Taming the Lion (9 page)

To his relief, he found a half-empty packet in the cabinet over the sink. He tore a couple off the strip then took them and the lube back to where Kaspar waited for him.

“Sorry about that. I just didn’t want to go any farther without—” Jon gestured to the things he’d brought with him.

“Of course.” Kaspar stood up and peeled down his underwear.

Jon felt his balls tighten at the sight of such a magnificent dick. Circumcised, unlike his own, and with a slight bend to the left. He wanted to hold it, to taste it, to have it buried deep within him.

It seemed Kaspar had other ideas. “Fuck me, Jon,” he begged.

No sane man could have turned down that request. Jon took off his boxers, aware of Kaspar’s keen scrutiny as he bared himself completely. The look in those odd, golden-hued eyes was one of evident satisfaction, as though Kaspar had assessed him and judged him to be up to the task at hand.

Jon tossed Kaspar the bottle of lube. “Get yourself nice and slippery for me,” he said. He’d always enjoyed the sight of a man playing with his own arse and the thought of what Kaspar was about to do sent fierce pulses of pleasure to the root of his cock.

Kaspar coated a finger with lube then lay down on the sofa. He raised his knees to his chest, giving Jon a beautiful view of his firm buttocks and the crease between them.

At first, Kaspar just brushed his fingertip over his anal entrance. Then he pushed it inside. His little indrawn breath as he thrust the digit deeper almost had Jon coming where he stood.

“That’s it,” Jon murmured. “God, Kaspar, you look so hot, so wonderfully filthy. Keep going. Show me how much you like to play with your arse…”

He couldn’t remember when he’d last urged on a lover with such dirty talk, but Kaspar seemed to be enjoying it if the enthusiasm with which he fingered his arsehole was any indication.

Once Jon had fitted the condom, he ordered Kaspar to stop. He’d considered taking the action to the bedroom but the sight of his lover lying there, primed and ready for him, was too much to resist. He got on the sofa, which was just wide enough for him to plant his knees either side of Kaspar’s hips.

“Take me, Jon,” Kaspar said. “I need you so badly.”

Jon obliged, putting the head of his dick to Kaspar’s hole and guiding himself home. Slick heat engulfed him and he fought to pull back from spilling his load. Nothing had ever felt as good as being up to the hilt in this gorgeous man’s arse.

In this position, he was able to stare into Kaspar’s eyes, seeing so many emotions reflected there. Lust, hunger, need… He felt as though he had a view through to Kaspar’s soul, making a connection he’d never experienced with any of his other partners.

He pushed harder, deeper, lost in a frenzy of desire. His balls slapped against Kaspar’s taut cheeks with every stroke. Kaspar cried out and raked his nails down Jon’s back, clawing at him like a wild thing. The exquisite pain only added to the sensations swirling through him.

Kaspar muttered something in his own tongue. Though Jon didn’t speak any Dutch, he caught a word that sounded like ‘more’. Encouraged, he kept on pounding into Kaspar, all the frustration of those lonely nights since Simon had left him burned away in the heat of this fast, passionate coupling.

All too soon, Jon lost the ability to hold back. His cum filled the condom in powerful bursts. The strength of his orgasm left him unable to do anything but cling to Kaspar.

Eventually, he was able to roll free of his lover’s body and ease himself into a sitting position.

“I have to ask,” he said, afraid to break the moment but knowing he’d never be satisfied till he had an answer to the question that had gnawed at him all night. “Why me? You could have any man who walks through the door of that club, so what made you choose me?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” Kaspar mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. “As soon as I scented you, I knew.”

Scented? Had he misheard, or was Kaspar trying to translate some Dutch idiom that didn’t really have an English equivalent? Jon needed to know what he meant, but Kaspar was clearly struggling to stay awake.

“Come on,” he said, putting an arm around Kaspar so he could guide him to his feet. “Let’s get you up to bed.”

Any further discussion would have to wait till morning.

Chapter Eleven

For the first time in his adult life, Kaspar woke to find someone in the bed beside him. Jumbled images swam into his mind from the night before, chief among them the moment when Jon had approached the bar at løve, looking distinctly uncomfortable and out of place among the crowd of lively clubbers.

Though Jon could have no way of knowing it, Kaspar had been aware of his presence as soon as he’d walked into the building. Above the contrasting aromas of so many perfumes and colognes, and the smell of grilled meat and frying onions from the kitchen area, he’d caught the distinctive, compelling scent of the one who was meant for him.

He’d wanted to laugh when the man with the unfashionable clothes and untidy brown hair had propped his elbow on the counter and hesitantly ordered a pint of beer. Of all the people fate could have paired him with, this was his mate? After Arjan’s revelation, it shouldn’t have surprised Kaspar that he might bond with a human. But still he couldn’t help wondering why the world seemed determined to throw one complication after another at him.

Part of him wished he could sit down with Arjan and ask his advice. Learn how he and Kees coped with the challenges of their unorthodox relationship. But Kaspar had burned too many bridges by running away to make such a conversation possible.

And he couldn’t deny that being with Jon felt right. They might have had some initial awkwardness last night. It was only natural, he supposed, given the circumstances and Jon’s insane levels of insecurity. The guy might dress like a stereotype of the college professor who hadn’t yet entered the twenty-first century but he had a handsome face and a great body. Yet he didn’t seem to have any idea of how desirable he was. He hadn’t said as much, but Kaspar reckoned some previous boyfriend must have done a real number on Jon’s self-confidence.

Jon stirred, rolling onto his side and giving Kaspar a disbelieving look, as if he’d expected to wake alone. “Hey, good morning, Kaspar. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Can I get you some breakfast? I have eggs, bacon, toast… There might be some mushrooms, too.”

“That sounds great.” Kaspar sat up fully. He glanced at the bedside clock and his heart sank as he registered the time.
Verdomme
—how had they managed to sleep most of the morning away? “I’m sorry, Jon, but I have to leave right now, or I’m going to be late for work.”

Kaspar tried to keep the panic out of his voice. All the other jobs he’d had, he hadn’t cared if management had thought him unreliable and poor timekeeping had gotten him the sack, but Marina White had been so generous. She’d helped him out with accommodation and made him feel like part of the Bath pride’s extended family. He didn’t want to throw her kind gesture back in her face.

Jon reached for the phone. “Relax, Kaspar. I’ll call you a taxi. You’ll be in the center of Bath in no time… Yeah, hi. I’d like a cab from The Corner House on North Road, going to Westgate Street… Ten minutes? Okay, we’ll see you then.” He smiled at Kaspar. “That’s sorted. Now, I’ll leave you to get dressed and when you come downstairs I’ll have a bacon sandwich waiting for you.”

Jon slipped out from between the sheets and went to take down the robe that hung on the back of the door. His actions gave Kaspar a moment to admire the sight of his lover’s bare arse cheeks, round and firm. The stirring in Kaspar’s groin made him want to pull Jon back into bed and pick up where they’d left off last night. Instead, he waited till Jon had left the room then padded through to the bathroom.

He showered hastily. Once he’d toweled himself off, he pulled on his jeans and T-shirt over skin that was barely dry. Having staff uniform to wear meant Marina might not guess he was wearing exactly the same clothes he’d had on the night before.

When he walked into the kitchen, he found Jon busy making tea.

“Your food is on the table,” Jon said, not looking up from the task of pouring water into the teapot. “There’s ketchup or brown sauce if you want it.”

As Kaspar bit into it, he thought it was the best bacon sandwich he’d ever tasted. The rashers were cooked to crisp perfection, the thick slices of crusty bread slathered with butter. Great sex followed by a delicious breakfast. What more could he ask for?

He heard a knock at the door. “That’ll be the taxi driver,” Jon said. “Let me give you something toward the fare.”

“No, I’ve got this,” Kaspar said firmly. “You paid for the cab here, and you’ve made me breakfast.”

“Before you go…” The shy, hesitant Jon from last night had returned. “Will I see you again?”

“You seriously think one night would be enough for me?” Kaspar took his mobile from his pocket and handed it to Jon. “Give me your number. I’ll ring you later.”

Jon quickly punched in the digits before giving the phone back to Kaspar. The driver hammered on the door again, and Jon yelled, “Just coming!” He pressed a kiss on Kaspar’s lips. “I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Kaspar seemed to feel the lingering presence of that kiss all the way into the city center.

* * * *

Marina wasn’t alone when he walked into the bar. She stood deep in conversation with a man who had his back to Kaspar. A man well over six feet tall, with the same distinctive white-blond hair as Marina. Even before the stranger turned round, Kaspar knew he was looking at his boss’s twin.

“Hi, Kaspar.” Marina smiled at him. “You’re just in time to meet my brother, Marcus. He’s over making a few deliveries. Marcus, this is Kaspar, the newest member of my staff.”

Just as his sister had done, Marcus gave all the signs of recognizing Kaspar as a fellow shifter. “Nice to meet you.” His words turned into a yawn and he put a hand across his mouth. “You’ll have to excuse me. I left home in the middle of the night. It means I get more done, but the traveling takes it out of you.”

“Yeah, tell me about it.” Kaspar grinned, recalling his own overnight trip to England.

“Kaspar just came to us from the Amsterdam pride,” Marina explained, “and I have to say, it appears to be their loss.”

Feeling the urge to make himself busy and justify his boss’s assessment of him, Kaspar glanced at the bowl of lemons and limes that stood on the counter at the back of the bar. “Should I get on with cutting up some fruit?”

“Thanks, Kaspar. That would really help me out. When you’ve done that, could you go into the stock room and bring out a box of plain crisps and a box of sea salt and vinegar. We’re running low on both flavors. And the bucket of ice cubes will probably need refilling, too.”

Kaspar set about the first of his tasks, slicing into a lemon while the Whites continued to chat. He tried not to eavesdrop but their voices were at a pitch he found hard to ignore.

“Marcus, why haven’t you brought that lovely wife of yours with you?” Marina asked. “I’d booked the three of us a table at this great new Thai restaurant on Broad Street. We’ve got so much catching up to do.”

“Well, Thérèse sends her apologies. She was really looking forward to coming over, but she’s not too well at the moment.”

“Oh, it’s nothing serious, I hope?”

“Just a bad case of morning sickness.”

It seemed to take Marina a moment for the penny to drop, but when it did, she let out a delighted squeal and hugged her twin. “You mean I’m going to be an aunt? That’s wonderful. But how’s everyone taken the news at the chateau?”

“By everyone, I take it you mean Jean-Luc? Oh, he’s happy for us, but when I told him, it was almost as though the information didn’t actually touch him. I sometimes wonder if he’s ever going to get over Benoit.”

“These things take time, Marcus. You have to give him room to grieve.”

“I have, believe me, sis, but it’s so sad to see Jean-Luc just going through the motions of living.”

“Maybe things will change when the baby is born.”

“Maybe.” Marcus shrugged. “Look, I need to be on my way. I’ve got to drop off a case of the latest vintage at that wine shop on Green Street then I’m off to Bristol. I should be back around four. What time did you book the table for?”

“Seven-thirty. That should give you time for a power nap before we go out.” Marina embraced her brother once more. “I’ll see you at the house, okay?”

She waved to Marcus as he left the bar then heaved a rueful sigh. “I love my brother,” she said to Kaspar, “but he takes far too much on sometimes.”

“What do you mean?”

“Marcus is supposed to be an equal partner in the business with his brother-in-law, Jean-Luc,” she explained, “but since Benoit died, Jean-Luc has taken less and less of an interest in the day-to-day running of the chateau.”

“Who was Benoit?”

“Jean-Luc’s mate. He was killed in an accident just over eighteen months ago. It was a wet night, and he lost control of his car on the road just outside Epernay. Jean-Luc was devastated. Well, you can imagine. To lose the one you’re bonded to…”

“It must be awful. Though I don’t want to sound cruel, but have you considered it could be part of his destiny? Maybe there’s someone else waiting for him—someone he doesn’t even expect,” Kaspar suggested. “I mean, just before I left Amsterdam, I discovered that a relative of mine has a human mate.”

“You’re joking.”

“Not at all. He was introduced to us at a family meeting, and when I saw them together, it just seemed like it was meant to be. Like it is with all of us, I suppose.”

“But…a human. That goes against everything we’ve been taught.” Marina shook her head and gave a little chuckle. “Well, I think I’ve heard everything now.”

Kaspar bit his lip. He wanted so badly to talk about Jon, to let Marina know he’d met his destined mate here in her bar and he saw no shame in bonding with a human, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to make her understand.

Marina regarded Kaspar, who leaned against the counter by the cash register. “Those crisps aren’t going to fetch themselves, are they?”