Catlin's Appaloosa(22)

“Tests?”

Nibbling his lower lip, Gallo nodded again.“They wanted to know why my animal was an appaloosa instead of a paint.”

That explained why the doctors had freaked him out. Catlin forced himself to remain calm as he rubbed shampoo into his man’s hair, then gently washed it out. Finally, he asked,“How did you end up with Kontra?”

Gallo shuddered, his breath hitching as he whispered.“I was bad. I fought when they came at me with a needle. It took three shifters to hold me down. Two of my herd-mates took me into the forest surrounding our ranch. They took turns, with my ass and the whip.” Catlin’s mate shivered, even in the steaming hot water.“Kontra saw it and stopped them.”

“I hope he killed the bastards.” He couldn’t stop the snarled words, and he wanted to kick himself when Gallo instantly tensed in his arms. He rubbed his palms gently over Gallo’s glimmering skin and crooned, “Easy, baby. I’m not angry at you, never at you. What happened wasn’t your fault. You’re safe with me.”

When Gallo relaxed again, Catlin maneuvered his lover under the spray to rinse out the conditioner. Rubbing his hands through the mass of silky, dark hair, Catlin thought about Eli’s silently mouthed words. Top from the bottom. He wondered if that would work. It had seemed to during the dual blowjobs. It brought another question to mind.“Were you and Eli lovers?”

Gallo’s wide-eyed gaze snapped to Catlin’s face at his questions. He swallowed and nodded once.“Sort of. Our relationship was more of a teacher with a pupil,” he admitted.

“What do you mean?”

Gallo’s face fell, so Catlin cupped his jaw and brought his attention back to him. “He taught me that sex could be pleasurable, not clinical or cruel. He helped me accept that I’m submissive, and what it should mean in the right relationship. He taught me that a Dom should never do anything to his submissive that wasn’t good for him.” Gallo nuzzled into Catlin’s hand as he continued. “Eli’s the gang’s doctor, so he probably felt it was his responsibility to help me heal mentally as well as physically.”

Okay, I can understand that. It wasn’t like he had been a virgin before meeting Gallo. Catlin hurried through the rest of the shower, needing to wrap his man in his arms and hold him. He toweled them both dry quickly, then guided his lover to the bed and curled his bigger body around Gallo’s.

“I want you to claim me, too, Gallo,” he whispered the admission. “I’d love to belong to you, just as much as I want you to belong to me.” That earned him a sigh from the shifter and Gallo snuggled closer.“Do you trust me?” Catlin held his breath, knowing how important the answer would be to both of them.

His heart skipped several beats before Gallo whispered,“Yes.”

Catlin sighed with relief, his eyelids dropping closed. He sucked in a deep breath, opened his eyes, focused on his lover, and stated firmly,“You will do exactly as I say.”





Chapter Eight


H

is mate’s tone immediately had Gallo’s responding,“Yes, sir.” “ Lie back on the bed, Gallo,” Catlin commanded, pulling away.

Gallo obeyed, whimpering when he looked up and saw the heat and desire burning in Catlin’s eyes. His lover wasn’t angry, he was aroused. Something settled in Gallo. He knew his man would take care of everything. All he had to do was obey.

Catlin tossed the tube of lube on the bed next to his hip.“Stretch yourself. Get yourself nice and ready for my cock. You have two minutes.”

His eyes widened as he watched Catlin walk away. He wondered what was going on, but didn’t question him. Not wanting to disappoint Catlin, Gallo grabbed the lube and quickly prepared himself. With every nudge of his knuckles against his prostate, his cock filled more and more. His eyelids dropped to half-mast and he wrapped his other hand around his dick, gripping the base tightly. His mate hadn’t given him permission to come, he’d just been told to stretch himself.

When he against the wondering when he’d returned to the room. “Use four fingers, Gallo.”

“Yes, sir,” he whispered between gasps. He inserted a fourth finger into his ass, feeling the stretching burn and whimpered with pleasure.

“Enough,” Catlin growled.

He set something on the bed, but Gallo’s lust-hazed brain didn’t register what it was. His gaze was riveted on Catlin’s sexy body. His mate prowled forward, slinking toward him on hands and knees like a cat. The light in his brown eyes sent sizzles of awareness up Gallo’s spine. He’d never seen anyone look at him like that, and Gallo knew he’d do anything to keep this man.