Chapter Eight
Zack loved snuggling as much as the next person, but Colton had taken it to a whole new level. His arms kept Zack pinned against a roadmap of muscles, as if Zack was the guy’s personal teddy bear.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if Colton weren’t radiating so much heat, making it feel like Zack was trapped against a hot water tank.
An amazing-smelling tank.
Zack inhaled deeply, then couldn’t resist taking another breath. Something about Colton’s scent transported him back to childhood summers spent in his grandfather’s study, where woodsmoke mingled with the rich scent of well-worn leather.
Morning light filtered through the blinds, painting gold stripes across Colton’s bicep. Fingertips traced the defined curve, following each ridge and valley. Muscle shifted under the touch, firm and warm, making Zack’s breath catch.
Slowly exploring, he mapped the terrain of Colton’s arm, then ventured across to his pecs. Fabric stretched tight over the solid expanse. Each breath Colton took lifted Zack’s hand, steady and hypnotic.
Brown eyes opened, catching him mid-exploration.
Yanking his hand back, heat flooded Zack’s face. “Sorry, I—”
“Don’t stop.” Colton’s voice rumbled rough with sleep. “Feels good having your hands on me.”
Permission granted, Zack resumed his exploration with more confidence. Fingertips skimmed over Colton’s collarbone, down to where his shirt pulled taut across his abdomen. Every ridge of muscle felt carved from stone, yet the skin covering it was surprisingly soft.
“You're unreal,” Zack murmured, palm flattening against Colton’s stomach. Muscles jumped under his touch.
Colton’s hand covered his, pressing it firmer against the hard plane. “All yours, Blue.”
Something about those words made arousal pool hot in Zack’s belly. His cock stirred, pressing against his sleep pants. Being this close to Colton, touching him freely, felt like standing at the edge of something vast and consuming.
Leaning up, Zack captured Colton’s mouth. What started gentle quickly turned desperate. Tongues tangled, teeth nipped, and a groan vibrated from Colton’s throat. Big hands gripped Zack’s hips, pulling him on top until he straddled those powerful thighs.
Grinding down earned him another growl. Colton’s erection pressed hard against Zack’s ass through their clothes. The friction made him gasp into Colton’s mouth, hips rolling in search of more pressure.
“Fuck, you feel good,” Colton rasped, hands sliding under Zack’s shirt to grip bare skin.
Rough palms skated up his back, then around to tease his nipples. Zack arched, a whimper escaping as Colton pinched the sensitive buds. Every touch sent sparks straight to his cock.
Clothes became the enemy. Zack tugged at Colton’s shirt until the man sat up enough to yank it off. The sight that greeted him made his mouth water—acres of bronze skin stretched over sculpted muscle, a dusting of dark hair trailing down from his navel.
“Like what you see?” Colton’s lips quirked.
“Shut up.” Zack bent to drag his tongue across one flat nipple, satisfaction surging when Colton’s breath hitched.
Exploring with lips and teeth, he worked his way down, tasting salt and musk. Each kiss, each nip drew sounds from Colton that went straight to Zack’s cock. By the time he reached the waistband of Colton’s pants, both of them were panting.
Looking up through his lashes, Zack hooked his fingers in the elastic. “Want to taste you.”
“Fuck yes.” Colton lifted his hips, helping Zack strip him bare.
His cock sprang free, thick and flushed, a bead of precum glistening at the tip. Zack’s mouth watered. Wrapping his hand around the base, he gave an experimental stroke that made Colton’s abs clench.
“You're going to kill me,” Colton groaned, fingers threading through Zack’s hair.
“What a way to go.” Zack licked a stripe from base to tip, savoring the salty-bitter taste.
Taking the head into his mouth, he sucked gently, tongue swirling around the sensitive crown. Colton’s grip tightened in his hair, not forcing, just holding. The weight of that hand, the careful control in it, made Zack moan around the cock in his mouth.
Relaxing his throat, he took more, hollowing his cheeks as he pulled back up. A string of curses fell from Colton’s lips. Setting a rhythm, Zack bobbed his head, taking him deeper each time. Saliva dripped down, easing the glide of his fist on what wouldn't fit.
“Your mouth, fuck, so perfect.” Colton’s hips twitched, clearly fighting not to thrust.
Pulling off with a wet pop, Zack caught his breath while pumping his fist. “You can fuck my mouth. Want you to.”
Colton’s eyes went molten. “You sure?”
Instead of answering, Zack took him deep again, looking up in clear invitation.
With a growl, Colton’s hips rolled up, sliding his cock along Zack’s tongue.
The pace stayed controlled, careful, but each thrust went deeper.
Tears pricked Zack’s eyes when the head bumped his throat, but he loved it—loved being used for Colton’s pleasure, loved the sounds spilling from those lips.
“Close,” Colton warned, muscles trembling with restraint.
Zack pulled back just enough to swirl his tongue around the head, hand working the shaft fast. Hot spurts filled his mouth, bitter and thick. He swallowed it all, milking every drop until Colton collapsed back with a satisfied groan.
“Come here.” Colton hauled him up for a filthy kiss, not caring about the taste of himself on Zack’s tongue.
Rolling them over, Colton pinned Zack to the mattress. “My turn.”
Skilled hands made quick work of Zack’s clothes, leaving him naked and exposed. Colton’s gaze raked over him, hungry and appreciative.
“Gorgeous,” he murmured, palming Zack’s cock.
The first stroke made Zack’s back bow off the bed. Colton worked him with maddening patience, thumb circling the sensitive head on each upstroke. When that wicked mouth replaced his hand, Zack nearly came on the spot.
“Colton, fuck, your mouth—” Words dissolved into moans as Colton took him to the root in one smooth motion.
Unlike Zack’s enthusiastic but messy technique, Colton sucked cock like he'd studied for it. Perfect pressure, devastating suction, tongue doing things that should've been illegal. Within minutes, Zack was a writhing mess, fingers twisted in the sheets.
“Stop, stop, gonna come,” he gasped.
Colton pulled off, lips shiny and swollen. “Not yet. Got other plans for you.”
Reaching into the nightstand, he retrieved the lube Zack kept there. The click of the cap made anticipation coil tight in Zack’s belly.
“Spread your legs for me, Blue.”
Heat flooded Zack’s face, but he obeyed, knees falling open. Colton settled between them, one slick finger circling his entrance. The first press inside made him gasp, muscles clenching around the intrusion.
“Relax,” Colton soothed, free hand stroking Zack’s thigh. “Let me in.”
Breathing deep, Zack forced his body to unwind. The finger slid deeper, crooking to find that spot that made stars burst behind his eyelids.
“There we go.” Colton worked him open with patient determination, adding a second finger when Zack started rocking back against his hand.
By the time three fingers were pumping in and out, Zack was desperate. Every brush against his prostate sent lightning through his veins, but it wasn't enough.
“Please,” he begged, “want your cock.”
“Yeah?” Colton twisted his fingers, making Zack cry out. “Tell me how bad.”
“So fucking bad. Been thinking about it since we met. Want you to fill me up, make me yours.”
A possessive growl rumbled from Colton as he withdrew his fingers. The blunt head of his cock pressed against Zack’s entrance, and then he was pushing in.
The stretch burned, overwhelming and perfect. Zack’s mouth fell open on a silent cry as Colton sank deeper, not stopping until he was fully seated.
“Breathe,” Colton commanded, though his own voice sounded wrecked.
Panting, Zack adjusted to the fullness. Every shift sent sparks through him, pleasure and pressure combining into something transcendent.
“Move,” he gasped. “Please, move.”
Colton drew back slowly, then thrust forward. The angle was perfect, his cock dragging against Zack’s prostate with each stroke. Starting slow, he built a rhythm that had Zack seeing stars.
“Feel so good around me,” Colton groaned, hips snapping harder. “Perfect fit, like you were made for my cock.”
Zack could only moan in response, lost in sensation. Every thrust drove him higher, pleasure coiling tighter in his core. His cock leaked steadily against his stomach, untouched and aching.
Colton’s pace grew erratic, control fraying. “Close, Blue. So fucking close.”
“Me too,” Zack gasped. “Touch me, please—”
A hand wrapped around his cock, stroking in time with the thrusts. That was all it took. Orgasm crashed through him, back arching as he painted his stomach with white streaks.
Through the haze of pleasure, he felt Colton lean down. Teeth grazed the junction of his shoulder, and then bit down hard.
Pain and pleasure merged as those teeth sank deep. Something shifted inside Zack, a soft snap like a rubber band breaking. His heartbeat stuttered, then synchronized with another rhythm—Colton’s heart, beating in perfect time with his own.
The sensation was overwhelming, like two puzzle pieces clicking together. Every nerve ending lit up, not with magic but with pure connection. He could feel Colton’s pleasure layered over his own, their souls soldering together in a way that defied explanation.
Colton’s release pulsed hot inside him, the man's whole body shuddering through his climax. The teeth released, replaced by gentle lips pressing kisses to the mark.
“Mine,” Colton breathed against the wound. “My mate.”
Trembling in the aftermath, Zack could only nod. Whatever had just happened, whatever that snap had been, he felt it in his bones—he belonged to Colton now, and Colton to him.
Carefully, Colton pulled out, both of them wincing at the loss. Strong arms gathered Zack close, arranging them on their sides, Colton’s front pressed to his back.
“You okay?” Warm breath tickled his ear.
“Think so.” Zack’s voice came out hoarse. “That bite... what was that?”
“Claiming bite. Bonds us together.” Lips pressed to his shoulder, right over the mark.
Part of Zack wanted to be angry about the lack of warning, but he couldn't summon the energy. Not when he felt so complete, so utterly satisfied in a way that went beyond physical. Nothing about this was normal, so why did it feel so right?