by Sean Michael
Yes. Mine. My mate.
“Cody!” Barker cried out, heat pouring over his fingers.
“Mine.” He snarled, bucked against Barker’s hip. He needed.
“Yeah. I am.” Barker’s fingers slid down along his hip, down to his prick.
“Please.” His entire body bucked, rolled.
Barker growled softly for him. “My mate.”
“Yes.” Cody bared his throat, his belly, his balls.
Barker rolled on top of him, working a mark into his throat, his belly, sucking on his balls. Sharp yips left his throat, his whole world spinning. Barker’s mouth moved from his balls and wrapped around his cock.
“Mate!” Heat poured from him, pulsed from him, and he pushed deep into Barker’s throat.
Cody felt his lover swallowing down around his cockhead, taking him all in. So good. So good.
He was suddenly so fucking happy, he couldn’t bear it. Barker let him go, sliding up his body to take his mouth, share his taste with him. Cody licked at Barker’s lips, lazy and easy in his bones.
You’re happy.
“Mmm hmm.” He was. It smelled real here.
“Good.” Barker seemed content to lie there, holding him, stroking his skin.
His cheek found a resting place on Barker’s shoulder, and he listened to the man’s steady heartbeat.
“I want it to be like this. Just this.”
“Okay.” Cody could handle that. He didn’t believe it, but he could handle it.
* * * * *
Barker closed his eyes and held onto Cody and tried to keep everything else out. He felt how happy Cody was in this moment, and he didn’t want to let it go.
His leg started throbbing, though. And he needed a shower in the worst way. He probably could have ignored all that if his shoulder hadn’t started itching. He couldn’t scratch it without moving, and he just knew that once he moved, the moment would be over.
He tried very hard not to let it get to him, but he felt himself slowly getting tighter, the itch intensifying the harder he tried to ignore it.
Cody looked up at him. “Hopefully, this place has a bathroom.”
Oh, yeah, he had to do that, too.
Laughing, giving up on being able to hold onto the moment forever, Barker moved Cody and scratched his shoulder, all but drooling as the itch was relieved. “Yeah. And a kitchen.” You never knew, and if everyone could change at will, maybe they didn’t have amenities for humans.
Of course, all these wolves had mates, just like Cody had him. There had to be…
There was. A kitchen, a bathroom, even a tiny bedroom in the back that they’d missed the night before with a regular bed. He opened some windows, a rush of fresh, clean air pushing into the place. It was no wonder Cody’s wolf had been excited.
From there, Barker went to the kitchen, making a face when the tiny fridge proved not only to be empty, but not running. A try at the light switch confirmed it was the electricity that was missing.
“You have to flip the breakers in the back.” A young man’s face appeared at the window. “I can show you.”
The initial flash of panic at a stranger at their window faded slightly as the words sank in, and Barker nodded stiffly. He found a door in the kitchen leading to the outside. It had three locks on it, and he undid each one carefully, noting that they were well oiled and worked easily. Someone had built this place with ease of escape and defensibility in mind. It made him wonder if all the homes here were like it.
And how soon they’d need those defenses. Would the Clan come here? He’d seen the look in Harry’s eyes, on the faces of the others who’d come; they wanted Cody, dead or alive.
“I’m Caleb, by the way. That’s my uncle in there.”
“Cody?” It was true then. Cody’s sister was still alive and had come to their rescue. He could see the truth of Caleb’s words in his eyes—so like Cody’s.
“Yeah. Can I meet him soon? Can he change like Mom? I can’t wait to find my mate and change, too.”
“Yeah, he can change whenever he wants. That’s when it’s supposed to happen, huh? When you find your mate?” So how come Cody hadn’t changed ten years ago?
“Mom says you have to, uh…” Caleb pinked. “You know, mate, with your mate, during the moon.”
He grunted. That could explain it. He and Cody had mated before their first change, and then Cody had been sent away. When they’d gotten together this time, they’d mated between full moon nights. God, if they’d only known. If someone had told them.
“The breaker box is back here. There’s going to be a grocery store run today, for flour and potatoes and things. The hunters are out, too.”
“Is there someone in charge I can talk to?”
“My dad is the Alpha. He said to tell you to come see him when you’re rested and settled.” Those eyes that were blue like Cody’s twinkled. “Mom is very, very grumpy today. The new babies will be here soon. I wouldn’t see her.”
“Ladies with babies in their bellies.” Barker nodded. “I know well enough to leave them alone.”
“Yeah. Me, too.” The breaker box was opened, the fuses clearly marked.
Barker chuckled and watched. “Thanks. I don’t suppose we can borrow some steak or something.”
“You’ll have to talk to my dad. There’s like a pack store of food, but I don’t know how that works, really.”
“Okay, we’ll have to go see him now then.” They hadn’t eaten since pizza yesterday, and that felt like forever ago.
“Okay. Can…can I meet him? Please?”
“What? Oh. Cody. Sure.” Mate, he called softly. Someone wants to meet you.
Okay. I’m dressed. Cody sounded relaxed, easy.
“Come on in.” He held the door open for Caleb.
The boy headed in and Cody’s eyes went wide.
“Uncle?”
Cody blinked. “Are you Riana’s boy?”
The kid nodded. “You look like me.”
“No way. You look like me.”
Barker chuckled. “He’s got you there, kid. He’s older than you.”
“I think it’s so cool that you’re here. Mom talks about you a lot.”
Cody shrugged. “She was my only sister.”
“If she talks about him so damn much, why didn’t she ever come see him, help him?”
“We all thought he was dead.” Cody’s sister—who was the most pregnant woman he’d ever seen—leaned against the doorframe.
“Why? How did you find out he wasn’t?” He hated bullying her in her condition, but Cody was his mate, damn it.
“One of your people sent a message. A sympathetic family member.”
“So you still have ties back to the Clan. You knew they were coming after us, after Cody.” How could they know they were safe here?
“No. Cody told me.”
“What?”
Cody looked shocked.
Barker growled, putting himself between Riana and his mate. “What are you talking about?”
“You told me. You came into my dream and you told me.”
“That was real?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Didn’t it feel real?”
“Mom can dream me, too.” Caleb smiled. “It’s her gift.”
Her gift? Is our bond your gift? Out loud, Barker asked, “So did you instigate the dream or did Cody?”
“I have no idea. I was dreaming and there he was.” She smiled. “I’m glad, you know. Even if I never see you again, if you leave. I’m glad you are whole and that you have your mate.”
“You might want us to leave,” Barker pointed out. “We’ve got trouble following us. The Clan thought you were dead, but they know Cody isn’t. I’m not sure they’re going to stop hunting him. It could ruin your safe place here.”
“We protect our own. This is our land, our place. If they want to fight, they have to leave the safety of the city to do it.”
“And you’re taking us in as your own?” He didn’t want to get bl
indsided if they were in the middle of a fight.
“You are our own. You are Pack. I can smell it.”
He nodded. He’d take that. This was Cody’s family; they would accept him because he was Cody’s mate.
Just like his Clan should have accepted Cody because Cody was his. Fuckers.
Cody’s hand slipped over the small of his back. Easy. We don’t have to make any decisions now. We just need to eat. The teasing laughter trickled through the bond.
He growled softly, nodded. “We need to raid your fridge, Riana. We’re starving.”
“Of course. We’re, obviously, fairly self-sufficient here. We hunt, grow vegetables, buy odds and ends. It’s a group thing.” She winked, hand rolling over her belly. “Come on. I’ll show you to the food.”
He held out his hand for Cody, waiting until his mate’s fingers slid along his before following her out. “When are you due? Yesterday?”
“I think so, yes. Sally says any second. Mick wants to meet you, by the way. I don’t know if you pups are old enough to remember him.”
“We’re hardly pups. Mick’s your mate? The Alpha?”
“Yes. The big guy with the bushel of hair.”
“Is he like you and Cody?” Could the man change whenever he wanted, too?
She shook her head, blonde hair swinging. “No. Only one in a pairing, and the one who changes needs their mate. When you die, he’ll come with you in short order. You only function fully together.”
Barker could understand that. How could he share what he shared with Cody and then have it suddenly disappear?
Cody’s fingers squeezed his as they came to a little warehouse. Riana opened the doors, showing them a stash of food.
“We’re stocking for the winter, but the meats are in there, vegetables, milk.” Her eyes danced at them. “Please try to avoid eating the goats and the chickens in the pen.”
“I’m not furry for another month. Talk to the one who’ll be beastly before then.” Barker grinned at Cody.
Cody growled playfully, snapped at him. He laughed as they followed Cody’s sister, feeling better than he had in days.
“This is the dry stores. Take what you need. We’ll ask that you contribute. We all do. It keeps us going.”
“Contribute how?”
A deep, rough voice sounded. “Some of us are hunters, farmers. Some of us make things to sell. We all have something. Riana, you need to go sit down.”
“Boys, Mick. Mick, this is my brother and his mate.”
Mick nodded, the powerful force making Barker want to give the man his belly.
“We’ve met now. Baby, go. You’re tired.”
“Thanks, Riana.” Barker nodded to her before facing Mick again, noticing she didn’t go. “I’m Barker. This is Cody.”
“Welcome. How’s the house? It’s little, it needs work.”
“It does, but it’s solid. We can do the work on it if we stay.” He wasn’t promising anyone anything right now.
Mick nodded. “She would have come back for him, but there was no guarantee he was like her. She cried over him for years.”
“Uh-huh.” Barker didn’t want to be mean, but he wasn’t willing to just ignore the last ten years when Cody could have used her help. He was guilty of not being there for Cody, too, but at least he hadn’t known what was possible, what weirdness ran in the family gene pool.
He couldn’t just pretend everything was all sweetness and light now.
Mick nodded like he understood, eyes on his mate, nostrils flaring. Maybe he did.
“I can pay for the food we eat,” Barker noted as he started going through the fridge, picking up red meat. He didn’t know if Cody would go fuzzy to eat or stay human. Either way, they both preferred the red stuff.
“Okay. That works. If you need medical attention, that’s Sally.”
“We’re good.” His leg wasn’t bad now that they weren’t moving. Between his ability to heal quickly and Cody’s cleaning of it, he’d live and not limp.
You good, mate? Cody had been pretty quiet.
Mmm hmm. Cody was staring at his sister, eyes wide. You can see the babies moving.
Eww. Barker did not want to see that. He didn’t want to think it.
Cody’s laughter was soft, warm. “We’re going back to the house. Resting. Eating. Okay?”
Mick nodded. “This isn’t a prison camp. People will be interested to meet you, but they’ll give you time.”
“Thanks. Soon as we settle in…” He carted their groceries out of the storeroom.
The little guy followed them, jabbering at Cody, asking questions, curious. Cody answered a few, but before it could become really irritating, Mick growled, drawing Caleb away.
Barker looked over at Cody. “You like it here, don’t you?”
“It smells like home.”
“Yeah? I hope it is. I really do.”
“I do, too.” Cody closed the door behind them, eyes a little desperate.
“Hey.” He put the food down and pulled Cody into his arms. “As long as we’re together, the rest doesn’t matter, right?”
Cody sucked in a deep breath nodded, arms around him. “Right.”
Barker pushed their mouths together, tongue sliding between Cody’s lips.
Cody pushed into the kiss for a heartbeat then he leaned back. “Food.”
“Uh-huh. Before our stomachs crawl out and eat us.” He winked at Cody.
“Grr.” Cody growled softly, eyes twinkling.
Laughing, he found a pan in one of the cupboards in the little kitchen and set it on the stove, put the steaks in it. “We should explore later. See what all is here, how many people.”
“Mmm hmm. We can make friends, wander. Piss on trees…” Cody was teasing him.
He stuck his tongue out at his mate. Cody’s laugh made him feel sixteen again.
He bumped their hips together as the steaks started to sizzle. “Rare?” Like Cody wanted them any other way.
“Mmm hmm.” That was a happy growl.
Barker forced himself to pull the steaks off the heat and plate them instead of pouncing on his mate. Cody stayed human, humming and growling and rubbing against his side. He cut their steaks up quickly, offered Cody a bite. If Cody didn’t stop that, they weren’t going to get much to eat. He didn’t ask his mate to stop.
Cody nipped the beef from his fingers, teeth teasing his fingertips. Groaning, he rubbed his finger along Cody’s teeth.
Cody sucked his finger clean. “Your turn.”
He grabbed a piece of steak, tossing it into his own mouth, and then held another piece out to his mate.
“Yummy.” Look at his mate. Playing. Fuck, it was hot.
Barker leaned in and licked the juices from Cody’s lips. Cody hummed, making him chase that amazing mouth.
He grabbed his mate and pushed him against the counter, “Now I have you.” Grabbing another piece of meat, he put it between his own lips and offered it over.
Cody’s happy sound made his cock jerk, and the press of lips against his didn’t help.
“We need to finish the steak.” He wasn’t sure if he was telling Cody or himself.
“Uh-huh.” Cody fed him two more pieces, chasing them with soft kisses.
God, eating had never been so fucking sexy. Barker returned the favor, his fingers rubbing along Cody’s lips as he popped the meat into his mate’s mouth. He was keeping this forever—this lazy, relaxed happiness. This place was good for Cody.
He licked his mate’s mouth, one hand finding and sliding on Cody’s belly as he grabbed another piece of steak for his lover to eat. Cody snapped the bite up, leg sliding up along his thigh. He wrapped his hand around Cody’s leg, holding it there. He felt Cody’s desire, the need like a drug.
Want you, mate.
He pushed a couple more pieces of steak into Cody’s mouth, popped three into his own. His hunger for food was quickly abating.
I’m yours. Cody nipped at his fingers again.
Yes. Mine. Growling, Barker pushed Cody harder against the kitchen counter, his hand squeezing his mate’s leg, pressing them close together.
Cody lifted himself up onto the edge of the counter, the offer clear. His mate was better than any steak. He pushed Cody back a bit, bending to flick his tongue across the sweet little exposed hole.
“Fuck. Fuck, Barker.” The words were little yelps.
Barker nodded and licked more firmly, hands moving to the insides of Cody’s thighs, spreading his legs wider.
“Want you. Need you to take me.” The words were sandpaper rough, Cody’s hands clawing in his hair.
“I will.” He pointed his tongue and pushed it into Cody’s body.
The scent of the beast was strong here, the musk pure Cody. Cody’s howl rang through the air, the lust like a drug. Barker fucking loved that sound, and he wanted more. He fucked Cody’s ass, tongue pushing in over and over. Cody was driving down onto his tongue, head back, cries echoing out.
So fucking beautiful, sexy. It made him want. Made him need. His mate. His heart.
When Cody was good and wet, he stood up again, pulling off his sweats and pushing his cock into his mate.
“Yes!” Cody’s biceps bulged as the strength was added to his.
He pulled most of the way out, then pushed in again. Cody took him in and in, taking every inch and then demanding more.
“All mine,” Barker growled.
Cody was too far gone to answer; his mate just nodded, grunted. That worked for him. He began thrusting, working his prick into Cody’s body again and again. That heat wrapped around him, dragged at him, tried to keep him in. This was the best thing ever, being buried inside his mate, being joined.
He wrapped his mouth around Cody’s throat, sucking hard. He felt the blood under the surface of the tanned skin, rising up for his lips. He was going to leave a dark, lurid mark. Right where everyone could see it. His mate. His man. His wolf. His.
Barker thrust harder, taking his mate.
“Mate. Yes. Fill me.”
He grabbed Cody’s ass, pulling his mate into each thrust. Cody’s hand pushed between them, fingers tight around that needy prick. He bit at the mark he’d made, teeth scraping along Cody’s skin. Heat sprayed up between them, Cody’s ass like a fist around his cock.
“Fuck! Mate!” He pushed in hard, cum pouring from him into Cody.