Breaking the Ice Read online

  “You’re the only one I ever wanted.”

  “I only need you, Kell. I swear it.” It felt important to say it out loud. Kell was his one and only. “So, what will we do lying in bed all day, baby? Should we get snacks?” Kell was usually hungry.

  “We should! We can read or watch a movie and snack and make love. I’ve never done that before.”

  “Neither have I.” In perfect agreement, they got up, heading to the bathroom, then the kitchen. They gathered salty things, chips and crackers and cheese. Then they went back to the bedroom.

  Kell carefully arranged pillows and blankets into a lovely nest, warm and comfortable. How had he lived without this?

  Liam shook his head. Nathan was always telling him to live in the now. Not to dwell. So he would look to the moment. To Kell.

  To those sharp black eyes that watched him, adored him, held him close.

  He beamed at Kell, his heart swelling with happiness. “I love you.”

  Oh, he loved how he could see how the man preened with pleasure, just like the bird did.

  That beaky nose wrinkled, and that was the only warning he had before Kell leaped at him, jumping into his arms.

  “My lion. My mate. We mate forever. We love our mates forever.” Kell dropped happy kisses on his face.

  “We do!” Both their species did. “Are you mad I didn’t dream about you? I’m not a dreamer. I knew the moment I saw you, though.”

  “No. No, I’m not mad. I was worried you thought I was lying.”

  “No, love. I’m not sure I understand it? It’s magic. Maybe because you were born here and I was born on the other side of the veil.”

  “Maybe. Do you miss it?”

  “Not really, no. Hunters go after my kind all the time. We’re relentlessly driven out of human habitat and my range was getting tiny.”

  “Here you’re safe and wanted. One mountain lion, two bears, three bobcats, three wolves, and the rest of us!”

  Yes, ravens were scavengers, not apex predators. Nine top of the food chain predators were—“A magic number.”

  “What?” Kell blinked at him.

  “Nine. It’s the number of the universe, the last single-digit number. It’s what Mother was talking about. Our space can only hold us.”

  “So no more can come? No more wolves?”

  “Maybe not.” He would pose it to Mother, see what she thought.

  “How fascinating. So long as we’re here. Together.”

  “That’s it. I’m here with you now, and that’s all that matters.” Liam could let the rest go as long as the pack didn’t find a way to follow them over. He needed Mai and Ash and Halian to be safe.

  Kell curled into his lap, humming low in his throat, the song rough and guttural and somehow wonderful.

  If he had his tail, it would be sliding back and forth. Instead, he chuffed, using his hands to slide all over Kell. He loved that smooth skin, loved how Kell rocked and pressed into him.

  “I love how your hands feel on me, lion.” Kell trusted him, arching into his touch with no hesitation.

  “Good. I can’t seem to stop touching you.” He licked his lips, wanting a kiss. Kell made him so… well, horny. Liam loved that connection. Craved it.

  Kell pushed into the kisses, tongue pressing in to taste him, the connection sharp, hungry. Wanton.

  He wrapped his arms around that lean body, pulling Kell to him, up on his lap. Was he sitting down? He hoped so. The world seemed solid, so he must be. He didn’t want to work too hard to find out.

  Kell knelt tall over his lap, hunched over for their kisses. Those long fingers gripped his cheeks, holding him in place to Kell could give him everything, sharing breath and friction.

  He wanted to explore here in the soft bed, touch Kell everywhere and lick his bird until he sang.

  “Want to make you fly,” Kell told him. “So you can see what it’s like.”

  “I want that too.” Lian petted that sweet ass.

  “Are you going to take me? Fuck me? Fill me?”

  His eyes flew open. Wicked bird.

  “I am. Because you’re going to ride me, baby. There’s lube in that drawer to your right.”

  He watched Kell lean, watched muscles play and stretch, making his mouth water. He was so glad to be home.

  His bird was lean and strong, the tanned skin making him need to growl. He let the sound loose, watching Kell shiver and moan. Kell got the lube out of the drawer, handing it to him.

  They hadn’t done this before, and his heart raced with anticipation. He wanted to make it right for his Kell.

  “Shh. It will be perfect because it’s us and we’re here at home.” Kell helped him open the tube when he fumbled. “I’m not scared, lion. I’m made for you. For your cock.”

  “Kell! Goddess the things you say. You make me crazy.” And hard. And ready.

  Kell laughed and slicked Liam’s fingers. “Get me ready?”

  “Yes.” He rubbed the lube all over two fingers, then pushed them back to line up with Kell’s entrance. He wanted inside that hot, tight hole. Liam knew what it felt like now, and it was paradise.

  Kell knelt up tall, exposing his ass without having a bit of hesitation. So he pressed both fingers right in, knowing it would give Kell a hell of a sensation, and a maddening stretch. Kell’s belly drew in and up, that sweet prick bobbing where it curled up. It fascinated him, but he watched without touching anything but Kell’s ass.

  He wanted to surprise his lover when it was time to touch his dick.

  Kell balanced himself on his shoulders, driving himself down, over and over, so steady. He loved how Kell was used to having wings, how his balance never went off. Liam always felt like gravity was pulling on him.

  It was like watching a dance—the single most erotic, heated, private dance he’d ever seen. Not skeezy, just something for a man and his mate. Liam’s mouth went dry, his dick giving a little jerk at the sight.

  “Goddess, I can smell you, love. Smell your need.” Kell was so open, the dark hair swinging as Liam fed him another finger. “Yes…”

  “So tight. I love how you feel. I could do this forever.”

  “I accept.” Kell leaned down and brought their mouths together. “Forever.”

  Liam grunted, his body bucking. He needed to get inside Kell before he lost it completely.

  Kell nodded like he knew, which he probably did, to be honest, and he pulled his fingers away. Kell lined him up with one hand and sank down around him.

  “Oh. Oh damn.” Liam growled out the words, his body on fire. “Love. Please.”

  Kell braced himself with one hand square in the center of Liam’s chest, moving in sure, slow waves of motion.

  Liam watched him, eyelids heavy, but he fought closing them. He wanted to see every moment of this. Every nanosecond.

  “It’s the first time, mate, not the last. You can have me any time.”

  “I know. I still don’t want to miss it.” Liam wanted every time to be just this special. Maybe that was silly, but this was Kell. His Kell, who had dreamed him. He grabbed those lean hips, helping Kell move faster.

  “Oh.” He loved the little sounds Kell offered him, so unique, specific only to him.

  They rocked together, Liam growling, Kell calling, the air around them swirling with magic. He could see it—bright and sparkly, dizzying him. He loved that about this side of the veil. They were mating, and it was visible.

  “My lion. You make me… ache.”

  “Good. I want you to come back to me every night hungry for me. Needy.”

  “And on lazy afternoons.”

  “And on mornings after coffee and pastry.” He huffed, his breath starting to come hard, his cock swelling even more.

  “And… and… Oh, love. Love, right there!”

  He nodded. Liam could feel Kell squeezing around him. He’d hit a good spot, something sensitive, so he tried to hit it again. The way Kell moved on him, yelled for him, inspired greater heights.

&n
bsp; Liam drove in to his mate, roaring with his pleasure, Kell’s answering cry making him dizzy. All he could do was pant and hold on. It took him a long minute after they both spent their need to pry his hands off Kell’s hips.

  Kell slumped down over him, blanketing him with his body.

  Liam stroked the long line of Kell’s back, always amazed by those delicate lines of muscle and bone. So streamlined. So perfect.

  “Oh, lion.” Kell trilled softly. “It’s good. We’re good.”

  “We are. Home. Thank you for coming to get me.”

  “I had to. You’re my lion.”

  “Your stubborn butthead lion.” His belly rumbled, making them both laugh. “Must be time to eat more.”

  “Yes. You need more food. You were starting to get skinny.”

  “I was ready to just let go, love. Right or wrong.” He’d been… hopeless.

  “No. No letting go. I need you to fly.”

  “I’m here. I swear, I’m not going anywhere.” Not ever again. Even if his love sent him away, he would come back. They would talk instead of having massive drama.

  Kell hummed and shivered, just snuggling into him. “Love.”

  “Yes.” That was the crux of it. They had love. The rest they could work on.

  Chapter 9

  Kell loved their house.

  While Liam slept and ate and healed his soul, Kell decorated. He brought gems and bits of pretty glass, jingling bells and interesting sticks and stones. He added pillows, a rocking chair from Nathan, and Ash made him cups and bowls.

  He filled the house with music as he swept, putting rugs on the floors to keep them warm, and feeding the fire.

  Liam seemed… bemused occasionally. His lion didn’t need much, he thought. That was why the house had been so stark. But Liam didn’t object, just blinked once in a while when a new piece of furniture appeared.

  It suited him to the ground, though, and when Angela pulled a double papasan from her basement, Kell was over the moon. He did love his perches, and he and Liam fit just right once he got a cushion cover from Halian. That pillow was a little ratty. Now it looked brand-new.

  In fact, that was where he found Liam after he went to take a little soar over the woods, stretched out asleep, luxurious belly fur showing, paws crossed as Liam lay on his side.

  “Mmm. Aren’t you pretty?” He dug in and scratched Liam’s belly, humming nice and slow as his fingers dug in. “Good afternoon, lazy kitty.”

  “Lazy?” Liam yawned, nice and slow, making sure Kell saw all his teeth.

  “Uh-huh. Lazy. Pretty. Sexy. Mine.”

  Those claws flexed, but nowhere near Halian’s pillow cover. “Nnoooot lazy. Just comfortable. The rest is true.”

  “Love you.” He scratched happily, digging in just like Liam liked it.

  Liam kicked those paws out, scratching the air. “Mmmmm.”

  “Pretty kitty.” He leaned in, nuzzling close.

  “Bird brain.” Liam rubbed that furry cheek against him, scenting him.

  “Ha!” He bumped Liam with his nose, humming low.

  They groomed each other, which ended up with Liam holding him down with one big paw and licking his neck. That tongue was rough as sandpaper.

  It shouldn’t feel good, but it did, weirdly. Not in a creepy way, but in a “my lion loves me” way. Comforting and warm.

  Liam finally drew him in, almost spooning him, urging him to be lazy too. He let himself melt, sink into that soft, hot fur.

  Oh, this was so wonderful. “What do you want for supper?”

  Liam rumbled, and he had an image of a steak…

  “Yum. Okay. That’s good. I like beef.”

  Liam nuzzled him, rumbling happily. Big kitty. He loved this, being home, being with his mate, being whole.

  Oddly enough, the only thing he missed from the other was his dog friend Sadie. She’d been good to him.

  She belonged over there, though, with her mom, who had also been good to him.

  Liam tilted his head. “A dog?”

  “A hound dog. She led me to a safe place to rest over there.”

  “Oh. That’s very cool.” Liam sighed a little. “I’m sorry, love.”

  “Stop.” He pinched Liam’s ear, hard.

  “Ow!” Liam shifted in rush, grabbing him. “No pinching.”

  He pinched Liam’s nipple this time, playing hard.

  “Oh, butthead.” Liam reached down to pinch his ass.

  “Your butthead.” He shifted away.

  “Mine.” Liam rolled with him, putting him on his back, a heavy weight on top of him.

  “Oh. Hey.” Yum. He could handle this.

  “Hey, You’ve been busy. I like this chair thing.”

  “I do too! It’s like a little nest inside our nest!”

  “It is. The cover is very soft. Halian made it?”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “I’m glad you took him under your wing.” Liam snorted at his own joke.

  “Ha ha.” Kell’s sarcasm was totally lost, because he starting cackling, totally tickled.

  Liam snorted, and then they were laughing again, rolling around the chair with it until they thudded to the floor.

  They blinked together, then clung together, just howling with their laughter. His belly hurt, and tears streamed down his face. Oh, heavens, that felt good.

  He’d always had so much fun with Liam. Now, though, now the fun was glorious, and it didn’t have to end. Now they had each other for hours, all night long and tomorrow and the day after that.

  They kissed, just because they could, but Liam’s next belly growl had them laughing again.

  “You’re something else, my lion.”

  “Yeah, but what?” Liam laughed again for him, his grumpy cat happier than he could remember.

  “My heartbeat, of course.”

  Liam sobered. “Oh, love. Thank you.” He got a hug that rivaled Nathan’s.

  Kell snuggled in with Liam, sighing happily. “I’m so happy, Liam.”

  “I’m glad. I love you, you big dork.”

  “I know. I’ve always known that. You’re good to me.”

  “I never doubted you there either.” Liam held him a little too tight, but that was okay. “I doubted me.”

  He got that, he thought. It was easy for him to believe. He was a silly bird.

  “Not silly.” Liam pinched his butt. “Hopeful. Loving. Bird brain.” That gruffness made him laugh again, because it was so Liam, so much his old friend.

  “Yes. Gronk. Want to play Scrabble?”

  They’d been playing on and off for years, both of them an equal match on that field.

  “Yes! As long as we get a snack.” That belly was sounding like an earthquake.

  “Jerky?” He, like his mate, was mostly carnivorous.

  “Please.” They moved to the kitchen, ending up with jerky and pepperoni and salami and a little cheese.

  Liam pulled out the board, Kell poured tea, and then they settled in their nest, warm and happy, ready to play.

  He hoped this would be the pattern for the rest of their lives. He surely did.

  Chapter 10

  Liam woke early and headed into town, whistling all the way.

  Nathan had texted him to tell him that Angie was making little pastries like the ones from the big hotel and that he should get some before they were all gone. She’d even made savory pies with meat.

  He wanted them to share with his raven. The bird had enjoyed them so much. And meat ones! Liam the man loved sweets, but his cat was so much more fond of savory. Liam bounced a bit, like Tigger, feeling so good.

  Ash met him about halfway, the crazy wolf hugging him tight. “I’m getting Maicoh a fancy coffee!”

  “I’m getting Kell pastry and tea!” They shared a huge grin.

  “Are you settling back in? I spent a lot of time chasing Mai around in circles.”

  “We’re great.” In fact, they were so honeymoon period he was worried, waiting for the other shoe to d
rop. He was not sunny by nature, so he gnawed on things like they were leg bones.

  “But?”

  “Huh?”

  Ash shrugged. “You sounded like there was a but coming.”

  “I just worry. The pendulum has swung too far not to be moving wildly.” He hated to be a pessimist, but he was. Maybe a realist, if he were very quiet about it.

  “How do you figure? You and Kell have been friends forever.”

  “We have. I just feel all off balance.” He shrugged, then grinned for Ash. “Did Mai let you catch him?”

  “About half the time, yeah.” Ash winked for him.

  “Oh ho!” He chortled, leading the way into the coffee shop.

  “The other half of the time, I let him catch me.”

  “I figured you were gonna say that. Morning, Angie!”

  “Morning, Liam. I have your pastries packaged up. You need one caramel latte or two?”

  “Two, please.” He beamed, so tickled.

  “You got it. Hey, Ash, honey. You doing good?”

  “Fine, lady. Bright blessing.”

  “Good, good. I might need more mugs soon.”

  “I’ll bring you some.” Ash’s face lit up like it was Yule. “I love making things.”

  “Must be a wolf thing, hmm?” he asked. He’d never met a busier group.

  “They do need a job.” He got a broad wink while she made coffee. “Just like my kind needs their creature comforts, and you need sunbeams and something to chase.”

  “I do. And naps. We have naps in common.”

  “We all have naps in common, don’t we?” He chuffed softly, purred.

  “We do. Well, maybe not Kell.”

  “Oh, Kell naps,” Liam said. He’d worn his bird brain out a few afternoons. “Head under his wing.”

  “Even Mai naps. And he’s the busiest man I know.” Ash blushed dark, but that smile went on and on and on.

  “Sweet man.” Angie winked.

  “No. No, my mate is fierce and good, but not so sweet.”

  “He’s a good man,” Liam agreed.

  “Yes. My good man.”

  “Yours,” Angela agreed. “Maybe I’ll hook up with Martin.”