The cat shifter looked almost embarrassed but Ace couldn’t work out what the man had to be worried about and the question must have shown on his face.
“I wouldn’t have been so harsh on you when we met,” Teric said, “and I definitely wouldn’t have humiliated you in front of your pack mates if I had known that the ideas you held weren’t your own.”
“But they were…”
“No they weren’t,” Pearson said firmly. “A lot of parents have no idea the damage they can do to their offspring with their misguided hate ideas. Sexual discrimination, ridiculous notions about the status of shifters, other paranormals and humans. No one person is better than another simply because of who they love, or what they were born to be. It is all hate designed to perpetuate more hate and frankly it makes me sick. You grew up believing in the misguided opinions of someone else, who should have known better than to fill your head full of lies.”
Stunned, Ace just focused on his plate of food, unsure if he was meant to say anything. Pearson clearly had strong feelings on the topic and now that he had claimed his vampire mate, Ace knew that all he had been taught as a child was wrong. The Fates had never made a mistake in a mating ever, and Ace was only sorry he originally thought that they had. He had lost five days with Devin because of it.
“So as I said, meeting Devin must have been a huge shock,” Teric said with a grin and Ace gave a small grin in reply.
“Oh yep, this big bad wolf didn’t know what hit him when he saw me,” Devin said in an equally light tone. “It took a while, but the mating pull is a powerful thing and once he claimed me, Ace has been perfect in every way. Protective, loyal and definitely sexy.”
“Yeah, well, when that protectiveness gets too much of a bitch for you to handle, come and see me,” Teric said. “I’ll give you a few tips on how to deal with it.”
Ace wasn’t sure that he wanted Devin being too friendly with Teric, but then he gave himself a mental slap around the head. Devin would need friends in the pack and Teric was an assassin even if he was submissive to Kyle. Well, Ace thought Teric would be because the enforcer was one hell of a dominant wolf. But then he was also fairly sure that the two men shared a mind link and that would have meant that Teric had topped Kyle at least once.
Shit. Ace swallowed a groan. Here he was having a meal with his Alpha and the Alpha Mate and trying to get his place back in the pack and he was worried that if anyone found out he and Devin shared a mind link that they would assume the same thing as he had about Kyle and Teric. And for that matter, Pearson and Dante and even Steel and Levi. When he saw Devin looking his way, he gave a small smile and tried not to think about anything at all. He had no idea how much his little vampire could pick up from his thoughts.
Chapter Eleven
It was only after all of the men had finished eating, that Pearson reverted to his serious tone.
“Ace, you do understand that you have to be punished for threatening Teric?”
Ace’s voice was quiet but equally firm. “Of course, Alpha.”
Devin tried to calm his own thinking as he worried about his mate. It was the norm among paranormals, where strength was respected and infractions against a group or even individuals were dealt with harshly. Even after living among humans for so long, paranormals of all types, especially shifters, still abided by nature’s rules and a wolf who went against another pack member had to be put in his place. That thought didn’t stop Devin’s heart from beating that little bit faster though and he gripped Ace’s hand under the table. Pearson’s next words would determine Ace’s fate and his own.
“You disrespected Kyle in his position as head enforcer when you threatened his mate. Teric is a full pack member and was supposed to be under your protection – something I had ordered you to provide. So you disrespected me as well.”
“In fairness Alpha, when the initial threat was made, I wasn’t a pack member,” Teric said.
“But when the subsequent threat was made, the dead cat on the steps of the club, you were a full pack member and Ace had no right to do that,” Pearson said firmly. Teric nodded and quietened down, although Devin sent him a quick smile. He had a feeling he and the pretty little cat shifter had a lot in common, two oddities in a wolf pack, and would probably become fast friends if they could just all get past this mess.
“I understand, Alpha.” Devin was proud that his mate’s voice was calm and firm. Any weakness Ace might have shown in the cell was long gone.
Pearson nodded and seemed pleased as well. At least Devin hoped that the Alpha was in a good mood. He would have hated for the succulent dinner they had just enjoyed to be their last meal. Shit, maybe that was a wolf thing? Devin hadn’t been around enough packs to know and he mentally kicked himself for taking Kyle’s screamed words to heart.
“In three days’ time there will be a full pack meeting. You will present yourself with your mate and take twenty lashes, from me on the stage in full view of the pack,” Pearson said. “After that, I will present Devin to the pack as your mate and new pack member, and you will be reinstated as an enforcer. Steel would like to talk to Devin about apparently working for him, if you have no objection. He doesn’t have a vampire on his team and an old one interests him greatly.”
Devin grinned at the small growl he heard Ace make. If Steel was the big mean looking man that had taken Ace, then Devin already guessed he was mated, but a wolf’s possessiveness was so in-built it just had to escape sometimes. Even if the timing wasn’t right. Like right now.
Fortunately Pearson grinned as well. “You know Steel is mated, Ace. Levi would have his balls in a sling if his Dom even looked at Devin the wrong way.” Turning to Devin, Pearson said, “I can’t have you as an enforcer, although I would dearly love to have you on my team. But my enforcers are all wolves and that’s important for pack structure. Teric works with Steel and I am sure he can show you the ropes, that’s if you are looking for a job of course.”
“Thank you. I will need to find new work. I will discuss it with Ace and let you know,” Devin said. Somehow he didn’t think Ace would be too keen on him going back to his old job as a professional sub.
“So if you agree to the terms, Ace, you are free to take your mate to your apartment and do, whatever.” The ‘whatever’ coming from the Alpha’s mouth along with the flapping hand, gave Devin plenty of ideas.
“You have been more than fair, Alpha,” Ace said and Devin thought he looked a little shell-shocked. “I will be here, 8pm Wednesday with my mate. But are you sure that Kyle is going to want to continue working with me, after…you know, everything.”
“Kyle will be fine,” Pearson said firmly and if the smug grin on Teric’s face was anything to go by, Devin had to assume the Alpha was right. Kyle was above Ace in the pack hierarchy, and Devin wasn’t sure he wanted Ace working for the man. He’d probably get all of the shit shifts and jobs no one else wanted.
“Don’t worry about it, mate,” Ace whispered in his ear. “I can handle it.” Nope. That didn’t stop Devin from worrying, but then Ace ran his hand up Devin’s thigh, under the table, and lightly cupped his dick that suddenly decided to stand up and do a bid for attention. They could work on their trust and worry and all that other crap later. Right now Devin had a more pressing need in mind – like the one trying to push into Ace’s solid hand.
/~/~/~/~/
Ace almost had a surreal feeling as he unlocked the door to his apartment and ushered Devin inside. The place smelled a bit musty, having been closed up for three weeks, but it was home. Ace rushed around opening windows to encourage a through draft of the light evening breeze. Was it really only four weeks before that he had escaped the cell at the club and disappeared into the night, too scared to go to his apartment because that would be the first place Steel and Kyle would have looked.
Hmm four weeks was a long time to go somewhere without cleaning out things like his fridge first as well. Ace was hesitant to go into the kitchen, but he knew it would have to be done. At least the stuff in his freezer would be all right. But he forgot all about the practical side of things when Devin slipped his arm around his waist.
“You have a lovely home,
amatus
,” Devin said softly. Ace gathered his mate in his arms and looked over Devin’s head, trying to see his place through his mate’s eyes. Ace loved his home and had designed it with the idea of living with a sub, his mate, firmly in mind. His big leather couches were comfortable, wide enough to fuck on, and offered plenty of room to snuggle close. The coffee table was solid enough to easily take a sub’s weight and wasn’t too big that tying the man down to it, would prove uncomfortable.
The room itself was painted in creams and whites, Ace preferring to let his furniture provide the color and contrast the light walls and big windows demanded. The living space was uncluttered but totally functional, including his entertainment center, a couple of brightly colored cushions and a large rug in front of the gas fireplace that Ace had installed. Through the living room was the kitchen/dining area – functional and clean, painted in white with canary yellow cupboard doors and an old recycled oak wooden floor that Ace had installed himself. He grinned as he remembered the hours he had spent lovingly sanding and polishing the wood until it gleamed.
“It’s home now you’re here,” he said honestly, because that was true. Ace had never had a sub here, or a hook up. He had kept everything sexual at the club, not wanting to sully his home with something casual, when it was meant to be a home for him and his mate.
“I can’t live here, if others have shared this space,” Devin warned. “It might sound weird to you, but the slightest hint of anyone else would, would…”
“It’s okay, little fang. I do understand totally and feel the same way. No one has ever slept in my bed, and I have never had sex in this house,” Ace said, looking down at the gorgeous man in his arms – the one who would be with him for what would hopefully be a very long life.
“Good,” said Devin and Ace fell in love with the gleam in those violet eyes. “So we have got a lot of christening to do. Bed first?”
“I thought I told you that it was my decision when, where and how?” Ace growled playfully, totally on board with the idea as he ran his hands down to Devin’s pert ass.
“I know you did my
amatus
,” Devin said, standing up on his tip toes to brush a kiss across Ace’s throat. “And you will be my Master, my Dom forever more. But today, today we have been given a reprieve from death itself, and I long to explore the man I will spend my life with. Is that a wrong thing for this little sub to ask of his mate? Would you deny me that pleasure?”
“I would deny you nothing, mate of mine,” Ace said as he bent his head and breathed against Devin’s lips. “All that I have is yours, all that I am I give to you. Without you I am nothing, and I will want you forever more. Will you accept me?” Ace had remembered the archaic words from the teachings of his mother, and he felt them reverberate in his very soul as he spoke. He knew he should have spoken them before, but somehow, in his own home the words resonated in his soul and he meant every one of them.
“I accept with all that I am and I will cherish all that you give me,” Devin assured him. “We are one,
amatus
, forever, I promise.”
/~/~/~/~/
Devin repressed a shiver of excitement as Ace led him down a short hallway to a large master bedroom. Oh, his mate loved comfort and a simple style, which was obvious from the huge bed, the soft coverings and the colorful rugs on the floor. This was a warm and happy home, and Devin knew it wouldn’t be any hardship moving in full time.
Ace went to remove his shirt, but Devin stopped him. “Would you let me, please?” He asked softly looking up into Ace’s dark eyes. “Let me serve you, please.” With a grunt, Ace dropped his hands, and Devin quickly got to work, lifting Ace’s t-shirt from his muscled chest, and slipping it over the man’s broad shoulders. He could sense a slight bit of unease from his mate, and he wasn’t sure what was making Ace anxious. He had noticed it at the club as well, but at the time Devin had assumed that Ace was just worried about the punishment he was going to have to face. Now he wasn’t so sure.
Ignoring it for now, Devin took his time caressing over Ace’s muscles, working his way down those very fine abs, to the buckle on Ace’s belt. Predictably Ace was already hard behind his jeans and Devin moaned as he cupped the large package encased in denim, rubbing over the hardened flesh, the heat searing his palm.
“I’m not into messy jeans, little fang,” Ace warned and although there was now a twinkle in the man’s eye, Devin got the hint. He quickly finished undressing his
amatus
and urged him to go and lay on the bed, while he quickly stripped out of his own clothes. When he turned back towards the bed, the sight of Ace laying out on the coverlet was enough to take his breath away.
Ace’s tanned skin glowed in the soft light from the bedside lamp, his long hair fanned out around his head over the pillows. The man wasn’t pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but Devin positively lusted after the huge frame, rippling well defined muscles and miles and miles of luscious skin. As Devin stepped closer he could smell the heat of Ace’s arousal and the man’s blood called to him from the delicious veins that mapped Ace’s body.
Devin felt his fangs drop and he took a few deep breaths to compose himself before he climbed onto the foot of the bed, taking one of Ace’s feet in his hands.
“Better get comfy, my
amatus
, I’ve got a lot of body to cover,” he said with a smirk as he bent his head and took Ace’s big toe into his mouth. Sucking gently and then lightly grazing the skin with his fangs, Devin took his time sampling the different scents, textures and hot spots on Ace’s body. When he nibbled behind Ace’s knee the big man trembled. When Devin licked up the soft silky skin of Ace’s inner thigh, his stoic mate let out a low moan, so soft that Devin wouldn’t have caught it if he hadn’t been a vampire.
On and on Devin went. He learned that Ace loved to have his inner thighs and the soft part of his underarms nibbled. The man groaned in protest when Devin licked up into his armpit. Ace’s large flat nipples responded beautifully to tiny nicks with his teeth and by the time Devin sucked up a hickey on Ace’s collar bone the man was a writhing mess. But through it all Ace kept his hands to himself, even if they were fisted on the bed, and let Devin have his time to explore. Devin admired his mate’s control.
Slipping down Ace’s body, Devin sat up on his knees and bent over, rubbing his nose in Ace’s ball sack. The smell of heat, need and pure masculinity filled Devin’s nostrils and he groaned against the orbs he was nuzzling.
“Fuck, my
amatus
, you taste and smell so good,” he moaned as he gently took first one and then the second ball into his mouth, rolling them gently with his tongue and then scraping them lightly, before releasing them. Nudging his nose under Ace’s heavy ball sack, Devin was surprised but thrilled when Ace drew his legs up, Devin’s head now framed by two solid thighs.
Taking a chance, Devin nudged further down, tonguing his way along the silky smooth patch of skin that headed straight to Ace’s tiny asshole. As he ran the flat pad of his tongue against Ace’s hole, Ace groaned and muttered, “Yeah mate, do that. Rim the hell out of my ass.”
Happy to oblige, Devin set about giving Ace the rim job of his life. Blessed with a decent tongue, lips designed for sucking and the hint of teeth, Devin had no doubts he could bring his mate pleasure and that was what he set out to do. From his explorations he had gotten the idea that his sturdy mate had not had anyone take the time to pleasure him, or explore him in any detail, which Devin thought was a crying shame. The man was built for pleasure with a capital ‘P’.
/~/~/~/~/
Ace was going out of his fucked up mind. No one had ever tried to bring him any pleasure before, unless it was ordered in a scene. In Ace’s life the subs he had taken wanted direction, instructions and a plan, and it was Ace’s job as the Dominant to provide that structure. But this – what Devin was doing to him, was all new territory for Ace and he wanted to revel in it forever.
The care Devin must have for him showed in every lick, every delicious nibble that sent shivers down Ace’s spine. The attention Devin paid to every inch of his body was so far out of Ace’s realm of experience he could barely breathe and yet his mind was chanting
more, more, more.
He loved ass play, loved having someone eat him out, but it had happened so rarely and to see Devin dive in without a moment’s hesitation was…well it was just plain awesome.
Ace could feel himself getting close…the feelings were just that intense and Ace desperately wanted to fuck his talented mate. But he couldn’t bring himself to stop Devin’s actions. The man was a freaking oral god, and Ace had never been the center of such concentrated focus. He tensed lightly when he felt something harder than a tongue enter his ass, but then invading digit hit something fuzzy inside of him and with a roar Ace came, his cock completely untouched.