Page 22 of Off Limits
Gabriel stirred, rolling over to press his face against Asher's neck with a sleepy rumble that went straight to Asher's cock. Even half-asleep, Gabriel's arm tightened around his waist, pulling him back against his chest.
Wolves, as it turned out, were possessive bastards.
Asher loved it.
"Storm's getting worse," Gabriel murmured, lips brushing the permanent bite mark on Asher's shoulder.
Wind howled through the trees outside, snow pelting the windows. The power had cut out an hour ago, but they'd expected that. Generator would handle the essentials. They had the fireplace. They had each other.
They'd weathered worse.
"We're not going anywhere for days," Asher said, threading his fingers through Gabriel's where they rested on his stomach. "Hope you're not sick of me yet."
Gabriel's laugh vibrated through Asher's back. "Never."
The word hit Asher the way it always did—like a fist to the chest, but good. He still wasn't used to being wanted. Being kept.
"Fire's probably getting low," Asher said, though he made no move to leave the warm cocoon of blankets and Gabriel's body.
"In a minute." Gabriel's teeth scraped over the bite mark, making Asher shiver. "Let me wake up properly first."
His hand was already moving, sliding down Asher's stomach with clear intent. Asher's breath caught as Gabriel's fingers found his cock, already half-hard from proximity alone.
"Thought you were waking up," Asher managed, hips pushing into Gabriel's touch. "This seems more like you're trying to put me back to sleep."
"Complaining?" Gabriel's voice had gone rough, that particular growl that meant his wolf was interested.
"Did I say stop? No? Then shut up and keep going."
Gabriel laughed against his neck. "Bossy."
"You love it when I tell you what to do," Asher shot back. "Makes you all growly and possessive."
"Everything makes me possessive about you."
"Sap," Asher accused, but he was already grinding back against Gabriel's cock. "Absolute fucking sap. What would your pack think if they knew their big bad wolf goes all gooey over—fuck!"
Gabriel had twisted his wrist just right, cutting off Asher's teasing. "You were saying?"
Gabriel loved everything about him—his smart mouth, his damaged past, the way he still sometimes woke up in a foul mood, wracked with nightmares. Loved him completely, without reservation.
It should have gotten old by now, the intensity of it. Should have settled into something comfortable and routine. Instead, Asher still felt like he was drowning in it, in the best way. Like he'd never get enough of Gabriel's hands on him, Gabriel's cock in him, Gabriel's teeth in his skin.
"Turn over," Gabriel said, and fuck, there was that commanding tone that made Asher's whole body light up.
Asher turned in his arms, finally getting to see Gabriel's face. Sleep-rumpled, hair sticking up at odd angles, that soft look in his eyes that was just for Asher. Beautiful bastard.
"Hi," Asher said, suddenly feeling weirdly shy.
It happened sometimes, even now. These moments where he couldn't believe this was real, that he got to have this.
"Hi yourself." Gabriel's hand came up to cup his jaw, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. "You okay?"
Because of course Gabriel noticed. Werewolf senses, but also just... Gabriel. Who'd spent years learning every tell, every mood, every defense mechanism Asher had.
"Yeah." Asher turned his head to kiss Gabriel's palm. "Just... happy."
The word still felt strange in his mouth. Happy. Like home, it was something he'd never expected to have.
