Reaching for his knife and fork he said, "You need to get comfortable with me as your mate, Holden. The rest will fall into place once you've truly accepted that and begun to feel something for me. It's falling into place for me much quicker than it is for you because I'm open to having a man as my mate and my lover. "

Anger flashed in Holden's amber eyes. "I'm not closed-minded."

"No, I can tell that you are working very hard to bring yourself to a better level of acceptance.

But you're still thinking in gender specific terms, Holden. I'm not, therefore my acceptance of you as my mate is unconditional." Garret paused, his eyes meeting Holden's. Anger and confusion warred on his mate's face.

Gesturing toward Holden's plate with his fork he said, "Let's not waste another meal. We can argue semantics afterward."

Holden looked down at his plate and picked up his fork and knife. "It's not semantics if it's how you feel," he growled.

"I can go back to my room after dinner, Holden. You don't have to be with me anymore tonight." Garret pointed out the obvious, his curiosity about Holden's thoughts and feelings rising sharply. "You've come a long way toward acceptance and I love you all the more for it. You just need to understand that the emotional bonds are winding around me more tightly as each hour pa.s.ses. It's difficult for me to be near you and not tell you how I feel."

The knife and fork clattered to Holden's plate and he grasped his wine gla.s.s drinking deeply from it. He set it down and his eyes speared Garret to his chair. "I'm not a child, Garret. I can handle you telling me about your feelings. Just don't expect me to reciprocate before I'm ready.

Just so you know, I feel the emotional bonds building too. However, I a.n.a.lyze data for a living. I want to know that I've built an emotional foundation with you based on how we interact with each other not on the mating mechanisms in our DNA."

Caught by surprise, Garret stared wide eyed at Holden. "You want to learn to love me aside from the natural urges to mate."

Holden's dark head dipped in acquiescence. He picked up his utensils again. Cutting into his steak he said, "I would want the same if my mate was a woman."

Garret's emotions churned within him. At every turn, Holden Antaeus surprised him. Sure, the man probably did have some hang ups about being gay and about s.e.x with men; it was early and his feelings were bound to change. However, his take on mating and feelings outside of the relentless pull of mating bonds were not something Garret could ignore.

They finished their meal in near silence and piled the dishes on the cart, setting it out in the hotel corridor to be picked up later. The instant the door shut, Garret tensed.

"Maybe it would be easier if I went to my own room," he said in a low tone, repeating his earlier offer. Holden padded toward him, that lean tennis-hardened body like a finely coiled spring, appearing relaxed but filled with tension. Garret gritted his teeth as Holden reached out. Warm fingertips stroked over the curves of Garret's biceps. His c.o.c.k filled with heat.

"I've never backed away from a challenge, Garret," Holden murmured, his eyes following the path of his fingers. "An Antaeus faced with an obstacle figures out a way over it or bulldozes it to the ground. We're not known for skirting issues."

Garret had heard a lot of things about the Antaeus family. In business, they were feared and respected, and known to be brutally honest, relentless compet.i.tors. On a personal level, Garret had already come to the conclusion that Holden lived his life the same way. The problem was that Garret didn't like being thought of as an issue to be dealt with.

"Stop thinking. There are a lot of layers to this mating thing," Holden said quietly. "The emotional layer is there. I feel it building, but it's not what's paramount inside me at the moment.

Right now, you need to know that I'm looking at your mouth and my c.o.c.k is starting to respond.

I've never been able to resist a good b.l.o.w. .j.o.b. And, Garret-" His hand came up and captured Garret's chin, his eyes boring into his mate's. "You gave me one of the best b.l.o.w. .j.o.bs I've ever had.

Why the h.e.l.l would I even think of turning down the possibility of another one?"

Garret's c.o.c.k swelled when Holden said he was becoming aroused. Their first encounter had left him drained, yet wanting more. His need, both s.e.xually and emotionally, for Holden grew steadily inside him. Wryly, he also realized that his own compet.i.tive nature picked up on Holden's word choices. "One of the best b.l.o.w. .j.o.bs" wasn't good enough for Garret. He would make the man forget anyone else had ever sucked his c.o.c.k.

Holden grinned openly, his firm lips parting to show even white teeth. Garret's gut clenched as the desire to kiss his mate and thrust his tongue into the heated depths of Holden's mouth caused his c.o.c.k to harden almost painfully. Taking a step forward, Holden's body brushed Garret's. Pleasure shot through him with white hot intensity. Every nerve ending, every atom in his body responded to the proximity of Holden's body. Inside, his dragon paced, eager to be mated, eager to taste the pleasure only Holden could provide. Smoke drifted from his nostrils as the crisp lime scent that Holden gave off grew stronger. The increase in scent indicated Holden's arousal.

Never had Garret been the type to take his s.e.xual cues from others. He was Alpha, used to being the one who initiated, who led. Having to restrain himself, to let Holden dictate the pace, had his dragon growling with impatience and his arousal quickly built to wildfire proportions within him.

Holden let go of Garret's chin, his hands skating over the hard planes of his mate's shoulders.

Garret shuddered as pleasure washed over him, causing his skin to ripple, the faint tracing of his green scales becoming visible. He fought his dragon, who wanted the shift. Now, was not the time or the place. His tail alone would take out the dining table and the sofa, he thought ruefully.

The grin on Holden's mouth widened and Garret knew his mate had heard his thoughts.

With a growl, he wrapped his arms around Holden. The other man stiffened slightly then shivered as Garret's fingers found the lines that swirled down Holden's spine.

"Your touch on my clan mark does something to my body I've never felt before," Holden panted, his chest heaving as a fine tremor went through him. Garret realized that he was becoming tuned to the reactions of Holden's body. The sense of right that filled him when he touched Holden grew with each pa.s.sing minute, every stroke of his fingers over the muscle, sinew, and bone that was his new mate. Their gazes met and held. Garret eased back the control on his thoughts, letting Holden see just what he desired. With a groan, Holden tilted his head and pressed his mouth to Garret's.

Sucking on Holden's tongue, feeling the press of his mate's growing erection against his own groin through the layers of their jeans, Garret knew what he wanted. He knew how he wanted this night of exploration and discovery to end. He wanted Holden to take him, to mark him, and bind them together.

Tearing his mouth from Garret's, Holden shook his head. "No mating. Not yet. It's too soon,"

he panted, smoking trailing from his nostrils. "But the other thing you want, to be taken...f.u.c.ked...I think I can accommodate that."

Garret sucked in a breath. "Lube. We need lube." His mind fuzzy with the l.u.s.t that had taken over his body, Garret tried to remember if he'd brought some.

"Get it." Holden's command was delivered with a gleam in his golden eyes that made Garret quiver with antic.i.p.ation.

As Holden turned away toward his bedroom, Garret rushed to his own room, his shaking hands tearing at the toiletries kit on the bathroom counter. "s.h.i.t, s.h.i.t!" he muttered, raking through the items in the case.

His fingers closed on a new tube of lubricant and his c.o.c.k twitched, pressing painfully against the zipper of his jeans. G.o.ds, he needed to get a grip. If he didn't, he'd be spilling the instant Holden thrust that beautiful c.o.c.k inside him. He shivered. He now knew what Holden's c.o.c.k looked like, tasted like and felt like. Letting Holden f.u.c.k him was the ultimate submission to his mate. Despite having been f.u.c.ked before, he'd never relinquished control in a s.e.xual situation.

Yet, he was perfectly willing to hand over the lock and key to his mind, body, heart...and a.s.s...to Holden.

On slightly rubbery legs, Garret walked across the main room of the suite to Holden's bedroom. As he stepped inside, his heart slammed painfully against his ribs. The naked, sculpted planes of Holden's body were completely on display as he leaned over, stripping back the covers of the bed. Then he sprawled on the sheet, rolling over so that Garret could see his straining erection.

Garret licked his suddenly dry lips and Holden grinned. Reaching down, he began to stroke his c.o.c.k with slow seductive movements, making Garret wish he was the hand.

"You're staring at me like you think I'm dessert," Holden chuckled.

"Not you. That." Garret gestured toward Holden's c.o.c.k with his chin. He tossed the lube onto the mattress, ripped his jeans off, and crawled onto the bed, taking Holden's erection from his hand and sliding his mouth down over the hard flesh, deep throating him.

Holden groaned loudly, his hands coming up to cup Garret's head. His hips thrust upward, pressing more of his c.o.c.k into Garret's throat. Heat spiraled through Garret as he sucked greedily on Holden's c.o.c.k. The hard flesh tasted salty and smelled of arousal and the tartness of Holden's lime scent. Garret had the quick thought that sucking Holden was like doing tequila shots...lime, salt, and a burst of alcohol that burned its way down before going straight to your head. The thought dissipated as he concentrated on sucking Holden. He teased the hard flesh, his cheeks hollowing as he sucked and licked, his throat muscles working in concert with his lips and tongue to drive his mate insane with l.u.s.t.

As Garret's hands stroked Holden's taut b.a.l.l.s, he opened his thoughts to his lover.

G.o.ds, Holden. I love how you taste. I love the feel of you in my mouth, and the sound of your moans. Your pleasure is my pleasure.

Holden moaned again and writhed beneath Garret's mouth and hands. Garret thought his own c.o.c.k would explode as he sucked Holden, putting every ounce of technique he knew into pleasuring his lover. His fingers brushed the crease of Holden's a.s.s, stroking inward to flick across the puckered bud of his a.n.u.s. A tremor went through Holden so strongly that Garret felt it ripple the muscles beneath his fingertips. Then Holden's hands slowly forced Garret off his c.o.c.k. As the thick head slipped from his mouth, he stared quizzically at Holden.

"I'm not coming in your mouth this time. This time, I'm f.u.c.king you," Holden said, his breath coming in harsh pants. "When I come this time, I want to be deep inside your hot a.s.s."

Desire so fierce it made him tremble, seized Garret in a rough hand. He reached for the lube, handing it to Holden. He nudged his lover aside and sprawled face down on the sheets, pressing his a.s.s into the air as he braced his knees on the mattress. He felt rather than saw Holden kneel behind him, heard him suck in a breath and knew his mate was staring at his a.s.s.

Holden blew a stream of air onto Garret's a.s.s and b.a.l.l.s. He felt himself tighten involuntarily at the sensuous contact, his a.n.u.s contracted, his b.a.l.l.s pulling up close to his body. Holden's hand stroked Garret's tight sac, kneading gently for a moment. Then Garret felt the wet heat of the lube that Holden had obviously warmed in his hand. Holden's blunt fingers rubbed the lube onto his a.n.u.s. As the sphincter loosened, one finger pressed inward.

Garret pressed his hips back against the invading digit. The lube made the insertion easy and he felt Holden squirt more lube on his a.n.u.s as the long finger probed deep within him. Hot friction radiated out from Garret's tender hole as Holden began to finger-f.u.c.k him. Garret bit back the urge to hurry Holden along as sensation began to build in his body. He sucked in a breath, letting it out slowly as Holden inserted a second finger in his a.s.s. The slight burn disappeared in seconds.

Just like before, the silence of the room was punctuated by the sound of their harsh breathing and low moans. Garret shivered as Holden's fingers slid from his a.s.s, but before he could protest, he felt something pressing relentlessly against his a.n.u.s. Breathing out in shallow pants, Garret felt his a.s.s open to take Holden's thick c.o.c.k. His hole burned as Holden pressed more firmly, inching more of his c.o.c.k into Garret's a.s.s. Cool wetness burst against his flesh as Holden squirted even more lube onto the place where they were joined. With a grunt, Holden pressed in further.

Garret pushed back and the thick length of Holden's c.o.c.k slid all the way home, his b.a.l.l.s slapping up against Garret's. With a whimper as sensation took over his groin front to back, Garret felt his c.o.c.k growing impossibly harder.

Geez, Garret. You're so f.u.c.king tight and hot. I've never f.u.c.ked anyone this hot before.

Holden's hands settled on Garret's hips, using them for leverage as he pulled back slightly.

Pleasure shot through Garret's body as Holden's c.o.c.k head pressed against his prostate. A loud moan escaped him and his hand fumbled for his c.o.c.k. Desire flooded him to the point where all he could think of was the exquisite feel of Holden's c.o.c.k filling him, pressing that pleasure center inside his hot pa.s.sage, and stroking his c.o.c.k so that he could come with his lover. As Holden's hips set up a rhythm of short strokes that made Garret feel every inch of his thick c.o.c.k, they both let go of the control they'd clung to earlier, no longer speaking out loud at all. Every stroke of Holden's c.o.c.k made Garret shiver and he tried to keep his balance while stroking his own c.o.c.k. Holden's tongue licked along Garret's spine making him groan loudly. The heat and friction in his a.s.s grew, becoming more and more pleasurable as the minutes pa.s.sed.

Holden snaked one arm around Garret's abdomen, pulling him up onto his knees. With his back cradled against Holden's chest, the black dragon's hard pelvis rubbed against Garret's clan mark. Shaking, Garret turned his head and Holden's mouth slashed down onto his. The kiss was hard and desperate, each of them seeking the ultimate pleasure from each other's bodies. Holden slid his hand down Garret's belly, reaching to replace Garret's hand with his own. At the feel of Holden's hand on his c.o.c.k, Garret broke the kiss, coming down on all fours. Holden bent over him, f.u.c.king his a.s.s hard while stroking his thick erection.

G.o.ds, Holden! Your c.o.c.k is driving me insane. Every stroke fills me with pleasure. Can't you feel what you do to me?

Holden grunted, his fingers twisting over Garret's c.o.c.k. I want you. I want to f.u.c.k you so hard and so good and fill you so full of my c.u.m you won't ever want another c.o.c.k in your a.s.s.

No, Holden! Only you. By the G.o.ds, only you can make me feel like this. I've never wanted anyone this much. I'll never want anyone else again.

Rough pants filled Garret's ears as Holden f.u.c.ked him harder than he'd ever been f.u.c.ked before. He wondered briefly if he'd be sore in the morning since Holden also had the biggest c.o.c.k he'd ever taken, but the thought pa.s.sed out of his head quickly because he just didn't care. He belonged to Holden and the man could do whatever he wanted to Garret.

Holden's sweat dripped onto his back and shoulders as Garret began to feel lightheaded from the constant stimulation of his prostate and c.o.c.k. His skin tingled when Holden sc.r.a.ped his curved dragon fangs over Garret's shoulders.

Mate me. Please, Holden!

Not yet, Holden's thoughts were grim as he openly fought to keep control. Soon, but not yet.

First, you need to come for me. Do you like my hand on your c.o.c.k? Do you like how my c.o.c.k fills your a.s.s? How it knows that it is home? Your a.s.s is mine forever, Garret. It belongs to my c.o.c.k.

Holden's possessive, raunchy thoughts coupled with the twisting strokes of his hand on Garret's c.o.c.k and the relentless thrust of his thick erection into Garret's a.s.s caused the green dragon to quickly hit the point of no return. With a loud cry, he erupted into o.r.g.a.s.m, his c.o.c.k jerking in Holden's hand. His hot seed shot out onto the mattress and down over his lover's stroking fingers. He shuddered and shook, his body convulsing, his a.s.s clamping down convulsively on Holden's pistoning c.o.c.k.

Holy f.u.c.k, Garret, your a.s.s is squeezing me! I'm coming!

"Garret!"

Holden's yell reverberated through the room and through Garret's mind. The emotion-filled, shocked amazement of Holden's intense pleasure slammed into his head at the same time that he felt the physical heat of his lover's c.u.m pouring into his a.s.s. They both shook from the force of o.r.g.a.s.ms stronger than any they'd ever experienced. When it was over, when the tremors had died down and they breathed normally again, Garret felt Holden's c.o.c.k slip wetly from his a.s.s as his mate released Garret's now limp member. He shook from being on his hands and knees through such rough s.e.x, but he wouldn't move for all the gold in Fort Knox.

Garret drew a shuddering breath as Holden nuzzled the back of his neck. Shower. We need a shower now.

Holden, I don't think I can stand and besides, there's the wet spot to deal with...

I'll carry you. Holden kissed the point of Garret's shoulder and trailed languid kisses and caresses all along his arms. He licked the spot beneath Garret's ear causing him to shiver. He'd never known that was an erogenous zone.

Yeah, right. Garret chuckled out loud at the picture in Holden's mind of Garret slung over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. You like that image because my a.s.s is in the air.

And your c.o.c.k is rubbing against me. Holden's amus.e.m.e.nt turned to a mental grimace.

Arggh. Wet spot. s.h.i.t.

Somehow they supported each other's wobbly s.e.x-weakened steps into the bathroom. They dealt with the wet spot then got in the shower where they leaned on each other tiredly. Minds fuzzy in the aftermath of their o.r.g.a.s.ms, washing each other lazily, they used the time to learn more about each other's bodies. To Garret's acute embarra.s.sment, Holden wanted to ensure he hadn't hurt his new mate. He wanted to clean Garret's a.s.s and inspect it for injury, something Garret wasn't about to allow.

I don't think so, Holden. I can do it myself.

Holden kissed him roughly, shoving him back against the tile wall. I want to do it. I want to know that you can take all of me, that I haven't hurt you and this is going to work.

Garret pushed at his mate, a.s.serting himself. d.a.m.n you. I'm not your f.u.c.king girlfriend, Holden. I've had s.e.x with men before. Maybe not as big as you, but I know what I can handle and what I can't. There's no need to coddle me like I'm some weak female.

Holden's dark brows shot up in surprise. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way you think.

Roughly, Garret took the soap from Holden, washing himself quickly and efficiently while his lover stood in the shower spray watching with hooded eyes. When he was done, he shoved the soap back at Holden and stepped out of the shower, reaching for a towel.

"I'll be in the other room. I need a drink."

With a towel wrapped around his hips and water still running down his torso, Garret retreated to the main room of the suite, heading straight for the wet bar. He poured himself two fingers of whiskey and downed them. Then he poured another.

Walking over to the gla.s.s slider, he stared out at the darkness. In the past, in every s.e.xual situation, he had always been in control. But his emotions ran deep at the moment and his fear that Holden would never be able to accept him had made him afraid to a.s.sert himself for fear of losing his mate. Because of his fear, he'd allowed Holden to dictate their s.e.xual encounters thus far. But that wasn't who he was. He wanted a partner. An equal.

"We seem to constantly be apologizing to one another."

Garret turned to find Holden standing a few feet from him in a hotel robe. He raised one brow at his lover and finished his drink, setting the gla.s.s on a table by the couch. Holden shifted uncomfortably. Two spots of color burned on his cheekbones. "I'm sorry I treated you like that. You're not a woman. You're a man. An Alpha. I had no right to try to turn you into my pet or something," he said awkwardly.

Garret drew a deep breath and took a couple of steps toward his mate, stopping a few feet away. "Holden, you need to understand that if I've taken a submissive role with you, it's because I've been afraid to scare you, to lose you. I would do almost anything to ensure that doesn't happen, but I'm not submissive. With you, I want to be equal."

He didn't know if what he was about to say would ruin his chances with Holden, but in his gut, Garret knew it was time for Holden to know who and what he was. "I'm not your b.i.t.c.h, a vessel for you to f.u.c.k," he said in a low voice, his words quiet and emphatic. "I am your mate, your partner. And even though I loved every minute of your big c.o.c.k in my a.s.s, I have to tell you that I burn to f.u.c.k you. I want to feel your body beneath mine, feel my c.o.c.k hot in your a.s.s as you take all of me and love it."

Holden's eyes widened, but he didn't back away and Garret didn't feel any revulsion coming off him either. "I understand," he replied, evenly. "I should have known. You're no Omega begging to be taken."

Garret laughed then. "Oh, I'll beg you to take me, but I'll want my turn too." He took another step forward then reached out to wrap his hand around the back of Holden's neck, drawing him closer. "One day, when this relationship has gelled, we'll share a woman too, because the G.o.ds know I love p.u.s.s.y just as much as you do."

Now, it was Holden's turn to arch one brow up. "That would be cheating on your mate," he teased.

"Not if we do it together." Garret's words came out in a whisper as he took Holden's mouth in a hot, hard kiss, their lips mashing together, tongues tangling roughly.

When Holden's hands jerked the damp towel from his body, Garret pushed open the lapels of the hotel robe and their naked bodies cleaved together. Breaking the kiss, Garret pressed damp kisses to the strong column of Holden's throat. "We need to go back to bed," he muttered.

Grabbing Garret's hands, Holden pulled them away from his body, shaking his head. "Sean has plans for us tomorrow, remember? Any more s.e.x tonight and we won't be able to handle what he throws at us."

"Shall I go back to my room then?" Garret teased.

"f.u.c.k no." Holden's hand caressed Garret's rising c.o.c.k. "You're coming to bed with me."

"Ahhh." Garret smiled at his mate, and let his hands trail down the ridges of Holden's abdomen to his c.o.c.k. "Okay. That works for me. You haven't fully appreciated the beauty of grindage yet anyway."

"Grindage?" Holden looked a little startled as Garret took him by the hand and led him back to the bedroom.

"Yes. It's just like prom night except that you do it naked and you get to come."

"Intriguing," Holden said with a grin as he followed Garret into the bedroom and shut the door.

Chapter Seven