Troy [Whitedell Pride: 12]

by Catherine Lievens

  Emery stroked the skin at the base of the talon with his finger, slowly circling it. It made Troy shiver and his cock twitch in his jeans. It’d been more than a year since Troy had last been intimate with anyone, probably closer to two, and his body was already reacting. The fact that Emery was exactly the type of man Troy liked didn’t help at all.

  Emery’s fingers moved up Troy’s arm, lightly playing on his skin. “You’re not on the bed yet.”

  Troy groaned. “I thought...”

  “You think too much. You asked me to claim you and I said yes, yet now you’re hesitating.”

  “I’m not.”

  Troy pushed lightly against Emery and Emery let himself be led to the bed. Troy didn’t push him down when they got there, though. He moved around Emery and sat on the edge of the bed, happy to see that this way they could kiss without too many problems. “Kiss me. If you really want me, it won’t be a pro—”

  Emery’s lips crashed against Troy’s and his arms went around Troy’s neck. It was... amazing. Emery wasn’t giving Troy any hints that he didn’t want him or that he was scared, and hope swelled in Troy’s chest. Even if he wasn’t what Emery wanted, it was obvious that he was about to do exactly what Troy had asked of him.

  Troy wanted that. He wanted to know someone wanted him even if he wasn’t normal anymore. He wanted someone to love him even if he didn’t know himself anymore. He wanted someone to help him find his way to life again, and maybe Emery was that someone.

  Troy slid his arms around his small mate and hugged him closer, savoring the taste of Emery on his lips, the way his tongue moved in Troy’s mouth. Their fangs clashed together briefly, but Emery didn’t seem to care.

  Emery ran the tip of his tongue over one long fang and Troy shuddered. He’d never have thought his teeth could be that sensitive. Maybe there were some perks to his new body after all. He couldn’t get rid of the harpy in him, but maybe he could find something good in it.

  Emery gently pushed forward and Troy let his back fall on the mattress. He yelped when his wings connected with it and moved his mouth away. His weight pressed the wings down and it was uncomfortable. “Sorry. I never... I never actually had to deal with these.”

  Emery grabbed Troy’s arm and pulled him up again before straddling him. Troy blushed at the feeling of Emery’s hard cock against his, but Emery reacted with more than a smile. “How many times have you shifted like this?”

  “Two.”

  “But you’ve been here since March.”

  “Yeah, but I’ve known about the harpy only since May.”

  “That’s still at least two months.”

  Troy shrugged. “I don’t like to be like this.” He wanted nothing more than to shift back to his normal self, but he couldn’t. He had to know if Emery really wanted him, and it would be too easy to forget about the harpy if it wasn’t in sight.

  “I’m not going to say I understand what you’re feeling, but you have to know that you’re gorgeous.” Emery reached toward Troy’s back and skimmed his fingers along the top of Troy’s wing.

  Troy shivered. Damn, it looked like his wings were even more sensitive than his fangs. It felt incredibly good, almost as good as having Emery’s hand on his cock would feel.

  “I’ve never had sex with anyone with wings, but I’m sure we can work around it. You’re probably going to be more comfortable on your hands and knees, and if these wings are as sensitive as they seem to be, it should feel good if I play with them while I’m taking you.”

  Troy arched a brow at Emery. “You’ve already decided you were going to top me?”

  Emery gave him a predatory smile. “Well, you were the one who kept asking me to claim you. I thought I’d comply. Don’t worry, you can have your turn at my ass later, if you want.”

  Emery dipped his head and licked a stripe along Troy’s throat. Troy let his head fall back to give his mate—his mate—easier access, and Emery hummed his thanks. He bit lightly on Troy’s throat and Troy’s hips shot up, nearly sending Emery flying off his lap.

  Emery chuckled and ground his groin against Troy’s. “So much enthusiasm.”

  “I, uuh, I haven’t had sex with anyone for nearly two years.”

  “I think it’s time to chuck these jeans and climb on the bed. I’ll take good care of you, you’ll see.”

  Emery stood up and Troy looked at him. He examined his face, trying to read what he saw there. He’d expected disgust and fear, but he was quickly learning that Emery was unpredictable, and most of all, that he didn’t share Troy’s view of himself. The only things Troy could see in the other man’s eyes were desire and lust.

  He stood up and grabbed the bags Emery had left on the bed earlier. He put them on the floor next to the wall and pushed his jeans down along with his underwear. He stepped out of them and turned around, opening his wings to the maximum of their span before folding them as tightly as he could.

  “You’re incredible,” Emery said with a reverent voice that Troy didn’t know how to deal with.

  He shook his head and climbed on the bed on all fours. He couldn’t help the tiny bit of worry he still felt, but he suspected it would take a while for him to make it disappear, even if Emery really was as fantastic a mate as he seemed to be.

  Troy heard Emery move behind him, the sound of clothes falling on the floor, feet padding on the carpet, a zip opening. The mattress dipped behind him and he shivered. It wouldn’t be the first time Troy had bottomed, but it wasn’t usual either, and it certainly hadn’t happened lately. Still, he wasn’t in this for the pleasure, at least not completely.

  Two hands landed on his ass. They slid up Troy’s back, fingers skimming around the base of his wings, sliding over the feathers, and Troy opened them again. Emery caressed the long primary feathers, his body pressed against Troy’s back, his hard cock sliding between Troy’s ass cheeks, proof of how much he wanted Troy.

  Emery wasn’t the only one aroused by the light touches. Troy couldn’t help the small fluttering movements his wings were making, as if they had a mind of their own and were trying to get as close to Emery as they could.

  Then Emery retreated, his warmth disappearing. His hands grabbed Troy’s cheeks again and parted them. Troy felt warm breath against his most intimate flesh, then a wet tongue. He yelped and made to move forward, but Emery clasped one of his hands on his hip to keep him in place just before the tongue returned. It moved in circles around Troy’s entrance and pressed into it, then retreated only to start again from the beginning.

  Troy moaned and tried to move, but Emery’s hold on him was too strong. Troy’s cock was leaking on the comforter and he knew he wouldn’t last much longer if Emery didn’t get to it. He wanted Emery to claim him, and he knew his doubts wouldn’t stop plaguing him until Emery did just that.

  “Would you fuck me already?”

  * * * *

  Emery chuckled, the sound muted by the flesh surrounding his face. He gave Troy’s hole one last lap before moving away and releasing his mate. “Impatient much?”

  Troy was trembling, his arms barely able to keep him upright, but he still snarled at Emery. “Yes!”

  Emery gave the closest ass cheek a slap and smiled when Troy yelped. Troy turned to look at him and sent a glare his way, but Emery just smiled back. The fact that Troy was able to play around a bit made him feel better. He knew why Troy was insisting so much, why he wanted Emery to claim him right then and there. He wasn’t stupid, and Troy had asked if Emery was disgusted by him so many times that only an idiot wouldn’t know Troy was doing it because he needed to feel accepted by someone when even he couldn’t accept himself.

  Emery didn’t like it, but this was his mate. His instinct pushed him to help him, to make him feel better, and if what Troy needed was to be claimed, then Emery was going to do just that.

  He grabbed the lube he’d left on the bed and opened the bottle. He squirted a good amount of it on his fingers, knowing Tro
y was going to need it. Not that Emery was freakily large or anything, but two years was a long time.

  He gave Troy’s left ass cheek a kiss and slid one finger into his hole. “You’re tight.”

  Troy’s only answer was a grunt, so Emery worked his finger in and out, trying to make the muscles around it relax. Once they did, he slid a second finger in. Troy tensed a bit, so Emery leaned over his back.

  He reached for Troy’s wings and stroked the feathers, smoothing them down on Troy’s skin and admiring the contrast between the bronze and the freckled white. He moved his hand up one wing and caressed the strong bones that held it together, smiling when a low moan came from Troy.

  Emery tried to take his time stretching his mate, and the slow strokes on Troy’s wings seemed to be enough to keep him distracted from it, at least until Troy had had enough. Emery could almost feel the impatience coming from Troy, so once he was sure he wouldn’t hurt his mate, he withdrew his fingers and greased his cock with the lube that was still on them. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes!”

  Smoothing one hand on the small of Troy’s back, Emery angled his cock toward the flushed entrance and pushed. He made sure to keep a slow but steady glide, even when Troy tried to move backward to impale himself on Emery.

  Troy groaned and Emery started moving. Troy was so tight around him, so hot, that Emery didn’t think he was going to last long. He might not have had a dry spell as long as Troy’s, but it had still been a while for him, too.

  He grabbed his mate’s hip with one hand and his shoulder with the other and pushed into him, wondering how they were going to do this. He wasn’t sure he could reach Troy’s neck with his fangs, at least not in a way that would be comfortable for both of them. Nothing said he had to bite Troy on the neck, though. “Where, ah, where do you want me to bite you?”

  Emery never stopped moving as he waited for an answer, even if he wasn’t sure Troy could actually answer. It seemed that the only sounds Troy could make were moans and whimpers at the moment.

  “Neck?”

  “Can’t reach.”

  “Damn!”

  Emery angled his hips and thrust harder. He loved the sounds Troy was making, even if they weren’t helping him take a decision.

  Troy suddenly stopped moving and Emery frowned, thinking he’d hurt his mate. Before he could ask, Troy moved forward, dislodging Emery from his ass, then swirled around and pushed Emery down.

  Emery fell on his back, his gaze riveted on Troy as Troy straddled him and grabbed his cock, keeping it upright as he impaled himself on it. Emery moaned at the tightness and put his hands on Troy’s hips, even if it didn’t look like he needed help to keep the rhythm up.

  Troy’s cock was rock-hard and flushed. It leaked pre-cum on Emery’s stomach and Emery grabbed it. He used his thumb to spread the sticky fluid on the head, enjoying the way Troy shuddered. Troy’s eyes were still pitch black, but the flush that had crept onto Troy’s face and chest was a very good indication of how much he was enjoying himself.

  Troy batted Emery’s hand away and leaned forward. The way he had to scrunch his upper body together couldn’t be comfortable. “Troy—”

  “Just do it!”

  Emery hesitated still. He wanted this to be good for both of them.

  “Please. I... I need this. Please.”

  Troy’s tone did it. Emery opened his mouth and sank his fangs into the hard flesh of Troy’s shoulder, just where it met the throat. Troy shuddered, and Emery felt Troy’s cock spurt between them. He sucked on the wound, his instincts finally satisfied as blood filled his mouth.

  He moaned around the wound when he felt hard teeth penetrate his own neck. Troy was claiming him just like he was claiming Troy, and he couldn’t stop the orgasm that ripped through him and filled his mate.

  Troy sucked on Emery’s throat and Emery stopped drinking. He could feel his side of the bond was already in place and he wanted to enjoy the moment. He tilted his head a bit more to the side and relaxed. The heavy weight of his mate above him made him feel secure, something he hadn’t felt for a long time.

  Emery felt a tongue swipe the wound in his neck and Troy straightened. He waved at Troy to lean down again and licked Troy’s bite when he complied. “Wouldn’t want you to lose too much blood.”

  “Yeah.”

  Once Emery was done, Troy rose from his position and slid sideways, flopping down next to Emery. Emery saw him grimace and sit up. He was about to ask if he was hurt when the wings on Troy’s back fluttered and started to retreat into his back.

  Emery watched the process with interest. He didn’t mind Troy’s half-harpy’s form, but he really liked his human one too. The green of Troy’s human eyes was something he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of.

  Once the wings and the claws were gone, Troy lay back down next to Emery. They stayed silent, and Emery could feel a bit of nervousness coming from his mate. “Do you regret it?”

  “No.”

  “But you’re feeling uncomfortable.”

  Troy rolled to his side and propped his head on his elbow. He looked down at Emery. “A bit. I didn’t think you’d do it, to be honest, and I’m not sure how to act now. I know we’re as good as married, but we don’t really know each other yet, so yeah, it’s a bit uncomfortable.”

  Emery sighed. He knew they had rushed things, but he couldn’t find it in himself to be sorry, not when part of the fear and the loneliness he’d seen in Troy’s eyes earlier was already gone. He knew Troy could feel him inside his mind and that he knew that he would never be alone from now on.

  “We’ll just have to get to know each other now. We’re stuck together.”

  Troy gave Emery a tentative smile. “Yeah. Are you... are you sure you don’t—”

  Emery rose and pressed a kiss on Troy’s lips. “I’m sure. We did things backward, but I don’t regret it.”

  Troy nodded and lay back down. He kept a bit of space between them, which was ironic, since Emery had been inside him only minutes ago, but he didn’t mind giving Troy the space he needed.

  A hand grabbed Emery’s and he smiled. Maybe Troy didn’t need that much space. “So, what’s your favorite movie?”

  * * * *

  Troy woke up too warm.

  He blinked and became aware of a body plastered to his. Troy was lying on his back and a head was on his chest, black hair sticking up everywhere. The strands tickled him and made him want to move.

  Troy lifted a hand hesitantly. He wondered if Emery would come to his senses when he woke up and finally realize he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. Troy wanted to enjoy the quiet bliss a little bit more, though, so he closed his eyes again and stroked his mate’s hair, smoothing down the long strands. He loved the silky feeling under his palm and between his fingers, and he wished he could have more of that, of these moments.

  “Morning. Or should I say good afternoon? How long did we sleep?”

  Troy froze. He waited for hurtful words and maybe even violent actions, but nothing came. Emery’s head rose from Troy’s chest and he let his hand fall down. Emery looked up and smiled, and just like that Troy’s world went upside down again.

  Emery leaned down and pressed his lips over Troy’s, making the fact that he hadn’t changed his mind obvious and puzzling Troy. He wanted to ask if Emery regretted it again, but his heart was scared it would make Emery remember, that it would make him run.

  “Well? What time is it?”

  Troy looked to the side. The cell phone Dominic had given him was there, even if he scarcely used it. It wasn’t as if he had anyone to call, but he kept it turned on because the alpha sometimes used it to find him.

  He grabbed the phone and checked the time. “It’s nearly dinner time.”

  “Oh, we missed lunch. No wonder I feel ravenous.”

  Emery stretched against Troy and Troy’s cock twitched. He wasn’t sure if he should feel embarrassed in addition to feeling
horny, so Troy inched just a bit to the side to avoid Emery noticing his quickly hardening dick.

  Even if Emery seemed to be okay with what had happened, Troy still had doubts, and it wouldn’t do for him to make his mate angry. Emery didn’t seem to take the hint, though, and he slid right along with Troy, keeping himself plastered to his side.

  Emery looked down and Troy blushed when he saw Emery had noticed the small tent that was growing in the sheet. “Oh, look who’s happy to see me. Do we have time?”

  Troy frowned. “For what?”

  Emery reached down and cupped Troy’s cock through the sheet. “For this.”

  Troy groaned. He wanted to say yes, but Emery had said he was hungry. “Not if you want to eat with the others.”

  “Eh. I’m not sure, actually. Do you want to eat with everyone else?”

  Troy shrugged. He never ate in the dining room with the others. He never really came out of his room, period. “I’ll do whatever you want to do.”

  Emery’s eyes blazed and Troy wasn’t sure what to make of the fierce expression on Emery’s face. “You’re still having doubts about this.”

  Troy shrugged again. “Yeah.”

  Emery hissed, and it was one of the weirdest sounds Troy had ever heard coming from a human. Not that Emery was actually human, but he did look like it. The hiss shot straight to Troy’s groin and made him want to bury himself deep in Emery, but he stayed put and looked down.

  “Okay, I’m going to say this one last time, and I don’t want you to have any more doubts afterward. Got me?” Troy nodded and Emery reached up and cupped his cheek. He used the hold to tilt Troy’s face until they were looking into each other’s eyes.

  “I don’t have any regrets about what happened today, not about the sex, and definitely not about the claiming. I knew this would happen the instant I realized you were my mate. I just thought it would take more time, but it doesn’t mean I regret claiming you. You’re not a monster, you’re not disgusting, and I really, really want to get to know you and love you. I know you’re confused about what happened to you and maybe even about what happened today, and I want to help you work through it until you can have a normal life again.”