Inside of You

He cursed, stepped up to the bar, and reached down to rearrange things below his belt. The rough touch along with the smell made his dick twitch. He took a deep breath through his mouth.

Fuck!

"You just going to stare at it or are you going to open it? I want to see what it is." Brad's voice pulled Jerret out of the fog of desire he was lost in.

"Oh, yeah." He slid his finger under the flap, and tore it open; his eyes widened when he saw the scraps of paper inside.

Brad craned his head over the bar and peeked at his hand.

"Tickets to the hockey playoff game? Those have been sold out for weeks, man! Who did you bend over for to get those? Ooh, was it that blind date you had on Valentine's Day?"

Jerret snarled at him. "No! I told you, I didn't have a blind date that night; I just lied so you wouldn't make me dress up in a stupid cupid costume like you had on. Those feather wings were pink!"

"Uh huh, then who sent the tickets?"

"How am I supposed to know? There's no name on the envelope." He ignored Brad's smirk as he turned and walked over to the front door, shoving it open. He scanned up and down the street, but he didn't see the Liger hiding anywhere. He stalked across the bar and down the hall, shoving open the back door.

He snarled. No one was out there either.

He looked at the tickets clenched in his fist. How did Calix know?

***

Calix watched his mate as he stood at the front door of the club checking ID as he kept an eye on the line of patrons waiting to get in. His jeans were tight, cupping his ass and wrapping around his thick thighs while leaving absolutely nothing up to the imagination. Calix could almost swear he could see the outline of his dick bulging to the left as Jerret stood with his legs spread and his arms crossed over his chest.

He moaned. He'd been rock hard whenever he got close enough to watch his mate. He'd had dreams every night, fantasizing about pinning him up against the alley wall by the club and ripping off his clothes before taking him fast and hard against the dark brick. His teeth ached, and even more than fucking his mate, he wanted to bond with him.

The wait was driving him crazy, but he had a plan now. He just had to follow it.

The white paper he had seen sticking out of Jerret's back pocket was step one. Step two was coming the next day.

He just had to tear himself away from his surveillance of the hot bouncer he hoped to make his mate very soon.

*

Calix knew he shouldn't be watching his mate through the windows of his apartment, but he couldn't help it. The shades were always up, and he had a habit of wandering around shirtless. It was even more torture than seeing him so sexy in his jeans and black t-shirt that hugged every curve of every muscle that he wore to work under his scuffed up and battered leather jacket.

His mate was eating a sandwich and watching his TV when his head suddenly turned. Calix held his breath when he left his sight to answer the door. There was a large package in his hands when he came back, setting it on the coffee table in front of him. His hand reached for it and he frowned, pulling it back.

Calix could almost hear the argument going on in his head as he reached for the box again; his hands moved super slow as he pulled off the cover. His mouth dropped open when he pushed aside the paper and pulled out the leather trench coat inside.

It was black, and the leather was buttery soft. Inside it was lined with a super soft shearling that would keep him warm when he stood outside in the cold winter weather. As soon as Calix had found it at the store, he'd just had to buy it for the Tiger. It would look so good on him with his unusual skin and hair color.

Jerret stood up and pulled it on, obviously unable to resist the gift. Calix moaned when he turned to look at the mirror, showing exactly how good the black leather looked on his mate.

It was fucking incredible.

The coat hung off his wide shoulders, and just a strip of his bare chest showed underneath. His hands slid down the sides, feeling the supple leather. His eyes closed, and his hands clenched on the sides. But he didn't take it off.

Even better, he wore it to work that night. Black pants, black t-shirt, and then the black trench coat, which completed the look. Matras, he was hot!

It gave Calix hope and a hard on that threatened to bust his zipper. He decided to move up his plans a few days. He hated going to bed that night alone but he was excited for the plan he'd decided on for the next morning.

That night was no different than every other night since he met his mate; his dreams were full of Jerret's body and his scent. He could remember little bits of the dream; the muscular Tiger had been grinding against him while his own hands gripped that muscular ass and pulled him closer until he couldn't take it anymore. He'd been wild, biting his mate on the shoulder to keep him in place as he began thrusting. Calix woke up with a sticky mess in his underwear, his heart still racing from the image of his sexy muscular mate bent over the back of his couch with his ass in the air.

"God, this is ridiculous." Calix rolled out of bed, slapping the alarm clock on his way to the shower. He quickly washed up, and got dressed. He had a couple of early clients for training sessions, and then he was going to catch Jerret at his favorite coffee place.

The tiger was positively addicted to his caffeine and went every morning and then again on his way to work. This morning he was going to get a bit of a surprise.

Calix was waiting at a table just to the left of the ordering counter when Jerret came in to the coffee shop.

In front of him was a black coffee and blueberry muffin. In front of the chair across the table waiting for Jerret was a Mexican mocha and a cinnamon bun. The same order the Tiger made every day.

His mate froze; their eyes locked together. Calix could hardly breathe as he waited to see what Jerret would do. When he didn't turn around and walk out Calix took a breath, suppressing the shudder his mate's scent sent rippling up his spine.

"Will you have some coffee with me? I ordered your favorite."

Jerret snarled a little. "And how would you know what that is?"

Calix blushed. "It's a little bit stalker-ish, I know, but you took off on me. I had to find you, and when I did. . .I didn't want you to just run away again."

"So you tried to bribe me?" Calix watched how Jerret's hands stroked the leather of his coat.

"Not bribes; they're gifts." Calix picked at his muffin. "Will you sit down? Please?"

There was a tense moment as he waited to see what his mate would do. Warmth surged through Calix when the Tiger slowly sat down. He waited for Jerret to drink his coffee, but the Tiger just watched him. He sighed as he remembered their last meal together.

He picked up his cup and took a drink, hoping that would reassure the Tiger that he could enjoy his morning coffee. Or maybe he didn't know as much about his mate as he thought he did? Maybe he didn't feel like having his usual today. Calix's teeth worried at his bottom lip until Jerret picked up his coffee and took a sip; a look of pleasure curved his full lips up at the corners ever so slightly.

"Good? I had them make it extra hot since I got here early. I didn't want your coffee to be cold. That's a cinnamon bun; I can ask them to warm it up for you if you like." Calix crumbled more of his muffin, looking down at it and then back up. "Or I could get you something else? You always had the bun, but if you feel like having something else I can get it for you. Just let me know--"

Jerret lifted a hand up. "Whoa, slow down."

Calix knew his face had to be turning red, a wave of heat rolled up his chest and face as he blushed. "Sorry, I tend to get a little talkative when I'm nervous."

Jerret tilted his head. "Why so nervous?"

Really? "Well, the last time we sat across a table from each other you agreed to go back to my place and then when we realized what we are, you bolted. I just... I don't want you to take off on me again."

Jerret sighed. "I suppose I owe you some sort of explanation about that."

Calix shrugged. "I don't want to push you. It's enough to have coffee here with you, for now."

"Thanks," Jerret took another drink and then set his cup on the table, cradling it in his hands, "but I think it might help you understand why I ran and why I've always said I don't want a mate.."

Calix sat back in his chair and waited. He watched the smaller man as he fidgeted before finally looking up.

"My brother's mate was the son of an alpha. He belonged to a very large Tiger clan that our clan was merging with. It was during the convocation to confirm Yuril's father as the new alpha that they met for the first time. They kept their relationship a secret, but Benny wanted to bond with Yuril. Yuril's mother and my parents performed the ceremony.

"My parents just thought of prestige of one of their sons being mated to the son of an alpha. They felt the power gained would offset any stigma to having their son mated to a male. After all. . .we don't choose our mates right?"

The bitter look on Jerret's face hurt something inside Calix. He looked down.

"Oh Matras! I didn't mean you and me, Calix," Jerret's spoke quickly, "really, I didn't. That was just what my parents thought, their feelings, not mine."

Calix nodded, it had still hurt to hear. "I understand."

"Yuril and Benny were so happy during the bond ceremony. They went away for two weeks, but then they came back. Yuril didn't want to, but Benny wanted to come to my college graduation. He didn't go past high school, but he was so proud that I did.

"He didn't understand what the new alpha was really like. When Sheshtun found out that Yuril had mated my brother; that he was gay. . . He did things, horrible things to both my brother and Yuril. Benny survived, but Yuril," Jerret's eyes were anguished and his voice dropped to a whisper, "might have been better off if he hadn't. His mind broke, and now he's like a child. Benny can't be with his mate because the sight of another Tiger sends Yuril into hysterics even now."

Shocked, Calix couldn't stop the sound of horror that burst out of him.

"My parents did nothing. The other Tigers in the clan did nothing. So we left and took Yuril with us. Velaku found a very good family that took him in; they're Falcon Carthera so that the sight of cats won't bother the poor man."

"I can see why you'd be afraid to mate anyone; it would scare me too if someone I loved went through something like that. But my family isn't like that. We don't belong to a clan and my parents are good people; they love each other and me. I've already told them all about you, and they're so happy for me. It was hilarious, Mom was giving me dating advice and my dad. . . well, he means well, even if he has no clue." Calix's voice was wry, the memory of the call fresh in his mind.

"Can't you give me a chance? A chance to show you that you don't have to fear anything like that happening with my family? I've wanted my mate for so long; my whole life of watching my parents overcome their differences based on the strength of their bond has shown me that it can overcome anything.

"Please?" Calix slid his hand across the table, his fingers open, and waited. His stomach hurt and he couldn't breathe, but he held out all the hope he had inside him out in that hand.

"Yes."

Calix felt as if his heart jumped when Jerret's fingers slid into his own. He couldn't help but grin as his mate agreed to give him a chance.

"I'm going to make you so happy," he said softly, "you'll never want to be apart."

*

Calix's confident tone and the feel of their hands together sent a signal to Jerret's dick to sit up and take notice. He couldn't help but blush, the double meaning clear.

Calix laughed as Jerret ducked his head to hide the pink of his cheeks.

"Well, I didn't mean it that way," Calix said his voice dropping to a whisper, "but I wouldn't mind making you happy that way either." His thumb caressed Jerret's palm.

He was happy they were sitting and the table could hide the evidence of what Calix's words and touch did to him. The humans couldn't smell him, but when Calix's nostrils flared Jerret knew he could scent his arousal. Jerret took a shallow breath, but he could still smell the way the Liger's scent had gotten stronger and muskier. He'd been dreaming each night about sex with the Liger. In the shower, against the wall, on the kitchen table, tied to the head board of his bed...He'd jerked off more than he had since he was a teenager but it was like something in him craved Calix.

"I uh. . .I have work today," he managed to say.

Regret passed across Calix's face as he nodded. "I do too. Besides, as much as I want to take you back to my place right now, I think we should take a bit if time to get to know each other."

Jerret was disappointed too, but he knew Calix was right. He pulled his hand back, knowing that if they kept touching his dick wouldn't go down. He picked up his cinnamon bun and took a bite, enjoying the burst of spice across his tongue even if it was cold.

"Okay, so getting to know each other. I already know you like spicy food. Tell me more." Calix voice was amused, but Jerret didn't care if the Liger could see how much enjoyment he got from his favorite treat. He was no longer worried that the male would be upset if he ate, even though the larger cat didn't actually eat any of his food, just picked at it and crumbled it into small pieces.

"I do. I'm not much of a drinker, though I work at the club. Or maybe that is because I work at the club?" he shrugged as he considered that, " I see a lot of drunks acting like idiots. Anyway, I started working at the club a while back. Then I took some classes on computers and internet advertising at the local community college. I manage the website for the club and a few other businesses part time."

"So, you have your own business," Calix said, "that's good. I wondered what degree you graduated with."

"Oh," Jerret shrugged, "it was just a business degree. I didn't really know what I wanted to do but I like people and I wanted to have something that would come in handy in a number of fields."

Calix smiled at him. "That's smart."

A warm feeling made Jerret smile back. He liked that his mate hadn't judged him as stupid because his job title was 'club bouncer' like a lot of men might have. He told Calix as much.

The Liger didn't say anything for a minute as Jerret waited for him to speak so he finished the last bit of his bun and washed it down with a big drink of his rapidly cooling coffee. He was about to ask what was wrong when Calix's eyes rose up to meet his.

"I've been judged my whole life; mostly before I was given a chance. Humans are afraid of me because of my size. My father's clan were completely psychotic, and my mother's clan looked down on us in what I now know is the usual Tiger arrogance. I've been different my whole life, and all I've ever wanted was someone who would be willing to give me a chance to show them I'm not scary, or an abomination, or anything but me."

Jerret sucked in a breath at the feeling packed into that last word.

"I'm willing," he said. He smiled shyly at his mate.

Calix's smile erased the look of pain in his eyes, making them twinkle in happiness. "I'm glad. I'll always give you a chance to show me who you are too. I'm not going to judge you, or do anything that will risk losing you. I'm too damn grateful to you for not pushing me away."

Jerret ducked his head when the doors opened and a small crowd came in from one of the local businesses. He glanced at his watch.

"Oh, wow. I'm late," he said. "Benny is going to check on Yuril, and it's hard on him. We have to be careful, but he needs to know that his mate is happy even if it's not the type of happiness they had together. He needs me." He stood up and threw his garbage in the trash by the counter.

Calix stood up immediately. "I understand; he's your brother. Never apologize for spending time with him, okay? We can talk later." He reached into his wallet and pulled out one of his business cards. "Here, so you can get in touch with me anytime you need to. My cell phone number is on the back."

Jerret took it, sliding it into his pants pocket. He licked his lips and watched Calix's eyes track the movement. "Do you... ahem," he cleared his throat, "do you want a kiss goodbye?" Heat stroked him as he offered, wanting to taste the male and see if his flavor was as rich and enticing as his scent.

A rumble came from the Liger's chest and he moved around the table, pulling Jerret into his arms before his mouth came down and claimed his for their first kiss. The embrace was tight, and Jerret could feel a huge ridge dig into his stomach and knew it had to be Calix's hard dick.

The studly liger was sporting a raging erection. . .for him. He held him almost painfully tight yet his lips didn't hurt, didn't grind down on Jerret's as he pressed his tongue inside as they got their first taste of each other. Their tongues dueled in the hot warm recesses of Jerret's mouth before Calix retreated, nibbling on Jerret's now swollen lips.

He needed more, and Jerret's hands came up to his mate's wide shoulders and held on tight. He thrust his tongue forward and delved into the larger male's mouth, pointed tip rubbing and tracing the sharp teeth.

Calix had to be the first one to pull away; Jerret was too lost in the sensations. The link he already had to the male, their potential bond as mates, had its own role in creating heat in their embrace. It made it hard to think when he craved the Liger that much.

"You have to go," Calix said breathlessly, "and we're in public."

Jerret's hips stilled. He didn't open his eyes, resting his forehead on Calix's chest instead until he could step back without humiliating himself.

"Sorry," he said under his breath.

Calix's hand came up and brushed over his short hair. "Don't be. I treasure the way you responded to me. I already dream of you, but that kiss will not allow me a moment's rest until I have more from you. Can we go on a date?"

Jerret stepped back, his tight jeans hiding the worst evidence of his arousal from the rest of the people in the coffee shop. "You got me two tickets to the playoffs this weekend. We can go to that together if you want; I've always wanted to go."

"I thought you might want to take your friend, the human male." Calix's grimace was amusing.

"Brad? I could, I guess," Jerret didn't like the look on Calix's face as he teased him so he dropped the act, "but I'd rather go with you."

He studied the Liger for a moment.

"We're just friends, by the way. I've never had feelings for Brad, and he doesn't have any for me."

Calix just nodded. Jerret sighed to himself; looks like the problem his ex had with his close friendship with Brad was going to be a problem for Calix too. He just hoped their relationship wouldn't end in a jealous misunderstanding like his last one had. He'd hate to be stuck with a mate he couldn't be with.

Jerret couldn't resist, reaching up on his tiptoes and pulling the big male's head down for a kiss. "I'll call you tonight."

Calix's arms squeezed him tight for a moment. "Okay."

***

The game was fun, for both of them. They met at the arena, Jerret obviously needed to feel like he had an escape route. Calix was willing to give it to him. His mom had cautioned him to be even more patient now that his mate was giving him a chance. She was right; it was not the time to think with his little head, though he wanted to forget that his mom had talked about his dick, even obliquely.

They had some snacks during the game; both of them stuck to soda instead of the beer that flowed liberally through the arena. It was a violent game, even for hockey. The aggression in the air made it harder for Calix to hold on to his own need to dominate his mate and complete their bond, but he managed.