Chapter Twelve

Glass

I had the mate of my heart, my loins, and my brain. Sweet, naughty, and kinky all combined in one creamy package. How could one stalk be so lucky? I couldn't help staring at him as we relaxed in the backyard after our dicks sent up the white flag and begged for a break.

Should I have been concerned about the quantity of chocolate and sugar in every crevice I possessed? Probably. Even my fuzzies were glued together at this point. Crusted from leaves to roots, I was dessert for my lion.

The bedroom was going to have to be hosed down, ceiling to floor. Did I care? Great Rhu knows I didn't. All I wanted was to make Apollo mine forever. It was time to mate as rhubarb, lion, and man before either of us wilted.

"Are you listening to me?" Apollo grumbled, nudging me and distracting me from my thoughts.

"Of course I'm listening." But I hadn't been, and I was relieved when he didn't call me out.

He snuggled against me. "Don't you want to have your own bed here, like Tim and Ricky?"

I looked down at the large patch of freshly turned soil. "This is for me?" I was aware the pride had tried to accommodate their rhubarb mates. Tim and Ricky rarely slept in town now. It just hadn't occurred to me they would do the same for me.

Apollo rolled his eyes. "Knew you weren't listening. This is for you when you need to root, eat and sleep. I dug it out before we… uh… I dug it out a few days ago, okay?"

The last words came out in a rush, and it took me a moment to process them. "You dug it before you agreed to be my mate?"

His cheeks turned crimson, and he refused to look at me. "Maybe… sort of… yeah." He finished off with a sigh that was all embarrassment.

"Why did you do that?"

He groaned and rested his head on my shoulder. "Because I hoped… I just wasn't sure. But I knew you'd need a bed. And I'm a lion who likes to be prepared for things, so I didn't see the harm in planning. You know, like the buffet."

Warmth filled my chest. Great Rhu, I had the most thoughtful mate that ever existed. "And you'll sleep here too?"

"If you want me to." But I could see the hope in his eyes when he looked directly at me, his pink cheeks looking all shades of adorable.

"In handcuffs?"

"From mane to claws in rope, if that's what you want," Apollo said breathlessly, going more rhubarb red.

I hauled him closer against me, inhaling our combined scent, feeling my body miraculously stir. "That works for me, my lion. You will lie beside me wrapped in red ropes while I sleep and eat. Then in the morning I'll carry you into your bedroom and drive you wild as I tease your skin."

He swallowed hard. "How… how would you do that?"

"I have feathers and clothes pegs and all kinds of fun toys." I had spent a long time adding to my collection of toys.

Apollo was quiet for so long I was concerned I'd scared him.

"Talk to me," I said, putting my arm around his shoulders. "Does the thought scare you?" I was relieved when he shook his head.

"It excites me," he confessed as he pressed his hot cheek against me.

"Then what's the problem?"

"I've got no experience," he whispered, as if scared of his confession.

I couldn't help my chuckle as I turned to face him, cupping his jaw. "Baby, you might not have experience, but you certainly don't lack imagination. Do you know how much fun you are?"

His brows tugged together. "Is that good?"

I decided my worried lion needed his alpha to show him just how much he was excited by his omega's imagination.

"Strip," I ordered.

"Here?" he squeaked, looking about at the dirt.

I nodded, letting him go to sit up and fold my arms across my chest while I waited for him to obey. So far, he'd been driving this relationship. Now it was my turn. But first I had a message to send to my brother as Apollo stripped off his sweats and T-shirt.

My mate and I are busy in the backyard.

You don't have to be coy, Tim replied, chuckling.

Get lost, Twirlie.

He snickered. Don't worry. You can get busy in peace. I'll tell the pride.

Thank you.

I meant it. My lion and I were still negotiating our relationship, and we didn't need an audience. I wanted him skin to skin now, my teeth buried into the crook of his neck.

"Sir." Apollo stood in front of me, his wrists crossed behind his back. Then he bowed his head. I loved him submitting to me.

He was so beautiful with his curls falling around his flushed cheeks, his pose perfect. Someone had been researching on the internet. I'd teach him how I'd like him to pose for me, but we had all the time in the world to work it out, together.

"We need to mate," I said, stepping into his space.

He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as I ran my hand down his back and cupped his ass cheek. "Now?" he asked, squeaking again.

"It has to be done."

Apollo furrowed his brow, a look of alarm appearing in his eyes. "Are you going to wilt like Tim did?"

"It's a possibility," I admitted. I didn't know how it worked as I was the alpha, but I wasn't taking any chances for Apollo or me. "We need to bite as humans and as shifters."

I nuzzled in the crook of his neck, loving the way my mate exposed more of his skin to me. "You smell amazing. I know it's fast, but I couldn't imagine my life without you."

"You'll have me forever," he promised, finishing on a strangled note as I bit his neck.

"Fuck," he breathed out, his scent increasing and sending desire swirling through me.

"Not yet," I murmured around his flesh. Someone liked being bitten as much as I loved doing it. The taste of his blood sent shockwaves through me. Fuck, I'd need to remember this for future reference. My mate was damn tasty. I licked the wound, then pulled the neck of my shirt to one side to let Apollo bite me. "Your turn."

When his fangs sank without hesitation into my flesh, my cock throbbed at how hard it became in appreciation of the bite of pain.

I rubbed my erection against his, and Apollo moaned. "Can we fuck now?" he panted, his lower body grinding against mine once his teeth released.

I kissed the tip of his nose before stepping back to strip off my clothes, and then I moved close enough for my mate to catch me when I shifted into my rhubarb form.

The feel of his palms against my fuzzies drove me wild.

Bite me! I commanded.