Chapter Fourteen
Devin hugged Ace close as the man slept. In his second form it was so easy to have the big man cuddled into his chest and Devin felt a surge of protectiveness flood his veins along with the life-giving blood he had sucked from his
amatus
. His mate didn’t realize it but now he had been claimed by Devin’s vampire side, Ace’s lifespan would increase to match his which would mean they could both potentially live a very long life together. While shifters lived for a long time, vampires were virtually immortal and now that Devin had fed from his heart and claimed him through sex, Ace would be too. The warmth, love and affection that Devin felt for the man in his arms was all too new, but Devin was confident he could deal with it. He wanted to deal with it.
He wondered how Ace would feel when he woke up. Devin had tried probing their mind link, but Ace was still out for the monk and there was nothing there but the residual zings in the man’s brain as Ace’s body processed their hard coupling. Devin hadn’t used sex as a means of releasing his blood urges for a long time simply because the sheer power of his second form was intimidating to most. A shaft of pride ran through his heart as Devin considered his sleeping mate. Ace wasn’t afraid of him as a vampire and the fact that the man submitted, when his own dominance was so clearly evident to all who saw him, made Devin purr inside. Ace was a very special man.
When Ace stirred sometime later, Devin was still curled around him. Ace squinted open one eye and looked up at Devin’s face. “Are you going to change back any time soon?” Devin thought about teasing his
amatus
, but given what Ace had been through he didn’t think that was fair.
“Just protecting you while you slept,” he said with a knowing nod to the camera eye installed in the ceiling. Ace’s face flushed a deep red as the man probably realized that their claiming had been caught on camera. Devin didn’t know who would have seen it, but he tensed as he worried that Ace might feel humiliated by what he had done.
But Ace surprised him. Stretching his thick body along Devin’s Ace stretched and said, “Well, I hope they got a good show.” Rolling over, Ace cupped Devin’s jaw with his hand, and brushed his lips across one of Devin’s fangs.
“You are quite spectacular in this form,” Ace said. “But would it be all right if you changed back now? Surely it would be easier to talk to you without those fangs in the way.”
Devin grinned. His mate was right. He could talk with his fangs descended but it wasn’t easy. Encouraging Ace to roll off his body for a moment, Devin willed himself back to his human form, his much smaller body eagerly wrapped up in Ace’s arms as soon as the change was finished.
Ace settled himself against the headboard, pulling Devin with him.
“I have to admit,” Ace’s gruff voice started, “this is more of what I am used to.”
“Me too,” Devin said offering a small grin at his mate. Ace didn’t look too worried about his first foray into receiving anal sex which was a positive.
“So you don’t go all vampire and fuck men on a regular basis?”
Devin laughed. “You’ve seen my other form,
amatus
. How many men would take one look at that, drop their pants and bend over?”
“I probably would,” Ace admitted and Devin could hear a tinge of embarrassment in Ace’s tone.
“That’s because you’re special, beloved,” Devin said honestly. “You were born to be the mate of a vampire and you know I will never hurt you.”
“Yeah, about that hurting thing.” Ace’s face flushed red again. “How come, you know, when you…it didn’t hurt? Subs have always said their first time was really painful and you didn’t use any lube.”
“It’s a vampire thing,” Devin said, trying to work out how to explain it. “When we meet our beloved it is expected that we will be the dominant partner. So in our second form our saliva secretes a chemical that enhances your pleasure and our pre-come has in built relaxants which allow your body to open up fully to take us. Face it, prepping and fiddling around with lube tubes could be a real hassle with those claws.”
“Hmmm, I can see that,” Ace said, but Devin could see his mate’s mind was already on something else. He didn’t have long to wait to find out what it was.
“Why would you work as a submissive when you are so naturally dominant, and among humans of all people?”
Devin reminded himself that up until very recently Ace didn’t like humans or any other species. He knew Ace wasn’t insulting him. The man was just trying to work things out.
“About three hundred years ago…” Devin heard Ace gasp but continued anyway. His
amatus
would get used to his longevity in time. “…my blood urges started getting really bad. I was in my coven then, so I used to fight and fuck with other vampires and I really didn’t think it was a big deal. All vampires did it as they got older.”
Ace’s growl at the thought of him fucking other people was positively cute.
“But it was getting to the point where I was the oldest unmated vampire and well…” Devin didn’t like to think about the pain he had caused his best friend, but his amatus deserved the truth. “I got a bit too rough one day and I seriously hurt my best friend. I had become a prince by then, because of my age, and no one else in the coven, except the leaders, could refuse me in a fight or fuck situation. I think the power went to my head a bit, and I was being a bit of a jerk.”
“Was your friend okay?”
Devin nodded, his cheek cool against the heat of Ace’s chest. “Yes, he healed, but it took some time and things were strained between us after that. My coven leader, an older mated prince, suggested that it was time to travel, to try and find my amatus. When we’re mated we are less likely to get the blood urge, and our second forms are easier to control, so as you can see, when we get older finding our mate becomes really important.”
“But I don’t see how that led you to becoming a submissive in a human club?”
Sighing, Devin nuzzled into Ace’s neck and was pleased that Ace tightened his grip around him. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially humans,” he admitted. “Even those men who were bigger than me, were still weaker and apart from the occasional shifter I met, as time went on I found myself living in a human world. I wandered into a leather club one day, more curious than anything else, and met a man there who took the time to talk to me. He eventually trained me as a sub and I went from there.”
“Did he know?”
“No.” Devin shook his head. “He learned that I liked pain, and I found that while no single beating would stop a full on blood urge, a steady stream of them kept the need to explode at bay. I fed discretely – away from the club. I made sure I had a no sex clause in any contract I signed and I never went for long term. I knew when I met my
amatus
, he would be able to take care of me.”
“And instead I let you down less than a month into our mating. I am so sorry.” Oh no, Ace sounded so sad, and Devin never intended for that to happen. He quickly sat up and draped himself over Ace’s lap and took the big man’s face in his hands. He was pleased when Ace’s hands automatically settled around his hips.
“You have done nothing but put my needs first since you claimed me,” Devin said fiercely. “You weren’t to know that Kyle would be such a dick, or hold a grudge for so long and I know the only reason you never complained was because of how important your pack is to you. You didn’t know I was struggling because…well because I was trying to protect you too.”
“You should have told me.” Ace’s dark eyes were grave. “If we are to work as Dom and sub, lovers, mates or whatever we are, we have to communicate with each other and be honest with each other. I admit I was tired a lot of the time, but I should have noticed you were having trouble with your control. I have spent every shift worrying because I knew you weren’t feeding enough and I was terrified of what would happen if you got a blood urge and I wasn’t around to be there for you.”
“And yet, when you thought I had lost control, you were more than willing to give up your pack for me. I would never ask you to do that, but just like you always do, you put my needs first. I couldn’t ask for more than that from my beloved.”
“I meant what I said before, when you were in your second form. I do love you. I’ve never loved anyone else in my life except my mother, but I will always love you.”
Devin felt his heart pound faster as he looked at Ace’s face. So serious, so sincere, yet Devin knew that behind that gruff exterior lay a wolf that would do anything for his mate, for the man he loved.
“I love you too, beloved, and that won’t ever change. Now,” he added looking around the playroom they were in and hoping to lighten the tone between them. “Is there anything in here you know how to use? Because my Master hasn’t wanted a scene for quite some time and I am sure I am due a spanking followed by a hard fuck at the very least.”
“I told you,” Ace growled, his Dom voice sending sparks through Devin’s cock. “I decide the when, where and how.”
“So is now good for you?” Devin persisted. When Ace’s hands swept up and tangled in his hair, and the man’s mouth joined his, Devin presumed that Ace’s answer was a definite yes. His ass tingled in excitement thinking about what was coming his way. Knowing his mate, it would be wonderful fun, and just what Devin needed.
Epilogue
Devin groaned as the twelve foot bull whip snaked across his bare back. In his Master’s hands that bull whip was a device of pleasure and pain and Devin groaned again as the next lash hit.
“That’s it boy,” Ace called out. “Let me hear you.”
Another two lashes and Devin felt his mind float free. This was what he craved. The bonds, the pain and afterwards a hard fuck and a feed that would leave his body humming in a most delicious fashion. After two months together Ace had shown Devin a number of different ways to keep his blood urges in check, but Devin’s favorite would always be the whip.
As Devin’s mind soared he remembered the last pack run Ace had taken him on. On that night Devin had surprised a number of wolves by not only keeping up with them in their furry form, but running faster than them, even while he was in his human state. Ace was a huge bundle of fun when wolfy, but it was Ace demanding he change into his own second form so Devin could fuck him in the forest, that made Devin’s heart soar. It didn’t happen very often, but when Ace submitted it was a beautiful between them. Just like now.
Devin’s mind floated back to the present as he heard the whip handle clatter to the floor. He knew what that meant and he pushed back against his bindings on the cross, shoving his ass out as far as he could. Ace had landed three strong welts across his buttocks and when his big mate pounded into him Devin knew he would feel it right down to his bones.
A sure hand fell on his hip, Ace’s thick slick cock pushing at his entrance. Ace knew that Devin didn’t mind the burn on occasion, and when he was tied up he craved it. A short tease, that had Devin whimpering, and Ace shoved his cock hard inside. Devin screamed, the burn adding another layer to the pain Devin craved.
Devin hung onto the bindings of his cuffs as Ace took him, as rough and fast as he could be. Devin loved that about his Master, his
amatus
. There were times when Ace could be loving and gentle, but in a scene, it was as though Ace could always tell what he craved, and the man was more than happy to deliver. The mind link they shared certainly helped.
Ace’s hand wrapped around his cock and Devin struggled to hold on. Ace’s ability to find his prostate was extraordinary and Devin wasn’t going to shame himself, or his Master by coming too soon. But it was hard to hold on, and Devin tried thinking of anything but the delicious burn in his rectum and the solid hand manipulating his cock.
“Stay with me boy,” Ace said harshly, twisting his fingers around the head of Devin’s cock. Damn the man and the mind link.
“I’m close, so close,” he gasped, admitting defeat.
“Good boy for telling me,” Ace praised, rutting faster and harder. Devin waited, his nerves stretched, his balls heavy and so ready to explode. One minute. Two minutes. Five long fucking minutes. Finally Ace grunted out a “come now,” and Devin was gone. His orgasm stretching thanks to Ace’s hand, and Ace thrusting on through it. As Devin felt the need to sag on his bindings, Ace came with a satisfied roar.
Quick sure hands untied him, massaging Devin’s wrists and ankles. Two strong arms lifted him up, and carried him to the bed. Warmth surrounded him and Devin relaxed knowing he was safe in his
amatus’
arms. A gentle nudge sent Devin’s fangs into his mate’s tasty neck and Devin took what he needed.
Devin wasn’t sure if he dozed or simply lay in a catatonic state. He was blissfully happy. Ace took care of every need he had, and he hoped, that in a small way, that Ace thought the same about him. He was loved, cherished and after so many centuries alone, Devin didn’t think he would ever get over the feeling of completion that came when he was in Ace’s arms.
“Scene’s over, precious. Are you feeling okay?”
“Hmmm.” Devin stretched his legs tangling with Ace’s. He twitched his back experimentally and didn’t feel a twinge. “Damn it,” he said. “Sometimes it would be so nice if I didn’t heal so quickly. I love the feel of your marks on me.”
“Well you have one mark that will never fade,” Ace said, stroking across the large mating scar he’d left on Devin’s neck. “I’d like to put another one on you, if you accept,” Ace continued and Devin looked up to see his normally stoic mate looking a little nervous.
“I’m yours,” he said simply. “Whatever you want.”
“Would you wear my collar?”
Ace’s stark words hit Devin so hard for a moment he couldn’t breathe. He had worn collars before. Temporary things that simply denoted his position as a house sub. But no Master had ever offered him one full time. It was as close to a marriage as a vampire would ever get and Devin was almost moved to tears.
“I wasn’t sure if you would ever consider wearing one,” Ace said and Devin could tell from the nervous tone that his
amatus
thought he was going to refuse. “It’s just with the not aging thing, and your long life and, well I didn’t see marriage as an option for us. But I want you to be mine and I want the world to know it – human as well.”
“You honor me,” Devin said, lifting his face so Ace could see the tears in his eyes. His mate looked down at him for a long moment and then gently moved Devin to the bed. Crossing the room, Ace fumbled around in his jacket pocket and came back with a square black jewelry case. He handed it to Devin who was overcome with nerves himself at what was inside.
Opening the lid carefully Devin gasped. Inside, nestled against black velvet was a solid, thick gold choker necklace – totally masculine in every way. It was stunning and once again Devin was lost for words.
“I got it with an expandable clasp, for when you change forms,” Ace said gruffly. “The clasp is a small lock and well…I know we have a slightly unconventional relationship but I want everyone to know you are mine.”
Carefully Devin plucked the sturdy ring of gold out of the box. Holding it out to Ace in both hands, he said, “put it on me please,
amatus
, and lock it tight. I will wear it always.”
If Devin noticed the slight tremble in Ace’s hands when the big man put the collar around Devin’s neck, well, he wasn’t going to comment on it. A collar was a huge commitment and to be given one so early in what would be a very long relationship filled Devin with a sense of peace he didn’t think he had ever experienced before.
“How does it feel?” Ace asked. Devin noticed that Ace threaded the key on a thick gold chain which he then put around his own neck. The key sat squarely in the dip of Ace’s neck and glowed in the half light of the room.
“It’s perfect
amatus
, just like you.” Eyes gleaming, Devin wriggled down Ace’s body to his mate’s thick cock that had hardened the moment Ace had collared him. They might have a dozen lifetimes to look forward to together but Devin had been alone for a very long time. With his new, permanent collar fastened around his neck he finally had something to look forward to. Giving his wolf shifter a blow job was the first on a long list of things the vampire planned to do.