Garrett's Choice Read online

  roared his frustration, sending some birds in a nearby tree to flight.

  Garrett smiled down at him and pushed forward in one forceful thrust.

  “Holy shit!” Lachlan hadn’t bottomed in a long while, and the burn was intense. He sucked in mouthful after mouthful of air. His ass tightened around the large pole shoved up nice and deep. He just needed a second to adjust.

  His mate didn’t move or rush him. Garrett lowered his body to cover him, and the slight shift caused Lachlan to jerk beneath his mate.

  “Shh, breathe, Lachlan.” Garrett dropped soft, gentle kisses to Lachlan’s jawline and cheeks. “Accept me into your body.”

  Lachlan tried to do as Garrett asked, but without lube his channel wanted to protest the dry claiming. He closed his eyes and wiggled slightly to accommodate the large dick in his body. After a few swirls of his hips, the pain ebbed a bit. The pinch of pain added to the fire coursing through Lachlan’s cock to settle in his balls. He wanted more.

  Garrett growled as he plowed forward taking what he wanted from Lachlan’s greedy hole. With every slap of Garrett’s hips, Lachlan raised up to deepen the stroke. Now that the pain faded to mind-blowing arousal like he never felt before, Lachlan needed more.

  If Garrett wanted to shove his balls in Lachlan’s ass, he’d let the man.

  He craved everything about his mate and wanted the man to crawl inside him and never leave.

  “So tight, so good,” Garrett grunted. “Please god, say you’re close. I’m not going to last much longer. It’s been too long.” Garrett’s hips never faltered.

  Reaching between their bodies, Lachlan fisted his overheated cock. The veins bulged around his length feeling about ready to burst.

  Lachlan stroked the taut skin in quick tugs. He wanted them to come together this first time.

  “Yeah, that’s it. Fuck yourself for me baby.” Garrett groaned as pulled out of Lachlan’s body. He bent his head forward, where 16

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  Lachlan’s leg creased at the hip and bit down hard. Lachlan gasped at the initial contact. Garrett’s canines sliced through Lachlan’s skin like a knife through butter.

  “Garrett!” Lachlan screamed heavenward. The bite almost threw him over the edge to utter and complete ecstasy.

  “Hang on, baby.” Garrett bit into his own wrist then swiped up a collection of his and Lachlan’s blood and covered his cock in the fluid. Grabbing Lachlan around the hips he surged back in, balls deep.

  Lachlan lifted his legs higher in the air, needing more of that deep-seated pleasure only a hard cock fucking him good and proper could supply.

  He kept the steady down-up pull on his dick. The tingling in his balls fanned out across his body, making him feel a warm and fuzzy heat in his veins. He locked eyes with Garrett as the first jet of cum left his body to spatter along his chest.

  Garrett’s hips moved at supersonic speed as he slammed into Lachlan’s body. Lachlan’s ass muscles contracted around Garrett’s length, sucking the pearly-white seed from his mate’s body. Garrett’s breath hitched and his body went jackknife straight. His body was like an angled plank across Lachlan, every muscle strung taut and quivering as Garrett’s cum bathed Lachlan’s insides.

  Lachlan could feel pieces of Garrett’s soul fuse to his, melding together as one. They were no longer two separate souls but one stronger that held the promise of eternal love.

  When the spasms died off, Garrett fell forward resting his chest against Lachlan’s. Lachlan had to admit that was one of the best things about having a male lover, never having the fear of crushing his partner. He loved to feel the heavy weight of a man surrounding him, and now Garrett held that honor for the rest of his life. Lachlan hugged Garrett close, tucking his head into his mate’s neck, breathing in the scent of their lovemaking.

  “It’s done,” Garrett whispered into his ear. “We’re bonded together until death do us part.”

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  A smile curled his upper lip. “I love the sound of that,” Lachlan said, unashamed to admit it. Garrett was a good man who would love him forever.

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  Chapter Two

  “So let me get this straight.” Lachlan sat forward in his chair to stare at Ben. “I’m being ordered by the council to move back in with my mate?” Taking a breath, Lachlan took a moment to arrange his thoughts. “Excuse me if I’m wrong on this, but since when is it the council’s business what takes place between mated couples?”

  Lachlan didn’t like being a hard-ass, but Ben knew why he left Garrett. After only one fucking week of actually living together, the whole relationship went south. Garrett felt since he was the alpha that Lachlan had to obey his orders. Well that was all fine in theory, but that was not the way Lachlan had been wired.

  Garrett being a demanding prick was only half the problem. There were some of Garrett’s pack members who just flat-out hated Lachlan. They thought him being a lion shifter made him less of a paranormal being when compared to a wolf. The things they would say were just too disrespectful for Lachlan to have to bear. If he stayed beyond the one week he tried to make the relationship work, he’d be charged with murder. The teasing and callous attitude was too much for a man to have to handle. So Lachlan did the adult thing and left.

  Garrett tried to give some song and dance that he had to stay impartial with these matters. Lachlan understood that, he truly did.

  With the witch, Damon, on the loose, they had to take precautions, but Garrett could have at least stood up for him and made it clear that Lachlan was to be treated fairly.

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  “Typically they don’t, but this is a different matter altogether.”

  Ben ran a hand through the already-mussed strands. Lachlan could see the strain on his boss’s face from having to request this of him.

  “How so?” Lachlan asked.

  “Questioning Garrett’s pack hasn’t gotten us anywhere. Either they don’t know anything or they’re just not talking. Take your pick.

  But now there is talk about the pack wanting to appoint a new alpha.

  It’s all hearsay, but you never know. I’ve met a few of the Carrington Pack members, and they all seem to just adore Garrett. So this could just be the council getting their panties in a twist.”

  “Ben, how does all this involve me?” Lachlan didn’t understand how his choosing to leave Garrett had any effect on the council and the possibility of Garrett losing his rank as alpha. Garrett was a fit and athletic guy. He’d win against any challenger who would choose to fight the man. “Garrett’s a fierce and strong alpha. He wouldn’t lose a fight for his leadership.” Lachlan shrugged like what he said made perfect sense and that anyone would have to agree.

  “I’d like to agree with that assessment, but we can’t chance it.

  With the possibility of witches being involved with this wolf pack, we can’t allow them to let another wolf challenge Garrett for alpha. This could be the witch’s plan all along. There’re too many unknowns for us to just put Garrett at risk of losing leadership of his pack.”

  “Once again how does this involve me?” Lachlan was getting snappy, but he wanted the straight truth.

  “It boils down to this.” Ben pointed his finger across the desk at Lachlan. “You need to move back in with your mate and show a united front. There are talks that some of the wolves in his pack aren’t happy that the alpha’s mate has chosen to live away from him. They think if Garrett can’t control you, then he can’t keep control of the pack.”

  A bitter taste clung to Lachlan’s tongue. There’s that word again, control. What was with these wolves and the need to control everything and everyone in their path? He didn’t want to let down the 20

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  council, but Lachlan felt as if he was selling his soul if he agreed to this arrangement. He understood the circumstances if a corrupt wolf took over the pack, but did La
chlan have to sacrifice himself to prevent that from happening?

  “What if I say no?” he had to ask. What were his options if he defied the council?

  Ben snapped his fingers and pointed at Lachlan again. “See, I knew you would ask that and told my father as such.” Lachlan watched as Ben rummaged through the papers on his desk looking for something. Ben’s father, Benedict, was a bigwig over at council headquarters. His job consisted of running all sections of the Warriors of the Light and serving as head of security at the Council of Paranormal Beings. A lot rested on Benedict’s shoulders, and the man at times liked to flaunt his power when the need called for it, and Lachlan crossed his fingers praying this wasn’t one of those times.

  “Oh, here it is.” Ben pulled out a paper out from under his keyboard. He held it up and stared over at Lachlan. “Now remember these are my father’s words, not mine. Okay?” Lachlan nodded his understanding.

  “He said that if you refuse to do as the council has asked, he’ll send your cat ass up to Alaska. Where you”—Ben darted his eyes up from the paper—“I’m quoting this here, can freeze your furry little ass off.”

  Lachlan’s head fell to his shoulders. Shit! He knew Benedict meant it, too. That guy didn’t fuck around. When he gave an order, he expected it to be followed through without question.

  A loud grunt followed by a low growl rumbled across the room.

  Lachlan turned to see his mate glaring at Ben. Garrett’s hands were wrapped tightly around the chair’s arm rests, displaying white, bloodless knuckles from the death grip he had on the poor chair.

  “What?” Ben asked. He had one eyebrow cocked in question. “I didn’t write this.”

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  Lachlan stared at his mate who fidgeted in his chair. Garrett’s tan skin had a hint of pink underlying tones, causing the skin to absolutely glow. There had never been a question in Lachlan’s mind that Garrett’s was beyond handsome, but looks weren’t everything.

  After several seconds and some deep breathing, Garrett finally spoke. “I just don’t like my mate to be spoken to like that. Be it face-to-face or through the written word. Lachlan should be treated with respect.”

  “Oh please.” Lachlan rolled his eyes. “Now you want to stick up for me?” He turned his full attention to Garrett. “The phrase too little too late was invented for moments just like this.”

  “Dear god, you are a thickheaded man!” Garrett shifted to stare daggers at Lachlan. “I’ve always had your back, but I’m the alpha of my pack. I have to be neutral, especially now with that fucking witch on the loose.”

  “It goes beyond just that.” Lachlan stood up. “You treat me as if I’m to be your trained little puppy always at attention and ready to do as you wish. Fuck that and fuck you.” He was losing his shit, but he couldn’t help it. He’d just been ordered to go live with Garrett or go freeze his butt off in Alaska. Either way he was fucked.

  Garrett rose to his full six and half feet and took a step toward Lachlan. Lachlan was only a few inches shorter than Garrett, but he still had to fight the need to take a step back from the animalistic craze swirling in the stormy, blue depths of his mate’s eyes.

  Lachlan held his ground, unwilling to show any signs of weakness. To cower in defeat would only prove to Garrett that Lachlan needed to be taken care of and that he should retire from serving with the Warriors of the Light.

  Heat radiated off of Garrett’s body in subtle waves, causing Lachlan’s skin to tingle with awareness. Garrett’s intimidating frame always had the opposite effect on Lachlan. He wanted to hang on to his anger, but being so near to the one man that held his heart broke 22

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  down Lachlan’s resolve. It almost made Lachlan want to forget his checklist for the perfect mate and Garrett’s controlling ways. Almost.

  Garrett, being an alpha, loved to be in charge, and secretly, Lachlan kind of liked that about his mate, but he also wanted Garrett to know he wasn’t going to be pushed around just because fate stuck him with an alpha. There was no denying he was attracted to Garrett, but sexual attraction and sex were only a small part of any mating.

  Respect and understanding were key to making any relationship work.

  But damn if standing this close to his most desired temptation didn’t crack the majority of his resolve.

  “Are you damaged?” Garrett asked in a low whisper. “I fucking love you, and all I get in return is what I didn’t do or how I did it wrong. You’re impossible to please.” Garrett grabbed Lachlan by the biceps and squeezed the firm muscles tightly in his grasp. A shudder zinged through Lachlan’s body at the rough touch. “I have half a mind to bend you over my knee.”

  Lachlan’s lips parted, and all the air in his lungs rushed out. The air crackled between them and Lachlan could feel the electric current move across his flesh. He couldn’t help but be turned on by Garrett’s aggressive, take-charge attitude.

  “Okay, that’s enough, you two.” Ben stood, placed his hands on his desk, and leaned across it. “I get you guys have some unresolved issues, but you’ll have to figure that out on your own time. Now please sit back in your seats.”

  Garrett’s eyes never left Lachlan’s. Lachlan watched as Garrett’s pupils shrunk back to normal size, but he could still hear the rapid tempo of his mate’s heart rate. With a look to Ben, Garrett released Lachlan’s arms and went to his seat.

  The temperature in the room felt as if it had dropped twenty degrees. Without his mate’s touch, Lachlan felt bereft. He wanted to seek out more of that scorching heat his mate emitted through his pores, but to do that would be to admit defeat and play by Garrett’s rules, and Lachlan wasn’t ready to do that.

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  Lachlan fell back into his chair and stared at the floor in front of him. His skin itched with the need to come, and his cock had filled to half-mast, but he refused to acknowledge the bulge in his jeans.

  Garrett was undoubtedly an attractive man. His body’s reaction had nothing to do with love. It was just a means to an end. And the end was Lachlan screaming wildly as he shot his load across Garrett’s finely chiseled chest.

  “You have to go. There’s no choice in the matter,” Ben answered before Lachlan could speak. “I can tell by the look on your face that you don’t like this, but you have to see the magnitude of the situation.

  I, no, we need your cooperation in this matter, Lachlan.” The hard lines around Ben’s mouth and eyes softened. “Please, my friend. Help us catch this witch.”

  Ben had been a good friend and an excellent leader to Lachlan.

  He’d probably do anything the man asked of him, even this. Lachlan chewed on the inside of his cheek as he gave one more moment’s thought to what he already knew he’d agree to. “Okay.”

  “Thank you, Lachlan. The council and I both appreciate your willingness to help out.”

  Lachlan gave one last quick nod to Ben and stood to leave. The council needed him to be professional and do his job. Being a Warrior of the Light gave his life purpose, and he didn’t want to let down the only family that accepted him and his brother, Lawson, when their pride threw them out.

  As he reached the door, with his hand on the knob, he turned to Garrett. “I’ll be to your home as soon as I can.” Lachlan pulled it open and stepped out into the hallway. “When I get there you can give me the details of what is to be expected of me.”

  Not waiting for an answer, Lachlan headed down the hallway that led to the staircase. He needed to pack his things and head out before he lost his nerve and couldn’t go through with it. Living apart from Garrett made them not being together easier, but living under the same roof? Now that would be more difficult. He was already 24

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  suffering the aches and pains of not being with Garrett, and now the temptation to assuage his desire lay within his reach.

  “I’m so fucked,” Lachlan mumbled to himself as he made his way
to his bedroom. There wasn’t a timeline on how long he had to stay with Garrett, so he might as well prepare himself for the long haul.

  There were more important things at stake than his pride, and that’s what made him an excellent warrior. He put others first and looked at the big picture. And right now they had to find this witch running amuck within the Carrington Pack. Lachlan couldn’t handle it if someone else got hurt, or worse, lost their life.

  Garrett watched as Lachlan walked out the door and didn’t say a word. Really, what could he say? He fucked up. Being an alpha didn’t mean jack shit in his relationship with Lachlan. Lachlan wanted an understanding and loving mate, not one wanting to control his every move. Garrett didn’t do the things he did out of his need to control Lachlan but more out of fear. He’d waited years to find his mate, and to lose Lachlan would be his undoing. If Lachlan were to die during a mission for the council, Garrett would be good as dead, too. The love he had for Lachlan was so strong there was no way he could go on without him.

  “Will he ever forgive me?” Garrett asked Ben, hoping the other man could give him some insight. Lachlan and he had only been mates for a month, and Garrett didn’t know enough about Lachlan to know how long the man could hold a grudge.

  “I’m sure he will in time, but you need to give him some space.

  Like most men he doesn’t do well when given orders he doesn’t agree with. After what happened with his family, Lachlan keeps himself guarded. He’s constantly in protect mode.”

  “His family?” Garrett’s brows drew together in confusion. He hated to admit it, but he didn’t know what Ben was referring to. He Garrett’s Choice

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  and Lachlan hadn’t gotten that far in their relationship where they shared their pasts with one another.

  Ben narrowed his eyes at him. Garrett felt like he was being judged for a crime he hadn’t known he committed. “Lachlan never told you about this family or how he came to be a member of the Warriors of the Light?” Garrett shook his head no. “Huh, that’s interesting. One would think you all’s past would be at the top of the list of topics to discuss.”