Chapter 10
This wasn't like before.
Before had been desperation and moon-madness, all teeth and claiming. This was deliberate. Soft. A choice made with clear minds and open hearts.
For a moment, Gabriel couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but feel Asher's mouth on his. Soft. Deliberate. A choice.
Then his hand came up to cup the back of Asher's neck, and he was kissing back with a tenderness that made his own chest ache. The kiss tasted like forgiveness and possibility, like years of suppressed hunger finally given permission to exist.
Years. Years of wanting this, of jerking off to the memory of Asher's scent, of turning down every interested man because his wolf would snarl at the thought of anyone who wasn't him .
Years of celibacy that his friends couldn't understand, of his wolf rejecting every potential partner because it had already chosen.
And now Asher was kissing him like he was worth something, like Gabriel hadn't just spent fucked him raw under the full moon.
When they pulled apart, Gabriel felt cracked open, all his careful control useless against the reality of Asher looking at him like that —soft and sure and unafraid despite the bruises Gabriel had left all over that perfect body.
"Fuck," Gabriel breathed, his voice rough with awe.
His hand was still on Asher's neck, thumb stroking over the bite mark there, feeling the way Asher shivered under the touch. Even that small reaction sent heat straight to his cock. His wolf preened—their mate was so responsive, so perfect.
"You're really here. You're really mine."
Without hesitation, Asher shifted closer, ignoring what had to be sore muscles, until he was straddling Gabriel's lap.
The position put them at eye level, but more than that—it put Asher's weight directly over Gabriel's already hard cock, those lean thighs bracketing his hips.
Even through the tattered remains of denim Asher wore—the same jeans Gabriel had shredded with his claws hours ago—Gabriel could feel the heat of him.
The jacket Asher had thrown over his bare chest gaped open, showing the constellation of marks Gabriel had left in his moon madness.
"Been waiting for this," Asher said, holding Gabriel's gaze as he slowly shrugged out of the jacket.
The morning light caught every bruise, every bite, every claim Gabriel had made when he thought he was stealing something that wasn't freely given.
"For you to stop freaking out long enough to notice I'm not some innocent kid any more.”
Gabriel's hands flew to Asher's hips, fingers finding the tears in the denim, touching skin through the shredded fabric. His wolf keened with the need to repair, to reclaim, to do it right this time.
"Asher—"
"I wanted it." Asher's hands moved to what was left of his waistband. "Even when you were out of your mind. Even when you thought you were being some kind of monster."
Pop went the button. That devastating eye contact never wavered.
"News flash - I've fucked plenty of monsters. You're not one of them."
Gabriel watched, mesmerized, as Asher pushed the ruined jeans down his legs.
No underwear—those had been casualties of Gabriel's claws too.
When Asher settled back onto his lap, skin to skin this time, Gabriel groaned at the contact.
He could feel the evidence of their earlier coupling—Asher was still slick, still marked inside and out from their mating.
A strange emotion twisted in Gabriel's chest, something possessive and hot.
"This is how it should have been the first time," Gabriel said roughly, his hands mapping Asher's bare thighs, his hips, the bruises he'd left. "You deserved better than me losing control?—"
"Shut up about what I deserved, already. I deserved to get fucked by the guy I've been obsessed with since I was eighteen. And guess what? I got it. Your wolf did what you were too chickenshit to do for three years."
He leaned down, lips barely brushing Gabriel's. "Now the man needs to catch up. You gonna keep apologizing, or you gonna fuck me like you mean it?"
The challenge lit something primal in Gabriel. His wolf surged forward—not to take control, but to merge with the man, both parts of him finally in agreement. Without warning, he grabbed Asher's hips and ground him down hard against his cock, making them both gasp at the friction.
Gabriel's mind was spinning. This mouthy, perfect brat had been waiting for him.
His hands mapped Asher's thighs, feeling the muscles tremble, feeling how wet he still was where Gabriel's cock dragged against his hole.
No more words. Gabriel lifted Asher slightly, positioned himself, and pulled him down in one smooth motion.
The slide in knocked the breath from Gabriel's lungs.
Asher was still so open from before, still slick with evidence of their earlier mating, but the angle was different with Asher on top—deeper, more intense.
The wet heat of him, the way his inner muscles fluttered and clenched as he adjusted—Gabriel could feel every inch as Asher's body accepted him again.
Above him, Asher's face went slack with pleasure, his mouth falling open on a broken whimper that went straight to Gabriel's cock.
Mine , his wolf snarled, satisfaction and possessiveness tangling together. Taking us so perfectly. Made for us.
The knowledge that he’d already been here, had already claimed this, made something possessive and almost jealous surge through him. He wanted to overwrite those memories, make new ones where they were both fully present.
Every sense was heightened. He could smell Asher's arousal mixing with the lingering scent of sex from earlier—musk and sweat and something uniquely Asher that made his wolf want to roll in it.
Could hear his elevated heartbeat, the catch in his breathing, the slick sound where they were joined.
Could feel the sun warming their skin, the rough stone beneath his back, but mostly just Asher—tight and perfect and clenching around him like he never wanted to let Gabriel go.
His wolf was absolutely focused with laser intensity on their mate. Ours. Finally ours. Never letting go.
"Fuck," Gabriel breathed, his voice wrecked.
Asher's laugh turned into a moan as he tested a small roll of his hips.
"There he is. Was wondering when you'd stop handling me like I might break."
Gabriel's response was to thrust up hard, making Asher gasp and brace his hands on Gabriel's chest. His wolf was riding close to the surface now, scenting its mate's arousal, finally free to want without the crushing weight of guilt.
An hour ago he'd thought he'd destroyed everything. Now Asher was here, riding him, taking what he wanted with zero hesitation.
The morning sun painted Asher gold, highlighting every mark Gabriel had left.
His wolf preened at the sight—their mate, claimed and wanting more.
Gabriel's hands guided Asher's movements, lifting and dropping him with increasing force, watching the way Asher's cock bounced between them, already leaking steadily.
Perfect. His mate was perfect.
But then Asher was grinding down harder, taking him deeper, and Gabriel lost himself in the tight heat of him. Every roll of Asher's hips, every clench of muscle, every little gasp and moan—Gabriel's wolf catalogued it all, storing it away like treasure.
"Fuck," Asher gasped as he bottomed out, taking Gabriel to the hilt. The word came out punched, breathless.
Gabriel's mind went blank. Asher felt even better than before—still loose from earlier but gripping him perfectly, still wet with Gabriel's come making obscene sounds every time he moved.
His wolf was practically vibrating with satisfaction as Gabriel watched Asher adjust, watched him test different angles with little rolls of his hips that made his cock drag against Gabriel's stomach, leaving wet streaks of precome.
Look at him , his wolf rumbled. Taking us so well. Wanting it. Choosing it.
Perfect. His mate was perfect. The bruises, the bite marks, the confident way he took what he needed—everything Gabriel had denied himself for three years was right here, riding his cock in the morning light.
Asher found his rhythm, lifting and dropping with increasing speed.
The wet slide of it, the way Asher's thighs trembled with effort, the little "ah, ah, ah" sounds punched out of him every time he sank down—Gabriel could only grip his hips and hang on.
Every time Asher rose up, Gabriel could see where they were connected, could see his cock disappearing back into that willing body, could see the shine of his own come from earlier leaking out around his shaft.
Mine , his wolf snarled with each thrust. Mine, mine, mine.
Gabriel's hands moved without conscious thought, one sliding up to thumb at Asher's nipple, making him clench and gasp.
The other stayed on his hip, guiding him down harder, faster.
He could feel himself getting close already—the visual of Asher above him, the three years of wanting, the knowledge that this was real and mutual and his .
Gabriel's knot was starting to swell. He could feel it, had never felt it with anyone else, and the sensation made his wolf howl with triumph. But before he could say anything, Asher ground down harder, gasping.
"I can feel it. Your… your knot?” Asher's eyes were wild, desperate. He ground down against it, making Gabriel hiss—and then, enjoying the reaction, did it again.
Gabriel's eyes narrowed with need, his hands gripping Asher's hips. “Nothing ever stops you, does it?”
“Nope,” Asher managed, still moving but with shorter, grinding movements now, working himself on the swelling base.
Each grind and release made wet, obscene sounds that had Gabriel's wolf panting with need. "Want you to knot me. Don’t give me that look.” He shot Gabriel one of his cocky grins, though now shakier than usual. “I’m not taking no for an answer."