Chapter Nine
Heath
Angus must have run for an hour without ever losing his breath. Heath considered himself pretty fit, but even he wouldn't be able to go as far and as fast as Angus without wheezing and probably passing out.
When Angus finally set him down in his cabin, Heath stretched his arms and legs, finding they all still worked despite the chill and faint pain. His bottom was a tad sore, a fact that made him blush profusely.
When the point of no return had come, Heath had been more than ready to topple right over it. He'd been unstoppable. The need to be filled by this great, hulking man could not have been ignored.
"It is a good thing I chose a vacant cabin rather than sharing with a den brother or sister. I'd feel horrible about kicking them out into the cold. No one else is getting a look at you when you look like that."
Heath peered down at his body. He was naked and would be until Angus gave him some clothes, since his own were in pieces in the forest somewhere. A light bruise had formed at the base of his ribs, and he poked at it.
Angus reached him then and wrapped him in a thick blanket. "Don't touch it or you'll make it worse," he said, his voice deep and disapproving. "Sit here while I make a fire and then I will make you some tea," Angus said, guiding him to a small but comfy leather sofa that sat on a rug in front of the fire.
Angus bent over to build the fire, and within seconds, he had a flame going that quickly grew into a fire large enough to easily warm both the room and Heath.
Heath sat back, soaking in the warmth of the fire while staring into the flames and thinking about all that had happened that day. He'd held his own in those fights. More than that, he'd won the first round. It would have taken something incredible to overshadow all that. It just so happened, Angus' knot was incredible.
Angus returned with a steaming mug and Heath reached up to grab it, but Angus motioned for him to scoot forward. He did, allowing space for Angus to settle in behind him. Angus pulled Heath back so that he was snuggled with his back to Angus' chest. Once they were both in place, he handed the mug to Heath.
Heath brought the warm beverage to his lips and took a sip. The warmth of the water and soothing lemon was one thing, but the kick of the whiskey was another. He coughed lightly. "Warn a fellow," he said, elbowing Angus in the chest.
"Sorry, I don't actually know how to make tea," Angus admitted. "But I can put together a stiff hot toddy."
Heath lay his head back against Angus and stared into the fire. This moment could have been the most perfect in Heath's life if it weren't for Marcos and the threat he still posed.
"How did you know I would be there?" Heath asked.
Angus grumbled. "I didn't. Ryder told me the time and location, and I was going to check things out to figure out the best way of clearing your debt."
Heath squirmed. "I was handling it," he said with a pout.
"You were getting pummeled," Angus stated, as if that was the end all, be all of what had happened.
While it hadn't been fun getting the wind knocked out of him, Heath also knew he couldn't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. Before, he'd been terrified of the fights, but now, he knew what to expect. His limbs were too cozy and heavy with whiskey to argue about it though.
Heath wasn't sure if Marcos had even been there that night. It had all been a blur from arriving, fighting and then realizing a giant bear was standing over him. Now that bear was snuggled behind him.
He laughed at the fire.
"What it is, pet?" Angus asked.
"I was just thinking about how completely inappropriate a bear skin rug would be at this moment."
Angus chuckled. "If you want to lay on a bear, I can make that happen."
As impressive as Angus was in his animal form, Heath didn't want to lay on him that way with a boner. When he told Angus as much, the man burst out laughing.
"I understand," he said through his laughs.
"What is it like?" Heath asked. "Transforming. Does it hurt?"
"Not at all," Angus replied. "It's like jumping into a cool pool after a day of hard, sweaty work. Refreshing almost."
"Being in this form is hard and sweaty work?"
Angus tightened his hold. "Sometimes," he said, but it sounded more like a promise.
Heath's gaze went back to the flames, something about their hypnotic movement made him contemplative. Or, it could have been the whiskey. It might have been his imagination, but he felt like he could literally feel his body changing, adapting to the man behind him. He didn't know what would happen next but knew as long as Angus was with him, it would be okay.
***
When Heath woke up, he did so with confusion. The fire still burned, but he no longer held his tea. He hoped he hadn't dropped it. Then, he felt the sensation that had woken him and looked down at Angus on the floor between his legs, suckling his cock.
"Holy shit," Heath gasped, biting his lip. He couldn't scream here as he did in the middle of the forest. The houses were too close together.
Angus took him in deep, enveloping him in a heat that rivaled the fire. Heath was still completely naked, but with his mate's heat, the fire, whiskey and the blowjob, he was sweating. "Angus, oh my god, I'm going to—" He didn't even finish his sentence before shooting his load down Angus' throat. The man swallowed him happily and licked his lips as he pulled away.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist."
Heath shielded his eyes, still a little groggy. "That had to be some kind of record. That took what, ten seconds?"
Angus pulled Heath's hand down to hold. "It was a little longer than that. You just weren't awake for it."
"You dirty dog," Heath teased.
"How was I supposed to resist it? You were dreaming about me."
Had he been? Heath didn't remember the dream, only the feeling of being warm, safe and cared for. A feeling that hadn't dissipated when he woke up.
"You were begging me to fuck you," Angus said, and Heath noticed his eyes were black.
"No way," he replied, shifting his body up the couch so that he lay on his back.
"Give it to me, Angus, fuck me like no one ever has," Angus said in an exaggerated, high-pitched impersonation of Heath.
"That does sound like me," Heath deadpanned. With a half-smile, Angus crawled up his body, kissing his flesh on his way to Heath's mouth. He held his body up by his elbows so that he would not crush him, but Heath still felt completely covered by the man and he loved it.
Angus angled his head down, delivering slow, thorough kisses to his face and neck. He caressed Heath's skin, bringing every nerve ending to life with just his touch, and when Angus pulled back to simply gaze at his face, Heath felt like he was the one on fire.
"Give it to me, Angus, fuck me like no one ever has," Heath whispered.
Angus laughed but separated Heath's legs quickly, lining their bodies up as he advanced. This time, Heath knew what to expect. There was a pinch at the very beginning, and then, slowly, Angus' pre-come began to work its magic, relaxing his muscles and making his tight ring tingle.
"You should bottle that stuff," he said, but without meaning it. Everything Angus had to offer was his. Heath wasn't normally a jealous man. In fact, he'd never been jealous of a partner in his life. But the idea of another person experiencing this pleasure had him thrusting his hips up in a frenzied attempt to claim his mate's cock as thoroughly as Angus had claimed his body.
Angus tucked Heath against him and then rolled their bodies off the couch with Angus landing, back down, on the blanket below. Stretched in front of the fire, Heath was warm, and now, he was also in a position of control.
Angus had somehow known what Heath needed and had instantly allowed it to happen. "Take what you need, mate," Angus said, his words thick.
Heath bit his lip and braced his body up with two palms against Angus' broad, muscled chest. His body hair tickled Heath's fingers as he worked his ass down the massive length. This wouldn't have been possible with anyone else in the world. Heath would not have been able to, mentally or physically, impale himself as thoroughly as he was at that exact moment with Angus below him.
Stuffed was the only word he could think of that described how he felt.
His body began to accept Angus to a point where Heath felt able to move. He lifted his ass, hissing at the sensations, and just before Angus was all the way out, he sunk back down, as slow as he could manage.
"You're going to kill me, mate," Angus said, looking up at him, his hands clenched into fists at his side. He was purposefully giving Heath the reins, but not without effort.
Heath set a steady pace, not the blindingly frantic rhythm that Angus used the first time. This was comfortable, thoughtful and while it made his balls tighten, it wasn't enough. Heath growled, more a noise of frustration than a true growl.
"What is it?" Angus asked, as if he already knew the answer.
"I need you harder," Heath replied.
Angus relaxed his hands and gripped Heath's waist as he thrust up. "Like this?" he asked while Heath's head bobbed from the force.
"Fuck, yes, like this," Heath wailed. His dick tightened to the point of no return, spewing all over Angus' six pack and chest.
But Angus didn't stop or even slow. He continued to push up, reaching depths that Heath hadn't been able to on his own. Sweat slickened skin slid over sweat slickened skin as Heath bent down, not caring that he was covering himself with his mess as he kissed Angus.
When he came again, it covered them both. Heath pulled back from the kiss, bracing himself against Angus' chest. "No more, I can't do more," he panted.
Angus growled, lifting his body up as he embraced him. "One more," he whispered in Heath's ear and then pushed.
Heath felt Angus' cock swell like it had the first time. He knew what to expect and yet that knowledge did nothing to dampen the supernova-powered blast of sensation.
Like the first time, Heath could not talk or move, he could only feel as Angus filled his body with seed, pulling orgasm after orgasm out of him in the process.
Heath collapsed, unable to hold himself up. When Angus was able to separate their bodies, he did so slowly, keeping Heath to his chest as he stood and walked them down the hallway to the bathroom. Angus started the shower, and the moment his mate wasn't holding him, Heath began to shiver.
"Here we go," Angus said, lifting Heath and taking him with him to the shower. "Nice and warm."
"All this carrying," Heath said. "Makes me feel like I'm made of glass."
"You are precious to me, Heath." Angus grabbed the soap and got to work cleaning his mate.
When he finished cleaning Heath and then himself, Angus dried them both off before leading Heath to his bed.
Heath couldn't see much of it in the dark but the moment his head touched the pillow, he was out.
***
When he opened his eyes again, it wasn't to his mate sucking his dick, though that would have been nice. Sunlight shone in through the windows and Heath heard voices, more than just Angus, coming from somewhere down the hallway.
He swung his feet around while pushing the blanket off him. That was when he remembered his current, no clothes state. He looked around the room and spotted a dresser.
After slipping on a pair of sweats and a shirt, both of which were way too big on his frame, he stepped out into the hallway feeling suddenly shy. Maybe Angus wasn't ready for everyone to know about them? Maybe he wasn't as proud of Heath in front of his pack as he seemed to be in front of other people?
"Heath, will you hurry up here, so Sawyer and Roscoe know I didn't kill you when we mated last night?" Angus yelled down the hallway.
So much for those worries.
He still tiptoed toward the kitchen, walking through the doorway with his hand rubbing the back of his neck and his eyes to the floor.
The room was silent, forcing him to look up at the three and a half other people. Sawyer and Roscoe were on one side of the room, Sawyer bouncing Roger on his knee, while Angus was in front of the refrigerator.
"There you are, sugar," Angus said, tugging Heath forward and giving him a peck on the cheek. "They heard about the barn burning down. Apparently, everyone has heard about that. And about the man who turned into a bear and carried that one lesbian chick's brother away into the woods. Anyone who wasn't there is calling bullshit, even some who were. Naturally, my brother and his mate thought the worst of me."
Heath wasn't sure why he was embarrassed. He hadn't done anything wrong when it came to his relationship with Angus, but until now, it had been a personal, private thing. He'd only just told his sister about his preferences.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Sawyer said. "And here you had me fooled with that straightest man on earth act. You realize we could have been the power couple this world needs?" Heath looked up at Sawyer and found him smiling.
He wasn't sure why he worried there would be any judgment there. His gaze flitted over to Roscoe, who wasn't smiling, but didn't look angry.
"At least now I have someone to help keep you two out of trouble," Roscoe said. He hadn't yet forgotten or likely forgiven Heath for pulling Sawyer out to the bar that one night after they had mated.
"I don't know about that. Didn't you know Heath is now an experienced street fighter?" Angus said, and while he meant it as a joke, there was enough acidity there that Heath knew he was still upset.
"I'd only heard mentions of the fights when I scouted this spot. Are they a bigger problem than I thought?" Roscoe asked, accepting a cup of coffee from his brother.
"Locally run fights. Mostly bored farmers with too much energy or money. Heath got tied up in it because he owed money to Marcos and his motorcycle club, though they are more of a gang these days. I asked Ryder about them, while they are mostly small now, they have a wide reach. And now that I burned his ring down, I think he may just have a problem with us as well."
"Us? No brother, you," Roscoe said with a smile before he took a sip.
Sawyer leaned in close to Heath. "Don't worry, they'll fix everything," he said, likely seeing Heath's expression.
"But it's my problem. I got myself into it. None of you should have to put yourself in danger," Heath replied. "I'll go to Marcos now that I know he was there. I need to explain the whole situation and tell him I'll fight again." He'd been talking to Sawyer, but when he stopped and looked up, he noticed the two bear brothers had stopped their conversation and were now staring at Heath like he'd proposed dancing naked in the street as a way to fix the problem.
"Mates were so docile when I was growing up," Angus commented.
"Something in the water," Roscoe replied. "Makes them feisty."
"We drink water from the mountain," Sawyer replied, throwing a balled-up paper towel at Roscoe, which he readily caught.
"I can't let you solve my problem. It has nothing to do with you," Heath said, standing squared off with Angus.
In the corner of his vision, he saw Sawyer stand, herded away by Roscoe out of the house so that Heath would be alone with Angus. Heath gave him a little wave before rounding back on Angus.
"Nothing to do with me?" Angus repeated. "You have everything to do with me."
"I get we are mates now. I'm not contesting that."
"Oh, how generous," Angus muttered.
Heath ignored him. "But this happened before I knew you. Isn't there a grandfather clause for problems that occurred before meeting your mate?"
"No."
Heath bristled against Angus' answer, as if the situation required nothing else than his refusal. "Oh, okay. No. Just no. Is it no because you say so? Or do you have a real reason?"
Angus took a deep breath. Heath watched the pulse pound at his temple as the shifter clenched his jaw. "Heath, I understand that you want to take care of your own problems. I get it," Angus said slowly and softly. He lifted his hand to cup Heath's cheek before dropping it back down. "But if I feel like I can't trust you to keep yourself safe, then I will have to make you safe."
"Like what? Tying me up when you leave?" Angus shrugged.
Heath's mouth popped open with surprise. "You would go that far?"
"Maybe not tie you up. I could just handcuff you to me, so I'll always know where you are."
Heath should have been angry. He should have been coming up with a scathing reply that would let Angus know exactly what he could do with his threats. Instead, he was growing hard.
Angus looked down at his tent and licked his lips. "No, that is a side effect boner," Heath told him, putting his hands out. "It isn't for you!" Heath turned to run, laughing as he narrowly avoided Angus' arms. He took off down the hallway, but he didn't know Angus' house very well and found himself in the bedroom with no way out and his back to the wall. "Stay away," he said to Angus, though the force of his words was lightened by the fact that he was laughing the whole time.
"That's my cock," Angus said, nodding to the space between Heath's legs. "The man it is attached to is mine as well." He stalked forward. "As soon as you understand this, our lives will be smooth sailing."
He stomped forward, likely expecting a fight, but by the time he reached Heath, he reached out to him with his arms wide open.
If the very sight of this man sent Heath's body into such a frenzy, there had to be a reasoning for it. Angus said it was because they were mates. To Heath, that word didn't carry the same power. But what he felt for the man did. Because even when he was mad and scared, Heath wanted him.
Angus cupped Heath's cock possessively. "Mine," he grunted.
"Yours," Heath replied, before kissing his mate.