Liquid crimson (7 page)

Should Michael take
Neo’s
silence to mean he was disappointed in the way Michael felt surrounding his cock? As he continued to ponder the question,
Neo’s
thrusts remained slow and steady, pushing deep before pulling out until only the crown remained inside Michael’s body, but still not a word.

“Do you not desire me the way you did
Rafi
?” he finally asked.

Neo paused in a downward thrust and braced himself on his hands to lift up and stare into Michael’s eyes. “Why would you ask such a question?”

Michael bit his bottom lip, wishing he could take it back. “Never mind.”

Neo narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Answer me.”

With a heavy sigh, Michael let his legs fall to
Neo’s
sides. “I’ve heard you fuck before, remember? I know what you sound like when you’re really enjoying yourself, and I’ve heard the things you say during sex.” Michael took another deep breath, the weight of
Neo’s
stare getting to him. “But you aren’t doing those things with me.”

Neo’s
head tilted to the side. “I’m trying to make it about more than just fucking with you. I wanted it to be special. When I fucked
Rafi
, it was all about me and what I wanted, but I can’t be that way with you.”

Michael reached up and smoothed
Neo’s
black hair out of his face and behind his ears. “It sounded to me like
Rafi
was enjoying himself whether you meant to please him or not. I won’t break,
ya
know. Don’t change because you think I want it.”

Neo turned his head to kiss Michael’s hand. “No more talk of
Rafi
. He is in the past, you are here with me now and forever.”

Although Michael doubted it would be possible, he nodded his agreement. Just because he never spoke of
Neo’s
time with
Rafi
, didn’t mean he’d forget it.

With a devilish grin, Neo plunged deep. “Was this your subtle way of telling me you need more from me?”

“I need everything you’re willing to give me.” Michael wasn’t talking only about the sex, but that was another thing Neo didn’t need to know yet.

Neo clasped Michael’s wrists and lifted his hands to the headboard. “Hold on.”

With no bars to actually grab, Michael spread out his hands and braced himself against the sleek wooden headboard as Neo nearly doubled him in two with each hard, quick thrust. It was more than he’d been expecting but no less satisfying. Michael cried out each time
Neo’s
cock hit his prostate.

Trying hard to concentrate on breathing through the overwhelming pleasure, his cock exploded with release before he was even aware of what was happening to him. Neo didn’t even slow as Michael’s stomach and chest were covered in cum. It was impossible for Michael to get enough air into his lungs as Neo continued the assault on his ass.
Please don’t let me die the first time I make love to my mate,
Michael prayed.

When his vision started to get spotty, Michael finally released the headboard and placed his hands on
Neo’s
chest. He needed to tell his new lover to slow down but he lacked the oxygen such a statement would require.
Holy fuck what did I wish for?

All at once,
Neo’s
features appeared strained. Neo dropped to Michael’s chest and sank his teeth into the soft flesh of Michael’s neck as his body jerked with his release.

Like before, the longer Neo drank, the more revitalised Michael felt. By the time Neo sealed the wound, Michael’s lungs had returned to normal function.

Neo nuzzled his face against Michael’s neck and sighed. “Never has an experience meant so much to me,” he whispered.

“For me too, but would you do me a favour next time?” Michael asked, feeling bold.

“Certainly,” Neo answered.

“Bite me earlier. I thought I would suffocate at one point.”

Neo rose up enough to look into Michael’s eyes. “I hurt you?”

“No, well, yeah, kind of, but it was only the intensity of your lovemaking. Please don’t change that part. I loved it. It’s just that something happens when you drink from me. Instead of feeling weaker, I get stronger.”

Neo’s
eyebrows drew together. “I’ve never heard of that.”

“Neither have I, but I know how I feel.”

“Hmmm, we’ll have to investigate your theory in another thirty minutes or so. Forgive me for the time lag, I’m an old man compared to you.”

Thirty minutes? The only lover he’d ever had was good for once a night. Michael closed his eyes, hoping he’d survive his new mate’s sexual prowess.

Chapter Five

The next several weeks passed in newly mated bliss as far as Michael was concerned. He’d found the more Neo fed from him, the less sleep he needed. Although he still went to bed with Neo before the sun rose, he was generally up and jogging within a few short hours.

As he strolled down the path towards the basketball court on the backside of the dormitory, Michael kept his eyes open. The security had been doubled and someone was usually within earshot, but it didn’t hurt to try and take care of himself when he could.

Michael was halfway to the dormitory when he heard a rustling in the nearby bushes. “Who’s there?”

Rafi
stepped onto the path in front of Michael. “It’s me.”

It was the first time Michael had seen
Rafi
since his rescue from the cave. “I haven’t seen you around lately,” Michael said.

“I had to go away for a while, but I’m back now.”

Michael waited for
Rafi
to say more, but when nothing came, Michael gestured towards the dormitory. “I was on my way to watch Gunnar play some basketball.”

Although it would be polite to invite
Rafi
to join him, Michael didn’t feel like it. He wasn’t sure social etiquette extended to the ex-lover of your mate. With a nod, Michael tried to go around
Rafi
, but the
weretiger
stepped in front of him once again.

“He’ll tire of you,”
Rafi
said.

“That’s your opinion,” Michael snapped. “I’m sorry you were hurt but that’s between you and Neo.”

Rafi
actually growled, in his own tiger-like way. “It’s because of you Neo ended our relationship.”

Michael sighed. He really didn’t want to get into a pissing contest with a man who could tear him apart. Maybe it was best to placate
Rafi
so he could go about his business. “I’m sorry. For all of it.”

The hand to the side of Michael’s face came out of nowhere. Michael fell to the ground from the force of the blow.

“One day you really
will
be sorry instead of insulting me with your platitudes,”
Rafi
hissed before storming off into the bushes from where he’d appeared.

Michael reached up and covered his stinging cheek with his hand. He carefully moved his jaw from side to side, hoping no serious damage had been done.
Shit.
Once again he was in a position of not knowing what to do. Michael and Neo had become so closely bonded, there was no doubt Neo had felt the slap as soon as it had happened. Fortunately, Neo would be unable to leave the house for at least another hour.

Michael was still sitting on the path, stunned, when Haig, one of
Neo’s
trusted guards, came towards him. He quickly tried to hide the side of his face by getting to his feet and turning to the side.

“What’s going on up here?” Haig asked. “I could smell the anger from my post.”

Was Haig the answer to his prayer, or would the werewolf insist on taking him to Neo? “Can you keep a secret?” Michael asked Haig.

“Sometimes. Depends on what it is.”

Michael rolled his eyes. “Well, at least you’re honest.” He stood there for several moments before turning to face Haig. The large man’s blond eyebrows shot to his hairline. “What happened?”

“Someone hit me, but I can’t go back to the house looking like this.” Michael took a step forward. “I know my mate, and I won’t have someone die because of a simple disagreement. If I can get some ice on it maybe it won’t look so bad by the time I see Neo.”

Haig’s eyes narrowed. He lifted his head and began sniffing the air. “If it was
Rafi
who hit you, I doubt it was a simple disagreement. Besides, it doesn’t matter how hard he hit you, the fact that he did it at all will seal his fate in
Neo’s
eyes.”

Michael didn’t need to ask how Haig knew that. It was widely known around the winery that Michael had only recently replaced
Rafi
in
Neo’s
bed. It was still a sore spot with Michael, but he’d been getting better at controlling his hurt and jealousy over the
weretiger
. “But you agree with me on
Neo’s
reaction if he finds out?”

“Of course. I have my own mate, and I know what I’d do to anyone who dared lay a hand on Kern.”

“
Rafi’s
hurt and confused. He shouldn’t have to die because he acted out of those feelings.” Michael took another step. “I just need some ice and a place out of sight until the swelling goes down.”

Haig put his hands on his hips, drawing attention to his broad muscular chest. “I can take you to my home, Kern’s there, but I have no choice but to report this to Gunnar.”

“Okay.” Maybe
Rafi
would realise what he’d done and flee the vineyard before Neo found out.

Haig turned and started down the path with Michael right behind him. Instead of continuing down to the dormitory, Haig made a right towards the small stone-fronted houses built for mated Blessed Creatures.

Michael followed Haig up the steps to the front porch. Although the houses weren’t big or fancy like
Neo’s
, there was a charm about them that very much appealed to Michael.

When Haig opened the front door, the interior was just as homey as the exterior. “Kern,” Haig called out.

“Hang on,” a deep voice said from beyond the open floor plan of the living room and kitchen area.

Kern stepped into the room wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. “I smelled the two of you coming, so I ran in to throw some clothes on.”

Haig cleared his throat. “You’d better put on a shirt, too. I’ll probably be in enough trouble for bringing Michael here, no sense in pushing my luck.”

“What’s going on?” Kern asked.

Michael didn’t know Kern as well as some of the other guards. Except for Haig, Kern tended to keep to himself. Michael wondered if the scar running from Kern’s forehead straight down to his collarbone had something to do with it.

Haig crossed to the kitchen and opened the freezer. “Evidently
Rafi’s
come back.” Haig pulled out a large paper wrapped steak, the kind Michael had seen the local rancher deliver, and carried it back into the living room along with a dishtowel. “Here.”

Michael took the meat and wrapped it in the towel before carefully placing it against his cheek. He winced at the pressure against his sore face but knew he had to get the swelling down, already his eye felt puffy.

Kern disappeared and was quickly back, T-shirt in hand. He pulled the faded red shirt over his head as he neared Michael. After tilting Michael’s chin up and removing the makeshift ice pack, Kern grunted. “Well, at least he wasn’t trying to kill you. A
weretiger
could crush the side of your head in with one good punch.”

“That’s a nice visual,” Michael mumbled, putting the steak against his cheek once more.

Kern looked down, his piercing green eyes staring into Michael’s. “I’m saying, you should use that information when you talk to Neo. It might be enough to save
Rafi’s
life, but then again, if I were Neo, I’d track
Rafi
down and fillet him with my bare hands.”

Michael glanced at Haig. The two of them hadn’t mentioned their fear of
Neo’s
reaction, so how did Kern know? He started to ask, but Kern beat him to it.

“For us, it’s a natural instinct to kill what threatens our mate.” Kern glanced over Michael’s shoulder to Haig. “I’m lucky my mate is as strong as I am, but it doesn’t matter how strong or weak a mate is, the instinct is still there.”

Kern returned his attention to Michael. “Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

“Do you have any wine?” Michael asked. “Sorry, but I think I could use some right now.”

Kern grinned. Despite the scar running down the side of his face, the man was incredibly handsome. “Sure thing.”

Before Kern left the room, Haig pulled him into a kiss. Watching the two heavily muscled men in a passionate lip lock was sexier than hell. Michael was forced to adjust his hardening cock in his jeans.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes with Gunnar,” Haig said, breaking the kiss.

Kern watched Haig until he was out the door before retreating to the kitchen.

“How long have the two of you been together?” Michael asked when Kern handed him a glass of wine.

“We grew up together, but we didn’t actually mate until we were seventeen.” Kern took a seat in the chair across from the sofa. “We recently celebrated our four hundred and twentieth anniversary.”