Finley didn’t need Tanner to finish. He picked up a piece of grass and twirled it through his fingers for a few moments, trying to decipher and work through all he’d heard. “I… so what does that mean for us?”
“Finley, do you know how I feel about you? Have I ever outright told you?”
He looked up into Tanner’s face, but he didn’t need to see the expression. Between the tone of voice and the nearly overwhelming worry and regret coming through their bond, he knew how his mate was feeling. “No,” he said, softly. Because despite what he felt through their bond, what came through was only ever the biggest, strongest of emotions.
“I love you, Finley. I’ve loved you probably since that first night on the log, since I blurted things out and outed you to your parents.” Tanner hesitated, biting his lip, and Finley didn’t need preternatural senses to hear Tanner’s heart pounding. “Finley… do you still want me as your mate?”
Chapter Thirteen
TANNER HELD his breath as he waited for the answer. When Finley spoke, without hesitation, without letting him wait long, he fell a little more in love with his mate right then and there.
“Yes. It’s always been you. Even… even when I left, I spent the entire time torn, wanting nothing more than to have you want me.”
“Oh, baby,” Tanner murmured, tightening his arms and burying his face in Finley’s hair. “I’m so, so sorry. I really fucked this up.”
Finley pulled back a little and cupped one of Tanner’s cheeks in his palm. “Tell me you came all this way for more than to find me out here.” He waved a hand to encompass the valley and hills.
Tanner was nodding before Finley finished speaking. “Oh yes. I can’t claim you until we get back.” He cupped Finley’s face in one hand when he saw the disappointment. “First bite, baby. First claiming bite has to happen out there.”
Finley nodded and the disappointment faded a little.
“Just know… I’d most definitely like to, right here and right now. And I do plan to make love to you.”
Finley blinked. “Really?” The naked hope and fear in Finley’s eyes made Tanner’s heart hurt.
Tanner nodded. “Yeah. I’m not waiting anymore. We’ll face whatever comes. Who knows? Maybe you won’t get restless. Maybe we both will and need to go experience.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Whatever it is, we’ll do it together. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.”
“I won’t lie, Tanner. That hurt. But… I know I hurt you too. Could we… maybe we just need to look forward, you know?”
“I can do that. I can definitely do that, baby,” Tanner said, then pulled Finley in and crushed that amazing mouth with his own. Finley moaned, opening to him, and he slid his tongue into Finley’s mouth. He let his own moan out as he threaded his fingers into Finley’s hair, cradling his head. He gave it everything he had, pouring every bit of love he felt for Finley into the kiss, trying to show, with that simple touch, everything he felt.
Finley turned, straddling Tanner, and Tanner broke the kiss, gasping when their cocks—both already hard—brushed. He looked up, thrilling in the fact that Finley’s eyes had bled black and his fangs had dropped. The obvious arousal only fed his, and before he realized it, he was looking at his mate in all grays too.
Finley rocked, sending sparks of sensation through Tanner. “Oh fuck,” Finley whispered, and Tanner groaned in agreement. His hands dropped, cupping Finley’s ass and squeezing, careful to keep his claws retracted. Finley bucked in reaction, dragging his cock along Tanner’s, pulling new sounds from both of them.
“Gods, you feel good, baby. What the hell was I thinking, denying myself this?” Tanner murmured as he dove in for another kiss.
Finley hummed something in reply that was lost to Tanner’s mouth, his tongue darted in between Tanner’s lips, and Tanner sucked it in, savoring his mate’s responses. Finley wasn’t idle through all this, running his hands up into Tanner’s hair, then down over his chest, then back up. He didn’t seem able to keep them still, but Tanner wasn’t going to complain. It felt way too good.
He broke the kiss, sucking in air, then bent to Finley’s neck, kissing his way from ear to shoulder. “I can’t wait,” he murmured, licking a line along the skin. “Can’t wait to bite, right… here….” He nipped with his lips and the barest hint of his human teeth, and it took all he had to hold his wolf back and remember he had to wait.
Oh, he could bite Finley. He could claim his mate. But it would make his standing as alpha heir shaky at best. And for all he was frustrated by some of the traditions, he did honor them. He intended, as tough as it was, to honor this one too.
Tanner’s wolf didn’t give a damn about traditions or rules. His wolf was demanding they give up this foolish game, turn Finley over, and take him already.
Finley groaned. “I can’t wait either.”
When Tanner nipped at his skin again, he let a low needy whimper out. Tanner suspected Finley wasn’t sure what he needed so much, but Tanner knew. He kissed his way back up Finley’s skin, catching his mate’s mouth once more in another full, thorough kiss.
He broke the kiss a moment later and turned them, easing Finley onto his back in the grass. He paused, staring at the picture Finley made, lying there with the sun filtering through the trees. The messy black hair shone, the green eyes almost glowed, and Tanner thanked Diana that Finley still wanted him after everything. “You’re so beautiful, do you know that?”
Finley’s lips twitched into a small amused smile. “I’m beautiful?”
Tanner nodded. “Yes.”
“You do know I’m a man, right?” Finley asked.
Tanner chuckled, reaching down and wrapping his hand around Finley’s straining cock. “Quite well.”
Finley moaned, thrusting up into Tanner’s hand. “Then… I’m not… ohfuckyes,” he groaned when Tanner tightened his hand and gave him one firm stroke.
He leaned in to whisper in Finley’s ear. “Men can be beautiful. And right now, seeing you come undone from the pleasure that I’m giving you is the most beautiful sight in the world.”
Finley’s only answer was a whimper.
Tanner nipped at Finley’s earlobe, then kissed his way slowly over his mate’s neck, all the while stroking Finley’s cock. He kept it to full, firm, slow strokes, doing his best to tease and work Finley up as much as he could.
He realized, as much as he wanted to fuck Finley right there, they were missing one important thing. They’d have to wait until they got back to civilization. He silently cursed the lack, and himself for not thinking of it. If he wanted to be fair to himself, he wasn’t thinking all that much when he got to Oregon. Besides, though he desperately wanted Finley, he’d waited two years. He could wait a little longer.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do anything, though. Which was something else he wanted to kick himself over. He should have at least been doing other things with Finley all this time. Even if he wasn’t going to claim his mate in front of the gods and everyone, there was plenty of other stuff they could do. He should have been introducing Finley to the many other forms of pleasure—hand jobs, blow jobs, and anything else he could have come up with. He again felt like seven different kinds of a fool for not at least doing those things.
He shook the thought off. He could kick himself later. Now, now was for pleasure.
Brushing his lips down over Finley’s shoulder, he savored the moans his actions brought. He stopped at a nipple, eyes fixed to Fin’s face as he teased it with his tongue, watching to see what kind of reaction he’d get. He wasn’t disappointed. Finley gave more moans, back arching in response. He focused on it for a good, long time, tracing the outline, then sucking, then going back to teasing it.
Finley slid his hands into Tanner’s hair, threading his fingers through the strands. “Please, oh fuck, please….”
Tanner smiled against Finley’s skin, moved to the other nipple, and gave it equal attention. By the time he let go of it, Finley’s begging had turned wordless. H
is cock was rock hard in Tanner’s hand, precum flowing steadily, and Tanner couldn’t hold back anymore. He needed to taste his mate.
He still kissed his way over the thin treasure trail on Finley’s stomach. Then he looked up, meeting Finley’s eyes as he positioned his mouth over Fin’s cock. He hovered there for the longest moment, making absolutely sure Finley knew what he was about to do. When Finley whimpered, Tanner, careful to keep his canines out of the way, swallowed him in one single move.
Finley’s shout echoed off the valley walls, but Tanner didn’t care. He was too lost in the taste and feel of Finley’s cock in his mouth. Back before he’d met Finley, he’d certainly tasted more than one cock. But all of them had been covered, and none of them had tasted or felt as good as Finley’s did. Maybe part of that was the fact that they were mates, but Tanner was sure it had a lot to do with the fact that Finley tasted good, all on his own.
He moaned around the hard length, sliding his mouth almost all the way off, then back down again. As he went, he ran his tongue along the underside, teasing the vein. When he’d swallowed almost all of it, he took a breath, relaxed his throat, then took the rest of it in until he’d taken all of Finley.
“Oh gods, oh fuck!” Finley found his hair again, fingers threading through and gripping it.
Tanner didn’t mind, couldn’t care, in fact. He loved the reaction, loved knowing just what he was doing for his mate. His wolf wanted to howl with the knowledge. His own cock was so hard, he thought he was going to go a little crazy, but he did his damnedest to ignore it and focus on Finley.
As he pulled off, he sucked in his cheeks, knowing it added to the pleasure. He traced crown and ridge with his tongue, teased the slit, then swallowed Finley’s cock all over again. While he did, he braced himself on one arm and added his fingers teasing Fin’s balls into the mix. They were already tight, and Tanner was sure Finley was going to blow soon. He brushed his thumb over the sensitive skin, sucking hard at Finley’s cock again, working to push his mate over the edge.
“Please, Tanner….” Finley moaned. “Oh fuck, please, fuck me!”
Tanner pulled off, licking at the tip of Fin’s cock. “Can’t, baby. We’re missing something kind of important for that.”
Finley frowned down at him. “We are?”
Obviously he’d pleasured his mate right out of higher thought. It did good things to his ego. “I didn’t think to tuck a bottle of lube in with the cell phone.”
Finley groaned and dropped his head back. “Use spit. I don’t care, please. I need you inside me.”
Tanner hesitated. “I don’t want to hurt you, baby.”
Finley lifted his head and looked down at Tanner again. The look in Finley’s eyes made him waver, and Tanner could feel the fear growing through their bond. He realized Finley was afraid he was changing his mind about mating and claiming.
Then Finley spoke, and the fear was even more obvious. “You won’t hurt me. Please do this for me?”
He couldn’t resist that. He slid a little farther, lifting Finley’s legs high to give himself access. “Hold your knees, baby,” he murmured and waited for Finley to comply. Then he dove down, running his tongue along Fin’s taint, then lower to circle the tight muscle below.
“Oh gods!”
Tanner grinned briefly, then went back to work. He licked slowly, using as much spit as he could manage, teasing the ring. When Finley relaxed a little, he pushed his tongue in, pulling another loud moan. He worked the muscle over, relaxing it as much as he could, leaving behind as much saliva as possible.
He sat up and wet one of his fingers, then leaned forward and took Finley’s cock into his mouth again. As he worked the finger in, he felt Finley tense, and he pulled back. “Just relax, baby, breathe, okay?”
Finley nodded and let out a breath, and Tanner pushed the first finger through the ring of muscle. He focused on letting Finley get used to having something in there and swallowed his mate’s cock again, doing his best to offset any discomfort with pleasure. Before too long, Finley was moaning again, and Tanner pulled his finger out to slick the second one up.
They went in easier, Finley already somewhat relaxed. Tanner did his best to stretch Finley carefully, determined to make this good. He crooked his fingers, trying to find Finley’s prostate, hoping it would help. Sure enough, he found the spot, and Finley’s moans turned once more to shouts.
He teased it for another moment, then slicked the third finger with spit. He worked them in a little way, and Finley tensed again. Almost immediately, though, he relaxed, and Tanner could push in farther.
Gods, Finley was tight. Tanner hoped he could hold on for a bit when he got his cock in there. He knew it was going to take every bit of control he possessed. Before he could do that, he needed to prepare Finley as much as possible.
Finally, he thought he’d done as much as he could. He sat up, taking Finley’s cock in hand again and stroking it, this time with purpose. “Let go, baby, come for me.”
Finley whined. “Want you….”
“You’ll get me. Trust me, baby. Now come for me.” He squeezed slightly, gave Finley’s cock a small twist, and with a shout, Finley arched his back hard and his cock swelled. Tanner cupped his free hand at the tip and caught the thick ropes of cum.
As Finley panted in the aftermath, staring at him with wide eyes, Tanner took the cum in his hand and spread it over his almost painfully hard dick. He gritted his teeth when just that nearly sent him over the edge. He pinched the base briefly, pulling himself back just enough.
“Fuck, that’s so hot,” Finley muttered, and Tanner grinned at him.
“Glad you approve.” He settled in place, face sober, lifted Finley’s legs again, and lined up. “Ready for me, baby?”
“Oh gods yes. I’ve been ready for two years.”
Tanner nodded and nudged Finley’s hole, their gazes locked to each other. Finley rested his hands on Tanner’s arms, squeezing slightly, and Tanner gave a short nod, both recognizing the import of what was happening.
He’d waited too long to do this, too long to feel Finley. But dear Diana, if he had to wait a hundred more years, it would be worth it. Anything would be worth this amazing, incredible feeling of being inside his mate.
Finley was tight, as he’d expected. It took all he had to keep his eyes open and on Finley’s face as he moved. He let the sounds flow freely as he slowly filled Finley. It took him a while to work his way in, pushing forward, then pulling back slightly before pushing forward again.
Finally, he was balls-deep, and he paused, panting hard to hold on to some semblance of his control. He would not go off this fast. He had some staying power, dammit.
He focused for a moment on Finley, wrapping his hand around Finley’s reawakening cock. There were definite advantages to having a young mate, like the fact that Finley was almost ready to go again. He gripped Finley’s dick, stroking it slowly, working it back to fully hard. It didn’t take long, for which Tanner was grateful. He desperately needed to move.
So he did, pulling back and thrusting forward, again slowly. His muscles strained as he held back, but he didn’t want to risk anything making this awful for Finley. It couldn’t be perfect, but he’d do his damnedest to get it as close as possible.
No matter how hard he tried, though, his wolf was demanding he go faster, take and claim. He couldn’t bite, wouldn’t, but his control was slipping, and he couldn’t hold back anymore. He pulled almost all the way out, then thrust hard back in.
Finley shouted, lifting his legs a little higher. “Fuck yes!”
That was all the encouragement Tanner needed. He let his wolf a little closer to the surface, let the instincts push him, the primal side of their mating taking over. He rocked his hips so he could thrust faster and harder. He filled Finley, bottoming out on each stroke.
Finley’s cries and shouts fell continuously now. He bucked against Tanner, matching his fucking, pushing Tanner swiftly toward orgasm.
He moved
enough to brace himself better, then slid his hand between them to stroke Finley’s cock again.
When Finley threw his head back, hands scrambling to grip the tree, Tanner’s balls drew up. He was so close, and he wanted Finley to go first, or at least go with him. He shifted his hips, changing angles just a little and was rewarded when Finley’s eyes flew open.
“Tanner! Oh fuck, Tanner! I’m… oh gods, I’m… coming!”
Finley’s cock jumped, the muscles in his ass clenched around Tanner, and thick ropes of cum shot out to cover Tanner’s hand and Finley’s stomach and chest. At the same time, Tanner felt a pull from inside him, and that pull was all it took to send him over the edge.
He couldn’t look away from Finley as pleasure sharper than anything he’d ever felt hit him, frying his nerves. His cock pulsed, swelling as he came hard, and he realized the knot at the base of his cock was forming. He held still, thrilling in that tie as his body recognized its mate, locking them together and filling Finley over and over again with his cum.
A moment later, emotion—love and awe—slammed into Tanner. Something invisible seemed to wrap around them, enveloping the two of them, drawing them together. The pull he’d felt a short while ago intensified, and Tanner recognized the new strands that were added to their bond, thickening and strengthening their link.
He slumped forward, bracing himself on his arms and gasping in the attempt to suck in air. His heart pounded hard in his chest and, incredibly, his cock still pulsed deep inside his mate. Smaller shockwaves of pleasure hit him over and over, matching the pulse.
Devotion Page 16