Read Online Marked Northern Shifters 1 by Joely Skye - Free Book Online Page B

so. The how of it was tricky. Did Liam begin by admitting he was a wolf when Alec had been attacked by the quad? Mostly Liam just wanted to make love to Alec, communicating with taste and touch and smell till Alec trusted him completely. But normals didn’t really work that way.
While debating his options, or lack thereof, Liam dozed off. When he woke, it was still dark and Alec no longer lay beside him, though his scent lingered. Liam smelled coffee.
The kitchen’s dim light caught Alec’s face, serious, even grim. Withdrawn. Liam wanted to be back inside Alec when his face heated with desire, opened, welcoming Liam.
As he sat up, Alec turned. He stared across the room and Liam couldn’t help it, he opened his arms.
Alec didn’t move, instead he crossed his arms and Liam imitated the action.
Amused, Alec laughed, though the laughter was rueful and he looked away. “I don’t know what to do with you.”
“Come here.”
That quicksilver smile died. “I can’t, Liam.”
“You can.”
Alec stood there, as if arguing with himself.
“I don’t understand, Alec. You slept with me.”
Alec’s lip twisted, but Liam was not referring to the sex.
“You trusted me enough to fall asleep,” said Liam to make his meaning clear.
“Yeah, well.” Alec shrugged, the movement abrupt. With some effort, he met Liam’s gaze. “Look, there’s something wrong with me.”
“Wrong?”
“I’m not entirely…” Alec seemed to grope for words, “…well.”
Liam thought of disease. Werewolves healed themselves, even from the most deadly of illnesses, but he didn’t want Alec afflicted. “Like HIV?”
“No, I would have mentioned that before sex.” Alec sounded irritated. “That’s not what I mean.”
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“No. I can’t talk about it.”
Liam’s chest ached for Alec, and he longed for Alec to confide in him. But they needed time. “We all have something wrong with us,” Liam offered rather haltingly. For example, I’m a wolf.
Alec jerked an arm impatiently. “That’s not what I mean. I mean—” He breathed in, trying to calm himself. “I’m not good for a relationship. I think this should end tonight.”
“It’s morning.”
Not deigning to argue semantics, Alec looked at him levelly. Liam didn’t know what to say and even if he did, it would undoubtedly be the wrong thing. He swept the blanket aside and strode over.
“No.” Alec backed up.
“You say ‘no’ an awful lot when you don’t mean it. I don’t get it.”
In the dim light, there was a slight sheen to Alec’s eyes. The idea of once again forcing himself on Alec until he submitted—Liam couldn’t face it. He held out his hand.
Alec glanced at it and while Liam felt stupid, he did not pull back that hand.
“Alec. You’re cold.” Wolves were always warmer than normals. Their metabolism ran higher.
Avoiding Liam’s hand, Alec brought his palm to Liam’s chest and pressed. Rather like last night, but instead of shoving with both hands, Alec exerted slow, even pressure, forcing Liam to walk backwards. It went against all his instincts. He was alpha and in charge, but he had to cede Alec some control or they would not end up in bed again.
When Liam’s legs hit the futon, he sat and Alec stood above him. Again, all wrong. Liam had become adept at choosing partners who wanted to do exactly as he commanded. But obviously Alec did not submit with ease.
In fact, he gripped Liam’s shoulders and Liam held still, not allowing himself to grab hold of Alec and wrestle him down. Alec’s mouth came down on his. There was no hesitation on Alec’s part but, despite his good intentions, Liam took control of the kiss, capturing Alec’s face between his hands, mating deep and hard with his tongue.
Alec broke the kiss, Liam dropped his hands, and they stared at each other, breathing hard.
“Crap,” said Alec.
“ I liked it.”
“When is the last time you had a cock up your ass, Liam?”
Liam looked away. Alec’s