Chapter Twelve
Arrow’s hands slid down Flint’s back, tracing the curve of his spine through his shirt. Every touch sent sparks through him, the mate bond singing at finally, finally being allowed this closeness. But underneath the desperate want thrumming through his veins, Arrow kept a tight leash on his wolf.
Slow, he reminded himself firmly. This is Flint. He deserves better than being thrown down and rutted into.
Flint pulled back, chest heaving, lips swollen from their kisses. His pupils were blown wide, nearly swallowing the blue of his iris. “Bedroom?”
The question came out breathy, uncertain in a way that made Arrow’s chest tight. His confident and gorgeous man was nervous about taking him to bed.
“Only if you want to,” Arrow managed, though his cock was already hard enough to pound nails. “We can take this slowly. We don’t have to…”
“Arrow.” Flint’s fingers tightened in his shirt. “We’ve waited long enough. I want you in my bed. Now.”
The certainty in those words nearly undid him. Arrow kissed him again, softer this time, then let Flint take his hand and lead him down the short hallway.
The bedroom was small and cozy, dominated by a king-sized bed covered in a green quilt. Plants lined the windowsill, their leaves catching the moonlight filtering through the curtains. The space smelled overwhelmingly of Flint and Arrow’s wolf whined. Home, his wolf whispered. This is home.
Arrow had to close his eyes for a moment, steadying himself against the wall as the scent washed over him. Three weeks of separation, of the mating pull clawing at his insides, and now he stood in Flint’s most intimate space, surrounded by everything that made his mate who he was.
“You okay?” Flint’s hand touched his arm.
Arrow opened his eyes, finding Flint watching him with concern creasing his forehead. “Yeah. Just...you have no idea how good you smell right now.”
Pink colored Flint’s cheeks, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head in one smooth motion.
Arrow’s breath caught. Flint was lean and compact, his chest and stomach were defined with muscle that didn’t come from a gym but from the physical demands of his work and of being a strong snake shifter.
“See something you like?” Flint’s voice held a teasing edge, but Arrow caught the uncertainty underneath.
“You’re beautiful,” Arrow said honestly, reaching out to trace one finger along Flint’s collarbone. “Absolutely perfect.”
Flint shivered under the touch. His hands went to Arrow’s shirt, fingers fumbling slightly with the edge of the Henley. Arrow helped him, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside.
Flint’s hands immediately went to Arrow’s chest, mapping the planes of muscle there. His touch was exploratory, curious, as if he was learning Arrow through his fingertips. When he brushed over Arrow’s nipple, Arrow hissed and pressed into the touch.
“Sensitive?” Flint asked.
“Even my toes are sensitive right now.” Arrow caught Flint’s wrist, bringing it to his mouth to press a kiss to his pulse point. “I know the mate bond makes everything more intense, but I think most of it is because of you.”
Flint’s pupils dilated further. He stepped closer, pressing his chest to Arrow’s, skin to skin. The contact sent electricity racing down Arrow’s spine. His hands settled on Flint’s hips, thumbs rubbing small circles against the jut of bone there.
“I want to touch you,” Arrow murmured against Flint’s temple. “All of you. Can I?”
“Yeah.” Flint’s voice was rough. “Please.”
Arrow’s fingers went to the button of Flint’s jeans, watching his face the entire time. Flint nodded, so Arrow popped the button and slowly lowered the zipper. Flint’s cock was already hard, tenting the fabric of his brightly colored boxer briefs.
Arrow sank to his knees, pressing kisses to Flint’s hip bones, the soft skin of his lower belly.
Flint’s fingers threaded through his hair, not pushing, just holding on.
Arrow hooked his fingers in the waistband of both jeans and underwear and pulled them down together, helping Flint step out of them.
Flint’s cock bobbed free, flushed and leaking. Arrow wanted to taste, to take him in his mouth and make him fall apart, but first, he just looked. Took in every detail of his mate, finally bare before him.
“Arrow.” Flint tugged at his hair. “You’re staring.”
“I’m appreciating.” Arrow pressed a kiss to Flint’s inner thigh, then stood. “Get on the bed.”
Flint’s eyebrows rose at the command, but he obeyed, crawling onto the mattress and turning to face Arrow. The sight of him there, flushed and wanting, nearly broke Arrow’s control.
Slow, he reminded himself again. Make this good for him.
Arrow stripped off his jeans and boxer briefs, his cock springing free. Flint’s eyes tracked the movement, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
“Come here,” Flint said, reaching for him.
Arrow climbed onto the bed, covering Flint’s body with his own. The full-length contact made them both groan. Arrow kissed him again, slower this time, savoring the taste and feel of his mate’s mouth. Flint’s hands roamed his back, nails scraping lightly down his spine.
Arrow kissed his way down Flint’s jaw to his neck, teeth scraping over the spot where his claiming bite would go. Flint arched beneath him, a needy sound escaping his throat.
“Please,” Flint gasped. “Touch me.”
Arrow wrapped his hand around Flint’s cock, stroking slowly from root to tip. Flint bucked into his grip, his own hand reaching for Arrow’s length. They moved together, hands learning the rhythm that made the other gasp and moan.
But it wasn’t enough. Arrow needed more, needed to taste. He kissed his way down Flint’s chest, pausing to tongue at his nipples until Flint was writhing beneath him. Lower still, across the flat plane of his stomach, following the muscles down until…
“Fuck!” Flint’s hips jerked as Arrow’s tongue swept across the head of his cock.
Arrow took him in deeper, hollowing his cheeks as he sucked. Flint tasted perfect, salt and musk and something unique to him. Arrow worked him with lips and tongue, one hand wrapped around the base while the other played with his balls.
Flint’s fingers tightened in his hair, not directing, just holding on as Arrow took him apart piece by piece. The sounds Flint made - broken gasps and bitten-off curses - went straight to Arrow’s cock.
But as much as Arrow wanted to make this last, he needed something more. He was desperate to be closer, to be inside his mate when they both fell over the edge.
He pulled off with a wet sound, pressing a kiss to Flint’s hip. “Roll over.”
Flint’s eyes had gone hazy with pleasure, but he shook his head. “No. I want to see you.”
Arrow’s breath caught. Most of his previous encounters had been quick, impersonal - bent over a desk or pressed against a wall. The idea of facing his mate, of watching his expressions as they joined, made his chest tight.
“Okay,” Arrow managed. “Yeah. I want that too.”
Flint reached into the nightstand, pulling out a bottle of lube. He pressed it into Arrow’s hand, then shifted to straddle Arrow’s thighs. The position put them at eye level, Flint’s cock brushing against Arrow’s stomach.
Arrow’s hands shook slightly as he slicked his fingers. “Tell me if anything doesn’t feel good.”
“I will.” Flint kissed him, soft and reassuring. “I promise.”
Arrow reached around Flint’s hips, finding his entrance. He circled the tight muscle with one slick finger, watching Flint’s face for any sign of discomfort. When Flint relaxed into the touch, Arrow pressed inside.
Flint’s mouth fell open as he moaned. Arrow worked his finger slowly, in and out, letting Flint adjust to the intrusion. When he added a second finger, Flint’s eyes fluttered closed.
“Please, look at me,” Arrow said softly.
Flint’s eyes opened, meeting his. The trust in that gaze nearly undid Arrow. He crooked his fingers, searching until Flint jerked in his lap with another moan.
“There,” Flint gasped. “Right there.”
Arrow massaged that spot, working Flint open with patient care even as his own cock throbbed with need. He added a third finger, stretching and preparing until Flint was rocking in his hand, desperate for more.
“Ready?” Arrow asked, though the question came out more like a growl than actual words.
“Yes.” Flint rose up on his knees, positioning himself over Arrow’s cock. “Need you.”
Arrow gripped the base of his length, steadying it as Flint slowly sank down. The head breached that tight ring of muscle, and they both froze, breathing hard.
“Okay?” Arrow managed.
“Yeah.” Flint’s hands gripped Arrow’s shoulders. “So good. More.”
Flint lowered himself inch by torturous inch until Arrow was fully seated inside him. The heat and pressure were almost too much. Arrow’s hands tightened on Flint’s hips, fighting the urge to thrust up hard and fast.
Slow, he reminded himself, even as his wolf howled. Let him set the pace.
Flint began to move, lifting and lowering himself in a slow rhythm that had them both groaning. Arrow watched his mate’s face, cataloging every expression - the way Flint’s lips parted on each downstroke, the flutter of his eyelashes when Arrow’s cock hit that sweet spot inside him.
“Touch yourself,” Arrow said, his voice sounding raspy even to him. “I want to see you fall apart.”
Flint wrapped a hand around his own cock, stroking in time with his movements. The sight was almost too much - his beautiful mate taking his pleasure, using Arrow’s body to chase his release.
Arrow thrust up to meet each downstroke, the slap of skin against skin filling the small bedroom. Flint’s inner walls clenched around him, pulling him deeper. The mate bond sang between them, growing stronger with each shared breath.
“Close,” Flint gasped. “Arrow, I’m…”
“Me too.” Arrow felt his release building at the base of his spine, unstoppable. “Bite me. When you come, bite me.”
Flint’s eyes went wide with understanding. Arrow’s canines lengthened, his wolf surging forward. He leaned in, teeth scraping over the junction of Flint’s neck and shoulder. Flint tilted his head, offering himself.
The smell of sex, arousal, and mate filled Arrow’s senses. Flint clenched around him, his rhythm faltering as his orgasm approached. Arrow felt his own control slipping, pleasure coiling tighter and tighter until…
Flint came with a shout, his release painting Arrow’s chest as his body locked down around Arrow’s cock. At the same moment, Arrow sank his teeth into Flint’s neck, breaking skin and tasting blood.
The claiming bite triggered Arrow’s own orgasm, pleasure exploding through him in waves as he spilled inside his mate. Sharp pain bloomed in his own neck as Flint bit down, returning the claim, and it was as if the orgasm-pleasure cycle went around again.
The world whited out. The mate bond snapped into place with an almost audible click, flooding Arrow with everything Flint was feeling - pleasure and overwhelming relief…and love, so much love it threatened to drown him. Please let him be able to feel my feelings, too.
They clung to each other, shaking through aftershocks, teeth still buried in each other’s flesh. Finally, Arrow released his grip, licking over the wound to help it heal. Flint did the same, pressing soft kisses to the mark he’d left on Arrow’s neck.
Arrow carefully lifted Flint off his softening cock, settling him against the pillows. Flint’s eyes were glazed, unfocused, apparently riding the high of the completed bond.
“You okay?” Arrow asked, running gentle hands over Flint’s body, checking for injuries.
“Perfect.” Flint’s smile was blissed out and beautiful. “That was...Arrow, that was perfect.”
Arrow’s chest tightened. He’d been terrified he’d screw it up, that his usual rough and fast approach would hurt the one person he couldn’t bear to harm. But looking at his mate now, sated and happy and his, Arrow knew he’d done something right.
“Come here,” Flint mumbled, pulling Arrow down beside him.
Arrow went willingly, gathering Flint against his chest. Flint nuzzled into the crook of his neck, right over the claiming mark. The contact sent warmth flooding through the bond.
“Mine,” Flint murmured sleepily.
“Yours,” Arrow agreed, pressing a kiss to Flint’s hair. “Always yours.”