Hagen, Lynn - Maverick's Mate [Brac Pack 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) (3 page)

Maverick’s canines slowly extended. Cecil was fascinated and frightened by the sight. Something deep inside made him tilt his head to the side. He wrapped his fists in Maverick’s hair as the man scraped a tooth along his skin. Shivers broke out as the act made Cecil nearly come in his pants.

Soft lips were a contrast to the large man. Cecil’s head fell back as Maverick kissed and nipped his way up his neck. Cecil’s hands clenched and unclenched in the soft strands as Maverick’s hands ran up and down his back.

What was he doing? The war inside his head made him pull back slightly. He had said he would bind with the guy, but past experience with Jeremy kept popping up to smack his lust-filled brain around. He shouldn’t be doing this—Cecil moaned. His brain cells short circuited when Maverick reached between them and palmed his denim-covered cock.

The only thoughts registering were of having this man inside of him. Shirt buttons started parting as Cecil realized Maverick was removing it.

The urge to cover his exposed skin was making his arms cross over his chest. Compared to Maverick, he was undefined, and he had a few scars to remind him of his life with Jeremy. He resisted the tug until finally giving in and uncrossing his arms.

“You’re beautiful.”

Cecil felt weird sitting on Maverick’s lap half-naked when the man was still wearing his leather jacket, although the smell of leather was making Cecil’s cock hard. He never thought he would go for a bad boy image. Maverick wore the look. It radiated from every pore.

“Come.”

Cecil grabbed tight to Maverick as the giant stood, taking him to his bedroom. It wasn’t hard for the giant to guess which room it was. There were only two choices.

Cecil’s hands fisted at his sides as Maverick laid him down and began to tug his jeans off. His mind screamed at him to make sure this is what he really wanted before committing to it. Cecil bit his bottom lip, the tongue gliding over his body making him forget the question that was just bouncing around in his head.

He really wanted to believe that not all men were abusive and cruel. This man lavishing his body was trying to make him forget. Raising his hands above his head, Cecil became lost as he gave in to the sensations pulsing throughout him.

“Let go,” was whispered into his skin.

Cecil pulled his legs up as fingers entered him. He writhed, his body going up in flames as a soft cry left his lips. Maverick took him to new heights as another finger was added.

When the giant pulled back, Cecil whimpered. His hole pulsed at the remembered fingers. Clothes rustled, and he watched as Maverick dropped all fabric as he pushed Cecil further onto the bed.

Hands skimmed down Cecil’s sides, over his abdomen, and across his chest. A veil of midnight black hair fell around him as Maverick leaned forward, kissing each eye then his lips.

“Mine.”

All Cecil could do was nod. His voice was gone, and his throat was dry as a bone. He shivered as Maverick ran a single finger down the side of his face as if memorizing it. Cecil wondered if this god would still want him in the cold light of morning, still look at him with desire burning in his eyes.

Would that flame fade to a flicker before going out as it had with Jeremy? Would Maverick start abusing him as well when the newness of exploring each other wore off? Pushing aside the fears he carried, Cecil concentrated on the hands and mouth making love to him. He knew he couldn’t live his life in fear, but when it had been punched, slapped, and kicked into you for two whole years, it was hard to set it aside and walk away. He felt pathetic giving in so easily at the first gentle touch to come his way.

His mind came back to the present when Maverick slid his hands under Cecil’s body and pulled him up, Cecil’s arms fell away to the bed as Maverick sucked at the pulse beating rapidly under his skin.

Chapter Three

Maverick lay Cecil down onto the sheets. The scent his mate carried drove him to taste every inch of him. He could feel a slight tremor coming from the body clutched in his hands. The main thing Maverick wanted to do before taking Cecil was to relax him and make him feel safe in his arms.

The fear in his mate’s eyes was Maverick’s undoing. He leaned forward, kissing each eye before tasting those heavenly lips again. The crown of his cock was leaking heavily onto Cecil’s abdomen, but he wouldn’t rush this. Even though his plans to have Caden befriend him first were shot to hell when Cody called him to tell him of Jeremy, he still needed to go slow.

His massive body could crush the small frame below him. Reaching out, he brushed the hair from his mate’s eye. Tenderness flooded him as he thought of the life his mate must have lived.

Maverick used his tongue to part Cecil’s lips, running it along his mate’s teeth. His arousal was so potent that his claws threatened to emerge. If only he had the power to make Cecil forget the pain he had lived, but that wasn’t in Maverick to do, so he would help his mate come back to life and be the man he once was.

Grabbing the lube from the nightstand, Maverick slicked his cock. His hands shook as he lined himself up. The reality slammed into him that he was finally claiming his mate. He felt like a pup having sex for the first time again. Exhaling slowly, he breached the tight star.

Maverick dropped to his forearms, the skin stretched so tightly around his shaft he was so close to losing it. In that moment, he knew he was nothing without this man. Only half a soul.

“Do you accept me as your mate, Cecil?” He had to bind this soul to his, never wanting him to leave his side again.

“Yes, Maverick,” came a moaned reply.

Maverick struck, sinking his canines into his mate’s shoulder, his eyes rolling back as he felt the ribbons of their life forces untwining from their separate souls and realigning together, binding them. Their hearts synchronized.

Maverick snapped his hips as his mouth pulled on his mate’s neck, the blood flowing onto his tongue and down his throat. He pulled harder at the wound, his eyes untamed from the essence entering him.

Maverick’s head shot up, and he roared his release, his mate’s blood flowing from his canines. He slammed his cock into his mate, riding the orgasmic storm. The binding was complete.

Dropping his head, he sealed the wound, licking the escaped blood running down his mate’s shoulder. His hips slowed to a sensual grinding. Gasping for breath, he shook his head, small aftershocks bursting in his groin. They both moaned as his soft cock slid free.

Maverick pulled Cecil to him, draping him across his chest, kissing him softly. “We are now bonded mates.”

* * * *

Cecil lay sated against the muscled chest. His sweet prince had rescued him from the dragon. His hand roamed over hard pectoral muscles, amazed at how turned on he was. It still surprised him how much Maverick affected him. Large men, and muscled men for that matter, had never appealed to him.

Maybe it was the fear of the damage they could do to him, he thought as his hand ran over solid ridges that made up the man’s abdomen. Cecil kissed his nipple, his tongue licking at it as the round delight pebbled under his playful assault.

Cecil moved over as Maverick cursed and reached over the side of the bed to answer his ringing phone.

“Maverick.” The giant answered in what could only describe as the deepest, huskiest voice he had ever heard. His hand skimmed over Maverick’s back, not seeming to get enough of touching him. The giant leaned into his touch. This encouraged Cecil to explore further.

“I’m not able to make it right now. You’ll have to handle it, Hawk.”

Cecil wondered who this Hawk person was as he gathered Maverick’s long hair in hands, running it over his face. It smelled like menthol. He wondered what Maverick shampooed with.

As Maverick turned over, Cecil released his hold on the black silk.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Maverick sighed. “But we have to go.”

Cecil’s felt his pulse quicken at the statement. It wasn’t a request. He frowned at Maverick’s words. His eyes roamed over his bedroom, his thoughts racing from one possibility to the next of what Maverick meant.

“Pack what you want to take.” Cecil leaned back as Maverick sat up, grabbing for his clothes.

“I’m not moving in with you.” Was the giant insane? Taking a stranger home to have the best sex ever was one thing
—
a little slutty, which he was not. But moving in with said stranger? Hell no. Rolling off the other side of the bed, Cecil reached in his dresser drawer for a pair of boxers. Can’t argue with a crazy man naked.

Cecil’s stomach twisted into knots as Maverick’s actions of getting dressed stilled. He was bent over, his long black hair hanging precariously as the man stared at Cecil as if he had lost his mind.

This was it. The man would try to bend him to his will, dominating Cecil and forcing him to do as he told him. His eyes watched Maverick cautiously as the man straightened, clearing his throat as he dressed. “I have enemies that would love nothing more than to obtain you. It isn’t safe here.”

Obtain?
As in kidnap? Cecil rubbed his temples, not really following any of this. His independence was at stake here. Somehow he knew that if he followed Maverick that he would never again know freedom as he did now.

Summoning courage he didn’t feel, he said, “I can’t.” His heart was racing wildly as he pushed on. “I won’t live under someone else’s thumb again.”

* * * *

Maverick pulled his jeans on as he studied his mate. The fear emanating from the false bravado was disturbing. Never in his life had he harmed a weaker man, and his mate wasn’t going to be the first.

Pulling the T-shirt over his head, he removed his hair from inside of it. There had to be a way to convince the little guy to come home with him. Their home now. If that lunatic Jackson knew Cecil was his mate, all hell would break loose.

Maverick sighed deeply, knowing he had his work cut out for him.

“I’m not going to force you, baby. The choice is yours. Just know that I’ve waited over three centuries to find you. I would never do anything to hurt you now that I have claimed you.”

He had to fight the smile that threatened to break across his face as his mate’s jaw dropped, his eyes growing as wide as saucers.

“Three centuries? Seriously?”

Maverick gave in and chuckled. “I’m old.” Pulling his boots on, he continued. “But not that old.” Maverick winked at his mate, watching a blush creep across that gorgeous little face.

“Y-you’d never hurt me?”

Maverick grew serious, growling out his reply. “Never.” He took a calming breath, not wanting to scare his already skittish mate. “I would kill anyone who I thought was a threat to you. That ignorant ex of yours should count himself lucky he still breathes.”

“I’m scared,” Cecil admitted softly.

Maverick crossed the room in two strides, pulling his mate over to the bed. He sat down, reducing his size for the comfort of his mate. “I know.” Maverick cupped his face. “It must be terrifying trusting someone you don’t know after what you’ve been through. I won’t harm you. I promise you this.”

Cecil stood between Maverick’s open legs, the internal struggle showing on his face. Maverick looked into his eyes, waiting to see when a decision was made. It wasn’t long.

“Okay.”

Maverick exhaled his relief. If his mate hadn’t agreed, it would have been hard to run his pack from this tiny apartment. The fourteen wolves and Maverick would have been cramped. “I can send one of the warriors here to pack your personal belongings up.”

Cecil jerked back, “How many of you are there?”

“There are twelve warriors that are the Sentries that guard the mates we claim. The wolf who delegates over them, Hawk. Then my beta, Kota.”