Chapter Twenty-Four
Connor woke alone, Leyden’s side of the bed already cold. He stretched and blinked at the morning light waiting for his brain to come online. Then promptly wished it hadn’t.
Memories of the previous day came crashing through – from fighting the rogues, to visiting so many pack members. But the one thing Connor focused on was how he’d clung – clung like a freaking limpet – to Leyden afterward. I’ve never felt the need to do that before.
Fighting rogues wasn’t a new thing. There were some wolves that just couldn’t or didn’t want to conform to pack policies and so they roamed, stealing resources where they could.
Likewise, visiting pack members – or at least interacting with them.
Connor was used to that. When he’d been Davis’s second his pack interactions were more grudging than sociable, but it wasn’t as if Connor was a hermit.
Being invited in for meals, drinks, and conversation…
that was more than Connor was used to, but he could see why Leyden felt the need to say yes to every invite.
The bedtime clinging was out of character for him. Very out of character. Although, Leyden didn’t seem to mind.
Sitting up, Connor ran his hand through his sleep-mussed hair. His thoughts drifted to how Leyden’s body felt beneath him – solid, warm, and real. The way…
Connor stopped himself. He was getting heated.
In retrospect, he’d been thinking about Leyden’s body a lot.
Not just noticing it the way he’d started to over past weeks, but actively thinking about it.
Remembering the glimpses he’d caught when Leyden shifted.
The planes of his chest, the definition of his abs, the long muscled legs.
It’s not like I haven’t seen my mate naked before.
Connor had learned to ignore nakedness when he shifted for the first time – just like any other shifter.
And yes, Leyden was his mate, so it would be normal for him to look, but usually Connor was focused on other things, like not getting killed by a rogue.
But now it seemed his brain was making an issue about how much he wanted to look with more intent.
Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, Connor opened the Ace Shifters United forum.
He needed to see – needed some form of reassurance – that his experiences were typical.
Scrolling through the posts, he found one that talked about a physical attraction timeline, where forum members were invited to share their own experiences.
Started noticing my mate’s hands first. Then couldn’t stop staring at their shoulders. Took three months before I wanted to see them fully naked, but when it happened, it felt natural.
Someone else had written - Everyone’s different. Some demis never want visual stimulation. Others find it develops gradually. Don’t force it, but don’t ignore genuine curiosity either.
Curiosity. There’s that word again. It seemed Connor wasn’t the only one taking things slow who got curious about different aspects of intimacy over time.
Closing the forum, Connor did what he had to do in the bathroom and then headed for the kitchen, following the scent of coffee and his mate.
Leyden stood at the counter, reading something on his tablet. He looked up when Connor entered, his gray eyes warm. “Morning. There’s fresh coffee.”
“Thanks.” Connor poured himself a cup, hyperaware of Leyden’s presence behind him. The breadth of his shoulders. The way his sleep shirt clung to his chest.
Connor forced himself to focus on the coffee, adding cream with hands that trembled slightly.
“You okay?” Leyden’s voice held genuine concern. “Did you have any nightmares about yesterday?”
“No.” Connor turned, leaning against the counter. “Just thinking.”
“About?”
Heat flooded Connor’s face. “Nothing important.”
Leyden studied him for a long moment, then nodded and returned to his tablet. Giving Connor space without demanding answers.
Gods, Connor loved him for that.
They worked through the morning – normal stuff. Patrol reports, enforcer schedules, background checks on a few prospective pack members. Connor tried to concentrate, but his gaze kept drifting to Leyden’s forearms, the shift of muscle beneath skin when he typed.
What the hell was wrong with me?
Nothing. Nothing was wrong. Connor realized he was experiencing his attraction for Leyden that was developing slowly but naturally. Thank the Fates I didn’t get a blast of insta-lust. I wouldn’t be able to function.
Connor’s curiosity - and slight obsession if he was honest with himself - was natural. He’d connected with Leyden emotionally, knew Leyden could be trusted and felt safe with the man.
So why did wanting to see his mate naked – intentionally without it being a shift - feel so terrifying?
By noon, Connor’s nerves had wound so tight he could barely sit still. Of course, Leyden noticed - their bond made hiding emotions nearly impossible.
“Connor.” Leyden set down his pen. “What’s going on?”
“I’m just thinking about stuff. I need to…” Connor stood abruptly. “I’m going for a run.”
He’d stripped and shifted before Leyden could respond, bolting out the house. His wolf stretched into the sprint, grateful for the release of pent-up energy.
But running didn’t help. Connor’s thoughts chased him through the trees, relentless.
You want to see him. Just ask.
What if he thinks I’m ready for more than I am?
He won’t. Leyden never pushes.
Isn’t this just me being a tease?
No, it’s you setting the pace. You know he wants that.
What if seeing him naked changes things?
What if it doesn’t? What if you’re ready for this?
Connor circled back to the pack house an hour later, no closer to finding answers. He shifted and dressed, then stood in the hallway dithering. I should find my mate. Leyden was probably worried about him.
The sound of running water filtered through the bedroom door as he made his way upstairs.
He’s in the shower.
Connor’s heart kicked against his ribs.
He could wait until Leyden finished. They could have a casual conversation about Connor’s nerves and curiosity over lunch. Or he could be honest. Like the forum posts recommended. Like Leyden deserved.
Connor pushed open the bedroom door just as the bathroom door opened. Steam billowed out, and Leyden emerged with a towel wrapped low around his hips, water still beading on his shoulders.
Connor froze.
Leyden paused mid-step, surprise flickering across his face, followed by a smile. “Hey, there. Did you have a good run. I didn’t hear you come back.”
“I…er…” Connor’s mouth had gone completely dry. Leyden’s chest was right there, all defined muscle and smooth tanned skin. Water droplets traced paths down his abs, disappearing beneath the towel. “I want to see you.”
The words tumbled out before Connor could stop them.
Leyden went very still. “See me? I’m right here.”
“Naked. I want to see you naked.” Connor forced himself to meet Leyden’s eyes, even as he could feel his cheeks heating.
“I’ve been thinking about it all morning and I know I’ve seen you before when you shift but I never really looked then, because you know shifters shouldn’t do that, and yet now I can’t stop thinking about it and… ”
“Okay.”
Connor’s rambling died. “Okay?”
Leyden’s hand went to the towel at his hip. There was no hesitation or coyness as he just unwrapped the fabric and let it drop on the floor.
Connor’s breath caught and he had to remember to consciously breathe. In that moment he learned the difference between noticing something as a casual aside, and intentionally looking at something…or in this case, someone.
Leyden was beautiful. Not in the way Connor had noticed before, appreciating aesthetics the way someone might appreciate art. This time it was different. Heat was pooling low in Connor’s gut, his pulse was quickening, and his skin suddenly felt too tight.
Leyden stood perfectly still, letting Connor look his fill. His body was everything Connor had glimpsed and more - broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, powerful thighs, every muscle defined. The claiming bite on his neck stood out against tanned skin, permanent proof of their bond.
Connor’s gaze traveled lower, then snapped back up, his face burning.
Leyden’s cock was hard. Obviously, unmistakably aroused.
“I don’t feel I can apologize for that,” Leyden said quietly. “It’s not like I can control that part of my body when you’re looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want me.” Leyden’s voice roughened. “Even if it’s just a little bit.”
Connor did. Gods, he actually did. The realization crashed through him - not intellectual understanding but genuine physical want. He wanted to touch, to explore, to learn every inch of his mate’s body.
“I think I do,” Connor whispered. Leyden deserved to know more than anyone else.
Warmth flooded the bond from Leyden’s side – love, desire, and that ever-present careful restraint.
Connor stepped closer, his hand trembling as he raised it. “Can I…?”
“Yes.” Leyden’s eyes darkened. “Anything you want.”
Refusing to second-guess himself, Connor’s pressed his palm against Leyden’s chest, right over his heart. He could feel the steady thump-thump beneath his fingers. Connor’s other hand joined the first, spreading across Leyden’s pecs, noting the movement that came from each breath.
Fascination replaced nervousness. Connor traced the definition of Leyden’s chest, down to his abs, counting each ridge of muscle. Leyden’s breathing quickened, but he still didn’t move. Just stood there like a statue, letting Connor explore.
Connor moved behind him, fingers trailing across Leyden’s wide shoulders, down the valley of his spine. The muscles of Leyden’s back flexed under his fingers as if inviting the touch, responding even though Leyden still held his position.
Connor circled back to face him, hands skimming down Leyden’s arms. The biceps, the forearms he’d been staring at all morning. Every part of Leyden felt warm under his fingers, real and his.