by Cree Storm
The critter stood up, pressing his hind feet into Orion’s palm, then raised his top half and placed his front paws on Orion’s chest by his collarbone, bringing them face to face.
“That was very nice, thank you. And yes, I love to cuddle. I am not afraid of you, mate. I am angry with my human. And… and… I… miss him too.”
He heard the cute little voice inside his head. It was a lot like Nelson’s, but softer and just a bit higher in tone. When the words entered his mind, Orion wanted to freak out from surprise and excitement, but he kept himself calm, not wanting to spook the fox.
“I see, and I get that too. Nelson and I both understand that you’re unhappy with him, but I’m hoping you can find it in your big heart to forgive him. Not just because Nelson and I would like to claim one another and the three of us to become one, but because this chasm between you is only hurting you both, and it makes my heart sad to know that two creatures who love each other so much can be at such odds.”
The fox’s eyes appeared sad as his chin dropped and he looked up at Orion through his thick lashes. Ones that matched Nelson’s. “But how can I trust him again? I told him not to use so much power. I told him it would hurt him and in turn hurt me, but he didn’t listen. My job, any shifter-animal’s job, is to keep their human half safe, and Nelson pushed me away and ignored me.”
The deep sadness in the fox’s tone broke Orion’s heart and he just wanted to hold him tight and make him feel better and to protect him. “Oh, I know that, Cuddle bunny, and I’m sorry that happened. I’m not sorry that Nelson destroyed Fallon, but I am sorry you were hurt in the process. But, you need to know that Nelson is also sorry and misses you deeply. He wants the two of you to talk so you can get past this. Do you think you can do that and maybe forgive him?
“Yes, but… I don’t trust him right now and it may take a while.”
Orion smiled and ran a hand down the fox’s back. “That’s okay, Cuddle bunny, and totally understandable. But now do you think you could come back with me to Nelson and not hide from him anymore, so the two of you can try and work this out and be happy again?”
The fox huffed, then nodded. He quickly placed a paw on Orion’s cheek. “Okay, but don’t expect me to just trust him straight away. It may take some time.”
Orion leaned in and kissed the little fox on the tip of his nose. “That’s all I ask. And you will forgive him and trust him again when you’re ready.”
“Will you claim us and make us yours?” the fox asked in Orion’s head.
Orion smiled and answered honestly. “I would like nothing more than to see you and Nelson make up and be one again. Then yes, I want to claim you both so that we can be together for eternity. You are a part of Nelson and I love him with all my heart. Which means I also love you with the same depth and intensity. You and Nelson are one and you are my mate. I want you by my side always.”
After that the fox agreed to leave and Orion carried him out from under the willow tree, then made his way to the shed where he found Jewel and Nelson waiting. Half way across the field to the shed it stopped raining, but it was still overcast and windy.
Orion opened the door and Nelson immediately came to his side, his gaze fixed on the fox in his arms. “Can you forgive me, Sweetie? I’m so, so sorry I didn’t listen to your warnings. I’ll never ever do that again, I promise. Do you think you can come back to me so that we can work this out and maybe you’ll forgive me some day?”
“Our wonderful mate explained so much to me and I understand why you felt like you needed to do what you did, and… and I forgive you. It may take me some time to trust you again, but yes, I’ll stop hiding and come back to you,” the fox said in their minds.
Tears spilled from Nelson’s eyes as he held out his hands and without hesitation the fox went to him. Nelson brought the creature close to his chest and nuzzled his cheek against his head, then peppered kisses on him.
Orion felt his own eyes burn with tears as he watched the touching reunion. His heart filled with joy as he saw the two most important beings in his life come back together.
“I heard him in my head. That was so cool. I’m so happy for the two of you,” Jewel said.
Nelson looked up and met Jewel’s watery gaze and smiled. “I think we’re ready to go home now.”
“And have our alone time with our mate. Right?”
Nelson laughed, “Yes, little one. We are definitely going to have our alone time with our mate. It is long past due.”
CHAPTER 5
Nelson couldn’t believe how nervous he was. He had been standing in front of the mirror for goodness knows how long, since coming out of the shower. “You shaved, showered, and from the stiffness of your cock, you are definitely ready, so why the hell are you standing in here and not out there having the time of your life with the man you love?”
Nelson awoke when his dream walk was over. He had been kind of afraid to open his eyes, in fear his fox coming back to him was only a dream. However, while he lay there, he could feel the fluttering and tickle of his fox within him. Nelson would never forget opening his eyes to see Orion sitting there looking back at him with a wide smile.
Looking around the room, he realized they were alone. Orion saying, “They left as soon as we returned. Ezra says to tell you he’s sorry he didn’t make it, but he’s glad you have your animal back and looks forward to meeting him, and Jewel meanwhile is begging Ezra for a pet.”
Nelson laughed. “Knowing him, he’ll try and get a bear cub out of Ezra.”
Orion laughed too. “You might well be right.”
Lying there with his head in Orion’s lap, Nelson felt himself becoming nervous. His animal was back, and they could now make their mating official. However, Nelson suddenly needed a minute alone.
Sitting up, Nelson had mumbled, “I need to clean up. I’ll be back.”
Orion hadn’t tried to stop him, and Nelson was thankful, but now here he stood clean and ready, but afraid to open the bathroom door.
Sitting on the toilet seat, Nelson rested his elbows on his knees, nervously running his fingers through his hair, trying to talk himself into getting up and going out there. “Nelson, you have wanted this man since the moment you met him. Now is your chance and you’re being an idiot.”
A soft knock came, and Nelson jerked, letting out a very unmanly sound. The door slowly opened, and Orion peaked in saying, “Is everything okay? I—Nelson, what’s wrong?”
Hearing his mate’s concern, Nelson felt emotions building and start to run over, blubbering he said, “I don’t know. I want you, Orion. I want you more than I can say and yet I was terrified to open the door. What’s wrong with me?”
Orion rushed to Nelson and bent down, taking Nelson in his arms. “There’s nothing wrong with you, sweetheart. Being nervous is natural. Hell, I’m nervous.”
Nelson pulled back, looking into his mate’s piercing blue eyes. “You are?”
Orion smiled. “Of course I am. We are about to take a major step in our lives, Nelson. What if I’m not what you really want? What if I can’t please you? What if I can’t be a good enough mate for you? Will my scars begin to look hideous to you when you see them all for the first time?”
Nelson quickly gasped, lightly touching Orion’s scarred cheek. “Never, ever question what I think about your scars, Orion. Those scars are a badge of honor, courage, and like me, show that you are a survivor. I have never looked at your scars, and been disgusted in any way, and you are more than good enough for me, Orion. You have been the best mate any man could ask for. You have stayed by my side when I was at my lowest in life and never once pushed me into something I didn’t want. You have put me before everyone time and time again. Gods, if anyone should worry about being worthy, it’s me.”
Orion leaned in, softly kissing Nelson, then quietly replied, “You are everything I could ever ask for in a mate. You’re my bright star that guides me home just by a glance or touch. I love you, Nelson. Now and always, I love you.
”
Nelson sniffled and wiped his eyes, rasping, “I love you, too, sexy man.”
Orion wiped another tear from Nelson’s cheek, whispering, “Are you ready to make our mating official?”
Nodding, Nelson replied softly, “More than ready. Orion, make love to me.”
Orion picked Nelson up and carried him into the bedroom. Nelson gasped when he saw what looked like hundreds of candles flickering around the room and rose petals scattered on the floor and bed. “Oh! How beautiful.”
Orion laid Nelson in the middle of the king size bed, picked up a remote and pressed a button. The soft sound of Boys to Men singing ‘I’ll Make Love to You’ filled the room, making Nelson smile. “My favorite group.”
Nodding, Orion unbuttoned his pants, replying, “It seems very fitting.”
“Yes, it does. Now come here, Sexy. I want my mate,” Nelson quietly said, not wanting to ruin the special mating Orion had created.
Orion’s fingers went to the hem of his shirt and he hesitated as fear and anxiety filled his eyes. He looked down, his hands frozen where they were, and sadness filled him. Had Orion changed his mind? Did he not want him? As he stared at his big, strong mate and saw his hands shaking, suddenly understanding filled him.
Orion’s scars. His mate had a hard-enough time with the disfigurement of half of his face and Nelson knew that the rest of the right side of his body down to his thigh suffered the same burns, so Orion must be terrified to allow someone to see his naked form. Especially him, his mate.
As much as Nelson proved how much Orion’s scars didn’t bother him and he only saw them as a badge of courage, it still affected his mate. He would have to prove his sincerity for as long as it took to make Orion see that he wasn’t disgusted by his disfigurement. Nelson knew what he had to do.
Sitting up, he slowly got to his knees and crawled across the bed, closer to Orion who stood frozen beside it. Once Nelson reached the edge, he raised up on his knees and slowly put his hands over Orion’s and his mate stiffened as he sucked in a small gasp of breath.
“Everything will be okay, my love, I promise you. Please trust me,” Nelson said softly.
Reluctantly Orion released his shirt and dropped his hands to his sides. Nelson didn’t immediately grab the material and rip the shirt off like a bandage. No, he knew that would only make matters worse. He needed Orion to know without a doubt, that he could be trusted with Orion’s biggest insecurity.
Nelson slid his hands under the hem pressing the palms to Orion’s hipbones, then slowly moved them up, caressing Orion lovingly. When his hands made contact with bare flesh, Orion jumped, taking a step back and pulling away from his touch.
He immediately moved off the bed and knelt on the floor at Orion’s feet, looking up at him with pleading eyes. He met Orion’s stress filled gaze and saw not only his fear, but shame. He would have none of that. “You are so brave, my mate. The bravest man I have ever known, and these scars prove that. They are your badge of courage as well as the proof of your honor. Without thought to your own wellbeing, you rushed in to save another. A best friend. You have nothing to be ashamed of, sexy man. I am so proud to have you as mine and very honored to walk beside you in this life. I love having everyone who sees us know that I am yours and you are mine,” Nelson spoke softly, comfortingly, and at the same time he had moved his hands back under Orion’s shirt and they were now making their way up his hard abs.
Nelson continued to say encouraging words and also ones of love and devotion as he raised himself higher on his knees and his hands continued their tour over Orion’s flesh. Yes, he felt the gnarled skin and raised scars, but they honestly had no ill effect on him. They only made him fall in love with his mate even more. He meant everything he said to Orion about his scars being the proof of his honor and courage.
As Nelson moved his hands up Orion’s torso, the shirt went with them and as his body was exposed, Orion closed his eyes tight and Nelson could see that he was holding his breath. Nelson leaned in and placed a tender kiss over the most prominent scar and Orion shook. Nelson kissed the spot again, then slowly ran his lips up the flesh and rained kisses over Orion’s torso, on both the mangled side and the smooth side. He paid not one side more attention then the other, giving both his love and admiration. His want and desire. His pride and his love.
As he kissed his way farther up, Nelson grabbed the shirt and slowly lifted it up over Orion’s head, then dropped it on the floor. He kissed Orion’s collarbone as he smoothed his hands over his body, exploring every inch.
Nelson then kissed the side of Orion’s neck and Orion groaned. The sound giving him the courage to continue. Nelson moved to his left as he kissed Orion’s scared shoulder and dragged his right hand over Orion’s wide chest. As he moved around to Orion’s back, Nelson took one of Orion’s nipples between his fingers and began to caress and pinch the hard nub.
Orion hissed, “Oh gods, my mate.”
“Sshh. I told you, everything is okay. Just let yourself feel and take comfort from my touch. Know that it is all out of my deep love for you. You are so beautiful, Orion. Your body is like that of a god. So big. So strong. To me, it is perfection,” Nelson whispered against Orion’s back, allowing his breath to wash over Orion’s flesh so that he may feel his words, not just hear them.
Nelson kissed and licked his way across Orion’s back and at the same time, he moved his hands lower and popped the button on Orion’s jeans, then drew the zipper down. He gripped the waistband and gave it a tug until Orion’s pants were below his ass. Then he kissed the nape of Orion’s neck before he dropped to his knees.
The sight of the perfect ass was just an inch before him and Nelson licked his lips. He kissed each cheek with the same tenderness he gave the rest of his mate’s body, then ran his tongue up the crease between them. Yum. Gods his mate tasted like the finest wine.
“Shit, Nelson,” Orion said in a shaky voice, showing just how vulnerable he felt in this moment.
Nelson pulled on Orion’s pants, lowering them to the floor, then helped Orion step out of them before he pushed the garment away. He placed his hands on the back of Orion’s calves and slowly dragged them up his thighs to his ass, then Nelson gently squeezed the muscled flesh.
He tilted his head and kissed the bottom of Orion’s ass cheek and his mate instinctively widened his stance. Nelson smiled and moved lower, kissing Orion’s heavy sac from behind.
“I don’t know how much more I can take, mate. I need to be inside you, Nelson. I need to feel you.” The vulnerability was still there, but much less, and that made Nelson happy. His mate was coming out of his own head and whatever negative dialog Nelson was sure was there and was just allowing himself to feel everything Nelson was doing.
Nelson buried his face in Orion’s crease at the same time he wrapped his arms around his hips and took Orion’s hard, pulsing cock in one hand and his balls in the other. He licked and sucked Orion’s tight hole as he slowly stroked him and rolled his sac in his hand.
The moans and grunts followed by hissing and some under the breath cursing that he heard from above, filled Nelson with pride that he was the one who could make his big, strong mate fall apart like he was. He and only he, was the one to touch and kiss his mate everywhere and help him to drop his defenses.
He knew that Orion had been with other men before him, but he also knew that Orion had never taken his clothes off with those men, only what he needed to get the job done, then Orion would be gone. He didn’t get attached and never allowed anyone this close. Until now. Until him. And the realization of that brought tears to his eyes and filled him with even more love for his man.
“I’m sorry, mate, but I need you now,” Orion said deeply, his voice coming out almost in a growl. The sound sent a thrill right to Nelson’s cock and it began to leak copious amounts of his seed.
Orion spun around and lifted him off the floor, then tossed him on the bed. Nelson giggled as he bounced a few times and the towel dropped awa
y from his hips, exposing his full form to Orion’s hungry gaze.
“My gods, you’re even more stunning then I imagined, mate. You’re…you’re…”
“A skinny twink?” Nelson said nervously.
Orion shook his head slowly as his gaze roamed down Nelson’s body like a physical caress. “No. Perfection.”
Nelson could hear the wonder and truth in Orion’s words and suddenly a shyness overcame him. Heat rose in his cheeks and Nelson looked down, but as he dropped his gaze, it landed on his mate’s cock. He was getting his first look at Orion in his full, bare form and he was aroused more than he ever had been before in his life. Orion was the perfect one. Nelson had honestly never really seen Orion’s scars and he still didn’t. All he saw was the man he had fallen head over heels in love with and that was all that mattered.
His gaze once again dropped down to the heavy cock jutting out from between Orion’s legs and he about swallowed his tongue. Orion had the biggest cock Nelson had ever seen. Not only was it long, but it was thick as well and his hole clenched in anticipation. Holy moly, his mate was blessed in many ways by the Gods themselves. What a lucky man he was.
Orion grabbed the lube from the side table, then crawled on the bed. Nelson immediately bent his knees, and Orion positioned himself in front of him, gently placing a hand on Nelson, running his hands over Nelson’s chest and down past his belly button, teasing each time he grazed Nelson’s hard shaft with his fingers.
Nelson closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, lifting his hips to try and get Orion to do more than just graze his cock.
Orion leaned over him, kissing just below Nelson’s ear, then whispered lovingly, “You make me feel whole when you love me, mate. The way you look at me, touch me, I don’t think about my scars. I only think about the joy you bring to my life and how much I want to show you for the rest of our lives, that you are my world. That you and your fox come before all others, and I want you to feel my love for you both, every day.”
