“What?”
“The lube is new.”
Clea felt his cheeks heat. “Well, yeah. I was kind of hoping for something like this to happen.”
“Good.”
Christian managed to open the lube without too many problems. He took Clea’s cock in his mouth again and reached behind him. Clea tried to relax, but he didn’t think he could. Was anyone ever relaxed when a guy was sucking their cock and stretching them?
No matter what Christian had said, he was doing a pretty good job. He was still sucking on Clea’s cock, focusing only on the head every so often, then trying to take more into his mouth. At the same time, he was gently pushing at Clea’s hole and spreading the lube around.
Clea widened his legs, wishing he could interrupt Christian and spread his body on the bed instead of being on his feet. He felt like he was about to fall on his face because his knees weren’t all that steady, but he didn’t want to interrupt Christian.
Christian popped off Clea’s cock and looked up “How are you doing?” He pushed what felt like at least two fingers into Clea as he asked, and Clea had to hold himself up. He tightened his hands on Christian’s shoulders and Christian grinned. “I take it you’re doing well.”
Clea nodded. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to talk right now, so that was the easiest way to tell Christian he was doing more than well.
Christian leaned forward and took Clea’s cock in his mouth again. He suckled at the tip as the pressure in Clea’s ass grew. Clea cleared his throat. “I...” he croaked. He cleared his throat again and tried a second time. “I think you need to stop.”
Christian blinked up at him. “Am I doing something wrong?”
“No. In fact, you’re doing everything right. Too right. If you know what I mean.” Christian’s fingers moved inside Clea. Pleasure radiated from Clea’s prostate and he gritted his teeth. “Too right. I think I need to lie down.”
Christian nodded and slowly withdrew his fingers. Clea’s ass clenched as if it wanted to keep Christian’s fingers in, but Clea was done with fingers. He wanted a dick now—Christian’s dick.
Christian kissed Clea’s hip and ran his lips along his stomach, but Clea was done waiting. He’d given Christian time to explore. Now he wanted to get fucked.
* * * *
Christian could feel Clea was impatient. He was, too, but he couldn’t help also being nervous. This was it. This was the first time he’d have sex with a man, but more importantly, he was about to bond with his mate. That would be enough to make anyone nervous.
He kissed Clea’s belly button and ran his tongue around it. Clea shivered and pushed Christian away, and Christian looked up at him. Clea didn’t explain why he’d pushed Christian away, but then he’d said he was ready.
He cocked his head at Christian and gestured at his chest. “Aren’t you a bit too dressed for this?”
Christian looked down. He was still wearing everything but his shoes, so yeah, he was overdressed. He reached down and pulled off his T-shirt, but when he got up from the bed and started to open his jeans, Clea’s hands stopped him.
Christian stilled and Clea pulled his hands away, replacing them with his. He popped open the button on Christian’s jeans, then slowly lowered the zipper. For someone who needed to lie down just a few seconds ago, he certainly seemed to be fine now.
He pushed Christian’s jeans down his legs, arching a brow up at Christian when he realized Christian wasn’t wearing underwear. Christian grinned and shrugged.
“So sure of yourself?” Clea asked.
“Nope. No clean laundry.”
Clea laughed. “Seriously? Don’t you live with your parents?”
“Yeah, but Mom has us doing our own laundry. I’m not very good at it.”
“You hate it.”
Christian’s smile widened. “With a passion. But hey, look at it this way. It makes it easier to get naked.” Christian stepped out of his jeans and leaned down to take care of his socks.
He jumped when a hand stroked his ass and forced himself to relax. This was Clea. He wouldn’t do anything Christian didn’t want him to do, and he’d stop if Christian asked him to.
Christian didn’t. No matter how nervous he was, this was Clea. Christian could get over everything if it meant being with his mate and making him happy.
Clea didn’t do anything else, though, at least not to Christian’s ass. Instead, he pushed Christian onto the mattress. Christian pushed himself up the bed until his head was on the pillow. He looked at Clea, and damn, he’d been lucky in the mate department.
Christian hadn’t known he’d ever find a man beautiful. It wasn’t a word he usually associated with guys, but that was exactly what Clea was. He was lean and slight, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t muscled at all. He was. He was more the long muscles type than the bulky one, and Christian was glad. He wasn’t sure he’d have been able to deal with a guy as big as he was.
Clea crawled onto the bed, and Christian’s eyes widened. Clea wasn’t a shifter, but he sure looked like one when he moved that way, almost cat-like. There was no light in the room apart from the moonlight that streamed through the window, so Christian couldn’t see Clea’s eyes, but he could imagine what they looked like. He could almost see the way they glittered with arousal and nervousness.
Once Clea was above him, Christian put his hands on Clea’s hips. Clea looked down at him, and Christian reached up to touch one of his ears. He didn’t know why he found them so fascinating, but he loved the small point on top. He stroked it, and Clea shuddered. Oh, Christian had found something he could tease his mate with. Later, though. Now, he needed to get into Clea’s ass and bite him, bond them together. He’d been reluctant, but now there was nothing he wanted more.
He gently pushed down with the hand he still had on Clea’s hip and Clea obeyed the silent order. Christian had to stop fingering Clea’s ear, but he’d have all the time he wanted to do that later.
He grabbed the base of his cock and held it up. He waited for Clea to sit on him, never looking away from him. He couldn’t have even if he’d wanted to, and he didn’t.
The head of his cock brushed against Clea’s ass. Clea pushed down, and Christian’s dick popped inside his mate. Christian swallowed and looked at Clea.
His eyes were half-closed and he was biting his lower lip as if trying not to cry out. There was a fine sheen of sweat covering his skin, and Christian slid a hand up Clea’s body until he reached his nipples. He rolled one between two of his fingers as Clea bottomed out and sat on him. They were intimately joined, and Christian wondered what the fuck he’d been nervous about.
No matter what Clea was, he was Christian’s mate. They fit together perfectly, and not only physically, although that was what Christian had been more nervous about.
Clea pushed up and Christian’s cock dragged out of him. Clea’s eyes fluttered shut and Christian pulled at his nipple. He wanted Clea to watch him, to see him. He wanted Clea to understand that he was one hundred percent into this and that he wasn’t backing out, that he wanted them to be bonded.
Clea pushed down, then up again, and the only thing Christian cared about now was the need to come and to claim Clea. His gums tingled, and he knew his fangs were growing in his mouth. He wanted to bite Clea, and he could.
Reaching up, he hooked a hand around Clea’s neck and pulled him down. He pressed his nose against the skin of Clea’s neck and took a deep breath. The scent of his mate filled his lungs, and Christian wanted this to last for the rest of their lives. They couldn’t spend all their time in bed, but he wanted to be as close as possible to Clea.
He bit down, blood spurting in his mouth. Christian gulped it down and sucked on the wound, and Clea cried out. It wasn’t loud, but the sound shot straight to Christian’s cock. He pressed his feet against the mattress and fucked into Clea, again and again.
Clea struggled to push a hand between them, and Christian thought he was trying to get it on his cock, but instead, he press
ed it over Christian’s heart. Pain flared, but it lasted only a few seconds. Christian licked the wound in Clea’s neck closed, but he didn’t move away. He bit Clea again, not deep enough to draw blood this time.
Clea yelled and warm dampness spread between them. Christian grinned around his mouthful of flesh. A torrent of feelings passed through him, almost overwhelming him. Pleasure exploded in his groin and he pressed his hands onto Clea’s hips, pushing him down onto his cock as he filled him.
Christian closed his eyes and let himself feel. The pleasure wasn’t all his, and knowing that was both incredible and overwhelming. They were mated. Christian would never be alone again. He would never want another person, man or woman, and he was fine with it.
Instead of getting up, Clea slumped onto Christian’s chest. He was breathing heavily, and Christian smiled against his skin. He kissed Clea’s neck and ran his tongue along his jaw.
You’ll have to wait a bit for the second round.
The voice in Christian’s head startled him, even though Clea had told him it would happen. “That’s just weird.”
Clea pushed up and looked down at Christian. “I can avoid doing it if you don’t like it.”
“I’ll get used to it.”
“You’re sure?”
Christian knew Clea would be more likely to believe him if he used the mind talking thing. He wasn’t sure how it worked, but it couldn’t be that hard, so he thought yes, focusing on Clea as he did so.
Clea grinned, and Christian knew it’d worked. He hugged Clea and rolled to his side. Clea squeaked, making Christian laugh. He’d never thought being with someone could be this much fun. He’d laughed more in the past few days than he had in months, and much of it had to do with Clea.
Thinking about what would have happened if he hadn’t let Clea in scared Christian. He could have missed this, the feeling of being complete and at peace with the world. He knew it wouldn’t last—problems were waiting for both of them out there, but it was nothing they couldn’t take on. They were together now. They were mated, and they’d face the rest of their lives together.
Chapter Five
“That is so cute,” Clea said as he poked at Christian’s furry belly.
Christian glared, and yeah, that was even cuter. Clea had never seen a bat glare. He’d never seen a bat from this close, actually. He’d thought it would be a bit scary, but Christian really was just adorable.
He clung onto Clea’s arm as Clea stood on the porch. They were supposed to go to Kameron’s house, since Clea had decided to accept his job offer. He still wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. He’d never been a personal assistant. He wasn’t even sure what he’d have to do, but he could learn.
He didn’t mind leaving the enforcers much. He’d miss the rest of his team, but not the traveling and the danger of the missions. He could see his teammates when they were in Gillham, and he didn’t want to leave Christian for weeks at a time.
This was the right thing to do, and Clea hoped he’d be able to do what was expected of him. He was sure he could find another job if he didn’t work out, but he’d rather not. He still didn’t know why Kameron thought he’d be a good PA, but he’d do his best.
He poked at Christian again. “Come on, fly. That’s why you shifted, after all.”
I don’t want to leave you on your own.
Clea smiled at Christian’s presence in his mind. He was used to mind talking with his family, but knowing he was doing it with his mate gave him a thrill. I’ll be fine.
You can’t be sure.
We’re in pack territory. There are guards and everything. You should know. You’re one of them.
I’m not working right now.
Other people are. Really, Chris. Relax. I’ll be fine. If something happens, I’ll shimmer over to Kameron’s house, all right?
Why don’t you just shimmer now? It would save time.
Because I like to walk in the forest. I’m a Nix. I lived in the woods until I moved in Gillham. I miss it.
Fine, but I’ll stay close. That way I’ll be able to help if you need me to.
Christian was being paranoid, but Clea understood. The people in Gillham and all around the country were starting to get restless. Everyone wanted answers, and they knew it was only a matter of time before they realized where Kameron lived. What would happen then no one knew, but it wasn’t hard to imagine.
Christian finally took flight and Clea watched him. He knew Christian hadn’t had the opportunity to shift and have fun in his bat form in the past few days. He certainly hadn’t since they’d mated, and that had been four days ago. He had to miss it.
Clea wondered how flying felt. He’d never know, and sometimes he wished he’d been born a shifter instead of a Nix. He’d be able to fly with his mate. Christian felt so happy and carefree right now, and Clea wanted to experience it. He’d have to do it through his mate, though. It wasn’t the same, but it was better than nothing.
He bounced down the porch steps, Christian’s bag swinging from his shoulder. That way he wouldn’t have to borrow clothes when they got to Kameron’s house.
Clea nodded at one of the enforcers when the guy came out of the woods and followed the path. He knew Christian was close, and from the feelings Clea could sense coming from his mate, he was behaving like an overexcited kid, flying around and racing with birds.
Clea laughed and shook his head. What are you doing?
Flying.
I can’t see you anymore.
I’m not following the path.
Clea tried to understand where Christian was from what he could feel coming through their bond. He thought he was on Clea’s right, so Clea stepped off the path. He wanted to watch Christian and make sure he was fine. From what Clea could feel, Christian wasn’t really paying attention to anything that wasn’t flying like him. It wasn’t like Clea could get lost anyway. He could shimmer wherever he wanted if he did.
It was harder to walk away from the path. The trees were close together and the ground was uneven. Clea slipped a few times, but he managed to avoid falling on his face by grabbing the trees closest to him. He could still feel Christian somewhere above him, flying around.
Something moved to Clea’s right and he stopped. It was probably one of the pack’s guards, and he’d rather not be attacked because the guy thought he was sneaking into pack territory.
Clea waited, and the bushes rustled. A wolf came out and Clea raised his hands. “I’m an enforcer.” Not for long, but still. Clea was. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”
The wolf shifted and Clea looked away. He wasn’t a prude, but he didn’t particularly want to see this guy’s private parts. No dick for Clea now that he was mated, at least no dick that wasn’t Christian’s.
“What are you doing away from the paths?” the guard asked.
Clea looked at his face and thought he recognized the guy, but he couldn’t remember his name. “Following my mate.”
The guard looked around and arched a brow at Clea. “Your mate.”
Clea gestured toward the sky. “He’s flying around somewhere.”
What’s happening? Christian asked in Clea’s mind.
Nothing. Just having a chat with one of the guards.
Why aren’t you on the path to Kameron’s house?
I wanted to make sure you were fine.
I am.
I know. I’ll be right there.
You don’t need to.
Of course Christian didn’t listen to Clea. Clea noticed him when he flew from between the trees and he held his arm out. Christian landed on it and climbed up to Clea’s shoulder. His fur tickled Clea’s neck, and Clea chuckled.
“That’s your mate?” the guard asked.
“Yep, and now that I have him, I’ll be going.”
The guard nodded. “Be careful around the woods.”
“But it’s pack territory.”
“It is, but we can’t be sure no one will trespass. We’re only human, and the
re aren’t that many of us. I—”
The guard stopped talking and turned around. Clea knew something was wrong even without asking. The guard shifted without saying anything else and he a fighting stance in front of Clea.
Christian jumped down from Clea’s shoulder and shifted, reaching for the bag on Clea’s shoulder. “Go to Kameron and tell him what’s happening.”
“Nothing’s happening for now.”
Christian scowled. “It’s obvious there’s something out there. I can hear them.”
“Hear who?”
The wolf growled and Clea turned to look at him. He didn’t have a shifter’s hearing so he couldn’t hear anything, but he had no doubts someone was coming. He wasn’t going to run, though. He might not be as big as Christian and the wolf were, but he was an enforcer. He’d been trained for this, had gone on missions. He wasn’t going to let Christian push him away in an attempt to protect him.
“Go, Clea.”
“Not until I know what’s going on.”
Christian looked like he wanted to insist, but it was too late. A man appeared in front of them, stumbling between the trees and talking loudly. “Are you sure it’s this way?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Paul said it was here.”
“Was he drunk when he told you about this?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe? Why were you listening to him if he was drunk? You know how he is when he drinks.”
The wolf growled and the two men slowly turned to look at him. They paled, and Clea was pretty sure they were human. They both took a step backward when the wolf stepped toward them, and they looked ready to run.
“This is private property,” Christian said.
The first guy seemed to find some courage. He didn’t try to move forward, but he didn’t retreat either, not again. “We’re just walking in the woods.”
“You were until you entered private property. Turn around and go back and we won’t give you problems.”
“We’re here to see the guy who turns into a wolf.” The man’s gaze flickered to the guard, who was still growling softly. “Is that him?”
Clea (Gillham Pack Book 17) Page 8