Taking advantage of Jeremiah’s distraction, Grateman lowered his slicked hand beneath the water and slipped his fingers along his human’s crack. Jeremiah hissed, but he made no move as if to stop him. Grateful, Grateman rubbed over his human’s hole, feeling the tight striated muscle.
Deciding to be honest, Grateman told him, “Yes, I think what Roger and his people are doing is wrong. I don’t know what part you had in that and frankly I don’t care beyond learning how to help those who were affected.” He pried apart his lover’s cheeks and pushed in one digit up to his knuckle as he continued. “While I don’t know what shifters you tracked before your time with them.” He held Jeremiah’s gaze as he pushed deeper, watching as his human’s eyes widened, Grateman buried his finger. “I know what you did was from a good place. You wanted to help humans against what you considered crazed creatures.”
Crooking his finger, Grateman knew he’d found it. Jeremiah gaped and gasped. The muscles of his channel rippled around his finger, making his cock twitch. He wanted inside that tight hot space so damn badly.
Jeremiah groaned, his voice echoing off the bathroom walls. Refocusing on his sexy human, Grateman eased his finger out, pushed back in to rub over his prostate again. Once more, he watched that blissful expression creep over his face as his pleased cry filled the warm room.
The next time Grateman pulled out his finger, he pushed two back into him. He rested the tip of his longer digit on Jeremiah’s prostate, rubbing gently while his other finger held steady. Letting his lover assimilate the stretch, Grateman enjoyed the way his lover opened his mouth and panted.
So fucking sexy.
Grateman wanted to put that look on Jeremiah often. Tipping his head down, he wrapped his lips around one of his human’s pierced buds. He tugged and sucked on his mate’s piercing while fucking him with his fingers.
Jeremiah groaned and arched, pushing his chest forward, silently begging for more. The move also pushed his ass against Grateman’s hand. Taking advantage, he eased a third finger into his lover’s channel.
At that, Jeremiah tensed.
Stilling his fingers, Grateman continued to suckle on his nipple. “Easy,” he mumbled, his voice muffled against Jeremiah’s skin. “The pain will ease,” he promised, massaging his mate’s prostate ever so gently. “Just relax.”
“It’s okay,” Jeremiah whispered, releasing a sigh. “I’m okay.” He opened his eyes and smiled down at Grateman. “Keep going.”
Taking Jeremiah at his word, Grateman eased his fingers out, then back in again. Upon hearing his lover moan once more, he smiled against his skin. He released Jeremiah’s nipple and began kissing his way up his chest. Spotting his bite mark, Grateman grinned, pride filling him. He wrapped his lips around the mark and sucked lightly.
Jeremiah groaned and shuddered in his arms. “Oh, damn,” he murmured. “Why do I want you to bite me again so damn bad?”
Grateman lifted his head and grinned at him. “Because you are my mate.” He winked, then added, “And you like both the pain and the pleasure.” As he spoke, he rubbed his fingers over Jeremiah’s hidden gland once more.
“Shit, Grateman!”
Pleasure zinged through him upon hearing his mate cry his name. His shaft jerked and his balls tingled. More than ready to feel his mate’s channel encase him, he eased his fingers out of his chute.
“N-No,” Jeremiah whined. “I’m so close.”
“Do you want to come now, mate?” Grateman offered, massaging his entrance. “Or can I slide my dick into you?”
Jeremiah met his gaze, some of the lust-glaze leaving his eyes. “Yes, I want to feel you,” he admitted. “I want to grip your dick when I come. Let’s do this.”
Not the most romantic of offers, but it still fired Grateman’s blood. He moved his hands to Jeremiah’s hips and adjusted his position slightly so he could align his dick’s head with Jeremiah’s entrance. Instantly, he felt the muscle clamp closed.
“Relax and push out,” Grateman ordered, moving one hand to Jeremiah’s neck, cupping his nape. “Let me in.”
With one hand on Jeremiah’s hips, Grateman urged him downward, pressing against his entrance, waiting for his man to do as he asked. Using the hand on Jeremiah’s nape, he pulled him forward into a kiss. He scraped his canines along his bottom lip, then dipped his tongue into Jeremiah’s mouth, encouraging his participation.
Jeremiah hummed in obvious pleasure.
Grateman immediately felt it when Jeremiah’s opening softened, then opened. His dick’s head slipped past his man’s guardian muscle, wrapping around his cap. When Jeremiah’s channel clamped onto his head, he tightened his grip on his hip, urging him to pause, wanting him to relax.
Breaking the kiss, Jeremiah met his gaze. He panted softly as he whispered, “No. Don’t stop. I can take you.”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Grateman countered, but he did ease his grip on Jeremiah’s hip, letting him move as he wanted. “No pain, remember?”
Jeremiah’s eyes narrowed as he chuckled roughly. Heat filled his man’s expression. “We both know that’s not a problem for me, Grateman.” Smirking, he winked as he murmured, “I like a little pain.” He pushed downward, taking a bit more of Grateman’s dick, then moved back up, then down. As he moved, he rumbled, “I like the scrape of your canine on my lip, or the scrape of your claws on my scars. Feels good.”
Grateman grunted, his breath catching in his chest. Shuddering at the feel of his mate taking his aching prick, he watched as Jeremiah settled his ass on his lap. Panting, Grateman looked into Jeremiah’s eyes, searching for some sign of discomfort. All he saw, though, was satisfaction.
“Told you,” Jeremiah panted. With heavy lidded eyes and his pupils dilated, he grinned crookedly at him. “Damn, this feels weird, Grate. Not bad. Just weird.”
Feeling Jeremiah flex and relax his chute muscles, Grateman struggled to resist his urge to thrust. “I can change that weird to fan-fucking-tastic.”
Jeremiah snorted. Then, he eased partway off Grateman’s dick, ripping a moan from his throat. “Do it,” Jeremiah urged. “I know you want to move. Take me.”
Grateman jerked a nod. Gritting his teeth, he did as he’d been told. He planted his feet against the walls of the tub, then began rocking up. Ignoring the splash of the water, he thrust swiftly, sinking into his man. Grateman adjusted his angle until he heard Jeremiah gasp, then groan.
Throwing his head back, Jeremiah growled. “Hell, yeah. Right there.”
Grinning ferally, Grateman pounded into his lover. He made certain to hit that same spot over and over. Grateman watched as a blissed-out expression settled over his mate’s face. Seconds later, he felt the tightening of Jeremiah’s chute muscles around his shaft and heard his mate’s cry of pleasure. Following his mate over the edge, Grateman filled his man’s ass with his seed.
Grateman slid his arms around Jeremiah and held him close. He pressed a kiss to his mate’s lips. Relaxing, he enjoyed just being close to his man.
“You were right,” Jeremiah rumbled from where he laid against him, sprawled on his lap, his chin resting on Grateman’s shoulder. “Fan-fucking-tastic.”
Chapter Twelve
At first, Jeremiah thought Grateman’s moan was of pleasure. Was his lover getting himself off? Then, he recognized the sound as one of pain.
Jeremiah snapped his eyes open and peered around the room. Not seeing Grateman, he eased to a sitting position. Fear filled him. Had the hunters broken in already? Were they hurting his gargoyle?
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, Jeremiah ignored the ache in his own body. His torso still pinged from healing injuries. Plus, his ass felt... weird. It didn’t hurt so much—just felt oddly stretched. Jeremiah figured he’d get used to that... assuming he could find his lover and save him.
When Grateman’s moan came again, Jeremiah realized it came from the bathroom. Worried the gargoyle might be sick, he rose and headed that
way. He paused at the half-open door, seeing his big gargoyle’s trembling body leaning against the sink.
“Are you all right?” Jeremiah asked. He frowned upon seeing the sheen of sweat covering the gargoyle’s hide. “Should I call for the doctor? What’s wrong?”
“No need for a doctor,” Grateman rumbled hoarsely. He peered over his shoulder at Jeremiah, a pained smile on his square features. “The sun is rising. I’m going through molt. It’s painful and—”
Grateman paused and refocused on the sink. Arching his back, he let out a low hiss that quickly turned into a moan. He threw back his head and roared.
As Jeremiah watched, Grateman’s big, black wings seemed to slide into his shoulder blades, disappearing from view. He cringed upon seeing what had to be painful. Stepping forward, Jeremiah leaned against the counter next to him.
Rubbing Grateman’s back, Jeremiah hoped to soothe him. “Is there anything I can do?” he murmured. “Maybe get you an aspirin? Do paranormals even have aspirin?”
Grateman sighed. “That actually feels really good,” he whispered, his eyes sliding closed as he pressed into his touch. “Guess the rumors were true.”
“What rumors were those?”
“That—”
Groaning, Grateman’s legs buckled. He landed hard on his knees, his hands still clutching the counter’s edge.
Jeremiah yanked his hand away as he watched Grateman’s thick, mottled skin seem to ripple.
“Put your arms around me,” Grateman hissed. He turned his head just enough to peer at him, anguish filling his deep brown eyes. “Please?”
Quickly lowering to his knees, Jeremiah did as the man requested. “I’m here,” he assured. “I’m here.”
Jeremiah plastered his chest to Grateman’s back and wrapped his arms around him. Rubbing his hands over Grateman’s wide torso, he attempted to soothe the bigger male. From the way Grateman’s breathing evened, he hoped he’d succeeded, even though he could still feel the trembles racking his body.
His voice filled with pain, Grateman mumbled, “Th-The rumor was that a mate’s touch soothes some of the pain when a gargoyle goes through molt.” He sighed, resting his forehead against the cupboard. “It’s true. So damn true.”
“Feels odd,” Jeremiah admitted. “Your skin is changing right underneath my fingers.”
Grateman just groaned, probably because at that point, his face began to contort.
Jeremiah watched the male’s jaw reshape, losing some of the square appearance it usually had, becoming more refined. The horns changed, seeming to spread, then turned into long black locks of hair. The pointed tips of his ears rounded and the skin lost the mottling.
When Jeremiah noted the way Grateman flexed his fingers, he glanced at his lover’s hands. He grimaced as he watched the man’s claws appear to retract. They reformed, turning into human-like fingernails.
Several long moments later, Grateman whispered, “Thank you.” He peered over his shoulder, sounding tired, but his eyes were soft and his body more relaxed. “I didn’t want you to have to see that. I know it’s... grotesque... the first time we go through this.”
“Not grotesque,” Jeremiah countered. Maybe a week ago he would have agreed, but now he understood things better. “Just another difference. That’s all.” He rubbed over Grateman’s chest some more, his hands sliding easily due to the sweat on his skin. “How do you feel? Is it complete?”
Grateman nodded. “Yes. It’s done.” He smirked and winked. “Am I more or less attractive this way?”
Jeremiah took in Grateman’s deep brown skin, broad shoulders, and well-muscled limbs. His hair was still black, though he did have two longer swatches created by his horns, which was interesting. Sliding a hand up, he tucked one of the thick strands behind his ear.
That’s when Jeremiah saw the shuttered look in Grateman’s eyes. He realized with shock that his lover was actually worried. Did the gargoyle think he hadn’t liked how he’d looked before?
“You’re stunning in both forms,” Jeremiah murmured, knowing it was the truth. He hoped he could convince the man of that. “Come on, handsome,” he rumbled. “You’re soaked in sweat. Will you let me wash you?”
Jeremiah stood, resting a hand under Grateman’s upper arm. Helping him to his feet, he smiled at his lover. He enjoyed the feeling of taking care of his mate for once.
“What about your chest?” Grateman asked softly, touching his pierced nipple. “You okay?”
Nodding, Jeremiah reached into the large shower and turned on the water. “How does being in human form work, anyway?” he asked curiously. “Do you have complete control? Can you go back and forth at will?” He paused and scowled at Grateman. “It doesn’t always hurt like that does it? Cosmo didn’t seem in pain when he changed in front of me.” Now that Jeremiah thought about it, he appreciated that the gargoyle had done it. It had prepared him for seeing the oddness of Grateman changing for the first time.
“I can change back and forth at will,” Grateman responded, not fighting Jeremiah as he pulled him into the large tile-covered shower and urged him under the spray. “It’s like a muscle though, so I’ll have to practice so I don’t change unwittingly,” he admitted. Rolling a shoulder in a half-shrug, he explained, “I’ve been told getting angry or aroused can make it difficult to stay in human form, so I have to practice.”
“Huh,” Jeremiah murmured, grabbing the shampoo and pouring some onto his fingers. He reached up and began massaging it into Grateman’s hair. “I really love these extra-long pieces formed by your horns,” he admitted. Upon seeing Grateman’s surprised look, he chuckled. “It’s exotic.”
“Is that a good thing?”
Jeremiah nodded. While Grateman rinsed his hair, he worked on washing his own. “Surely you must know how hot you look... in both forms,” he amended, not wanting the gargoyle to get the wrong idea.
Grateman chuckled softly. “Gargoyles don’t recognize aesthetics as humans do,” he revealed. “We recognize our mate by scent. While we don’t really give a shit what our mate looks like, beyond them being healthy, we do know that humans do value appearance. As a paranormal, we want to please our mate.”
“You do a fantastic job of that,” Jeremiah assured, picking up the loofah. “And this?” he teased. “Is this another way to please me?”
“Never used a loofah?” Grateman asked, turning to lean his back against the tiled wall. He reached for another bottle on the shelf. Opening the cap, he stated, “Let me show you exactly how much pleasure it can be.”
Jeremiah handed the item over, then watched Grateman pour body wash on it. A few minutes later, when Grateman rubbed the slightly scratchy surface over his nipples, his cock thickened. When the gargoyle lowered the soapy loofah to his genitals, he spilled embarrassingly fast.
Humming with pleasure, Jeremiah was more than happy to return the favor. He lowered to his knees and pressed a kiss to first one of his lover’s thighs, then the other. Staring at Grateman’s erection, he paused.
“You don’t have to,” Grateman rumbled.
“Just never been this close to another erection before,” Jeremiah admitted even as he reached out and took his lover’s shaft in hand. He peered up at Grateman’s face as he admitted, “But I want to.” He felt his face heat. “I want to learn, but what if I suck?”
Grateman chuckled. “Sucking is the idea.”
Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“I do,” Grateman rumbled. “Just think about what you like,” he advised. “Keep your hand around the base of my shaft so you don’t choke and just take what you can.” Then, he winked. “Just watch the teeth. While I don’t mind a hint of pain, no one wants too much of that on their dick.”
Jeremiah nodded. “Got it.”
Taking that advice to heart, Jeremiah opened his mouth and wrapped his lips around the head. He licked over the cap, analyzing the taste. The flavor had an interesting muskiness,
but he knew he could learn to like it... probably a lot, too.
Sucking lightly, Jeremiah remembered Grateman’s advice. He kept his one hand on the erection’s base, jacking it slowly. With his other hand, he reached down and cradled his gargoyle’s balls.
“Of shit, Jer,” Grateman murmured. “You’re a natural. You have no idea how sexy you look right now.”
Jeremiah hummed, knowing how much he liked vibration on his cock. He bobbed up and down, taking in as much as he could. Licking along the vein he knew ran along the base, he rubbed the tip of his tongue against the wrinkled skin under the flared head. When he used his tongue to play with Grateman’s foreskin, the gargoyle growled.
“Gonna come, my mate,” Grateman warned. “Pull off if you don’t want a mouthful.”
Pausing in his ministrations for an instant, Jeremiah thought about that. He decided swiftly that he wanted to try it at least. Sucking harder, he rolled his lover’s balls with his fingertips. He felt them pull flush to the gargoyle’s groin seconds later.
Of course, the idea and the reality were two very different things. When Grateman roared and shot his first string of seed into Jeremiah’s mouth, he gagged. Jerking backward, he had just enough presence of mind to keep from scraping his teeth along his lover’s shaft.
Sputtering, Jeremiah struggled to catch his breath. He remembered a second later to keep his hand moving and began jacking his lover’s prick. Several more bursts of seed spurted from the gargoyle’s shaft, coating his hand, neck, and chest.
Grateman heaved a sigh as he grabbed Jeremiah’s shoulders and pulled him to his feet. Cupping his jaw, he captured Jeremiah’s lips. Jeremiah opened to him instantly, only too happy to accept the other man’s tongue.
Lapping at Grateman’s appendage for a few seconds, Jeremiah did a little mapping of his own. He teased his lover’s tongue into his mouth, always surprised to be reminded that it was longer and more slender than his own. Suckling the muscle, he groaned in pleasure.
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