Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

R eed woke up, feeling like he was aching, like he was burning alive with a pure, unadulterated lust.

He needed his mate.

Now.

He was not in bear form anymore, and neither was Tyler, who was warm and heavy against him, curled around him, so it was the easiest thing ever to turn around and kiss him awake.

His kiss wasn't as quiet and gentle as he'd intended, but it was okay. It worked.

Tyler's eyes flew open. "Mmph." Those big hands grabbed his ass, pulling him even closer.

Yes. He was slick and buzzing, crying out with his need. He'd never been so hot. Ever.

His leg moved restlessly, his hips pumping so he could rub against Tyler.

"Reed. Baby. What—" They kissed again, because he needed Tyler to take him, not talk to him. He ached, deep inside, and he needed the heavy cock to pierce him, fill him up.

Tyler seemed to hear him, because two fingers sank into his soaking wet ass, pressing easily inside his hole. Tyler opened him right up, working those fingers in and out.

Help me. Help me, I need you. I want you. Please.

I have you, love. I do. Tyler lifted him, spreading him and bringing him down over that amazing cock.

He hadn't wanted foreplay, no warming up, no teasing. Just a hard fuck.

Tyler grunted, working into him, hard as diamonds. He was huge, too, his knot already swelling. Oh. Oh, Tyler got it. He understood. He knew what Reed needed.

They rocked together, Tyler thrusting into him with a heavy motion that had them thudding against each other.

He considered apologizing for his need, but—he wasn't sorry, not at all. He needed.

Tyler gave him everything, so he thought his mate wanted him as badly. Those strong hips never stopped driving.

"Please. Please, I need more. I need your knot." His entire body felt like it was on fire.

"You can have it, baby. Can you feel it? I'm swelling for you. Take it. Take it all."

"Thank you. Yes. Every inch." He felt wild, like lightning was firing under his skin.

"I won't leave you suffering, love. I swear." Tyler rocked into him, belly rubbing his cock.

No. No, he believed that. He needed help in the worst way. This was a fire burning him to the ground. He would be ashes soon.

He found himself crying, and Tyler wrapped around him, cradling and holding him tight.

Reed clung to Tyler's wide shoulders, letting them block out the light, letting Tyler protect him. Take him. Fill him and protect him.

Knot him.

When Tyler was seated inside him, the panic eased and he could breathe, full and stretched.

"Good. That's good. You're burning up, baby."

"I needed you. It was like an ache."

"You still need me." Tyler thrust against him again, the impact making him cry out.

"Yes!" He took it and begged for another.

Tyler moved back and forth, really slamming into him, giving him heat and friction. He wrapped his legs around Tyler's hips, his body knowing how far he could push things better than his mind.

His entire universe buckled, and his bear roared, passion pushing him.

I hear you, love. I can hear how much all of you wants this. Tyler grabbed his ass once more, spreading his cheeks a little wider, that knot so huge inside him.

I do. Something in the universe felt like it snapped into place, settling their spirits close together.

He could breathe again, but only in great gulps, panting for it. "Harder, Tyler."

"Anything."

"Everything. The world is changing." He didn't know what he meant, but that didn't matter. Nothing mattered but right now.

"It is." Tyler sounded so sure, that body moving without even a pause. "We're changing, you and I, together."

He loved how Tyler heard him.

Reed was reaching critical mass. He ached, his whole body on fire. He gripped as hard as he could, hearing the wild roar that earned him.

Tyler jerked and danced, the knot well and truly stuck, and all it took was Tyler biting at his neck, the sting fast and sharp, for Reed to come so hard he almost blacked out.

When he floated back down into his body, he was cradled in Tyler's arms, held against that solid body.

Tyler was panting, his skin burning hot. "Oh, love."

"Uh-huh. Love. Bear." He was spinning, absolutely dizzy with his orgasm.

He could feel Tyler inside him, throbbing with his heartbeat, but Tyler hadn't come yet.

"Yours. Take me." Maybe he could shoot again.

"Shhh. Just wait, love. It will rise again. The need. Just rest a moment." Tyler kissed his nose, his forehead, then his lips.

"I—I've never felt so much. I ache for you." Everything inside him was burning.

"I can tell, baby. I can feel it." Tyler's voice was rough with need, but he was waiting. Patiently for someone who was so…hard.

The fire inside him began to build again—slow, steady flames that threatened to shake him apart.

He rolled his hips, making them both moan, and he had no idea what to do besides fuck himself on that heavy shaft. Suddenly he was desperate, absolutely on fire for Tyler.

"Help me," he begged.

"I will. I promise." Tyler reached down, sliding a finger around the stretched rim of his hole.

"Mate!" He arched, his balls drawing up again.

"Your mate," Tyler grated out. "Yours. Come for me again, baby. Then we can rest a bit before it's on you again."

"I need you. I need this. Please. I need so much." And he was lit up inside.

"You have all of me." Tyler drove into him again, filling him, rubbing all the places inside that needed touching.

"All of you." He brought their mouths together, moving with all the passion inside him, slamming them together, over and over again.

They rocked and panted, sweat running on their skin. He was close again. So close.

"I—I'm going to…again. Please."

"I know. I can feel it. Reed. I'm with you this time. Come for me. I'll catch you when you fall." Tyler grabbed his ass, yanking him down, filling him until he wanted to scream with it.

When he did scream with sheer pleasure, spunk sprayed between them, heat splashing on Tyler's chest.

Then Tyler roared, the sound as much bear as man, and he felt like mountains were moving when Tyler came, filling him so deep and hard and full that he hung there, whimpering, begging for more.

"Shh…breathe. I have you, love. I have you." Tyler rocked him, keeping him close and protected. That knot might never go down, it was so big, and right now, that was perfectly okay with him.

Everything in his world was right here. Right now.

He rubbed their noses together, his body finally relaxing a little bit, the fever dissipating so he could slump against Tyler. "Love."

"Rest for a while, sweet. I'm right here." That gentle voice eased him into sleep, and Reed sighed happily as he drifted off.

Tyler had never been with an omega in a full-on heat before, and he absolutely hadn't been with his mate during one, and it was the hardest, most wonderful work he'd ever had the pleasure to do. Reed needed him like no one else ever had, and his cock and balls ached from filling his sweet bear.

He did need to refuel, though, and since his knot had slipped free for the first time in several hours, he crawled out of bed and staggered to the cabin's kitchen.

He threw together a plate of berries and smoked salmon and bread with honey to dip in, plus a couple of Cokes, then headed back in to his sweet little bear.

Reed was restless, his hands moving on the sheets.

"Hey, baby. Thought we needed to get some food in us."

"Oh, Tyler. I'm—I'm on the suppressant, but—this is heat, isn't it?"

"It is, love. It very much is." He held a berry to Reed's lips.

Reed opened up, moaning softly. "Thank you for helping me. I feel…wild. Strange and new."

"I do too." Exhilarated and exhausted as well. He dipped a piece of toast in the honey butter dip. God, he was starving. He had worked every single muscle.

Tyler let Reed feed him a bite of fish, and suddenly they were both gnawing on everything, scarfing down the food until the plates were empty and they were both laughing.

Reed leaned against him, his little bear as sweet as pie. "Tell me I don't have to go back to work tomorrow."

"Not tomorrow, no. We have a long weekend, remember? You stood up to your boss."

"I did. I needed to be with you." Reed nuzzled into his chest, humming soft against him.

"I'm glad." He would ask about missed shots or pills later. Now was not the time. This was his mate; if Reed got pregnant, Tyler would love and protect them both the rest of his life.

"I'm on birth control. I wouldn't try and trap you. I swear." His little bear was so sensitive.

He reached up to stroke Reed's check. "Baby, I would never think that. Not ever. Am I thinking about what might happen? Yes. But not about you doing anything on purpose."

"No. Not on purpose. Although you're—you're special, mate. You're special."

"Thank you, love. So are you." Reed needed to know how Tyler felt. He put a hand on Reed's belly. "You get enough to eat?"

"Uh-huh. I did. Thank you." Reed snuggled into him, fingers tracing his muscles.

"Good. Good. I do love berries and fish." In fact, he needed to taste it on his lover's lips.

"I love honey." Reed lifted his face, begging a kiss.

"Mmmhmm." He gave what he was asked for, wanting Reed again, but not wanting to rev him up if he needed to rest some more. They would have to pace themselves. The heat could last another eight hours or so.

Tyler had no desire to burn either of them out before they satisfied all of Reed's need.

Reed moved to straddle him, snuggling in. "Want to take a bath together? Soak?"

"Oh, love, that sounds amazing. Let me go start the water."

"Take me with you." Reed clung to him, so he lifted Reed with him when he rose, and he took Reed to the surprisingly large bathroom. It was like the cabin's one luxury item. Well, two. The fireplace was the other one.

The tub was made for four, so two bears fit in, and by the time the water was filling, Reed had lit the candles and the atmosphere was pure romance.

He got in first, sliding down to hold out a hand for Reed, who slipped in to lie atop him. The water was perfect, hot enough to make steam rise but not burn, silky against his skin.

"Feels amazing," he moaned.

Reed nodded. "Soothing all sorts of things."

"It is. Tense muscles. Other things." His dick had felt a little raw. Good thing for shifter healing. The longer they went before the next round, the better they would both be, too.

"Yes. Have you ever—I mean, did you ever with another omega like me?"

"No, sweet. Never. I've been with a few omegas, but we were very strict about it. Even on suppressants, if the calendar said it could happen, I stayed away."

"I shouldn't be in heat now." Reed shrugged, then grinned wickedly. "I blame you."

"I do too." He winked at Reed. "My manliness brought it out for you."

"Totally. You're a stud bear. I'm surprised I didn't just explode in joy." Reed chuckled and kissed his nose, adoring him.

"We both have some joy, baby. We really do."

"Yes." Reed hummed softly. "I could be right here forever."

"I could too. Well. Maybe not here. But with you like this." He laughed, the sound a little duck-like. He wanted to take his mate back to Colorado.

Reed sighed softly and squeezed him tight. "Right. I don't want to think about you leaving. I'm not ready to deal with that."

"Shhh. No thinking. Not right now." No, he wanted Reed to feel and have his heat and enjoy it, since it was happening one way or the other.

Tyler would do what he needed to—whether it be convince Reed to come home or stay in Valleywood, his heart was with his mate.

"Mmm. Baths are so nice. And this one, I don't worry will collapse with me, let alone the two of us."

Tyler wanted to growl a little. "Your apartment is not okay."

Reed's cheeks flushed. "It's okay. I mean, I'm hardly there, and I can't afford too much with having to buy event clothes and stuff."

"You mean your boss doesn't give you a clothing allowance on your check?" He knew that was something some big agencies did.

"Are you kidding? I'm at the lowest rung of the totem pole." Reed sighed and shook his head. "I'm just trying to stay relevant to them, but it's hard."

"Hey, you're doing your best." Damn it, Reed didn't need to think Tyler was putting him down too. He had plenty of folks to do that. No, Tyler would lift him up. "And you're so much more perfect than they give you credit for."

"I'm so glad you think so." Reed beamed at him. "I know that I'm not perfect, but you want your lover to believe it."

"Your lover does." He put on a pout. "What does mine think?" he teased. This was much better than watching Reed slowly deflate with the weight of his daily life.

"I think you're pure magic. I could spend every day with you, and be happy."

"Tell me that daily." He could feel the heat rising in Reed's skin again, and he knew they would be in bed soon.

"Every day, I swear." Reed met his eyes, and the deep, dark-brown gaze felt like a physical touch.

"Mmmm. Thank you, love." He rubbed circles on the small of Reed's back. He wanted to stay in the tub a little longer, so he kept it soothing.

"Tell me that this is real—this thing between us?"

"I've never had anything more real in my life, Reed. Not the business, certainly not another relationship. I met you, and I knew. You had to be mine." He was still a little in awe of that fact. He'd never been one hundred percent sure he believed in a mate that was his alone through fate until Reed.

"I was yours. I was from the honeybun."

"Thank you, love." What else could he say? He squeezed Reed's ass cheeks a little, which earned him a little gasp.

"I—I can feel it again."

"I can too. Your skin is getting hot, and it's not the bath. Let's head back to bed. I'll get us some juice, and we can make out like crazy."

Reed laughed, clearly delighted. "Okay. Let me rinse us off."

They splashed happily for a few, before Reed stood, letting him see the half hard prick.

"I love that you trust me enough to share this with me, little bear." He kissed the tip of Reed's cock, humming in his chest.

"Bear…" Reed arched for him, rumbling in sheer joy.

"Mmmmhmm." Hot and hard. Look at that. All for him. He dragged his tongue over the slit, the drops of liquid there pure joy.

"Mmmmore." Reed was slurring a little, his heat flaring again, his body taking over from his brain.

"Everything you need, mate. Everything." He kept licking, keeping the touch painfully gentle. Everything he knew about heat told him a blow job wouldn't help take the raging fire away, but this was just a prelude.

Soon he would love on his little bear again, and if Reed's heat hadn't subsided, he'd have his mate call in sick.

They were going to stay right where they were until this was done. This was only for them, and Reed didn't need the kind of problems it would give him to go to work if he wasn't totally under control.

Reed deserved to be clearheaded at work, and he wanted to care for his mate while he was in so much need.

"You're good to me." Reaching down, Reed stroked his hair, then his cheek. "I can feel how much you care for me. It's kind of a glow."

"I love you, little bear. You're my heartbeat."

"Bear." Reed smiled, stroking his cheek.

He licked at sucked and fondled, just letting the need build. Reed was wet for him, really soaking, and he knew there was no way his little love would go back to work tomorrow. No way. After this round, he would call the cabin's owner, and he'd have Reed call work.

Now, though, he would push Reed to the edge before sliding inside him and giving him sweet relief.

They would have to follow their instincts, be their natural selves.

He sucked hard, closing his eyes and pulling, and Reed cried out.

"Tyler! I need you. This isn't—It's not enough. Please. In me."

He surged up and carried his mate to the bed, answering his lover's need. As soon as Reed's body hit the bed, he spread his ass glistening with his wetness, and he begged Tyler with little sounds.

So he thrust right in, no teasing, no waiting.

Reed's roar suited him to the bone, and he drove into his little bear, filling him over and over. They were lost in the need, the sweat and love and Reed's desperation.

The alpha in him rejoiced. He was made for this—to adore and protect and love his little bear. And Reed was so giving, so hot and perfect and yielding.

"Yes, bear. Yes. Yours all the way, love." Reed's soul was wide open, eager to meet his halfway.

"Love." He let his knot fill Reed up, knowing they could be making a new life. The idea filled him with such joy.

Yes. Yes. Yes. The little song spun around his head, Reed's need drawing him deeper and deeper.

He gritted his teeth to keep from coming, his balls urgently trying to tell him that now was the time. But it wasn't time until Reed came, until he knew Reed wasn't going to burn alive from the heat raging through him.

Reed was his and it was his privilege to take the best care of him.

They shared hard kisses, both of them hungry and needing—even after their acrobatics. Tyler was going to be a wrung-out shell soon.

He laughed, and Reed touched his cheek. "That's a good sound. I can tell."

"A happy one."

"Good. I want to make you happy. I want this to be ours, you know? Our own."

"I do too." Reed just gave him the most beautiful smile. Then he grimaced. "Tyler! It aches."

"I know, love. I'm here to ease you, all the way to the bone."

"Please." Reed started moving faster, the cycle building again. They could do this, and then they would sleep. After they called in sick.

"Can I? I never have, but…"

"You will." He jerked Reed down onto his growing knot.

"I—Oh! Oh, yes."

There. He must have hit just the right spot. Perfect. The strain faded some from Reed's face, his eyes soft, his mouth slack.

"That's it. That's the place I need you most," Reed murmured.

"Yeah. I'm amazing," he teased.

"You are." Reed nodded, body swaying back and forth, taking all of him. "Made for me. I swear. My bear."

There was a quiet inside his little bear, a growing peace as he worked hard to keep his thrusts right where they were.

This was it. Somehow Tyler felt as if this time was momentous. Their magic flared between them, wild and perfect, sparking something new deep within. He wasn't straining now, he was thrusting, loving, his body deep into its second wind. Reed matched him—less panicked now than nearly liquid.

The moment stretched on and on, and Reed finally let out another roar, his body clenching around Tyler, who shot until he slumped down and refused to move ever again.

He draped over Reed, humming under his breath. "Love you, little bear."

"Love you, too, Tyler. Thank you." Reed patted his back, and Tyler hummed at the sweet comfort Reed gave.

"Singing to me." Reed's smile was warm.

"I am. The song is good between us." Tyler loved Reed's smile.

"It is. It's…everything." Reed melted into the sheets.

"Sleep, love. I'll take care of you." He would, too, including grabbing Reed's phone and emailing in. There was no sense in Reed getting an earful in the morning. He said the whole agency was sort of breathing this week because of the big event the week before.

One way or the other, he wouldn't let anyone harass his little bear. Never again.

This was his to protect, and Tyler took that very seriously.