Arren

by Caitlin Ricci

  Cole stopped kissing him long enough to go to biting his neck. Arren loved that even more. He’d be bruised in the morning, and since they all mostly walked around without shirts on for easy shifting, everyone would know he’d been marked in the best of ways. Cole pulled back and Arren stared up at him. Cole ran his hand down Arren’s chest and stomach and gave his cock a squeeze.

  “You’re doing well,” he complimented him.

  Arren snorted. “You’re not done yet.”

  Cole shook his head and pulled out of him. Arren instantly missed that fullness, and Cole’s warmth. Then Cole turned him over and Arren instantly brought his hips up for him. “I’ll be a lot faster now. A lot rougher too. That was just the beginning.”

  “Good.” As long as he could get off too, Arren was all for this. Cole wasn’t playing around. He pushed inside of him, wasting no time. He grabbed Arren’s hips, digging his fingers into Arren’s muscles as he brought them together.

  Arren was smiling into the couch. Every perfect thrust filled him, and they hurt, and it was just what he loved. His pleasure and pain danced together and he whimpered, trying to hang on as long as he could. At this rate he wouldn’t even have to touch himself to come. Cole was so perfect for him. Each hard thrust proved that to him just a little more.

  Cole wrapped an arm around his chest, bringing him back up against him. He bit Arren’s shoulder and back, leaving big red welts in his wake. Arren knew he’d be sore in the morning, but he didn’t care. He wanted to always feel this good. Cole wrapped his hand around Arren’s cock and squeezed him, pulling him from base to tip, and that was all the permission Arren needed to come across Cole’s couch.

  Seconds later Cole growled against his ear and came inside of him. His hot come spilled out onto Arren’s cheeks and thighs as he pulled out of him. He stepped back, and Arren was quick to kneel on the couch in front of him. He could barely think past the haze that sex with Cole had left him in, but he was still capable of cleaning off Cole’s cock with his mouth. Cole rubbed his hair and then his back and neck, soothing out those spots that were tender.

  Arren would admire himself in a mirror later. He knew he’d be a sight at the lake tomorrow. He wanted more, though.

  “Thank you,” he said, as clearly as he could manage though it might have only come out as a mumble.

  Cole kissed the top of his head, then he carried Arren into the bedroom and laid him out.

  “I’m not tired,” Arren protested.

  “I know. It’s only the middle of the afternoon. But you’re going to stay right here, naked and resting, while I go clean up the couch and get us some yogurt with blackberries and honey.”

  Arren smiled. It was a very bear treat to have. He watched Cole go and then fluffed up the pillow behind his head. He didn’t cover himself up. He wasn’t modest and there was no reason to hide himself around Cole.

  “Are you going to talk to my dad about our mating or should I do it in the morning?” Arren called to him.

  “Wait until I’m back in there before we start discussing business,” Cole replied.

  Arren figured that was fair. He touched a sore spot on his shoulder and smiled. He was looking forward to checking himself out soon.

  * * * *

  Cole had no idea what he’d been thinking, having sex with Arren. While it was true that Arren was in some ways what he wanted in a mate, screwing the alpha’s son came with a whole lot of complications he wasn’t particularly interested in.

  But he’d felt so good there in his arms, and Cole had been tempted to see if he was all talk. He was glad that he wasn’t, but it would have been much easier to send him on his way if he had been. Now Cole wanted to be mated to him, and Arren seemed like he wanted that too. The problem came with how Cole was going to convince Leo that he’d be a good match for his son. Sexual compatibility wasn’t often considered a good reason to get mated. Cole didn’t want a higher station in the pack, and mating with Arren wouldn’t give him one, either. Maybe their equal places within the pack would be enough to sway Leo to their side.

  He came back with a bowl for each of them, then smiled at Arren when he took his bowl. Arren hadn’t tried to hide himself at all, which Cole appreciated. He looked comfortable stretched out in his bed in his pile of blankets and pillows.

  They ate quietly. Cole was lost in his thoughts, Arren simply looked dazed. Not that Cole minded—being good enough to have someone zone out after sex was a nice compliment.

  “We’ll talk to your dad later. Tomorrow maybe,” Cole eventually said, once his bowl was nearly empty.

  Arren nodded. “I’m too comfortable to go deal with him right now anyway. And besides, I’ve got you in bed with me. There’s plenty of better things we could be doing than talking to my father.”

  “I want you to have a back-up plan, though, and to not be disappointed if he says no to us being mated. Start thinking about who else you might be interested in for a future mate.”

  Cole didn’t miss Arren’s sharp look of annoyance. If he’d been shifted, Cole could easily imagine his ears being back and him baring his teeth. As it was, he simply crossed his arms over his chest and sat back against the pile of pillows he’d put behind himself.

  Sighing, Cole shook his head. “I know you don’t want to hear it—”

  “It’s not that,” Arren snapped at him. “I’m not an idiot. I know my father could quite easily say no, sorry, choose someone else. What bothers me is that you seem like you expect him not to want us to be together, and also that if that happens, you’re not going to say anything to go against his wishes. I’m imagining him saying no and you just being like okay, whatever, that’s fine, I’ll keep looking for his mate. Which, if that’s how it is, then screw you, I don’t want you as my mate anyway. I don’t even want a mate to begin with, but I deserve to have one that at least wants to fight for me.”

  He was right, but telling him that wasn’t going to calm him down. Cole kissed him instead, and he kept kissing him until Arren became soft under him.

  Cole moved his mouth to the side of Arren’s neck. “You’re right,” he said between laying gentle kisses over Arren’s skin. “I’ll get dressed and go talk to him.”

  Arren went still again. “Why just you? I want to go too.”

  There was no real reason not to take Arren, but Cole wanted to approach Leo on his own. Cole was closer to Leo’s age than Arren’s, and he wanted to talk to Leo as the beta to his alpha, not simply as the prospective mate of his son. “Stay here. I’ll leave in a little bit.”

  Arren didn’t look happy about Cole’s decision, but he didn’t argue about it again either. An hour later, Cole kissed him goodbye. “Will you be here when I get back?” Cole asked him.

  Arren shrugged.

  Cole lifted his eyebrows, waiting for a reasonable answer.

  After a few moments, Arren gave in. “I’ll be here.”

  Cole ruffled his fluffy hair and headed out to see Leo.

  He found his alpha by the lake, laughing with a raven shifter. Cole nodded to her as he approached. “Hello, Sherri. Can I have a moment with our alpha?”

  She didn’t look happy about being dismissed, but she left anyway.

  Leo tilted his head to the side, then gave Cole a slow nod. “I’ve been told that you’re spending a lot of time with my son. You were supposed to be picking out a mate for him. Did I miss something, or is Bastian right in his assumption that you want Arren for yourself?”

  “Bastian needs to stop being so jealous of Arren and mind his own business,” Cole growled.

  Leo laughed. “Yes, I believe he does too. But that doesn’t actually answer my question. Are you here to tell me that you want my son as your mate?”

  Cole nodded, then he held his breath, waiting for Leo’s decision. He didn’t have to wait long though.

  “No.”

  “But why? I’m a good mate for him. I have good standing in this pack and—”

&nb
sp; Leo shook his head. “You do. He does not.”

  Cole fell silent. He wasn’t sure what Leo was getting at here.

  “Arren is a brat. It’s well known in this pack, and his mother’s pack as well. He’s always gotten exactly what he wants, and I want him mated in part to put a stop to that.” Leo came forward and laid his hand heavily on Cole’s shoulder. “You were supposed to find him someone who would be firm with him. Someone who could benefit from being mated to the alpha’s son. You have nothing to gain by mating him, but since mates are a reflection of each other, you have a lot to lose the moment he acts out. It’s for your own good that I’m saying no to this mating. I’ll pair you with one of his brothers. Pick someone else for him.”

  Cole had no idea what to say to that. He shook his head. He didn’t want anyone else. He was happy with Arren. “I don’t want anyone else.” The idea of anyone but him being with Arren made his stomach twist.

  “You’ve only just really started getting to know him. In a month you’ll be sick of him,” Leo warned.

  Cole didn’t think so. “Then give me a month with him. If you’re right, then I’ll find someone else. If not, then I want your blessing to mate with him.”

  Leo looked thoughtful. “Fine. A month. But you two have to live together in your house the whole time, until either the month is up or you can’t stand each other any longer. I’ve got a couple I want to move into his house within the week, since it’ll be available.”

  “Fine.”

  Leo waved him off, dismissing him, and Cole was happy to be let go in order to go talk to Arren again.

  * * * *

  Arren waited outside for Cole. He didn’t appreciate having to wait, and as the minutes ticked by he became more and more irritated. He should have fought to go with him. Cole shouldn’t have wanted to leave Arren there alone in the house to begin with.

  Bastian came up to him, probably on his way back to the barracks, and Arren barely had a nod for him before he turned back to the path he knew Cole had gone down.

  “Hey,” Bastian said as he stood beside him.

  “Hi.”

  “Did Cole go talk to your dad about the two of you?”

  Arren frowned and looked over at him. “That’s oddly specific. What do you know?”

  Bastian pursed his lips. “I don’t think he’s good for you. And it’s not me being jealous. I told Leo that you two had been spending a lot of time together. I don’t think it’s right. I’ve seen you with people you liked before and this is more than that. But he’s too old for you to be mated with. You should be with someone closer to your own age. The guys and I were talking and—”

  Arren didn’t let him finish. He punched him in the chin. He only needed to hit him once for Bastian to stumble. He turned to see Cole running up to them, and then Cole’s hands were on him, pulling him back.

  “It’s done,” he said, twisting himself away from Cole and holding up his hands. “I’m not going to hit him again.”

  Bastian tried to come up and shove him, but Cole got between them. “Bastian, go do something. I don’t care what. Just get out of here. Unless you have official business with me, don’t come near either of us again. And even if you do have something official for me to do, leave a message for me with one of the message runners. Going to Leo about us wasn’t acceptable.”

  Bastian seemed hurt as he looked between them, but Arren didn’t care. He’d just cut Bastian out of his life. He was fine with that. A year apart had changed them both in a lot of ways, and Arren was happy with who he was becoming. He was done with Bastian, now and forever.

  He took Cole’s hand and brought him inside.

  Bastian stormed off.

  Arren heard his curses, but he didn’t care about them. “What did my father say?”

  “That we have a month to prove to him that we can be good for each other, or he’ll ask me to find someone else for you and he’ll mate me to one of your brothers. And you have to move in here.”

  He’d said more, Arren was sure of it. But he didn’t want to get that deep into Cole’s conversation with his father. “Okay. So one month of living together and fucking all the time.” He shrugged. “Easy enough.”

  Cole didn’t look so sure. “There’s going to be more to it than that. This isn’t a vacation and then you go back to living on your own. You’re here, living with me, and you’ll stay here for as long as we’re mated, which I intend to be forever.”

  Arren nodded easily. There was plenty of room for both of them in Cole’s house. “And I’ll quit working in the kitchen and stay here naked and ready for you?”

  Cole snorted, and Arren’s hope was instantly dashed. “Don’t even think that you’re getting off that easily. You’re still working in the kitchen.”

  “Damn.”

  Cole nodded. Then he kissed Arren’s cheek. “We just have to prove to Leo that we’re good together. That’s it. So a month of you going to work every morning and a month of me not skipping my duties as his beta in order to stay in bed with you. It should be easy enough.”

  Arren wished they could just skip to the end of the month and not worry so much about what his father thought of them. “So, future mate, what are we doing tonight?”

  “Having dinner together, then we’ll go from there. But you’ll be naked for it, so get those shorts off.”

  At least that was something that Arren was good with. Naked was good with him. But he’d never been with someone for a week, let alone a month. Still, Cole was good to be with, he’d already proven that, and Arren wanted him as his mate. He knew he’d be happier with Cole than anyone else his father could try to set him up with, so he’d do his best to make this work.

  The next morning, Arren was perfectly happy staying in bed next to Cole. He was exhausted from a night spent under Cole, but still ready to go again.

  What he definitely wasn’t ready for, however, was Cole’s quick slap on his ass and his firmly spoken, “Get up. You’re leaving for work soon.”

  Arren grumbled and covered himself up with the blanket. It was too early. He’d only had a few hours of sleep. “Being your future mate should come with the perk of not working,” he mumbled sleepily.

  No sooner had he spoken than Cole lifted him out of bed and put him over his lap. “Are you going to work this morning without a fuss?” Cole asked him.

  “I don’t want to go. Let’s go back to bed.”

  The spanking Cole gave him wasn’t a surprise. Arren had thought, being mated to him, that Cole wouldn’t give him these punishments, but he supposed this was just going to be part of life now. He was resigned to it, and only whimpered when Cole lifted him up and sat him across his thighs. The pressure against his ass stung and he rested against his future mate as pain radiated down his legs.

  Cole smoothed his hair back and stroked his fingers over Arren’s stomach and thighs. “You’ll be okay.”

  Arren didn’t need to be told that. “I know.”

  “You still have to go to work.”

  He knew that, too. He just wanted to rest a few more moments here with Cole. After a few minutes, Cole gave him a gentle nudge, and Arren sighed as he got up and hurried into the shower. He took too long getting ready though, because Cole rushed him to the kitchen as he was leaving to go to his duties as a beta.

  Arren made sure to get a kiss. Although he was sure Cole would have given him one anyway, he might have stopped at just a little peck. Arren made sure it was more than that, enough to last them both for the few hours that they would be apart.

  “See you later,” Arren promised him with a pointed look at the growing tent in Cole’s pants.

  Cole nodded to him. “Be good at work.”

  Arren smirked at him.

  In the kitchen, he was tempted to ask for an easy job where he wouldn’t be sitting the whole time. Maybe he could bake the pies or something. That didn’t seem like it took much effort.

  But, he quietly rea
lized, he didn’t need that extra care. His ass was fine. As much as he didn’t like his job in the kitchen, it wasn’t that bad either. There were much worse things he could be doing that morning than cutting up strawberries for muffins and jam. He worked quickly and kept to himself. He didn’t have friends in the kitchen, not that he had friends in the pack except for Cole anyway, but at least no one was flat-out mean to him. It was something at least.

  At twelve he was released and given a half dozen muffins to take home. He hadn’t asked for them, but everyone was getting some. He shrugged, took a big bite of one, and ate it on his way back to Cole’s place. When he got there, his things were in the living room. The furniture had stayed with his old house, but anything that was personally his, like his clothes and books, had been boxed up and brought over that morning. His dad moved quickly, not that Arren really minded.

  Arren put the muffins on the counter, put a record on Cole’s player, and started unpacking his boxes. It took him a few hours, and by the time he had everything put away and half the muffins eaten, Cole was home.

  “Hey,” Arren said as he came up and gave Cole a hug.

  Cole squeezed him back and took a muffin off the counter for himself. He pulled Arren to the couch and they cuddled together. “Your dad said he sent your things over. Did they not arrive?”

  “I put them away.”

  “Good.”

  Arren rolled his eyes and smiled. “I am capable of putting my stuff away.”

  “Didn’t say you weren’t.” Cole kissed him on top of his head. “Did my coyote have fun at work?”‘

  He shrugged. It was work. There wasn’t really anything fun involved in it. “It was fine. Is not wanting to go to work the only thing that’ll get me spanked?”

  “Generally speaking, yes. Do you mind being spanked?”

  Shrugging, Arren sat up a bit so that he could talk to Cole instead of just lying on him like he had been. He was his mate, not a giant bear shifter pillow. “I don’t enjoy it. It’s a punishment, after all. But it’s not like it hurts that much. It stings more than anything. You aren’t actually causing me pain. I just don’t want to have you throw me over your knee in front of the whole pack at lunch or something.”