Chapter Six #2
“Oh god.” Ryan’s hands scrabbled at the sheets. “Oh god, that’s… Your mouth is—”
Grayson worked him deeper, hollowing his mouth. Ryan’s cock was hard and hot against his tongue. Grayson could feel the pulse of blood through it, could hear Ryan’s heartbeat racing. His mate was falling apart, and Grayson was the one doing it to him.
“I’m not going to last,” Ryan warned. His voice cracked on the words. “I’m really not going to last. You’re too good at this and I’m too worked up and—”
Grayson pulled off long enough to speak. “Then don't.”
He took Ryan back in, deeper this time. His hand wrapped around the base, stroking what his mouth couldn’t reach. Ryan’s thighs trembled on either side of Grayson’s shoulders. The sounds he was making went straight to Grayson’s cock, made him grind against the mattress seeking friction.
“Grayson,” Ryan gasped. “I’m going to—I can’t—”
Grayson hummed around him. The vibration made Ryan cry out, his back arching off the bed.
Grayson felt the tension coil through his mate's body and then felt the moment it snapped. Ryan came with a broken sound, spilling into Grayson’s mouth.
Grayson swallowed it down, working him through it until Ryan was pushing at his shoulders with shaking hands.
“Too much,” Ryan panted. “Can’t… Too much.”
Grayson released him and moved back up the bed. Ryan looked destroyed, his hair plastered to his forehead with sweat, his eyes glazed. Grayson kissed him, letting Ryan taste himself. Ryan made a sound into his mouth, something between a moan and a whimper.
“That was…” Ryan started then stopped. His hands came up to frame Grayson’s face. “I don't have words. My vocabulary has been reduced to incoherent noises and possibly some keysmashing.”
Grayson smiled against his mouth. Ryan’s fingers traced along his jaw, his touch gentle. The fear scent was completely gone now, replaced by satisfaction and something deeper. Something that made Grayson’s lion settle with contentment.
“What about you?” Ryan’s hand moved down between them, reaching for Grayson’s cock. “You’re still—”
“Later.” Grayson caught his wrist, stopping the movement. His dick ached, hard enough that it hurt, but this wasn't about him. This was about making Ryan feel safe. Making him forget the threats, if only for a little while.
“That seems unfair.” Ryan tried to push his hand lower, but Grayson held firm. “You just blew my mind and possibly my soul out through my dick. The least I can do is reciprocate.”
“Later, sweetheart,” Grayson repeated. He pulled Ryan against him, tucking him into the curve of his body. Ryan went easily, his breathing still uneven.
“You’re bossy,” Ryan mumbled. His eyes were already drifting closed, exhaustion finally winning. “I should probably have opinions about that, but I’m too blissed out to care.”
Grayson ran his hand down Ryan’s back, feeling the knobs of his vertebrae. His mate was small against him, fragile in a way that made his protective instincts roar. Nothing would hurt him. Nothing would get close enough to try.
“Sleep,” Grayson murmured against Ryan’s hair.
“Sleeping,” Ryan agreed. His voice was already thick with it. “This is me sleeping. Excellent sleeping happening right now.”
Grayson continued the slow strokes down Ryan’s back, feeling the moment his breathing evened out.
His mate was safe, in his bed, in his arms, where he belonged.
The threats still existed. The hyenas still planned whatever violence they thought would get their property back.
But right now, in this moment, Ryan was safe.
Grayson’s hand stilled on Ryan’s back. The room was quiet except for Ryan’s breathing and the distant sound of the others moving around downstairs. Grayson’s dick was still hard, aching with need, but he ignored it. Later. After Ryan slept. After the immediate danger passed.
His mate sighed in his sleep and pressed closer. Grayson tightened his arm around him, his nose buried in Ryan’s hair, the fruity scent of his shampoo now mixed with sweat and satisfaction. Grayson breathed it in, letting it settle something restless in his gut.
Tomorrow would bring new problems. The hyenas wouldn’t give up. They'd push harder and try to find weaknesses to exploit. But they wouldn’t find any. Grayson would make sure of it.
Ryan shifted slightly, his hand curling against Grayson’s ribs. Even in sleep, he held on. Like he knew on some instinctive level that Grayson would keep him safe. The trust in that gesture made something fierce and tender rise in Grayson’s throat.
His mate. Finally.
Grayson closed his eyes and let himself drift. Not sleep, not yet, but something close to it. His senses stayed alert, tracking the sounds of the house. Reese moving in the kitchen. Malik's fingers on his keyboard. Colton's footsteps on the back deck. Everything normal. Everything secure.
Ryan’s breathing deepened further in his complete surrender to sleep, to safety. Grayson’s hand resumed the slow circles on his back, an unconscious soothing motion. His mate needed rest. Needed to recover from the fear that had been eating at him all evening.
The threats would come tomorrow. Tonight, Ryan could sleep.