“Okay.”
As the last bruise faded from the jaguar’s face, Rafe reluctantly dropped his hand and leaned back to stretch tense neck muscles. If he hadn’t had supernatural hearing, he would’ve missed the name when it came.
“Adrien,” the man whispered.
It was a gift. One far better than any thank you he’d ever received. Rafe smiled. Adrien. It suited the jaguar so much more thanCrusher.
“My friends call me Rafe,” he said.
“Good to know, Doc,” Adrien replied, sparking a bark of laughter from him.
Their eyes met, and Adrien’s lips quirked up in the faintest of smiles. Rafe’s pupils dilated and his breath caught in his lungs as he watched the move. What he wouldn’t give to nip at the lush flesh there, to trace it with his tongue and taste the man whose scent was making him drunk with lust.
Shaking his head, he got himself under control and rose back to his feet, holding out a hand to help Adrien stand. The jaguar ignored it and sprung up with a fluid grace that screamed his feline shifter nature to the world.
“How do you feel?” Rafe asked.
Adrien stepped back and twisted himself into various stretches before dropping into a fighting stance to snap out a rapid-fire combination of punches and kicks. Rafe was mesmerised.His jaguar was shirtless and only wearing a pair of thin, satiny boxing shorts. He might be less bulky than most wolf shifters, but the power in his body was evident in every carefully controlled and targeted move. His biceps bulged and his abs flexed as he used his entire body to propel his strikes.
“I’m good. Thanks, Doc,” Adrien said when he was finished.
“You’re fucking perfect, is what you are,” Rafe growled before his brain could catch up.
Adrien smirked at him and stalked closer. Rafe let himself be backed up until he was pressed against the nearest wall, caged in by Adrien’s arms. “I don’t need a Daddy to save me, but I could call you Daddy for the night,” he purred.
Rafe swallowed hard, but before he could reply, a voice called from the hallway.
“Fight’s in five, Crusher!”
“Mmm… hold that thought, Doc,” Adrien said.
As Adrien moved to pull away, Rafe’s hand shot out to grip his nape and keep him close. Leaning forward, he nuzzled into the young man’s neck—scent-marking him—before drawing in a deep breath of his jungle scent. Adrien’s chest vibrated against him with a deep purr as he tipped his head to the side to give Rafe better access, baring his throat in the process. Rafe groaned at the unintentional submission. It was all he could do not to bite him on the spot.
“Meet me in the showers when I’m done,” Adrien growled.
Then the jaguar shifter was speeding out the door and gone.Dammit. Was he really going to stick around until Adrien was done fighting when he was about ready to drop from exhaustionfrom expending so much power healing? Banging his head on the wall behind him, he swore at his own stupidity. Of course he was. No way could he pass up what Adrien was offering. But even worse than that, his wolf wouldn’t let him leave when Adrien might need him.
Fucking hell. He was so screwed. He didn’t even bother going out to watch the fight, knowing he’d be unable to keep himself under control if Adrien was hurt again. Instead, he slunk off into the decrepit old changing rooms and lay back on a wide wooden bench with his arm over his face to block the harsh fluorescent lights.
He must’ve drifted off because he woke to the brush of cool air on his chest, followed by a wet-hot suction on his nipple that had him arching with a cry as he reached down to grip the back of Adrien’s neck. Adrien had crawled up his body and was crouched over him. Rafe’s moan echoed against the cold concrete walls as Adrien kept up his sensual assault before tugging off him with a pop that grazed sharp fangs against the sensitive skin, leaving Rafe gasping.
“What the fuck were you doing falling asleep here? Anyone could’ve attacked you,” Adrien growled, before bending down to give his other nipple the same treatment as his hand traced up Rafe’s ribs to start pinching and tweaking the one he’d only just released.
“Awww, are you punishing me, baby?” Rafe teased as his body thrummed with pleasure and pain.
Adrien was right. He definitely shouldn’t have fallen asleep in the back room of an illegal fighting ring. It was unlikely any of the fighters or organisers would bite the hand that healed them,but it was always possible one of the punters would get back here and not recognise him. He’d been more drained than he realised.
“Someone needs to,” Adrien said, trailing bruising kisses up his chest and neck.
Adrien’s body was hot and sweaty against him from his fight, the delicious musk of his scent almost overwhelming. A quick scan with his magic reassured him the fighter had no serious injuries needing attention.
“Stop doctoring me already,” Adrien complained, sensing his power.
Wrapping a leg around Adrien’s hip, Rafe used his larger size as leverage to flip them over so the jaguar shifter was underneath him before leaning down to finally claim those lips. He was thwarted at the last second by Adrien turning his face away so he ended up kissing his jaw. Biting back a growl of frustration, he gripped Adrien’s chin and forced him to look at him.
“I have rules if we do this,” Adrien said before Rafe could give voice to his frustration.
Drawing in a deep breath, Rafe jerked a nod. His wolf was riding him hard to fuck, to bite, to claim. Rules were good. Rules werenecessary. They’d stop things from getting out of hand.
