GENRE: Gay BDSM Paranormal Erotic Romance
LENGTH: 8,629 words
RATING:

Sequel to Accepting Submission

Asher and Trey have enjoyed two years of mated bliss. It’s still not easy for Asher to ask for what he needs, but he’s accepted his submissive nature and trusts Trey to dominate him. But with the growing pack and the holidays approaching, Asher finds himself losing touch with his Dom.

In a desperate attempt to gain his mate's attention, Asher acts out of character and breaks the rules. He knows it’s the fastest way to get Trey to focus on him. Asher doesn’t want to be selfish, but he knows that their dynamic is important to them both. Being naughty works like a charm. Can these two men finally have the conversation they need to have? And will it be enough to save their love?

EXCERPT:
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

“I think you should be the one to explain yourself.”

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I clamped my lips shut. Worry swam in my gut, unease snaking through my veins. I didn’t talk back, hated the way it made me feel, and really didn’t like the way Trey’s eyes narrowed. I hadn’t meant to sass, but it came out of my mouth anyway.

“Asher, please explain yourself.” The calmness in his tone nearly made me snarl, because he was still treating me like I’d done something wrong. I mean, I had but it wasn’t like I as a brat all the time. This was out of character for me. Why didn’t he see that? Trey was always so good at reading me, knowing what I wanted and needed before I did. Sometimes even when I didn’t know, he did. So why was now different? How could he possibly think it was simply acting up when I didn’t do that?

I opened my mouth to say that, or anything at all, but I didn’t know how to put it into words. Almost two years we’d been together, living, laughing, loving. Doing scenes together where I put myself completely in his hands, trusting him to push me to my limits but never beyond. I thought he knew me inside and out, but clearly he didn’t, and I didn’t know how to tell him.

Something on my face must have shown my emotion or my panic, because suddenly Trey was at my side. He took a deep breath, and then another, then slowly reached out, telegraphing his every move and asking, with a quirk of a brow, if it was okay. It was more than okay. I’d been craving his touch for weeks now. He laid his hand on the back of my neck, and when I didn’t pull away, squeezed gently.

“Whatever you need or want to say, you can say it. You’re safe with me.”

“Am I really?” The words burst out of me, a little bitter sounding and tasting just as bad. I took a breath, trying to calm myself, but it was hard. “Because you said you’d take care of me. You promised. And you said to ask you for attention, for what I needed, if you didn’t read me fast enough or correctly. And I did! I asked, and you said you would give me what I needed and then you blew me off!”