fucking tight,” Noah groaned, slowly working one finger in and out before pushing in a second. “How long has it been since you bottomed?”

“Never,” Dax groaned while he struggled to get used to the sensation of being filled.

Noah’s whole body tensed and froze in place. “Are you kidding me? Why the hell didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Didn’t want you to have…second thoughts,” Dax panted. He bit his lip and struggled to breathe through the pulsing wave of pain.

“Never keep shit like that from me, D,” Noah reprimanded, his gorgeous face marred by an angry scowl. “I could have hurt you.” He punctuated his displeasure with a hard slap to Dax’s right butt cheek, which was quickly followed by a more aggressive thrust of his fingers.

Dax moaned in response to the new depth that left sweat beaded on his forehead. The pain was brief, ebbing nearly as quickly as it had begun. It had now settled into a dull ache that throbbed in time with his heartbeat. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced in his life. The fullness was intense. It made him feel like he was on the verge of bursting while simultaneously leaving him aching for more. With every thrust, he began to acclimate to the feeling. It didn’t take long for the line between pleasure and pain to blur. Before he knew it, he was canting his hips and pushing down to meet Noah’s questing fingers. When Noah’s next thrust reached even deeper inside him, his fingers brushed against something that made Dax’s world explode into ecstasy and sent shock waves coursing through his body. His testicles pulled up tight to his body and a tingle worked its way up his spine, signaling his impending release.

“No more screwing around, Noah. I’m ready. I need you in me, now.”

“Not yet,” Noah murmured darkly, removing his fingers from Dax’s ass and rocking back to his knees. “Not until I’m sure you’re ready. I want to see you touch yourself, first. Show me how you like to get off when you’re alone in bed and no one else is around.”

A moan of frustration rumbled from his chest, but Dax was unable to deny an order given by his mate. He wrapped a hand around his shaft and jerked on his tumescent flesh in an all too familiar rhythm. The faster he pulled, the more relaxed he became as he lost himself in the pleasure of his own touch. The reality of jerking off in front of Noah made the act so much more erotic. A drop of sweat formed at his temple and rolled down the side of his jaw. He could feel the faint hint of release in the distance and knew he was almost ready to blow. He thrust his hips forward and fucked his fist, tightening his grip to increase the pressure on his engorged shaft. With his eyes closed and his head back, he allowed himself to get lost in the sensations tingling through him.

A sharp tug on one of his nipple rings jolted him back to reality. Noah stood over him, a foreboding expression on his face.

“Your eyes stay on me,” Noah ordered.

“Yes, Alpha,” Dax answered, the words rolling off his tongue without a thought.

Noah’s eyes widened and a shudder worked its way through his body. His eyes heated, turning them almost black with passion. He clenched his jaw, causing the cords of his neck to stand out in stark relief.

Noah grabbed Dax’s free hand and brought it to Dax’s mouth.

“Open.”

Dax wasn’t sure what Noah was up to. He hesitated a moment then moved quickly to comply with his mate’s order. Before he could even form a question, Noah had slid Dax’s fingers forward, into the wet heat of his mouth. The bulk of them pressed against the surface of Dax’s tongue was completely foreign. They could have belonged to someone else for all the familiarity they held. Though not unpleasant, Dax wasn’t sure how he felt about the new experience.

“Good boy,” Noah crooned, stroking Dax’s jaw with a gentle touch. “Suck them. I want them nice and wet.”

Dax closed his lips and started to suck and lave his fingers in time with his thrusting hips. Soon they were soaking wet and coated with saliva. A tap on his cheek had his eyes flicking up to Noah.

“Show me,” Noah ordered.

Dax slowly slid the fingers from his mouth and held them out for Noah’s inspection. The dripping digits gleamed under the low lighting in the bedroom.

“Very good,” Noah praised. He grabbed Dax behind the knees and pushed his legs back until they connected to his chest. The position put him on display and left him fully exposed to his mate. “Now, stretch yourself for me. I want you to ride your fingers and imagine it’s my cock, fucking you hard and deep.”

“Christ,” Dax groaned, his imagination painting a picture that almost had him coming on the spot.

Not needing any more encouragement, he reached down between his spread thighs and thrust all three of his dripping fingers into his already spit-slick hole. The burn was still there, more intense because of the added girth, but Dax was done screwing around. He wanted to be claimed and he was ready to do anything necessary to get to the main event. He ignored the fiery wave of pain that washed over him, knowing that it would ease soon. Instead, he focused all his thoughts on the massive cock Noah was going to be driving into his ass. He couldn’t fucking wait.

Pleasure fogged his mind and left him unprepared when Noah yanked his fingers free of his ass and flipped him onto his belly. Grabbing him by the hips, Noah jerked his ass up and into position while pushing his head down to rest on the bed. In seconds, his big body was naked and pressed tight against Dax’s slightly smaller form. The heavy length of Noah’s shaft rode his crack, teasing him with the promise of things to come.

“God damn it, D! You just had to go and fucking tease me, didn’t you? Shaking your ass and moaning like a bitch in heat? Well, you get your wish. No more waiting. Better hope that you’re ready because your ass is mine and there’s no holding back now.”

Now that was what he was talking about! Dax gave his head a vehement shake. “No holding back, my mate. Take me. Claim me.”

Noah snarled and snapped his teeth. Glancing over his shoulder, Dax could see his mate’s wolf fighting for control, desperate to claim what was theirs. Noah’s muscles tensed and his hands curled into claws. He was clearly fighting a losing battle. Dax was grateful that he was still rational enough to snatch the bottle of lube from the bedside table and quickly slather up his cock with the slippery liquid. Dropping the bottle carelessly to the floor, Noah gripped Dax’s hips and got himself into position. With a hand on both cheeks, he spread Dax wide, lined up his dick and thrust home.

Dax cried out, the pain and fullness not even close to what he had experienced earlier. As Noah continued to drive his hips forward, Dax could swear he was being torn in half. He had allowed passion and need dictate his decisions. He’d convinced himself that he was ready, but now, faced with the truth, he was far from it. True to his word, Noah never stopped and he didn’t hold back. Ignoring Dax’s whining protests, he didn’t stop moving until he bottomed out with his balls resting snuggly against Dax’s ass. A shudder worked its way through his body as his muscles tightened around Noah’s invading flesh.

“Christ! Your ass is so perfect.” Noah’s voice was husky and raw. “How are you doing?”

“Give me a minute,” Dax gasped, glancing back, struggling against the urge to throw Noah off him and refuse to ever attempt it again. “Fuck! It’s too much. Maybe we should stop.”

“There’s no stopping,” Noah gritted out, his eyes darkening to the near black of his wolf. “You are mine and I will claim you. You can do this. Just give your body a minute to relax. You set the pace.”

“Easy for you to say,” he grunted. “You’re not the one being impaled by a telephone pole.”

A warm hand settled on his lower back, rubbing soothing circles into his tense flesh. It took a few minutes, but the action had the desired effect as his muscles slowly began to loosen. In spite of the pain, Dax knew Noah was right. There was nothing he wanted more than to be claimed by his mate, and to claim his man in return. The fact that he had always been the one running things from the top didn’t change anything. With an Alpha wolf as his mate, he was going to be spending a lot of time playing bottom. Despite his reservations, he had to have faith that fate wouldn’t match him with someone he wasn’t sexually compatible with. Taking a few deep breaths helped center him and allowed him the focus he needed to get himself back under control.

“Are you ready?” Noah’s calm words were belied by the tension in his hands as he resumed his grip on Dax’s hips.

“Yeah.”

“Then show me.”

It was now or never. Leaning forward until only the head of Noah’s shaft was still inside him, Dax took a breath then shoved back hard, impaling himself on Noah’s thick length. His vision grayed around the edges and for one embarrassing moment, he thought he might pass out. He was overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through his body, both the good and the bad. They blended together seamlessly, beating down on him until he was nothing more than a writhing mass of nerves, incapable of anything other than feeling. The moan that fell from his lips was so broken, it was nearly unrecognizable.

Noah’s mouth was at his ear, nibbling and sucking at the lobe. “What do you want, D?”

“Fuck me.”

The words were barely more than a whisper of breath, but he knew Noah would hear them. Grabbing a handful of Dax’s hair, Noah jerked his head to the side, licking and biting a path up the column of his throat.

“Thought you’d never ask,” Noah growled, thrusting forward with a strength that no human could ever hope to possess. The grip on his hips became bruising as Noah jerked him back to meet his punishing thrusts. The action drove him deeper than ever into Dax’s unexplored depths.

“Noah…” he groaned.

“God, you feel amazing. All hot and slick. Like a velvet glove, wrapped tight around my dick. You were made for me. Do you feel it?”

“Yes,” Dax hissed, the word almost unintelligible, even to his own ears.

Lust drunk and passion blown, he was beyond speech. All he wanted was more—more pleasure, more pain, more Noah. Reaching between his legs, he made a grab for his shaft but was intercepted by a swat from Noah. The pathetic whimper that escaped him was something that he would deny for as long as he lived.

“No,” Noah barked. “Not touching. You’ll come from my cock in your ass. Nothing else.”

Dax mewled in protest, but when Noah began to hammer into him with renewed force, there was nothing left to do but hang on and enjoy the ride. A man on a mission, Noah alternated between short, quick jabs and deep thrusts designed to drive him out of his mind.

Though he had never imagined spending the rest of his life with a man like Noah Steele, now he couldn’t think of anything else. Noah was everything he hadn’t known he needed. With every surge into his depths, Dax sensed the bond between them grow. A connection designed to tie them together through this lifetime and all others. Fate had destined them to be mates, but it was their actions at this moment that would take that destiny and make it a reality. Dax understood that destiny could be a double-edged sword, but as his mate moved within him, he had no regrets. Noah Steele was his future.

Noah’s rhythm became erratic, a signal of his mate’s impending release. There was an answering tingle in his balls, then, without further warning, his release sprayed hot and heavy beneath them. He came so hard it was like he’d been turned inside out. Moments later, Noah’s cock swelled inside him, followed by a wash of hot fluid spraying his insides, branding him as Noah’s for all time. A hand in his hair jerked his head back to meet Noah’s mouth in a searing kiss.

Thrusting his tongue between Dax’s parted lips, Noah made sure not one inch of his mouth went unexplored. He broke away from the kiss and licked a line across Dax’s shoulder and throat before sinking his teeth into the muscled curve of his neck. Pain flared, white hot, but was chased away just as quickly by a wave of pleasure so intense Dax lost all feeling in his arms and legs. When Dax’s arms gave out, both men crashed down on the bed in a messy, cum-covered pile.

Dax was surprised when Noah didn’t immediately disengage from his neck, instead closing his lips around the flesh and drawing on the wound. He released Dax’s throat after a few deep pulls, laved away the excess blood around the puncture and sealed it.

Without warning, Noah slid out of Dax’s well-stretched hole, flipped him onto his back and came down on top of him. He twined his fingers in Dax’s hair and coaxed Dax’s mouth to the side of his throat.

Dax hesitated, unsure what he was supposed to do.

“Bite me,” Noah ordered, holding Dax’s head in an unbreakable grip.

Dax stared at the miles of golden skin and felt his mouth begin to water. The thought of sinking his teeth into that soft flesh, of tasting the richness and strength of Noah’s blood, was too tempting for him to ignore.

He leaned in and took a moment to enjoy the musky scent of Noah’s skin. He licked at Noah’s throat. The salty, masculine flavor of his flesh was intoxicating. The tantalizing curve of his throat was too much for Dax to ignore and he plunged his canines into the exposed flesh. When Noah’s blood hit his tongue, Dax knew he was hooked. The bold, heady liquid poured into his mouth and sizzled against his tongue. It was the very essence of the man and Dax couldn’t get enough.

“Harder,” Noah groaned, holding Dax’s head in place and encouraging him to deepen the bite.

It was an order he was only too quick to obey. He took a handful of deep draws from the wound before releasing Noah’s throat and sealing the cut.

Dax gasped for breath and stared at Noah in wonder. “What was that?” Dax barely recognized the low, scratchy voice as his own.

Nuzzling Dax’s neck, Noah hummed in satisfaction. “That was me fucking you hard and claiming you as mine. You said you wanted to wear my mark. Anything my mate wants, my mate gets.”

Noah leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Dax’s throbbing bite. Based on the amount of pain radiating from the site, the wound had to be deep.

“Shit,” Dax moaned, tentatively exploring the mark with the pad of his finger. “Do you think it’s gonna scar?”

“Most definitely.” Noah smiled, a smug look of pleasure lighting his face. “Now everyone will know you’re mine.” Placing one last kiss on his mark, Noah rolled over on his side, careful not to squash Dax in the process.

“There are easier ways to stake your claim that don’t involve maiming me,” Dax muttered darkly.

Noah chuckled. “Calm down, diva. You are far from maimed.” Pulling back, he examined the wound with a critical eyes. “Damn, babe. That is impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything hotter than my mark highlighted by all that pale, creamy skin. Beautiful.”

“Screw you, Noah!” Dax groused, unable to hide his smile of satisfaction. “I’m no fucking diva. I just don’t want to walk around looking like your goddamned chew toy, okay?”

Noah laughed, a possessive glow shining in his eyes. “Oh, you want it, but you’re just worried about what that means. Maybe you’re thinking that it makes you weak because you like to be manhandled and ridden hard? I say that’s a load of crap. You fucking love the idea of me marking you up and making you mine. Holding you down, bruises on your arms and scratches down your back from me needing to be just that much closer to you. Baby, you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ve got a matching wound and I think it is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s a badge of honor. I don’t care who sees it and neither should you. No one’s stupid enough to think you’re weak. You’re stronger than just about everyone else in this Pack and they all fucking know it. Trust me.”

Noah sat up and rubbed a hand over the short stubble of his hair. He met Dax’s eyes and pinned him with a serious stare. “It won’t be easy between us, D. We’re both too dominant for any of that hearts and flowers bullshit, but you can bet your ass that no one on the face of this Earth will be as cherished as you are. I’m yours just as much as you’re mine. We’re together in this thing, equals. Never doubt that.”

All of Dax’s snark and denials vanished under the weight of Noah words, striking him mute from shock. The raw passion had been expected. There had been no doubt in his mind that he and Noah’s physical chemistry would be off the charts and he had never been happier to be proven right. The pleasant ache in his ass was all the reminder he needed of their compatibility.

The emotions, on the other hand, were something that he’d never prepared himself for. He’d been attracted to Noah from the first moment he saw him, despite the fact that the Alpha had been bloody and dying on the floor. He had known in that instant that there was something special about the powerful Shifter. His survival in the face of something so horrific had further proven the man’s true worth.

“You know, I never stopped thinking about you.”

Noah arched a brow. “Oh, yeah?”

Dax gave him a bemused smile. “You’ve been haunting me ever since the night we got you back. I use to stop by the medical unit after missions and sit with you while you slept.”

Noah tilted his head and stared at him thoughtfully. “I don’t remember.”

“I doubt you would. You were pretty out of it.”

“Why didn’t you come by when I was awake or come see me when I was released to my own apartment?”

“What can I say?” Dax shrugged. “I was a coward. You were still healing and you didn’t know me. I figured there was no way in hell you’d want some stranger hanging around, bothering you. In my defense, I didn’t know you were my mate. Your scent must have been masked by all the blood when I first saw you at Jai’s apartment.” Dax gave him a pointed look. “You knew we were mates. You could have come to me.”

Noah gave him a crooked grin, running a soothing hand down Dax’s back. “Yeah, but I was still hung up on everything that had happened to me. I was prepared to let you go on with your life and find someone else. I was sure there was no way I was capable to being the mate you deserved.”

“And now?”

Noah rolled over, climbing on top of Dax and pinning him to the bed under his considerable bulk. “Now, if someone even thinks about touching you, I will kill them. You wear my mark, Dax Marshall. You are mine.”

Not giving Dax a chance to respond, Noah lowered his head and took Dax’s mouth in a kiss so hot and consuming, Dax worried he might spontaneously combust.

“Noah,” he gasped when the need for air became too great. His voice quaked and his vision blurred as moisture gathered in his eyes.

Groaning, Noah flopped down next to Dax, reached out and dragged him into the warm shelter of his body. He pulled and tugged until Dax was firmly against his side, his head resting on Noah’s chest just over his heart. “God, you’re a wreck. I’m a guy, D. I don’t need pretty words from you or declarations of love. I already know how you feel because it’s how I feel, too. All I need is you and me, together, every day for the rest of our lives. The rest is implied.”

Dax huffed out a laugh. “Wow, Noah. That was poetic.”

Noah shrugged. “What can I say? When you’ve got it, you’ve got it. Now, you need to shut up and rest. Can’t have you getting hurt because you’re tired. I have plans for you when we get back, and an injury will definitely disrupt them.”

“Looking forward to it,” Dax murmured, closing his eyes as he settled down to sleep.

Movement from Noah’s side of the bed had his eyes flying open in surprise. He found Noah off the bed and searching around the floor, gathering up his scattered clothes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Noah jerked up. “Shit! Don’t scare me like that, D. I was just going to get dressed and head back to my room.”

Propping himself up on an elbow, Dax narrowed his eyes as he stared at Noah. “Why would you leave? We’re mated. I assumed we’d stay together from now on.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why the fuck not?” Dax shoved himself up to a sitting position. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“It’s nothing.”

“The hell it is. Tell me the truth.” Dax’s voice deepened and he narrowed his eyes.

“D, really, it’s—”

“So help me God, Noah. If you tell me it’s nothing one more time, I’m going to shave you bald and dye your scalp purple while you sleep. If you have any doubts, go talk to Warden.”

“Warden?”

“He ‘borrowed’ my Harley last year and brought it back with the paint job trashed.” Dax gave him a smile that was all teeth. “Let’s just say, he won’t make that mistake again.”

A pained smile twisted Noah’s lips. “I don’t really sleep very well at night. It’s not a big deal. I just didn’t want to keep you up. You need your rest.”

Dax’s expression softened as the meaning of his words sank in. He grabbed Noah’s hand and jerked him back down on the bed. Dax rolled them over, then hovered over Noah, gently tracing the contours of his face with his fingers. “Nightmares?”

Noah’s jaw clenched and a flush slept across his cheeks. His nod was small but visible and was all the confirmation Dax needed.

He dropped down on his mate’s chest and wrapped his arms and legs around him, holding him as tight as he could. “I want you to stay the night. I promise, you are safe here with me.”

“But if I wake up—” Noah protested.

“Then I suppose I’ll have to think of some way to help you get back to sleep, won’t I?” Dax arched a brow, a grin curving his lips.

Noah chuckled, the deep sound resonating through Dax’s chest.

“Yeah,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the skin of Dax’s throat, “I guess you will. Goodnight, Dax.”

“Goodnight, Noah.”