Chapter 9

Bastian

Watching Theo interact with my pride members so openly makes my heart swell. I"ve fallen so hard for Theo already, and I know it would be considered too soon to profess my love by human standards, but by shifter standards, it"s probably right on track. I sigh, unable to stop it or the dopey look I"m sure is plastered all over my face. He will be such an amazing alpha mate, and I cannot wait to watch him succeed.

Another pride member, Max, interrupts my mooning by booming his congratulations and giving me a firm shoulder grab paired with a slapping-back pat like most of the older generations of our men seem to be fond of. "He"s a good one, Alpha. Couldn"t have picked a better mate for ya if I"d tried. Congratulations again." I return his smile with a grateful one of my own and nod, thanking him before glancing over to check on Theo again.

Grey leans closer, talking low. "He"s doing well, Alpha." I really wish my friend would do away with the title, but he was raised to become my second. It"s ingrained in him to address me as alpha, so I don"t usually push back too hard. I nod my agreement to his murmured words, waiting for him to continue. "Perhaps you both would be more comfortable if you were sitting together? Wes looks like he"s constipated, and I believe it"s because he"s trying to watch everyone and everything all at once. It will take time for him to slip out of enforcer mode and only focus on our alpha mate."

A laugh escapes me as I see what my second sees. Wes"s head is on a perpetual swivel; his smile obviously forced and fake as he assesses the entire crowd for threats against his charge. I wait until his gaze flicks to me again to catch his eye and nod toward the nearest table. The relief is visible when he catches on. Wes smoothly interrupts Theo"s conversation and guides him to the table, arriving well before Grey and me. We had kept a sedate pace, making sure to greet and interact with each pride member along the way, while Wes had been determined not to let anyone slow him down.

I wrap my arms around my mate from behind, pulling him to me until his back meets my abdomen. The need to scent him is overwhelming, and I don"t see why I can"t scent my mate among my pride, so I give in and bend my neck slightly to bury my face into the delicate skin between Theo"s neck and shoulder. My lungs fill with the scent of his arousal and joy, pulling a groan from my chest. My lion, who has been basking lazily all day in the warmth of his mate"s affections from the night before, perks up with keen interest.

A shiver works through Theo, betraying his need. My cock thickens, demanding to be closer to my mate than would be socially acceptable. I need him, and I need him now. I open my mouth to suck on the same skin I just scented and look to Grey, knowing he will understand that I don"t want to take Theo in front of his family, but I am quickly losing the understanding of why it would be a bad idea. His eyes widen with comprehension, and he whispers something to Wes, who immediately turns to address the crowd.

Theo"s whimpering moan breaks any resolve I have to wait for a seamless exit, so I turn him and deliver a scorching kiss before lifting him into my arms. His legs wrap around my waist, and my eyes threaten to close in the face of our combined pleasure, but I need to see where I"m going. I pull his head to my neck, and he happily diverts his focus from rutting against me for his own pleasure to driving me insane with my own. I race to the house, only stumbling once when Theo sinks his teeth into my neck hard, mirroring the spot where his own claiming bite sits. Fuck, I need to run faster.

We make it to the main hall before I turn us and slam his back against the wall. He moans, baring his neck for me and arching his back. Shaking with need, I latch on, sucking more beautiful marks into my mate's perfect skin. He writhes against me, breath hitching with every thrust against my groin. I know he can feel my length, hard as steel, against his own. I lean back to watch his face overtaken by passion; he"s so beautiful in his pleasure. Mouth dropped open, puffs of air accompanying each moan, his blue eyes glassy and unfocused, cheeks flushed with sweat beading his brow.

"I don"t know if I"ll make it to the bed if you keep looking at me like that, mate, and we aren"t alone in the house." I can hear movement in the kitchen, though Theo likely doesn"t. His pupils grow impossibly wider, reinforcing my assumption about his exhibitionist desires, and he whines, grinding himself against my erection and licking his kiss-swollen lips. He wants to be watched. I don"t know how far that goes, but just knowing people are listening and the threat that they might walk in seems to push all his buttons . . . and mine.

I lean down, notching my mouth behind his ear, and whisper filthy nothings, loving how he reacts to my breath on that sensitive skin. He pants harder, pleading with me to take him. I know I won"t allow myself to fuck him publicly until we have an actual conversation about it, but that doesn"t mean I can"t make him come.

Setting my mate down on his feet, I make sure he can stand before I pull down his pants and briefs to his thighs, tucking the fabric under his balls. Taking a second to admire how his cock bounces and the string of precum connecting his hip and his pretty slit, I groan. Sinking to my knees, I decide I want his bottoms completely off. I want him spread out and bared completely, so I pull them down slowly, giving him time to object. With nothing other than encouraging noises from him, I set the clothes aside and pull one of his legs over my shoulder, making my access to his perky peach of an ass and pretty pink hole easier. The floor won"t be comfortable for long, but I look my fill, sneaking in a lick to the head of his pretty cock, taking in his essence before groaning and letting my head fall back as his taste invades my senses.

I place one hand against the wall and the other under his supple thigh, tilting his hips just enough so I have better access to everything I might want in this moment. I waste no more time, lapping at his hole and underneath his balls, pulling loud whimpers from my mate. He tries to thrust his erection, bringing my attention to the part of him feeling neglected. His head is dark pink and swollen, looking close to bursting.

"Please, Bas. Alpha, I need you." His pleas are music to my ears.

Taking him slowly into my mouth, I memorize every vein and ridge of his cock, using my tongue to massage under his swollen head. His keening cry draws my gaze up his lean body until I"m staring into my mate"s eyes. I continue my assault on his dick, using just enough suction to make his legs shake.

"Oh, shit. Oh, fuck. Alpha. Bas, I"m going to . . . I can"t . . . please!" I loosen my hold on his hip just a tad, allowing him to thrust farther into my mouth. I can feel his orgasm approaching, his sack pulling tight. His shaking body is only held up by my hand pressing him into the wall, and I revel in the depth of his trust in me to not let him fall. A whining shout punches from my mate as his cock pulses in my mouth once, twice, before shooting his cream down my throat. My eyes roll back again in pleasure as I swallow, my dick still painfully pinned against the seam of my pants. I take everything my mate gives me while shuddering at the abrasive cloth against my own cock. It takes every ounce of will not to just lose control and rut against the floor.

I distract and calm myself by licking him clean, suckling at his length until he twitches away from oversensitivity. I slowly let him gather himself, helping him back into his clothes. My movements are jerky, but I won"t allow anything to disrupt his languid contentment, not even my anguished erection. I breathe deep to keep the calm I had gathered and hold Theo against me, trying to ignore the way his every breath fans the flames of my arousal.