“Does anyone else want to challenge my beta?” Ramsey asked and then waited. “Does anyone want to challenge Bennett for the head enforcer’s position?”
Garridan felt a tickle at his feet and saw a black snake with two yellow stripes running down its back. He smiled at his mate.
Ramsey was the one who picked Sage up, handing him to Garridan as he did. Shifters were used to being naked in front of each other but being vulnerable enough to bend over in front of the entire clan was just a little bit too much, even for Garridan. Garridan nodded to Ramsey, thanking him.
Sage wrapped his little snake’s body around Garridan’s arm and then worked his way up his shoulder to his neck, wrapping around it. His head was against Garridan’s cheek.
Someone from the clan gave them an “Awww…that’s so sweet.”
Several more people said, “Yeah.”
Ramsey smirked. “You’re done here, Garridan. Get cleaned up and spend time with your mate. I’ll need you later tonight.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Garridan nodded and left the circle.
Chapter Sixteen
Even after they entered their bedroom, Sage still didn’t remove himself from Garridan’s neck. He was perfectly comfortable where he was, thank you very much.
“Are you going to shift for me, baby?”
Sage didn’t move or even respond through their bonding link. He figured that his lack of response was probably enough of an answer.
Garridan chuckled and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and waited until the water heated. Sage was a little confused when Garridan grabbed not one, but two washcloths from the cupboard before stepping under the spray. Sage basked in the warmth. He had always loved the water.
Garridan bent at the waist and propped his foot up on the side of the tub. That was when Sage saw the bloody wounds.
Sage moved down Garridan’s body and shifted once he was able to get his human feet under him. “Oh my God, you’re hurt! How did I miss this?” Sage grabbed a washcloth from Garridan’s hand and began cleaning one of the puncture wounds on his thigh.
“I’ll be fine,” Garridan said.
“You could have been killed.” Sage knew he had a scowl and yelled. “This is why I didn’t want you to go into the challenge to begin with. It’s a ridiculous way to figure out the hierarchy. Fucking stupid, violent way for things to go. We’re shifters not animals. We should have more common sense than to maim each other. You had nothing to prove, anyway. Everyone can tell you’re the strongest shifter in the clan. They can all just fucking deal with it.” Sage huffed out a breath and looked up at Garridan through his lashes.
Garridan smiled but didn’t say anything.
“What? You have something to say, I can tell, so just say it.”
Garridan shook his head. “Nothing. It’s just that you’re really cute when you get mad.” Garridan grinned and that melted some of Sage’s anger.
Sage blushed at the compliment. “Shut up, I am not.” He moved the bloody cloth over to another puncture wound.
Garridan cupped his cheek with one hand and he leaned forward, lifting Sage’s face so they made eye contact. Garridan kissed him. “So sexy when you’re outraged.”
Sage moved closer, laying the cloth over Garridan’s thigh. He was the one who initiated the kiss, although Garridan took over. His tongue swept inside Sage’s mouth, tasting him. The kiss was more demanding than any others they had shared. Garridan hadn’t demanded anything of him. He knew that Garridan had put his own needs aside so Sage would feel safe. Sage knew Garridan wanted more sex than Sage had been able to give him. The process had been slower than most shifters went through.
Whatever wall had held him back before disappeared. Garridan needed him and Sage was going to make sure he was there.
Sage wrapped his fingers around Garridan’s cock.
Garridan ended the kiss, his lips pressing to Sage’s chin and then along his jaw. Sage moaned when he felt warm lips on his neck. He had always loved having his neck kissed and the way Garridan kissed, as if he were working his way inside Sage’s body through his skin, one slow, press of lips at a time, made Sage crazy with lust. A hot, wet tongue pressed to his neck and then teeth nipped him in that exact same spot, followed by more tongue. Sage moved his hand up Garridan’s shaft and then back down again.
“I want you,” Garridan whispered just beneath his ear.
“Mmm…I want you too.” Sage pumped Garridan’s cock, showing him just how much. “I don’t want to injure your leg even more than it already is, though.”
“I’ll bandage it and then we can make love.” One of Garridan’s hands gripped Sage’s cock and the other ran down his back, kneading his ass cheek.
“Touch me,” Sage said and Garridan ran a finger along the crack of his ass, interpreting Sage’s words correctly.
