Crouching Vegan, Hidden Werewolf Page 3

  Chapter 3

  * * *

  Dark woke up starving, so he let himself out of Erik's place and followed his nose, looking for someplace with cinnamon rolls, coffee, and, he guessed oatmeal and fruit.

  The coffee place he found had little oatmeal containers, so he bought that along with a couple cinnamon rolls covered in sticky icing for himself. He couldn't remember how Erik had taken his coffee the night before--it might even have been one of those fancy latte mocha espresso things--but he figured the man had to have sugar and cream at his place if he wanted them, right?

  There was fruit available at a tiny grocers one block down from the coffee shop and he bought bananas and oranges and little green grapes that looked deliciously sour. All in all, it was about a half hour later when he found himself back at Erik's apartment. He rang the doorbell with his elbow.

  A young lady's head popped out of the apartment next door. "You just missed him. He was going for a long run, he said."

  Dark frowned. A run? A long run? At least that was something wolfish. All this vegan and not-shifting crap had made him wonder who had screwed Erik up so badly he was trying to deny who he was. When Erik had shifted, though... Oh, the wolf knew what was important, knew how to mate and laugh and just be.

  In the meantime...

  Dark looked at the crap he was carrying. "Do you want some coffee?" He held Erik's cup out to her. "It's black."

  "Oh, that's dear. Thank you, but I only drink tea. Would you like me to let you into the courtyard? There's a lovely place to sit and wait."

  He didn't exactly have anywhere else to go and he not only had coffee, but the sticky sweets, too. "Yes, please."

  Honestly though, she needed to be more careful--she was lucky he wasn't that big bad wolf.

  She let him into a locked courtyard, and it was pretty out here, warm and green and lush. Nowhere to run, really, but it was somewhere to rest.

  He thanked her and sat in the grass rather than on one of the benches. The little fountain in the middle of the yard bubbled noisily and he drank his coffee and snarfed down the cinnamon rolls since he was starving.

  Then he grabbed the pack of grapes and started nibbling on them. They were indeed tart, the flavor exploding in his mouth as he bit down on them. If Erik was too long, Dark would have all the fruit eaten up. The oatmeal was not in the least bit tempting, though, so at least there would be something, aside from cold coffee, left for the man.

  He saw movement in Erik's apartment, caught a flash of naked torso, fuzzy chest.

  He frowned. Was Erik back already? She'd said a long run and surely he would have noticed if Erik had come back? He stared at the window. Maybe he'd imagined it.

  One of the other apartment doors opened and a hot stud wandered out in a pair of Speedos with a towel. He spread it out on the ground and stretched out under the sun. If Dark hadn't seen Erik, he might have pounced. That was pretty man candy.

  He had a mate now, though. That was serious stuff, mating. He was a wolf and they did it for life. He caught more movement in Erik's apartment out of the corner of his eyes and he stood, rumbling.

  Tossing his garbage, including the now cold coffee, he grabbed up the package of oatmeal and went up to knock directly on Erik's door.

  The door opened and Erik stared at him with red cheeks, sweat pouring off him.

  The man had been exercising--he must have just missed seeing Erik come in. Dark held out the bag of oatmeal, and the single orange that was left of the fruit he'd bought. "You left before I could bring you breakfast."

  "I needed to get my run in. I had a...a weird night."

  "You calling me weird?

  "No." Poor confused pup.

  "Take your oatmeal and let me in."

  "I... Thank you?" Erik took the oatmeal, blinking. "I think we need to talk."

  "We can talk. That's not really what you want to do, though, is it?" Erik wanted him as much as he wanted Erik. He moved into Erik's den, closing the door behind him.

  "We need to talk," Erik insisted. "No touching."

  "Where's the fun in that?"

  "No touching," Erik said. He added brown sugar and almond milk to the oatmeal, then put it in the microwave.

  Almond milk.

  Christ.

  "I still don't believe you're actually vegan. Werewolves aren't. It's just not natural." It totally wasn't and Dark couldn't just let it go, especially as Erik was his mate.

  "I don't change anymore. I haven't"--Erik sighed--"hadn't changed in almost ten years."

  "That's crazy. Why would you do that to yourself?" Being vegan, not shifting, was Erik just a huge masochist?

  "Control. I'm human. Not a wolf. Human."

  Dark snorted. "And how's that working out for you?"

  "Fine." Erik's fingers were trembling as he found a spoon.

  Dark grabbed Erik's hand. "You don't seem fine to me."

  Erik stared at him, at where their hands met. "I said no touching."

  "This isn't touching--it's holding hands. I know you feel it, too, so stop pretending you don't!" The electricity that pulsed between them was like a fire. "You can't deny this--us." He stared into Erik's eyes, daring the man to do it.

  "I gave up on the beast within. I swore to keep him contained."

  Dark shook his head. He didn't even think that was possible. "Why?"

  "I killed things. Animals. I woke up and had a rabbit. A little bunny." Erik shuddered, going pale.

  Wow. Rabbit sounded amazing, honestly. Dark tried not to lick his lips. He really did. He wasn't successful.

  The microwave dinged and Erik got his breakfast, eating hungrily, almost growling over the food.

  "I won't take food from you." Certainly not oatmeal. "I'm your mate, not your competition."

  "I know. I mean, I'm not an animal. I wasn't. I never do this!"

  "You've never met your mate before." He moved back in closer, now that Erik had finished his food, and in record time.

  "I am not a wolf."

  Poor little pup, forced to be hungry and trapped and hidden.

  "You are, you know."

  "I'm not. That part of my life is over."

  Dark shook his head. No. No way. He'd seen that beautiful pup last night, heard the happy cries, felt the wild joy battering at him. He shook his head again for emphasis. "I still want to know why you'd deny that part of yourself. It's bone deep, Erik. Bone deep. And don't tell me this is all about a rabbit."

  "It's none of your business. It's mine." Erik turned from him and Dark could see his mark on his mate's nape.

  He reached out, grabbing Erik's waist with one hand and stroking his mark with the other. "It is my business."

  Erik groaned, entire body shuddering. "It's not natural."

  "It's more natural than not shifting, more natural than being a vegan." Dark was very in touch with his natural side.

  His pup needed a steak, a hug. A good hard fuck. He growled softly, calling to his mate. Erik shivered, body beginning to sway, the connection between them so new it burned. He called again, reaching out.

  "Please..." The word was nearly a sob. "It aches so much."

  That was all Dark needed to hear. He pulled Erik to him, mouth landing on his mate's. Erik moaned, the bright green eyes wide, pained, needing.

  Poor wolf was so confused. Sometimes a werewolf needed to listen to his animal side and tell his human side to go take a hike. Dark scratched a line down Erik's back--looking to start those nerves jumping. Come on, mate. Show me your need.

  "I..." Erik snarled and dropped to the floor, tearing at his jeans just long enough to free Dark's cock, yank it out and start sucking hard.

  "Oh, fuck." He grabbed hold of Erik's head, just barely managing not to slam his prick home.

  His pup had the mouth of a wet dream, needy, the pressure fierce. Pushing in deeper, Dark let his hips roll, just a little. Erik's eyes dropped closed, lips sealed around the base of his prick. Groaning, he found a rhythm, something light and easy,
but still enough to push him closer to the edge.

  Hungry pup. He loved this--the sucking, the need.

  He fed his prick into those hungry lips over and over, and Erik took him, every inch, slurping around him. Dark kept his eyes open, watching Erik's face, loving how much Erik was enjoying sucking him.

  "Such a good pup. So much need." He praised happily, moaning for Erik.

  It got intense, his orgasm so close. Grabbing Erik's head, he fucked his sweet mouth hard. His pup opened easily, throat closing around the tip of his prick.

  "Yes!" He jerked, hips slamming as he came.

  Erik's hands were on his hips, pulling him deep as he drank him down.

  Dark stroked his hands over Erik's head and shoulders. It was so good. He hummed, letting his pleasure show.

  "That was amazing." He drew Erik up, holding his mate close. The kiss he took tasted like himself.

  The urge to ask if eating semen was vegan was tempting as fuck. He was good, though, and kept kissing Erik instead.

  Erik's cock was hard, full against his belly, leaving hot, wet kisses. Grabbing hold of Erik's ass, he tugged his lover against him. The tiny shorts fell off with a single push, and then his mate was bare for him. He got one hand around Erik's needy prick, pulling hard. Erik spread, low groans filling the air, red-tipped cock pushing out between his fingers.

  "I'll take care of you, mate." He'd make Erik come and feel so good.

  He watched as his sweet pup danced and jerked for him, humping against his touch, riding him. It was fucking stunning and he moved his hand faster, giving Erik more sensation.

  "Please. Fuck, that's hot." Erik's hand landed on the table, bracing him.

  "You're hot." So fucking sexy. He wanted to make Erik explode with pleasure.

  He reached with his other hand, tugged the sweet ball sac hard, making Erik feel it. He watched his sweet eyes go wide, then bright, wolven. Feral for a second.

  Yes! That was his.

  He tugged again, and Erik snapped, teeth clicking together.

  "Oh, yes. My wild beast."

  "Not." Erik's voice was almost all growl.

  He laughed, loving the fight, loving the beast.

  "Don't laugh at me."

  Oh, come on, pup, let go.

  "With you, mate. We're in this together." He tugged on Erik's prick, encouraging the physical.

  "Uhn." The cords in Erik's throat went tight, tense.

  Leaning in, Dark bit at that tempting skin, proving Erik was his.

  "No... No biting." Erik reached up, fingers in his hair and keeping him close.

  "None." He bit harder.

  "None..." Erik's hips thrust faster, more restless, cock hot and leaking.

  His poor conflicted pup. His mate needed to listen to his body, his instincts, not his brain. Erik's brain was all crazy on vegetables.

  "Please." Erik's voice was thready, a low whine.

  "Come on, then." He pinched the tip of Erik's prick as he bit his mark again.

  Wet heat sprayed over his fingers, marking him with his mate's scent. Humming, he wrapped his lips around the skin he'd bitten, sucking gently. Erik's head fell back, the happy little sounds sinking into his bones.

  Dark kept moving his hand, sliding it easily over the silky flesh as he continued to suck and lick. He was leaving yet another mark on the beautiful skin.

  He eased Erik back onto the table and spread his pup out for his eyes, his teeth. He bit at Erik's collarbone, then his shoulder. The butter dish and the napkins went crashing to the floor as Erik flailed. Dark ignored the distractions in favor of continuing his toothy exploration of Erik's body. Sweat-salty and slick with come, Erik was a feast. His feast.

  He paid special attention to the hard little nipples that stuck up from Erik's chest, peeking through dark chest hair. He kept his bites there gentle, more or less. His pup moaned and barked for him, vocalization all lupine now. And Erik said he wasn't wolf.

  Dark dragged his fingers over Erik's belly, admiring the sleek muscles. He slapped Erik's sweet prick with two fingers, just hard enough. Erik's whole body bowed for him and he growled happily. He did it again, giving Erik as much as he could. The more Erik felt, the less he'd think stupid things.

  The more the wolf could breathe, the more the bond would set.

  He licked his tongue through Erik's navel, his fingers digging into the man's hips. The dark curls tempted him and he tugged them, pulled good and hard. Bending, he breathed in the amazing scents of his mate.

  Erik's abs clenched, drew up tight. He rubbed Erik's prick with his cheek, letting his stubble rub.

  "Oh." The tiny little gasp went right to his balls.

  "Want you, mate." Again. Still. Always, Dark imagined. Time would prove that.

  "Not going to mate with you." Erik's lean legs spread.

  "Already did," he pointed out, tongue coming out to slide over Erik's hole. The scent of his mate was the best drug ever. He pushed his tongue into Erik's body, getting that sweet hole ready.

  Erik grabbed his knees and pulled hard, letting him in. So good. He fucked Erik's hole, loving the male musk, the taste and the smell and how it meant Erik, mate, his. His fingers curled, dragging Erik closer.

  "Gonna take you again, show you how you're mine." His prick was heavy again, fat and full. So ready. He couldn't wait to be buried inside Erik's body once more.

  He pulled Erik to the edge of the table, got that fine little ass set up for him. Then he stood and pushed his way in. The tight little hole held him, squeezed his prick tight.

  "Oh, fuck. Baby." Dark jerked in a little farther. Erik made his mouth water, that tight hole made him ache.

  He pulled out, and sank back in again, as deep as possible. They slammed together, and he fit perfectly into the sweet sheath. Growling, he did it again. Fuck, nothing had ever felt so good. The bond was there, strong as his own heartbeat.

  He met Erik's eyes.

  Erik's chin went up. "I gave up the wolf."

  "You're right here with me, baby."

  "Right here." Erik moaned, flushing dark, muscles fluttering around his prick.

  "That's right." He slammed in again.

  Erik's neck arched, head sliding on the table as pleasure took them. He lost himself in Erik, in the pleasure, thrusting hard. His vision was filled with the sight of his mate, his pup, his beautiful Erik. He shifted, looking for that spot inside Erik to drive him mate absolutely wild. He pegged it, Erik howling for him, fingers tearing at the table.

  Yeah, that's what he wanted--his mate in full-blown hunger, letting it all out. He banged against the spot again. His pup pushed up onto his elbows, then slammed down on his cock.

  Dark wrapped one hand around the back of Erik's head, the other around one hip, fingers digging in,

  "More. More. More."

  Nodding, he gave Erik more, pounding into his mate's body. Erik's cock was hard as nails, dripping on the flat belly.

  "Touch yourself," he demanded. "Show me how much you want it."

  Erik arched, fingers slapping around his prick, pulling hard and fast, tugging furiously.

  Fuck. Fuck. Dark felt that all around his cock, felt those muscles clench as Erik made his fine cock burn.

  "That's it, baby. You fucking come on my cock."

  "Yeah. Yeah. In me..." Erik grimaced, the cords on his neck standing out.

  "You fucking know it." He slammed in, nailing Erik's gland hard.

  Ropes of pearly spunk sprayed over Erik's chest.

  "Yes! Yes!" He cried out and jerked into Erik's ass, coming hard.

  He scooped Erik into his arms and held on tight. His. Fuck, yes. Holding on, he buried his face in Erik's neck and began to suck up another mark. This time Erik tilted his head, let him in.

  "Good boy." He murmured the words, sucking harder.

  "Gon' leave a mark."

  Yes, he would. "That's the point." He bit down, teeth sinking into the flesh enough to sting.

  He felt the reaction to his bite a
ll around his cock, Erik's body squeezing him tight. Yes. His hips rolled, pushing a little, even though his balls were empty. Pulling back, he checked out the mark he'd made. It looked good, red and still wet with his saliva on Erik's skin. He traced it with his fingers, making Erik shudder.

  "Mate," he growled softly.

  Erik's answer was a convulsive shudder.

  "Deny it all you want, even you know it's true." And he wasn't going to let this man get away.

  Even if Erik was a vegan for the rest of his life.

  Chapter 4

  * * *

  Erik worked the dinner service, never leaving the kitchen, keeping his head down.

  He was losing his mind. Losing it. He'd managed to get to the restaurant and hide, avoiding the man he knew was waiting. Dark had followed him, was sitting at a back table and, according to the wait staff, refusing to budge.

  Erik could feel Dark's presence like an itch.

  He'd sent out the best food, good beer and told the staff to comp him. Still Dark sat.

  Jordan came in with a pile of dirty plates. "He's still out there. He wants another coffee and a dessert."

  "Christ. Give him the lemon tart and the raspberry sorbet." Stubborn male.

  "You're the boss."

  "I am." He winked and told himself that, over and over. He was the boss. Him. Boss. Top dog. Owner.

  Fuck, it was like he could smell Dark. His nostrils flared, searching for Dark's scent. There it was, deep and musky, animalistic, and all alpha male.

  He got the last of the orders out and headed downstairs to his office. "I'll be down here, guys. Just lock up when you leave."

  Dark would go home, right? Give him some space?

  A half hour later, he got his answer.

  Jordan was back, knocking on the open to his office. "Boss? He won't go. He says he's waiting for you."

  Erik rubbed his forehead, finger pushing in deep. "Okay. Okay, I'll come up." Butthead.

  "Cool. I'll make the deposit for you." Jordan sounded relieved to be able to go.

  "Thanks, Jordan. Have a good weekend." They took Sundays and Mondays off, let the restaurant be closed.

  "You, too." Jordan disappeared back up the stairs.