Chapter 38
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
The moon was high by the time Akai was able to escape from dinner.
As nice as it was to see his parents again, he wanted to spend this week with Cole.
After explaining that Cole only had this week, and would miss the main solstice celebration due to his human job, they had agreed they’d catch up with their friends while Cole was there.
They did not understand why Cole still had a human job.
They also wanted an explanation about how they were going to travel and if Cole was going to help with the jewelry making and selling. All things they hadn’t decided on. His mother had tutted and sighed and blamed him for leaping before he was sure he could fly.
However, they had liked Cole, and Cole seemed to like them.
Akai and Cole walked hand in hand through the woods, taking the long way back to their nest, the starlight filtering through the trees and casting deep shadows. Around them was the noise of other monsters as they ate and talked and enjoyed their solstice.
All he wanted was to get Cole back to their nest. He had a mate.
Officially, not a lie. And no more secrets.
Bob had suspected his involvement seven years ago, but because there was no sighting reported, he’d let it go, considering it justice for his sister.
But he’d also had Akai watched over the ensuing years to make sure it didn’t become a habit.
Akai stopped in a quiet clearing; his hand wrapped around Cole’s.
Cole lifted his eyebrow. “We aren’t going back?”
“I thought we could sit and watch the stars for a bit. Plus, too many people are still awake, and their hearing is far too sharp.”
“So you lured me into the woods to get me alone?”
Akai pulled him closer, his free hand sliding to Cole’s hip. “You don’t want to be alone with your mate?”
“I didn’t say that, but anyone could walk into the clearing.”
“I think we’re far enough away.” He backed Cole against a tree and spread his wings. “And I can provide a little privacy.”
“Convenient.”
“Very.” He leaned down and kissed him. Cole’s lips parted, allowing him to deepen this kiss. He pressed closer, breathing in the scent of his mate’s skin and listening to the beat of his heart. He already smelled of desire.
His cock slid out, pressing against the cloth of his pants and Cole’s belly as he moved against him.
Cole’s fingers started undoing the tie of Akai’s pants. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until we’re in the nest and everyone is asleep?”
“No, can you wait?” He snuck his hand beneath Cole’s shirt, tracing his claws over Cole’s skin.
“Not now.” He shoved Akai’s pants down, freeing his cock and wrapping his fingers around the shaft.
Akai got Cole’s jeans undone—he needed to get him some better pants—and tugged his briefs out of the way so his cock jutted forward. He grabbed Cole’s ass and lifted him up, so they were better aligned, and Cole wrapped his legs around Akai’s waist.
“Perfect,” he growled.
Cole spat in his hand and grasped both shafts, sliding over both in a way that felt far too good. He kissed him, so he didn’t groan too loudly. It was one thing to be out in the woods, but another to be noisy about it, drawing the attention of those who’d watch while lurking in the shadows.
He thrust into Cole’s hand, loving the way his fingers moved over the head and twisted.
Cole looked down, watching pre-cum slick each stroke. “This is going to make a mess.”
“I don’t care.” He did, but not enough to stop, and he’d clean up after. “I want you. I love you.”
Cole glanced up. “I love you, too.”
Akai claimed his lips, kissing him until they were both breathless. He wanted to wear Cole’s scent on his hair and skin. “Come on me.”
Cole’s grip tightened as he moved his hand faster. “Like this?”
“Yeah.” It felt too good, but he didn’t want to be first, even though they had the rest of their lives. He pressed his claws into the denim covering Cole’s ass.
“Fuck, yes.” Cole tipped his head back, baring his throat as he came, spilling over his fingers and Akai’s cock.
Akai licked his throat, tasting the lust and sweat on his skin and giving into the increasing desire filling his belly. He thrust against Cole’s cock, drawing out his climax.
It was only as his breathing steadied that he realized his pants were around his ankles, and anyone entering the clearing would have seen Cole’s legs wrapped around his hips and, below that, his ass working as he thrust.
“Are you ever going to put me down?”
“No. I can’t fly and carry you, but I can carry you while walking.”
“That might be rather obvious.”
“Probably.” And he wouldn’t get very far without tripping over his pants. He eased his grip, and Cole unwound his legs.
Cole wiped his fingers on his shirt, then pulled his shirt off, leaving him in his undershirt. “Here, wipe off…” He glanced down and smirked. “And pick up your pants.”
Akai took the shirt, fully intending on keeping it, so that when Cole left, he still had something.
He wiped his belly and did up his pants before closing his wings.
Cole was already decent, though his cheeks were a little pink and his lips a little darker, the way they always were after kissing or sucking his cock.
The pendant hung against Cole’s chest, bright in the starlight.
He offered Cole his hand. “Shall we return to the nest?”
Cole took his hand. “Our first night in a nest.”
Akai kissed the top of his head. “Yes.”
Their first night as mates.