by Alanea Alder
“Are you sure?” Rebecca asked.
“I’m very sure. Goodnight, Becca,” He waved at her as she walked out.
He walked over to his mate, who had a hand to his chest.
“That is not possible. It is simply not physically possible!” Claybourne argued. Felix could tell that this information scrambled his mate’s well-ordered world.
“Don’t try and process this right now. Let’s finish packing up the tent then head to your place. I’ll microwave us some food and do my best to distract you.” Felix moved his hand so that it massaged his mate’s firm ass. He had been right. The slacks hid what had to be the most perfect male ass in the world.
Claybourne dropped his head back and sighed.
“It’s been so damn long,” he whispered. Felix could see the muscles in his neck straining. Yup, his mate definitely needed some relaxing and he was just the man to do it.
“Come on, let’s blow this Popsicle stand. We can stop at the store on the way to your house, because I have a feeling you do not have microwaveable food at your house,” Felix said, unable to tear his hand away as it repeatedly smoothed over the mouthwatering contours.
“You’re right, I don’t. But when we get to my house you have to explain this concept of male pregnancy to me. I need as much information as I can get to help Sebastian. Even the shifter physicians I trained with don’t know about this,” he said, looking down at Felix who shrugged.
“We’re raised not to say anything. Being here in Arkadia is a bit different. Everyone would see Sebastian nearly every day, there’s no hiding a pregnancy in a small town. Out amongst humans it’s easier to drop out of sight for a while. Not many male hybrids choose to get pregnant,” Felix said reluctantly, moving his hand away.
“I can imagine why.” Claybourne looked around the nearly empty tent. “Let’s grab these last two boxes, drop them off at the clinic and then you can try to kill me with junk food.” Claybourne sounded more like himself.
“Great! Let’s go.” They grabbed the remaining boxes and walked to Claybourne’s truck. Felix couldn’t wait to unwrap the present that Fate had given him.
Chapter 2
When they drove up to a large, rustic-looking cabin, Felix had to admit he was surprised. He was expecting glass and chrome or something more modern. The cabin was on pride lands on the Arkadion border, so that it was almost right smack-dab in the middle of both group houses.
The landscaping was simple but neat. Everything about the house looked extremely well maintained. Felix was about to follow Claybourne into the house when he caught the scent of something familiar. He set the grocery bags down on the wraparound porch and followed his nose around the side of the house to the backyard. When he rounded the corner he could only stare. Claybourne had created one of the most beautiful gardens he had ever seen. He was dying to shift into a smaller animal and frolic. His body was practically vibrating. He took a step forward as the scent of herb after herb washed over him.
“I see you found my dirty little secret,” Claybourne said, walking up behind him. Felix turned to him.
“This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. This shouldn’t be a secret,” Felix said as a low purr bubbled up from his chest. Claybourne looked at him, surprised.
“You’re reacting to the catnip. I grow all my own medicinal herbs here, as well as vegetables and fruit. We are shifters after all, I’m not always that busy at the clinic.” Felix watched as Claybourne reached out, hesitating. Felix closed the gap between the two of them. He turned so his back was to his mate, and pulled the man’s arms around his waist. Felix could feel the happy purr vibrating through him.
“Everything is so perfect, it’s almost like you don’t have room for me,” Felix admitted, looking at the small piece of paradise in front of him. He felt Claybourne squeeze him.
“I’m not going to lie, Felix, I am a hard man to live with. I haven’t lived with anyone since I turned sixteen and left home to go to college. I like things in a certain order and done in a certain way. If I say or do something that hurts your feelings, tell me immediately. I won’t get better at this relationship thing without your help,” Claybourne said, resting his chin on the top of Felix’s head. Felix decided he now had a thing for older men. He felt his heart turn over at his mate’s sincere words. He could only imagine what it cost to warn him.
“I’m pretty sure we won’t kill each other. Anything else we can work on?” Felix shrugged. Claybourne laughed behind him.
“So long as we’re not trying to kill each other, you’re good?” he asked.
Felix nodded. “When I was locked up in that cage, all I could think about was that I would never find my mate. I was sad because I would never know him, but what almost broke me was the thought that because of that asshole Alpha, my mate would go his entire life unfulfilled. That’s what kept me fighting. So, yeah, as long as we’re not literally at each other’s throats, I’m happy.” Felix leaned against Claybourne.
“You’re amazing. I heard of Sebastian’s story, I never thought my own mate would also be as courageous,” Claybourne whispered. Felix turned his head so he could look up at his mate.
“I know. Now, let’s introduce you to the many tantalizing joys of frozen pizza.” Felix grabbed Claybourne’s hand to walk back to the porch. Claybourne picked up the forgotten bags as they walked into the house.
* * * *
“I swear it’s like Sleeping with the Enemy in there.” Felix shuddered as he remembered how organized the pantry had been. Everything was turned so that the labels were facing outward.
“I’m not going to have to fake my death am I?” Felix asked as they ate their pizza on the sofa in front of the TV.
Claybourne gave him a wry expression. “You keep it up and you won’t have to fake it,” he grumbled and Felix laughed. Claybourne went to stand and Felix pulled him back down. “I’m going to clean up the kitchen,” Claybourne said, looking confused.
Felix shook his head. “I’m going to get you to relax. Leave the mess. The world won’t end, I promise you.” Felix took their plates and put them on the coffee table. Claybourne stared at them. His right eye began to twitch slightly. He turned to Felix.
“The kitchen is dirty.” He rubbed his hands on his pant legs. Felix boldly reached over to cup his mate’s crotch.
“Dirty is good. Want to make me dirty?” Felix asked, dropping his voice down to a whisper. He almost did a cartwheel when he saw his mate’s eyes fade to a light blue. His tiger’s eyes were coming out. Claybourne pushed Felix back and crawled over him. Felix had barely a moment to take a breath before Claybourne’s mouth was on his and taking away his sanity. Their tongues dueled and twined around each other. Felix had to pull back, and he reached down and adjusted his jeans, which had become painfully tight.
“Let’s go to the bedroom, I don’t want you damaged,” Claybourne said, grinning. Felix nodded and they both scrambled off the couch. Felix raced after Claybourne, grabbing his ass the entire way down the hall. When they cleared the door they both began stripping their clothes. Felix knew that Claybourne must be out of his mind with lust since he was tossing his clothes around the room. Claybourne, naked, turned to him, his prick jutting out from his body, already leaking copious amounts of pre-cum down the hard length. In the two years that he was trapped in his captor’s cage, Felix had plenty of time to fantasize about his future mate. He had imagined everything from large bulky bears to lean lions, but nothing prepared him for the perfection of his tiger. The man stood nearly a foot over his own five-foot-five height, and every inch of his body was covered in lean, tone muscles. His chest was dusted with dark hair that trailed downward and divided his six-pack beautifully. Felix’s mouth began to water. The man had the body of a god. Claybourne walked around the bed to the nightstand, and pulled out a small bottle of lube. Claybourne threw the bottle to him. He caught it easily and waited until his mate was standing in front of him again.
“Can I taste you?” he asked
. Claybourne whimpered and nodded.
“You never, ever have to ask that question. Forever and ever amen, the answer is yes.” Claybourne grabbed the base of his shaft. Felix gave a sultry smile and began to sway his hips as he stalked forward before dropping to his knees before his mate.
“Good, because I love to suck cock,” Felix admitted before swallowing his mate’s impressive length down. Above his head Felix heard an unintelligible chant of promises and curses. While holding the base of his mate’s cock in one hand, he flicked open the bottle of lube with the other and began to work his fingers into his own hole, stretching himself. He groaned at the sensation of having his mate’s cock in his mouth as he played with his own ass. Felix reveled in the taste of his mate. He ran his tongue up and down the soft skin of the long shaft. He loved every line, tracing the thick heavy vein. He swirled his tongue around the spongy head before dipping his tongue into the slit. He hummed his satisfaction. His mate tasted like nectar.
“Please stop, much more and I’ll come,” Claybourne begged, trying to catch his breath.
Felix stood. “It’s a good thing I’m all stretched and ready for you. I don’t think I can wait another second to have this gorgeous cock in my ass.” Felix climbed onto the bed, and made sure he wiggled his ass every chance he got. Claybourne let out a loud rumble and pounced on him.
“Turn over, my mate, I need to see you when I take you,” Claybourne said, his voice deep. Felix shivered when he saw that his mate’s canines were out. Felix rolled over onto his back and pulled his knees to his chest before spreading his legs wide. Claybourne stared down at him.
“You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen,” he whispered.
“Please don’t make me wait, my mate, please pound that cock into me,” Felix practically begged. Claybourne gave only a short nod then did exactly what Felix wanted. Felix couldn’t seem to breathe as his mate pushed inside of him only to withdraw again. He felt his mate’s cock fill him, grazing every hot spot inside his body.
“It’s never been like this,” Claybourne said. Felix looked up and saw an almost pained expression in his face.
“Good?” he asked, unsure. Claybourne looked down before giving him a feral grin.
“You are my own ecstasy. I am going to get addicted to you.”
“Wait until you feel my cock pounding into you, then you really will be hooked. Gingers are sex gods.” Felix grinned up at his mate.
Claybourne moaned. “Yes, next time fuck me,” he said, snapping his hips.
“You like the idea of that don’t you, baby? The idea of me fucking you hard,” Felix said, testing to see if his mate liked dirty talk. He wasn’t surprised when he had to reach out and grab the headboard to keep from getting plowed into the thing. His man was a damn machine.
“I’m there.” His mate gasped and suddenly Felix was too. Claybourne leaned in and buried his teeth deep into the tissue between his neck and shoulder. Felix’s own tiger roared to the surface. Felix felt his canines punch through his gums and he turned his head and bit down into his mate’s muscled tendons.
Felix felt his soul lift up and swirl with his mate’s. When they combined he felt another climax explode through him. He heard Claybourne shout and felt jets of hot seed fill him. As wave after wave of euphoria washed through them, their combined soul split and faded back into their bodies. He could feel his mate now. His mate’s unadulterated joy was the last thing that registered before his world went dark.
Chapter 3
When Felix woke the next morning, he stretched lazily and smiled. He was mated. Just twenty-four hours ago he was still trying to figure out what he was going to do. Now he had a mate, a home, and more than likely, a job. He pushed up and looked around the room. He bit back a laugh. Claybourne’s clothes had been picked up and put away, and his were neatly folded and waiting for him on the dresser. He jumped out of bed and swung his arms around, getting his blood moving. Once he was feeling more awake he walked over and put on his clothes.
He left the room and headed toward the den. Shaking his head, he saw that the plates were gone, the crumbs swept up and the pillows were fluffed and placed in the exact spot he had seen them in last night when he walked in the house.
He found his mate in the kitchen, dressed again in slacks and a button-down, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Good morning, my mate,” Felix said, ducking the coffee mug to rub noses with Claybourne. He bounced over to the refrigerator.
“Oh my god, you’re a morning person.” Claybourne shuddered.
“I love mornings. Fresh start to each day,” Felix said before returning his attention to the opened refrigerator.
“Don’t you have any food?” Felix whined. Claybourne’s brows knitted.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“What I mean is you have no food in here. How do you live?” Felix waved his hand at the shelves. Claybourne raised an eyebrow and set his coffee mug down. Felix took a step back. Maybe making his mate set his coffee down so early in the morning wasn’t the best of ideas.
Claybourne steered Felix so that he was in front of the open refrigerator and stood behind him.
“Tell me what you see,” his mate said, nodding to the shelves.
Felix looked back at him, confused. “Nothing, no food,” Felix repeated.
“That’s strange because I see scrambled eggs with cheese, turkey bacon and made-from-scratch cinnamon rolls.”
Felix’s head swung back to the fridge. “Where? I don’t see anything,” Felix said, looking from top to bottom.
“Right there. A dozen eggs, a package of bacon, a block of cheese, yeast, milk, and butter.” Claybourne’s voice was tinged with humor.
“That’s not funny! You made me even hungrier.” Felix pouted. Claybourne kissed his pouted lip and shut the refrigerator door.
“Make me something,” Felix begged. Claybourne shook his head.
“You’re a big boy, make yourself breakfast,” he said as his cell phone rang.
“I’m going to starve!” Felix wailed. Laughing, Claybourne answered the phone.
“No, I don’t mind at all. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes,” he said before hanging up.
“Who was that?” Felix asked.
“That was Ms. Tully. Ms. Brayburn isn’t feeling well and they are waiting for me at the clinic,” he said, walking to the family room. Felix followed.
“I thought you had Saturdays off,” Felix asked, looking around for his man bag. He grabbed it off the floor.
“I do, but I go in if someone needs me. Ms. Brayburn is getting up there in years, even for a shifter, so I like to keep an eye on her. Ms. Tully has taken it on herself to keep checking in on her, though she’s not much younger herself.” Claybourne located his keys and looked up. Felix was waiting for him by the door.
“It could be something she ate, raccoons are not picky eaters. Face it, you need me, Doc. Your bedside manner needs work,” Felix said haughtily.
Claybourne rolled his eyes and dropped a kiss on Felix’s lips. “Liar. You just want a ride into town so you can go beg Ma for breakfast.” Felix laughed when his mate busted him.
“That woman can cook,” He sighed happily, thinking about her muffins.
“Come on, patients are waiting, we’ll grab something after I see to Ms. Brayburn.” Claybourne held the door open for Felix.
“Thank god!” Felix said.
* * * *
“I’m so sorry to call you in here like this, Doc. I just can’t seem to wake up today. I feel so weak and tired,” Ms. Brayburn said. Felix had to admit she looked as weak as a kitten. Ms. Tully sat next to her friend, looking concerned.
“How much running around did you do at Field Day yesterday?” Claybourne asked.
“Quite a bit actually. I probably overextended myself,” she said.
Claybourne nodded. “Go home, drink lots of water, and catch up on your soaps,” he said, winking.
“Oh, Doc, you know all my se
crets.” The older woman giggled like a school girl and flirted with his mate. Felix thought it was adorable, especially since she was old, gray, and female, and in no way a threat to his mating.
“It’s my job as the town doctor to know everyone’s secrets,” Claybourne flirted back, wagging his eyebrows. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“Oh my.” Both Ms. Tully and Ms. Brayburn blushed.
“Off with you two now, and rest the entire day. Doctor’s orders,” he said, winking.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Ms. Tully said, patting his hand.
When they left Felix looked at his mate suspiciously.
“You don’t always have a terrible bedside manner. You were wonderful with them and with little Bethany yesterday. What gives?” he asked.
Claybourne shrugged. “Being a shifter doctor is different than being a regular physician. Our patients rarely get ill or suffer from the normal physical maladies that strike down the human population. I do more damage control than healing. We live in a town of nothing but shifters that don’t have to hide who they are. I can’t tell you the number of broken bones and wounds I’ve had to tend due to short tempers and stupidity.” He shook his head.
“So you have selective assholiness, good to know.” Felix nodded his head sagely.
“That’s funny, because I could have sworn you wanted food.” Claybourne eyed his mate.
Felix immediately capitulated. “You are the most perfect man in the entire world and the way you use your cock is ballad worthy,” Felix exclaimed, clasping his hands in front of him as if begging for forgiveness.
“Dude, TMI.” Damian laughed from the door. Felix blushed.
“What brings you to my humble abode?” Claybourne asked.
“Doc, you are many things but humble isn’t one of them,” Damian quipped.
“You’re right, I am a genius and I know it, now what can I do for you?” Claybourne rephrased his question.
