At Year's End (The 12 Olympians) (12 page)

“Things are about to get really nasty.” Jaxon sent a mental message to Justice. “
We have company. I’m taking Elijah to the airport
.”

“
We lost Carl!
”

“
Doesn’t matter; we know who he is now, and his buddies are coming
.”

“
Me and the guys will back you up
.”

Jaxon straddled his bike and handed Elijah a h
elmet. He made sure Elijah was on properly and then wrapped his belt around him, anchoring them together.

“Hang on, a
nd no matter
what
, don’t let go.”

“What’s going on
, Jaxon?”

“We’re in trouble
!” Jaxon fired the bike to life and peeled out of the club. Jesse, Justice and Noah, along with Ross, flew out of the club and ran for their bikes.

Jaxon
pulled into oncoming traffic and weaved through cars coming at him. Two minutes later, two motorcycles pulled up and flanked him.

“Hang on!”
he yelled.

Elijah looked up and
his eyes met with yellow ones. His own eyes widened as a grin appeared on the man’s face — his teeth were huge.

“What the hell!
?” Elijah tightened his grip.

The bike
on the left veered closer and the man reached for Elijah’s arm. Jaxon kicked out with his left foot, sending the bike into oncoming cars. They tore through another intersection as more bikes caught up to them.

Jaxon concentrated, sending out a mental call for help to anything that would listen.
The bike to his right swerved into them, almost knocking them over.

Jaxon righted them
and sped up. Another bike pulled up beside them and Jaxon tried to veer away. A hand shot out and grabbed his bicep; claws tore through his arm.

“Fuck!”
Jaxon shouted.

“Jaxon!”

“I’m okay, it’s okay!” Jaxon swerved to the right, barely missing a van. By now, ten more bikes had joined the others and they were surrounded.

Jaxon took another side street trying to lose the rogues. They ran through a red light and barely missed the bumper of a cab. Jaxon swung the bike down another busy street trying to get the rogues off their tail.

The sound of flapping met his ears over the roar of the bike and Jaxon spared a glance skyward.

Wings. A
lot of them.

Raptors.

At least twenty of them.

Jaxon
smiled. The sound of other Harleys was welcome as Justice and the rest of the guys had finally caught up to them. Raptors bombarded the rogues, tearing at their helmets and arms. They raced down the streets and Jaxon swerved into an alley. Two bikes followed him down and Jaxon shot out the other side.

“Hang on!” Jaxon shouted.

They went down a set of stairs and came out on another street. Jaxon shot a look both ways and took a right into oncoming traffic again. They raced through the streets and Jaxon finally lost two of the bikers.

“
Go! We’ve got this
!” Justice said.

“
Thanks, bro
.”

Speeding down Alaskan Way, Jaxon headed for the airport on a small strip right outside of town. His plans
for a getaway with Elijah had gotten all fucked up. He was supposed to be at the airport at two, but he knew the jet would already be there. He’d packed their bags the night before and they were already on the plane.

He sent a mental message to Caden and got the go ahead.

“Where are we going? And what was that?” Elijah shouted.

“I’ll explain everything, I promise!”

Jaxon let out a sigh of relief as the plane came into view. He parked the bike and they ran across the airstrip. The sound of motorcycles reached his ears and he sped up, picking Elijah up as he ran up the stairs to the plane. The door closed behind them and Jaxon shouted to the pilots.

“Go,
go,
GO
!”

The plane
careened down the runway and Jaxon held onto Elijah as it picked up speed. He looked out the small window to see rogues following the plane. Raptors swooped in as Justice and the rest of the guys sped across the airstrip. Justice waved and Jaxon pressed his hand to the window.

“
Thank you
.”

“
Anytime, bro
,” Justice answered.

“You should sit, sir.”

Jaxon glanced over his shoulder at the co-pilot.

“Yes, thank you.” Jaxon pulled Elijah into a seat and sat down next to him.
The teenager looked shell-shocked.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“What the hell was that? What were they?” Elijah looked at Jaxon’s jacket. Long claw marks had torn though the leather. “You’re hurt!” Elijah pulled the jacket down and stared open-mouthed at a bloody arm — with no wounds whatsoever. “What the…? I
saw
it!”

“Please
, don’t freak out,” Jaxon sighed and reclined in the seat, closing his eyes.

“You
are
a vamp, aren’t you?!”

Jaxon sat up and regarded Elijah closely. “No, I’m a werewolf.
And we heal quickly.”

Elijah snorted.

Jaxon exhaled and dropped his canines. Elijah’s eyes went wide as saucers and then he slumped over in the seat.

“Elijah!” Jaxon checked his pulse and found it.
He had fainted. Jaxon closed his eyes and exhaled loudly. Jesus, what a night. Hey, happy birthday, kid.

Four hours later, he opened his eyes to the soft humming of the plane’s engine. They were still airborne. He had been hoping he could sleep through the whole flight. He turned his head to look at Elijah’s sleeping face. He’d had one hell of a shock tonight.

Jaxon rose from his
seat and made his way to the plane’s bathroom. Having always flown commercial, flying on Caden’s private jet had taken some getting used to. The legroom was ridiculous and the bathrooms were huge.

Jaxon used the restroom, and then made his way to the galley. Looking through the contents of the fridge, it occurred to him he hadn’t heard a peep from Justice. Jaxon closed his eyes and sent out a mental message. Justice answered right away.

“
Hey, how’s Elijah
?” Justice asked.

“
Well, considering he fainted when I showed him my teeth, he’s good
.”

“
No shit
?”

“
No shit. How did it go with the rogues
?”

“
Well, seeing as we had raptors at our disposal, pretty damn good
.”

“
Well, I did send out a cry for help
.”

“
And they came. By the way, my man and Ryder put a world of hurt on Carl
.”

Jaxon chuckled.

“
Really
?”

“
Oh yeah. Skylar had to explain to Ryder why a bolt of lightning shot out of his hand
.”

“
I always miss the good stuff
,” Jaxon laughed. “
How did it go over
?”

“
Well, pretty well actually. Ryder spent some time outside making a storm. And then he apologized for freaking out on Skylar when he came clean as the son of a god
.”

“
Karma. She’s a bitch
.”

“
Yeah, she is. You take care of yourself and Elijah, okay
?”

“
Yeah, I’ll contact you soon. Love you, bro
.”

“
Love you, too
.”

Bright sunlight forced Elijah to open his eyes. He sat up in bed and looked around at his surroundings. He was in a king-sized bed in one hell of a swanky room. He got up carefully and crossed the room to the window. A beautiful beach with clear blue water was right out front. People were laughing and playing in the sand.

What the hell? Where was he?

Elijah turned back to the room and surveyed it. A leather jacket hung on one of the chairs and Elijah recognized it as Jaxon’s.

Jaxon. Oh hell. Jaxon was…well, he was...

“You’re up.”

Elijah almost jumped to the ceiling. He turned slowly to see Jaxon with a tray of food.

“I didn’t want to wake you.” Jaxon put the tray down on the table in the corner and motioned to it. “I got you some food, thought you might be hungry after being out for so long.”

Elijah licked his lips and tried to find his voice. “How long was I out? And where are we exactly?”

“Almost twenty-four hours and we are in Kaikoura, New Zealand.”

Elijah’s mouth hung open. “W-what?”

“Well, you said you wanted to see dolphins, and I wanted to go to Australia or New Zealand,” Jaxon shrugged. “I’m in New Zealand and you can see dolphins.” Jaxon stepped toward Elijah.

“Um,” Elijah put his hand out to stop Jaxon.

Jaxon stopped and stood still. An ache was forming in his chest as Elijah inched away from him.

“I wouldn’t hurt you, Elijah. Not ever
,” he whispered. “You have to know I’d give my life for you.”

Elijah searched Jaxon’s face and saw the hurt in his eyes. “Can you, um, show me?”

Jaxon grinned. “Can you be more specific?”

“Really? Now you get nasty with me?”

“Oh, I want to do so much more than that, Elijah. I’ve waited a long time.”

Elijah’s cheeks heated. “Can you, you know, shift?”

“Promise not to faint again?”

Elijah’s nose twitched. “I did not faint.”

“No? So you took a really long nap?”

Elijah sighed in frustration
and planted his hands on his hips. “Just shift!”

In the blink of an eye, clothes were shredded and Jaxon sat in the middle of the room
as a wolf. Elijah stood with his mouth agape. He walked slowly to Jaxon and knelt down before him. He didn’t have far to go, Jaxon was huge. Elijah reached out and sank his hands into soft brown fur.

“Oh my God
,” he whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”

Jaxon tilted his head as Elijah rubbed his neck.
The next thing he knew, he was getting swatted on the nose.

“Unbelievable!” Elijah stood up and paced. “All this time! It was you in my yard, wasn’t it?!” Elijah whirled around to see Jaxon nodding. “Well! Isn’t that great! You couldn’t have told me before this? All this time you’ve been watching me, s
pying on me! Do you know how many nights I convinced myself I was crazy? And it was you all this time!”

Elijah
resumed his pacing. “I am so angry with you!” Elijah balled his fists as the heat crawled down his arms and out to his hands. “Oh no, oh shit.”

Elijah squeezed his eyes shut.

“Get away from me, Jaxon. You don’t know what happens when I get scared or mad. I don’t want to hurt you!”

Jaxon moved forward as Elijah stepped back. He met Elijah’s eyes and his own widened. Orange blazed around Elijah’s pupils.

“Go, Jaxon!” Elijah tried to calm his racing heart. Blood was pumping in his ears. He closed his eyes tightly and wished for it to go away.

“No.”

Elijah’s eyes flew open to see Jaxon standing in the middle of the room.

Naked.

Jaxon’s erection jutted from his body and stood tall and proud.

“Oh. My. God
,” Elijah whispered.

“I’m not going away, Elijah. You
’re not alone anymore. I know who you are.”

“You do?”

“Yes, you are a child of the gods, Elijah. You are the son of Hephaestus.”

“Who?”

“The Greek god of fire, Elijah.”

“You mean I’m not a demon?”

“No,” Jaxon smiled and reached out for Elijah’s hand. “You’re not.”

“Are you sure?”

Jaxon took Elijah’s hand and pulled him close. “Yes, I’m positive.”
Hello! I’m also naked!

Elijah rest
ed his head on Jaxon’s smooth chest. The pendant heated under his cheek. Elijah pulled back a bit and looked into Jaxon’s eyes.

“So you know who and what I am, and you’re okay with it?”

“I’m sorry; did you not just see the werewolf in the room?”

“That’s different.”

“How so?”

“You’re cool. I’m
— well I don’t know what I am.”

“You
’re special, Elijah, but I already knew that before I figured out you were a child of the gods.”

“But you said
— ”

“I know what I said, but I’m here, aren’t I? I want to be with you, like a couple. Can you do that?”

Elijah looked down at the impressive erection poking his thigh.

“Um, uh
huh.”

“Now
— can I kiss you?” Jaxon caressed Elijah’s face, pulling it to his own.

Elijah nodded.

“Oh, thank God.”

Jaxon touched his lips to Elijah’s softly. Arms came around him and fingers gripped his bare skin as he kissed Elijah slowly.

“Too many clothes,” Elijah breathed. “Want to feel your skin on mine.”

A low growl filled the room and Elijah’s skin broke out in goose bumps. His sweats came off and then his boxers. He stood naked, wrapped in the arms of the man he’d wanted since he was sixteen years old. And fuck, it was hot!

Elijah wrapped his arms around Jaxon as his feet left the floor. His back hit cool sheets and then Jaxon was over him, looking into his eyes.

“What have you done?” Jaxon asked.

“Um,” Elijah turned his head; he knew his face was red.

“It’s okay, talk to me.”

“Nothing. You’re my first everything.”

Jaxon smiled and touched Elijah’s cheek softly. Elijah was pure and he was all his. His lupine side wanted to mark Elijah, make sure everyone knew he belonged to him.
Jaxon leaned down and brushed his lips softly across Elijah’s.

“We’re not going to have sex
,” Jaxon whispered. A soft whimper came from Elijah and Jaxon smiled against his lips. “I don’t know what will happen if we have sex, so I prefer to take it slow.”

“How slow?” Elijah moaned.

Jaxon slid a hand down Elijah’s abdomen and wrapped his hand around Elijah’s erection. A hitch of breath came from him and Jaxon started a slow stroke. Elijah writhed beneath him, and Jaxon took his mouth in a slow kiss. Skin heated, breaths intermingled, and Jaxon’s head swam with the absolute pleasure of just kissing Elijah. He moved his hand and moved up Elijah’s body aligning their dicks perfectly.

“Jaxon,” Elijah panted as they parted from the kiss.

“Is this okay?” Jaxon searched Elijah’s eyes.

“Move.” Elijah pulled Jaxon back
down to his lips.

Elijah arched his
hips as Jaxon’s dick slipped against his. The heat from their bodies warmed the room. Elijah gripped Jaxon’s hips and pressed their bodies firmly together. He wasn’t going to last long. He’d never been with anyone like this and the scent from Jaxon was driving him crazy.

They moved perfectly, hands touching skin, soft caresses
, lips fused, tongues tangled. Elijah slid his hand down to Jaxon’s perfect ass and caressed it, his other hand sliding up Jaxon’s spine and up to the nape of his neck. Threading his fingers into Jaxon’s hair, he pulled him deeper into his mouth. His stomach warmed and his balls drew taut as Jaxon slid a hand between them and began to jack them off together.

“Oh shit…Jaxon!” Elijah’s back arched and he cried out as he came in spurts, his body jerking.

Jaxon’s canines elongated and he came hard, his hips bucking into Elijah as his release came in waves. Sweat poured down his back as the heat from Elijah enveloped him. He collapsed on top of the smaller man, trying not to squish him.

“Shit, I want to mark you so badly
,” Jaxon gasped. He lifted his head and gazed into perfection. Elijah’s blue eyes were wide and his hair was soaked. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” Elijah brought his hands up to Jaxon’s face and cupped it. “
Is this real?”

Jaxon bent and kissed Elijah softly. He traced Elijah’s lips with the tip of his tongue before dipping into the younger man’s mouth. Elijah’s fingers drifted down his back as the kiss became more
passionate. They both parted from the kiss panting.

“Is that real enough?”

“I don’t know.” Elijah grinned wickedly.

Jaxon smiled and caressed Elijah’s cheek. He moved and slid
to Elijah’s side. They were both sticky and sweaty.

“How about we shower and hit the beach?”

“Are we showering together?”

Jaxon’s eyes roamed Elijah’s body slowly. “Yep.”

Elijah rolled to his side and gazed over Jaxon’s body. “What changed?”

“You mean other than the fact that you
’re now legal?”

“Was that the only reason you stayed away?”

“I wanted you to experience life, make friends your own age, and have a crush on someone.”

“I do have a crush on someone. I’ve had a crush on him
from the second I set eyes on him. It’s always been you, Jaxon, and that won’t change no matter how many times you tell me to find someone else.”

“Well, I’m not saying that now. You
’re mine, Elijah.”

“So all this time you’ve had feelings for me?”

Jaxon leaned in and feathered a kiss across Elijah’s lips.

“Yes, all this time, but I wanted you
to — ”

“Yeah, yeah
,” Elijah snorted.

Jaxon frowned.

Elijah grinned.

Jaxon pulled Elijah close to him and nuzzled his neck. God, he smelled so wonderful. He smelled like
his
. Just holding Elijah in his arms brought a surge of strong feelings.

“Jaxon?”

“Hmm?”

“You smell good.”

Jaxon smiled in Elijah’s neck. “So do you.”

“So, if we’re going to the beach, maybe we just rinse off?”

“Sounds good.”

Jaxon rolled off the bed and put his hand out to Elijah. Warmth
slipped into his palm and Jaxon pulled Elijah into his chest. Their eyes met, and Jaxon leaned down to capture Elijah’s lips. He’d never get tired of Elijah’s taste. They broke from the kiss, gazing into each other’s eyes. Jaxon tore his away.

“Come on.”

“Wait a minute, I don’t have any clothes.”

Jaxon pulled open the closet door in the room to reveal two suitcases.

“Yes you do.”

Elijah eyed
the suitcases. “How long have you been planning this?”

“Since you told me you wanted to swim with dolphins. I had planned on telling you I wanted us to be together in a better place than
Cuffs and Stuff’s alley, though.” Jaxon pulled Elijah toward the bathroom. “Let’s go shower.”

The warm water sluiced down his abdomen and Elijah leaned back into Jaxon’s chest. Arms came around his waist and lips kissed his neck. Was this real? It seemed so long that he had waited for this moment. All the dreams he’d had about Jaxon were coming true. Hands slid down his
stomach and cupped his cock, massaging soap over his sensitive dick. Elijah leaned his head back further and Jaxon’s mouth covered his. His knees weakened as Jaxon’s hands began slowly stroking his dick and balls.

“Oh shit,” Elijah moaned. “Have to stop.”

Jaxon grinned against Elijah’s parted lips. “Okay.”

“You’re really not going to have sex with me?”

“No, not yet. We’ll take things slow; see how far we can go doing other stuff.”

“
Stuff?”

Jaxon turned Elijah around to face him and dropped to his knees. Elijah’s erection strained towards his mouth and Jaxon leaned in slowly, licking the mushroom cap and playing with the bundle of nerves around the rim.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Elijah grabbed the wall.

The shower began to steam and
not because the water was that hot. Elijah’s body was heating the entire shower stall. Jaxon pulled off the dick. Elijah’s eyes were closed and his hands were balled into fists. Jaxon rose to his feet and took Elijah’s face in his hands.

“Look at me.”

Elijah opened his eyes.

“It’s okay, calm down. That’s why I said we’ll take it slow, okay?”