by C. W. Gray
“Oh dear,” Janine said, laughter in her voice. “Ronald, will you keep Leo from killing Thor for talking about his mate? We’ll deal with Daisy.”
Ronald grinned and shifted, clothes scattering around him. A few of the other Rocchi family members did the same, then set off to intercept Leo.
“Mate?” Katrin was completely off the ground now, but Jesse had her about the waist. “Really? You’re Leo’s mate? Of course, you are. That makes perfect sense. Oh, Sonny, I’m so sorry.”
Sonny blinked, Leo’s words settling inside him like a warm slice of apple pie. My mate! They were mates. Leo was his and nothing could keep them apart. Nothing.
A grin slowly moved across his face, and he started dancing in place, hips wiggling and arms waving in the air. “We’re mates, we’re mates, we’re mates!”
Janine laughed. “Sonny, calm down.”
Sonny pulled her into his dance and they whirled around the yard, feet hampered by the snow. “Leo and I are mates, Janine!”
“Yes, you are.” She shook her head and laughed at him.
“Uh, Sonny? Help, please.” Jesse’s feet were barely touching the ground.
Sonny waved his hand toward them and practically sang the spell to lower Daisy. “Uh, sorry about that, Janine.”
“No problem, sweetie. Daisy needed an adventure.” She glared at one of the stray Rocchi men. “Alfred, help Katrin and Niels get Daisy back into the barn. I can’t believe you all just stood there while Katrin practically floated away.”
Sonny continued dancing until Leo stood in front of him, completely naked. “Honey bear, cover the goods. We don’t need them getting frostbite and falling off.”
Leo growled and picked him up, throwing him over his shoulder. “Mate.”
Sonny squealed. “Is this really happening? My laid-back honey bear is really going all shifter on me?”
“I’m claiming you,” Leo said, voice deep and rumbly. “You’re mine, sunshine.”
Chapter 12
Leo’s head was full of a roar of emotion. Thorwald had looked at his mate. His mom and sister had hurt his mate. A foul smell cleared his thoughts a bit. His poor mate was covered in shit. Covered in it! It was too much.
Distantly, he could admit that he was grateful his grandpa and uncles had kept him from maiming Thor, but it would have been nice to at least get in a swipe or two.
He carried Sonny straight to the bathroom down the hall from their room. His mate didn’t like being dirty, and Leo needed him naked.
Sonny slid down the front of his body, making Leo’s already hard dick that much harder. “You know we’re mates now?”
Leo wanted to bite himself. “I’ve known since I met you.”
Sonny’s dreamy expression disappeared, and Leo worried he’d have a pecan pie head soon. “You knew? Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”
Leo knelt on the floor and started tugging Sonny’s shoes off. “I didn’t know how you’d respond to it since you’re not a shifter, and honestly, I wanted you to love me for me, not because we’re mates.”
Sonny glared at him. “I knew we were mates. Witches can scry to find out. I knew right after Halloween.”
Leo paused in pulling Sonny’s pants down. “Really?”
Sonny sighed and cupped his face, looking down at him. “Honey bear, it’s a good thing I love you or your head would be a pecan pie right now.”
“You love me?” Leo felt his bear settle happily inside him, chasing away the last of the fogginess.
Sonny stepped out of his pants and bent to kiss him. “I really, really do.”
“Can I claim you? Please?” Leo’s bear grumbled that this was a very good idea.
“Finally.” Sonny’s head fell back and he stared at the ceiling. “Goddess help me, he finally wants to claim me.”
“Uh, I’ve wanted to claim you for as long as I’ve known you.” Leo stood up and turned the shower on. He almost fell in when Sonny pounced on him.
Sonny kissed him, wrapping his arms and legs around Leo’s body and practically climbing him.
Leo started to suggest they shower, then go back to their room, but he couldn’t wait another second. His bear wanted his mate.
Leo pulled Sonny up and into the shower, hands bracing his ass as they ground against one another. He buried his head against Sonny’s neck, breathing his mate’s scent in and letting it go straight to his dick.
After a few moments of stretching Sonny’s ass and lubing up, Leo finally slid into his mate, relishing the familiar feeling of Sonny around his dick. He moved slowly, suddenly able to tolerate the wait. He had his sunshine in his arms now, so everything didn’t seem so urgent.
His teeth scraped along Sonny’s neck. “I love you, Sonny.” Leo could hear his bear in the low rumble of his voice. “I will love you forever.” He sank his teeth into Leo’s neck, drawing blood and ensuring his mark would remain on his mate for the rest of their lives.
Sonny yelled and came, splattering come between them. He clung to Leo and moved his hips furiously, milking Leo’s dick as he came, filling his mate. His teeth stayed locked in place as his dick hardened again.
“Leo?” Sonny leaned back and gave him a dazed look. “Already?”
“Shoulda done this in the bedroom,” Leo mumbled around his bite. He braced Sonny against the shower wall and pounded into him. His bear would make sure their mate knew they belonged together.
A few hours later, Leo carried a freshly showered and almost naked Sonny down the hall to their room. Of course, his siblings and cousins lined the hallway, hollering and cheering.
“About time, bro,” Thorwald said, grinning.
Leo growled at him, unhappy his jerk of a brother was seeing parts of Sonny that he shouldn’t.
“Hey now, no harm meant,” Thorwald said, holding up his hands. “You know why I was pushing you.”
Leo stopped and tilted his head. “Huh?”
“It was clear to Thor and me that he was your mate,” Burkhart said, grinning. He held Flufflepuff in his arms. “Thor was just trying to push you into admitting it to us.”
Leo narrowed his eyes. “I hate you both.”
Sonny yawned and smacked his chest. “Carry me to the room, mate. I’m feeling the urge to make honey cakes.”
The noise in the hall grew almost unbearable. “Sunshine, we’re bears. You know what saying that does to us.”
Sonny settled his head on Leo’s shoulder and watched him, eyes full of emotion. “I know. I want to do something special for you and your family.”
“We’re your family too,” Coleen said, head no longer a pecan pie. “I’m sorry, Sonny. I was way out of line and should have kept my mouth shut. Even if you weren’t Leo’s mate, it was clear to everyone that he loves you.”
Sonny gave her a shy smile. “Really?”
Rosemarie elbowed their sister out of the way. “Really. Now make us honey cakes.”
An hour and one miracle later, Sonny and Leo had somehow managed to get the kitchen to themselves. Leo sat at the table and watched his mate work his magic. A tiny potion bottle stood next to the mixing bowl.
“That’s more honey than you normally use,” Leo said, leaning back in his chair and folding his hands over his stomach. Flufflepuff curled up against his neck, purring.
“I’m making a different recipe,” Sonny said. “Myrtle taught it to me. It’s a Russian honey cake recipe and it will have to be chilled overnight. We can serve them for winter solstice.” He looked over his shoulder, winking. “The trick to this one is to add more butter. Then some cinnamon for protection, and, of course, wildflower honey for happiness. Finally, just a dab of this calming potion to make everyone feel good and relaxed.”
Leo smiled, perfectly content to watch his mate spell his obnoxious family.
The next evening, everyone gathered in front of the fireplace. They would wait until Christmas Day to exchange most of their gifts, but Sonny was a witch and today was winter solstice.
Leo
grinned as he looked at all the presents piled on the coffee table. Each person had gone and gotten something for Sonny to welcome him into the family. Maybe they aren’t so bad.
Sonny pressed his hands to his cheeks. He sat in the recliner of honor and looked particularly beautiful in his silver and blue sparkly dress. “This is too much. You all didn’t have to do all of this.”
“We did,” Katrin said, nodding firmly. “We weren’t kind to you, Sonny. This is our way of apologizing and welcoming you to the family.”
“You said gift giving is a way to show your loved ones that you care,” Coleen said. “This is our way of saying we care. You make Leo happy and we love the dumbass, so we’re thankful.”
“Gee, thanks,” Leo said, arching a brow.
“Mine first,” Burkhart said, reaching under his chair. “I can’t wait until Christmas. I found this at a truck stop on the way up here.” He reached inside a box and pulled out a tiny black kitten. “He was just sitting in the dumpster. Can you believe that? He’s been staying in my room.” He handed him to Sonny. “He’s a black cat, so he goes with a witch, right?”
“That is a rotten stereotype and you should be flogged.” Sonny took the kitten and cuddled him close. “He’s such a cute little baby. Flufflepuff, what do you think?”
Flufflepuff jumped into Sonny’s lap and sniffed the kitten before licking his face.
“She approves,” Leo said, smiling. He nodded at Burkhart. He really is my favorite.
Leo watched his family hand over their presents for Sonny. This was what he had wanted from the beginning. He loved his family and all their obnoxiousness. He wanted Sonny to have that same loyalty and unconditional love.
He smiled when the kitten launched itself to Sonny’s shoulder. Sonny rolled his eyes and scratched Flufflepuff’s head. “You’re already teaching him bad habits, Fluff.”
Leo laughed along with everyone else, but his focus stayed on Sonny, not the cats. I will love him forever.
Part III
Candy Hearts and a Witch’s Ring
Holiday Omegas: Book Three
Chapter 13
Sonny snuggled deeper into Leo’s embrace. He knew he needed to get up, but there was no better place to be than in his mate’s arms.
He rubbed the warm mating scar on his neck. Heat tingled through him, and he breathed in Leo’s familiar scent. Ever since the day they’d officially mated, they had been going at it like bunnies.
Sonny wrinkled his nose. Eww, now I’m thinking of bunny sex. Hmm, I wonder if Aaron and Gemma do it in their rabbit forms?
“What are you thinking about, sunshine?” Leo’s grumbly voice sent a shiver down Sonny’s back.
“You don’t want to know.” Sonny ran his fingers through Leo’s thick chest hair. “Today’s going to be busy at the garage, right?”
Leo groaned and rolled over, taking Sonny with him. “Yes. Everyone is booked solid for the next two weeks. We have two more hours to snuggle before we have to get up.”
Sonny nipped at Leo’s shoulder. “I’m getting up early. I want to make your family something special for lunch to help you all get through the day.”
Leo’s growl rumbled in his chest. “You need rest too. Lay back down, and don’t worry about it.”
Sonny sat up and smacked Leo’s chest. “I want to do it, honey bear. Don’t try bossing me around.”
Leo chuckled. “I know better.”
A soft scrambling noise drew their attention. Ravenpaw climbed onto the bed and went straight to Sonny’s still warm pillow. The kitten that Sonny had gotten for Winter Solstice had grown quite a bit over the past month, but he was still very much a kitten.
Leo rolled over and smiled as they watched the kitten curl into a little black ball of fluff and settle down to sleep. “I’ll get up too. I like watching you cook.”
Sonny smiled widely. “I’ll pack you extra honey cakes too.”
Leo sat up and raised his arms into the air. “Yes!”
Sonny laughed as he slid out of bed. “Shower with me.”
“Even better.” Leo hurried out of the bed and tripped on the covers, stumbling a bit before he straightened up. “You didn’t see that.”
“I saw it all, and you’re lucky I didn’t have my phone turned on.” Sonny chuckled and started brushing his teeth. His ass was still a little sore from the night before, and his body ached in all the best ways.
Leo went to the second sink and reached for his toothbrush. Since the quick renovation, their master bathroom was much larger. Looking at all his makeup boxes and beauty products, Sonny conceded that it was probably a good thing.
“Is Tilisha working today?” Leo asked, yawning.
“Yes. Thank goddess.” Myrtle had finally recognized that they needed another witch at the potion shop. Sonny hated to admit it, but Myrtle was getting older, and she didn’t really need to keep working full-time hours. “Stupid, fucking Valentine’s Day is coming in a few weeks and people are already placing orders.”
Leo grinned. “I really don’t get why you hate the holiday so much.”
Sonny scowled. “It’s a senseless, commercialized holiday that tries to force people to participate.” He slammed his tooth brush down. “Plus, it completely overshadows Imbolc.”
Imbolc was probably one of Sonny’s favorite holidays. It was meant to celebrate the goddess as the maiden – spiritually whole without a partner. The holiday was a fresh breath of air in the dead of winter and was about accepting and loving yourself. Then stupid non-witches had to turn it into a holiday that celebrates being part of a couple.
Leo snorted. “Sure thing, sunshine.” He wrapped his arms around Sonny and nuzzled his neck. “I love you.”
Sonny’s irritation disappeared. “I love you too.”
Leo herded him into the shower, and Sonny almost immediately slipped to his knees.
Leo chuckled. “You don’t have to –”
Sonny sucked one of Leo’s heavy balls into his mouth, and his mate’s words turned into a groan. Sonny stroked Leo’s hard length, then swirled his tongue around the head. Better than buttercream frosting.
Leo braced his hands against the side of the shower, and Sonny changed his angle, taking more of Leo’s dick into his mouth.
Sonny felt Leo’s muscles tense and prepared to drink down Leo’s release, but the bear shifter surprised him.
Leo growled and pulled his dick out of Sonny’s mouth. “Want inside you.” He helped Sonny stand, then spun him around, pinning him to the shower wall.
His mate’s hands cupped Sonny’s ass almost reverently. Leo lowered to his knees and placed several tiny, gentle bites on each cheek.
He slid his fingers through Sonny’s crease and found his hole. Using lube, he slowly stretched Sonny’s ass, one finger, then two, then three.
Sonny moaned and pushed back, riding Leo’s fingers.
After a moment, Leo stood and nibbled the back of Sonny’s neck. “Love you.” He bit down hard and thrust into Sonny’s ass.
Sonny cried out and arched his back as Leo pounded into him. Leo gripped Sonny’s hips and lifted him half off his feet, angling his body so Leo’s dick hit just the right spot.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Sonny panted, trying not to come so quickly. It didn’t work. Leo’s dick hit his prostate again, and he came all over the shower wall.
Leo didn’t last much longer. He grunted and held Sonny still as he came, filling Sonny’s ass.
He slowly lowered Sonny to his feet and wrapped his arms around him. “Shower sex is the best.”
“You say bed sex is the best when we’re in bed.” Sonny snickered. “Then, there’s couch sex, counter sex, floor sex, stairs sex, and window sex. Don’t be so fickle, honey bear.”
Leo sighed. “I love all the sex.”
Sonny turned in his arms and snuggled against him as the warm water fell over them. His bear gave the best hugs in the world. “We should shower, huh?”
Leo laughed. “Yeah. I’m glad we did
the larger shower with the renovation. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t shower with you.”
They finished quickly and dried each other off.
Sonny looked through his closet, rubbing his chin. First, I need to shave. Now, what to wear today. He settled on a pair of distressed skinny jeans and a warm green V-neck sweater.
Now shoes. He moved to his shoe closet and looked it over. “Remember when you said we didn’t need a shoe closet?”
Leo snorted. “I was a fool.”
“Yes, you were.”
Sonny’s mate was already dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. He sat in a chair next to the balcony doors with Flufflepuff, Sonny’s familiar, on his lap, purring loudly. Hussy cat.
Sonny grabbed a pair of brown, heeled ankle booties, stopping to nuzzle the kitten. Never say no to heels.
He scooped up Ravenpaw on his way to the bathroom. “Remember when I had a familiar that loved me more than anything?”
Leo laughed. “Fluff still loves you. By the way, she’s coming to work with me today.”
Sonny stuck his tongue out at them, then shut the bathroom door. After shaving and fixing his short brown hair, Sonny dressed. He clasped on a pretty bronze Celtic knot bracelet that Leo’s grandma Janine had given him for Winter Solstice.
He tucked Ravenpaw in the pouch pocket of his sweater and left the bedroom. The renovation had taken a full month but should have taken a lot longer. Myrtle had spent most of her time over that month bossing the construction workers around to make sure they got it right.
Fortunately, the construction workers had ignored her for the most part. Personally, Sonny thought they worked so quickly so they could get away from the old woman.
Sonny grinned. He couldn’t complain, really. He now had a two-story apartment with a large master bedroom, three small bedrooms, and a private spelling kitchen. The two balconies will come in handy when it isn’t so damn cold outside.