back of Colin’s knees. Pulled, so Colin had to bend them, scoot his butt forward, closer. Judd bracketed Colin’s face with his hands. Speared his fingers into silky red hair.
Finally, he kissed those pretty lips. The bottom one, slightly fuller than the top. Both of them lush. Edible.
Colin tasted the way Judd hoped he would. Warm and spice-filled with flavors all his own. Rich like chocolate, hot like cinnamon, earthy like cardamom. Specialty Gingersnap.
Colin’s mouth was unsure. His lips trembled under Judd’s at first. Then they were transformed by eagerness. When Judd pressed for entry, Colin opened to him. When he swept his tongue in gently, Colin responded in kind – tongue tentative. Judd coaxed him to be bold. Pulled slightly back, nibbled that ridiculous lower lip. Colin did the same, teeth slightly too sharp, perfect.
Judd needed to breathe but he couldn’t resist one more fierce press before he drew back. Colin was panting. Happy.
So was Judd. “You’re a fast learner, Gingersnap.”
Colin’s face flushed crimson. It was from pleasure this time. “I’m an excellent student, I’ll have you know. So you’ll really do it?”
Judd set his heart aside. It was going to get crushed. He didn’t care one iota. “Yeah, I really will.”
Colin couldn’t believe it. He’d netted himself a shark. Or was that a wolf in sharkskin? Regardless, the biggest of big fishes wanted him. Biggest badass for certain. Oldest of the pack. Kevin was probably as physically powerful, but in sheer magnetism Kevin was all show, Judd was real strength. Yet there Judd sat, looking wide-eyed with awe… at Colin.
As if Colin had done something amazing. In just making a request. In just taking his cues from one simple kiss.
Okay, it hadn’t been that simple. Judd kissed him like it was the punctuation mark at the end of a sentence – a purposeful pause in time and breath. Contemplative and thorough. It had been a really good kiss. At least Colin thought it was − hard to know for certain, as he had limited experience in the matter.
He looked down at Judd’s lap. If the bulge there was any indication, Colin hadn’t done too bad reciprocating.
Judd cleared his throat, voice even deeper than usual. “Look, Gingersnap, I gotta be certain. I don’t want you feeling any kind of pressure. Are you sure it’s me you want? I can be a bit much.”
Colin wondered if that had happened to Judd in the past. He could see how this man – big, aggressive, possessive, loud – could be overkill in a lover. Judd occupied space in a way that many would find threatening. Colin, on the other hand, really liked it. When they were in a room together, people never noticed Colin because Judd drew most of the attention, like some gravitational anomaly. He certainly drew Colin’s attention.
Colin liked it because that pull meant Judd could be depended upon. It was as if he were there to take on the weight of the needs of others. Needs that Colin felt as stressors, because he couldn’t fulfill them. But Judd was not weak like that. Judd could shoulder the burden of pack expectations.
“You’re not a bully, Judd.” Colin needed him to know he wasn’t being pushed into anything.
“No, maybe once a long time ago. But I’m too old for that now, takes too much effort and my ego is fine. I don’t gotta prove anything, anymore. But that doesn’t mean I’m not a lot to handle.”
Colin struggled to articulate his feelings. “You are a little intimidating?” He suggested it as the right word, hopeful that Judd wouldn’t take offense.
“I’m a large Black man, Gingersnap. One way or another, most of my many lives, others have felt threatened by me.”
Colin felt inadequate to the task of explaining in the face of such a life. “I’m not saying things right.”
Judd’s eyes were wounded. “I’m too big, too much, aren’t I? For you, I mean. Reminds you of bullies, and assholes, and family shit.”
“No that’s not… I mean, you…” Colin felt the heated tingle of shameful misunderstanding. He was getting this wrong, somehow. He was messing up.
Judd pushed on. “That’s why Alec is such a good Alpha for you. He’s not physically very imposing.”
Colin felt compelled to get this right. “It’s one of the reasons.” He licked his lips. “But I was trying to say that for me, it’s more the wolf side of things. Enforcers are all…” He trailed off, helpless. He wanted to say intimidating again, but Judd hadn’t responded well to