Collin's Submissive Read online

  "Collin! Collin! Stop!"

  The wolf didn't stop. He didn't understand. Sam had always thought wolves were supposed to have more control of their other halves whenever there was a wolf soul nearby.

  Maybe Sam just wasn't that good of a wolf soul.

  Fuck, if this wolf ate him to death only minutes after Sam had sent his father on his way, then he was going to spend the rest of his life being majorly embarrassed by that.

  Really? He was going to die after his dad offered to take Sam with him? That was some bullshit right there.

  "Collin!" Same reached up, grabbing the wolf by its golden ears, trying to make it stop.

  The wolf yanked his head away, growling back at him.

  Should he jump off? Sam wasn't sure if he should. What if he was hurt? And did it even matter now when Collin had already taken him so far away from the houses?

  There was no way in hell Sam could outrun Collin back to safety, and Sam was spending so much time second-guessing literally everything that he didn't think he'd be able to get out of here no matter what he did.

  They went downhill. Sam’s teeth clacked together as the wolf ran with him. How in the hell was he supposed to get out of this?

  Suddenly, the wolf skidded to a halt, kicking up rocks, and Sam flew right over his head and landed in…a lake.

  He went far, his body slipping deep.

  At least he thought so for the first hair of a second, but then his feet touched the bottom and he pushed himself up, sucking back a hard breath while shaking his hair out of his face.

  The wolf stood there, watching him, and Sam glared at the thing, up to his navel in water.

  "What the fuck is the matter with you?"

  It probably wasn't the best idea for him to yell at a fully grown alpha wolf shifter like that, but he couldn't help it. After a scare like that, he was pissed.

  "Collin! Are you serious right now? Ow, fuck." Sam started to limp his way out of the water, his leg throbbing as hot and hard as though he hadn't spent the last couple of days keeping it lifted and pressure off of it.

  Sorry, but you shouldn't move around too much right now.

  Sam stopped dead at those words. He looked up, watching as the wolf stepped into the water. It didn't come too close, as though it didn't want to get more than its paws a little wet.

  They stared at each other. Sam waited for his senses to come back to him.

  "Did you just talk to me?"

  Yes, keep still. I'm trying to push it back.

  Sam wasn't in a mood to think too much about that. So he held still.

  "I thought wolf shifters were supposed to have more control when their mates were around?"

  We are. Your father's challenge brought this out.

  "Wonderful," Sam grumbled. He wasn't in a mood to deal with this right now.

  Did I hurt you?

  "Not really. Scared the piss out of me, though. I thought you were taking me out here to…never mind."

  The wolf actually whined at him, as though Sam had hurt its feelings with that accusation.

  Sam struggled to not let his guilt get the better of him with that one.

  "What? You were the one who carted me off out here like I was…I don't know, some kind of prize. I can't believe I was just riding a wolf. Like Princess Mononoke or something."

  Collin tilted his head to the side. What's that supposed to be?

  "Never mind. Is it safe for me to come out of the water now?"

  He wanted to go back to Collin's place. He wanted to get cleaned up and get ready for bed.

  Another moment passed, a moment when Collin was strangely quiet. As though he were having some kind of internal debate with the wolf living inside of his head.

  Eventually, the man reappeared, and Sam breathed a heavy sigh when he saw a human standing in front of him instead of wolf.

  "Thank God."

  He started wading forward. Collin came into the water, getting next to him and taking his hand.

  Sam tried to pull away. "Stop. You're getting your jeans wet."

  "And you're limping again. I'm sorry."

  Sam shook his head, but he could feel it in the air that it would take some doing before he managed to get Collin to not feel guilt for this.

  "You didn't do anything wrong. You're fighting an instinct here."

  Collin growled, and at first Sam worried the wolf was coming out to play again, but then he realized that was just the noise he was making.

  "The instinct should know to treat a mate more gently than that."

  Heat immediately climbed into Sam's cheeks.

  He had an idea of what the problem might be, but it was a strange thing giving voice to it.

  It was because they hadn't fucked yet. Sam had spent a couple of days here already. The first night when he, Noah, and Gus had been brought here separately from all the other prisoners held against their will by the hunters, Sam had been coming down with something.

  Not exactly romance material then. Gus was still sick.

  And it seemed his mate wasn’t able to wait anymore.

  Collin had explained to him basically on the first day what he thought Sam was to him, but he'd given Sam some space because Sam had been getting sick after spending so long as a hostage in a moldy, wet space. And then the attack by the hunters had happened later that night and Sam had been injured again…

  So many things had come together to make it almost impossible for them to fuck the way they wanted to.

  The way they needed to.

  But that wasn't anyone's fault. Not really. Now Collin was barely holding it together when Sam's dad had come over to confirm that his son was being taken care of, that he was at least safe.

  And that was making Sam unsafe because the wolf had brought him out here. Alone in the woods when the shadows were overtaking the light.

  "Why did your wolf bring me out here?"

  "Try not to think about that. Come on. I'll carry you back."

  But Sam was thinking about it. He wanted this to at least make sense.

  For that reason, he pulled back when Collin tried to lift him into his arms. "Did your wolf bring me out here because it wanted to have sex with me?"

  Collin stopped and looked at him, really looked at him.

  "I wouldn't let it do that. I don't think it would do that. You're not a wolf either, no matter how much it wants you."

  Sam swallowed hard. "Right, well, it still brought me here so you could have sex with me then. Right?"

  Collin seemed to be having trouble looking at him. It was so strange watching a guy who was at least five inches taller than he was look out of place about anything.

  "It's all right. I don't mind."

  "I mind. You're recovering after a kidnapping and being attacked on this property." Collin had a look around, as though making absolutely sure they were alone.

  "There's no one here. Come on. I'll take you back."

  Sam allowed it this time. He didn't try to fight Collin when the man picked him up and started walking with him back up the hill.

  At least he was being carted off this time in a much more gentle way. It felt weird being carried bridal style like this, but Sam had to admit it was much more comfortable, and his teeth were doing about ninety-nine percent less clacking.

  Sam watched Collin as he walked, watching the man's eyes, making sure he wasn't about to change.

  But now Sam was doing a little thinking of his own. "Honestly, if you want to, I wouldn't mind going to bed with you."

  "Not happening."

  Sam inhaled a sharp breath. "Really? Even though your wolf went ahead and dragged me down here? Shouldn't we just get it over with?"

  Collin growled again, and Sam figured it was a good idea to stop talking right about then if he didn't want the wolf coming back out.

  Collin carried him all the way back.

  Since the most recent attack had been just a few days prior, there were still some downcast faces. No one was really smiling, but
many people looked Collin and Sam's way, a curious glint in their eyes, as they passed by.

  "Okay, maybe I should walk right now. People are looking at us."

  Collin put him down, though Sam didn't mind holding on to his arm and using the other man for support as he walked.

  He did his best to not limp, but it was there, and he knew full well that Collin was aware of it.

  Sitting down at the kitchen table was a relief.

  "I've got an ice pack for you." Collin barely waited until Sam's ass was in the chair before he went to the freezer, pulling out a real ice pack.

  Sam smiled as the other man came over and handed it to him.

  "I would have thought you'd have frozen peas instead."

  "Why?"

  Sam sighed, setting the pack on his leg and letting it mold to his skin.

  "It just always seemed weird to me. Knowing you guys have first aid kits around here and that you have ice packs. I always thought you would have healed too fast to need anything like that."

  "We still bleed."

  Sam cleared his throat. "Right. I should have figured that much."

  Collin looked at him, as though waiting for Sam to do something or to say something.

  Sam looked back at the man.

  And all he could think about was how much he wanted him.

  Why the hell did Collin have to stink of sex even when he was walking around, minding his own business?

  Sam was going to lose his mind, and it was clear the wolf was going to lose it, too.

  "Can't you just…" Sam trailed off.

  Collin looked at him, waiting. "What? Do what?"

  Another one of those moments passed by where Sam knew if he said it out loud, he was going to regret it. He didn't want to come off as though he was begging for sex. That was a little too pathetic.

  "Nothing."

  Collin waited a moment, and then he walked to the kitchen entrance. He stopped at the doorway and turned around.

  "I will be up if you need me. Come and go as you please."

  Sam didn't want him to go. He wanted the man to stay. "This is your house. I mean…it's kind of weird to leave me alone like this to do whatever I want around here, isn't it?"

  "No. You're my mate. This is your home now, too."

  But it didn't feel like it because none of his things were here, this place was too new, and Collin was doing everything in his power to avoid so much as looking at him.

  And it was driving Sam crazy.

  "Well, wait, if you don't want to have sex with me, then could you at least…I don't know, sit on the couch with me? We can hold hands again. At least until the pain subsides."

  Collin's eyes flashed a little at that. Sam knew he had the man at the mention of pain. He hadn't meant to use it as a manipulation, but if being near Collin would be enough to make the suffering come to an end, then he was up for anything.

  Thankfully, Collin came back to him, offering his hand.

  Sam took it, letting himself be pulled to his feet.

  "I'll get the snacks. Go and sit on the couch and wait for me."

  Sam sighed, relief rushing through him as he went to do as he was told while Collin grabbed a popcorn bag off the counter and put it into the microwave.

  Even that little touch of their hands was enough to make Sam feel slightly better, and now the idea of sitting next to Collin on the couch while they watched a movie together made his blood pump hot and fast through his veins.

  If Sam couldn't come right out and say what he wanted, then he was going to make it obvious the second Collin came to sit next to him on the couch.

  Chapter Three

  Collin prepared the popcorn and poured it into the bowl, adding extra salt and butter because no one in their right mind enjoyed it plain.

  Unless they were a lizard person.

  If he couldn't give his mate the sex he wanted then at the very least, he was going to give him salty snacks, and that was almost as good.

  Collin groaned.

  No. It wasn't. He was dealing with a case of blue balls so severe that Collin was starting to forget what it was like to walk around without his dick paining him.

  Sam smelled good all the time, and then his father had to get up in Collin's face, and that was it. The wolf couldn't take anymore, and whether Collin wanted to or not, the wolf had tried taking Sam into the woods.

  The stupid beast. What the hell did it think it was going to do with Sam when they got down there? Collin was not about to fuck a man who was still recovering from a traumatic experience, who was healing from injury and illness.

  Close. They were so close. Sam was obviously improving enough that he was starting to hint about what he wanted, but he didn't need it yet the way Collin needed it.

  Sam wasn't in pain. His body didn't crave the mating, which meant it wasn't time to make his move yet.

  It was time for Sam to heal, and if the only way Collin could do that for him was to suck it up and sit next to him, inhaling more of that intoxicating scent that wafted from his hair and skin, the spicy sweet scent that came with being a wolf's soul, then Collin was damn well going to do it.

  He went into the sitting room with the popcorn. Sam was sitting there at the corner of the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table. He put them down the moment Collin came in.

  "No, don't." Collin grabbed a pillow off one of the other chairs. He brought it close.

  "Lift your feet. You need to keep your leg elevated."

  He put the pillow beneath Sam's feet, letting him lie back.

  "Are you sure? I wasn't trying to do anything."

  "Don't worry about it." Collin grabbed the remote, ignoring the pull of that scent.

  The scent that made Collin want to grab onto Sam and rip his clothes off. The wolf inside of Collin rumbled, wanting to do exactly that.

  But no. Collin held back.

  He sat there flicking through channels with his mate beside him. His mate who was willing.

  And Collin desperately wanted to rock his world.

  He settled on a sitcom. Collin didn't pay attention to which one. He didn't care either. The only thing he could focus on was the smell of Sam's hair as the man leaned against him, the way his hand felt as the smaller man threaded his fingers through Collin's and the sweet noise of that adorable little sigh he released when he settled himself next to Collin, leaning against his shoulder.

  As though he was settling himself in for the night.

  Collin gritted his teeth. His groin tightened, dick throbbing with the need to do something a little more wicked than just hold hands.

  "This doesn't hurt you, does it?" Sam asked.

  "No."

  So damned hard to lie. About as hard as his cock was right about now.

  Sam said nothing. Was he thinking about the same things Collin was? If he wasn't suffering under this mating heat now, then he soon would be. Collin needed to watch out for that. He didn't want Collin to be in any pain, but he didn't want to fuck a man who had been traumatized either.

  That would make him a bit of a shitty alpha if he did that.

  Sam sighed and stretched, snuggling himself a little closer against Collin's side. Then he curled an arm around Collin's middle.

  Collin tensed. "What…"

  Sam looked up at him. "Are you okay?"

  "Fine," he said. It seemed that his words were getting a little more terse as time went on. He couldn't help it. This was torture.

  But if touch was what his mate needed to recover, to feel safe, then Collin was damn well going to give it to him.

  Then Sam pulled back from him, and the loss of his body heat shocked Collin. Almost as much as the way Sam didn't seem to know what he was doing with every single little motion of his body.

  It shocked him even more when Sam pulled his shirt off.

  "Are you too hot?"

  "A little. You don't mind, do you?"

  It was on the tip of Collin's tongue to tell him no, to let Sam do whatever he w
anted, but then he stopped himself, and he felt like a complete idiot in that moment.

  He knew exactly what Sam was trying to do. Sam had that innocent look on his face, and he could pretend all he wanted, but the little bastard was trying to seduce him!

  Him! This human was actually trying to seduce him.

  There was something amusing about that, but he was determined to not be overcome by his wanton little mate.

  "You're fine. But my body heat might be a little too much for you to handle if you want to keep leaning against me."

  "That's fine," Sam said, and without hesitation, he let himself settle against Collin's chest.

  Like a cat splaying himself out against a soft pillow.

  This was a mistake. Collin didn't have the willpower to deal with this.

  But he didn't want to be outdone by this man either.

  But God, his skin felt good. Collin let his hands settle onto Sam's shoulders and back. The man was lying against him after all, trying to get as much contact as he possibly could. It was good for him. It was good for the both of them, so why not indulge in just a little touch?

  Collin didn't realize he was slowly being outdone by the other man. It seemed this was exactly what Sam wanted because the moment he let his hands settle against his skin Sam sighed and wiggled his body a little.

  "That feels good."

  Collin cleared his throat. "It's supposed to."

  Even something as simple as touch, even innocent touch, could offer so much to two mates who needed each other.

  Except it didn't seem to be stopping there. Sam's hands were suddenly against Collin's cock, rubbing against his prick through his jeans.

  Collin tensed, but he didn't push Sam away. "What are you doing?"

  "Do you want me to stop?"

  Collin clenched his teeth. "No."

  He couldn't lie. Fuck, he couldn't.

  "I'm sorry," Sam said, “but I just…I can't help it all of a sudden."

  "You're still recovering."

  Sam shook his head, pushing himself up to his knees. He straddled Collin's lap while his fingers worked to open his fly.

  "I'm not recovering. I want you. Please. Just…even if you don't want me back—"

  "That's not what this is." He couldn't keep the growl out of his voice. Collin needed to get this through Sam's head, and he needed to get it through right now.