Nuallan

by Catherine Lievens

  He stepped in and aside, and Ethan passed by him. “I know it’s not much, but Kameron said me and Neriah could move into one of the bigger houses. We, uh, we said yes, but we need to buy some things since we don’t have much, so we decided to stay here for a little while longer. Of course, you can move in with us, unless you don’t want to. You could have your own room if you don’t want to sleep with me, although mated pairs usually sleep together. Not that it matters, I mean, if you don’t want to, we can do whatever you want to do.”

  Ethan laughed, and Nuallan snapped his mouth shut. Laughter wasn’t what he’d expected, but it was better than yelling. Right?

  Ethan dumped his bag next to Nuallan’s bed. “Why are you so nervous?”

  “Well, it’s like getting married. Aren’t humans nervous when they get married?”

  “I guess they are. I wouldn’t know, since I never got married.”

  “I know I want this, that I want you, but it’s still weird to think about a future with you. What if you don’t close the toothpaste after you use it? What if you leave empty bottles in the fridge? I mean, it’s nothing major, but are we going to be able to get used to each other? Oh, and are you all right with Neriah living with us? It probably means his mate will live with us too once he meets him, so I hope it’s not a problem. They could get their own place, but I’m not sure I want Neriah to live too far away from me. We’ve always lived together, but we can change that if you want to.”

  Ethan stepped closer and Nuallan held his breath. Ethan put his hands onto Nuallan’s shoulders and squeezed. “Breathe, honey. You don’t have anything to be nervous about. I don’t mind living with your brother and his eventual mate. It’s fine with me. And I close the toothpaste after I use it.”

  Nuallan breathed out and nodded. “Yeah, all right. Okay. So, this is my room.”

  Ethan looked around and smiled. “It’s nice. Cozy.”

  “It’s not much, but Kameron said he’d loan me and Neriah some money so we can get what we need for the new house. I want to find a job to repay him, and maybe I can now that the town knows about us. I don’t have to hide my ears anymore.”

  Ethan frowned. “Your ears?”

  Nuallan pushed his hair behind his ears. He usually kept it in front of them to hide the points, and when Ethan’s eyes widened he realized Ethan hadn’t known about them. “I know it’s weird, but all the Nix have ears like this.”

  Ethan reached up to touch one, but he stopped before he actually did. “Can I?”

  Nuallan nodded and closed his eyes when Ethan’s fingers touched his ear. It felt good. The points were sensitive but not overly so, and he liked it. It felt intimate, like this was something only Ethan could do, and it was. Not a lot of people had touched Nuallan’s ears. Neriah used to do it when he was smaller, to get to sleep, and Alex had touched them a few times because he thought they were cute, but this was different.

  “They’re adorable,” Ethan said. He rubbed the point between two fingers and Nuallan shivered.

  Ethan arched a brow and did it again, and when Nuallan licked his lips, Ethan leaned forward and kissed him.

  Nuallan made a surprised noise and reached out without even thinking about it. He wrapped his arms around Ethan’s neck and pushed closer. He’d been so hesitant, but now that he was in Ethan’s arms, he wondered why. He was where he belonged. He could feel it.

  Ethan’s fingers fell from Nuallan’s ear as he wrapped his arm around Nuallan’s waist and pulled him closer. Nuallan clung to Ethan, needing more than Ethan was giving him. He needed skin, warmth and touches. He pushed away and got rid of his sweater, but when he started opening his jeans, he realized Ethan wasn’t moving. He was looking at him instead, and there was no mistaking the heat in his eyes.

  “Am I... am I rushing you?” God, this wasn’t something he’d ever thought he’d say to a guy. “I can put my sweater back on if you want me to.”

  “Don’t you dare.” Ethan’s voice was low, and he never looked away from Nuallan. “I can’t say I was expecting you to strip for me, but don’t you dare put your clothes on again. You’re gorgeous, honey.”

  Nuallan wasn’t sure he believed that, but he couldn’t deny the way Ethan was looking at him, like he wanted to eat him. It made him shudder, and he started to wrap his arms around his torso, but Ethan grabbed his wrists and stopped him.

  He slowly pushed Nuallan’s hands to his side and let go. Then his hands were on Nuallan’s skin, and Nuallan closed his eyes.

  It felt so good. Ethan ran his palms up Nuallan’s chest, stroking his skin, his nipples. His hands moved down, skimming Nuallan’s jeans, and Nuallan held his breath.

  He expected Ethan to open his jeans, but when nothing happened, he opened his eyes and looked at his mate.

  Ethan was looking at him, his eyes warm, a smile on his face. “This is what you want?” he asked in a soft voice.

  Nuallan nodded. “Yes. I... make love to me, please. I want you.”

  “Have you done this before?”

  “Yeah. Not often, but yes.” Nuallan knew his one previous experience wouldn’t compare, and he couldn’t wait.

  Ethan slowly nodded. “Take the rest of your clothes off then.”

  * * * *

  Ethan managed to suppress the grin when Nuallan stepped away and ditched the rest of his clothes so quickly he almost fell on his face, but barely. The last thing Ethan wanted was for Nuallan to think he was making fun of him or something like that, because he wasn’t.

  Nuallan was beautiful. Ethan hadn’t lied about that. Nuallan wasn’t tall, but his body was perfectly proportioned. His hips were narrow, his stomach flat, his limbs long. His hair was blond, so light Ethan could barely see it, and only in direct light. There wasn’t much body hair, and none on Nuallan’s torso apart from a slight trail from his belly button to his cock.

  Nuallan’s cock was a thing of beauty. He wasn’t circumcised, and since it was hard, the head was peeking from under the foreskin. It was flushed and glistening, and Ethan had a hard time believing he was the one making Nuallan react that way. He was only Ethan, and he couldn’t understand what Nuallan saw in him.

  He didn’t care much at the moment.

  Nuallan wanted him, and he wanted Nuallan. That was all he needed to know.

  He could see Nuallan wanted to cover himself now that he was naked. He probably felt uncomfortable at being watched, especially since Ethan was still fully dressed.

  Ethan loved it.

  He reached for Nuallan, touching as much skin as he could as he gently pushed Nuallan toward the bed and the bag that contained condoms and lube. Ethan had been told he didn’t need condoms, not with Nuallan, but he’d brought them anyway. It was more habit than anything. The lube had been in the same drawer.

  Nuallan’s legs touched the mattress and he hovered there, looking like he didn’t know if he should stay upright or if he should let Ethan push him down.

  Ethan pushed.

  Nuallan went without a fight, and Ethan’s smile grew. “Damn, you look good like this.”

  Nuallan blushed. “Like what?”

  “Naked, spread out on your bed waiting for me.” Ethan licked his lips. “How do you want to do this, honey? I know you have to be able to touch my chest to bond with me, so this is probably the best position, unless you want to ride me.”

  Nuallan’s eyes went wide and he shook his head. “No.”

  Ethan grinned. “You don’t like the idea of riding me?”

  “I do, but not now. Not... not when we bond. I’m not sure I’d be able to, er, move while I bond with you.”

  “You want me to take care of you.”

  The blush deepened. “Yes.”

  Ethan’s smile softened. “You haven’t been taken care of often, have you?”

  Nuallan shrugged and looked away. “I’m usually the caregiver. I did with Neriah for most of my life. Even when my parents were still alive, they had to work hard, so
I kind of raised him.”

  Ethan had expected that, and he was glad Nuallan now had him. “I’ll take care of you from now on, honey.”

  Nuallan smiled even though he still didn’t look at Ethan. “I like it when you call me honey.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes. It makes me feel, well, taken care of. Like you really care.”

  “That’s because I do.”

  Ethan crouched next to his bag and dug for the lube. He found the bottle and dropped it on the bed, then looked at Nuallan again. “No condoms, right?”

  “We, uh, we can use one if you want to, but I can’t get or give human diseases.”

  Ethan straightened and climbed onto the bed. He crawled over until he was hovering on top of Nuallan, looking down at him. Nuallan’s cheeks looked like they might stay permanently red, and it made Ethan feel smug. No matter what he thought about himself, about his body, Nuallan obviously liked it, and that was enough.

  He pressed their lips together as he blindly reached for the lube. He didn’t have to look to open the bottle, and he smiled against Nuallan’s lips when Nuallan’s legs fell open. He spread some lube onto his fingers and warmed it, then reached between Nuallan’s legs.

  Ethan knew Nuallan probably expected him to go straight for the prize, but instead, he ran his fingers on Nuallan’s balls, enjoying the feeling of the wrinkled skin under his fingertips.

  Nuallan whimpered. Ethan stroked a finger up Nuallan’s cock and around the head, spreading both lube and pre-cum. He briefly wondered how Nuallan tasted. Then he realized he could taste Nuallan if he wanted to, and at the moment, there was nothing he wanted more.

  He gave Nuallan one last kiss on the lips and slid down his body. He paused at Nuallan’s nipples and licked one of them, watching Nuallan for a reaction.

  When Nuallan’s breath hitched, Ethan decided it was a good reaction, so he wrapped his lips around the small nub and sucked. Nuallan groaned and pushed up, tangling his fingers into Ethan’s hair.

  Ethan spent as much time as he could on Nuallan’s nipples. He wanted Nuallan to feel like he mattered, like he was loved, even though it wasn’t love just yet.

  There was a limit to everything, though, and when Ethan felt like he was about to come in his jeans, he moved downward again. He kissed his way down Nuallan’s chest, around his belly button and down his treasure trial, until he reached his goal.

  Nuallan’s cock was even redder now, and it was leaking. Ethan swiped his tongue over the head and Nuallan’s hips shot up. It made Ethan smile, and he used his clean hand to push Nuallan’s hips back against the bed before wrapping his lips around the head of Nuallan’s cock and suckling.

  Nuallan made a strangled noise, but he didn’t try to push deeper into Ethan’s mouth. Ethan grinned around the mouthful of cock and reached between Nuallan’s legs. He skimmed a finger against Nuallan’s hole, and Nuallan’s legs opened even more. There was no doubt Nuallan wanted this, and Ethan wasn’t going to make him beg.

  He made sure to prep Nuallan as well as he could, even though he felt like he was going to explode any second. His mouth never left Nuallan’s cock, licking and sucking through the stretching. Every time Nuallan tensed, Ethan stopped moving his fingers and dedicated more time to Nuallan’s dick, until he was relaxed again.

  Once Ethan felt like he had to fuck Nuallan unless he really wanted to come in his jeans, he let go of Nuallan’s dick and looked up at him. He was beautiful, all flushed, his eyes wide and his lips swollen from having bit them while Ethan stretched him. Ethan wanted nothing more than to ram into his mate, to take him and to make him his.

  Something must have shown in his expression, because Nuallan reached for him. Ethan slid his fingers out of Nuallan’s body and sat up. Nuallan’s hands were already on him, unsnapping Ethan’s jeans and taking his cock out. Ethan groaned and closed his eyes. Nuallan’s hands on his dick felt so good, and Ethan had half a mind to let Nuallan jack him off.

  Instead, Nuallan pulled him closer, pushing Ethan’s jeans down his legs just enough that neither of them would be bothered by them as they made love. Ethan went willingly, but before he could press his chest against Nuallan’s, Nuallan pushed his hand under his sweater and scrambled to get it off. Ethan helped him, throwing the garment to the side of the bed.

  Then Nuallan’s hands were on his cock again, guiding him until the head pressed against Nuallan’s slick hole. Ethan punched his hips forward and Nuallan’s body welcomed him, opening for him as if they were made for each other. Ethan made sure to go slow anyway, because he didn’t want to hurt Nuallan. He never wanted to hurt him.

  Nuallan wrapped one arm around Ethan’s shoulder and pressed the other one against Ethan’s chest. Ethan waited, wondering if now was already the moment, but nothing happened except that Nuallan pushed down with his hips, taking all of Ethan’s dick into his ass.

  Ethan bit his lower lip. He didn’t know who was in the house, but the last thing he wanted was for someone to burst in thinking someone was hurt.

  Nuallan’s nails dug into Ethan’s skin when he started moving, and nothing could have stopped him then, not even if all of the house’s inhabitants had burst in. He snapped his hips forward as Nuallan clung to him, and fuck, he wasn’t going to last long. The time he’d taken to prep Nuallan had brought him so close to the edge already, and the feeling of Nuallan around him, so warm and soft and slick, made Ethan want to come right now.

  He reached up and pressed his hand on top of Nuallan’s, over his heart. “You should do this now.”

  Nuallan didn’t say anything, but his hand warmed. Ethan waited for it to stop, but instead, it got warmer and warmer, to the point of pain. He bit his lip again to avoid shouting in pain, but as soon as he did, the pain started to fade and pleasure replaced it. Ethan could feel it wasn’t only his own pleasure, that there was too much of it to be only his. He never stopped moving, and Nuallan arched his back, exposing his neck.

  Ethan’s thoughts went back to earlier, when he’d wanted to mark Nuallan. He leaned forward and bit into the soft skin, not enough to break it, but enough that Nuallan would have a bruise there.

  Nuallan yelled as he came, and Ethan wasn’t far behind. He didn’t let go, not until he was completely spent. Nuallan was slack under him, and Ethan briefly worried, but when he let go and leaned away, Nuallan looked at him with soft eyes. His gaze slid down Ethan’s chest and stopped at his heart, and Ethan looked down.

  He touched the mark he hadn’t had moments before with one fingertip. An E and an N were twined together in a beautiful mark a few shades darker than Ethan’s skin. It looked like a tattoo, and it was a mark Ethan was proud to wear.

  “Do you have shifter in you?” Nuallan asked.

  Ethan blinked up at him. “I’m sorry?”

  “You bit me.”

  “Did I hurt you?”

  Nuallan shook his head. “No. I’ve never felt better.”

  * * * *

  Things were awkward after that. Nuallan knew they were in Kameron’s house, of course, and that it meant that someone might hear them. He’d completely forgotten about it while he’d been having wild monkey sex with Ethan, though, so they both had to do the walk of shame once they finally left Nuallan’s room.

  Nuallan kept his gaze low, afraid to look at anyone in the eyes when they entered the kitchen. There was a lull in the conversation and Nuallan cringed, but luckily for him, Ethan was there, wrapping his arm around Nuallan’s waist and kissing his temple. “Can we do anything to help?” he asked.

  They’d walked in during preparations for lunch, and Nuallan hoped everyone would soon be too distracted by that to pay attention to him. He should have known better.

  Ethan gently steered him toward the table, and Nuallan sat down. Neriah flopped into the chair next to Nuallan, and Nuallan could feel him watching him. He waited, because he knew his brother wouldn’t keep his mouth shut, not for long anyway.

  “So,”
Neriah finally started. “That was... interesting.”

  Nuallan felt his cheeks heat. He groaned and crossed his arms over the table, hiding his face in them. “Do we really have to talk about it?”

  “I guess not, but I have to say I didn’t expect you to be so... vocal during sex. Not that I’d ever heard you going at it before. I’m not even sure you ever had sex before today, to be honest, but anyway. You’re usually the quiet type. I guess sex is different.”

  Nuallan shook his head and kept it down. “Please, let me die in peace.”

  Neriah laughed, and no matter how embarrassed Nuallan was, he was glad to hear his brother so happy. He’d tried his best to raise Neriah, but their life hadn’t been easy, especially in the past few years. He hadn’t had the opportunity to hear his brother laugh often. Neriah had laughed more since he’d arrived in Gillham the day before than in the last year.

  “Aww, come on. I know you’re embarrassed, but it was nothing. I mean, didn’t you hear Zach and Kameron going at it last night? I’m pretty sure half the town did.”

  Nuallan looked up. He’d heard Kameron and Zach. He didn’t think anyone in the close vicinity hadn’t. Zach looked like he didn’t care, though, and he shrugged while cutting the bread at the counter. He was smiling even though Neriah was shaming him.

  “You’d yell too if you had sex with Kam,” Zach said. He pointed his knife at Neriah. “Not that you’ll ever find out about that since you won’t ever have sex with Kam.”

  Neriah held his hands up. “Don’t worry, I have no intention of coming anywhere near your man. Even if he wasn’t mated to you, there’s no way I’d be with an alpha, and I’m still getting used to all this anyway. I don’t think I’ll go anywhere near a man soon.”

  Nuallan frowned and finally straightened. Neriah was grinning, as if he didn’t realize what he’d just said. “You’re gay?” Nuallan asked, because what the fuck? His brother was twenty and Nuallan didn’t even know he liked guys? When had that happened?

  Neriah looked surprised for a second, then he shrugged. “I’ve tried both, but I like guys better. Nothing against girls, because they can be nice too, but if I have to choose...”