Page 19 of Off Limits
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This wasn't like before.
Before had been desperation and moon-madness, all teeth and claiming. This was deliberate. Soft. A choice made with clear minds and open hearts.
For a moment, Gabriel couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't do anything but feel Asher's mouth on his. Soft. Deliberate. A choice.
Then his hand came up to cup the back of Asher's neck, and he was kissing back with a tenderness that made his own chest ache. The kiss tasted like forgiveness and possibility, like years of suppressed hunger finally given permission to exist.
Years. Years of wanting this, of jerking off to the memory of Asher's scent, of turning down every interested man because his wolf would snarl at the thought of anyone who wasn'thim.
Years of celibacy that his friends couldn't understand, of his wolf rejecting every potential partner because it had already chosen.
And now Asher was kissing him like he was worth something, like Gabriel hadn't just spent fucked him raw under the full moon.
When they pulled apart, Gabriel felt cracked open, all his careful control useless against the reality of Asher looking at him likethat—soft and sure and unafraid despite the bruises Gabriel had left all over that perfect body.
"Fuck," Gabriel breathed, his voice rough with awe.
His hand was still on Asher's neck, thumb stroking over the bite mark there, feeling the way Asher shivered under the touch. Even that small reaction sent heat straight to his cock. His wolf preened—their mate was so responsive, so perfect.
"You're really here. You're really mine."
Without hesitation, Asher shifted closer, ignoring what had to be sore muscles, until he was straddling Gabriel's lap. The position put them at eye level, but more than that—it put Asher's weight directly over Gabriel's already hard cock, those lean thighs bracketing his hips. Even through the tattered remains of denim Asher wore—the same jeans Gabriel had shredded with his claws hours ago—Gabriel could feel the heat of him. The jacket Asher had thrown over his bare chest gaped open, showing the constellation of marks Gabriel had left in his moon madness.
"Been waiting for this," Asher said, holding Gabriel's gaze as he slowly shrugged out of the jacket.
The morning light caught every bruise, every bite, every claim Gabriel had made when he thought he was stealing something that wasn't freely given.
"For you to stop freaking out long enough to notice I'm not some innocent kid any more.”
Gabriel's hands flew to Asher's hips, fingers finding the tears in the denim, touching skin through the shredded fabric. His wolf keened with the need to repair, to reclaim, to do it right this time.
"Asher—"
"I wanted it." Asher's hands moved to what was left of his waistband. "Even when you were out of your mind. Even when you thought you were being some kind of monster."
Pop went the button. That devastating eye contact never wavered.
"News flash - I've fucked plenty of monsters. You're not one of them."
Gabriel watched, mesmerized, as Asher pushed the ruined jeans down his legs. No underwear—those had been casualties of Gabriel's claws too. When Asher settled back onto his lap, skin to skin this time, Gabriel groaned at the contact. He could feel the evidence of their earlier coupling—Asher was still slick, still marked inside and out from their mating.
A strange emotion twisted in Gabriel's chest, something possessive and hot.
"This is how it should have been the first time," Gabriel said roughly, his hands mapping Asher's bare thighs, his hips, the bruises he'd left. "You deserved better than me losing control?—"
"Shut up about what I deserved, already. I deserved to get fucked by the guy I've been obsessed with since I was eighteen. Andguess what? I got it. Your wolf did what you were too chickenshit to do for three years."
He leaned down, lips barely brushing Gabriel's. "Now the man needs to catch up. You gonna keep apologizing, or you gonna fuck me like you mean it?"
The challenge lit something primal in Gabriel. His wolf surged forward—not to take control, but to merge with the man, both parts of him finally in agreement. Without warning, he grabbed Asher's hips and ground him down hard against his cock, making them both gasp at the friction.
Gabriel's mind was spinning. This mouthy, perfect brat had been waiting for him.
His hands mapped Asher's thighs, feeling the muscles tremble, feeling how wet he still was where Gabriel's cock dragged against his hole.
No more words. Gabriel lifted Asher slightly, positioned himself, and pulled him down in one smooth motion.
