Chapter Ten

Dale didn’t break the kiss until he was sure Gavin was done fighting him and had come down a few notches from hysteria. He’d never been so sad for someone else in his life. The man honestly believed the Arcadian Council was going to wipe his mind. And he was in full-on panic mode. Not that anyone could blame him.

In addition, he was reeling from the fact that Gavin had just told Dale how much he cared about him. Dale didn’t know yet how to process that information or what to do with it, but for now, he needed to cherish it and take care of this amazing man he’d spent five fantastic days with.

No matter what happened in the future, it would be a lie for Dale to deny he’d also enjoyed every second of the last week, more than he wanted to admit or ponder yet.

Finally, he released Gavin’s lips, setting his forehead against his lover’s. “Now I know how to get you to stop talking,” he teased, hoping Gavin wouldn’t take him the wrong way. “If I strip you naked and fuck you hard against the fridge, will you calm down enough to listen to reason?”

Gavin bit his lip, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. “It’s worth a try.”

Dale smiled broadly. Thank fuck. He needed to drag Gavin out of this funk, and he intended to do so immediately. The crazy thing was that Dale had his own demons to face tonight. He was ignoring them. Shoved them to the back of his mind. And he would continue to do so for as long as it took to set Gavin straight.

Just a few hours ago he had talked himself into letting Gavin go. Now… Shit, he couldn’t leave things like this. At the very least, he had to repair the damage.

Gavin turned his head to one side and settled his cheek against Dale’s shoulder. “I’m serious though. Don’t ruin my pity party.”

Dale grabbed his face again and lifted it so he was forced to meet his eyes. “I’m serious too. I know you’re worried. I can’t blame you, but you don’t need to be. No one’s coming after you. You’re safe.”

“You can’t know that. I’ll never be safe. One perceived wrong move on my part, and I lose the people I love most.”

Dale stared hard into Gavin’s currently greenish eyes. People? The only person Gavin had known in Silvertip until a week ago had been Paige. So “people” had to include Dale. Used in the same sentence with the word love. Dale stopped breathing for a moment, forcing himself to ignore the implication. Now wasn’t the time to process that either. “No one’s going to erase your memory, Gavin. I promise. You’re not a threat. George and Henry are going to want to talk to you to make sure you understand what they did and everyone’s stories match, but that’s about it.”

“How do you know?” Gavin smoothed his hands from Dale’s back and tucked his fingers into the loops on Dale’s jeans.

Dale eased his palms down to cup Gavin’s shoulders. “I already told you. Because you’ve known about shifters for ten years and never uttered a word to anyone. That’s a pretty good track record. There’s no reason to think you would start spilling secrets now.”

“I don’t know. A lot of shit happened today. I know too much. It’s one thing for me to have seen someone shift and kept it to myself. It’s another thing entirely for me to know so many pack secrets.”

“Not really. Who would believe you anyway?” Dale joked in attempt to lessen the tension. Something was off here. Not quite right. He couldn’t put his finger on it. But the hairs on his arms stood on end. It seemed as though Gavin was intentionally pushing this issue unnecessarily far.

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Why do I doubt your Arcadian Council operates on the assumption that no one would believe me even if I told them?”

Dale chose his words carefully. “Think of it this way—if a fourteen-year-old kid can keep our existence a secret, a grown-ass man can surely continue to do so.”

Gavin stared at him. “Am I?” Was Gavin starting to whine?

“Are you what?”

“A grown man? Is that how you see me? Because you’ve made a point of calling me kid about a dozen times this week. I get the impression you don’t take me seriously. I think this is all fun and games for you. A hookup that’s gone on for several days with some kid who showed up in Silvertip unannounced.”

Dale froze. Holy shit.

Yes, Dale had called him a kid often, but not because he thought his lover was a child. He shuddered. As soon as he’d found out Gavin was twenty-four, he’d relaxed and not given it another thought. Sure, Gavin was green, but that was from lack of experience, nothing more. It was also a turn-on.

Did Gavin honestly believe his own words? That Dale thought so little of him? Or was he fishing for something? Something more… After all, it was almost ridiculous how many times Gavin had argued this same point. What was really going on here?

Dale furrowed his brow. How had Gavin gone from worrying obsessively about having his mind wiped to insinuating Dale thought he was a child?

Gavin wasn’t done. “I may be submissive, Dale. I’ll admit to that much. And it’s hot as hell when you tell me what to do in the bedroom, but I’m not a child. So, please don’t try to minimize this thing as if it doesn’t matter. Don’t tell me what to think.” Sassy.

Damn. Dale stared at Gavin as the kid lowered his gaze. Was he pouting? Like intentionally pretending to have a…tantrum?

Dale’s heart rate picked up. He watched Gavin’s body language. If he wasn’t mistaken, Gavin was needling him. On purpose?

Or was it more than that? It was difficult to read Gavin’s actions any other way. After all, Dale had not seen a side of Gavin that demonstrated insecurity at this level. Was it contrived? Fake?

How had Dale not seen this? Gavin was begging for affirmation that he was safe. Important. Loved.

Like a Dom would reassure a sub.

If this entire discussion wasn’t a direct appeal to Dale’s dominant side, then Dale was about to make the biggest mistake of his life. It appeared what Gavin was begging for was someone to take charge and shake him out of it. This was Dale’s element. He shined in this role. His cock ached just thinking about turning this table around and taking charge.

Dale licked his lips, narrowed his gaze, and prayed to God he wasn’t misinterpreting Gavin’s plea. “I think this particular conversation is over. I’ve told you multiple times you’re not in danger. You’re starting to sound rebellious though. In fact, I think you need a bit of discipline to curb that attitude of yours.”

Gavin flinched, but his face turned a darker shade of red, and he didn’t back away. And then the scent of arousal filled the room. Holy fuck.

Dale lowered his gaze to find an impressive bulge pressing against the front of Gavin’s jeans. It wasn’t hard to believe that a submissive would need some release after the stress he’d endured that day, but Dale and Gavin had never crossed this particular line. They hadn’t even discussed it.

Nevertheless, it was on a silver platter in front of Dale for him to take or leave. The Dominant in Dale was not about to turn down this offer. This challenge.

This was the sort of thing Dale’s dreams were made of. Even Ethan had never submitted to him as fully as Gavin showed signs of. Gavin lowered his gaze further as Dale scrutinized him once again. If I fuck this up…

“Look at me,” he demanded.

Gavin lifted his head, swallowing. But the most telling thing was that he still had a tight grip on the loops of Dale’s jeans. If he wasn’t interested in role-playing, he would have backed up and tossed out some joke to change the direction of this conversation.

“You want me to discipline you, Gavin?”

A slight flinch and maybe even a nod.

“I can do that. I can chase away your stress in a lot of ways, but I need to be sure we’re on the same page. I need you to tell me what you want.”

There was little chance Gavin could have gotten any more embarrassed. His face was so red it looked like he was standing outside in frigid temperatures. “I’d like that…Sir.”

Those words were almost too soft to hear, but Dale caught every one, and his dick jumped in his jeans. Fuck me.

Dale lifted his hands to cup Gavin’s face again, forcing him to hold his gaze. “Good boy. I’m proud of you. I know that was hard. You’ve never done anything like this before, have you?”

“No.”

Dale lifted a brow.

“No, Sir.”

“The first time is always the hardest. Asking for what you want makes you vulnerable. I’m sure you’re nervous as fuck right now.”

“Pretty much, Sir.”

“Let me ease your mind a bit. First of all, you need to know that I would never do anything to hurt you. Ever. I would never draw blood or leave a mark. Got it?”

Gavin blew out a breath, his shoulders relaxing.

“Secondly, you can always stop me at any time. If you like a safe word, use red. If you can’t remember to do that, all you have to do is say stop, and I’ll stop immediately.”

Gavin nodded.

Dale released his lover’s face to lower a hand to his crotch, cupping it with enough pressure to prove Gavin was as turned on as Dale imagined. He grabbed on and rubbed the seam of Gavin’s jeans. “So hard for me.” It was difficult to contain himself. Slow this down. What Dale wanted to do was fuck him into tomorrow. But Gavin needed more than that.

“Yes, Sir.”

“I want you to head for the bedroom, remove everything, and wait for me on your knees.”

“Yes, Sir.” Gavin finally released his grip on Dale’s jeans and turned to flee the room.

Dale watched him go, running a hand through his hair. “Holy shit,” he murmured to himself. “Holy shit.” He turned around and opened the fridge to grab another bottle of water. He needed to do something in the next thirty seconds to rein in his arousal. The last thing he wanted to do was come in his jeans while he was disciplining a submissive.

But, holy shit, he thought again, this was the hottest scene he’d ever participated in. He knew it was a big step. For both of them. He also knew he couldn’t possibly process what it meant for either of them right now. Later. Not now. Gavin needed a firm hand.

Dale had one.

He downed most of the bottle of water, took a deep breath, and headed for the bedroom.

Gavin had done exactly as he was told. Dale found him on his knees next to the bed. Naked. His hands were by his sides, his fingers balled into loose fists. His head was angled toward the floor.

He was so fucking hot Dale’s breath caught for a moment. He hesitated in the doorway, staring at the man who had turned his world upside down in five days. Not a kid. A man. They could role-play the idea that Gavin was a kid, but he so totally was not. Starting with that tattoo that seemed so out of character. Perhaps the fact that Gavin had a tattoo at all was out of character, but the words themselves and the meaning told Dale everything he needed to know about his lover.

Life is a story… Life was indeed filled with hardships and faith. Martel was a brilliant author. It suited Gavin perfectly.

When Dale first met Gavin, he’d thought the kid was too green. He’d been attracted to that quality. But that wasn’t everything. Underneath the inexperience and rawness was a submissive. It was doubtful Gavin had realized this about himself. Although Dale had tested him on several occasions and felt confident Gavin would and could easily submit to the right commands, laying all his cards out was risky. Dale prayed it would pay off.

His cock was so stiff from watching Gavin submit to him like this it was a wonder he hadn’t come in his jeans already. He fought the urge to adjust himself or even undo his fly to relieve the pressure. He needed to take care of Gavin first.

The guy was hurting. Emotionally strained. And he needed a way to release that stress.

Dale approached confidently and circled Gavin, patting his head and then dancing his fingertips over Gavin’s shoulders. “I want you to remain silent unless you need to use your safe word or ask me to stop.”

Gavin nodded subtly.

“You’ve been told repeatedly that you’re not in any danger with regard to the Arcadian Council. And yet you refuse to believe me. I need you to trust me and stop questioning me on this issue. Since you can’t seem to do that, I’m going to punish you.”

A slight shiver shook Gavin’s body, but his fantastic cock bobbed in front of him, so full Dale could see a bulging blue vein along the top.

“I want you to stand up, face the bed, and lean over it.”

Gavin awkwardly rose to his feet and leaned forward, setting his hands on the bed.

“Back up about a foot. I don’t want your dick rubbing against the mattress. You aren’t permitted any contact with your erection right now. This is a punishment. Not a reward.”

Gavin inched backward.

“Now lower to your elbows, fold your arms and set your forehead on the bed in front of them.”

Again this sexy submissive did as he was told.

“Spread your feet wider.”

Compliance.

So fucking hot. Dale stepped up next to Gavin and set his fingertips on his lower back, dragging them up his spine until he reached his neck which he squeezed with his fingers. “Good boy.”

Gavin shuddered. Perfect.

Dale smoothed his hand back down Gavin’s spine until he reached his ass. He set his other hand on Gavin’s lower back and held him steady while he gripped one ass cheek and then the other almost too tight. He molded the flesh with his fingers, squeezing over and over to warm Gavin’s ass.

“I’m going to spank you now. You’re going to stay still and absorb the blows.” Without hesitation, he lifted one hand and swatted Gavin’s ass right in the center.

Gavin gasped, lifting up on his tiptoes.

“Feet flat. No movement.” He spanked him again, this time high on one butt cheek. And again, the same treatment to the other cheek.

Gavin’s legs went rigid, his knees locking.

“Your ass looks amazing with my hand print all pink on it.” He rubbed the offended flesh for a minute and then lifted his hand and swatted him several more times in rapid succession, spraying a series of strikes all across his lover’s backside.

Gavin didn’t move. He took every spank in stride. And then Dale lowered his hand to strike at the junction of Gavin’s butt and his thighs.

Gavin moaned loudly, rising onto his tiptoes again. He also lifted his forehead, tipping his neck back, but he didn’t turn his face toward Dale.

“You can talk now,” Dale began as he rubbed his palm up and down Gavin’s thighs. “How does that feel?”

“Good.”

“You want me to stop?”

“No. Please…Sir. Don’t stop.” He set his forehead back on the mattress never meeting Dale’s gaze.

“Good boy. I know that last one went straight to your cock. You don’t have permission to come, so keep it in check. If you get too close, stop me.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Dale rained several more spanks up and down Gavin’s cheeks. The lower he went, the more Gavin arched his ass out, pleading silently for more.

Dale had only been spanked on one occasion himself—the time he’d allowed a more knowledgeable Dom than himself to demonstrate what it was like to be on the receiving end. This was how he knew that Gavin was probably close to coming.

After a few more swats to his thighs, Dale reached between Gavin’s legs and grabbed his cock. “Don’t you come, yet.”

Gavin sucked in a sharp breath. “Please…”

Dale slid his palm down Gavin’s cock and squeezed the head tighter. “No. If you come, I’ll tie you to the bed and make you sleep naked without any contact from me. If you wait for permission, I’ll make it worth your while.”

Gavin nodded awkwardly against the bed.

Dale released his cock and fondled his balls loosely before removing his hand entirely and stepping back. Suddenly he knew what he needed to do next. “You have lube somewhere?” Please God.

“Bedside drawer.” His voice was barely audible.

Dale opened the drawer and found the lube right inside. There were condoms in the drawer too. Dale wouldn’t need one, but he did need to address that fact. “Aren’t you prepared? I wonder what you normally do with this tube. I know you haven’t been sleeping with a string of men in the last week.” He didn’t wait for a response. “Have you been stretching yourself for me?” He tapped Gavin’s tight hole.

Gavin shook his head.

“Hmm. So prepared anyway.” He popped the lid on the tube and squeezed a generous amount onto his fingers. He flipped the top back in place, making as much noise as possible, which gave him the reaction he wanted. Gavin flinched.

Dale pulled Gavin’s cheeks apart with one hand, setting his thumb on one side and his fingers on the other. The first contact of his slick middle finger against Gavin’s tight ring made Gavin rock forward. “Don’t move, baby. Let me stretch you out.”

Gavin thrust his ass backward, offering himself up to Dale in a manner that was so damn submissive and arousing that Dale had to grit his teeth against the added pressure on his cock.

As he slid the first finger into Gavin’s ass, they both moaned. He’d played with his lover’s tight hole a few times already, but this time it was more intense. This time it was clear he intended to take things further. He straddled Gavin’s leg and pressed his cock against his sub’s thigh, making it obvious he too was turned on. When he added a second finger to the first, Gavin stiffened, the muscle in his thigh going rigid. “Easy. I’m going to stretch you. Slowly. Just relax.”

He scissored his fingers, carefully avoiding the one spot he knew would send Gavin over the edge before he was ready.

Gavin moaned softly against the mattress. His hands were fisted together so tightly above his head they had turned white.

“You’re so tight, baby. Try not to clench. You ready for me to add a finger?”

“Mmm.” Gavin pressed backward into Dale’s hand.

Dale pulled almost out and then slowly slid three fingers past the barrier. Knowing Dale would be the first to penetrate his lover’s rear made his chest tighten. He’d been with humans before, more than just Ethan, but it never ceased to amaze him how green they could be. Not many twenty-four-year-old shifters would be this inexperienced. It was heady and humbling. He would not take it for granted.

As Gavin’s breath slowed and he finally released the grip he had on Dale’s fingers, Dale eased them out and yanked the button open on his jeans to release his cock. He pulled his shirt over his head next to get it out of the way. He wanted to see everything.

As he stepped between Gavin’s legs, he nudged them wider. “Shifters don’t have STDs, baby. We can’t catch or transmit diseases. You okay with me going bare?”

“Yes, Sir.” His voice was stronger. Firm. “Do it. Please, Dale, I need you inside me.”

Dale ignored the way Gavin broke the scene. This was intense. Important. He didn’t want there to be any mistake. “I’ll go slow. Push out while I press into you.” He grabbed Gavin’s hip with one hand and used his other hand to line his cock up with the puckered hole.

As he breached the constricted opening, he held his breath. If he wasn’t careful, he would shoot off before he was all the way inside. He wanted to feel the warmth of Gavin’s forbidden entrance around his erection. He closed his eyes and tipped his head back to control the need to come.

In slow, deliberate thrusts, he finally flattened the base of his cock to Gavin’s cheeks. A groaned escaped his lips to match the one Gavin made. Dale reached to wrap his palm around Gavin’s thick length, squeezing as he eased his fingers up and down the shaft. “So hard for me.”

Gavin purred, his ass thrusting back in encouragement.

Dale took the hint and pulled out only to thrust back in hard and fast.

Gavin’s purr turned into another groan, louder. Satisfied. Aroused. He lifted his face. “Damn that feels good. Do it again.”

Dale pulled almost out and then rammed forward. Again. Three times. He was so close to coming, and he wanted Gavin to come with him. So he picked up the pace of his fingers, stroking his lover’s cock over and over until he felt the subtle change and knew Gavin was about to come. “Do it. Come for me, baby.” As he spoke those words through gritted teeth, Dale fucked his submissive’s ass rapidly. Two more strokes and he was on the edge. One last plunge in deep and he came on a roar just as Gavin released his own orgasm.

Dale cupped the front of Gavin’s cock, wanting to feel the warm ooze of his come against his fingers. For long moments neither of them moved, both gasping for oxygen.

Finally, Dale leaned forward to kiss Gavin’s back. “Don’t move a muscle, baby. Be right back.” He made his way to the hall bathroom, washed his hands, and then ran a cloth under the warm water. Less than a minute later he was back, smoothing the washcloth over Gavin’s half-stiff cock.

He tossed the cloth aside and tapped Gavin’s butt. “Climb up onto the bed, baby. You’re shaking.”

Gavin hummed as he did as he was told, climbing under the covers.

Dale crawled up behind him and hauled Gavin’s back against his front. He lightly touched his submissive’s cock, stroking his fingertips up and down the length.

Gavin moaned.

“You were amazing.” Dale kissed his shoulder. “I’m so proud of you. Do you feel better?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Maybe next time don’t doubt me?”

“Mmm.”

Dale chuckled. It would seem his little submissive enjoyed having his ass spanked and his butt fucked hard. Chances were he would turn into a whiny brat if Dale wasn’t careful. “I won’t always be that gentle,” Dale added to ensure Gavin understood the score. “My hand isn’t the only thing I can use to spank that sweet bottom of yours.” He pressed his still-hard cock against Gavin’s warm bottom.

One of the best things about dominating a human was that hours later the evidence would still be apparent. There was nothing sexier than waking up and finding his lover’s ass still warm and pink. A shifter healed so quickly he never had the opportunity to see the evidence of his punishment.

Dale stroked the side of Gavin’s face and spoke again. “I need to make sure you understand something.”

“Okay,” Gavin murmured.

“No part of me thinks of you as a child. That’s just weird.” He shuddered. “I’m super clear that you’re a grown man. You also have a baby face under that beard of yours and you’re hardly out of the closet, so you’re as green as they come. I probably initially started calling you ‘kid’ out of self-preservation, and then it stuck.”

“Okay, Sir.” Gavin sighed, his body relaxing.

“That being said, anytime you want to role-play like we just did, I’m more than happy to oblige. It was hot as hell. You can pull out your bratty side, and I’ll be glad to spank your sweet ass. Just don’t ever call me daddy.” Dale shuddered again, hoping Gavin understood.

Gavin chuckled slightly and then set his hand on top of Dale’s against his cheek, tipping his face into the contact. “Yes, Sir.”

They stayed like that for several moments, before Dale changed the subject. “We haven’t eaten. You hungry?”

“No. I’m so tired. Can we sleep first? Please…Sir.”

Dale smiled. “Of course. Rest.” He nibbled at Gavin’s shoulder, his mind running so fast. The implication of what they’d just done was not lost on him. He’d taken things to a new level. He didn’t usually let things go this far with someone he’d only known a week.

But Gavin wasn’t like other men. And he’d been through a harrowing day. He’d needed the release only submission would bring to a man like him. And it would seem Dale had not erred in his judgment.