Free Keeping Dallas by Amber Kell Page B

breath, Laurence slid the blade across both his and Dallas’ right wrists with two quick, efficient motions. He pressed their open wounds together. “Do you accept my bond, my love and my protection for the rest of your days?”
    The long pause had Laurence holding his breath.
    “I do,” Dallas whispered.
    There were several different types of bonds a sorcerer could create with others in his life. Laurence went with the one he knew suited Dallas’ wolf nature. Complete bonding of mind, heart and spirit. He didn’t want any hint of question to fill Laurence’s mind over his commitment to their pairing.
    “With your acceptance, we are one,” Laurence vowed.
    Closing his eyes, he focused on pouring magic through their connected wound. A loud ringing filled his ears, echoed in his head and sent pulses throughout his body. He reflexively clutched Dallas, unwilling to drop his lover despite the pain rolling through his system. A howl rolled up his throat and filled the room with its echo. After small explosions burst behind his eyelids, Laurence forced his eyes open. His gaze locked with Dallas’. His mate’s green eyes turned icy blue and Laurence shivered beneath the wolf’s examination.
    He cupped Dallas’ face between his hands. “Come back to me, pet.”
    Dallas snarled, exposing a set of deadly fangs. “You are mine!” A deep gravelly voice emitted from his lover like a horror movie monster. Little of Dallas’ humanity lived in those eyes.
    The connection vibrated between them, unsettled and wavering. Laurence knew if he didn’t give in this one time, he could lose the man he loved. With his instincts screaming against a show of submission, Laurence tilted his neck.
    Dallas struck, plunging his fangs into Laurence’s neck. Laurence gasped as, instead of blood being sucked from him, a warm liquid seeped into his veins. He could feel it join his blood flow. His energy sapped, Laurence’s world went black.
     
    * * * *
     
    Laurence awoke. Jolting upright, his heart slammed against his chest as panic took over his breathing.
    “Shh, I’m here,” Dallas’ familiar voice immediately calmed him. Turning, he almost feared meeting his mate’s eyes.
    Green.
    Oh thank the gods and goddesses.
    His Dallas was back. Love glowed from his shifter’s eyes and relief swamped Laurence. He might be considered a powerful wizard among his own people, but he had nothing if he lost Dallas’ affection.
    “Let me see your arm,” he demanded.
    Dallas showed him a smooth, clean limb with no markings.
    Laurence crushed his lover to him. “We cured you. That bitch can’t hurt you anymore. If she even comes near you, I’m going to turn her into a bunny.”
    Laughter burst from Dallas. “Bunny?”
    “Anything you might want to eat in wolf form,” Laurence explained. “I’ll do anything to protect you. You know that right?”
    Laurence knew if he couldn’t protect what was his, the wolf inside his lover wouldn’t respect him and their mating would falter.
    “I know,” Dallas agreed.
    Laurence watched Dallas’ eyes flashed to blue then back to green. Rolling over, Laurence pinned his wolf to the mattress. “Mine.”
    Somewhere along the way, they’d both lost their clothes. With the delicious slide of bare skin against bare skin, Laurence approved.
    The need to dominate burned through him. His magic flared through his body seeking its other half, to bind Dallas to him. He blindly grabbed the bottle of lube he kept on the nightstand. Without taking his gaze away from his lover’s ever changing eyes, he poured liquid on his fingers and plunged two fingers into Dallas’ ass.
    Dallas jerked from the intrusion but the lust on his face told Laurence he hadn’t hurt his lover.
    “Good?” he asked as he probed inside his werekin mate, searching for the perfect spot.
    “Oh, there! Right there!” A broken howl filled the air.
    The need to be one with Dallas clawed at him like a hungry wolf. With a shaking hand he