Slade: A Stone Society Novella (The Stone Society)

by Faith Gibson

  “Slade!” Matt yelled, “Oh, god, Slade!” He let go of Slade’s shoulder and slapped his hands onto Slade’s ass, digging his blunt nails into Slade’s skin. The pain from the bite morphed into indescribable pleasure as Matt’s orgasm tore through his body and out his untouched cock. Pulse after pulse of white-hot release escaped his dick. With Slade pressed against him, his cock throbbed, his cum caught between them.

  Matthew’s vision blurred as his whole body thrummed. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought he was back on one of the roller coasters. Excitement and anticipation as they crested the tall hill, and the weightlessness as the ride dropped. Euphoria as they twisted and turned, looping end over end. The fullness of Slade’s cock receded as his erection softened, but Matthew was content with having it inside him. Having Slade’s release fill his hole. Slade had claimed him, inside and out. Marked him.

  Slade licked the point on Matt’s neck where his fangs had punctured. The heat of his tongue sent another aftershock through Matt’s core. Matt wrapped his legs around Slade’s thighs, his hands sliding up Slade’s back, holding tightly to his muscled shoulders now that Slade’s wings had retracted. Matt didn’t know what to say. He wouldn’t have been able to speak even if he did know what to say. Matthew had felt fear. Joy. Sadness. Excitement. So many emotions he’d felt in his eighteen years, but nothing compared to what he was experiencing in that moment.

  Their breathing slowed, their chests moving in and out in tandem. The sliding glass door was open, and the breeze cooled Matt’s heated skin. He hadn’t noticed the open door when he stepped into the room earlier, but why would he when he had a naked Goyle waiting for him? Matt would always notice Slade before anything or anyone else.

  He’d known completing the bond would be intense, but this was beyond that. It was life-altering. Like what dying and being brought back to life must feel like. The connection was now stronger. He could hear the beast purring in contentment. He knew it was Slade’s shifter, because the noise was in his mind.

  Thank you, Matty.

  Matt gasped. Was that...? Holy shit, was that the beast?

  Y-you don’t have to thank me.

  I do, and I’m sorry.

  I’m the one who’s sorry for running away.

  Slade told me not to push, but you’re ours. After all this time, we found our one.

  It worked out the way it was supposed to. We’re good.

  Matt couldn’t believe he was talking to the beast. How cool was that?

  “Are you okay?” Slade whispered against Matt’s ear.

  Matt shook his head, trying to come up with a way to explain what was going through his mind. Okay? Not by a long shot. When he didn’t answer, Slade tried to raise himself off Matt’s chest, but Matthew put pressure on Slade’s back, keeping him there just a moment longer.

  “Matty, talk to me.”

  “I’m trying.” He huffed out a laugh. “You lied.”

  “What? Matt, you’re scaring me.”

  Matt let up on his hold so Slade could see the smile on his face.

  “You said the first time wouldn’t be the best. There’s no way it’ll ever be better. That was… I honestly don’t have the words.” Matt moved his hands from around Slade’s shoulders to cup his face. He searched Slade’s eyes. “Was it okay for you?”

  Slade grinned. “No. It was so far beyond okay that I don’t have the words either.” Slade kissed Matt softly, but Matt wasn’t having it. He angled his head and took control of Slade’s mouth. He licked at Slade’s lips, and when Slade opened for him, Matthew twined his tongue against Slade’s, tasting, teasing, treasuring the softness while his dick hardened between them. Slade’s cock, which was still buried inside Matt, lengthened and stretched, filling Matt’s slick channel.

  “Baby, aren’t you too sore?” Slade asked, peppering Matt’s mouth and cheek.

  “No, but I want to be.” Matt dug his heels into Slade’s hips, urging him to move.

  In all his years, Slade had never encountered anything close to what he’d shared with Matt. His mate. His brave, young, perfect mate. “You’re incredible,” Slade muttered as he drew his erection out of Matt’s body until only the tip remained. He eased it back in, remembering he’d promised Matt they could take things slower. The beast had pushed its way to the front of his mind to complete the bond, and Slade had relented control. Now that they had claimed Matt, the shifter retreated. Sated.

  Slade kept his weight off Matt by resting on his palms. He had missed seeing Matt come apart because his head had been buried in Matt’s neck. Now, he kept his eyes on Matt’s face. His smiling face. When Matt wouldn’t answer him earlier, Slade had been terrified he’d hurt his mate. He hadn’t. Matt had been just as overwhelmed as Slade. Sex before had been nothing more than slaking a need. He had gotten off on the act, but it had always been empty. He had been empty. But now? Now Slade was overfilled. With joy. With love. With everything. Matthew was everything Slade had never known he was missing. He had seen the others interact with their own mates, and he had witnessed the bond between them, but he never would have believed how powerful the connection was if he hadn’t encountered it for himself.

  As they both admitted, there just weren’t words, so Slade used his body to show Matt how much his mate meant to him. He loved Matt with his dick, his eyes, his kisses. Slade took his time, relishing the tightness of Matt’s heat, and one day, he would ask Matt to make love to him so he would know what it was like to be on the receiving end of their connection. He wanted everything with his young lover. Wanted to know what Matt tasted like coming down his throat. What their combined release tasted like after Slade brought them to climax with his hand encircling both their erections. He wanted to take Matt against the wall. The counter. On the dining room table. In the shower. In the back of the SUV. Over the hood of the McLaren. Over the arm of the sofa. Most of all, he wanted Matt in their bed at home.

  He wouldn’t rush the rest of their vacation, but Slade was ready to be back in New Atlanta, starting their new life together. They had a couple months before Matt started school, and Slade was going to make the most of their free time together. If most of that time was spent buried deep within his mate? All the better.

  Keeping his length inside Matt, he rolled them so Matt was on top, straddling his sides. “Ride me, Mate. Take what you want. What you need.”

  And Matthew did. He might have been inexperienced, but Matt entwined their hands and used their grip as leverage, raising and lowering his tight heat over and over. “Slade,” he begged.

  “That’s it, my love. Get yourself off on me.” Slade took both Matt’s hands in one of his larger ones and used the free one to stroke Matt’s gorgeous erection. It didn’t take long until Matthew’s cum was spilling over Slade’s fingers, and his ass tightened, squeezing Slade in the best possible way. Slade’s release followed, adding to the slickness inside his mate. He had marked Matt with the bite, and now he was marking him again on the inside.

  Matthew remained where he was, keeping them connected. His chest was still heaving, and his breaths were now little puffs of laughter. Slade smiled, stroking Matt’s face, pushing his sweaty hair off his forehead. Using his core muscles, Slade sat up, moving Matt’s legs so they encircled his lower body. He needed Matt closer. Close enough to kiss. To breathe in his essence. To tell him what was in his heart. “You are mine, Matthew. Now and forever.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  So much had happened by the time they got back home. Remy had found his son alive – a son no one knew about, Kaya had given birth, and Jonathan had passed away. Matthew felt bad about not being there for Priscilla, but Abbi assured him when they spoke on the phone there were plenty of people taking care of the older woman. He was excited to meet Sebastian, the baby who would one day rule them all. Now that he’d completed the bond with Slade, Matt had a long life to look forward to, so Sebastian would be his King, too. Now, if they could find a Goyle for Amelia, life would be perfect. He knew i
t didn’t work that way, but he couldn’t bear to think of his little sister growing older and eventually leaving them all.

  Matt and Slade had spent a couple days holed up in the hotel. They made love, showered, made love in the shower, ate, and when Slade insisted they give Matt’s body a rest, they still found pleasure in blowjobs and frotting. Matt’s first attempt at giving head had been cut short when Slade told him to run. When Matt told Slade he wanted a redo, Slade eagerly said yes. Exploring his mate’s body, discovering what he liked, what he drove him crazy, was a learning experience, but it was something he planned to practice often.

  They visited Disney where they spent two days seeing everything the four parks had to offer. Slade’s SUV was filled with the purchases from the shops in New Key West as well as souvenirs Matt insisted Amelia needed. He was looking forward to moving in with Slade, but he was going to miss his little sister. Slade told him they could babysit anytime Matt wanted.

  Matt couldn’t wait to see his family. He had spoken to Frey briefly on the phone, and his father didn’t mention anything about killing Slade or keeping Matthew from being with his mate for the next thirty years. Frey explained that during the time Matt was missing, Trevor had texted him to see how things were going. When he didn’t hear back from Matt, Trevor mentioned it to Dante who said something to Frey. Frey called Matt’s phone several times, and when he didn’t answer, he called Slade. That had been the one thing Frey was most upset about. Slade ignoring Frey’s calls. Julian had been able to calm him down after the fact, but Matt had told Frey it was all his fault. Instead of arguing over the phone, Frey told him they would discuss it once he returned from his vacation.

  Slade assured Matt everything would be fine. He had already spoken briefly to Frey as soon as they arrived in New Orlando, so the worst of it was over. They didn’t stop at the condo when they reached New Atlanta. They drove directly to see Frey and Abbi. Slade said they could spend as much time as Matt wanted with his family, but then he was packing as much of Matt’s stuff as he could into the SUV. Before the vehicle was in park, Frey and Abbi came out onto the front porch, and Amelia was flying down the steps.

  “Matty, Matty, Matty!” She launched herself into his arms, and he hugged his little sister as tight as possible without hurting her. He looked over her shoulder to where his parents waited. Frey’s face was unreadable, but Abbi’s wasn’t. Her smile told him everything he needed to know.

  Amelia wiggled when Slade got close and held her arms out to him. “Hi, Uncle Slade.”

  “Hello, Princess. Did you miss Matt?”

  “Uh huh, and I missed you, too. Did you bring me back a present?”

  “Maybe,” Slade hedged.

  “Daddy! Mommy! They brought me presents!” She wiggled again, and Slade set her on her feet.

  Frey and Abbi made their way to where Matt and Slade were standing by the SUV. “Okay, Little One. Let the guys get inside.”

  “But, Daddy. Presents!” Amelia stood with her hands fisted on her hips, staring down one of the largest Goyles of their Clan. Matt couldn’t help but laugh. His little sister had their dad wrapped around her finger like she did anyone else she met.

  When Frey was close enough, he hugged Matt to his strong chest. “I love you, Matthew. I’m so glad you’re all right,” he murmured against the top of Matt’s head.

  “I love you too, Dad.”

  Abbi was next. Her eyes were bright with tears as she cupped Matthew’s face. “Oh, Matty.” A sob broke free as she hugged him tight around his waist, her head buried in his chest. Her tears soaked his shirt, but he didn’t care.

  “I’m okay, Abs. How are you? How’s my baby brother?” he asked, knowing it would break the tension. He was convinced the child growing in his sister’s belly was a boy, and she was adamant it was a girl. Technically, the baby was both his brother as well as nephew, but since Abbi practically raised him, he considered her more a mother than a sister.

  “Your sister is perfect,” Abbi said, smacking Matt’s shoulder. He grinned at her, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  “Do you guys need any help?” Frey asked.

  “No, thank you. We can manage,” Slade said. He and Matt grabbed the bags containing their gifts out of the hatch and followed Frey and Abbi inside. They didn’t make Amelia wait to get her presents.

  “It’s like my birthday all over again,” she squealed as she took in all the toys and trinkets they’d brought her. While she was trying to figure out what to play with first, Matt gave Abbi the key lime treats he knew she’d love as well as the ballerina figurine they’d found.

  Abbi gushed over both, and after a few minutes, she took Amelia up to her room, giving the males some privacy.

  “Dad, before you yell at Slade, he did nothing wrong. It was my fault for running.”

  Slade started to argue, but Frey held up his hand. “No. It’s no one’s fault. Julian explained everything, and I’ve had time to think about it. Matthew, I know exactly what Slade went through when you were missing. When Troy attacked you at the restaurant, and when he kidnapped Abbi, I blamed myself. I was the one who promised to protect you both, and I failed.”

  “No, you saved us.”

  “And Slade saved you. Yes, you ran, but if you hadn’t gone after the woman who was kidnapped, she and all the others wouldn’t have been rescued. You put a stranger’s well-being before your own, and for that, I am so very proud of you. You have grown from a wounded, wonderful boy to an incredible young man. I wasn’t there, but I know Slade did everything in his power to get you back. I’ve known for a while you were his mate, and I’ve seen him struggle with doing the honorable thing in waiting until you were old enough to claim you. I couldn’t ask for a better mate for my son. This isn’t a day for blame. It’s a day to celebrate.”

  Matthew threw himself into Frey’s arms. Yes, he was a mate now, but he was still Frey’s kid and always would be.

  They sat down for lunch, and Matt said, “So, Remy has a son?”

  “He does. Remy thought the boy was dead. Remy’s mate, Nicole, was from an Original line of Gargoyles out of Australia. From what Remy says, her family accepted her mating with no problem. Everyone except her brother. Keith didn’t like the fact that Remy’s family had been ‘diluted’ over the years. The male reminds me of Alistair in that respect. Anyway, Nicole took Rain home for a long holiday while Remy remained in the States. Remy got a call one day from Keith saying Nicole and Remy had been killed in a car crash. Since he was a dick, he told Remy the family was taking care of the funeral and that Remy wasn’t welcome. He contacted the parents, and they apologized for their son’s behavior, but the damage had already been done.”

  “If the kid was alive, who did the grandparents think was buried? And where was he all this time?” Slade asked.

  “Keith had Nicole cremated, so it wasn’t a stretch for Remy to think Rain had been as well. Since Rain is so young, Remy isn’t pressing for him to talk, but what he does know is Keith sold Remy. Somehow, the boy ended up with Dr. Craven. He was using Rain for his Original blood to create the Reborn anti-serum.”

  “And where is Keith now?” Slade had pushed his lunch back. His anger was alive in the room. Matt set a hand on his arm, hoping to calm his mate. Slade relaxed, but only a little.

  “Julian is searching for him. Don’t worry. He’ll be taken care of.”

  Matt didn’t have to ask to know what that meant. “That poor kid. I’m not saying I’m glad he was sold and used, but at least some good came from it. Right? The anti-serum is turning Unholy back into somewhat normal humans. If Jonas and Isabelle can duplicate enough, y’all can put an end to the Unholy.”

  “That’s a good way of looking at it, yes. Craven is on the run, but it’s only a matter of time before we find him, now that we know for sure who was helping Drago. Between that and you helping to uncover their trafficking operation, things are looking up for our Clan.”

  Matt moved Slade’s plate so it was within reach, encou
raging his mate to eat. He knew Slade didn’t really need the nourishment, but he had plans for the Goyle when they got to the condo.

  They talked about Jonathan’s passing and Priscilla’s admission to being his lover, having only pretended to be his sister. As sad as his death was, Sebastian’s birth had been the light to Jonathan’s darkness. Except for Sebastian, the best news Frey gave them was that Deacon and Sabrina were also mated.

  Matthew helped Abbi clean off the table, enjoying spending a few minutes alone with her in the kitchen. Once the dishwasher was full, Matt wrapped his arms around his sister.

  “Have I ever told you how grateful I am you’re my sister? Have I thanked you for everything you’ve done? I love you, Abs.”

  “Oh, Matty.” Abbi choked out a sob and pressed her forehead to his chest. His shirt was getting wet, but he didn’t care. He rocked her back and forth until she pulled away and wiped her face. “I love you more than you’ll ever know. You’re my brother first, but my love for you is as strong as if you were my own son. I’m so proud of the man you’re becoming. I can’t wait to see you out on the court again.”

  “About that. Can we find Frey? There’s something I want to tell you both.”

  Abbi nodded, and Matt took her hand, heading out back to where their mates were watching Amelia play in her sandbox.

  “Everything okay?” Frey asked, pulling Abbi down onto his lap.

  “Yeah. Happy tears.”

  “I’ve been thinking,” Matt said, sitting next to Slade on the glider. He was glad Slade had chosen it instead of one of the single chairs. He wasn’t comfortable enough yet to sit on his lap in front of others. “You know how it is to be mated. How hard it was to be away from each other in the beginning?”