Hellbourne (8 page)

“Shh, baby. I just have to grab my pants.” Old habits made him keep packets of lube nearby. Werewolves couldn’t get a disease so condoms weren’t necessary. The same was said for vampires.

Seeing that Luc wasn’t going anywhere, Jerrod’s body went limp beneath his hands. He knew from their conversations that no one had ever spent time getting to know Jerrod’s body. His vampire’s past lovers took what they wanted with little regard for this sensitive man. After making sure his packet of lube was close, Luc gave Jerrod lingering caresses, letting his hands stroke the vampire while his lips nipped at interesting and tender bits. A bite on the right nipple got a soft scream, a nip at a sensitive part of the hip caused a jerk, and lapping at the belly button produced a soft giggle.

Luc swirled his tongue over Jerrod’s impressive cock, encouraging the sweet, sticky precum to bubble to the surface.

“Please, please, please.” The vampire’s chants accompanied the movements of his body trying to get closer to Luc’s touch.

Judging that it was time to stake his claim, he snapped open the lubricant and warmed it between his palms before sliding a finger into his partner’s hole.

“More.”

Luc laughed. “For a submissive, you’re a demanding little thing.” He slid another finger in.

“Please, Master. I’ll do anything, just fuck me.”

“Back or hands and knees.”

Jerrod’s eye lit up. “I get to choose?”

“Choose quickly.”

The vampire bit his lip, little fangs peaking out. “Back. I want to see you when you take me. You’re so beautiful.”

Luc placed his palms beneath Jerrod’s hips lifting him to the perfect angle. Lining himself up, he slid the tip of his cock into a hot, tight paradise. A groan ripped from his chest as he pushed in. Using gentle motions, he got Jerrod to relax his tight ring of muscles until he was fully seated, balls to ass.

Both men moaned.

Luc stayed still until he felt Jerrod try to move him. Smiling, he pumped into the vamp, nailing his prostate over and over again.

Jerrod screamed, struggling to get closer to the sensation. Then without warning, he let it all go. Ropes of warm liquid shot against Luc’s chest, propelling him into orgasm.

When his body stopped shuddering, Luc slipped out of Jerrod’s body and slumped beside him on the floor. “So, do you feel claimed now?”

There was a contented sigh and a sloppy smile spread across Jerrod’s cute face. “Most wonderfully claimed. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Now, let’s go take a shower then you can accept my invitation.”

Chapter Six

Jerrod had barely hung up on Nikko after finalising details for dinner, when the sound of howling pierced the air.

The ringtone of the Pack house.

“Hello?”

“Luc, you have to come. Bran’s been shot.”

The feeling of ice froze his spine as fear overtook his body. “What do you mean shot?”

“Bullets! Guns! Shot!” Salvador screamed across the line. “Come to the Pack house. We need a healer!”

“I’ll be right there.” Luc hung up and turned to find Jerrod standing right behind him. “Bran’s been shot. I have to go to the Pack house. I want you to let Nikko know I won’t be at dinner.”

“Yes, Master.” Jerrod’s words were obedient but his tone was sullen.

“Don’t challenge me on this. The Pack would tear you apart for invading their territory. Even the little pull I have won’t save you from a mauling.”

“I know.” Jerrod looked down at his bare feet and kicked at the carpet. “I was hoping we’d spend more time together.”

“Don’t worry, it’ll work out fine. Bran should be easy to heal. I’m surprised he hasn’t healed himself by now. I need to get some things straightened out with him, so don’t be surprised if I don’t come back until tomorrow.”

“How much longer do you think you can keep going back and forth between vampires and weres?” Jerrod’s blue eyes were direct and penetrating, making Luc wish he were still looking at the floor.

Luc shrugged. “I can’t leave Bran to die. He was my lover for twenty years. You don’t just throw that away.” Although the alpha had tossed him aside, Luc couldn’t explain to his fragile vamp that there would always be only one owner of his heart. He might not be with his alpha wolf, but that didn’t take away from the fact that he still loved Bran and always would.

Jerrod wrapped Luc in his arms. “I’ll be waiting for you when you get back. Want me to call a cab?”

“No. I’ll travel by mirror.”

“Mirror?”

“Yeah. Want to watch?”

A wide smile spread across Jerrod’s face. “I’d love to.”

“Let’s go.” A sudden urgency hit Luc hard. He needed to see Bran and assure himself that he was still alive. Mirror walking was one of his few fae talents. He only used it in emergencies because it mildly freaked him out. Walking through glass was odd and left a strange sensation on his skin that took days to shake off.

With Jerrod hard on his heels, they rushed into the bedroom and approached the full-length mirror in the corner of the room.

“Ever wonder what I needed a full length mirror for?”

Jerrod smirked. “To admire yourself?”

Laughing, Luc shook his head. “To travel.” Licking his index finger, he ran the wet tip along the top edge of the mirror focusing his mind on his final destination. The reflection of the room wavered, colours swirled and a perfect image of Bran’s bedroom appeared.

Luc held back his tears as memories of sharing this room with his lover crowded his mind. He could see Salvador sitting in a chair by the bed and his ex-lover in human form lying still and silent on top of the covers. He was surprised to see Bran as a human, before realising the wound must have forced the shift. When injured, a werewolf converted to human form—a disadvantage that allow paranormal hunters to separate them from real wolves when they hunted.

Admiring the perfect image in the mirror, Jarrod smiled and murmured, “Cool.”

“When I return, the mirror will chime to let you know I’m coming through.”

Jerrod nodded. Then he leant forwards and held Luc in his arms one more time. “Good luck. I don’t know Bran, but if you want him better, so do I.”

Luc gave Jerrod a smile then walked through the mirror. A soft pop echoed as he went from one space to another.

A low moan filled the room.

Mate,
whispered in his mind.

“He’s not healing,” Sal said in a low, worried tone. The werewolf stood near the alpha wolf’s head and greeted Luc. Soft kisses were placed on each of Luc’s cheeks, Sal brushing skin-to-skin, marking him as pack.

Mate.

Luc moved around Sal to sit next to Bran.

Blood soaked the werewolf’s smooth mocha skin like a body dipped in red paint.

“Who did this?”

Sal swallowed and clenched his teeth. “Hunters.”

“Where was he to be so close to hunters? Where was he, Sal?” Someone was going to die. If Luc didn’t get answers soon, it was going to be his good friend Sal.

“The Pack grounds were ambushed. Three hunters got four of our wolves. The others had minor injuries but were able to heal themselves.”

“But Bran is the alpha. He should’ve healed by now.” Luc stroked his ex-lover’s head. A feeling of contentment seeped through him.

“His power is fractured,” Sal said in a sad tone. “If he can’t control his change, I’ll have to take over. I’ll alert the others that you’re here so they won’t panic when they feel the magic coming from Bran’s room.”

Sal’s voice sounded odd, but Luc was too concerned with the blood pumping out of his ex-lover to pay much attention. Bran whimpered softly, his pain-filled eyes watching him with complete trust as Luc spread his hands across the wound.

“Shhh. I’ll take care of you, sweetheart.” Closing his eyes, Luc internally focussed, drawing out power to heal. He imagined the energy flowing from the centre of his body, down his arms and into his hands. Blue flames burst from his palms, slamming into the man lying on the bed.

Luc’s eyes snapped open. He directed the fire into the werewolf’s skin, pushing out the bullets and healing the wounds. Bran’s body shook. Flesh sprouted fur then receded. Although healed, Bran’s body retained his human form as he dealt with the trauma of injury.

Luc collapsed on the small portion of bed not taken by the large were. He was tired. Between the stress of taking care of Jerrod and worrying about his love life, he was worn down.

Familiar fingers stroked his head.

“Even after everything, you came to save me.” Bran’s voice sounded rusty and painful.

Luc looked up to see the alpha gazing at him with a familiar loving expression. A painful knot formed in his throat. How he’d missed his lover.

“I’m sorry, my love, for everything.” Gentle fingers traced his cheek. “If you’ll come back to me we’ll work something out. I swear.”

Luc could hear the sincerity in his ex-lover’s voice as a painful yearning filled him. He looked into Bran’s beautiful face so dear to him, even now. “I don’t think we can work out the fact you want to have sex with a woman and have her pups.”

He wouldn’t cry. He wouldn’t. Luc blinked rapidly, looking away. He started to slip out of bed, but Bran’s large hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping his exit.

“We can have a baby together. We’ll find a female willing to be a surrogate. You’ll be there the entire time.” The alpha took a deep shaky breath. “My wolf needs its heart.” He tilted Luc’s chin up until he was forced to meet the alpha’s eyes. “And my human half needs its soul. Come back to me, baby, and we can rule the Pack together.”

Luc could feel Bran’s sincerity. It shrouded him like a warm blanket. Before he could think of a response to Bran’s words, the bedroom door slammed open.

“What’s
he
doing here?” Betsy screamed.

“Hello, Betsy.” Luc’s heart hammered in his chest. He didn’t want to fight an angry she-wolf. It was bad enough that he’d invaded her territory and tempted her man.

“Why can’t you leave us alone? You’re tearing the Pack apart.” Her fangs dropped in anger, a low growl rolling up from her chest.

Shit.

Behind Betsy in the hallway, Luc saw Sal appear, but he was slower than the blur that rose from the bed and took the alpha bitch down.

A thud echoed in the room as Betsy hit the ground hard, buried beneath the large alpha’s body.

“Don’t ever talk to my mate like that,” Bran growled, his voice low and dangerous, his hands shifting into claws.

“I’m your mate.”

“You’re nothing.”

Luc winced. Subtle, Bran wasn’t. This was not going to be good for Bran’s allegiance with Betsy’s pack.

Sal slipped into the room and patted Luc’s shoulder in a silent message of support. A low whine filled the air. Betsy had converted to wolf. She was baring her neck and stomach to the alpha. With a low growl, Bran stood up between Betsy and Luc, in a protective stance. With a sharp bark, Betsy ran down the hall.

“You’ll start a pack war if you send her back to her pack,” Sal said with a sigh.

Bran shrugged. “Bring them on. She was a pain long before I learned we weren’t compatible.”

“I’ll make sure she leaves. You’ll have to talk to the Pack soon and let everyone know what’s going on.” Sal kissed Luc’s cheek before walking out the door and shutting it behind him.

Alone with Bran, Luc was uncertain what to do next. For a long moment, he stared at the closed door not sure of what to say.

“Luc.” Bran’s voice held a familiar note of longing.

He reluctantly turned to face the alpha wolf. Bran’s gold eyes were glowing with hunger as he took in Luc. “What do you want from me, Bran?”

The alpha walked in front of him before sliding to his knees—an eerie copy of Jerrod’s actions earlier that day. “I want whatever you will give me. Any scrap of your affection. Any moment of your time. I know you might not be able to forgive me, but I thought I was doing what was best for the Pack. I thought I could give them a future leader.” Bran let out a bitter laugh. “I should’ve known I couldn’t give you up. Instead of a strong leader, I ripped out my heart and gave them a broken alpha and dissension in the pack. Do you know half of them won’t even talk to me any more because of how I treated you? How can I lead my people if they won’t follow?”

When Bran looked up, Luc saw tears filling those beautiful eyes. It felt wrong to have his strong, passionate lover on his knees—no matter what dreams he’d had after their breakup.

“If they want me gone, I’ll leave the Pack. But I’ll never let go of you again.” Luc could hear Bran swallow back the tears. “If you’ll have me back, I’ll be yours forever.”

“Oh, babe.” Luc pulled Bran to his feet and into his arms, cradling him close as the werewolf broke down into sobs. “Shhh. We’ll work something out.”

It took Luc a long while to soothe his shattered lover, but eventually, after a magical cleansing to remove the blood, they moved to the bed. Tired from the emotional outpouring, they stripped and tossed their clothes to the floor.