“Always.” Leyden rolled them, pinned Connor beneath his weight. Not threatening, just close. “You’re my mate. My partner. My other half. I’d choose you every single time.”
Connor believed that too.
Epilogue
Five months later
“Morning.” Connor kissed the hollow of Leyden’s throat, right above the claiming bite. Felt Leyden’s pulse jump beneath his lips.
“Hmm…morning.” Leyden’s hand slid down Connor’s spine, settled at the small of his back. “Did you sleep well?”
“I always do with you.” Connor traced the lines of muscle across Leyden’s chest and tweaked his mate’s nipple. His body stirred with interest, warmth pooling low in his belly. “How long until we need to be up?”
Leyden glanced at the clock. “About an hour and a half.”
“Good.” Connor shifted, straddled Leyden’s hips. Ground down deliberately. “Because I want you.”
Leyden’s pupils dilated, hands gripping Connor’s thighs.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Connor leaned down, brushing his mate’s lips with his own. “Inside me. Now.”
They’d found their rhythm since their time in the cabin. Connor initiated when he recognized his desire had built enough to want the connection. Leyden never pushed, never assumed, always waited for Connor to say what he needed.
Connor reached for the lube on the nightstand – it was kept there permanently now. There was something deeply erotic about preparing himself, especially under Leyden’s hot gaze. For Connor it was an added form of foreplay.
“Tell me you’re ready.” Leyden’s voice came rough, strained.
“More than ready.” Connor coated Leyden’s cock with lube before positioning himself. As he felt Leyden’s cock breach hisbody, he gasped, using Leyden’s chest to steady himself as he slowly sunk down. “Gods, that feeling never gets old.”
They moved together, Connor riding Leyden hard, chasing the pleasure he knew waited. Leyden’s hands guided his hips, angled him just right until…
Connor cried out, nails digging into Leyden’s pecs.There. Right there.
“That’s it,” Leyden growled. “Take what you need.”
Connor moved faster, losing himself in the sensations. Through their bond, Leyden’s pleasure amplified his own, fed back and forth until Connor couldn’t separate where his pleasure ended and Leyden’s began. As he climaxed, it was as if the feelings were being echoed as Leyden hit his climax, too.
He collapsed forward, breathing hard against Leyden’s neck.
“Definitely a good morning,” Connor muttered.
Leyden laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest. “Best wake-up call I’ve ever had.”
“You say that every time I suggest this.”
“Because it’s true every time.” Leyden rolled them carefully, slipping free. He kissed Connor’s temple. “I’ll never get tired of you wanting me.”
Connor’s chest warmed. Leyden still looked at him like he’d hung the moon. Connor caught his reflection in Leyden’s eyes, recognized the same adoration staring back.
“Love you,” Connor said simply.
“Love you too.”
They showered together, which Connor had finally learned to tolerate around month three. Now he actually enjoyed it. Simple things like Leyden washing his back, the casual intimacy of sharing space.
“It’s a big day today,” Leyden said, lathering shampoo through Connor’s hair. “Six months as alpha mate.”
