Chapter 5

Theo

Oh, wow, he really seems to like that. I"ve always thought of myself as a closet exhibitionist, and it seems my mate is super on board.

My rising lust must be apparent, because he groans low, clenching his fists. I know we need to stay on topic, though, so I lean back and try to cool down. I have questions, and I honestly am trying to remember why I need to ask them before I beg the man to mount me like the predator he is. Focus.

"I have diabetes. Is that . . .? Does that change anything?" I have to ask. It"s not something I can change about myself, and it"s not like it"s something we can ignore if it bothers him. I have a continuous insulin pump, for fuck"s sake. I still have to check my sugars a few times a day, though I do it through the CGM digital blood sugar reader so it"s quick, but it"s still a pain in the ass sometimes to remember. I want to make sure he knows what he"s getting into.

"What? No! I will love every part of you, Theo. I"m a shifter. A little blood and a needle isn"t going to scare me away from my mate. After I claim you, you might see a change with your diabetes since your health will improve, but I"m not sure how it works if it"s something you"re born with. We can ask a shifter physician, if you"d like . . . but honestly the answer doesn"t change anything for me. You"re mine, Theo."

Relief washes over me. I didn"t think fate would pair me with someone who couldn"t handle being with me as I am, but there"s always doubt, right under the surface, that my body"s inability to create insulin may be a burden to those around me. I get annoyed at myself for having to watch every single thing I put in my mouth, but after years of being with the Walkers, I know I can find people who don"t get annoyed with taking the extra time to think of my dietary needs and that not everyone will react like my mom and her boyfriends did. Hopefully the pack—shit, the pride—will feel the same way. I feel the need to brace myself for the upcoming questions, so I lean forward, placing my elbows on my thighs.

"An alpha mate. Is that just being your mate, or is it like a title? When Cole said it, it sounded like a title or job, but I don"t want to assume."

He takes a deep breath and mirrors my posture, leaning forward. "Both. Only an alpha"s mate can do the job, so it does receive its own title. You would be equal to me as far as rank within the pride, so they will treat your word as law like they do mine. The only exception is when it comes to security. Any rules I make regarding the safety of the pride are iron clad and cannot be changed unless I do so myself or am no longer physically or mentally able to. Then that duty goes to my successor or the alpha mate, whomever is in charge depending on the circumstance. As of now it would be Grey."

I nod in understanding, though I"ve never met him either. I do not in any way think I should be in charge of security. I honestly don"t think I should be in charge of anything at all, but if it comes with being with Bastian, I"ll figure it out.

Not hearing any objection from me, he continues. "As far as the job, it"s one you would do naturally. You are in charge of the inner workings of families and individuals in the pride. Non-violent disputes, life changes, things like that. Ugh, I know I"m not explaining this right. Let me try again." He takes a breath and seems to center himself. Maybe he"s as distracted by me as I am by him. His voice alone makes me hard, so let"s see how many more questions I get in before I break.

"My job as alpha is to create and protect the house and the pride as a whole. To create an environment for everyone to thrive. As my alpha mate, you take what I"ve done with the house and make it a home. You focus on the families and people within the pride to help them thrive individually." He pauses, searching my face for some kind of reaction. "I know it"s a lot to ask. As a human, even mating a shifter is a huge adjustment, let alone being the heart and essentially the feelings center of the entire pride."

I nod, absorbing the information. I can do that. I enjoy being a touchstone for friends and family, anyway. Bas leans back, done with his explanation and getting more comfortable. He drapes an arm over the back of the chair, and my brain goes offline. I"ve found my breaking point, apparently. His ramble was endearing and made me want to smother him in kisses. I should have caught that he"s more long-winded when he hesitated to just talk earlier and had me ask specific questions. Before he can gear up to fill the silence, I lean forward and kiss him soundly to stop him. I almost lose myself in his kiss before I rip my mouth away, panting hard.

"Bas, I know you would never push me to do something I don"t want to do. It"s not how mates work, right? And I know I have more questions, and you will no doubt have hours of information to give me before I start doing alpha mate-y things, but is there anything else I absolutely need to know tonight? Anything that can"t wait until tomorrow when I can barely walk because you"ve fucked me into the mattress until dawn?"

His answering grin is wicked. "Have you ever had sex with a shifter before?" At my headshake he continues, voice sultry against my neck as he scrapes his teeth under my jaw. "Lions in nature have a row of three barbs on the underside of their cock that comes out during sex. When we"re finally rid of our clothes, you might notice some of my anatomy follows my lion instead of a normal human." He pauses to build anticipation. I cross my fingers, hoping he"s going to say what I think he will. "As a lion shifter, when I climax, those barbs will come out and stimulate your walls, pulling your orgasm from you if I"m doing my job right. The barbs stay out, almost locking us together like a knot for a little while before they relax."

My body flushes as I recall every smutty shifter book I had obsessed over in high school and college. Okay . . . I still enjoy them now, choosing to read shifter romance above most other genres. I started reading them all the time because I had a dream about being with a shifter, and then I fantasized about what sex with a shifter would be like. Never willing to risk coming on to Wes"s friends in the pride as an experiment, I hadn't acted on it . . . but I have a mate with some interesting anatomy now, and fuck, that"s hot.

I climb onto his lap, not liking the small distance still between us. "Will you claim me tonight?" I ask softly. I want him to so badly I ache, but I"d understand if he needs more time. My question must have ghosted over his ear, because he shudders and groans, pulling me down harder onto his lap. Using my hips as leverage, Bas grinds his unfairly covered dick against my also clothed ass and pulls moans from both of us.

"Yes. Please, Theo. Let me make you mine." He gives me a preview of a claiming bite, clenching the side of my neck hard with his teeth right where it meets my shoulder, stopping just shy of breaking skin. He sucks one hell of a mark there instead before soothing the sting with his tongue.

I melt with the fading pain and answer by tipping my head, giving him more access to my neck. A low rumble starts in his chest, and his eyes flash amber.

"My beautiful mate." His hands wander from my hips to under my shirt, lifting the fabric and slipping his hands underneath to caress the sensitive skin right under my naval.

I lift my arms to hurry him along, rocking my hips as I do so. He pulls my shirt from my torso with reverence, taking care not to catch the sleeve on the CGM site on my left tricep. He pauses in his quest to remove my clothing when my front is completely bared to him, eyes fixated on my pert nipples. His tongue quickly peeks out to swipe along his bottom lip, leaving it shiny and so very kissable.

Grinning, I decide to tease him for a second before I try to tackle his pants, bringing my right hand up to tweak my nipples, first one and then the other. I let my head fall back, enjoying the sensations rushing through me, and let loose a low groan. Wet heat surrounds my less tortured bud, startling me enough to snap my head down to see him already looking right at me. The combo of glazed-over eye contact and perfect suction almost pulls my orgasm from me right there on his lap.

The time for teasing is apparently over as I'm lifted and my pants are torn from my body, Bas's mouth never leaving my increasingly abused chest as he also rids me of my plain black briefs. I almost protest his lack of nakedness, but his hand grips my shaft lovingly, squeezing and giving a gentle stroke before he adjusts his grip on my body and carries me to the lavish bed. His mouth latches wherever he can reach, making his way to my mouth, where he scrambles all brain function. Man, my mate can kiss. He sets me down, hunching over to continue our kiss as he positions me right where he wants me with his large, calloused hands.

Bas finally relinquishes my mouth to stand at full height, slipping his sweats down his legs, proudly displaying his body for my excited perusal. I don't dare move from where he's arranged me, but I'm free to drool over his perfect figure all I want. My eyes can't stop taking in every detail, from the golden happy trail to his half-innie-half-outie belly button.

Prowling like the lion he is, Bas gracefully crawls onto the bed with purpose. He moves like he's straight out of a fucking wet dream, hooking the back of my knee into his hand and lifting slowly. He pulls my leg up over his shoulder as he settles onto his stomach, murmuring praises as he exposes the sensitive skin of my perineum and lower. Completely bared to him, I feel my hole flex under his hungry gaze. With no hesitation, Bas licks a stripe from my ass to the base of my dick, lapping at my balls with a growl. A moan punches from me as I arch up into his mouth. I don't know what to do with my hands, so I take over spreading myself for him, not wanting him to stop for even a second. I get a hum of approval when I bring my other knee up to my chest and tilt my hips to give him easier access.

Bas attacks my hole with barely restrained violence. The vibrations from his grunts and harsh moans just increase my pleasure, reducing me to a babbling mess. Once he"s satisfied that my entrance is relaxed and properly sloppy, he raises his head, not bothering to wipe his face. Catching on that I need to be grounded by physical contact and am near tears, he shoves two fingers into my mouth, allowing me to suck feverishly on them as he roots around in his nightstand. I assume and hope with everything in me that it"s lube he"s looking for.