Chapter Nine #2
He trailed his mouth lower, down the curve Danny’s neck, nipping and sucking and already planning how many love bites he could leave behind. Nails scraped along Ash’s scalp, pulling him in tighter, proving that Danny wanted this just as badly.
“I’m gonna suck your cock so deep you’ll forget how to breathe,” Ash rasped against Danny’s throat, the friction of their cocks sliding together heightening their arousal. “Want you coming so hard you forget every goddamn name but mine.”
Danny’s moan sounded like surrender and sin. Ash wanted those noises, wanted to drag every filthy sound right out of him.
“Oh fuck.” Danny writhed beneath him. “Make me forget my own name.”
Rearing back, Ash reached for his shirt, fabric bunching against his palm.
“Star Wars.” Danny caught his wrist, nails biting in.
Ash immediately uncurled his fingers. “Everything stops,” he reassured his mate, who looked seconds away from panic. “Relax, honey bear. I’m not upset, and you’re free to leave the bed whenever you want.”
Danny stayed, holding tightly to Ash’s wrist. His gaze darted around the room, eyes filled with panic.
If Ash ever found the person who’d put that look in Danny’s eyes, he would erase him from the fabric of existence. “Look at me.”
Slowly, his gaze met Ash’s.
“Three things you see.” He didn’t pull his hand away, didn’t make Danny to release it. “My ugly mug doesn’t count.”
Not letting him name the obvious forced concentration, allowing his nervous system time to reset, to realize it wasn’t under threat.
“Beige walls,” Danny finally said. “Off-white trim. A guy in a helmet on a shelf and plenty of proof you really are a nerd.”
Ash chuckled, relieved his mate was back with him. “That guy happens to be Boba Fett. A clone of a legendary bounty hunter, Jango Fett.”
“That’s a lot of Fetts.” His grip on Ash’s wrist loosened. “I want to leave my shirt on.”
Leaning forward, Ash rubbed their noses together. “As long as you give me access to your cock, wear anything you want…except socks. Sex and socks is a hard line no man should cross.” He pursed his lips in thought. “Or sandals and socks.”
“What did socks ever do to you?” The tension in Danny’s body eased.
Ash groaned. “You’re a socks-and-sandals guy, aren’t you?”
“They’re a comfy combination.” His fingers glided up Ash’s arm then yanked him down. “Now, what were you about to do, teddy bear?”
A deep growl vibrated in Ash’s chest. He’d thought he wanted Danny’s submission, but his mate’s sass was a goddamn turn-on. “About to suck your cock and make you come down my throat.”
Danny sucked in a sharp breath. “Then why are you still talking? Get your ass down there already.”
Playtime was over.
Jeans unfastened, Ash hooked his fingers into the waistband and pulled them away, along with his mate’s black boxer briefs. Danny’s erection sprang free, slapping against his stomach. Girth made up for the shorter length, and Ash couldn’t wait to wrap his lips around Danny’s cock.
“Such a fucking beauty,” he murmured. His gaze flicked to Danny’s face, noticing the tension in his eyes. It was evident someone had erroneously convinced Danny proportion was more important than pleasure. Ash was about to prove otherwise. “I’m going to devour your fat cock.”
Settling between spread legs, he licked a stripe up Danny’s inner thigh then bathed the wrinkled sac with his tongue. Heat exploded up his body, sucking with pure hunger, never letting up on the pressure.
Fingers gripped his hair, tugging and urging him toward his mate’s neglected cock as needy, helpless noises spilled from above him. Ash smirked. Even silent, his mate was bossy as shit. Pushing slightly upward, Ash took the head into his mouth, pre-cum spilling on his tongue.
He’d just found his new addiction, but it wasn’t just the taste of his mate. It was seeing Danny’s face glowing with pleasure, lips parted, that twisted Ash inside-out as a piece of his soul and sanity were stolen.
Ash slid his hands under a perfectly shaped ass, holding the tender flesh hostage, using the leverage to push Danny’s cock farther down his throat.
His bear growled, demanding the claim, but Ash had his beast leashed, even though he wanted to ravish Danny’s body—ruin him, cherish him, protect him, and wipe out the wreckage that son of a bitch had left behind.
Replace every trigger Danny had with unwavering certainty he was loved and desired and would never shed another goddamn tear.
A ragged groan tore from Danny, his legs trembling, the tight grip pulling Ash’s hair harder. His only focus now was bringing Danny off.
His mate’s legs grew taut seconds before a breathless shout ripped out of him that sounded like a mindless chant of Ash’s name. Hot cum pulsed, and Ash didn’t waste a single drop.
When Danny shoved at him, Ash pulled back in confusion, wondering if he’d triggered something. Then realized the only thing he’d triggered was Danny flipping to his hands and knees, baring that perfect ass thrust into the air.
Motherfuck. Ash had never seen a more gorgeous sight. Danny on all fours, ass begging to be taken.
“Fuck me.” Danny rocked backward, moaning so filthy Ash lost brain cells.
The ability to think beyond filling that puckered hole with his cock was shattered.
He’d never yanked open his nightstand drawer so hard and fast, slicking his fingers in record time.
But he had enough control not to slam his fingers into Danny’s ass.
Ash was lost in desperation, not cruelty.
But as soon as he’d sank into the first knuckle, Danny shoved backward like he didn’t have the patience for slow.
“It’s been a year since I’ve had sex,” Danny panted, the confession stunning Ash. “I don’t need a slow and careful stretch. Not with fingers.” He looked over his shoulder, narrowing his eyes. “I need you to make me forget those names.”
“Damn right I will.” Still, he made sure Danny was slick and stretched before gripping the base of his cock. “Spread your legs wider for me.”
Knees slid over the sheets, ass lifting higher.
Ash swallowed, praying he didn’t come too soon.
If Danny’s ass had squeezed his fingers that hard, his dick didn’t stand a chance.
Ash was willing to take the risk. He’d wanted to take his time, savor the buildup, but those needy whimpers awakened a primal urge deep inside him.
Ash used one hand to clamp onto Danny’s hip, the other guiding his cock toward home. The head grazed slicked skin, Danny’s breath growing ragged in response.
Exhaling slowly, Ash closed his eyes, feeling delicious tension give way under his steady push. A growled curse left his lips at the heat surrounding his cock inch by exquisite inch. “You’ve just ruined me for life,” he gritted out.
“Same,” Danny gasped. “But could you ruin me a little faster? The slow sinking is killing me.”
Ash’s fingers flexed against his mate’s hip. “Descension into paradise is worth savoring.”
Worth savoring for the rest of eternity. And Danny needed time for his body to adjust at being stretched wide open. His mate was twelve months out of practice, and Ash was twelve seconds from blowing his load.
Slow was giving him a moment to regain control. Shooting off too soon would be an embarrassment he’d rather avoid.
“Ash.” Danny squirmed then clenched his ass.
Hearing his name in that needy tone snapped Ash’s restraint, thrusting with strokes bordering on savage.
He trusted Danny to know what he wanted, what he was begging for, without needing checked on.
Danny proved he could handle this by slamming backward, the filthiest shit flying from his mouth, which Ash would gladly oblige.
“Taking my fucking cock so beautifully,” Ash growled. “That’s it, baby. Ride the entire length.”
“More,” Danny cried.
Ash fucked him with machine-gun thrusts, the sound of colliding skin filling the room.
Before his mind caught up, he blanketed Danny’s back and sank his canines where shoulder met neck, feeling their bond snap into place like the click to a lock in their new home.
For half a beat his heart stopped, then restarted with Danny’s echoing beside his.
Danny cried out, his hole milking Ash’s cock.
Driving his cock deep, Ash came so hard his balls ached.
Canines retracting, Ash licked the wound, a realization dawning on him that made his stomach clench.
He’d just bound Danny with no explanation first.
What in the hell had he just done?
* * * *
Forever. Apparently, that's how long this bond would last.
Danny’s fingers traced absently over the bite mark on his shoulder, still tender and pink.
Last night's explanation from Ash had been an avalanche of supernatural revelations—fated mates, eternal bonds, bears who walked as men.
After the sex-induced euphoria had faded, reality crashed in hard and fast.
“So basically, I got an invisible wedding ring without actually being proposed to,” he muttered to his cold coffee.
Looking around Ash’s kitchen, everything seemed so normal—wooden cabinets, granite countertops, a ridiculous Star Wars-themed calendar pinned to the fridge. Yet nothing about Danny’s life would ever be normal again. Funny how a space could feel both foreign and familiar at once.
According to Ash, they’d been drawn to each other because they were destined mates. Danny’s instant attraction, the pull he’d felt toward Ash—all of it had been cosmic matchmaking. Not just regular old chemistry but supernatural destiny.
Great. Even his romantic life was out of his control.
Through the window, morning light bathed the backyard in gold, illuminating a bird feeder where tiny finches squabbled over seeds. Danny’s mind drifted to how Ash had thrown his body around his during the crash, taking the full impact without hesitation.
How many people would do that for someone they barely knew?
A coffee mug clinked against the counter, startling Danny from his thoughts. Ash had entered silently, moving with surprising grace for someone his size. Wisps of steam rose from the fresh coffee he poured, the rich aroma cutting through the kitchen's stillness.
After pouring himself a cup, he hesitated then filled another mug and set it beside Danny, replacing his cold coffee.
“Wait.”
Stopping mid-stride, Ash looked back, expression carefully neutral. “Just giving you space to process everything.”
“Could you maybe...” Danny’s fingers tapped against his mug.
“Could you maybe stop hiding out in the bedroom like a chicken shit? You gave me the best sex of my life then shoved a ring on my finger when I wasn’t looking.
” He smiled sweetly before sipping his coffee.
“You don’t get to hide until the coast is clear.
You dropped a bomb into my lap, revealed a world I never knew existed, and made me care about you.
So sit your gorgeous ass down, because I’m not processing this on my own. ”
Where in the hell had that come from?
He’d felt the same feeling as he had when protecting Ash. Like someone else had stepped into his body and taken over.
Eyeing Danny, Ash pulled a chair out and straddled it, resting his forearms over the back. “Not going anywhere, honey bear.”
Great, now Danny’s mind was a blank. He’d wanted Ash’s undivided attention, and now that he had it, he felt like a spotlight was aimed at him. But Danny forced his fear down. He wasn’t standing at his register being humiliated while people watch.
This was Ash. If Danny was spending centuries with him, he needed to stand his ground.
“His name was Brad.” Just saying it made him want to throw up.
“Gorgeous enough to disarm you and charming enough to make you believe anything he said. The first four months were every guy’s dream, until it turned into my worst nightmare. ”
Danny paced as he talked, sipping his coffee just to give his hands something to do. He told Ash about the arguments, how Brad had taken control of every part of his life, even in the bedroom. How Brad had tried to slowly erase who Danny was and replace him with Brad’s version of perfect.
Ash didn’t say a word, letting Danny purge years of abuse and violence. Although he continued to growl whenever physical abuse was mentioned.
The longer Danny talked, the more rage filled him for what Brad had done.
“It wasn’t even the abuse, which was bad.
It was the fact—” Danny swallowed, trying his best to compose himself.
When Ash stood, Danny held up his hand, shaking his head.
“I need to do this. I need you to know everything. If you hold me, I’ll fall apart. ”
Ash lowered back to his chair, but Danny saw in his eyes how much it hurt Ash not to comfort him. That alone said so much about who Ash was compared to the monster Brad had been.
“One night, the fighting was particularly bad. I tried to keep the peace most of the time. I know that sounds cowardly, but every moment he wasn’t pissed off was a moment I was safe.”
A breathless curse fell from Ash’s lips, his jaw clenched so tight teeth should’ve shattered.
“I don’t know if it was because he had a few drinks in him or he thought his control over me was absolute, but—” Danny rubbed his arms, focusing on Ash’s bare feet.
“He invited this guy over. Said maybe we could spice things up.” He gripped his arms tighter.
“When I refused, he thought threatening me would get me to comply. The other guy freaked out, said he wasn’t into that kind of thing and left. ”
Ash rose from his chair and moved closer but didn’t crowd, like he was on emotional standby.
“Brad became enraged, said it had taken him weeks to convince his friend to come over. I accused him of sleeping with Jacob, and Brad lost it.”
Danny turned away from Ash and set his coffee mug aside.
His hands shook so badly he had to focus on a pair of Ash’s boots tucked neatly aside.
That’s what Danny latched onto. Their motorcycle ride together, the diner where he’d finally lowered his walls.
When he’d fallen asleep in Ash’s arms, waking up feeling the safest he had in years.
The shirt slipped over his head then Danny let it fall to the floor, his back exposed for Ash to see just how bad that night had been.
“Jesus fucking Christ, baby,” Ash hissed, his tone filled with horror and pain.
“He grabbed the knife off the cutting board I’d been using when his friend showed up.
” Danny hugged himself, limbs shaking as tears rolled down his cheeks.
“He had this look in his eyes, like he wasn’t even there.
A blind rage, someone explained later. I’d hidden the abuse from Isaac, too embarrassed to tell him.
If Isaac hadn’t showed up and found me…”
Strong arms slid around Danny, then Ash turned him, pulling Danny to his chest. “I’m so goddamn sorry you had to go through that, Danny. Fuck. I’m so sorry.”
He brushed a hand down Danny’s back, like the scars didn’t repulse him, and Danny lost it.
Everything he’d held inside of him, every cry he’d been denied, spilled out of him as Ash held him.
When it became too much, Ash lifted Danny into his arms and carried him to the bedroom.
Ash didn’t set him down. He simply crawled onto the bed with Danny still clutched against him.
When no more tears would come, Danny curled deeper into the safety Ash had given him since the moment they met.
“It can’t be just fate,” Danny murmured.
Ash rubbed his back in slow, gentle circles, grounding Danny, just like he always did. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not letting something cosmic take credit for how I feel about you. I was existing in a muted world until you walked through those sliding doors. Color suddenly burst all around me.”
“Felt the same way when I stopped you and you turned around. It was like finding the unicorn you’d been searching for your entire life.”
A smile tugged at Danny’s lips. It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to him. Kind of corny but mostly sweet. “Can I ask you something?”
“Am I going to be sleeping on the couch tonight if I get it wrong?” His arms tightened a little. “I’m not batting a thousand, and I’d much rather—”
“You’re rambling.”
“Shutting up.”
Ash would never fully understand the gift he’d given Danny. He smiled. “I was going to ask if I can leave some clothes here and a toothbrush.”
“Honey bear, I’d move you in if you let me. I’d grab my brothers and pack up your things and wake you up every morning with bear hugs.”
Danny threw his head back, laughing at not only the pun but the goofy, crocked smile Ash wore. “I ask about a few clothes and you hit me with moving logistics?”
Ash gave an unapologetic shrug. “I don’t do things halfway.”
No, he didn’t. Ash took life by the horns, making his presence felt.
And Danny had felt it, like sun on his face after living in the dark for so long. Ash was his sun, and Danny was his honey bear.