The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf (4 page)

foolishly losing his temper. “Surprised about what?”

“You and Reed. I’d never have expected that in a million years.”

The denial was ready on Anson’s lips, but before Anson could

utter the words, he realized there was no point to it. He didn’t want to

lie anymore, and he didn’t have to. Perhaps he could trust Derek to

keep the secret.

“It just kind of happened,” he replied in a low voice, “but we’re

keeping it low key. Hell, I tried to fight it, but I didn’t have a chance.”

“He’s your mate?” Derek inquired in a murmur.

Anson nodded, and Derek winced. “Ouch. That will make for

awkward family reunions.”

“Yeah. Can you keep it a secret for a while? I still have no idea

how I’ll tell his parents.”

“Sure, Sonny.” Derek squeezed his shoulder. “I’m afraid I’ll

probably be unable to hide it from Jace, but other than that, we won’t

tell anyone.”

“All right. I’m going to hold you to that.” Anson breathed a sigh

of relief, knowing Derek would keep his word.

“Just make an honest man out of Reed, okay? He deserves to be

happy.” Derek’s expression grew distant. “Things are starting to make

sense, though. No wonder you’ve always been so quiet and

withdrawn. And Reed suffered so much after the warlock’s attack.”

“I know.” Anson ignored the comment about himself and focused

on the latter one. “I don’t want him to suffer ever again, and I’ll do

everything in my power to keep it from happening.”

“Well, then, I guess congratulations are in order.” Derek grinned

at him. “And good luck.”

“Thanks.” Anson sighed deeply. “I’m going to need it.”

The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf

25

Reed paced in his room, the ticktock of the clock on the wall

grating on his strained nerves. With every second that passed, his

agitation increased more and more. Since he’d seen Anson at lunch,

Reed had gone through various stages of emotion, from glee, to

shock, disbelief, and panic. He now worried that he might have

imagined the whole thing, or that perhaps Anson would change his

mind. It just seemed so amazing that now, after all this time, he’d

finally have what he’d wanted for so long.

In a sense, life in a pack had been difficult for teenage Reed. He’d

had to see his mate naked on more than one occasion, as werewolves

weren’t exactly shy about nudity, and shifting automatically translated

into lack of clothing. This had often put Reed in difficult positions,

and he was shocked that his parents hadn’t already seen through his

fumbling attempts to mask what he felt about Anson.

Arousal coursed through Reed just at the memory of the last pack

run. Usually, Reed and his swan dad went flying, accompanying the

wolves on the hunt. As such, Reed had been there when Anson had

turned into his wolf form. He’d seen his mate’s amazing body and

even caught sight of the older man’s prick. The recollection of it made

Reed’s cock harden and his anus clench with the need to be filled.

Just a little longer.
Soon, he’d hopefully be in Anson’s arms and be

claimed by his mate.

At this hour, his parents generally went to bed, so when the clock

hit ten thirty, Reed set his plan into motion. Abandoning his clothes

on the bed, Reed opened the window and changed into his swan form.

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Scarlet Hyacinth

He launched himself into the night sky, his wings quickly carrying

him to his destination.

When he’d been a boy, he would get tired even after the shortest

flights, but now, he had absolutely no trouble. Just minutes after his

departure, he reached the grove. He shifted back into his human form

and plopped down on the grass, watching the moon as it reflected in

the still waters of the lake. He knew he was early and he’d probably

have to wait for a while, but hell, he’d waited far longer for Anson.

To his surprise, just moments later, he felt his mate closing in. His

breath caught, and he turned toward the direction he knew the wolf

would be coming from. Indeed, after a few seconds that seemed to

last a lifetime, Anson appeared from the bushes in human form.

“Looks like I can’t surprise you anymore,” Anson said with a

smirk.

“Well, I’m not exactly five, now am I?” Reed replied cheekily.

“I would say not.” Anson raked an appreciate glance over Reed’s

naked body. “You came in shifted form?”

Reed nodded. “It seemed like a more practical option.”

Anson didn’t reply to that, just grinning at him in that enigmatic

way. He sat down next to Reed, gazing over at the lake as well. “Do

you remember when you used to hide here as a kid?”

Reed snickered. “How could I forget? I ran away from my dads all

the time.”

“You’re not going to run away from me, are you?” Anson’s palm

brushed against Reed’s arm as he spoke.

Just that slight touch made every nerve in Reed’s body awaken,

and he was unable to suppress a shudder. “I have no intention of

doing that, no.”

Anson turned toward Reed, and the expression in the wolf’s eyes

made Reed’s heart race even faster than it already did. “Good. No

more running. I’m going to live for us from now on.” The wolf

reached out to Reed, cupping his cheek gently. “You’re just so young,

baby. Compared to you, I’m an old man. I don’t want to hurt you.”

The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf

27

“You’re not going to hurt me,” Reed replied. “I’m perfectly

capable of making my own choices and taking care of myself. And I

chose you.”

“I know.” Anson sighed. “Sometimes, I can’t help but feel that

I’m taking advantage of you.”

It was a common debate between them, and Reed couldn’t help a

small, fond smile, even if he felt a twinge of annoyance and unease.

He didn’t want to carry this doubt over into their mating, but he also

found Anson’s little complex endearing. “You’re not old,” he said,

“just old-fashioned.”

Like in the office, he rolled over and climbed into Anson’s lap.

“You want to sweep me off my feet as if I were some delicate maiden.

News flash, lover. I’m a guy, and I’m not made out of porcelain.”

“I have no doubts about your strength.” Anson’s arms went

around Reed’s waist, as if automatically, and his cock was hard

against Reed’s crease. “It’s your heart I’m worried about.”

“So don’t break it.” Reed pressed a kiss to Anson’s chin. “Don’t

deny us anymore.”

Anson’s smile was wide. “You know I won’t. Otherwise, I

wouldn’t have come here in the first place. I just want to make sure

you’re…well…sure.”

Laughter bubbled in Reed’s chest. “I’ve been certain about this

since I was fifteen and learned how to lust. You couldn’t mate me

then, but you can do so now. Now no more doubts. Just kiss me.”

He half expected Anson to say something else, to continue

arguing, but the wolf did no such thing. Instead, he did what Reed

told him and pressed their mouths together. Unlike in the office, this

kiss wasn’t desperate. Instead, it held a trace of gentleness that had

nothing to do with fear. Rather, in this lip-lock, Reed tasted relief, the

final realization of both their dreams.

The knowledge that he at last had what he’d been waiting for was

the biggest aphrodisiac in existence. Quickly, their meeting of mouths

went from tender to passionate as Anson practically devoured Reed.

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Scarlet Hyacinth

Reed rubbed his ass against Anson’s still-clothed cock, silently

demanding their union.

“Why did you even come dressed?” he asked breathlessly as the

kiss broke.

Anson released a small laugh and retrieved a small tube from his

pocket. “I wanted to be prepared.”

Another shuddered coursed through Reed at the implication of

Anson’s words. “Too many clothes,” he panted like a bitch in heat.

“Come on, Anson. I need you so bad.”

Anson’s smile twisted into something different. “Tell me, baby,

why do you call me that?”

“Call you what?” Reed was confused and couldn’t really think

straight, not with the animal inside him demanding copulation. “What

are you talking about?”

“You’ve never called me Sonny, not once,” Anson replied.

Reed blinked at the strange answer. He realized the man was right.

“I suppose,” he replied, “I guess…You’ve always been Anson to me.”

His mate sighed. “You see? You have been calling me the same

thing since you were a boy. How can I really know things have

changed?”

In that moment, Reed at last managed to place himself in Anson’s

position. For him, the feelings of near hero worship he’d had for

Anson had naturally progressed into desire and the realization of a

mate bond. Anson, on the other hand, had looked at him as a sort of

surrogate son. He’d seen his best friend and former lover’s boy and

had cared about him almost like a third father. But when Reed had

suddenly grown up and turned out to be Anson’s mate, his mate must

have been shocked and terrified at what he might do.

Reed hadn’t made it exactly easy, either. He’d been a lustful teen

and had paraded naked around Anson whenever he had the chance,

without thinking what restraint the other man needed in order to leash

his wolf.

The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf

29

All this time, Reed had thought he was the one being wronged,

but he’d never realized that he himself had hurt Anson. “I’m sorry,”

he whispered. “I never realized…”

“Well, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.” Anson grinned at him

once again, and Reed had to look away. “It means you just didn’t

think it was important or relevant.” He pulled Reed closer when Reed

was tempted to break out of his arms. “No, don’t do that. Don’t blame

yourself for anything.” He forced their gazes to meet once again.

“That’s it. Look at me. Do you have any idea how beautiful and

perfect you are?” he murmured in Reed’s ear. “I think I always knew

I didn’t have a chance against you, so I pretended and I hid behind

scruples that should not have the strength to stop a mating. For you,

baby. Everything else, it’s just a detail. Just you and I matter.”

“I’m glad you told me, though. I finally get it. I was a self-

righteous prick.”

“No, you weren’t.” Anson pecked his lips. “I’m just an

oversensitive, old-fashioned geezer. But you know what? As long as

you don’t care, I don’t care, either.”

In Anson’s eyes, Reed saw need, acceptance, and a love that could

only be born out of a mating. And just like that, Reed forgot about the

past, forgot about how many people would be against them once this

came out. “Let me suck your cock,” he said like in he had hours

before, only this time, he finished with, “Sonny.”

Anson released a low growl. “I’m think I’m gonna suck yours

first. I just want to eat you up.”

Before Reed could even figure out what was going on, Anson

pushed him down on the grass. Reed fell with a soft
oof
and didn’t

even have the time to utter one single word. Instants later, wet heat

surrounded his cock as Anson took the leaking shaft in his mouth.

There was something to be said about having a lover older than

himself. While the knowledge that Anson had been with other people

bothered Reed, he was certainly enjoying the results. Reed had never

actually been with anyone, the only orgasms he’d ever reached being

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Scarlet Hyacinth

at his own hand. As such, Anson’s talented mouth had him a writhing,

pleading mess in seconds. He didn’t know whether he should thrust

inside Anson’s mouth or try to hold back. He bit so hard on his lower

lip that he tasted blood. He was afraid that, without the slight tinge of

pain, he’d come on the spot and embarrass himself in front of Anson.

Anson caressed his hip, and Reed clearly got the message. He

could let go and give Anson the full extent of his passion. He could

simply be himself, without fearing rejection. Hell, just the sight of

Anson between Reed’s legs, working Reed’s cock, was pure sin. How

could Reed even hope to resist his wolf mate?

There was nothing he could do to resist the wolf. Reed released

the torrent of his desire, fucking his mate’s face, seeking the pleasure

only Anson could provide. A distant part of his mind registered the

sound of a tube opening, but he was too focused on the wet vacuum

sucking his brains through his dick for it to truly process. It was only