Chapter Seven
“You want a week?” Terry asked.
“Yes, to start with. I won’t let you down, I promise.” Bradley paused as he took in Terry’s frame. He was so slight, delicate, as if he needed looking after. But damn his ass was hot. Small and perfectly formed—the chinos didn’t do it justice. He wanted to see it naked.
As the thought slithered through his mind his cock twitched. Damn it. The effect this man had on him.
“You promise?” Terry repeated.
“Yes.”
“But if you break that promise I’ll get hurt. Not you, you’ll bounce back and be on your way in search of your next conquest.”
“I have no other conquests to find. I only want you.”
A sudden idea came to Bradley. He pushed the chair away from the table, the legs dragging on the hard floor. He bent over it until his belly was on the cool surface and his ass pointed in Bradley’s direction. He looked over his shoulder. “And I want you to only want me.”
“What are you doing?” Terry had turned at the noise of the scraping chair and was now staring at Bradley’s ass.
“Fuck me.”
“What?” Terry’s eyes widened.
“Fuck me, now. Take me. Make me yours. I only want to be yours.” He reached behind himself and set his hand on his left ass cheek. “Get in my ass. Fuck your doubts away. You’ll see, when I come so hard, as only my mate can make me, that I’m yours.”
Terry opened his mouth as if to speak but no words came out.
“Please,” Bradley said, a weariness coming over him. “Please, Terry, do it.” He dropped his forehead to the table and shut his eyes. What more could he do than offer himself up naked and willing?
Suddenly Terry’s hand was on him, his palm warm as it smoothed over the flesh between his shoulder blades.
Bradley snatched in a breath. It was as though a spell had been cast over them. He didn’t want to break it.
He was aware of Terry’s body heat blasting onto his bare hip and torso as Terry slid his hand down Bradley’s back, dipping between each vertebra as if memorizing the contours of his body.
Bradley’s cock twitched as he became erect. He clenched his asshole and released the breath he’d been holding. Was Terry going to do it? Fuck him? It had been a while since Bradley had bottomed but he’d take whatever he could get from Terry.
“You’re too beautiful,” Terry murmured.
It sounded as though he was speaking to himself so Bradley didn’t respond.
“Your skin is flawless, golden. Not a speck of fat, just perfect muscle.” He reached Bradley’s ass and smoothed over first the right then the left buttock.
“Oh god,” Bradley murmured as he screwed up his eyes. He was desperate to feel Terry touch him where he needed him most. But he knew impatience could ruin everything.
Terry lifted his hand.
Bradley suppressed a whimper of disappointment.
“You’re too perfect for me,” Terry said.
Bradley was about to object but a stinging, white-hot slap landed on his ass.
He jerked forward. His cock hit the table. “Ah, shit…” he cried. “What the…?” He stood.
Terry was already at his bedroom door, his cheeks red and his mouth a tight angry line.
“What was that for?”
“For teasing me.”
“But…”
Terry disappeared and once again Bradley was left staring at the knots of wood in his door.
A growl rumbled up from his chest. This was getting ridiculous. They’d been so close.
Yet now they were back at square one and not only did Bradley have a raging hard-on, he also had a smarting ass cheek.
Knock. Knock.
Bradley frowned at the main cabin door. “Come in.”
It opened and Jude stepped in. He paused when he saw Bradley naked and hard. “Having fun?”
“I wish.” Bradley huffed and pressed his hands to his hips. He was past caring who saw him naked. He had bigger problems to deal with. Like getting his mate to believe in him.
“You wish?” Jude cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“Your damn cousin.”
“What about him?”
“He doesn’t believe me.”
“About what?”
Bradley sighed. “That he’s my mate. I’ve mated with him. I want him and no one else. Never thought it would happen to me but it has.”
“Wow. That’s wonderful.” A grin spread on Jude’s face.
“Well, it would be if he believed me.”
“Why doesn’t he?”
Bradley pointed at Terry’s door. “He thinks I’m too good for him, too handsome .” He tutted. “As if mating works like that.”
Jude nodded. “Ah, I see.” He gestured at Bradley’s naked form. “I guess you are a bit more buff than him.”
“Only the way Neo is more butch than you, but you work perfectly as a couple from what I’ve seen.”
“True.” Jude rubbed his fingertip over his lips and his brow creased. “Why don’t I talk to him?”
“You’d do that?”
“Sure.” He stepped past Bradley. “But put some clothes on. Aleco is holding a meeting to announce the arrival of the newest member of the pack. That’s why I came here, to get you both.”
“Mother and baby okay?”
“Yes, from what I hear, they’re doing well.”
“Good.” Bradley closed his eyes for a moment. At least something had gone right today.
He searched the drawers in his bedroom. In the second one was a pair of gray sweats. He dragged them on. They didn’t do much to support or hide his still-semi-hard cock, but they’d have to do.
He guessed Jude had gone to speak to Terry as the kitchen was empty, so he decided to head out to the meeting.
Already shifters and humans were gathering on the wall.
“Hey,” Neo said with a smile as Bradley took a seat next to him.
“Hi.”
“You okay, buddy?”
What the hell, he might as well tell him. “I’ve mated with Terry but he doesn’t believe me.”
“What the fuck…that’s awesome. Well, the mating thing, not the disbelief.”
“Jude is talking to him now. Trying to explain how it is for shifters.”
“Yeah, humans struggle with that.”
“I feel like I need some grand gesture. Something to prove it.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.” Bradley shook his head. “No idea.”
“Here he comes.” Neo gestured to their cabin.
Jude and Terry were making their way to the wall.
Terry pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and a shard of sunlight bounced off them. His mouth was still in that tight, straight line.
As they took a seat on the other side of Neo—Terry seeming to make sure he was as far from Bradley as possible—Bradley’s heart sank. It was clear a talk with his cousin had done nothing to convince Terry.
Aleco walked into the center of the circle. He stopped by the fire, which was unlit, just a pile of ash, and swept his gaze around.
Quiet descended.
“Thank you for gathering.” He smiled. “As I’m sure you all heard, Flo went into labor this morning. It was a straightforward birth, and I’m delighted to announce Flo is doing well after the safe arrival of a healthy baby boy.”
A series of whoops and claps rang out. Everyone was smiling. Bradley felt a smile stretch his lips, too.
“Malec has just informed me he’ll be called Aaron James and I’m sure, as fellow pack members, you’ll all, like me, take your turn in caring for him over the years and helping him find his way in love and life.”
“Hear, hear,” Neo said giving another clap.
Pedro, Aleco’s mate, stepped up to Aleco and beamed around the group. “Julie is being very strict, I’m afraid, so no visitors today, but tomorrow will be cool for short visits.”
“Yes, that’s Julie’s rules.” Aleco placed his hands on his hips. “Though I’m sure if anyone wants to feed Raul and Malec tonight they’d be most grateful.”
“Yeah, we’ll do that,” a big shifter sitting next to Patrick said. “No problem.”
“Thanks.” Aleco nodded. “Any other business?”
“Yes!” Bradley shouted. As the word sprang from his mouth an idea had formed. It was rash and risky but he’d run out of options.
“Okay?” Aleco said, his eyes narrowing as he studied Bradley. “Go ahead.”He glanced at Pedro.
Pedro shrugged.
Bradley stood. He then climbed onto the wall so he was standing higher than everyone. “Something momentous has happened in my life, and it’s happened since arriving here. I never thought it would. I’ve envied shifters this has happened to, not least you guys in camp. The harmony and contentment and love I see fills me with warmth.” He drifted his attention over the expectant faces before him. “And now that very same love has hit me in the heart, a cupid’s arrow.” He banged his fist on his chest and looked down at Terry.
He was staring up at him, his eyes wide, his lips parted. He still had a flush of color on his cheeks.
Bradley had never seen him more beautiful. “And this is the man I’m in love with. My mate, my one true mate and the love of my life, Terry.”
Terry swallowed. He glanced around the group who’d all turned their attention to him, then back up at Bradley.
“Terry is a beautiful man with a beautiful soul. I can’t fight my feelings for him even though they grew so fast. But what I’m having to do is fight to convince him of my love. I will never want another. And if he’ll have me I’ll spend forever and a day doing everything in my power to make him happy. Terry…” He paused. “Please know that I love you. Even if you decide you can’t love me back, you have to understand that my heart beats only for you.” He bit back a lump of emotion growing in his throat. “That’s all I ask.”
For a moment, the only thing Bradley could hear was his pulse thudding in his ears, then Aleco clapped. Slowly at first, but soon everyone was clapping and grinning and nodding.
Bradley, feeling as though he’d said his piece and now it was in the hands of fate, jumped down from the wall.
As he did so, Terry stood. He stepped past Jude and Neo and stopped in front of Bradley.
The clapping stopped.
Bradley couldn’t read his mate’s expression. Was he going to slap him again, around the face this time, or punch him maybe? Perhaps he’d blown any chance he’d ever had with Terry. Just made the biggest mistake of his life.
But then Terry reached for him and in a sudden movement set his lips over Bradley’s.
Bradley gasped. His heart soared. He wound his arms around Terry and kissed him back. Everyone else faded into the distance. He had his mate in his arms. They were kissing as if they’d never stop.
All was right with his world.
Eventually Bradley broke the kiss. “You believe me?”
Terry nodded. “I understand now. I’m sorry for—”
“Don’t be sorry. I could have handled it better, gone slower, but I’ve never done this before. Never felt this way before.” He stroked Terry’s hair.
Am I really going to be able to touch this man, forever?
“I want to be yours,” Terry said. “Nothing would make me happier than to live here as your mate.”
“And get that job in the library?”
“Yes, I want that too, but mostly I want you.”
“You’ve got me.” He glanced around. The crowd had dispersed—not that Bradley had noticed, he’d been so caught up in kissing Terry.
“So shall we go and seal the deal?” Terry spoke a little hesitantly then bit on his bottom lip.
Bradley adored the streak of shyness that held his mate hostage at times. “Oh yes, let’s go and seal the deal. The first of many times.” He took Terry’s hand and led him to the cabin.
Once inside he shut the door. This time he slipped the small bolt. He had no intention of being disturbed. Not for anything.
Already his cock was stiffening, tenting the sweats as it did so.
Terry glanced at it. He swallowed.
“We’ll take it slow,” Bradley said, reaching for Terry’s T-shirt. “There’s no rush, we have the rest of our lives.”
“It’s just…you know I said it’s been a while.”
“Yes.”
“I meant years, and then it was only ever one man, my ex.”
Bradley nodded. “Okay.”
“So I’m not…experienced the way you are.”
“All my other experiences have faded. There’s only you and me in this moment. No history, just future.” He tugged the T-shirt over Terry’s head. There was something even more exciting about having an inexperienced mate. All the delights he could show him. The fun, the kink, the wildness…
Bradley groaned at the sight of Terry’s beautiful chest. He then shucked off his sweats. They were getting uncomfortable rubbing on the head of his cock.
“Shall we take this into my bedroom?” Terry asked.
“Touch me first.”
“What?”
“Touch my cock. Please.”
Terry stepped closer. He looked down and wrapped his fist around Bradley’s cock.
Bradley groaned and tipped his head back. He shut his eyes. His mate’s hand on him for the first time was such a powerful sensation, as if dots were connecting, the stars aligning. A small moan gurgled up from his throat.
“You okay?” Terry asked.
“Never better.”
Terry worked him, root to tip, twisting his hand a little as he went.
Bradley’s knees buckled. His belly tightened and his balls tingled. “We should go to the bedroom.” He lowered his head and opened his eyes.
Terry was smiling at him. It was a new smile. It held confidence and satisfaction, as though he were reveling in the reaction Bradley was having to his touch.
Bradley stepped away, reluctant to lose Terry’s hand on him but equally keen to get to the main event.
“Strip off and lie down, my love.” Bradley nodded at the bed. “And let me take you to places you’ve never been before.”
“I like the sound of that.” Terry shucked away his pants and shoes. He lay naked on the soft moss-green sheets.
Bradley feasted on the sight of Terry’s body as he moved between his legs. “You want to top or bottom?”
“Bottom.”
His answer was quick and brought a smile to Bradley’s face. It was what he’d hoped. And more proof they were one hundred percent compatible.
“Are you comfortable?” Bradley asked. “Need a pillow?”
“I’m good.” Terry looked at his own cock. It was erect and flushed dark red. “What I need is for you to get started.”
“I intend to.” Bradley took his mate’s cock in one hand and with the other he cupped his balls. He was rewarded by the sight of Terry fluttering his eyes closed and fisting the sheet.
“Relax.”
“It’s hard to. I know I came not long ago, but it’s there again, the need to.”
“I know. I feel it too.” Bradley worked Terry’s cock and fondled his balls, not enough to make him come but enough to have his stomach muscles tensing and his breaths coming fast.
After a few minutes he released his balls and skimmed his fingers over Terry’s asshole.
“Oh fuck…” Terry groaned and thrashed his head from left to right. “Please be gentle but…don’t take too long about it.”
“You know I’ll be gentle.” Bradley frowned at the bedside locker. “You got any lube?”
“There’s a pot of lip balm in that top drawer. It’s greasy.”
“Lip balm. I’ve got a better use for it than lips.”
“I’m sure you have.”
Bradley quickly found the balm and coated his fingers in the slick lubricant. “You ready?” He pressed at Terry’s pucker again.
“Yes, for everything.”
Still working Terry’s cock, Bradley pushed in, enjoying the way Terry opened around his finger but his sphincter still hugged him. “That okay?”
“More than okay.” Terry reached above himself and gripped the slats of the bedframe. “Give me more.”
Bradley slipped knuckle-deep, then when he withdrew, he added another finger.
Terry arched his back, almost pushing onto him as Bradley slid deep again. The sight of his fingers in Terry’s hole was almost enough to make him come. He wanted to shove his cock in, ram home and fuck like an animal. But Terry wasn’t ready for that. He would be one day. But not yet.
He added another finger, extracting a gasp from Terry. This time as he worked inside him he found his prostate and rubbed it.
“Oh fuck.” Terry’s eyes flicked open. He stared at Bradley. “That’s it. Just there.”
“I know. And what I really want to do is rub this little sweet spot with the tip of my cock.”
“Do it. Do it now. Make us both come.” He groaned and closed his eyes. “God, I’m going to…any second.”
Bradley pulled out. He didn’t want Terry to come alone. This time they’d climax together.
He added balm to his cock, enjoying the slippery texture on his hot flesh, then he hooked Terry’s legs beneath his arms, splaying his hips wide, and angled his cock at Terry’s asshole. “Stay with me, mate,” Bradley said. “This is all good.”
“I know.” Terry was panting. “Please,just…”
Bradley pressed forward. There was little give in the tight ring of muscle. “Bear down. Let me in.”
Terry nodded. His gaze was locked on Bradley’s, though his glasses were a little askew. He was biting his bottom lip.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” Bradley said. “Can you feel how hard you’ve made me?” As he spoke he popped in.
“Ah, yeah, I can feel.” Terry huffed out a breath.
“We fit together perfectly. Take me, all of me.” Bradley set off on a slow ride to full depth.
The grip of Terry’s hole around the girth of his cock as he sank into his body was sublime. Better than he could ever have imagined.
Eventually he bottomed out, his balls flat against Terry’s. He dipped his head and kissed him.
“That’s so much,” Terry gasped.
“Tell me about it.” He paused. “You coping?”
“Yeah, but I wanna come. So bad.” He released the headboard and wrapped his hands around Bradley’s shoulders.
“You’re going to.” Bradley pulled almost out, then smoothed back in. He did it again, then again, each time a little faster.
Soon he was in a good rhythm, massaging Terry’s prostate with his cock and driving himself to orgasm.
His heart was racing, his body tingling. His balls had never been tighter and holding off release never harder. He wanted Terry to come, too.
“Ah, ah, that’s it, come with me.” Terry grabbed for Bradley’s face and held him tight. “Now.”
“Fuck yeah…” Bradley stared into Terry’s eyes as he climaxed.
Pleasure erupted from him, a full body tremble racking his spine, ass and limbs. On and on it came, bursting out.
Terry writhed beneath him, cum spurting from his cock, onto his abdomen. He was staring up at Bradley, wonder and love in his eyes.
Eventually Terry slowed. They were both panting. Without withdrawing he released Terry’s legs then flopped over him, finding his lips as he did so.
The kiss was hot and breathless. Stickiness basted their bellies.
“That was incredible,” Terry said, breaking the kiss.
“Tell me about it.” Bradley took off Terry’s glasses and set them on the pillow. “The first of many times.” He kissed each of Terry’s eyelids in turn. “And each time it will get better.”
“I can’t imagine it getting better than that.” Terry trembled.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing, still feel like I’m coming.”
Bradley smiled. “You will again soon, give me ten minutes.”
“I’m not sure if I’ll be able to keep up with you.” Terry ran his hand through Bradley’s hair.
“Somehow, I think you will. It’s always the quiet ones who have the highest sex drive.”
Terry didn’t say anything for a moment, then. “Sex hasn’t been a part of my life for so long, but I think that’s about to change.”
“It is.” Bradley paused. “What about love?”
“There’s been a noticeable absence of love, too.”
“And that’s also going to change. I love you now, today and forever. Being inside you, with you, is all I want. We’re going to be so happy.”
“Yes, I believe you and you know something else?”
“What?” Bradley asked.
“I’m lucky to have a guy who’s not only sexy and sweet but who looks like you.”
“I’m glad you said that—for a while back there my looks felt like a curse.”
“I’m sorry to make you feel that way. But—”
“No buts. We’re together, and that’s all there is to it.” Bradley kissed him again, stroking his tongue against Terry’s as his heart filled with wonder at his good fortune.
Hitting the road had brought him not only to a new home, but to a new love, too. He was one lucky shifter.