Chapter Thirteen

Ben didn’t need shifter senses to be able to tell that Jack trusted him—even if Jack didn’t know it. The way the man all but melted against him, warm and willing and oh so right in Ben’s arms, said more than words could have then.

Jack parted his lips, and Ben didn’t hesitate. He sealed his mouth to Jack’s and took a taste of the sweetest man he’d ever encountered.

Moaning, Ben tightened his arms around Jack, not squeezing, just securing him in place. Jack’s legs parted and he linked his arms around Ben’s neck, a sexy sound escaping from Jack’s mouth. Ben drank it down greedily, craving more, craving things he didn’t know how to articulate.

He slid his hands down to Jack’s butt and kneaded those firm cheeks. While Jack was lean, his ass wasn’t. It fit perfectly in Ben’s hands. As he thrust his tongue against Jack’s, battling in an erotic duel that fired his libido to new heights, Ben kept working that tempting flesh. Jack began to move, writhing, rubbing, hungry for more, and not afraid to show it.

The scent of Jack’s arousal grew stronger. Ben wedged one thigh between Jack’s legs, and Jack gripped him tighter before beginning to rut. His hips pistoned faster and faster as Ben kissed him with more force, claiming, giving, and taking what Jack offered.

Jack’s jeans were tight, but the material was thin and stretchy, some kind of denim-blend that allowed Ben to slip his hands under the waistband. Jack hissed something into Ben’s mouth, and Ben heard the “Fuck yes!” loud and clear in his head above the sudden static.

Then need—hot, erotic wantonness flooded into him, stronger than just his own raging lust. It combined with his, and Ben had the fleeting thought that he was going to combust. His cock was leaking pre-cum, achingly hard, and every time Jack canted his hips forward, Ben’s shaft rubbed perfectly against Jack’s hip.

Ben pushed his hands farther down Jack’s pants and gripped each ass cheek. He needed more.

Naked,” he rumbled against Jack’s lips. “Give me your cock.” Ben let go of Jack. “Now.”

Fuck yeah,” Jack whispered before moving back. He quickly whipped off his shirt and tossed it aside.

Ben had a couple of seconds to appreciate Jack’s trim chest and torso before Jack bent and shoved his jeans and briefs down.

Shit! My boots—” Jack began.

Leave ’em.” Ben could work with Jack just like he was.

Jack grinned, and he was back in Ben’s arms.

Ben slipped his leg back between Jack’s. “I’ve got you. Give it to me.” He cupped Jack’s ass again, and pressed the tips of two fingers into his crease.

As Jack gasped, eyes going glassy, hands clenching on Ben’s shoulders, Ben ran his fingers down that crevice until he felt Jack’s hole. The hot skin there almost drove Ben out of his mind. He wanted to sink his cock into Jack, see if he was as hot inside, if his ass would grip Ben’s prick with the tight perfection he suspected it would.

Jack ground against him and nipped Ben’s bottom lip. Ben quit thinking and let the sensations flood into him and from him. He felt Jack’s pleasure swelling, growing, building in his balls, streaking up to his dick, felt it shoot slick with cum as Jack tipped his head back on a guttural moan.

He was beautiful, perfection, and Ben wanted to see him come over and over again. He bent and licked at Jack’s neck, below his left ear, then began to suck on that soft spot as Jack thrust and moaned.

Every clench of Jack’s ass tempted Ben to sink his fingers into Jack’s snug opening, but Ben refrained from doing so, unwilling to penetrate him without lubrication.

Ben suckled on the bit of skin he’d been loving on while rubbing his fingers over Jack’s pucker repeatedly, then Jack squirmed, and an instant later, Ben’s cock was in Jack’s grip. Ben scraped his teeth over the spot he’d sucked as he began to move, driving his shaft faster and faster as Jack stroked him. Need consumed Ben—his, Jack’s, he didn’t know anymore. All that mattered was the fiery ache of pleasure roaring through him as his breath left him on a moan.

His orgasm hit him too quickly, too hard. He didn’t have a moment’s warning. Ecstasy enveloped him as he came, vision exploding into a thousand brilliant spots of light. He grunted and shoved hard into Jack’s grip, then froze, spunk jetting from his cock. Jack whispered some encouraging words, but they blurred together in Ben’s ears as his pulse pounded.

He thrust until he couldn’t bear to do so again. Jack gently released his cock, and Ben almost whimpered with relief. He kept himself and Jack upright, though he felt rather weak-kneed for a few minutes. His panted breaths tangled with Jack’s until finally, they both managed to calm down somewhat.

Ben looked at Jack. The man was gorgeous, with his tousled dark brown hair sticking to his sweaty brow in places, and his eyes closed, mouth open, tipped up in a smile.

And Jack still clung to him with one hand, which made Ben happy. It gave him hope that this was more than a one-off.

Then Jack opened his eyes and raised his other hand, which was spotted with cum, to his lips.

Ben held his breath, and Jack began to lick his fingers clean, humming as if he truly liked the taste of Ben’s seed.

Jack held the hand up to Ben’s lips.

Ben had no problem with tasting his own cum. He’d done it before out of curiosity. He parted his lips and let Jack slide one finger in. Ben sealed his lips around it and sucked, hard.

Fucccck,” Jack drawled, eyes nearly crossing. “You’re gonna make me hard all over again in record time.”

That seemed like a great idea to Ben. More sex, less talking, less worrying about Jack freaking out and running him off.

Jack leaned in, went up on his toes, and licked Ben’s lips.

Ben almost gave into the impulse that hit him, almost shoved Jack onto the bed for a hard fucking.

Do it,” Jack said in a low, urgent voice. “Don’t let me think.”

And that, more than anything else could have at the moment, doused Ben’s ardor. He turned his head, letting Jack’s finger slip from his mouth. “No. No, I don’t want to do something you don’t want fully.”

I want you,” Jack said, “So what’s the problem?”

Ben wasn’t sure he even knew that himself. “It feels wrong if you just want me to fuck you so you don’t have to think. About what? About what I am? Who I am?”

Jack groaned and turned away, or tried to, but his pants, briefs, and boots hindered him.

Ben kept him steady. “Hey. Is it so bad, knowing what I am?”

I don’t think I’ve processed it yet. I can’t really believe it, any more than I can take in the mental babble-static stuff.” Jack bent and began tugging his clothes back up.

Ben tried his best not to let on that Jack’s words had hurt him. He envisioned a wall around his thoughts and emotions, and hoped that kept them to himself.

But even pride and not wanting to let Jack know he’d been hurt couldn’t keep Ben completely silent. “That’s not good enough, Jack. I’m not a fuck-toy.”

Jack finished getting his briefs and jeans in place before he responded. “I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t just go, oh, okay. Shifters exist and you’re one of them. Cool. Let’s have a happy ever after. I don’t work that way.”

Ben shivered against a chill that wasn’t entirely external. Inside, he was turning to ice. “And I don’t work the other way, like someone to be used.” Ben was just going to have to risk getting shot, because he wasn’t staying there with Jack for another minute, not when he wasn’t sure Jack wouldn’t hurt him verbally again. “I have a mechanic shop in town. Akers Automotive, on Sixth Street. You can find me there if you figure out what you want.”

Wait,” Jack began, but Ben was done. He shifted and turned his head away from Jack.

And it felt wrong. His coywolf didn’t like it. Ben ignored his beast.

Fine. We both need time to think.” Jack put his shirt on. “Follow me to the back door. If you go out the back and around the two storage sheds, no one should see you. I’ll look first.” Jack peeked out from his bedroom doorway first. “This way.” He led Ben to the back entrance. “Just let me make sure it’s safe.”

But as soon as Jack opened the back door, Ben squeezed past him, then he ran as if his heart depended on him making a quick escape.

Because Ben feared that it did.