When they broke apart, both breathing hard, Leyden rested his forehead against Connor’s shoulder.
“As much as it kills me to say it, it shouldn’t be tonight,” Leyden said. “Tonight we just talk about it, plan for it. I don’t want to rush you into anything. This is a huge step for you – anyone’s first time would be.”
Connor wanted to argue, wanted to say they should just go to bed. But Leyden was right. It was better to think it through, make sure they were both ready.Leyden’s always ready – the one who needs to be is me.
“When?” Connor asked.
“Whenever you want. This weekend, maybe? That gives us time to prepare, make sure we have everything we need.”
Connor nodded. “What do we need?”
“Lube, for one thing. And I want to make sure we have complete privacy. No pack interruptions, no emergencies.”
“Could we go away?” Connor suggested. “Somewhere off pack lands.”
Leyden pulled back to look at him. “You’d be comfortable with that?”
“I think I’d be more comfortable away from the pack house. No one nearby to hear or interrupt.”
“Okay.” Leyden’s smile was soft, genuine. “I’ll arrange something. A cabin, maybe. Somewhere remote.”
There was a long silence, and Connor could feel anticipation working through their bond. His arousal hadn’t faded, and neither had Leyden’s.
“Can we still kiss? In the meantime, I mean,” Connor asked. “I’m not ready to stop touching you.”
Leyden’s answer was to pull Connor’s mouth to his, kissing him with controlled hunger. Connor opened immediately, deepening the kiss, rolling his hips against Leyden’s.
They made out on the couch until Connor’s lips felt hot, until his body ached with want, until stopping required actual willpower.
Connor pulled back, breathing hard. “This weekend.”
“This weekend,” Leyden agreed.
Connor climbed off Leyden’s lap, adjusting himself. “I love you,” he said.
Leyden stood, pulled Connor close for one more kiss. “I love you too.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Friday night, Leyden stripped the bed for the third time, convinced the sheets still smelled wrong. Too much detergent. Not enough maybe. Something…
He shook out fresh linens - the softest he could find - and stretched the fitted sheet across the mattress. Tucked in the corners and smoothed every wrinkle.
The cabin sat deep in neutral territory, miles from any pack lands. Small, rustic, utterly private. Leyden had arranged it two days ago, and had sent Matthew ahead the day before to stock the kitchen and check the plumbing. Everything worked. Everything was ready.
Except Leyden couldn’t stop finding things to tweak.
He finished making the bed, then opened the nightstand drawer to check supplies for the fourth time. Lube - three bottles, different types. Towels were stacked neatly on the shelf. There were water bottles, wipes...
Leyden closed the drawer and almost immediately opened it again. He needed to rearrange everything so the most important supply – lube – was handy when it was needed. He didn’t want to ruin a moment by fumbling for a tube.
You’re being ridiculous.He’d had sex hundreds of times, thousands maybe. He knew what he was doing. He knew how to make it good for his partner.
But his hands still shook as he adjusted the lamp angle.
This isn’t an encounter. This is Connor – my mate – and it’s his first time.
Leyden was determined it had to be perfect.
