“Look to the left when we round the next bend, Mer. I think you’ll like it.”
Mer kept his eyes open and grinned when they came to a small stream, the smell of algae and water slime thick in the air. Stopping, he bent and touched the water, the cool liquid slipping over his fingers. He picked up a small twig and scratched in the mud, unearthing a wormlike creature. Sighing, he grabbed a smooth stone and skimmed it over the dark water.
“What is it?”
Mer glanced at Delsin. His brows were raised, his eyes wide. “I was remembering my grandfather’s farm. He had a pond just like this one.” He laughed and swatted at a flying insect. “Well, not quite like this one. Grandfather’s farm didn’t have plants and algae like this. It was in Nebraska. He’s the one who taught me how to skim stones on the water.”
“I’m sorry we can’t stay here longer. There’s not much time, and I need to show you the caves so you’ll know where to go if there’s trouble. I’m sorry I have to interrupt your memories.”
Mer walked over and put his hand on Delsin’s arm. “It’s okay. The memories aren’t all that good. It wasn’t a very happy time in my life.” He moved a little closer. “I’d rather make new memories with you.” On impulse, he rose up on his tiptoes and touched his lips to Delsin’s. At first the large man stiffened. Then, he seemed to purr right before his mouth opened, and his tongue thrust deep. He pulled Mer completely off the ground, kissing him passionately.
Groaning, Delsin set Mer on his feet. “We’ll have to save this for later, little man. We need to get the safety issues settled first.”
Mer snickered. “Okay, but I’m holding you to that.” He waved his hand toward the trail. “Lead on, oh great alpha.”
Delsin chuckled. “Smart-ass.” He walked for another fifteen minutes and then stopped. “Look around carefully, Mer. Do you see anything special?”
Mer studied the bushes, turning all around but couldn’t see anything special. “Nope. Just looks like more of the same to me.”
Delsin moved forward and pushed away a bunch of thorny brush, revealing a small opening in the rocks.
“Is that a cave?” asked Mer.
“Yes.”
“No way! No way in hell am I crawling into that space.”
“Don’t stress yourself, Mer. It’s perfectly safe, and it’s a lot bigger on the inside. It’s already stocked with supplies. You’ll be perfectly safe here if trouble comes.”
Mer crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes. “I’m not crawling through that hole, and that’s final.”
“Then you leave me no choice.”
“Eeeek! What are you doing?” Mer struggled in Delsin’s arms. “Put me down, you big oaf. You can’t treat me like this. I don’t wanna go in the cave.” Despite his protests, Mer found himself inside the rock cave. He glared at Delsin, his body tense. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again. Just because you’re bigger than me doesn’t mean you can treat me like a child.”
Delsin sighed. “I’m sorry. There’s no time to address your fears properly. The faster we get everyone to safety the better. I would never do anything to cause you harm. Please, can’t you forgive me and work with me to keep the cubs safe?”
Mer felt his cheeks burn as he looked around the cave. “Yeah, I forgive you. I want the babies to stay safe.” The enclosure consisted of stone walls with a dirt floor. Rock-like structures hung from the ceiling and shot up from the floor almost like they were trying to meet. The bright light at the entrance faded to total darkness deeper in the cavern.
He froze when he heard water dripping, the wind whistling around the stone entrance and the skittering of little animals in the darkness. “Is this place safe for the babies?”
“I wouldn’t leave them alone here, but with someone to watch over them they’ll be perfectly safe.”
Mer felt bumpy, crumbling rocks beneath his feet as Delsin pushed him farther into the darkness. He slipped on a patch of wet rock when the alpha walked away, leaving him alone with his fears. “Where are you going?”
“Be patient.” Delsin began lighting torches, illuminating the dark corners.
Sighing in relief, Mer looked around. Small pools of water were collecting around the walls where water dripped constantly. The lichen and moss created a decaying smell that almost took his breath away. He started when Delsin grabbed his arm, pulling him to the right toward a small alcove that looked like someone had cleaned it. There were shelves with items stacked neatly, and a large playpen with blankets and pillows. Next to the cubs’ bed were several mattresses.
“There’s everything you could possibly need in here, Mer. You could stay here for some time if you had to. There are enough supplies to last several months, and the sound of the stream and animals will mask the sound of the babies crying. At least we’re pretty sure it will.”
“Wow, that’s comforting.”
Delsin walked over and slipped his arms around Mer’s waist. “We’d never endanger you purposely. I just want you in a safe place with the cubs in case there’s trouble. Please?” He pushed Mer against the wall and covered his lips with his own.
Mer groaned and pushed against Delsin’s chest. “Ow!” He rubbed his hand on the back of his head where it had bumped against the loose rock.
Delsin growled, yanking Mer up into his arms. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I’ve already broken my promise and allowed you to get hurt.” He scooped him up and laid him on one of the mattresses, following him down and covering him with his large body.
“Don’t we need to wait for our other mate?” asked Mer, his concentration wavering as Delsin worked on the fastening of his pants.
“No, we don’t have to wait for Etu. We can have a relationship separately.”
Mer had only a moment to wonder why Delsin never called him mate before losing himself in the large alpha’s kiss.
* * * *
Delsin wrapped his arms around the smaller man and pulled him closer. He gazed deeply into Mer’s eyes. There was no mistaking the burning hunger and heat in their blue depths. He slammed their mouths together, devouring Mer’s lips, his tongue sliding against his, licking and stroking him. His fingers tangled in the long, silky strands of his hair, tilting his head back for a better angle. It pleased him when Mer whimpered into his mouth.
Pulling Mer closer, he stroked his hand down his spine and nipped at his earlobe. “I want you, Mer. Here and now.” His hands moved down to Mer’s hips, holding him tight against his body, their erections pressed teasingly together.
“Then I think we should get naked.” Mer pushed out of Delsin’s arms. His chest and arm muscles flexed as he whipped his shirt over his head.
Delsin tore off his own shirt and moved back into Mer’s arms, burying his face into a warm body. Leaning back, he let his hands trail over Mer’s chest as he licked the shell of his ear. “I need to taste you.” His tongue slid over the seam of the little man’s lips and then pushed inside his mouth, his teeth nipping at his lips. When Mer groaned, he licked a path down his chest to the flat nipples, breathing in his scent. Growling softly, he sucked the small nub between his teeth.
Mer clutched at Delsin’s shoulders and then ran his hands over his muscled arms. He let his hand slide down between their bodies and cupped the prominent bulge in Delsin’s pants, squeezing gently.
Delsin yanked viciously on the fastening of his pants, jerking them down his legs. The sound of fabric tearing was loud in the small cave. He licked a line right down the center of Mer’s body, from his sternum to the waistband of his shorts, and then unbuttoned and pushed them and his briefs down and off his legs.
He pulled Mer closer, letting his palms run over his perfect ass. His cock was fully engorged, rosy red, crowned by a carefully shaped patch of blond, curly hair.
“Touch me, please,” Mer begged.
Delsin chuckled, tightened his arms around Mer’s waist and lowered him to his back on a mattress. He settled beside him, immediately reachin
g down and clasping Mer’s cock. He wrapped his fingers around the steely shaft. Mer groaned and pushed into his fist. “Goddess, I could just eat you.”
“Oh, yes. I’d like that.” Mer panted.
Delsin rolled Mer’s balls in his hand, watching his cock leaking fluid freely. “I have to have a taste.” Leaning forward, he licked and nuzzled, finally sucking the warm sac into his mouth.
Mer’s hand grabbed the base of his own shaft. “If you keep that up, I’m gonna blow.”
Delsin licked Mer’s balls as a drop seeped from the slit of his cock and began to streak down the flared head. Soon, another drop followed. He focused back on the thick cock in front of him and took the crown into his mouth, sucking lightly.
“Oh, God, yes.” Mer’s hips jerked, his legs tightening around Delsin.
Delsin’s hand squeezed the shaft as he drew his lips over Mer’s sensitive skin, his tongue flitting like a butterfly under the ridge, teasing the slit. Slowly he licked lightly across the tip.
Mer groaned and thrust into Delsin’s mouth. His lean hips pumped upward, bucking wildly as Delsin held tight.
Delsin pumped his hand and was rewarded with a splash of the salty fluid on his lips and tongue. Mer’s cum coated the inside of his mouth as Delsin swore and grunted. He continued to lick and suck until Mer relaxed.
Mer reached down and caught hold of Delsin’s cock in his fist. “Fuck me, Delsin. Fill me up.”
“Don’t! Let go or it’ll be over too fast.” He moved back and flipped Mer onto his stomach. “Hold on, little man. I’m going to fuck you good.” He growled as he moved behind Mer, the harsh sound morphing into a long, ragged purr. Mer moaned when Delsin’s hand smoothed over his hip, his finger trailing down the cleft of his ass. His hand roamed over his buttocks, kneading the fleshy cheeks as the tip of his cock grazed the seam.
Mer pulled his knees up, giving him easier access, and then jumped slightly when Delsin caressed the puckered opening hidden between his ass cheeks.
Delsin rubbed his fingers over his leaking cock, coating them in the slick secretions. Slowly he circled the dark hole with the tips of his fingers, letting one slide into the warm opening. Mer’s moans and his ass pushing back had him adding two more fingers quickly.
Easing back, he lined up his cock and pressed for entry. He gasped, growling steadily, as the tight, hot hole engulfed his cock. “You feel so good.”
“Hard, Delsin. Fuck me really hard.”
Delsin pulled out slowly and thrust back in with a sharp snap of his hips. Mer sucked in a breath when he pushed in farther. He stilled his movements, sliding halfway out. “Did I hurt you?”
“God, no. There was a sharp pain when you entered, but it turned to pleasure fast. Don’t stop, please.”
Delsin began slowly fucking his ass and working his way back in. He looked down and watched as his hard shaft stretched him open, filling him completely. He thrust in and out, gently at first and then faster. Deep guttural cries burst from his arched throat as he slammed his hips forward. “Touch yourself.” Delsin panted. “I want you to come again.”
Mer’s hand slid beneath his body, jerked back and forth a couple of times and then stopped. The small human’s head fell back as his scream filled the cave.
Delsin felt his balls tighten just before he came, shooting his seed into the small body of his mate beneath him. Leaning forward, he took the skin of the top of Mer’s shoulders between his teeth and had to fight to keep his lion from breaking skin. Mine! I want my mate! Claim him now! Trembling, Delsin ran the flat of his tongue over the red marks he’d made with his teeth, and fell down onto the mattress, pulling Mer with him. He put his hand to the back of Mer’s head and pulled him down for a kiss. Sealing their mouths together, he sucked on his tongue, marking him in the only way he could.
“Wow.” Mer chuckled and cuddled closer to Delsin’s body. “That just gets better each time.”
Delsin ran his hand possessively over Mer’s sweaty back. “We can—”
“Alpha, we need you.”
“Damn, that’s Knoton. He wouldn’t interrupt us unless it was an emergency. Get dressed quickly, Mer.”
* * * *
Mer tripped in his haste to pull on his shorts, breathing a sigh of relief when Delsin stopped him from hitting the floor. “What do you think is wrong?”
Delsin shook his head. “Let’s just go find out.” He moved toward the front of the cave with Mer following close behind. “What’s wrong, Knoton?”
Mer blinked several times to adjust to the sunlight and focused on Knoton. The man’s lips were pressed together tightly, his nostrils flaring. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, my Alpha, but a small craft has landed on the opposite side of the moon. Etu and Hakan are on the way with the cubs, and he has your weapons.”
Mer’s mouth dropped open when he saw the belt Knoton had around his waist. Something resembling a large gun hung at his side. “Did anybody see who was in the ship? Maybe it’s someone from Arridia paying us a visit.”
Delsin shook his head. “They would have used the landing site. If they’ve landed on the opposite side, they’ve set down outside the forest. They want to stay hidden.”
“Have you got their bed ready?” Hakan walked out of the woods carrying a huge basket with Yuma and Keme curled up inside. Etu was right behind him with Taima strapped to a harness on his back and Jacy and Nodin in his arms. All five of the babies were sleeping.
“How in the world did you get them to sleep all at the same time and get them here without waking them up?” Mer moved closer and peered into the basket at the sleeping cubs.
Etu moved toward the cave. “We sent a suggestion to their minds. They won’t wake for a few hours, and then they’ll be pretty grumpy. Hopefully this will be over by then.” Bending, he moved through the small cave entrance.
Mer followed and helped get the sleeping children onto the bed. “Will they be okay?”
Etu caressed his back. “They’ll be fine. The suggestion works because their minds are still infant. They’ll be able to resist it as they get older.” He turned toward the mouth of the cave and stopped. “I also gave them some herbs with their lunch that will help to mask their scent. It’ll last for several days. I’m pretty sure Honaw and his men will search the area thoroughly, and I didn’t want them finding you by scent. I didn’t have enough to give you, and I’m not sure it would even work on a human. I’d recommend you take some of the moss and rub it over as much of your body as you can. It’ll keep you hidden for a while.”
“Mer, I want you to take these.” Delsin held a weapon in each of his hands. One was a dagger-like, curved knife with an ornate handle. Mer took it and stuck it into the waistband of his pants.
“What is that?” Mer asked.
“It’s a laser weapon.” Delsin showed him how to activate the gun. “You only have to press this lever and it will shoot a thin laser stream. It’s not particularly deadly, but it can drive away an enemy and incapacitate them for a short time.”
“Wow!” Mer giggled. “My first ray gun!” He choked back another laugh when he saw the frowns on Delsin’s and Etu’s faces. “Sorry! It’s the adrenaline. When I’m nervous it makes me silly.”
Etu rubbed up and down Mer’s back. “We trust you, Mer. I know you’ll do everything you can to protect the cubs. Just stay in the cave and everything will be fine. We’ll come get you when the danger is over.”
“No, you should stay here with us. If we all stay here the other pride will get bored and leave. Or, maybe Arridia will send people to drive them away. You’ll be safer here with me.”
“That’s not possible, Mer. An alpha does not run and hide from his enemies. I’m the alpha now, and I’m going to handle things in a way that would have made my brother proud.” Delsin moved toward the mouth of the cave. “Do as Etu ordered. Stay in this cave until we come for you.”
Mer let his tears fall as he watched them leave, covering the mouth of the cave with brush.
* * * *
Delsin slunk lower, his body blending with the heavy forest. He needed to get to the landing site to see what they were up against. He could hear the faint sound of voices, so he knew he was getting close. There it is. Etu, can you hear me?
Yes, brother. I’m here. Where are you?
Just outside their ship. There are eight men that I can see. Hold on, someone else is getting off the ship. He waited quietly, downwind, for the unknown man to make an appearance. His heartbeat quickened when he recognized the man strutting down the ramp.
Well? Who is it, brother?
None other than the big man himself. Honaw came with his men. Do you know what this means, Etu? We can end this here, today, if we take him out. We could go home, back to Linnaeus.
“You’re crazy. Don’t be a fool. If Chayton couldn’t take him down what makes you think we can?
Just be on your guard. I’ll take care of everything. Delsin watched as five of the Mkata pride fanned out, each of them taking a different direction toward the house they’d been staying in. It was good he’d had his men spread out to cover a larger area. They’re making their move. Etu, Honaw’s chief guard, Tokala, is coming your way. He’s sent his two best men toward the house. Let Knoton know to take Dichali and Hakan can take on Sani. Pass the word they should try and engage them as far away from the shuttle as possible. He’s leaving guards here, and you don’t want them coming to help their pride mates.
What are you going to do, Delsin?
Honaw is coming my way, along with his enforcer, Lonato. Everyone stay back. They’re mine. Delsin shielded his thoughts from his brother and moved farther into the jungle. He knew the perfect place to take on the alpha.
Delsin stripped in preparation of shifting. He crouched, listening to the crunch of the leaves as Honaw and Lonato moved closer. Centering his thoughts, he prepared for battle. He watched as they came into the clearing.
Meredith's Pride [Galactic Nuptials 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) Page 6