Savor Every Moment

by Shea Balik

  Neither option sounded great to Elton. He may not want to create more pain for himself, but he also didn’t want to wait any longer to reconnect with his mate.

  “To be honest, I’m only allowing this because you’re mated. I’m worried you won’t be able to shift back into your human form,” Nole told him.

  “What the hell am I supposed to do if that happens?” Now Elton was terrified.

  Nole nodded in Wray’s direction. “Your mate should be able to command you to shift. Mates always want to please, so you’ll naturally want to shift for him.”

  Elton was sure his eyes were as big as saucers as he looked from Nole to Wray back to Nole. “And what if that doesn’t work?”

  Nole jerked a thumb toward the door. “Edrick is waiting right out there. As your Alpha, he’ll be able to command you to shift and you won’t be able to deny him.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked not sure that sounded right to him.

  Nole gave another half shrug. “In theory.”

  “In theory?” Both he and Wray yelled.

  “I’ve never not had it work,” Nole told them. “But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen at some point.”

  Elton leaned a little more against Wray, who held him as tightly as he dared since he didn’t want to hurt his mate’s injuries more than they already were. Elton appreciated his mate’s care.

  “Basically, it comes down to how quickly you want to heal. Taking a few extra days isn’t a problem,” Nole assured him. “You’re out of the woods and on the mend. It will just mean staying here at least another two nights and when you do go home bedrest, with no sex,” he emphasized, “until we have you shift a time or two.”

  That wasn’t a choice, not for Elton, anyway. He needed to strengthen his connection with his mate too much to worry about a little pain. “Let’s do it then,” he told Nole.

  “Bubbly,” Wray started but Elton cut him off.

  “I want to do this, Wray. Please don’t fight me on it.” He let out a long breath he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding when his mate’s mahogany eyes softened in capitulation.

  “I love you.” Wray added a gentle kiss to his statement and Elton was sure his heart was about to melt into a pile of goo, because it wasn’t just his mate’s words, it was the way he looked at Elton as if he hung the moon.

  “I love you, too.” Elton gave Wray one more kiss before he started his shift. Agony, unlike anything he’d ever known, stole his ability to think, breath, or allow his heart to even beat.

  “Oh, wow.” Wray’s voice held so much wonder as he reached out and touched the feathers along Elton’s back. “You are a true beauty, bubbly, no matter what form you’re in.”

  Like his mate possessed magic, those sweet words and his soft touch was a balm that chased the pain away. Well, not away, but it did help him manage it.

  Elton was even able to take a moment to soak in his mate’s praise, even preening a bit, which wasn’t easy as the pain engulfed him.

  “You need to shift back,” Nole warned him.

  Elton wasn’t sure he could until he heard his mate’s voice. “Come back to me, bubbly.”

  The next thing he knew, Wray was cradling him in his arms before placing him on the gurney. Firm lips pressed a kiss along his forehead before the shroud of agony caused everything to go black as he blessedly passed out.

  CHAPTER 17

  “Asshole,” Elton griped as Nole put a new bandage over his wound. “You said the pain wouldn’t be as bad this time.”

  It had been Elton’s second shift in as many days. Already his bullet wound had healed enough that he didn’t need stitches this time. For the first time since he’d watched in horror as his mate had been shot, Wray took his first real, anxiety free, breath.

  “Obviously, I was right, otherwise you would have passed out and I wouldn’t have to listen to you bitching,” Nole said with no small amount of frustration. “Now, if you promise to not overdo it, I’ll let you go home.”

  Elton’s gaze went right to Wray’s. The heat in those pale green eyes caused them to glow and Wray’s cock to harden. Damn, but he couldn’t wait to hold his bubbly in his arms. The stupid gurney had made it too difficult to lie next to Elton without his mate being in pain.

  “No,” Nole said adamantly. “Sex is still not an option, although, if you’re good and don’t reopen your wound, I would imagine tomorrow you’ll be good to go after shifting one more time.”

  His mate grumbled about Nole enjoying torturing his patients. In this case, Wray agreed. For Elton, he’d wait an eternity, but that didn’t make it any less difficult to do so.

  Nole pointed to some clothes he’d brought in and placed on the counter. “Kylo gave me some of your clothes, so you can get dressed. I’m going to warn you now, there are no skinny jeans or form fitting tops. I asked him to give me something that wouldn’t risk digging in and possibly damaging your healing skin.”

  Elton had picked up the sweatpants and a t-shirt that looked like it might be two sizes too big for him. “You have got to be kidding,” Elton exclaimed. “These are my pity party clothes. No one other than my friends have ever seen me wear these. I can’t go out in public like this.”

  Nole shrugged as he headed out the door. “Feel free to spend the night in this room if you feel that strongly about it.”

  Those pale green eyes widened as he looked at Wray, then the gurney. Without another word he started to shove his feet into the sweats. When he struggled to lift his arms high enough to get the shirt over his head, Wray stepped in to help.

  “You ready to see the world again, bubbly?” Wray teased as Elton shoved his feet into a pair of flip flops Kylo had put with the clothes.

  The rhinestone studded strap that went between Elton’s toes as well as the bright pink shoe were a direct contrast to the worn, faded clothing. But his mate had a way of pulling off the outfit that most wouldn’t have managed.

  They had only made it as far as the front porch before they were stopped. “Nole said you were feeling better,” Iniko said as he came up for a hug, which Wray was glad to see the mouse shifter being careful not to cause Elton any pain. “I was hoping to convince you to come to Main Street so I can get your opinion on something.”

  “Nole doesn’t want Elton doing anything too strenuous,” Wray warned.

  Iniko waved off his concern. “I promise, it is only his ideas that I need today. When he’s completely healed, I’m hoping he’ll want to take over.”

  “Take over what?” Elton had perked up a little as his curiosity won over how exhausted he’d made himself by just getting dressed.

  A deep furrow appeared between Iniko’s brows. “Although we won, many of the residents have become…disheartened, I guess would be the word. After winning the battle with the Old Council and putting the new laws in place, I think many people here thought we’d be free from bigotry.”

  Elton snorted. “Seriously? Because just making it illegal isn’t going to change people’s minds overnight. Don’t get me wrong, it would be nice if it did, but some of that bigotry runs deep. It’s going to take a lot more than a new law to stop people from being assholes.”

  Wray chuckled at the way his mate stated things. He really never held anything back.

  “That’s what I tried telling them,” Iniko exclaimed. “Anyway, Edrick thought it might be nice to get their minds off the fact that there are still plenty of people who want to kill us just for who we are.” He waved a hand away from the house as he said, “I mean, there exist still several groups that had been planning to join Alpha Vitus in attacking us.”

  They still might. After they’d defeated Alpha Vitus and his pack, along with Alpha Piran and Alpha Roone, even if that wolf bastard managed to get away, the other shifter groups hadn’t shown their faces. Most likely because they’d heard what happened to the other groups. However, it was entirely possible, if improbable, they had never planned on joining the other three groups to destroy Miracle and kill everyon
e who lived there.

  Elton bounced lightly on his feet, his eyes lighting up and sparkling like a Christmas tree. “You mean, like having a field day?”

  Iniko tilted his head and stared at Elton as if he were trying to figure him out. “A what now?”

  “A field day,” Elton squealed excitedly. As if he needed to share his joy, Elton grabbed Wray’s hand and tugged him toward the stairs. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  It only took two steps down before Elton stopped in his tracks. “Yep, not happening,” he said as he gave Wray sad, frustrated eyes. “Would you mind carrying me? I now see why Kylo hates stairs so much.”

  Wray didn’t hesitate to lift his mate into his arms. “I’d carry you anywhere, bubbly, just so long as we’re together.”

  “Gag me with a spoon,” Iniko grumbled. “You keep being this sappy and I’m going to reconsider hiring Elton to be Miracle’s events coordinator.”

  “Wait, what?” Elton stared at Iniko. “You mean you’d seriously do that?”

  “Why not?” Iniko said. “The residents of Miracle have been working their asses off to create a home for themselves. It’s time we added a little fun into their lives, don’t you think?”

  Wray would forever be indebted to Iniko for helping his mate find his dream. He knew Elton felt as if he were destined to screw things up and never find a place where he fit in Miracle. Wray had tried to reassure Elton, but it was hard when he’d failed at so many jobs.

  On their way into town, Elton had pointed out a huge open field behind the far side of Main Street. “Somebody is going to need to mow it first, which, I admit, is no small feat.”

  The area was about a hundred yards across and went as far as the eye could see. “I was thinking, we start getting kids in Miracle, we could open a school up along the road and keep the rest of it for them to play, and for field days.”

  Iniko shook his head. “I’m still not sure what a field day is.”

  Elton started holding up a finger for each of his ideas. “There will be obstacle courses, potato sack races, ring toss, twister, a dance party, and if we can clear enough land, maybe some races or a football game.”

  Wray could see it now. The whole town could participate because not all the games would be about strength or speed, many would be about agility and flexibility. Of course, the dancing anyone could join.

  “That is amazing,” Iniko said as he stared at Elton in shock. “I was just thinking we’d do a movie night or something, but your idea is so much better.”

  His mate preened under the praise.

  Iniko pulled out his tablet and started typing up some of Elton’s ideas. Then he glanced up and pinned Wray with a look that said he was about to help whether he wanted to or not. “Can you or someone on your farm mow the field? You guys are the only ones with a mower.”

  Zayn was their resident mechanical guru and had been working on getting their tractor up and running. Hopefully, he’d managed, or they would be forced to use their little yard mower and that would take forever. For his mate, Wray would spend all night cutting down the tall grasses if need be.

  “Yeah. I’m just not sure exactly how long it will take.” The kiss on the cheek Elton gave him was already more than worth the work it would take to fulfill the request.

  “Thank you,” Elton whispered. “Tomorrow, I’ll make sure to reward you.”

  His mate was killing him. It was only one day but Wray was sure it would seem like a lifetime.

  Sweat was beading up on Elton’s forehead. Concerned, Wray asked, “You okay?”

  Elton nodded, although that enthusiasm he’d had moments ago seemed to drain as he rested his head against Wray’s shoulder. “I think I need to lie down.” The words had no more gotten out of his mouth than his mate fell asleep.

  “We’ll pick this back up tomorrow,” Iniko whispered.

  Wray nodded and headed down the path that led to the farm. It was time to get his mate to bed. They both may have wished for more than just sleep, but so long as Elton was safely in his arms, Wray would be happy.

  CHAPTER 18

  “Damn, that feels good, bubbly,” Wray moaned.

  Elton smiled at the sleepy sound of his mate’s voice. His tongue swirled around the ridge of Wray’s cock before swiping across the head, savoring every drop of fluid that had started to leak from the tip.

  Strictly speaking, he was pushing the bounds of Nole’s instructions about when they could have sex. Technically it was the following day, even if it was only seven in the morning. Elton had shifted, which, thankfully, hadn’t hurt nearly as much as it had the last two times he’d done it.

  Hands reached down to hold onto either side of his head. Fingers wrapped themselves into his hair, tugging lightly on the strands in encouragement. That reminded Elton of Wray’s whispered words about how amazing it would feel to have his hair brushing along his cock.

  Pulling back, Elton hovered over his mate’s thick cock and let his ginger locks glide along his length.

  “Fuck,” Wray shouted, his eyes opening wide. His back arched as his hips thrust upward as if trying to find friction.

  More than happy to oblige, he wrapped his hand around both his hair and Wray’s cock. It was more challenging than he’d imagined. Between his stroking motions and Wray’s hips moving up and down, some of his hairs kept getting caught. The sting of them being ripped out of his head wasn’t pleasant, but the sheer bliss on Wray’s face was more than worth it.

  Suddenly, Elton was flipped, his back on the mattress as he stared up into scared mahogany eyes. “We can’t do this,” Wray said as he fought to catch his breath after he’d been moments ago begging for more. “Nole said…”

  Elton placed his hand over his mate’s mouth. “That I had to wait until today and I had to shift, which I did.”

  Wray gave him a glare, clearly telling Elton he wasn’t buying what Elton was trying to sell.

  “What?” Elton tried to go for innocent, but he’d never been good at pretending, so why had he thought he could do it now? “Fine, it might have been implied that he’d want to see me first, but he never said it and I, for one, desperately need to feel you inside of me again.” He gave his mate what he hoped was sad puppy eyes. “You wouldn’t want to deny me of that, would you? I mean, I almost died.”

  A growl rumbled around them just before hard, unyielding lips crashed down on his, owning Elton. Now that was more like it.

  Letting out a moan, Elton wrapped his arms and legs around his mate, refusing to let go and risk it ending. Calloused hands roamed over his skin, sending shivers of pleasure through his body.

  “No,” Wray said as he ripped his mouth from Elton’s and rolled away from him. “Not until Nole gives the okay.”

  Surprised, Elton pushed away that sense of abandonment from having his mate so easily stop touching him. No way was he going to turn this into a pity party for himself when he needed his mate so badly.

  Just as quickly as Wray had moved away from him, putting a good foot between their bodies, Elton had rolled on top of him, straddling his waist. What his mate didn’t know yet, was that Elton had already prepped himself. It hadn’t been easy, as the still red area over his chest had protested his contortion to do it, but Elton wanted to be prepared in case Wray had denied him.

  Before his mate knew what was happening, Elton wrapped a hand around his still hard cock and placed it at the entrance of his opening. Wray’s eyes widened but he didn’t try to stop Elton. Then again, Elton didn’t exactly give him the chance as he pushed down, impaling himself on his mate.

  “Fuck,” Wray said in an explosion of air leaving his lungs. “You’re cheating,” his mate accused even as his hands went to Elton’s hips, holding him still as Wray thrust up into his body.

  Groaning in a mix of relief and pleasure, Elton dropped his head back onto his shoulders and enjoyed the feeling of having his mate filling him once again. “Harder,” he whined when Wray started a slow pace that was driving him out of hi
s ever-loving mind.

  “No way, bubbly,” his mate teased by slowing down even more. “If you’re going to insist we do this before Nole gives the green light, then we’re going to do this slow, so you don’t get hurt.”

  Elton wanted to complain, but then Wray pegged his prostate and all he could do was moan. He tried rolling his hips down, but Wray held him completely still. If he wasn’t so damn turned on right then, he might have bitched his mate out for not letting him participate.

  With every slow drag of Wray’s cock, Elton swore he could feel it pulsing within his channel, massaging the muscles that tried to hold him inside. It was too much and not enough all at the same time.

  “Please,” he whimpered, desperate to come, to feel his mate’s seed inside of him, to feel that connection that was theirs. “I need…” he didn’t finish, unsure what to ask for first. But as he stared down into those eyes, that he loved so much, Elton gave the only response that encompassed what he wanted to say. “You.”

  Wray’s body shuddered beneath him. His hands tightened on Elton’s hips as his thrusts grew harder and faster. It was ecstasy.

  Beads of sweat popped up along Wray’s torso. His mouth watering for a taste, Elton leaned over that hard body and swiped his tongue along his mate’s neck, right where Elton had left his mating mark.

  He was rewarded with a grunt followed by Wray thrusting into him faster. His mate’s fingers were bound to leave marks by the time they were done, but Elton didn’t care, because they would remind him of how much Wray found him irresistible.

  “Damn, bubbly. The things you do to me.” Wray’s voice was thick and husky. A hand left one of his hips and wrapped around Elton’s dick, stroking it in time with his thrusts. “Come for me, bubbly. Show me how much you need me.”

  As if his body were at Wray’s command, Elton’s balls rolled as jolts of electricity raced up and down his spine before pouring out of his dick to splash across Wray’s abdomen. “Oh fuck, that’s hot,” he whimpered at the sight.