Bitten By Desire (Regent's Park Pack Book 3) Read online

  Reckless, irresponsible, stupid.

  All words that fit, but Alec found himself entering the club—a mixed one this time—and paying the entrance fee. Music thumped throughout the building, vibrating through Alec’s body, and assaulting his ears. He tuned out the noise as much as he could, concentrating on his sense of smell. With a mixture of humans and shifters, it should be easier to pick up Mark’s scent. In theory.

  The dance floor took up the whole of one side of the ground floor. At only 10.35, the club wasn’t full, probably wouldn’t be on a Monday night, but a respectable amount of people were dancing. A packed, sweaty nightclub wasn’t Alec’s ideal anyway. He much preferred them like this—two-thirds full, room to move around, and little to no queue at the bar.

  Tim would tease that he was getting old. He’d be right.

  Mark’s scent fizzled out to almost nothing, and Alec scanned the bar area, looking for signs of either him or Will.

  Maybe upstairs, then.

  He heard them before he saw them, and their scents were still masked by other shifters nearby. Mark’s voice, while drowned out a lot by the music, was loud enough for Alec to pick out. They must be close.

  “Thank you for swapping shifts. I really needed to get out of there.”

  Will said, “Yeah, I got that from the way you begged.”

  Mark laughed, but it sounded forced. “I just… everything’s so fucked up, and I can’t tell you, and I really fucking want to, but….”

  “It’s okay. After seeing what it’s doing to you, I’m not sure I want to know.”

  Alec frowned and stopped before rounding the corner. They obviously couldn’t smell him either.

  “Wes is such a wanker.”

  Will snorted. “Tell me something I don’t know. Thank fuck he’s not our beta.” Alec had to agree with them on both counts.

  “Yeah, but he’s Harry’s now.”

  “Fuck, I forgot about your cousin.”

  “Come on, I need another—”

  Figuring the abrupt halt in conversation meant they’d just realised he was there, Alec carried on up the stairs and rounded the corner, coming face to face with Will.

  His eyebrows drew together, and he gave Alec a quick once over. “Wow, what are the chances? Twice in two days. Did you follow us in here?” He moved close to Mark, subtly drawing him away from Alec.

  Will was taller than Mark, but he was no match for Alec, so his willingness to put himself between them was impressive. Alec appreciated loyalty like that.

  It deserved honesty. “Yes.” They both stared at him, obviously not expecting that answer. “I didn’t come out tonight with the intention of looking for you, but I caught your scent on the street outside.”

  Will bristled. “And what, you thought you’d pop in and say hello?”

  “Something like that.” Alec glanced between the two of them. While Will looked indignant and pissed off that Alec was there, Mark looked amused, curious, interested. And not in the least bit bothered that Alec was talking to them. Like he really didn’t give a fuck. It gave Alec the impression Will didn’t know about the meeting this afternoon or the nature of the council’s impending visit. Either that or he believed it was all lies and Newell was innocent. That thought alone made him smirk.

  Mark smiled, slow and predatory, and there was no mistaking the heat in his eyes. He gestured to the bar. “We were just about to get a drink. Want to join us?”

  I can think of a hundred reasons not to. Alec grinned. “Sure.”

  Mark took one step, then Will stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Don’t do this. You got away with it the first time because you were lucky. It’s insane to risk it again. All for a quick fuck?” He glanced at Alec, eyes wide. “Shit, sorry. No offence.”

  Alec shrugged. “None taken.” Giving Mark a lazy look from head to toe and back up, he added. “You’re right about it being insane. But it won’t be a quick fuck. I like to take my time.”

  Mark grinned. “I thought it was just a drink?”

  “To start with.” Alec glanced at Will, to find him glaring at both of them in turn.

  “You two are fucking crazy. You know that, right?”

  “Yes,” Mark answered, and Alec nodded in agreement.

  “For fuck’s sake.” Will shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. “The less I know about this the better.” He faced Mark. “I’m going home. Please come with me.”

  Alec watched them stare at each other, some form of silent communication going on, and waited on Mark’s answer.

  “You’re right, you should go home.” Will’s shoulders sagged at Mark’s words. “I don’t want to drag you into this.”

  Will just stood there for a second, then pulled Mark into a tight hug. “For fuck’s sake, be careful when you come back to your flat.” He then drew himself to his full height—at least two inches shy of Alec’s—and faced him. “Don’t fucking jizz all over him like you did the last time. I don’t need to smell that again.”

  A jolt of arousal took Alec by surprise, and for a moment he was lost for words. Will eyed him like he knew exactly what Alec was thinking. “I’ll do my best not to.” It came out rough, a hint of a growl colouring the words and making them seem like a lie. Alec had to admit, now Will had mentioned it, he found the idea really fucking appealing.

  Addressing Mark again, Will said, “Text me when you get in.”

  “Okay.”

  With one last glare at Alec, Will turned and headed down the stairs.

  Mark watched him go, and Alec waited for the regret or second thoughts to creep in, but his expression didn’t change. “You want that drink now?”

  Alec nodded. “Lead the way.”

  Mark ordered five shots of Sambuca and a beer each.

  Picking up one of the shots, Alec paused with it halfway to his mouth. Something from the meeting earlier still bothered him. “I know we can’t talk about today or anything involved with the investigation. But I want to make sure you’re okay.”

  Mark cocked his head to one side. “What do you mean?”

  Fuck, how to put it? “I saw Wes watching you when you were looking at me.”

  Mark flushed and downed one of the shots. “And?”

  Alec knocked his back too. “And he didn’t look happy.”

  “No, he wasn’t.”

  They did another shot.

  Alec pushed his empty glasses aside. He had to tread carefully here, but Wes was an arsehole. Fuck Newell for making him a beta and giving him that power. “Did he give you any trouble?”

  “We had words.” Mark glanced up, looking like he wanted to say more, but sighed instead. “It’s fine.”

  Alec didn’t press for more; it wasn’t his business, no matter how much the not knowing bothered him. Reaching for another shot, he raised it between them. “To a quick investigation and beneficial resolution.” It was the vaguest toast he could come up with.

  Mark snorted but clinked his glass with Alec’s.

  The alcohol left a pleasant burn as it went down, quickly followed by the last shot and the beer. The mild buzz was a pleasant reprieve, taking the edge off his mood, but Alec had had enough of loud music and too many scents surrounding him. Mark’s scent teased him, so close and yet tainted by all the others. He wanted to leave. “You ready to go?”

  Just finishing off the last of his beer, Mark swallowed and set the bottle back on the table. “Where to? Same place as before?”

  Shit. It wasn’t Alec’s night, but….

  “Give me one sec.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and typed a quick message to Daryl.

  Are you using the flat tonight?

  The reply was immediate. No. You want it?

  Yes.

  Do I want to know?

  Alec rolled his eyes. Probably not.

  Fine. It’s yours. Be careful.

  Thank you.

  “All sorted?” Mark asked, and Alec glanced up, meeting his gaze.

  “Yep, let’s go.�
�

  As soon as they were inside the flat, Alec grabbed Mark by the shoulders and pressed him against the wall.

  Mark grinned up at him, a challenge in his eyes. “Oh. It’s like that again, is it?”

  Alec let his fangs out enough to run his tongue over the edges, allowing Mark to see. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

  Shaking his head, Mark gripped Alec’s arse and pulled him closer. “No. It’s exactly what I need after today.”

  “Good.” Alec rolled his hips and dipped his head to nip Mark’s throat. Scraping the edges of his teeth over the sensitive skin forced a moan out of Mark, so Alec did it again. Harder.

  “Want you to fuck me.”

  Yes.

  Alec growled, a low rumble that started deep in his chest and filled the hallway with sound.

  Mark chuckled, a little breathless as Alec ground against him and kissed along his neck. “I take it… that was a yes?”

  Moving his mouth to Mark’s ear, Alec whispered, “Yes. I’m going to fuck you hard and slow, get you right to the edge, then I’m going to finger you while I swallow your come. Then I’m going to fuck your mouth.”

  “Unghh.” Mark’s fingers dug in, a hint of claw pressing against Alec’s arsecheeks through the denim.

  Alec smiled. “No marking you this time.”

  “Mmmm, I liked it though.” Mark tensed, as though he’d not meant to say that.

  “Me too,” Alec offered because it was true.

  When Mark relaxed again, Alec hummed in satisfaction. He wanted him loose and pliable.

  Stepping back, he took one of Mark’s hands in his, running his thumb over a claw tip. “Come on. I want to get you naked.”

  They walked towards the bedroom, Alec leading the way. No one had been in the flat since the last time they were there, and a trace of their combined scent remained in the air. Breathing deeply, Alec let it fill his lungs. Each inhale set his nerves alight, his wolf an excited presence under his skin, itching to get out. Not since he first shifted had Alec had any trouble keeping control of his wolf, but he had to concentrate now. The urge to let go and shift ran like a ripple up his spine, and he let his teeth and claws extend to ease some of the pressure.

  Mark’s sharp intake of breath made Alec stop just inside the door.

  He met Mark’s gaze. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, you?” He lifted their joined hands for Alec to see. Five tiny spots of blood marred the back of Mark’s hand.

  Alec stared. He’d not even realised he was gripping him that hard. “Fuck, sorry.” Maybe tonight was a mistake. With the meeting earlier and tomorrow being the anniversary of his unit’s deaths, his head was all over the place, and apparently his control was shit. Sighing, he dropped Mark’s hand and leant against the door frame. “You should probably go.”

  “What?”

  Alec closed his eyes. “I’m not in the right frame of mind for this. My control is… not what it should be. I don’t want to hurt you.” He felt the warmth from Mark’s body as he stepped closer.

  When he spoke, his voice was a whisper against Alec’s ear. “You can hurt me a little. I’ll heal.” He reached a hand between them and palmed Alec’s cock—now rigid and straining against his jeans. “Today has been a fucking awful day for me. I want you to fuck me, the harder the better. I need it.” He nipped Alec’s earlobe, the sting of fangs making Alec hiss. “Make me forget.”

  Mark’s scent curled around him, the spicy citrus mixed with arousal. Alec took deep, greedy breaths, each one crumbling his resolve, and he whined, low and needy.

  With the pads of his fingers, Mark rubbed him through his jeans, encouraging.

  Alec groaned, but it came out more of a growl with his wolf so close to the surface. “Bed.”

  “That’s more like it.” Mark’s soft laughter tickled his ear, and then he stepped back, taking Alec’s hand and leading him towards the bed.

  Not trusting himself with removing clothes right that second, Alec lifted his arms above his head. “Undress me.”

  Mark grinned and darted in for a quick kiss, dragging his fangs across Alec’s lower lip. “Anything you say.” His claws grazed Alec’s sides as he slowly pushed his T-shirt up.

  Alec shivered. “Hurry.” The word slurred a little, his fangs fully out.

  When the material covered his face, instead of yanking it off over his head, Mark kept it there, like a makeshift blindfold. Alec tensed, fighting the urge to tear it off, but then he felt the soft brush of lips across the base of his throat, barely-there kisses relaxing him. Instinct told him he could trust Mark. More importantly, his wolf thought so too.

  Mark ran his hands up Alec’s chest, clawed thumbs dragging over his nipples. Alec arched into the touch, wanting, needing more. He growled at the wet drag of a tongue across one, then the other. “Mark,” Alec gritted out. Then the T-shirt was gone, and Mark stood there, pupils dilated, licking over his fangs. Wild and glorious. “If you want to keep your clothes in one piece, then I suggest you take them off. Now.”

  Mark laughed but whipped his T-shirt off and shimmied out of his jeans and underwear while Alec fumbled with his own belt buckle, his claws making him clumsy.

  Kneeling naked in front of Alec, Mark glanced up at him, and Alec’s breath caught. “Let me help you with that.”

  With deft fingers, claws safely tucked away for the moment, Mark tugged Alec’s belt open and undid the buttons on his jeans. He slid them down along with Alec’s underwear, tossing them to the side after Alec stepped out of them.

  Alec wrapped a hand around himself, careful to keep his claws out of the way, and gave his cock a long, slow stroke before cupping Mark’s chin with his free hand and tilting his head up. He tapped the head against Mark’s parted lips, leaving a trail of pre-come as he slid it back and forth.

  Mark darted his tongue out, licked his lips and Alec’s dick in the process, and Alec couldn’t take anymore. Slowly he pushed forward, and Mark opened his mouth wide, letting Alec slip inside. Wet warmth enveloped him, and he wound his fingers into Mark’s hair, holding him steady as he pumped in and out.

  Firm hands on his arse urged Alec forward, and he hit the back of Mark’s throat. The low growl Mark let out sent vibrations along his length, and Alec threw his head back, fangs bared. Fuck, he was in danger of coming already. Allowing himself another slow slide into Mark’s mouth, Alec then withdrew and ran his thumb across Mark’s slightly swollen bottom lip. “Get on the bed.”

  With a wicked look in his eyes, Mark turned and crawled slowly onto the bed, his arse on display, teasing. Alec followed him, put a hand on Mark’s hip, and trailed his claws down over the taut flesh of his arsecheek.

  Then he slapped it.

  Glancing over his shoulder, Mark licked his fangs, his tongue laving over the tips. Alec’s cock ached with the need to be buried deep inside him. He wanted to feel those fangs sink into him as he came. Placing his elbows on the bed, head down, Mark spread his legs wide in invitation.

  Alec moved quickly, climbing onto the bed and settling himself between Mark’s thighs. Concentrating hard, he managed to retract his fangs enough, and placing a hand on each arsecheek, Alec opened him up and licked a long, wet stripe over his hole.

  Mark groaned and pushed back for more.

  With each swipe of his tongue, Alec pressed the tips of his claws into Mark’s skin. The mix of the two sensations had him writhing under Alec’s hands, hissing with the sting of it and groaning as Alec licked into him over and over. The scent of sex filled the room and threatened to overwhelm his senses, but Alec greedily breathed it in.

  Delicious, intoxicating, dangerous.

  The back of Mark’s neck drew his gaze. One bite a little further around and it would initiate a mating bond. His wolf liked the idea a lot, but Alec pushed that thought aside as easily as he had done for the last ten years.

  That wasn’t for him.

  Instead he knelt back on his haunches and reached over to the bedside table to retrieve the lube.
He tossed it onto the pillow by Mark’s head. Not needing to keep his wolf in check any longer, Alec opened his mouth wide and, with a sigh, let his fangs slide out fully again. Allowing even this much of his wolf out was a relief, an outlet for the tension coiled inside him.

  Shuffling forward, Alec dragged the head of his cock down the crack of Mark’s arse. “Can you get yourself ready?” He set his hands on Mark’s hips so he could feel his claws. “I don’t want to control it tonight.”

  Wordlessly, Mark snatched up the lube and flicked it open. He reached back and rubbed two slick fingers over his hole, then pushed inside.

  Alec watched, achingly hard, and desperate to shove his cock in there and fuck him.

  “Now you.” Mark knelt up and turned round to face him, drizzled lube over the length of Alec’s cock and lazily rubbed it all over.

  Without a second thought, Alec ducked his head and set his teeth to Mark’s neck, low down near the juncture of his shoulder. Only Mark’s sharp intake of breath stopped him from biting, and instead he nipped the top of his shoulder, licking at the specks of blood as though that had been his intent all along.

  Fucking hell. Get a grip.

  Uncertainty threatened to creep back in. His control was non-existent tonight, but then Mark lay down on his back, thighs pulled up and wide open, and said, “Make me forget.” He let his fangs out in an agonisingly slow slide that Alec knew from experience hurt like a bitch.

  The effect was electric. A crackle of desire coursed through Alec’s body all the way to his toes. He shuffled forward to line himself up at Mark’s hole.

  Pushing in slowly, Alec kept his gaze locked with Mark’s. The heat in his eyes sent Alec’s pulse racing, and he didn’t stop until his cock was all the way in.

  Mark hissed a little but wrapped his legs around Alec’s back and whispered. “Fuck me.”

  Alec shivered, everything he’d bottled up over the last couple of days rising to the surface, ready to spill out. Mark said he wanted it rough, said he could take it. Alec hoped he’d been telling the truth. “Tell me if it gets too much.”

  In answer Mark grinned and raked ten claws down Alec’s back, making him arch and push in deeper. “It won’t.”