Page 21 of Tender Wild

Jared tilted his head slightly, exposing more of his neck. “More than okay,” he whispered.

Miguel’s lips grazed the skin just below the man’s ear.

“What was that for?” Jared purred the question, a soft, vibrating noise that made Miguel’s wolf softly growl.

He continued to massage sinewy muscles. “Because I wanted to.”

Nothing complicated about it. He’d been thinking about the softness of Jared’s skin since their kiss behind the tavern. The memory was sweet and persistent, cutting through even the horrors of that warehouse.

“Feeling better?” he asked against Jared’s neck.

The cheetah nodded, eyes half-closed. “Much.”

“Falling asleep on me, hermoso?”

Jared twisted slightly, looking over his shoulder. Those incredible eyes held a question Miguel couldn’t quite interpret.

Their lips met awkwardly at first, not quite lining up until Miguel shifted a bit, his hand gently holding Jared’s jaw. The kiss deepened, mouths open and eager, the guy’s lips tasting like blueberry syrup with a hint of orange juice.

He pulled Jared flush to his body, the solid weight of his back now pressed against Miguel’s chest, his lips trailing over the skin where neck met shoulder.

Miguel’s hands drifted lower, gliding over lean muscle trapped beneath denim. His palms curved around the man’s thighs, finally addressing the complaint that had started this.

“Still hurt?” Miguel asked.

A breathless laugh escaped Jared. “Less and less by the second.”

Between kisses, Miguel worked his thumbs into the dense muscle, massaging away the stiffness. Each press drew tiny sounds from Jared, not quite moans, but something equally sensual. His fingertips traced the inseam of Jared’s jeans, feeling heat through the fabric.

“Your hands should be illegal,” Jared whispered, eyelids drifting closed.

Miguel laughed against the guy’s jaw. “Just my hands?”

“I should’ve known you’d have magic hands from the way you handle that bike.” Jared smirked.

A low growl rumbled in Miguel’s throat, his fingers digging deeper into the muscle of Jared’s thighs. “Keep talking like that, kitty, and we’ll find out just how magical my hands really are.”

Jared’s pupils dilated, nearly swallowing the green. “That a threat or a promise?”

“With you, always a promise.”

He filled with primal male satisfaction as their tongues tasted and explored. Miguel kept kneading Jared’s thighs, working the length of muscle until he felt them grow buttery soft.

“Someone’s feeling better.” Miguel nipped Jared’s lower lip, while tracing the curve of his jaw. Those green eyes flecked with gold held him completely captive.

“You’re staring.” Jared played with the hem of Miguel’s shirt.

“Hard not to, gorgeous.”

The male arched into the touch, arms wrapping around Miguel to pull him even closer. The kiss turned messy, wild, teeth catching on lips, a growl erupting, a purr slipping free.

Miguel slid his hands under Jared’s shirt, mapping ribs and the flat plane of his stomach, skin like silk under his calloused fingers.

From somewhere in the house came an indignant meow followed by the sound of something being knocked over with a crash. Neither man looked up.

Miguel tugged at the hem of Jared’s shirt. “Get this off.”

Jared sat up enough to pull the fabric over his head. Moonlight from the window painted silver across his chest, highlighting the lean muscle and smooth skin. A constellation of freckles dusted his shoulders, trailing down his chest like stars. Miguel’s breath caught at the sight.

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