Rover
The name shouldn’t ring a bell, but it does. The syllables ring faint echoes in the cobwebs of my mind, going deep into my subconscious. The foreign sensation reminds me of the dreams I have each night, dreams that started from the moment I rejected Muddy. Muddy stars in them sometimes, wearing different clothes each time, like he’s time jumping through the eras.
“What did you call me?” I demand, voice hoarse. I let out a bitter laugh. “The next thing you’re going to tell me is the fact I look like some old lover.”
It’s the first time I catch Muddy unawares. Once my wolf pounces on a bone, it won’t let go, despite knowing retreat is the wiser course of action. I didn’t know what I want—to hurt Muddy maybe, for making my life hell. Yet, the angry part of me finally understands this isn’t about me at all. “It’s true isn’t it? Fuck, Muddy. Do you chase after me because I look like the ghost of someone you once knew?”
“Not exactly. You are the same person. Brandon in your first lifetime, Jack in the next, and in your previous reincarnation, you were Sam. Human. Baker by profession, and who died young at twenty, ran over by a drunk driver.”
Oh God. A delusional dragon I can handle, but a crazy one? Now, that’s a different story. Muddy takes a step forward, raising his eyebrows as I hold out a hand. “Wait, buddy. You’re not making any sense. What mushrooms have you been snacking on?”
That’s also the first time I see Muddy lose it. Nostrils flaring, his eyes burning bright, a startling bronze color, like his scales when the sun touches it. A growl tickles out from him, a brassy sound only dragons can make. Muddy shows a flash of his wickedly sharp teeth. I feel his heated gaze on the side of my neck, centering on my pulse, the spot between shoulder and neck. The place a shifter can place his mating mark. A threat.
“Do you think this is a joke to me, Beta?” Every word is coated with venom, mocking and spiteful—not like the Muddy I know, or maybe I don’t know this stranger at all.
His reaction reminds me of the facts I easily forget. Muddy’s the larger predator here, and his danger points went up the moment he revealed he’s a little loopy, or is he? Muddy has every reason to deceive and lie, to twist his words to make me his. I shudder, and the cruel edge of his smile makes it worse. It’s unbelievably hot in the cave. Up here, in a place of isolation, untouched by humans, we’re alone.
I realize then I can’t win like this. Unlike some of the pups in the pack who will do anything to get their man, I don’t possess a drop of cunning. I use violence to solve problems, and know no better. Now though, I need to pull out tricks I’ve never used before. Bold pups who find themselves in a corner pull out all the stops. I’ve seen it—their determination to get what they want. Swallowing, I suddenly know what to do. As much as I despise resorting to deception, I needed to escape.
I need to seduce Muddy. Use my charms and wiles to blindside him, and when he’s down, I take advantage of the situation. Run for the hills. Book a ticket to some far-flung location where he can’t find me. Hire a witch to conceal my scent and looks. Take your pick.
For now, I need to play it cool.
“No, this obviously isn’t a joke to you,” I answer evenly. He frowns at that, pupils turning back to their original color. Muddy is not dumb, just crazy, so he won’t fall for the obvious without nursing doubts. “Look, I’m sick of fighting and arguing. You kidnapped me for a reason. Help me understand why you think I’m this ‘Brandon’.”
“Physical evidence is back at the mountain home, but I can prove it to you in other ways.”
I swallow, nervous at this mention of physical evidence. Muddy must be playing his cards close to his chest, saying whatever he can to convince me, and himself.
“You can call me ‘Brandon’ if you like.”
He snarls at that. Okay. Wrong move. Then he looks wary again. The haunted look in his eyes stops me cold. Makes me guilty for the con I’m pulling on him. “You aren’t Brandon, or any of them. Each identity resides in you, but at your core, you’re Rover. Beta of the Puppyville Pack, and me,” Muddy lets out a bark of laughter. “I am nothing.”
God. A lance of pain stabs through me. Feeling sympathy for my kidnapper isn’t a good sign, but I don’t think I have Stockholm syndrome yet. I take deep breaths. “Look, I don’t understand a word you’re saying. You said there are other ways. How?”
“Let me taste you, touch you. See if you feel anything. If there is no fire between us, I’ll take you back and never bother you again,” Muddy tosses those words like they are his final cards. Still, his offer is hard to resist.
“You promise?”
“A dragon never makes promises he can’t keep,” Muddy says with a rueful smile.
Dread clamps my insides. Confusing emotions, messy and hot, writhe inside me. I want to pull Muddy to a tight hug, and never let go. Here’s the sucker punch, folks—if I truly believe I’ll lie like an unresponsive corpse underneath Muddy while he touches me, I would take his offer in a heartbeat. I don’t. I hesitate, knowing the odds are against my favor, that I’m fighting a losing battle I know the outcome to.
Fuck. What kind of man was I, to be this terrified of a simple kiss?
“Alright, buddy. It’s your move,” I say hoarsely, knowing my plans are about to crumble all around me.
Muddy’s figure blur, making me gasp. He’s faster than any human, than any shifter I faced before. Less than a second, and it’s his powerful arms wrapping around my waist, his slick bronze skin rubbing against me. God. My mind blanks the moment his dick, so gorgeously hard and erect, presses against the bulge in my jammies.
His hand feels like a brand on my back, even with the thin fabric in the way. With one startling jerk, he rips the shirt off my back, exposing my chest. My back muscles tense as his fingertips brush against them, and the hard points of my nipples tighten against the press of his firm upper body.
With his free hand, Muddy grabs my chin, fingers rubbing against the slight stubble, forcing me to look into his eyes. Then he tilts my head. I’m helpless, a bird caught in a trap, as he pulls me down to a kiss.
Heat, Muddy says, but it’s more than that. Better, an explosion detonates between us, sending tingles of electricity through my entire body. Muddy kisses me like a starving man, all tongue and teeth, but that doesn’t shock me. The fact I respond with equal passion does. Eventually, I yield to the force of him, letting his tongue in—just like the way it should be.
Before I can pursue that startling line of thought, Muddy’s hand wanders between our bodies, slips under the hem of my pajama bottoms to reach my dick, so hard, so hungry for the touch of his fingers. I moan into his mouth as he thumbs the pre-cum over my glistening tip, pressing against the slit. When he releases my mouth, I say only one incoherent word.
“Fuck.”
He pulls away abruptly, withdrawing his hand from my bottoms. Then he licks his wet fingers with relish, forked tongue lashing, eyes bright on mine, daring me to deny what just happened.
“What are you doing?” I demand, voice harsh, wanting more, hating his denial, the space between our bodies.
“I thought you weren’t interested.”
“You fucker,” I spit the words out. “Are you going to be cruel, Muddy? You’re never that, or are you?”
“No,” he says eventually, gaze elsewhere, someplace I can’t reach. The past, maybe, and I wonder if he’s thinking of Brandon, the reason why he can’t let me go. Envy, unwarranted, rams into me. I have no right to it, but I don’t want to play the ghost of Muddy’s old over. I’m ready to unleash a snarky reply, but his next words stop me cold.
“I can never be cruel to you, Rover.”
Rover. Muddy uses my name this time. I hold out a hand to him, a peace offering, and he eyes it dubiously. I don’t blame him. I’m acting like a brat, not knowing the stakes of the game. I know now there’s no going back. “You said you’ll show me. Are you taking your words back?”
“Are you ready, Rover? Your sweet body tells me ‘yes’, but your eyes tell a different story.”
“I’m fucking terrified of the emotions I’m feeling. They aren’t mine.”
“Yes, and no.”
“Another fucking enigmatic reply. Come on, Muddy. Show me.”
“First, show me how hard you are for me, wolf.” Muddy nods to my bottoms.
Swallowing, I peel them down and step out of them. Christ, the way Muddy eyes me stops me cold, and sends my heart fluttering. It’s odd, but I can’t remember the last time I wanted my lover’s approval. Muddy licks his lips, and since he has the nerve, I do the same. Desire surges through me. My wolf longs to mate Muddy’s dragon. To do this dance we’ve performed a thousand times. Wait. That was another odd thought, but again, Muddy makes me lose concentration.
I’m in his arms again, breaths hitching as he pelts kisses down my throat, alternating them with clever little bites, layering pain and pleasure until every muscle in my body is tight. He lowers us to the ground, and my bottom hits the dusty floor. Muddy makes a trail down my pectoral, taking one of my nipples into his mouth. Eyes widening, I cry out as he sinks his teeth. Groaning, I thread fingers into his hair as he closes his mouth on my other nipple, sealing the bud with heat.
“Fucking perfect,” he murmurs.
“What are you doing?” I feel like a dick for asking, but each of his tender motions unsettles me.
“Enjoying myself, and reacquainting myself with your body. Should I stop?” Muddy asks, gazing up at my face. He means every word, I realize. One word from me and all this ends, but I don’t want this to end because I plan to see this, whatever this was, to the finish.
“Don’t stop. Please.” I don’t know why I added the last word, but it makes his eyes sparkle with dark intent, dark promises. I shiver, and he moves downwards, continuing his exploration. Muddy nudges my knees apart, so my curving cock points up to him in offering. His tongue lashes out, licking at the pre-cum, fucking the small slit at the tip.
“God,” I whisper.
“God can’t help you now, wolf,” he says.
Muddy swipes his tongue across my crown to balls, teasing me to my limits. Hell, he’s not done. He pries my thighs further apart, and buries his head lower. I grow still when his mouth reaches my puckered hole.
“Wait,” I begin. Muddy doesn’t wait. He traces the rim with his tongue, the sensation making me squirm. Christ, the bastard’s a tease. Muddy’s tongue slips into the opening, tongue-fucking me. He stops when I utter that powerful word again.
“Please.”
“Tell me, wolf. What do you want? Do you badly want me to suck your cock?” Muddy’s pupils are the color of burnt bronze under the dim light of the cave.
“Yes, please. Suck me hard.”
That does it. Muddy wraps his lips around my dick, and then the last of my resistance crumbles away. He’s better than good. Maybe it’s because he has centuries of practice or simply because I finally cave to the notion there really might be something between us.
Muddy sucks on my cock head slowly, tonguing the slit, before taking my shaft deeper into his throat. Every inch he covers is a delicious sort of torment, unbearable, but that does not stop me from begging for more. Muddy bobs his head up and down, the motion graceful, fucking sexy. With one hand, he squeezes at my balls gently, as if knowing I like the bit of pressure. Maybe he’s a mind reader, I don’t know. The notion he knows my body better than I do, like any intimate lover would, should bother me, but it doesn’t.
Breathing hard, I thread my fingers though his hair. “Muddy, I’m going to explode soon.”
Muddy doesn’t stop, much less slow down. With a growl, the pressure building inside me bursts, sending my mind reeling. Worse, the sight of Muddy sucking every drop is an erotic sight to see. He keeps his bronze gaze on mine, watching, taking in my reaction. Pulling back, sitting on his heels, Muddy licks his lips with relish.
“Fuck,” I mutter, seemingly unable to string coherent sentences together.
“Indeed.” Muddy’s wearing a smug smirk on his face. Sitting up, I grip his wrists, taking him by surprise. A smart remark is on the tip of my tongue, but Muddy leans forward, kissing me again, making me aware of his erection rubbing against my leg. His pulse races under my fingertips, and I can feel the change in his breathing. Hear his silent plea for me to take control. Restraining his wrists with one hand, I curl the fingers of my free one over his shaft.
“How long has it been for you?”
“Long,” he whispered, looking lost again, and all I want to do is to chase that sadness away. I glide my fist up and down. Unlike Muddy, I’m impatient. My own cock hardens as his breaths become sharp, and his expression turns vulnerable. I kiss him again, hand movements going fast, stroking him furiously from crown to base. Pausing, I tell him, “Come all over my fingers.”
I muffle his cry by taking his swollen lips again. Muscles unknotting, Muddy sprays strings of cum all over my fingers and between us, leaving droplets on both our skins. I decide I like the blissful expression on his face, but I’m far from done. Grabbing his face, I lead his talented mouth back to my half-erect cock. “Make me ready so I can fuck you.”
Muddy eagerly goes to work, making me rock hard in seconds, the feel of his hot mouth, lips and tongue amazing. I tug his hair back, panting. “On your knees.”
I guide Muddy to position. I can almost imagine it, the fucking sweet moment I push my way into that sexy ass of his, penetrating him deep. Remembering the lube in my pajama bottoms from my one-night stand the night before, I grin. I fish the tube out, before positioning myself behind Muddy. Seeing his back, I pause, fingers touching the faded crisscross of scars. “What happened?”
“It’s a long time ago. Don’t worry about them,” he says.
Frowning, I let it pass for now. Plenty of time to ask him later, and yes, I’m pretty sure there is. There’s no going back after this, and I intend to explore this intriguing side of Muddy soon. “Spread those legs wider, let me see that tight little hole of yours.”
Muddy obeys, and I thumb the tempting pink flesh underneath the puckered rim. “Christ,” I mutter. I lube my fingers, and then apply a generous amount down his crack. Muddy wiggles, and I admonish him to keep still. Sliding a finger in, I can’t help but smile when I curl my finger, reaching his sweet spot, and making him gasp.
“Tell me,” I coax, inserting a second finger in. His discomfort, and the knowledge he’s getting hard from all our talking, rattles my control. I want to sink my cock in him, claim him, and make him mine. Where these possessive thoughts come from, I don’t know. At the moment, I don’t care.
“What do you want to know?” Muddy manages through gritted teeth.
“How badly you want me to fuck this tight little ass.”
“Sadist.” Muddy groans when I finger fuck him. Finally, he utters. “Please, Rover. Fuck me. I need you. Sink your dick into me.”
“Good enough,” I answer. Then hiss between my teeth as I slide my glistening cock head into his waiting and lubed hole. Damn it, the way his inner muscles clamp and pull my dick in feels fucking amazing. I sheathe myself until I’m hilt deep, balls brushing against the curve of his ass.
“Fuck,” is the only thing I’m capable of saying.
“Fuck,” Muddy agrees, and says nothing else.
Me neither. I grip his hips, tightening my hold on him, wanting Muddy to feel my prick, so hard and ready. Then I begin to move. Like before, I know how Muddy likes it—fast, relentless, and hard. I ride him, strokes sure, only gaining speed. I reduce both of us to pants and grunts.
Christ. Muddy feels good around my cock. Perfect, like our bodies are a single piece, just like our souls. I’ve stopped wondering where strange thoughts come from. What matters is the sensation, and unquenchable fire between our bodies when they collide. I reach for Muddy’s cock, fisting his length, matching my hand for every thrust.
Outside, the wind howls, but neither of us feels cold. There’s a strange kind of primitive power in the meeting of our bodies, with Muddy on his hands and knees, and me fucking his brains out, inside a cave forgotten by civilization. No one to see the perfect way our bodies fit—that bothers me a little.
A moment ago, I wanted no association with Muddy. Now I’m the opposite. I want it all. Not just one meaningless fling, but I want to get to the root of the sadness in Muddy’s eyes. To come home to see Muddy smiling at me, asking what I want for dinner, and to feel Muddy’s warmth, as he snuggles next to me while we watch mindless action movies.
I pick up speed, fisting his dick. Then I shift the angle of my hips. Muddy lets out a breathy gasp, and I aim for his sweet spot over and over, until his throat turns hoarse from pleading.
“Rover, please.”
Two words enough to undo me. “Come all over my fingers, Muddy. Now.”
Expelling a sigh of relief, Muddy obeys. Muscles unknotting, he sprays strings of his cum all over my fingers. Hearing his cry triggers my own climax. I thrust into him several times, holding his hips tight. With a growl, I empty my load inside him. My mind reels, and I collapse on top of him. We both end on the dusty ground, and instinct tells me to pull him close.
Muddy sighs, and it doesn’t escape me how his slender body is a perfect fit against mine. Déjà vu hits me as he makes lazy circles on my chest using his fingers. Nostalgia that he’s touched me a thousand times, but I never get sick of it. Certain knowledge no matter how long or far apart we are, the flames between us will never go out.
I start to believe Muddy isn’t insane. “Muddy.” I clear my throat. “Is that even your real name?”
He shakes his head, looking distant. “You gave me this name. Did a terrible translation of my real name, butchered it, but I kept it.”
“You talk as if we know each other for centuries.”
Muddy regards me with those huge dark eyes. “We do, in a way.”
“You said you have proof.”
“I do, are you ready to see, Rover?” He tilts his head to one side, as if still deciding himself.
“I’m scared shitless, but I’m ready,” I answer with a firm voice.
“You, afraid?” Muddy asks, sounding bemused.
“You have no idea, dragon.”
“Don your clothes. I’m taking you to my home.”