Chapter 21
The late afternoon sun lit up the room with a bright golden glow that finally forced Dakota to open his eyes.
The first thing he noticed was the absence of emotions flooding his body and was surprised at how unnerving it felt.
When he would block the emotions temporarily, he could always sense them hovering on the other side of the wall he created, but now, there was nothing.
In a strange way, he felt naked, like someone had stripped away part of who he was—part of his essence—and now he was left with only the outward shell of himself.
Pissed at his reaction, Dakota pushed it aside, unwilling to dwell on it anymore.
The Fates gave him the means to shut down that part of him and he refused to allow his unease to keep him from enjoying life the way everyone else could.
Dakota looked at his wolf, wondering how he was, since they’d claimed their mate, and found him curled up sleeping with Slate’s wolf.
What the fuck? Why is my mate’s wolf inside me?
His mind flipped back to the claiming when they bit each other and the intense pain he felt.
Holy shit balls! That’s right…Slate’s wolf entered my body, then joined with my wolf.
What the hell does that mean? First the Fates allow me to remove everyone else from my mind and then they make Slate’s wolf a part of me?
What the fuck is it with the Fates? What did I ever do to them to deserve this shit?
Anger rose in him even though he knew nothing good could ever come from it; there wasn’t any way to block Slate’s wolf.
Feigning sleep, Slate heard his mate’s thoughts and winced when he realized Dakota wanted to block his wolf.
He’d been just as surprised when he found Dakota’s wolf inside him and would have to talk to his parents about it.
If he was right, this only happened rarely but he couldn’t remember why the Fates would do it—just that it was extremely rare.
After listening to his mate’s rants, he was sure Dakota wouldn’t care how rare it was, or why.
“I know you’re awake,” Dakota murmured.
Slate chuckled. “Yeah, I’m awake,” Slate said, deciding to tackle the subject, “I was just thinking about your wolf inside of me and vice versa.”
“My wolf is in you?”
“Yeah, you got my wolf, right?”
“Yup. Is this normal for Fated Mates? I never heard of it before but then I didn’t pay much attention to the whole fated thingy.”
“Why was that? Because you didn’t believe in it?”
“No I believed in it; after all my parents were Fated Mates, but once I realized how rare it was to find one…and the fact I had decided never to mate…I never paid attention when it was covered in our health class at school.”
“Well, in answer to your question, what happened to us is very rare…that much I know. I plan on asking my parents more about it because I just can’t remember why it happens; all I remember is it’s connected to the Fates.”
“The Fates? So this isn’t normal for Fated Mates?”
“No. Not that I know of. Maybe I can ask my brother…”
“Because he’s a Dire Wolf too?”
“Yeah, I mean, this is uncharted territory…a Dire Wolf mating with a different species of wolf shifters…and maybe the Fates did it to protect our mates.”
“That makes sense, but Jackson never said anything about it.”
“Is it a big problem for you?” asked Slate.
“No, I guess not. I am used to everyone else in me so this is just another one.” Then realizing what he said probably hurt his mate, Dakota quickly added, “Sorry, that sounded bad. I was just surprised by it because Oracle never told me this would happen.”
“I’m not sure she knew, but you can ask her.”
Cursing his empath abilities again, he knew his reaction was caused by constantly living with other people’s feelings inside him. “Babe?” he said hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“I’m sorry it sounded like I didn’t want you because that isn’t what I meant.
I lived my whole life with other people always in me…
well, I mean their feelings…so when I found out I could stop it for as long as I wanted, it was like winning every bet my brothers ever made.
It was never possible before except for small windows of time, but even then it worked best if I was far away from everyone. ”
“Is that why you hid in the cave on the mountain?”
“Yes, I found it one day and for some reason, when I went inside, all the feelings were muted so it was very easy for me to block them. If I tried to do it in the house, it took a lot of effort and I could only do it for a very short period of time.”
“How often did you go to the cave?”
“At least once a day…even if it was only for half an hour…just to get some relief.”
“Holy shit! That bad, huh?”
“Yeah, it is, well was, until now. I got better managing it and it helped when I didn’t have to deal with my father’s hatred anymore, but yeah, it was no picnic.”
“So having my wolf in you feels like another invasion.”
Dakota checked his wolf. Well that’s a surprise!
“It does…or did…now not so much. Actually my wolf is better than he’s ever been.
I think it has to do with all the love your wolf is giving him,” he said.
Then checking with his wolf again, continued, “My wolf has had a hard time with my empath ability because he regarded everyone’s feelings as a threat so that’s why I had to get away and escape to a place where I could block them. ”
Slate tightened his arm around his mate’s waist, keeping Dakota in contact with his chest, and said, “You know, babe, I’m in awe of you. When I was growing up, I had a hard enough time trying to deal with just my emotions, so for you to do what you did is simply amazing…just fucking amazing!”
Dakota’s face turned pink, embarrassed at the praise. “Thanks.”
Kissing his mate’s head, Slate took a moment to nuzzle in Dakota’s curly hair before saying, “I think Steel will be here shortly with our romantic dinner, do you want to shower with me first?”
“Yup, but how can you be so sure your brother will make us dinner?”
“Two words…Jackson and Oracle!”
Giggling, Dakota rolled over and looked at his mate. “So before we shower, do you want to get rid of the elephant in the room?”
“What do you mean?” Slate asked, stalling for time. After the discussion they just had, he wasn’t sure how Dakota would react to finding out about the pup growing inside him.
“Duh! Am I pregnant?”
Slate searched Dakota’s face for hints of what his mate was thinking about the subject but finding none, he inwardly sighed, knowing there was only one answer regardless of how his mate felt. “Yes you are.”
“So you were in toirchigh?”
“I was.”
Dakota’s hand dropped instinctively to his belly. Holy fuck! I’m going to be a daddy! He stared at his mate, not knowing what to think. Then he said the first thing that popped into his head after finding out. “I have to do some research to see what foods a pregnant shifter should eat.”
Slate burst out laughing. “Babe, I think what you made for Jackson when he was pregnant will be just fine.”
Looking at his mate in astonishment, Dakota replied, “Maybe, but there might be something more I should be eating for our pup. Oh, my gods, I should have thought of this when Jackson was pregnant and what about Ian or Kieran for that matter? How could I be so careless? Oh no, what if I caused Jackson’s problems during his pregnancy by not making the right foods for him?
Babe, I must do that research—I don’t want anything to happen to our pup if I can prevent it. ”
“Come here,” Slate said, rolling on his back, pulling Dakota onto his chest, and then wrapping his arms around him.
“Babe, trust me, you had nothing to do with the problems Jackson had. Mom said it just happens sometimes. But if it will keep you from worrying, then by all means let’s research the best diet for a pregnant wolf shifter. ”
Dakota nuzzled Slate’s chest, loving the definition he found there. “I love your tits,” Dakota said.
“Tits?” asked Slate.
“Yeah, tits…you know…pecs. I love guys with a nice cut chest because it just makes me want to grab and squeeze and bite. Would you consider getting your nipples pierced?”
“Wait a minute…I’m still on the word ‘tits’.”
Dakota lifted his face to look at his mate. “What about it?”
“Uhmm, just never heard that word used before to describe my pecs. Where did you hear it?”
“I don’t know where…oh yeah, I remember…
there was this dude I met in a gay bar…” Dakota paused when he heard Slate growl.
“Uhmm…the guys I knew at school always referred to pecs as tits. When we were out at a gay bar, checking each…” he stopped after another growl, “never mind. That’s when I knew I liked a man with a nice, defined, pair of tits…
along with a great ass…but a well cut chest really turns me on.
Uhmm, maybe you’re too old to know about tits. ”
Slate’s mouth dropped open. Too old? “I know for a fact I’m not old and I’ll prove it to you tonight…that is, if you can keep up. Now I think we better shower or my brother will find us still in bed and naked.”
Giving each of his mate’s nipples a small bite, Dakota rolled off Slate’s chest and got out of bed. Then, he headed to the bathroom and, feeling his mate’s eyes looking at his ass, made sure to put an extra wiggle in his walk. Hearing Slate’s groan was the sweetest sound Dakota ever heard.
So my mate likes to tease! Slate chuckled as he followed his mate where he found Dakota already in the shower with a soapy hand that was slowly stroking his cock.
The heated look he saw in his mate’s eyes left no doubt about what was about to happen.
Stepping in, Slate grabbed the body wash and lathered up his cock all the while keeping his eyes locked on his mate’s.
He set the bottle down with one hand while grasping his cock with the other and matched his mate’s rhythm.
Slate watched the heat and need rise in Dakota and when he saw the flames of passion light up his mate’s eyes, he moved in close until their cocks were touching. Brushing aside Dakota’s hand, Slate wrapped his hand around both cocks, slightly squeezing them as he resumed his stroking.
Lowering his eyes from his mate’s, Dakota watched Slate’s hand jerking them off.
After a few moments, he raised them again until he was staring at the well-cut chest in front of him, and then, unable to resist any more, Dakota leaned in until his lips were around one of Slate’s nipples, sucking and nipping it before moving to the other.
After his mate’s nipples were puffy, Dakota began licking Slate, wanting to taste his mate everywhere he could reach.
Dakota’s nipple nibbling had ignited Slate’s need which was now burning brightly as his balls grew hard and pulled tight to his body.
Feeling it in his groin, he knew he was close and increased his speed.
Then, at the moment his cock shot its first load, he bit the mating scar on Dakota’s neck and immediately felt his mate’s cock pulse in his hand.
Slate quickly grabbed Dakota when he felt his mate wobble from the force of his orgasm, pulling him tightly to his chest. Then he removed his hand from their still-sensitive cocks and turned Dakota around until his back faced him.
Picking up the body wash, Slate soaped up Dakota using slow caressing circles until every part of his mate’s body was covered with soap bubbles before rinsing him off.
Once his mate finished washing him, Dakota spun Slate around until he was facing the shower wall.
After soaping his upper body, he knelt down and washed his legs, saving his ass and groin for last. “Turn around,” Dakota growled, sitting back on his feet, staring as Slate’s cock appeared.
Then, reaching up and grasping it, Dakota lovingly soaped it, spending time on it and his mate’s balls, before finally reaching around with both hands to wash Slate’s gorgeous ass.
Making sure everything was clean including Slate’s pucker, which earned him a gasp, Dakota finally stood and rinsed his mate off.
Slate then led his mate out of the shower and wrapped him in a heated towel, warming him before drying him off.
Grabbing a bathrobe, he put it on Dakota, all the while caressing every bare piece of skin he could find.
After giving his mate a quick kiss, Slate donned his robe before leading Dakota into their bedroom and over to a small table in the corner.
“Are you sure Steel will be here with our dinner?” Dakota asked, dubious about the cooking skill of his brother’s mate.
“Trust me, babe. The food will be simple but very edible. Steel loves to cook so I’m surprised he hasn’t ever offered to give you a day off, which by the way, will be happening in the future,” growled Slate.
“He never said a word about cooking. I wonder if my brother knows his mate can cook?”
“I don’t know but I bet once he tasted your cooking, he decided to keep his mouth shut. What you did with those scrambled eggs this morning…no wonder Colton wouldn’t stop singing your praises when he was in Mexico with me.”
Turning pink again at his mate’s compliment, Dakota looked to change the subject or at least turn the focus away from him. “Who taught your brother?”
“Don’t ever tell Jackson but it was a dude my brother was trying to get into bed.
A friend of ours told Steel the best way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, so my brother signed up for a cooking class at the university.
Unfortunately for him, he was the only guy in the class and all the girls started to cook stuff for him, hoping to get a date with him. ”
“Didn’t he tell them he was gay?”
“No, because I threatened to kill him if he did…not really. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt them by telling them he was gay.
So every night, some girl would bring him dinner and always enough for two.
He would gratefully take the food, and gently steer the girl out of our dorm room, with one excuse or another.
” Slate shook his head. “I should’ve recorded all those encounters because each one was a masterpiece. ”
Dakota was laughing so loud, they almost didn’t hear the gentle knock on the door announcing that dinner had arrived.