Now he had a chance to have what had been offered the first night they’d met. From the way Jude pressed against him, it seemed that Jude wanted the same thing. Maybe some of the lust was the bond, but did it matter? There’d been something before they’d kissed, and the bond had formed. Jude hadn’t been faking in the bar. Mack held on to that thought.
He slid his hand over Jude’s hip to cup his ass. Jude responded by moving closer. His lips were sweet from the coffee and cake, like caramel and chocolate with a touch of magic and danger.
He was not going to dream about the taste. He wasn’t that person. He didn’t lust over people, and he didn’t hunger for more. He was practical and got what he needed and wanted and moved on. Always keeping the secret about what he was. That secret wasn’t between him and his lover for the first time in his life. He’d dreamed of Jude last night and regretted not going after him. That was just the bond. He’d keep telling himself that until he believed it.
Jude’s hand brushed Mack’s inner thigh, then higher. Lust tightened and twisted. His nail ran up the metal fly to the button.
Mack drew back and sucked in a breath. “Not here.”
Anyone could walk into the shop, and while they couldn’t be seen, it just wasn’t right.
Jude lifted one eyebrow and flicked open the button on Mack’s jeans. “Why not? You invited me out the back.”
He had, but not for this. God, he wanted this. He wanted Jude on his knees… The image was too clear in his head, and for a moment he thought that maybe that was what Jude wanted. He’d read about the bond, but he refused to believe some of the things he’d read. He certainly didn’t want Jude in his head seeing what he was thinking.
Or feeling.
He didn’t want to be in Jude’s head either. Another good reason to end this as soon as possible. A good reason to make the most of it while it lasted. How many times did he get to be with someone who knew what he was?
This would be a first.
Jude’s tongue darted between his lips, and he glanced down. He gave the elastic on Mack’s jocks a tug, revealing the rosy head. “We could pick up where we left off.”
Mack’s pulse was fast as lust fueled his heart. “Yeah? What exactly were you going to do, assuming I was just your average pickup?” He didn’t have an average pickup. Not in Mercy anyway. Sometimes he made the hour drive to the city for a weekend. Then he made the most of it.
“Well…” Jude’s fingertip barely touched him, but he was beyond hard. “There is no such thing as average.”
Yeah, there was. Pick someone, make sure they both wanted the same thing, and get on with it. Usually it didn’t involve head—he could get that from Ned. This would be different, though. This wasn’t a boredom screw.
The zipper pulled apart, the teeth loud in his workshop.
“What did you want?” Mack forced the words out and tried not to think about what Jude’s fingertips were doing to his exposed skin. He should take a step back and pull up his pants, but if someone came in the bell would chime.
“I’d like a taste.” Jude lifted his gaze. His green eyes lit with lust.
“And then?” He cupped Jude’s jaw. “I meant it when I said I won’t submit to you. I don’t bottom.” It wasn’t his thing, but he loved a nice ass, and he wanted Jude’s, though not here in his workshop. He wasn’t prepared for anything. His dick was ready for everything.
Jude grinned. “That’s perfect. I didn’t get to ask you the other night, but how about for the moment we take it one thing at a time?” He gave Mack’s jeans a tug lower until his dick sprang free. Then Jude dropped to his knees.
The sight was as arresting as it had been in his imagination. He couldn’t say stop as Jude freed him from his underwear. And he couldn’t keep his eyes open when Jude’s lips closed around him.
This was not smart. This was not keeping what they had to a working relationship or keeping the bond as weak as possible. This was taking things further and making the most of the time they had even though he would get hurt. He knew that and he still couldn’t stop himself. Didn’t want to. He’d never wanted anything as much.
He pressed his nails into the workbench.
Hunger kicked through him. His heart raced to keep up. Resisting the urge to thrust became impossible; Jude made a small sound that was almost a purr as though he’d gotten exactly what he wanted.
Mack cupped Jude’s head. His hair was a fortress that couldn’t be penetrated by mortal fingers. Jude suckled, his tongue a demanding thing that worked the underside of Mack’s dick in a way that should be a crime. Mack glanced at the bench and picked up the rag. Jude swept it out of his hand and let it fall on the floor.
He meant to—
The door creaked, then the bell chimed. Mack froze.
Jude glanced up and swallowed an extra inch.
Mack’s heart stuttered. Jude drew back, sucking harder with every inch he released. Mack didn’t even look at the door. He couldn’t take his gaze off the witch on his knees.
“Just a minute.” Mack was sure his words were strained.
With a time limit and an audience on the other side of the thin wall, Jude applied himself to the task. Mack kept his teeth locked together. He wanted Jude to look away. To break the spell first, but he didn’t. And Mack couldn’t because he’d never seen anything so beautiful.
Jude’s tongue swept around the head before drawing him deep again. Mack’s hips jerked. The rag was on the floor. He
