Chapter Five
The bruise on Zack’s wrist hadn’t been there yesterday.
Colton wanted to find the son of a bitch who’d put it there and tear out their spine.
As badly as he wanted to demand answers, he held back.
Zack appeared relaxed, and he didn’t want to ruin their outing.
For now, he kept his hands open and gave Zack space to just enjoy the afternoon, but that bruise on his mate’s wrist hadn’t left his mind.
He watched it every time Zack reached to brush sweaty hair off his forehead.
The bruise was recent—and angry, already purpled around the edges.
When his mate flashed a smile, Colton let the tension out through a slow exhale. It was either that or grab the next guy who even looked at Zack funny and fold him in half.
They made it back to Cyril’s, grabbed another coffee.
Colton had barely tasted his drink. Most of his focus had been on listening for any twinge in Zack’s voice, any tiny hitch that meant the wrist hurt worse than he let on.
His panther prowled restless in his gut, wanting to pick up Zack and wrap him up until nothing could touch him again.
Outside the café, Colton moved in close, making sure to walk curbside, just in case.
Yeah, it was a nothing town with low crime, but he’d seen too much shit over the years to ever pretend random crap couldn’t happen.
Buildings hunched along the street, sun flashing in the glass.
Zack turned every few steps just to check if Colton was paying attention.
“You sure you’re not tired of me yet?” his mate asked. “I know I talk a lot. My brother used to say I could talk a glass eye to tears. He’s a dick, but he’s not wrong.”
Colton bumped his mate’s hip with his, steering Zack around a loose stone on the sidewalk. “Nah, I like it. Your mouth’s my favorite thing about you.”
That got a real laugh out of Zack, less nervous than before. Muscles in his arms twitched as he kept rubbing the bruise, so Colton caught the fingers gently without a word and pressed them between his own. The smaller hand fit perfectly inside his grip.
“Gonna make that worse if you keep poking it,” he said. “Let me see.”
Zack’s mouth went soft for a second. Not quite a thank you. Not an apology, either. Just relief. He let Colton hold his arm, thumb stroking over the tender place like he owned it.
No more jokes for a minute. They kept walking, silent, but it was the right kind of silence, the one Colton remembered from late nights in the kitchen after everyone else had gone to bed.
Back at the Harley, Zack hesitated. He stood with his hands on his hips like he was about to challenge the world. “This time, if I die, you have to tell everyone I made it three whole stops before falling off.”
“That’s not happening,” Colton promised. He set his hand on the back of Zack’s neck and pulled until their faces were less than an inch apart. “You did good, Blue. Proud of you.”
With Zack’s mouth right there, it would have been a crime not to kiss him.
Colton didn’t wait, just leaned in and caught those lips.
Warm. Soft. His hand slid into the back of Zack’s hair, keeping his mate still while he explored the taste, taking his time.
Scent of cinnamon and coffee still clung to their skin.
Zack moaned into his mouth, hips pushing forward.
The guy tried to keep a lid on it, but Colton felt the tremor run through his entire body.
For a moment, breathing was the only thing that existed.
Zack broke the kiss, but Colton wasn’t about to let that fly.
He caught the guy’s bottom lip between his teeth and sucked until Zack hissed and pressed up closer.
“We keep doing this in public and you’re not making it home with all your clothes,” Zack said, voice ragged.
“Not sorry.” Colton growled the words, then captured him for another kiss. This one was dirtier, less about comfort and more about letting his mate know exactly what he wanted from him. Tongue shoved deep, thumb still moving over that bruised wrist.
Zack whimpered, hands fisting in Colton’s shirt.
Fuck, he wanted this man.
Colton broke off the kiss, biting lightly down Zack’s jaw. “On the bike,” he murmured.
Zack blinked, dazed, then climbed on without even pretending to be nervous.
Colton mounted in front, making sure the seat pressed them together.
The bike came alive under him. He waited until Zack was flush against his back, both arms locked around his body, before gunning the engine and pulling out onto the road.
This time, his mate didn’t hesitate. Fingers dug into Colton’s waist, holding tight like he never planned to let go. A guy could get used to this.
Wind buffeted them, patches of sunlight hitting the road. Every time Colton shifted gears, he felt Zack’s knees press in, thighs bunching tight against him.
One time, at a stop, Colton caught Zack’s reflection in a storefront window. His mate’s mouth was open, pink tongue dragging slow along his bottom lip. The sight nearly made him wreck.
They made it back to Zack’s apartment in record time. Colton didn’t give a shit about checking his phone or even looking at the street numbers on the buildings.
All that mattered was getting his mate up those stairs.
Tucked over a laundromat, the apartment looked exactly like Zack had described.
Small. A little battered. But clean, and with a weird sense of comfort that showed in the details.
Mismatched coffee mugs on the counter. Plants on every available windowsill.
A punchy orange throw pillow on the lopsided couch.
“This is me.” Zack held the door open, then immediately pivoted and yanked Colton down by the collar of his shirt.
Their mouths collided. Zack devoured him, hands fisted in his shirt, moaning as if he’d been starving for weeks.
Colton’s panther nearly ripped out of him.
Pressure built behind his eyes, not pain, just pure need.
“Knew you’d taste good,” Colton rumbled between kisses.
Zack smacked him in the shoulder. “Knew you’d be bossy.”
“You like it.”
“Yeah, fuck, I do.” Zack arched his body, desperate for more.
Colton steered his mate to the couch and spun him, pressing Zack’s back to his chest. He kept the man upright, hands covering his stomach, then dropped lower, feeling the shudder that zipped through Zack’s body.
His own cock was hard, straining behind the zipper.
Didn’t matter. Right now, all Colton wanted was to make Zack fall apart.
“Want to know what I see?” Colton ground the words into Zack’s ear. “I see you kneeling, begging for it. I see those blue eyes looking up. I see your cock leaking for me, and I haven’t even touched you yet.”
“Holy shit.” Zack’s breath came fast, hips pushing back hard.
“You gonna be a good Blue and let me take care of you?”
“Yes. Fuck, do anything you want. Please.”
That was all the permission Colton would ever need. He cupped Zack’s cock through the denim, squeezing until his mate bucked in his arms. The heat coming off him was wild. Palms mapped every inch, from the dip of his waist to the thick curve of his ass.
“So fucking gorgeous,” Colton murmured, nipping Zack’s ear. “You know what it does to me, hearing you moan like that?”
Fingers worked their way underneath Zack’s jeans, finding bare skin. The man was already rock hard. Colton stroked his mate with slow, steady pumps, letting the slick pre-cum ease the glide. His other hand braced across Zack’s chest, pinning him in place.
“You want it messy?” Colton grunted, voice going rough. “Want me to get you off all over my hand?”
“Yeah. Yeah, fuck, don’t stop. Please.”
The sounds coming out of his mate could have killed a weaker man. Every thrust made Zack writhe, ass grinding against Colton’s cock. The scent of arousal filled the room, stronger than the soap and lemon from the kitchen.
“Gonna be so fucking good for me, aren’t you,” Colton growled.
“Anything you want. Just don’t fuckin’ stop.”
Colton jerked Zack harder, faster, loving how his mate gave up control. The first spurt hit his palm, hot and raw, then the rest followed. Zack shouted, hips convulsing. His entire body went boneless, slumping back against Colton with a tiny, desperate whimper.
Colton milked every last drop, refusing to stop the movements until Zack grabbed his wrist, gasping for air.
“Shit, you’re something else,” Zack panted, barely able to speak.
Colton pressed kisses down the side of his mate’s face, still holding him tight. “Could eat you alive right now.”
“Yeah?” A little color crept back into Zack’s face. “How about I return the favor?”
That kind of boldness stunned him. Colton opened his mouth to protest, but Zack had already wriggled free and dropped to his knees on the worn rug in front of the couch.
“Don’t get used to this,” Zack muttered, mouth already stretched in a wild grin. “Just want to see if you taste as smug as you look.”
Colton leaned back and let his mate work the zipper down. Zack’s hands shook at first, but once the cock was out, he stared at it, eyes wide with wonder.
“Fucking hell,” Zack said. “Does everything about you have to be huge?”
“Shut up and suck it,” Colton replied, though there wasn’t any bite in the words.
The heat of Zack’s mouth made him grit his teeth. He didn’t purr, exactly. More like a rumbling noise built up in his chest, threatening to spill out every time Zack licked the tip or circled it with his tongue.
“You’re killing me,” he said, voice barely more than a growl.
“Just doing my job,” Zack replied, then went deep, bobbing slow, letting saliva drip down the shaft.
The man had sneak attack skills, Colton would give him that. Lips were soft, tongue eager, and every time he gagged a little, it only made Colton want him more.
He threaded fingers through Zack’s hair, guiding the rhythm but never forcing, just gentle pressure so his mate knew he was in control. Zack moaned around the cock, vibrations making Colton’s vision go spotty.
“Look at me,” Colton commanded.
Zack looked up, blue eyes wet and wide, mouth stretched obscenely around his cock. That was it. Colton lost any hope of going slow.
Orgasm hit hard, spilling into Zack’s throat. His mate swallowed, taking every drop, then pulled off slow with a satisfied little pop.
“Fuck, you’re incredible,” Colton said, voice wrecked.
Zack sat back on his heels, wiping his chin, grinning. “Yeah, well. You brought out the best in me, big guy.”
Colton pulled him up onto the couch, then into his lap, wrapping both arms around Zack’s body so tight not even a thought could slip out. He nosed at the guy’s temple, breathing him in. Vanilla shampoo. Sweat. Salt. All of it mixed with the lingering scent of sex.
They sat like that for a long time. Neither of them spoke. Colton stroked Zack’s hair, letting his pulse slow. Every now and then, Zack would squirm against him and make a little noise, but for the most part, he just melted into Colton’s hold.
“You okay?” he murmured, lips hovering close to Zack’s ear.
“Perfect,” Zack answered, sounding like he actually meant it.
For a long minute, Colton just held him, thinking about how right it felt to have his mate sprawled across his lap. Where the day had started with bruises and anxiety, now there was only heat and the slow, steady drag of spent pleasure.
The world outside could go to hell as far as he was concerned.
* * * *
Zack woke, and for a second, couldn’t remember where he was. He must’ve fallen asleep after that mind-blowing orgasm.
The apartment was quiet, shades drawn, but thin lines of late afternoon sun turned the carpet pale yellow between the couch and coffee table.
His body felt boneless, warm all over, and drained in the best way possible. Behind him, where Colton lay, a low, throaty purr vibrated in his throat.
That noise, though.
Not the first time he’d picked up that sound from Colton, but this time, it wasn’t hiding behind a kiss or buried in the rumble of the Harley or tangled up in sex. It was big. Raw. Absolutely not human.