Reese leaned over and slid the drawer open. His body pressed against Sonny’s, the contact making them both groan. He grabbed the lube and straightened, settling back between his mate’s thighs.
Sonny was trembling now, small tremors running through his frame. His breathing was uneven, cock leaking steadily against his stomach. “I’m nervous. Just so you know. In case the rambling and the shaking weren’t clear indicators or you missed the second time I said it.”
Reese wrapped his hand around Sonny’s erection, stroking slowly. His mate’s whole body jerked, a broken sound escaping his throat. The reaction made satisfaction curl through Reese’s gut, made his bear rumble with the knowledge that he could make Sonny fall apart.
“Stop thinking,” Reese said again. He slicked his fingers with lube, the liquid cool against his skin. His free hand stayed on Sonny’s cock, stroking in a steady rhythm.
* * * *
Sonny looked down the length of himself, at Reese’s large hand wrapped around his shaft, his thumb smearing pre-cum with deliberate slowness. And all the stuff in his head tried to pile up at once.
“That’s easier said than done,” Sonny blurted out, his voice wobbling between arousal and embarrassment. “My brain doesn’t have an off switch. Like, even in my sleep, its probably just running simulations of worst-case scenarios, like what if we do this and then you decide actually, no, you’re more into wolves and then I have to move again but only after I’ve told my entire family about you because, wow, they would be so smug about me finally getting a mate, and then—”
His train of thought derailed with shocking abruptness. Reese’s slicked fingers pressed lower, nudging behind Sonny’s balls to stroke along skin. The direct, exploratory pressure made Sonny’s words catch in his throat. The rest of him shut down—consciousness, vocabulary, fine-motor control, even the ability to see in color for a second. Everything narrowed to the heat and the throb and the careful, patient way Reese circled his rim with a slippery finger.
“Oh,” Sonny managed, breathless, the last syllable trailing into a whimper. His hands clutched the pillowcase like a lifeline. “That’s… Wow, that’s—”
Reese pressed in with just the tip, retreating then sliding back, gentle yet relentless. Sonny’s hips tried to jerk, but Reese’s other hand pinned him. Every time he thought he could remember how to speak, Reese pushed a little farther, until all Sonny could do was make helpless noises.
“Oh,” Sonny said again, weaker this time.
* * * *
Reese felt his control fraying, the edges of it burning away under the relentless heat building at the base of his skull. Sonny’s body clenched around him, tight and perfect, every muscle trembling with the effort of taking what Reese was giving him. His mate’s sounds had gone high and broken, desperate little gasps that punched out of him with each thrust. The scent of arousal and sweat and something sweeter filled Reese’s lungs and made his bear snarl with the need to claim.
Not yet. Not until Sonny was ready.
He wrapped his hand around Sonny’s flushed length. His mate’s whole body jerked at the contact, a cry tearing from his throat. Reese stroked in time with his thrusts, feeling Sonny fall apart under him piece by piece.
“Can’t—I can’t—” Sonny’s words dissolved into another broken sound. His hands had given up on the pillow, reaching down to grip Reese’s forearm braced beside his head. The touch was desperate, needy. “Reese, I’m going to—”
“Yes.” The word came out as a growl. His hips snapped forward harder, driving his cock deeper. The angle made Sonny’s back arch, made his mouth fall open on a silent scream. “Let go. I have you.”
Sonny locked up, muscles taut. His cock pulsed in Reese’s hand, cum spilling hot across his stomach. The sight of it, the feel of Sonny clenching rhythmically around him, pushed Reese right to the edge. His bear roared, demanding the claim be sealed.
Reese leaned down, lips finding the junction where Sonny’s shoulder met throat. The skin was damp with sweat, salty under his tongue. Sonny’s pulse hammered rabbit-fast against Reese’s mouth. His mate turned his head slightly, exposing more of his throat in submission.
Motherfuck. Reese’s orgasm slammed through him, white-hot and consuming. His canines pierced soft shoulder, finally claiming his bunny..
Their heart’s synchronized, the bond snapping into place.
Mine.
He released Sonny’s shoulder and licked the wound closed, breathing hard. His hips jerked forward once, twice more, aftershocks rolling through him. Sonny was trembling underneath him, small whimpers escaping his throat with each breath, body slack.
The bond was sealed. Reese pulled out slowly, watching as Sonny’s body released him. His mate made a soft sound of protest, something that might have been “don’t go.”
“Not going anywhere.” Reese settled beside Sonny, pulling his mate against him. Sonny came easily, tucking himself into the curve of Reese’s body like he belonged there. The fit was perfect, natural. His mate’s head found the hollow of Reese’s shoulder, breath warming his skin.
“So tired.” Sonny’s voice was slurred with exhaustion, his words running together. “Need sleep and possibly food.”
His arm tightened around Sonny. His bear was growling softly with satisfaction, finally settled now that the bond was complete. “We belong to each other now.”
Sonny was quiet for a long moment, his breathing evening out against Reese’s shoulder. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. “Good. I like belonging to you. That’s probably weird to say after knowing you for basically two days, but I don’t care. It feels right.”
The admission made warmth spread through Reese’s body, his bear rumbling with contentment. The trust in that was staggering, considering everything Sonny had been through in the last few days.
“Sleep.” Reese drew slow circles on Sonny’s back, feeling vertebrae through soft skin. “You’re safe here. The hyenas can’t reach you.”
