Seth kept his eyes on Riley’s face. He liked watching the sweet furrow of concentration on Riley’s brow. His forest scent was stronger than ever and more nuanced than Seth had ever noticed—damp earth and sharp bark and traces of fog. Seth breathed it in, losing himself in Riley’s dark gaze as heat swirled in his belly.
“This is very intense,” Riley whispered. The hand holding Seth’s leg up was shaking.
“Yeah,” Seth agreed. “So intense.”
How could it not be, with both of them staring into each other’s eyes like the other one would disappear if either of them blinked?
Seth giggled at the thought, some of his feral energy waning now that he was getting what he needed. The sound cut off into a sharp whine as Riley finally bottomed out with one hard thrust, his hips pressed firmly into the vee of Seth’s thighs. Seth immediately wrapped his arms and legs around him again, holding him in place.
Oh God. Seth was full. Perfectly, blissfullyfull.
He felt giddy with it. It didn’t help that through their newbond, Seth could feel the sharp spikes in Riley’s pleasure, his satisfaction at sheathing himself inside Seth. And then there was Seth’s own arousal, the hot pool in his belly that had him clenching down on Riley’s cock. It was desire layered on top of desire, sharp want and heady lust swirling together. Seth’s veins were full of it, his muscles trembling with the force of their joint emotions.
“My mate,” Riley rasped, deep and hoarse in Seth’s ear. Seth couldn’t tell if it was the vampire or the man speaking. It didn’t matter. They were one and the same, Seth’s loves. Their appetites might have been different, but they were part of the same soul, the one Riley had linked to Seth’s own with blood and pain.
Vampire. Man. Monster. Boy. Every part of Riley belonged to Seth, just as every part of Seth belonged to Riley in turn.
Riley groaned, his breath hot on Seth’s neck, and then they began to rock together, skin sliding against skin, just the way Seth had wanted. Their joining was desperate and wordless and deep.
So, so deep.
Seth let the pleasure take over. He was babbling, something stupid and sappy with a lot of “oh fucks” thrown in, but he couldn’t seem to stop.
He could have come just like that, his cock rubbing against Riley’s firm stomach as Riley filled him, but Riley suddenly withdrew and flipped Seth over, impaling him from behind before Seth could even protest the loss. He bore down into Seth again and again, chanting now, the words frantic and fevered. “Mate. My mate.”
Seth arched his back, hissing his approval. That was right. Seth was Riley’s. He’d given up his mortality, and in return he’d gained this perfect, primal devotion.
Seth wouldn’t take the gift for granted. He’d nurture it, protect it, and return it with his own tenfold. He’d be the best mate he could be for this brave boy who’d found Seth in these woods,who’d been as patient as he could bear while Seth adjusted to their fate.
“Love you,” Seth moaned. “Love you. Love you.”
Riley pressed him down into the mattress, deep and insistent until Seth was flat on his belly, Riley’s hands digging into the mattress by his head. The pleasure that had been building without mercy crested, and they shuddered together, Riley’s release filling Seth just as his spurted onto the sheets.
It was the most natural thing in the world for Seth to lunge forward and press his lips to Riley’s wrist, to let his mouth fall open, to let his fangs slide in, to suck and swallow what flowed out to coat his tongue.
Riley’s blood was rich and earthy and decadent, just like the forest that surrounded them. It was his essence, his life force, full of all the strength and power that lay hidden under the beautiful, vulnerable exterior.
“Yes,” Riley murmured, letting his weight fall once again over Seth’s body, covering him completely. Keeping him in place. Keeping him close. “Take it. It’s yours.”
Yes, Seth thought, gulping greedily as the new presence inside him rejoiced.Mine.
30
RILEY
Riley tugged gently at the curls tickling his chin. “Seth.”
There was no answer except Seth adding teeth to the hot, biting kiss he’d been pressing to Riley’s neck.
Riley shivered, his hands clenching against the steering wheel. He couldn’t help the blood that rushed straight to his dick, especially when Seth’s strong fingers found Riley’s cock over his jeans.
“Baby,” Riley tried again.
Seth lazily soothed the sting of the bite with his tongue, fingers dancing over Riley’s bulge. “Mm?”
“We have to get out of the car.”
Now Seth pressed a pout to the tender skin he’d been mauling. “Why?”
