Tor Read online

  Tor worked his jaw, then turned away from Sky again. “I want to believe you, Sky.”

  “Then do!”

  “It’s not that easy.” Tor slammed his fist into his hand. “I expected it from Marrack, but I trusted you. I claimed you. Your allegiance is to me, your mate.”

  “It is, Tor. I am your mate.” Sky held out his hand for the big man to take. “I’m yours. Your boy. It’s all I ever want to be. You have to believe me.”

  Tor ran his hands through his hair, tugging at it. “I’m no one to be played, Sky.”

  “I know. Now. But this foolish slave boy wanted his freedom. How was I supposed to know I’d fall in love with you? How was I to know I could be this happy? That being with you, being your mate, would be more important to me than my freedom?” Sky took a shuddering breath and gave up holding back his tears. “How would I know I’d rather die than be without you?” He wiped the dampness from his face with the heels of his hands. He’d done just about all he could think of to reach the big werewolf, but it didn’t seem to be working. He was going to lose Tor, and the thought of it tore open his heart.

  There had to be something he could say…

  Sky sat on his heels and lowered his head, placing his hands in his lap.

  “But if you don’t want me anymore, I accept that,” he said. “After the fight, I’ll tell Marrack to take me away from you, to sell me or keep me for himself and find you someone else. Someone you can trust. Someone worthy of being your mate.”

  Tor growled. “Sell you?”

  “Yes.” Sky could see Tor didn’t like that idea. Good. “Or I can service Marrack.” He glanced up at Tor from under his lashes.

  “Marrack? Fucking you? Over my dead body!” Tor roared. He strode back to Sky, reached down, and pulled him up by his arm. “I claimed you as mine. You’re my boy. We’re a team. And in two nights, we’re going to kick ass.”

  Tor hauled Sky against him and captured Sky’s mouth. Sky wrapped his arms around Tor and then his legs as Tor pulled him in tighter. Tor cupped Sky’s ass with one hand, and the other held Sky’s head as he plundered Sky’s mouth.

  Sky whimpered into Tor.

  Tor put him down and broke the kiss. “Now, have you seen enough?”

  Sky nodded, at a complete loss for words. Tor still wanted him. A foolish slave boy.

  “Let’s go. Put on your veil. I want to go home.”

  Sky snatched it up, wrapped it around his head, and presented himself to Tor. Tor cuffed him, took Sky’s hand, and led him from the cage.

  All the way back to their quarters, Sky grinned at the thought of what they’d do once they reached home.

  »»•««

  Tor closed the door and leaned against it. “Take off your burka.”

  Sky stripped, letting each layer fall to the floor as his lover’s gaze deepened and heated. When he stood naked, he looked up into Tor’s eyes.

  “How do you want me?” he asked.

  Tor pushed off the door, strode to him. “Stay there. Don’t move.”

  Sky froze—his delighted shivers running over his body his only movement.

  His mate returned with the silver lead. He looped it through Sky’s wrists and tossed it over the bar hanging from the ceiling. The first time he’d touched Sky, they’d used this bar, but never since then.

  Tor pulled until Sky’s arms were over his head, but his feet were still on the floor. The were stalked around him, and Sky tried to follow him, turning and twisting until he lost sight of the big man. What would he do this time?

  “Spread your feet apart.”

  Sky did, his nostrils flaring at the scent of arousal pouring off Tor. Werewolves shot pheromones like flowers gave off scent, and every were’s mate knew his or her scent. Mating did that—bound them together—letting their scent and voice cut through everything around them.

  He didn’t have to see Tor’s erection under the leather clothing to know his mate was hard and wanting. Sky’s cock answered, slapping his belly, ready for whatever Tor wanted to do to him.

  Tor went to a drawer and opened it, pulling out a leather item. Sky strained to see it, and Tor laughed. “Eager, boy?” He spun it around his finger. A cock ring. Sky swallowed and dripped a line of precum down his shaft, over his balls. Tor watched the bead hang, then fall to the floor.

  “Used one of these before?” Tor lifted an eyebrow.

  “Yes,” Sky whispered.

  “Good.” The were kneeled down, licked the next bead that pushed from Sky’s cock, and then snapped on the ring. It wrapped around the base of his balls and cock, holding them full and tight. With a hard jerk, Tor tightened them even more.

  “Ohhh, fuck,” Sky gasped. “So good.”

  “I’m not finished with you yet.” Tor went back to the drawer and returned, this time with a butt plug. It wasn’t as large as Tor, but it was as thick. Sky had never been allowed to use one.

  Tor grasped a tube of lube in his other hand. He popped the top, squirted some out on the plug, and moved behind Sky.

  “Spread your legs wider.”

  Sky shuffled his feet farther apart, then canted his ass upward, ready for the penetration.

  Tor slapped him on the ass for that. “Brat.”

  The sting shot through him, lighting all Sky’s nerves on fire. “More.”

  Another slap followed. Tor worked Sky’s ass cheeks until they were warm and stinging, just like Sky loved it. He pushed back into Tor’s touch as Tor ran his hand over the heated flesh.

  When Tor slipped his fingers into the valley between his buttocks, Sky shuddered. Holding them apart with the fingers of one hand, Tor pressed the tip of the plug to Sky’s hole.

  His muscles quivered around the hard plastic, welcoming the intrusion. Without much effort, Tor slid the plastic penis inside. Sky cried out, arching his back as the plug raked over his pleasure spot.

  Behind him, Tor leaned closer, his hot breath on the back of Sky’s neck.

  “You like that, huh?”

  Sky nodded. He did. It felt so good. Not as good as Tor’s hot cock, but good.

  Tor flicked the end of the plug, and the movement edged Sky higher.

  “Fuck me,” Sky begged.

  Tor pulled it out, and eased it back—in and out, in and out, slow and steady. He used it to build Sky’s arousal, until his cock and balls ached to come. He looked down at his swollen, hard prick and licked his lips. Could he get any harder? Longer? Thicker?

  His mate’s body rocked against his as Tor worked the dildo in Sky’s tunnel. His channel felt every movement, every slip and slide. “Tor,” he begged. He wanted to come so badly.

  Tor chuckled, warm and sexy, into Sky’s ear. “Not yet, boy.” He ran his hand up to the nipple chains and tugged on them.

  Sky howled, rising up on his toes. “Pleeease!”

  “Not yet.”

  He groaned in frustration. “Soon?”

  “Yes, boy. Soon.” Tor reached down as he took Sky’s earlobe between his teeth and bit down. Then he turned on the switch, and the dildo came roaring to life, vibrating deep in Sky’s tunnel.

  It was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and he thought he would die. His heart would just stop, it felt so good, so wickedly delicious, so right and so wrong, all at the same time.

  “Tor!” His cock leaked a steady stream.

  Tor grabbed Sky’s cock and pumped it as the vibrator sent tidal waves of pleasure through him.

  “Now, boy. Come now.” Tor’s command sent Sky over the edge.

  “Tor, oh Tor!” Sky flew out into the vast nothingness and exploded. Pleasure poured from every bit of his being, and cum spurted in long, hot ribbons from his cock as Tor pumped him, milked him of every drop as he sucked on Sky’s earlobe.

  Sky gasped, wept, shuddered at it all. Tor shut off the dildo and slid it out carefully. Then he came around to the front and released the cock ring. Sky’s prick shrank, returning to normal as he hung from the chains.

  Tor stood, un
hooked the chain, and let Sky’s arms down. His legs couldn’t hold him up, and he collapsed into his mate’s strong arms.

  “I’ve got you, Sky.”

  Sky wrapped numb arms around his man and held on as he sobbed into Tor’s neck.

  “It’s so good it scares me,” he mumbled.

  “Scares you? Why?” Tor cradled him, sinking to the bed.

  “If I ever lose you…” Sky hiccupped and wiped his eyes with the heels of his hands. “No one will ever make me feel like you do.”

  Tor smiled. “Thank you, Sky.” He gave Sky a kiss and then laid him on the bed. Tor arranged himself next to Sky and rolled toward him, petting and stroking all over Sky’s body.

  “You’re mine, boy. Mine. I’ll kill to keep you.”

  Sky knew he would, so he only nodded.

  “No one is taking you from me.”

  Sky reached up and pushed a strand of blond hair from Tor’s face. “Tor? You’ve never said it, but do you…” How could he ask? But he needed to know what Tor felt for him.

  Tor smiled. “Do I love you? Like I loved Jin?”

  Sky nodded.

  “Not like I loved Jin. But I do love you. Jin was the first man I ever loved. He’ll always be special in my heart.” Tor touched his chest. “I keep him here, but you are next to him.”

  “I am?” He’d settle for that, being loved by Tor.

  “Never expected to feel this way for anyone ever again. Then a beautiful, foolish slave boy came into my life.” Tor shrugged. “I had to have him.”

  Sky grinned. “I love you, Tor.”

  “And I love you, Sky.” Tor kissed him, then straightened. “Now, let’s rest. Then we’ll eat and spend the rest of the evening fucking.”

  “Sounds great!” Sky burrowed against his mate, listening to the in and out of his breathing. Content, Sky slept.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Sky could hear the roar of the crowd even inside the holding room. He sat clothed in his burka on a bench, his hands locked together to keep from shaking as Tor paced. The big were bounced on his feet, jabbed at the air, rolled his shoulders, and nodded at their owner.

  Marrack frowned. He looked worried to Sky, but maybe it was just nerves, same as Sky.

  “Are you ready?” Marrack turned to Sky, glaring at him.

  Sky nodded. The real answer was no; he wasn’t ready for this. He was terrified, and he wanted to go home and crawl into their bed. Pull the covers over his head and never come out again.

  “Good. I have a lot of money riding on this, Tor.” Marrack glared at the were as he checked him over. “You look good. Came in right at the top of the weight limit.”

  The weigh-in. Sky shivered, remembering what had happened only fifteen minutes earlier. They’d gone to another room, this one filled with people who inspected both fighters. They checked the numbers tattooed on their chests, then inspected their eyes, teeth, and tongues, cupping balls, making sure their cocks were uncut, and sliding their hands over the weres as if they were animals. Sky hadn’t been subjected to any touching but stood to the side, hidden behind his burka.

  But Tor and the other were had just stood there as if it happened every day. Sky supposed it did to fighters, and he was damn glad he wasn’t a fighter.

  Tor had weighed in at six feet four inches and two hundred and twenty pounds—he was a big man.

  The other werewolf’s name was Janko. He had long jet-black hair, eyes dark as Sky’s burka, and he was big. His gaze had burned as he looked Tor over, and when it slid to Sky, Sky couldn’t help but shudder and rub his arms. The man’s eyes looked…dead.

  Tor kept staring at the man, probably trying to play some mind game on him, but it didn’t look as if it worked. He spit on the floor at Tor’s feet, then stepped on the scales.

  Two hundred and twenty. Same as Tor.

  Six feet six inches. A bit taller, but nothing to worry about, Sky told himself.

  He stepped off, then sniffed deeply at Sky. He curled his lip, exposing large white teeth, then turned away.

  Sky edged closer to Tor, and Tor wrapped a hand around Sky’s arm. It reassured Sky, but he knew that wouldn’t last for long.

  The two weres had moved to their owners and left the weigh-in room, each going to their separate waiting rooms.

  In a few minutes, Sky would undress and, naked, follow Tor, naked also, out into the arena. If his heart beat any faster or harder, it might explode. And where would that leave Tor?

  He took a deep breath to steady himself. Tor dropped his hand onto Sky’s shoulder.

  “It’s time, boy.” Tor, already naked, urged Sky to stand.

  Sky nodded and stood, letting the burka fall to the floor, exposing his body to everyone in the room—Tor, Marrack, and one of the fight officials. Better get used to it, and soon, because when he stepped through those doors, the entire world would see him naked.

  The man looked Sky over, his gaze going up and down the length of Sky’s body. Sky held still, legs apart, head down, in slave stance. The official walked around him once and gave Marrack a nod. Sky had passed the inspection. He exhaled.

  Then Marrack went to the door, opened it, and they were leaving the room. The halls were lined with people, some watching, some slapping Tor on the back, as Sky trailed him. No one touched Sky, but their gazes slid over him.

  He kept his head down and followed Tor’s feet.

  The roar of the crowd became louder as they neared the double doors Tor had taken him through earlier. Sky’s stomach flipped, and he thanked Tor for telling him not to eat or drink before the fight, or he’d surely have thrown it all up.

  The doors opened, and the roar felt like a wall of sound hitting Sky. He stumbled, then recovered and kept going. For Tor, for his mate, he could do this.

  Marrack, Tor, and Sky marched up the ramp to the floor of the arena while all around them lights, cheering, and chanting exploded in the air. Sky looked up and gasped as he saw himself on the large overhead monitor.

  Naked for the world to see.

  He looked good.

  Sky put his head back down and smiled. Maybe this wasn’t so bad, after all.

  Then they came to the cage, and Sky climbed the steps, right on Tor’s heels. Tor paused at the door as one of the men working the door opened it.

  The announcer shouted, “And tonight we have a real treat! The defender is Tor! Long absent from the arena, he’s back tonight, ready to defend his title as heavyweight champion!”

  An answering chant of “Tor! Tor! Tor!” filled Sky’s ears. Nothing had prepared him for this. He looked around into the crowd, but it was hard to see anything but a mass of black shapes. Only the cage and its inhabitants were bathed in lights.

  “That’s right! Tor has returned! He’s been gone a while, but he’s back and in better shape than before. Tonight he’ll be defending his new mate, Sky. He’s pretty, isn’t he?” The announcer kept talking. “And I’ll bet Tor won’t want to lose that sweet piece of ass.”

  The crowd cheered. For Sky. Sky blinked as lights went off in his face. They were taking pictures of him. Naked.

  Tor’s growl filled Sky’s chest. He really could hear his mate through all the noise of the arena. It helped to settle Sky a little.

  Tor stepped through the door and danced around the cage, waving his arms to encourage the crowd’s cheering. Sky rushed after him, eager to get to the safety of their corner.

  Once there, he grabbed on to the links, his heart still beating a rapid tattoo against his chest. As long as he lived, he’d never forget this moment. Never.

  Tor joined him, taking his place in front of Sky, hands on hips, legs spread, waiting for his challenger to take the floor.

  The door opened again, and this time, Janko stepped through it.

  “Tonight’s challenger is Janko! He’s new on the circuit, so let’s give him a good welcome!” There was cheering and some chanting, but not as great as for Tor, and Sky’s chest swelled with pride for his mate.

&nbs
p; Janko stalked around the cage, beating his chest, yelling back at the ones booing him.

  Tor tensed.

  “What’s wrong?” Sky asked.

  “It’s nothing.” Tor moved his neck, and Sky could hear the popping of tension along the were’s spine.

  That wasn’t nothing. Sky dragged his gaze from Tor to their opponent. Now it was his job to dissect the man’s fighting, to learn his weaknesses and strengths, and he had only one round to do it in.

  The announcer came back. “It’s a regulation match. Five rounds. Each round will last three minutes. All rounds will be awarded to the one with the most points scored by the judges. In the event either pins the other, there is a knockout, or if one submits, the win will be automatic, regardless of the number of rounds won by either.” Sky stopped listening as the man introduced the judges. His attention fell back on Janko.

  Janko took his position across from them, in the same stance as Tor. His gaze never left Tor, and something glittered in his dark eyes, sending shivers of fear up and down Sky’s spine.

  Sky had to be the best partner Tor had ever had, he knew that, but something about the other were made him even more determined. He clenched the links in his hands.

  “Take him, Tor. I know you can,” Sky called out.

  Tor didn’t turn, but gave him a single nod. Good, he could still hear him.

  The bell rang, and both fighters charged into the middle of the cage, Janko roaring and Tor as silent as death. They met with fists and feet pummeling each other.

  Janko was strong, but his swings were often wild. He’d land one punch but miss the next three. Tor’s punches were careful, planned, precise. Sky knew Tor was the better fighter. Tor never made a sound while Janko roared and cursed.

  And Janko favored his right side. Perhaps an injury? He defended it more than the other side, letting the left take some punishing blows from Tor.

  Sky watched his feet. He led with his right foot, but when he prepared to punch, his left came forward. Something else to tell Tor. Janko was sloppy, no doubt about it, but if he landed one of his punches or kicks, he could take Tor down.

  Janko did a roundhouse, leaning back as his leg came up, and Tor, instead of blocking it, grabbed the were’s leg and flipped him onto his face. Janko came up bloody, the skin scraped across his cheek and chin.