Ben wasn’t sure, though, if it was just frustration at his slow recovery or if it was his insistence on them waiting until he was recovered. This was one thing Ben really didn’t want to let go of. He desperately wanted to claim—and be claimed—but he couldn’t escape the feeling that it would always be a doubt in the back of his mind that he had, with his injury, essentially forced Eric to do so.
Claiming might put that doubt to rest. Ben didn’t know how much the link would help with that. He just didn’t think, considering it wouldn’t be too long, it was worth taking the chance. Understanding all of this intellectually didn’t lessen the frustration of his limitations, however.
It took two more days before he was recovered enough to get rid of the doubt. When he woke from a nap later that second day, he was happy to feel the soreness easing quite a bit. The bedside light was on and the sun was sinking. He’d slept longer than he’d meant to, but if it helped him recover, he couldn’t regret it. Eric sat next to him, a book open in his lap, ignored. He seemed lost in thought.
Reaching up, Ben ran his fingertips over Eric’s cheek. “Hello, cariño,” he murmured.
Eric turned to him, smile spreading. “Hi, baby. How are you feeling?”
Ben gave himself a brief moment to make sure his earlier assessment was correct, then smiled back at Eric. “Better. Much better.”
The smile widened. “Oh, that much?”
Ben didn’t even try to pretend he didn’t know what Eric was asking. “Yes.”
In a move so fast Ben could barely follow it, Eric closed the distance between them and kissed him, hard. It took Ben a bit to catch up, but when he did, he opened his mouth, returning the kiss with everything in him. A moment later, however, he pulled back, panting at the lack of oxygen.
That’s when he smelled himself. He wrinkled his nose. “I am gross.”
Eric threw his head back and laughed. “Hardly. But I understand.”
Ben nodded. “I also need the bathroom. Then, well….”
Eric tilted his head. “How about we shower together?”
“Oh….” Ben smiled. “I like that idea.”
Waggling his eyebrows, Eric sat up. “You take care of business and let me know when you’re ready to get in.”
“All right, cariño.” Ben stretched, then carefully stood, testing his muscles bit by bit. “I am most definitely better.”
Eric came around the bed and kissed him softly. “Good. Let’s get that shower, then.”
Ben returned the kiss, then went into the bathroom. After taking care of business, he turned to the sink. His mouth tasted like something had died in it. He couldn’t believe he’d kissed Eric with that breath. Making a face at himself, he grabbed his toothbrush, then brushed his teeth twice. He rinsed twice with mouthwash as well.
Finally he called through the door, “I am ready, cariño.”
Eric wasted no time and joined him, already quite naked.
Ben couldn’t stop from giving Eric a once-over. “I will never get tired of that view,” he murmured, stepping close and running his hand down Eric’s chest. “We have been together many times and still I love to look at you.”
Eric caught his lips in another soft kiss. “And I you, baby. But I’m anxious. It’s time we claim—past time. Let’s get that shower.”
Ben nodded and leaned into the stall, twisting the knob. “Warm, hot, or—”
“A bit north of the underworld.”
Ben laughed. “Good, that’s how I like it too.”
Once the water was adjusted, Ben got in, then turned to Eric as soon as he was in as well. He couldn’t resist another kiss and decided he didn’t have to. Stepping closer, he reached up and cupped Eric’s face in his hands. When their lips met this time, there was nothing soft or light about it. Ben opened when Eric ran his tongue along Ben’s lip, and welcomed him in.
Eric spun them, pushing Ben against the wall and deepening the kiss even more. He leaned into Ben, and Ben moaned at the feel of their skin sliding. It’d been three days since they’d been able to be together and it felt as if Ben’s wolf was trying to break through his skin to get to their mate. Need clawed at him, and it was only by sheer force of will that he kept his wolf in check and didn’t bite then and there. He would not risk anything screwing this up for them.
Breaking the kiss, Eric bent and made a trail of them along Ben’s jaw to his ear. “Te amo, mi corazon,” Eric whispered before continuing down Ben’s neck.
“Te amo, cariño,” Ben replied, running his hands over Eric’s skin. He struggled to remember why they were in the shower, and after opening his eyes to a world gone gray, he had an even harder time remembering. When Eric pulled back and his eyes were black and his teeth had dropped, Ben sucked in a breath.
“We better get clean or I’ll claim you right here in the shower.”
That brought Ben back a little. He reached for the soap, but Eric took it.
“I’ll do this.” He gave a crooked smile. “You can wash me.”
“That will not help us get to the bedroom faster.”
“I can hold on a little longer.” Eric picked up the washcloth and worked up a lather with the soap. “I want to slow down a little anyway,” he said, running the cloth over Ben’s chest. “I want to savor this. We’ve had a lot of sex, but we’ll only claim once. I want it something we’ll remember until we’re old and go wolf.”
Ben swallowed, thrilling in those words. “I have no doubt we will, but I agree.” He smiled. “I can control my wolf at least some.”
That brought a chuckle as Eric turned his attention to the washcloth. Ben kept his hands on Eric, letting him move at his own pace. The slow washing was a seduction in itself, all light brushes and soft touches. Even places that weren’t erotic spots suddenly became so. His stomach, arms, and hips—every touch left sensitive nerves and more need building.
Ben was actually glad when Eric finished. He wanted his turn to do the same, arousing just as much, touching everywhere. No matter how often they’d made love since they’d bonded, he still savored every moan and gasp he pulled from Eric when he touched just the right spot, teased in just the right way.
Even washing his hair turned erotic. Ben had no idea how that happened, how Eric simply running his fingers through Ben’s hair and working up a lather with the shampoo could drive him even crazier. It did, though, and Ben did his damnedest to do the same for Eric. If the moans his mate let out were anything to go by, he succeeded, thrilling him all over again.
Once they were clean, despite the need to get out, to finally claim, neither could seem to stop touching and kissing long enough to do so. Every time Ben pulled back, he found another spot to kiss, the need to taste just one more place too much. Every time Eric made a move to get out, they went right back to touching.
Finally Ben managed to find his sanity. “Cariño….”
“Yeah,” Eric said, voice rough. He straightened away from the wall—and Ben—and turned the water off.
When Ben reached for the towel, though, Eric shook his head and grabbed it. Without speaking, he ran the towel over Ben, drying him thoroughly. In response, Ben refused to let Eric dry himself, and yet again, by the time they were both done, they were kissing and touching.
Before they could get too lost, though, Ben took a half step back and grasped Eric’s hand. As he turned toward the bedroom, his nerves and doubts kicked in, and he struggled to shove them back so Eric didn’t sense them.
What if, after all this, he doesn’t want me? Or worse, he changes his mind after and we are stuck together for life? What if—
ERIC COULDN’T miss Ben’s anxiety and worry, tinged with fear. He was sure Ben was doing his best to hide it, but that just meant it was even worse if that was what got through. He pulled Ben back, wrapped both arms around him, and kissed a line along his neck. “Tell me, baby.”
Ben let out a breath. “What if… what if you change your mind after all this? What if you realize I’m still not what you wan
t… what you need?”
Eric stepped back and took Ben’s hand. “Putting aside the fact that our goddess put us together—and wouldn’t have if I wouldn’t want you… well, come see for yourself.” He pulled Ben with him, grateful as all hell that Tanner and Finley had gone with the enforcers and were still in Denver. Eric stepped into the bedroom and turned to watch Ben’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed when Ben’s eyes widened and the smile spread across his face. Ben’s gaze moved around the room, and Eric was sure he was taking in the candles Eric had unearthed, set around, and lit, the carefully made bed—with fresh sheets—and even the open window, bringing in the scent of the forest they both loved so much.
“Ca-cariño?”
“I couldn’t do as much as you deserve, baby.” Eric went over to the dresser, woke up his phone, and touched the Play button on the music app. He’d already chosen the playlist he’d assembled earlier. Soft Spanish music floated out of the speakers he’d set up when Ben went into the bathroom earlier. “You deserve everything….” Eric held his hand out a little helplessly, unable to articulate exactly what that should be. “But….”
Ben turned to him. “You did not need to do this.”
Eric shook his head. “Maybe not, but I wanted to. I want there to be no question in your mind. I want you. I want you for the rest of our lives, Ben. I would choose you if we weren’t destined.”
Ben sucked in a breath and swallowed. “Eric, you….”
“Yes.” He pulled Ben in, wrapping both arms around him, then nuzzled Ben’s ear. “Eres mío. Para siempre.” He kissed the spot on Ben’s neck he’d bite in a short while. “You are a gift to me from Diana. You are mine, for always.”
When Ben pulled back, Eric reached up and cupped one cheek. Ben swallowed, opened his mouth, then closed it and finally spoke. “I… I cannot… I do not… know what to say. I—”
“You don’t have to, baby. I know. I feel it. Now… let’s complete it.”
Ben nodded, then turned, and they moved over to the bed. Eric wasted no time following him down until he lay on top of Ben, savoring the feel of their skin sliding, the need building just from touching this little bit. He caught Ben’s lips in another deep kiss and promptly got lost in it.
Eric reminded himself that as much as he wanted to take this slow and savor, they had a lifetime to be together. Still, he kissed and teased, reveled in the sounds and touches. He went back to every spot he knew was sensitive and worked it over until Ben nearly begged. Then he did it all over again at the next spot and the next.
Eric’s wolf pushed at him, frustrated by the pace. He didn’t want to wait, didn’t want to go slow. He wanted to mate, wanted to bite, wanted to claim. Now that the human side had given in, the wolf was done waiting. But despite all the years Eric spent in wolf form, he was stronger than his wolf, and he’d be damned if he rushed this.
His own cock was so hard, he was going a little crazy with his own need, but he did his damnedest to ignore it, focusing on his mate. Ben was hardly passive, however, running his hands over Eric too. Even when Eric swallowed him, working over his cock with tongue and lips, he wouldn’t stop touching.
“Please, cariño,” Ben more moaned than said. Eric looked up, and Ben seemed to be struggling for words. Finally he said, “More, please.”
Eric slid up along Ben’s body to kiss him again. When he pulled back, he held himself up, making sure Ben was looking at him. “I’m going to top. You know I don’t normally care, but I want absolutely no question in your mind. I’m taking you. I want you, I want this, I want to claim.”
Ben didn’t speak, simply nodded. Eric knew Ben didn’t mind the insistence. If he really had a problem with it, Eric would listen. But right now he wanted to show how much he wanted Ben. Eric kissed him again, then forced himself to focus on preparing Ben. They hadn’t been together since before the fight, and that time, Ben had topped. So Eric wasn’t going to screw up their mating by not making sure Ben was as ready as he could be for this.
So, yet again, he took it slow, ignoring his own now near-desperate need. When Ben insisted he was fine, Eric shushed him. “I will not hurt you, not for this.”
“I am hardly a vir—oh mierda!” Ben grabbed at the headboard when Eric hit his prostate.
“You don’t need to be for me to want to stretch you enough.” Eric decided a bit of distraction was called for and moved his mouth down over Ben’s cock as he went back to stretching. He wasn’t going to overdo it, though. Ben wasn’t the only one who had waited long enough—too long—for this. Eric snatched up the lube one more time and made sure he was coated, then lined up.
Their eyes met as Eric got into place. Without speaking, he pushed, easing himself into his mate, glad to feel Ben relaxed. Eric might have overworried, but he didn’t care. This man, his mate, was too damned important and precious.
When he finally was fully buried in Ben’s amazing body, Eric leaned forward. “I love you. I will thank Diana every day of our lives for you,” he promised.
Ben cupped his face. “And I will thank her for you, cariño. I am so grateful she brought us together.”
“Me too, baby. Me too. Ready to take that last step?”
Ben swallowed but nodded. “More than ready.”
Eric pulled out slowly, the pushed back in just as slowly. Like the rest, as much as he wanted to bite and claim, he’d be damned if he rushed it. He refused, as well, to compare it to the last time he’d claimed. Ben didn’t compare—this couldn’t compare, and not just because he and Ben were destined.
He built it gradually, keeping his thrusts long and slow, filling Ben on every one. It was driving him a little nuts—Ben too, if the frustration coming across their bond was anything to go by—but Eric tried to drag it out, make the pleasure last as long as he could. Finally the need to feel, to give as much pleasure as he was getting, became too much. He sped up, earning himself a loud moan.
Ben’s hand tightened on the headboard, and Eric briefly wondered if they were going to have to replace it. Then Ben flexed his muscles and squeezed, and any thoughts of furniture evaporated. Eric rocked faster, thrust harder as the pleasure built. He moved a little and was rewarded with another “Mierda!” Eric grinned, pulled back, and hit it again, getting a grunt this time. He did this a couple more times, pulling new sounds with each.
But a moment later, he found himself on his back. Ben straddled him, steadying his cock and sliding down onto it. When he was seated, he leaned forward, bracing himself over Eric, leaving only a few short inches between them. “Do not ever wonder if I want you as much as you do me. You are claiming me, but I am claiming you too. Eres mío también, cariño. Para siempre.” Then he caught Eric’s lips in a kiss so full, so deep, Eric wasn’t sure where Ben ended and he began.
He loved it, though. He threaded his fingers through Ben’s hair, pouring every bit of his love and want of this man into the kiss. That Ben wanted to prove that the claiming went both ways filled Eric with so much emotion, so many emotions, he couldn’t begin to name them all.
Ben pulled away then and lifted himself up, then slid slowly back down. He set a pace guaranteed to drive Eric crazy, and it was succeeding. Eric supposed he deserved it, though, with how slow he’d gone in the beginning. Ben seemed to struggle a little—they’d never tried that position before—so Eric gripped his hips and helped steady him. Their eyes stayed locked on each other’s as Ben rode him, showing how much he wanted too. Eric rocked his hips, meeting Ben’s movements, and as the pleasure built, Eric knew it was time.
He moved, rolling them without pulling out—grateful for his wolf strength—and laid Ben onto his back once more. “Ready, baby?”
Ben nodded, giving a slightly strangled-sounding, “Yes!”
Eric sped up then, thrusting hard, moving fast. He sat up a little, wrapping his hand around Ben’s cock and stroking it. He didn’t have much rhythm, but Ben didn’t seem to need it. Ben arched his back and once more reached for the headboard. The other h
and, however, he kept on Eric, and still he didn’t look away.
“Oh gods… going to….” Eric’s voice came out low, the pleasure stealing his breath.
“Yes. Me too,” Ben said, then moaned.
Eric bent then, as Ben tilted his head slightly. As his orgasm crashed into him, his cock swelling at the base, locking him inside Ben, Eric bit down, followed what could only be a few seconds later by Ben biting Eric’s neck. The pleasure hit hard, and Eric was forced to let go of Ben’s neck. As he did, his head was knocked back, causing him to look up.
There, above them, floated a beautiful ethereal form of his wolf. Next to it was the same beautiful version of Ben’s. The two wolves curled around each other before moving together. The outlines turned fuzzy, then the two merged together into one before fading.
As soon as it did, the link between Eric and Ben thickened and the invisible force that drew them together before pulled them in once more, wrapping around them. As their final bond snapped into place, understanding clarified that had eluded Eric until that moment. This bond, the bond of two people who wanted and loved, wouldn’t be broken, certainly not willingly.
Ben wouldn’t deliberately do to Eric what had been done before. He couldn’t because he loved Eric and would do anything and everything in his power to make sure it didn’t happen accidentally either.
Ben! I… I’m so sorry—
Ben shook his head. No. You could not know this, the way we would understand each other. Oh, cariño, this is amazing!
Eric grinned. It is, my mate.
I love you. Ben reached up and cupped Eric’s cheek.
I love you too. Eric bent and kissed Ben softly, savoring the happiness they shared, the love coming over their bond, so much stronger and clearer now.
While Eric’s knot was swollen, they kissed lightly, just brushing their fingers over each other’s faces. Eric savored the complete bond and all he felt from Ben through it. Finally the knot subsided, and he pulled out. He had to kiss Ben once more before they climbed under the covers. He settled in next to Ben, pulled him close, then wrapped an arm around him. They tangled their legs and moved that little bit closer until there wasn’t the tiniest bit of air between them.
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