Rescuing His Heart [Wolves of Desire 13] (The Lynn Hagen ManLove Collection) Page 6

  “Did the person in your motel room have a wound like this guy?” Sebastian asked Sylvester.

  “What’s going on?” Xander grabbed the photos and went through them.

  “That’s what Maverick and I are trying to figure out,” Sebastian said. “Those men in the photos are Hunters.”

  Xander’s brows rose. “This is bad.”

  “I’m glad you see the dilemma,” Sebastian said. “Someone might be doing us a favor, but the killings are too public.”

  “Favor?” Sylvester’s voice was strangled. “How can any kind of murder be a favor?”

  “Because”—Xander set the photos down—“Hunters kill our kind, Sylvester. They hunt us down and slaughter us without hesitation.”

  Sylvester slapped a hand over his mouth as he raced to the bathroom. He dropped to his knees and vomited as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. He didn’t want to hear any more. Sylvester didn’t want to step any further into Xander’s world.

  And Sylvester had been foolish enough to think Leo was the darkest of monsters. Xander’s world had Leo beat, hands down. Suddenly, working for Leo didn’t seem all that scary—though Sylvester would never bow to his will.

  Still, Sylvester was relieved to know he hadn’t been the one who’d ended the stranger’s life. He got up and slammed the bathroom door closed when Xander headed his way. Sylvester didn’t need an audience.

  He flushed the toilet, wiped the tears from his face, and used the complimentary toothbrush still in the package to brush his teeth. He groaned when Xander opened the door and stepped into the small bathroom.

  “Sorry, but there’s no shutting me out.” Xander leaned a hip against the sink as he crossed his arms. “Feel better?”

  Turing the tap on, Sylvester spit, then rinsed, trying his best to absorb everything. After he wiped his mouth with the towel hanging behind him, he set it on the counter and said, “No.”

  He didn’t think he’d ever feel better again, not after stepping into an alternate, terrifying world.

  Chapter Six

  Xander drove down the dark stretch of highway, Sebastian ahead of him in his Lexus. Sylvester was fast asleep in the passenger seat of Xander’s Mustang. He’d chosen to drive his car because, for one, he wasn’t leaving his baby behind. And two, he didn’t trust Sario’s rusty Camaro.

  Especially not after he’d started it and the thing backfired so loud that the sound should’ve awakened the entire town. He was surprised the car had made it from the city to Brac Village without falling apart.

  But Xander’s Mustang was brand-new, and the engine was so quiet that the car didn’t even sound as though it was on as he drove. The silence helped lull Sylvester to sleep.

  And judging by the dark circles under Sylvester’s baby blues, he’d needed the rest.

  Xander made the right turn that led them to Desire. In truth, being back in his own town felt good. Brac Village was nice, but there was no feeling like coming home.

  They drove on, heading to the pack house on the outskirts of town. Xander pulled into the lot next to the house and turned the car off.

  He watched as Sebastian and Sario got out and went inside before he slipped from the car and moved to the passenger side. Xander eased Sylvester from his seat, used his own ass to close the car door, and took his mate inside, where he went right upstairs and into his bedroom.

  Xander laid Sylvester on the bed before removing his shoes and tucking the blanket around him. Only when he’d sat on the love seat by the balcony doors did Xander finally take a deep breath and relax.

  His mate was safe now. The house was filled with Xander’s pack members, and they would do anything to protect the mates under their roof.

  Xander ran a hand over his face as he stretched out, crossing his ankles. He stared out the open balcony doors at the woods beyond as he tried to solve Sylvester’s puzzle.

  Xander looked at the bed when Sylvester started to whimper. He threw his arms up as he kicked, knocking the bedding aside. “No, please…don’t kill me.”

  Was it a simple dream, or were Sylvester’s memories trying to show him what had really happened? Xander stood and crossed the room, where he took a seat on the side of the bed.

  Instead of waking Sylvester, he placed his hand on Sylvester’s chest. His mate instantly quieted as the pulsating fragrance of jasmine filled the room. The comforting aroma settled Xander in ways he never thought possible.

  “You have no idea what you really mean to me.” Xander brushed his hand over Sylvester’s slowly rising and falling chest as his mate’s heart thumped under Xander’s palm.

  Sylvester wasn’t the only one running. But Xander’s past wasn’t a puzzle he could solve, nor would he find a solution that would square everything away.

  No, not his past, not his memories of the terrible things he’d done so long ago. He’d never claimed to be a saint, and although Xander had been on the right path for more than two decades, he knew nothing he ever did would make things right.

  Not when he’d run with the deadliest men in the demon realm. Not when he’d allowed himself to be talked into things he knew were wrong. He’d been a mere juvenile when he’d fallen in with that crowd, easily swayed, and the acceptance the crew had given him had made Xander feel as though he’d finally had a family.

  Xander had grown up an orphan on the streets of Remtin, the evilest of places in the demon realm. He never knew his parents, and he’d scraped and stolen to survive until Bolchin had found him and taken Xander under his wing, had opened his home to Xander, and had accepted him, even though Xander had been a young boy.

  Xander still recalled the last time he’d seen Bolchin. They’d snuck into Hell, literally. The gates were located on the other side of Serenity City. They’d been high on liquid wrath, and Bolchin had dared Xander to follow him.

  Enamored with his leader, Xander had gladly gone. But he wished he hadn’t. Hell was nothing like Xander had imagined, and to this day some of the things he’d seen there still haunted his sleep.

  Xander had barely managed to escape, but Bolchin hadn’t been so lucky. His leader, along with the rest of their crew, had been pulled into the bowels of Hell, never to be seen again.

  After that, Xander turned into the nastiest drunk. He downed Red Spanking, did scary amounts of liquid wrath, and had started bar brawls, hitting rock bottom. Sebastian had found him and pulled Xander from that miserable existence.

  Only his pack members knew that Xander was not just a wolf shifter, but part demon. They accepted him regardless of his past. For that alone, Xander owed the men in this house his eternal gratitude.

  But a part of him had always been missing. Until today, Xander hadn’t known what that something was. Sylvester had given Xander his soul back, had shed light in the darkness that constantly dwelled inside him.

  He swept his fingers through Sylvester’s dark hair, memorizing every inch of his mate’s handsome face. “You’re my saving grace,” he whispered. “But could you love me if you really knew me?”

  Xander curled up on the bed next to Sylvester. He rested his hand over Sylvester’s beating heart, taking solace in the slow and steady rhythm. He barely knew what love was, but for Sylvester, Xander would open himself up to the possibility.

  “I have no magic words to make you understand why I did what I did.” Xander moved closer, wrapping himself around Sylvester, placing a kiss on his temple. “All I ask is that you don’t judge me too harshly.”

  Sylvester turned over. He lifted his head and gazed at Xander with those sleepy blue eyes. “Did you say something?”

  Unable to stop himself, Xander cupped Sylvester’s jaw and pulled him close, capturing his soft, warm lips. He grazed his hand down Sylvester’s back and cupped his ass, drawing him even closer. Xander didn’t feel worthy of Sylvester, but hell if he’d let the man go.

  He didn’t have it in him to walk away. How could he when Sylvester was the light to his darkness?

  Sylvester moaned as he eased his arm around Xander’s neck. Their kiss turned desperate as Xander rolled to his back, taking Sylvester with him. He grabbed Sylvester’s legs and tucked them on either side of him before cupping Sylvester’s face.

  “We should slow down.” Sylvester peppered kisses along Xander’s jaw. “We just met.”

  Xander chuckled as Sylvester pulled back and ripped his shirt over his head, then tossed it aside. His thin, naked chest was pale, but so damn perfect. Xander ran a hand over it, rubbing the pad of his thumb against his mate’s nipple, watching the skin pebble under his touch.

  Sylvester bent over, pressing his hands against Xander’s chest as he licked along Xander’s lips. With a growl, Xander gripped Sylvester’s nape and held on as his tongue swept the interior of Sylvester’s mouth. “You taste like home.”

  Sylvester pulled back, his brows furrowing. “I’m not even sure what that means.”

  “Your kiss just does me in.” Xander stole another one. “I don’t care if we just met. I’m crazy about you, Sylvester.”

  Sylvester’s laugh was infectious. Xander grinned like a fool as he sat up and pulled his shirt off. “Touch me.”

  With a coy smile, Sylvester asked, “Where do you want me to touch you?”

  Xander circled his fingers around Sylvester’s hand and pressed it against his heart. “Here.”

  Sylvester’s blue eyes grew darker as he studied Xander. His fingers played over Xander’s chest, brushing back and forth. “Right here?”

  With a nod, Xander lay back down, trailing his fingertips over Sylvester’s cheek. “But I think you already have.”

  Cocking his head to the side, Sylvester asked, “Have what?”

  “Touched my heart.” Xander cupped his mate’s ass, squeezing as he kissed Sylvester. The slow-b
urning passion built as Xander ghosted his fingertips up and down Sylvester’s spine.

  Sylvester broke the kiss. He slid from the bed and removed his pants and underwear, then tossed his socks aside. His hands shook as he stood there staring at Xander.

  After yanking the rest of his clothes off, Xander crooked his finger. “Come here, sweetheart.”

  Sylvester crawled back onto the bed, and Xander folded his arms around his mate. Xander simply lay there holding him. He wasn’t in a rush to claim Sylvester, though Xander’s wolf was howling for just that. But, for that moment, Xander wanted to simply hold his mate. “You’re right where you belong.”

  Sylvester snuggled closer. “It feels like it.”

  Xander kissed his temple. “I told you, you were meant for me.”

  Xander had never been more grateful for fate. If not for it, he probably would have remained alone forever. Xander never sought anyone out. Not that he didn’t indulge in sex, but he’d always kept his emotions disentangled from the act.

  “Xander?”

  “Hmm?”

  Sylvester pulled back and stared up at him. “Are we just gonna lie here naked and hug?”

  Xander gave a deep chuckle. “What did you have in mind?”

  Now who was playing coy? But in truth, teasing Sylvester felt nice. Already Xander’s heart felt lighter.

  With a shrug, Sylvester said, “I don’t know. Maybe you can rock my world.”

  Xander got up and hovered over Sylvester, placing his hands on either side of Sylvester’s head. He began to rock back and forth, making the mattress bounce. “Like this?”

  Sylvester slapped his chest. “You’re such a dork.”

  “Or like this?” Xander reached to his nightstand and pulled the lube from the drawer. He slicked his fingers before wedging them between Sylvester’s legs. His mate hissed as he parted his legs, opening himself for Xander.

  Pressing his fingers against Sylvester’s hole, Xander captured Sylvester’s lips in a soft kiss as he slid his fingers inside the tight heat.

  His canines descended as he scissored his fingers, groaning into the kiss. Sylvester might’ve been skittish of Xander, but when it came to sex, his mate simply let go. He responded so beautifully, his small whimpers and pleas sinking deep inside Xander’s heart.

  Sylvester rocked against Xander’s fingers, impaling himself as Xander added a third digit.

  “I’m ready,” Sylvester whispered against his lips. “Please, I need to feel you inside me.”

  Now how could Xander refuse such a sexy request? He removed his fingers and lubed his cock. After tossing the bottle aside, Xander slid an arm under Sylvester. “Do you accept me as your mate?”

  His heart thundered as he waited for Sylvester to deny him, to push Xander away and tell him he was a piece of shit.

  But Sylvester looked at Xander with such tenderness in his baby blues. He bit his lower lip as his fingers curled into Xander’s biceps. “What does that mean?”

  “That you’re mine,” Xander said. “That I’m yours. That you’re willing to spend the rest of your life with a man who doesn’t deserve someone like you.”

  Sylvester’s brows furrowed. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but couldn’t form the words. He touched Xander’s cheek as a sweet, slow smile surfaced. “Okay.”

  “Just like that?”

  A scowl replaced the smile. “You just asked me, now you’re questioning my answer?” Sylvester gave a little growl that turned Xander on. “Make up your mind.”

  “I really don’t deserve you.” Xander sighed. “Say the words, sweetheart. Say you accept me as your mate.”

  “I accept you as my mate.” No sooner had the words left Sylvester’s lips than Xander drove his cock deep into the tightness, hissing as he closed his eyes. “Fuck, just like heaven.”

  Sylvester gave a small cry as his nails bit into Xander’s arms. Xander’s eyes flew open. “Did I hurt you?”

  “I just wasn’t expecting you to do that.” Sylvester wiggled a little, his ass tensing around Xander’s cock. “You could’ve warned me.”

  “Sorry.” Xander peppered kisses along Sylvester’s neck. “I’ll go slow.”

  “You better not.” Sylvester slapped his arm. “You’re already inside me, so move.”

  With a chuckle, Xander said, “Yes, sir.”

  He reared back, pushing Sylvester’s legs to his chest so he could watch his cock disappear inside his mate’s ass. Xander’s wolf was so close the surface that he felt as if his skin were too tight for his body. The urge to sink his canines into Sylvester’s shoulder made his gums ache as he pistoned deeper inside Sylvester.

  “God, yes!” Sylvester cried out as he writhed beneath Xander. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  Shit. Xander had a screamer. He loved it. The shouted words spurred him on. He punched his hips faster, fascinated with the spot where they connected, his cock growing impossibly harder as he watched his dick sink into Sylvester’s glistening hole.

  But his wolf was the driving force right now, and Xander needed to claim his mate, needed to tie Sylvester to him before the human changed his mind.

  Xander released Sylvester’s legs and blanketed his mate, sliding one arm under his head and lifting Sylvester to him. Xander sniffed along Sylvester’s shoulder, luxuriating in the scent of jasmine before he sank his canines into his mate’s tender flesh.

  Xander pulled them free when a cool sensation rushed through him. He looked up and saw their life ribbons shoot out, twirling and twining, clashing together.

  Sylvester gasped as he stared above them. “That’s so beautiful.”

  “Those ribbons are the essence of our souls,” Xander explained as the colorful mist that belonged to him crashed into Sylvester. His mate’s eyes went wide as Sylvester’s mist disappeared into Xander’s chest.

  Their heartbeats synchronized. Their souls were now soldered together. Xander pulled one of Sylvester’s legs over his arm, opening his mate up to him as he drove his cock hard and deep.

  Sylvester cried out, wrapping his hand around his cock. He stroked himself until his cum splashed between them. His hole clamped around Xander’s dick, making it almost impossible for him to move.

  Energy surged inside Xander, lashing out to the four corners of the room. The lightbulb in the table lamp burst as his energy flowed from him to Sylvester.

  “What’s happening?” Sylvester looked terrified.

  Xander’s secret was out, but he was afraid to tell Sylvester that he was part demon, that he could control the energy around him. A demon was after his mate, and he didn’t want Sylvester to be afraid of him.

  Instead, Xander slammed his lips over Sylvester’s, kissing the very air from his lungs as he shattered with release.

  Xander slowly rocked inside Sylvester as he tried to think of a way to tell his mate what he truly was. Nothing came to him, so he eased out of Sylvester and rolled to his back, pulling Sylvester over his sweaty chest.

  Sylvester lay there panting, but Xander felt the tension. With a deep sigh, Xander said, “I’m part demon, Sylvester.”

  Chapter Seven

  As the sun slowly rose, Joe Hephner leaned against the car across the street from the fourth district police station as he watched Enrique cross traffic. Enrique’s cousin was a cop, and that had come in handy more than once. Although Joe had only known Enrique for a mere three years, the man had become indispensable. He trusted his friend with his life, and that was rare for Joe.

  “They expedited the prints,” Enrique said as he approached. “They belong to a guy named Sylvester Ramsey.”

  “Did your cousin run his name?”

  “He did. Get this, he’s the stepson of Councilman Leo Ramsey.”

  Joe knew that name. He’d had run-ins with Leo a few times and he hated the pompous prick. Joe also suspected Leo of not being human, but Leo was careful and never showed any hard evidence to confirm Joe’s suspicions. Until Joe had concrete proof, he wouldn’t go after the crooked bastard.

  “Do they have any leads?” Joe pushed away from the car and opened the driver’s door, but didn’t get in as he waited for Enrique’s answer.

  Enrique rounded the sedan and leaned his arms on its roof. “His brother, Sario, used his credit card to book a room at a bed-and-breakfast in your favorite little town.”