“Easy, honey,” Kontra crooned. “We’ll get you patched up and soon you’ll be right as rain.”
“Kontra, he doesn’t heal like a shifter,” Luc cut in.
“What do you mean?” Kontra snapped.
Luc grimaced. “His mother was human, a witch. Tim heals like a mated human does, slower, easier to hurt, not as strong, and he has none of the shifter senses.”
Tim wanted to groan. He hated how his father had just succinctly listed all his shortcomings. He’d planned to share those tidbits with Kontra himself…eventually.
Kontra cursed quietly, running a hand through his hair. Tim wanted to soothe him, but he felt so tired. His eyelids slid shut.
“Look at me, Tim,” Kontra snarled. “Open those eyes back up, now,” the big shifter ordered.
It took such an effort, but Tim obeyed. Fear stabbed through him at the amount of effort it took. Is this what dying was like? His head felt fuzzy, black spots hovered on the edge of his vision, the urge to hack was increasing, and he was tired, so very tired.
“Tim, you need your magick. When I fought Pierre, he healed almost instantly. Once you have your magick, you’ll heal, too.” Kontra’s voice caught, telling Tim how desperately his lover wanted to believe that. “Do you understand?”
Licking his lips, Tim opened his mouth and whispered, “M-mate me.”
Kontra nodded. “Yes, I’d need to complete our mating. Right now.”
Smiling, Tim managed to lift his hand. Kontra caught it.
“Do I have your permission?” Kontra whispered.
Tim nodded. “Mate me.” This time, he tried to make it sound like an order, though he figured it fell short by the pained expression on Kontra’s face.
“Everyone out,” Kontra ordered.
“But…”
Kontra silenced Luc’s objection with a glare and a snarl. Everyone scurried out of the room.
Tim blinked, at least he thought he did, then Kontra was there again, sprawled out beside him, tapping him lightly on the cheek. “Stay with me, love,” Kontra murmured.
Once Tim nodded, Kontra stripped the remains of his slacks off him. He felt his legs pushed wide, then a cool, lubed finger probed his hole. “I’m sorry,” Kontra whispered as he slipped a thick digit inside. “This is going to be quick. I’ll make it up to you as soon as you’re well,” he promised.
Tim grimaced at the pressure as Kontra slid a second digit in beside the first. It had been a while, and his mate worked quickly, making the burn more pronounced than it’d usually be. Understanding the urgency, Tim tried to spread his legs wider and stifled his whimpers.
“Hang on, honey,” Kontra murmured. “Almost there.”
To add action to his words, Kontra gently pulled out his fingers and aligned his cock. He didn’t ask permission. Pressing firmly, Kontra slid his cock into Tim’s ass, not stopping until his long, thick erection was buried balls deep.
Tim couldn’t hold back his cry as pressure and pain shot up his rectum. Kontra didn’t stop. Instead, he pulled out and pushed back in. Kontra’s mouth closed over Tim’s own, silencing his whimpers. Although Kontra used a thumb to wipe away a tear leaking from Tim’s eye, his hips never stopped.
The fact that Kontra murmured something against his lips finally penetrated the haze Tim’s brain seemed to be caught in. It was just two words, I’m sorry, over and over again. Gaining some control over himself, Tim found the strength to rotate his head, baring his neck to his lover.
“Do it,” he slurred. He could feel his brain shutting down, and he feared it wasn’t due to the approaching oblivion of release.
Kontra’s teeth scraped across the tendons of his neck right before the sharp canines pierced Tim’s shoulder and a rush of bliss swept through him. This time, Tim’s shout was one of pleasure as an orgasm blindsided him.
The warm flood of seed filled his rectum, heating him from the inside out, increasing the warm bubble of relaxation he floated in. Until a searing pain fired through Tim’s body, following the lines of his veins, the pain scorched him from the inside out. It finally centered in his chest, and Tim screamed.
Seconds later, Tim welcomed the darkness.
Warm hands massaged Tim’s arms, his shoulders, then moved to stroke his chest, plucking his nipples. “Mm.” He moaned softly, his body bowing into the touch, eager for more of the wonderful sensation.
He inhaled deeply, and smiled when the scent of his mate tickled his senses. Cracking open an eyelid, Tim looked up at Kontra. “Hey,” he murmured, lifting his arms to do a little exploring of his own. The bronze skin under his touch felt warm and smooth as he stroked Kontra’s shoulders and chest, tracing his tattoos.