Eric pressed back into him with a groan.
Wolfe gave an approving purr, sliding Eric’s leg forward to get at a deeper angle. “You’ve been in your head, Eric darling,” he crooned, pulling out and pressing in again, until his hips were flush against Eric’s ass. “Thinking of other people, other creatures. I want you here with me. No talking. No thinking. Be my perfect cock sleeve only.”
Eric should have known this was coming. There was the dog they were still fostering, for one. Eric had no doubt been giving Rex too much attention. Normally he found a balance between them (not that he would ever tell Wolfe his formula: one pat for Rex, two pats for Wolfe), but he’d been busy lately fussing about holiday preparations and he’d dropped the ball on keeping things equal.
“It’s—” Eric groaned as Wolfe’s hand slid up to circle his throat, his thumb pressing lightly against Eric’s jugular. “It’s a lot of—of pressure, is all.”
“What did I say?” Wolfe squeezed his admonishment. “Hush, pet. I’m occupied.”
Wolfe usually loved hearing anything and everything Eric had to say, but he was clearly feeling some kind of way right now.
Crazy, possessive bastard.
Wolfe rolled them, pressing Eric onto his stomach, his hands caging Eric’s on the bed, and started fucking into him harshly.
Fuck. Eric was going to come untouched tonight, wasn’t he? After whatever Wolfe had been doing to him in his sleep, Eric’s cock was weeping already on the sheets, sliding against them torturously with each of Wolfe’s long, slow glides, and it was going to take embarrassingly little to get him there.
He gave in. He let himself be boneless, let himself be used. Call him codependent, but it was a sort of heaven, to be needed like this. For Wolfe to be so desperate for Eric’s time and attention that even the few hours they slept had become unacceptable.
“That’s it, darling,” Wolfe purred. “My perfect mate.”
He picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming shorter, and faster. “You’ll come now, Eric,” he ordered, and bit into Eric’s neck.
And of course that did it—the sharp slide of Wolfe’s teeth in time with his cock punching against Eric’s prostate.
The orgasm still seemed to come out of nowhere—a burst of heat from Eric’s spine all the way down to his toes—and Eric let out a garbled groan, his muscles trembling and his inner walls fluttering. Wolfe growled, biting deeper into Eric’s neck, and then he was filling Eric up as he swallowed his blood. Claiming him from the inside out.
Afterward, Eric lay limp while Wolfe fussed, cleaning him with a warm, wet towel and arranging them so Wolfe was on his back, Eric tucked into his chest.
Eric sighed happily as Wolfe began stroking his hair.
But apparently the time for talking had come.
“Why did you volunteer our home for Thanksgiving if it stresses you so?”
Right. Thanksgiving. Danny and Roman were doing some kitchen renovations that were running late, even with all the extra money and growling Roman was throwing at the problem, so Eric had volunteered his and Wolfe’s home instead. Wolfe hadn’t minded at the time—it was only one day, and he’d already known he had to share Eric with the others for it—but now that it was coming closer and Eric was all in his head about it…
Well, Wolfe clearly didn’t like so much of Eric’s attention elsewhere.
Eric pressed his head into Wolfe’s hand, encouraging more pets. “I want to contribute,” he told him. “To the den.”
Wolfe let out a sigh. “You still worry you don’t belong.”
Damn. Trust Wolfe not to pull his punches.
“That’s not totally true,” Eric hedged.
He knew he had real friendships here. But sometimes he had to wonder: what did he really contribute? In every other couple, there was at least one of the mates who gave a little special something to the den. Danny was their heart—that was clear enough. Soren gave them all his brand of fierce, protective loyalty. Jay rallied them together with his trips and gatherings, and overall would give anything and everything to make those around him happy. Jamie lightened the mood, and smoothed over everyone’s rivalries with his humor. Colin and the twins…well, they did their own thing. But Colin had ties with Jay and Jamie that went beyond anything Eric had held with the others when he’d been turned.
He didn’t know how to say all that. “I just want to make it nice for everyone,” he said instead.
Wolfe tugged gently at his hair, until Eric was looking up at him. “The Tucson faction is remaining where they are to spend the day with their human families. It will be the people you see every day. Danny and Roman. Soren and Gabe. Johann andAlexei. They are your…friends.” He said the word with distaste. “They will already be pleased simply to be there.”
“But I want to do more than just offer up our kitchen.” Eric frowned down at Wolfe’s chest. “I need to contribute.”
He was turning into a broken record. But he couldn’t help it. It was the age-old need. To be good. To be liked. Which was stupid. What was he trying to achieve—perfection? Wolfe was the only person in the world who would possibly think Eric was perfect.
But Wolfe didn’t tell Eric he was stupid. He didn’t even tell him he was perfect, this time.
