Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Every time someone said that to him, it felt like a balm on Jonah’s soul.
First Taron, then Roz, now Emmett. Everything he’d been afraid of turned out for the best. He leaned into it when Emmett pressed their foreheads together, rubbing against that soft fur as he drew in a few steadying breaths.
He didn't want to cry again. He had to run out of tears at some point.
“I love you, Emmett,” he finally croaked.
Emmett froze for a second, but Jonah didn’t even have a chance to worry he might’ve misread things. Emmett’s tail gave him away. It started wagging so hard, it slapped against the bench and made it shake.
“Really? Y-You’re sure?”
Jonah nodded, his eyes a little misty as he said, “When I’m having a bad day, you’re the first person I want to call, and the last person I want to talk to when I go to sleep.
I’m pretty sure the only reason I was okay this last month was because you were by my side to keep me steady and make me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry.
You were the first person to accept me exactly as I was.
I’m pretty sure I’ve been in love with you since day one.
I… I hope Taron was right. I want to be your mate. ”
“He was right!” Emmett nodded enthusiastically. “Ronan told me after I attacked Kyle. I honestly hadn’t realized it before that. I knew I wanted you, knew I was falling for you, but I didn't know just how deep that connection went until he pointed it out. You’re my mate, Jonah. You’re it for me.”
The relief Jonah felt was overwhelming, and he went willingly when Emmett gathered him into his lap, tucking his head under Emmett’s chin just like he had wanted earlier. Jonah melted, closing his eyes and just letting himself be.
“So what now?”
Emmett made a thoughtful sound, but didn’t move their positions. “Now, we talk about how much Taron told you about the whole mate thing. Did he tell you the process?”
“No. Just that being mates makes you overprotective and that’s why you were snarling at everyone and attacked Kyle. Why? What’s the process?”
Emmett squeezed him a little tighter, and Jonah could practically hear the excitement in his voice when he explained, “Well, first we’d tell Ronan.
He already knows, though, so that’s just a formality.
Then, you’ll be officially invited into the pack.
There’s usually a party, but I’m not willing to wait to set that up, so we’ll do a party later.
Once we’re alone, that’s when we make things official. ”
Confused, Jonah leaned back to study him. “Make things official how?”
“By turning you into a werewolf, of course.”
He said it so casually, like Jonah was supposed to know that, and for a minute Jonah actually believed him.
Taron didn’t mention anyone getting turned into anything, but it was possible he didn’t know.
But then Jonah realized that made no sense.
If a werewolf bit a demon, they wouldn’t stop being a demon.
He took in Emmett’s expression, the way his mouth twitched like he was desperately holding back a smile. The werewolf was screwing with him.
“You jerk! I believed you for a second!”
Emmett burst out laughing, his tail smacking against the bench and his head thrown back. “You should’ve seen your face!”
With a growl that was nowhere near as impressive as Emmett’s, Jonah twisted to get Emmett into a headlock.
Emmett laughed and squirmed, careful not to hurt him, but still more than willing to play.
They ended up on the ground, both of them trying to get the upper hand and failing because they were too busy laughing to put in any effort.
At least, he assumed that was what was happening with Emmett.
There was no way Jonah would actually be able to flip him so easily without Emmett’s permission.
No one stopped them or complained that they weren’t acting right.
There were no shouts of fear or concerned citizens running over to rescue Jonah from the evil werewolf.
He heard a few people chuckle as they walked past, and one woman even said, “Mates are so cute,” to her partner as she walked by, but to the supe world, wrestling with a werewolf was just normal. Jonah liked that.
They were panting and out of breath when Jonah finally managed to pin Emmett with his arm pulled behind his back. He nipped at his ear, making Emmett shudder, before whispering, “I win. And when we get home, I’m going to claim my reward.”
He subtly ground his hips against Emmett’s ass without being too obvious in the open park. Emmett choked on a groan, lifting his hips in a silent invitation. “I’m good with that plan.”
Chuckling, Jonah smacked a kiss on his cheek and popped to his feet, racing for the parking lot as he called over his shoulder, “Last one there is– Woah!”
He should’ve known better than to challenge a werewolf. Even with a head start, he didn’t stand a chance. Emmett darted past him and disappeared, and Jonah found him leaning casually against his truck when he finally jogged over a few minutes later.
“What took you so long?” Emmett asked with faux boredom.
“Oh, you’re going to get it, you smug bastard,” Jonah smirked.
Emmett tried acting like a jerk, raising an eyebrow at him, but his tail gave him away, wagging happily as Jonah stepped up beside him. He scowled at the appendage, making Jonah laugh and give it a playful tug.
“Come on, Emmett. Let’s go home.”
They barely made it through the front door before they were all over each other.
They left a trail of clothes behind them as they switched between stripping each other and kissing.
Emmett thought about stopping to see Ronan first, making it official, but then he’d have to sit through that whole conversation and possibly the introduction to the pack first, and he was pretty sure he’d go insane in the process.
He needed his hands on his mate now. The conversation could wait.
Jonah had never been a submissive man, tongue dueling for dominance despite the difference in their sizes.
He tugged on Emmett’s ears, his kisses demanding, and when they were finally naked and in the bedroom, he shoved Emmett onto the bed and climbed on top of him, fingers tangled in his fur as he dominated the kiss.
Emmett was happy to let him take control this time, running his hands along Jonah’s soft skin and gripping his ass.
Jonah broke the kiss, chest heaving as he flashed him a wicked grin. “Nuh uh. I’m claiming you, remember?”
The implication made him shudder, his legs spreading automatically to give Jonah access to what he wanted, even while he started making plans in his head.
It was still early, they had plenty of time to both have a turn claiming the other.
He couldn’t bite Jonah until after the pack accepted him, but he could possibly hold out if Jonah claimed him first.
“How do humans claim their mates?” Emmett gasped, groaning when Jonah’s body dragged against his cock as he slid down between his legs.
“I didn’t know humans had mates,” Jonah shrugged. “But when deciding to spend forever with their partner, they usually give them a ring during a ceremony.” He paused, head tipped thoughtfully. “Can werewolves wear rings?”
He snorted. The innocent question was cute, and he loved that Jonah wasn’t shy anymore about asking for information he didn’t know. He was determined to learn, and he knew Emmett wouldn’t judge no matter what he asked. Didn’t mean he wouldn’t tease, but hey, that was their relationship.
“Yes, we can wear rings. As long as they aren’t silver.”
That time, Jonah saw right through him and rolled his eyes. “You already told me the whole silver thing was a myth. You know, you’d think you’d be better behaved when the person in charge of your orgasm is between your legs.”
True. He was just so happy that Jonah was not only willing to think about their relationship but accepted it without argument and even seemed to be making plans to claim Emmett in his own way.
The thought made Emmett moan, and he reached for Jonah, intent on hauling him back up for another heated kiss.
Jonah dodged him, wrapping his hand around Emmett’s cock and stroking just hard enough to scatter Emmett’s thoughts and make him go still.
“It’s really convenient to always have lube on hand,” Jonah said conversationally, like he wasn’t using the slick he’d gathered from Emmett’s cock and swirling it around his hole.
Emmett started panting and had to close his eyes and think about something else when Jonah’s finger pushed inside.
It’d been a while since he let someone top him, but Jonah went slow, starting with only one finger dragging in and out until Emmett’s body relaxed enough to allow another.
“Ah!” he shouted in surprise when Jonah nipped at his inner thigh, distracting him when he pushed a third finger in. “Oh fuckkkk…”
When he cracked open his eyes, Jonah looked smug.
It was a sexy look on him, all confidence and heat, but it was the image of the muscles of Jonah’s arm flexing as he thrust his fingers in and out of Emmett’s body that really got him going.
Especially when Jonah brushed along the front of his passage and teased at Emmett’s prostate.
“Jonah… in me… please,” he whined.
“You won’t ever hear me saying no to that,” Jonah replied, sliding his fingers out and stroking Emmett’s cock to steal more slick.
Emmett moaned from the touch, his cock twitching when Jonah released him, and watched helplessly as Jonah slicked himself up and shuffled closer, careful not to kneel on Emmett’s tail.
That would’ve been a mood killer, for sure.
Grabbing a pillow to stuff under his hips, Emmett reached for Jonah, pulling him down into another kiss just as he felt the head of Jonah’s cock press against his entrance.
He groaned into the kiss, tongues tangling, and encouraged Jonah inside with a hand on his ass.
Jonah’s hard length sliding inside him was everything he needed, and he couldn’t help using the grip on Jonah’s ass to yank him closer, seating him fully inside of Emmett’s body where he belonged.
“Oh gods,” Jonah moaned, burying his face into Emmett’s neck as he waited for him to adjust. He was such a good mate.
“I’m ready,” Emmett murmured after a second, still trying to use his grip on Jonah to move him how he wanted.
Jonah chuckled into his ear, grabbing Emmett’s hands and lacing their fingers together, effectively trapping him with his hands pinned to the bed.
When Jonah sat back to give himself more room to move, Emmett let his eyes roam over his mate, breathless as he took in every inch of him.
Those muscular arms, the pale skin, the way his golden hair flopped onto his forehead.
He was gorgeous, his mate, and Emmett felt his chest swell at the reminder that he was going to get to keep him.
Once he bit him, Jonah’s lifespan would match his. They’d be together until the end.
His body tightened at the thought, and Jonah groaned, finally drawing his hips back and thrusting forward again, testing the waters of their connection. Emmett groaned.
“Again, Jonah. Please!”
Jonah seemed to enjoy his begging because a sly grin spread across his face, and he didn’t pick up the pace, keeping his thrusts slow and steady until Emmett thought his brain would melt.
He whined and writhed but didn't flip them or try to take over. This was Jonah’s show, and Emmett was too enthralled with his mate to take that away from him.
“I love you, Jonah.”
Those seemed to be the magic words. Jonah’s hips bucked, a deep groan rattling his chest as he seemed to give into his instincts.
Emmett’s back arched as he brushed against his prostate constantly without hitting it head on.
It meant the moment dragged on instead of forcing his release too fast. He wasn’t ready for this to end.
Jonah leaned over him, tangling their tongues in another hot kiss, and pulled away on a gasp to say, “I love you too.” Then his grin went wicked again, and he released one of Emmett’s hands, reaching down to pull his leg up and against his chest. “Might want to hold onto something.”
“What? Why– Ungh! Oh my gods! Jonah!”
He’d shifted the angle enough to start pegging Emmett’s prostate, and Emmett had been so busy basking in the love and affection in Jonah’s eyes, that he hadn’t seen it coming.
Just like he hadn’t seen the signs of his orgasm sneaking up on him until Jonah’s hand wrapped around his knot and squeezed tightly.
The combination was too much, and Emmett exploded, howling, his head thrashing against the pillow as the intensity of his release hit him like a freight train.
His body clamped down on Jonah’s cock, and feeling his mate’s release fill his channel only made it better, until Emmett started to feel feral.
He moved on instinct, yanking Jonah closer and sinking his teeth into his neck.
Jonah stiffened, surprised, then they were both hit with another release coming directly off the back of the first and sending Emmett straight into the stratosphere with no hope of coming back down any time soon.
Ronan was going to be so pissed at him. As he released Jonah’s neck and his mate collapsed on top of him, Emmett decided he’d face that later. It was totally worth it.