by Lisa Oliver
Moving through water was so much different to walking normally. Owen was buffeted, one side and then the other as the water churned around him. Fortunately, the bathroom wasn’t that big, and Owen’s lungs were, his animal side lending him the necessary power to keep going without breathing. Already his lungs were shrieking at him, but Owen would not be deterred.
As soon as he was within grasping distance, Owen wrapped his arm around Baby’s waist. There was so much he wanted to say, again, but this time the water choked his words. Catching a brief glimpse of Nereus’s shocked face, and Luke’s concern bleeding through his aura, Owen closed his eyes, and willed them home – to Thurso – or more specifically, Baby’s bedroom.
“Oh, my mate, my poor, poor mate,” Owen crooned as he summoned thick bath sheets, flung his hand to command the fire in the grate, and wrapped them both securely enough so he could sit in one of two large armchairs. A thought could dry them both, but Owen was gutted by the changes in his mate. The desolation Baby was feeling smothered the usual happy colors in his aura. Owen didn’t have a clue what had made his mate so unhappy, so quickly, but he guessed the outburst had been brewing for a long time.
At least the screaming had stopped, but now Baby sat silent, only the tremors running through his body giving any indication of the upset he was still feeling. Owen worried, briefly, about saying anything. He’d heard what his bear had told Baby about him opening his mouth and stuffing things up. He couldn’t risk doing that again.
But he had to try something. Their entire mating could be at stake. Keeping his voice low, Owen said, “Once upon a time, just over a thousand years ago, a grumpy polar bear shifter, who happened to be a god as well, was communing with his oracle when an amazing thing happened. Light blazed across his mind’s eye, shooting stars and rainbows. The grumpy polar bear had never seen anything like it, immediately seeking answers to what had to have been a joyous event.”
Baby nestled a little bit closer to his chest and Owen tightened his arms, just a smidge. “The grumpy bear was amazed when he got his answers,” he continued in the same low voice. “A young male had been born, a product of two totally different gods, and the grumpy bear learned that sweet soul was to be his fated mate. Thank goodness, the bear had patience. He knew it would be many long years before he’d be able to claim the one meant for him, but he was happy to wait – secure in the knowledge it would happen one day.”
Wiping his face on Owen’s now dry t-shirt, magic is a wonderful thing, Baby looked up, the questions obvious even while his aura was still subdued. Owen knew he had to keep talking. “The years passed, and the grumpy bear shifter kept an eye on his growing mate. He smiled at the first wobbly steps, he laughed when the teenage boy called the waters for the first time and flooded Poseidon’s bedroom. But as the young man grew into a truly sensational young god, the bear god’s worries grew too.”
“Worried? You?” Baby’s throat sounded raspy. Owen clicked his fingers for a cup of hot chocolate, complete with marshmallows. Handing it to his mate, he continued.
“The god might have been a bear shifter, but he was also set in his ways. He went from being revered to being whispered about, and yes, he was lucky because his peoples believed in the oral tradition of passing on stories from elders to the young generations. So, his name prevailed, as did the belief in him. But…”
“But?” Baby prompted. His aura was slowly starting to glow.
“The god had not lived life as most people knew it.” Owen’s voice dropped to a whisper. “He wandered the earth on occasion, even ridden a motorbike and he could drive a car. He got tattoos, he ate at a variety of places, and even went to bars, pubs, and clubs but he always arrived and left alone.
“He visited his people, when they called for him like Luke used to do, but he was always aware of how helpless he was in those situations once the non-interference laws came in. After that came into effect, he lived in his ice castle, cut off from the basics of life like lovers, families, and freely given affection. He had one companion in all that time, crafted from a soul in the ether, with a heart as cold as the ice around them both. And in the meantime, that grumpy bear watched his young mate throw himself into everything life had to offer. It was glorious and terrifying all at once.”
Wriggling around a bit in his seat, Baby pulled the bath sheet further up around his neck, and nuzzled in, his curls ticking the bottom of Owen’s chin as he took a sip of his chocolate. “Maybe the grumpy bear should stop talking in the third person and start telling his so-called young mate what he actually means.”
“I’ve never been with anyone in the physical sense.” Owen fixed his unseeing gaze on the wall above Baby’s bed. “The kiss I shared with you was my first, not just with you, but for all time. I’ve never lived as part of a family or taken a person out on a date. I’ve never lived life in any of the senses you’re familiar with and I was terrified, that when you learned that about me, you’d laugh in my face and reject me completely.”
Silence settled over the room like a warm blanket, broken only by the crackle of the flames and the sound of two men breathing and the occasional sip Baby took from his cup. Owen had laid himself bare, exposed his vulnerability and greatest fear. All he could do was stay in the moment, relishing the warmth of his mate’s body curled up in his arms.
“I got completely overwhelmed at Nereus’s today,” Baby confided sometime later. He allowed his cup to float to the floor. “Luke cuddling you stirred up jealousies I didn’t believe I was capable of. Kurt kneeling in respect to you, later Luke and Ollie too, reinforced to me just how revered you are. Everyone was so happy, so relaxed; there was so much love flowing between the mates and they were all so natural with Ollie, I just felt… jealous they were taking up your time when I wanted you to be focused on me... which was petty of me. And then… unworthy, I felt so unworthy to be the mate of a god who is respected so deeply. And the thing was, I wanted to run far away, but I couldn’t because my whole mind, body, and soul wanted you in a way I don’t understand because it’s never happened to me like this before.”
“I never meant for you to feel that way.” Owen curled further over Baby, resting his chin firmly on Baby’s curls.
“It wasn’t anything you did, that was what was so frustrating. I’m just not sure I ever fit in anywhere. It’s like, from my first memories I remember Poseidon telling me how Himeros never wanted me because he was useless as a parent and a lover. But he’d say it as a joke, you know, because nothing was important to him back then except his precious sea. I’d ask Artemas, about Himeros, and he showed me books and pictures, that didn’t tell me anything except how much Himeros liked to party.”
“Himeros does have a reputation for such things,” Owen said cautiously.
“I could accept that. It’s not as though I’d met the guy until recently, but you’d think, if one parent was absent then the other one would be twice as loving to make up for it. That never happened for me. And with Artie always involved in his studies, and my other brothers busy with their lives, it was like I didn’t matter. I was like a spare kid no one knew what to do with, shoved into a corner and expected to just stay out the way. I wasn’t important. I never felt cared for by any of them. And I felt like that again today. That I wasn’t good enough for you and yet I wanted you so badly I ached from it.”
“Which meant the fears that kept me from approaching you didn’t help your state of mind either, did they? I’m so sorry.” Owen mentally cursed his foolishness. In all the centuries he’d watched Baby, he’d widened the gap between them, instead of making himself known so they could have learned to live life together. He’d let Baby go out into the world, unloved, uncared for, looking for a sense of connection he’d never found at home, when they could have forged a home together. I’ve been such a fool.
Baby thought for a moment. Owen could almost hear his synapses singing. Then he looked up, his hand confident on Owen’s scruff. “You’ve truly never had sex before with another pe
rson?”
Owen shook his head.
“Have you ever thought about what it might be like, or what you might like, if you were with a person that way?”
Owen reached up and scratched the back of his head. “I’ve thought about you that way… at times… occasionally...” Every damn day.
“And in your occasional thoughts, have you ever worked out what you’d like to do, if I was in your arms, like I am right now?”
“I’ve never seen,” Owen tapped the arm of his dark glasses that he was still wearing. “I don’t understand how one goes from hello at a bar, to sucking someone’s dick.”
“Well, we’re not in a bar.” Owen could feel Baby smiling. “And we’re well passed the hello stage.” Hands traced their way down Owen’s body, causing his libido to rise along with his fears. “While the basic mechanics are the same, especially among men, the way they prefer to reach their climax is entirely due to personal preference.”
“Baby.” Owen could hear the tortured element in that one word. He wanted to slap the hands away as much as he wanted to press into them. “You’ve had a very upsetting day...”
“Nope, nope, nope.” Baby pressed closer. “That’s your fear talking. I totally understand. Intimacy requires a lot of trust, especially when it’s a new sensation for you. I can accept you not trusting me yet, but don’t lie and tell me you don’t want me.”
“I would never ever lie to you. I do want you. But…”
“Nope.” Baby pressed a finger over Owen’s lips. “No buts, except maybe my butt, but you might not even want to have anal sex, and that’s okay too. You said you’d seen me throw myself into life. Now, I’m throwing my life at you. I made a promise to your gorgeous bear, and I’m going to keep it. I’d like for us to be intimate with each other, but if you feel after tonight, you don’t want that level of closeness with me…”
“I fucking do!” If there ever was a time for swearing, Owen felt now was good. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“Then let me show you. Take your glasses off.” Baby shrugged off the bath sheet and slipped off his lap, holding out his hand. After a long second, Owen took it, allowing Baby to pull him up and lead him towards the bed, dropping his glasses on the chair.
Chapter Fifteen
Sex is a great leveler, Baby decided as he led his reluctant and still anxious mate to the huge bed he’d custom designed himself. All this time, he’d worried about being unworthy of a revered god like Owen, when at the same time, Owen was having performance anxieties of his own, just of a different kind.
Not that Baby didn’t have a few flutter-butterflies of his own residing in his stomach. In a bar or club situation, sex was easy. A wink, a nudge, maybe a drink or two, but both people were already on the same page, and all that was left was to negotiate mechanics. Baby had a few trust issues of his own; nothing to do with giving up his body. It was his heart he was in danger of losing to Owen.
But there were some actions that were as natural to Baby as breathing. Stopping by the bed, he turned, facing the bigger man who was still wearing a frown. “I don’t expect you to undress me,” he said quietly, tugging Owen’s t-shirt out of his jeans and sliding his hands against Owen’s skin. “I don’t know if your unique way of viewing the world allows you to tell the difference between cotton and denim. But you don’t seem to have a problem with nakedness, which is like most shifters I’ve met, and getting naked is a good start to any intimate situation, don’t you agree? I’d love to undress you.”
“What do I do?”
“Stand there, looking amazingly hunky, and if you feel like expressing your emotions you’re free to say so, or move accordingly.” Baby slid Owen’s t-shirt up, revealing so much tattooed skin. Yum.
“You mentioned bar hook ups, which I imagine you’ve seen through your perving on me.” Baby ignored Owen’s growl. They were well past the petty jealousy stage. His hands had reached Owen’s shoulders. “Lift up.”
Oops, he’s too tall. Baby levitated, easily pulling Owen’s t-shirt off, before willing his feet back to the ground, and dropping Owen’s top on the floor. “What a lot of people don’t realize, the ones who indulge in that sort of sexual activity all the time, is there is a lot to be said for taking time to explore a body, before getting your rocks off.
“Like your body, for example.” Baby let his fingers wander. “You have incredible skin; you’re like a work of art. I could spend hours running the tip of my tongue over every line and swirl. But this,” Baby cupped Owen’s more than ample package which was straining the durability of the denim covering. “This suggests, you’re already primed and ready to go. Let’s give your cock and balls some air, shall we?”
Owen didn’t answer, but his jawline was tight, and his eyes were closed. Baby knelt at Owen’s feet. “Boots have to come off first. You have no idea how embarrassing forgetting footwear removal can be, unless the person you’re undressing is in a skirt or kilt. Lift.” He tapped Owen’s left foot.
One boot off, then the second. From where Baby was kneeling it would be so easy to free that delicious looking lump from Owen’s pants and suck him down. But that wouldn’t be the intimacy Baby craved, so instead he rose up, trailing his hands up the folds of the jeans, tight in places and eased in others. Owen’s legs were sturdy and well-formed.
“These jeans have to go.” Baby popped the metal dome at the waistband. “Are you wearing underwear?” Easing the zipper slightly, Baby peeked. “Nope. But when you’re undressing a well-endowed man like yourself, or me,” he added cheekily, “you want to be sure you don’t get any precious skin caught in the zipper.
“One way to do it,” Baby slipped a hand in Owen’s pants, pressing his palm against Owen’s length, forming a barrier between Owen’s throbbing cock, and the jean’s zip. “Is to go slowly.” The sound of the zipper rivaled Owen’s harsh breathing. As soon as the zipper was fully open, Baby tucked his other hand inside, running it down the deep V of the bare hip, curling slightly as his fingers encountered Owen’s heavy balls.
“I bet your scent is strong around your balls,” Baby breathed. The slow tease was driving him nuts as well. “One day soon, I’m going to get down there and sniff, slobber, and suck to my heart’s content. And you’re going to let me, aren’t you?”
“Ugh.”
Baby would’ve laughed at the reluctant grunt, but his hands had mapped out Owen’s sizable dick, and he was keen to move things along. “We’ll just slide these down.” He forced his hands away from his prize, and slid them down Owen’s hips and thighs, taking the denim with them. He purposefully didn’t touch Owen’s ass, although his fingers tingled at the possibility. “Step out.”
Naked, Owen had the type of body Ancient Greek scholars revered. Solid. Perfectly sculpted. Smooth lines. Hard planes. Drool worthy and worth stroking just to check Owen was real. Because the man was doing a darn good impression of a statue, the only movement being a harsh rise and fall of his chest, causing his dusky cock to bob.
“You’re incredible. Oh, Owen, I do wish you could see you like I can see you.” Baby pulled his shirt over his head, dropping it on the floor while kicking off his boots. His jeans were shucked faster than a blink, and once naked he pressed his naked body against his mate’s. “Now we’re both naked. You can move. You can touch. Owen, please touch me. I won’t break.”
/~/~/~/~/
Owen reached out. Baby’s aura was ablaze of color – silver, gold, a blush of pink and ringed in red. The disconnect between the physical body and the aura all living beings had was tiny, like a blurred line, but that was what Owen reached for. That line meant skin and Owen wanted to run his hands over the skin Baby offered. The charge of electricity between them arced into his touch, Baby’s powers reaching for him. Owen might not have ever been intimate with another person, but the animal instincts of his human side kicked in fast.
Baby’s skin was like a silken ribbon coating finely developed muscles. As Owen’s hands skimmed up, mapping, “s
eeing”, his mate’s body for the first time, he could finally accept the lust he felt was far stronger than anything he’d felt during the pitiful sessions he used to enjoy by himself. His private fantasies never included how incendiary the slide of skin on skin could be; how Baby’s erotic moans and panted breaths added to the sensations already overloading Owen’s logical brain.
And all that was without the impact of Baby’s scent. When Owen first met his mate, he’d been reeled in by the dash of sea spray tinging a scent of musk. Baby’s arousal added a depth to the enticing scent, and Owen inhaled deeply, never wanting to forget their first time. Baby was like a cat, moving as he did, leaning into his touch, his hot lips scorching a path over every ounce of skin he could reach.
His knees getting weaker by the second, Owen took a chance, and the initiative, holding Baby tight as he lowered them both to the bed. He still wasn’t sure how he wanted to get off, but he knew his animal spirit wouldn’t allow anything to get in the way of their claiming. Having only felt his hand around his cock and balls before, Baby’s touch was enough for him to climax, but he wanted something deeper and more meaningful between them.
And it seemed Baby felt the same way. The man rolled them both, Owen laying flat on his back, with Baby’s much slimmer body wriggling over the top of him, trapping their hardened lengths between them.
“I don’t bottom often,” Baby panted between kisses to his chest and biceps. “But for you I just have to, at least for this first time. I’ll prep myself. I can teach you all about that another time. For now, you just have to lay there.” He raised up long enough to slide his hand between them. The firm hand around his length made Owen moan. “You’re so big. You’re going to feel amazing inside of me. We seriously need to move this along.”
Owen agreed, but he couldn’t find enough brain power to muster a response. His hands were busy enough, feeling all the nooks and crannies of his mate’s body – marveling at smoothness one minute, and then praising human design when a scrape of his fingernail across a nipple made Baby gasp. There was a wantonness in Baby’s movements that added fuel to the fire Owen had raging in him.
