The sweet, soothing sound of the stream reached his ears, and Cullen smiled. The clearing by the stream was one of his favorite places. It was where he and Adam had made love for the first time. It was also where he’d first confessed his feelings for Adam.
Adam never said the words back, but the desperation with which Adam had taken him told Cullen he felt the same way.
He gasped when they finally made it to the clearing. A huge blanket was spread out over the soft spring grass. Another blanket was neatly folded in the corner. A nest of pillows waited for someone to snuggle up and make long, leisurely love with his partner.
A cooler sat next to one of the trees, the blue box out of context with the rest of the scene. He couldn’t resist. “What’s in the cooler?”
“Some sandwiches, a box of cookies, and a couple of beers for later.”
Cullen’s brow rose almost without his knowledge. “Beers?”
Adam colored, a beautiful flush staining his high cheekbones. “I’m not great at this romance stuff. Quinn told me to pack some champagne, but neither of us like champagne, so I figured beer would be a better choice. I could have gone with some sparkling apple cider or something but—”
Cullen cut off Adam’s rambling with a kiss. He wound his fingers through Adam’s dark hair and held him close so they were nose to nose, even when he pulled his lips away. “I love it, Adam.”
“Yeah?” Adam asked. The uncertainty was plain in his voice. “Do you still love me?”
Oh, his poor love. “I never stopped loving you, baby.”
Adam nudged him gently until they were directly over the blanket. Their clothes seemed to melt off, removed by gentle, reverent hands. Skin on skin had never felt better.
They stood together, feeling each other’s hearts beating, their lips barely touching, and their breathing totally in sync. Cullen skimmed his palms over Adam’s ribs. “Love you, Ad-man.”
Adam nuzzled close and stroked his fingers over Cullen’s back. “God, I love you so much, Cull.”
Somehow, they ended up stretched out on the blanket, the pillows cushioning their bodies against the still damp ground. They were pressed together from chest to thigh, arms wrapped around each other, holding each other close. If they got any closer, they would be under each other’s skin.
Cullen closed that scant millimeter between their mouths and licked over Adam’s lips. Adam opened under his tongue and sucked it into his mouth, playing with it gently.
Cullen’s cock hardened, and he rocked his hips, shivering when Adam’s dick rubbed against his own.
This was what he wanted. He wanted Adam in his arms, covered in his scent, and if this was all Adam could give him, he was going to take it and wallow in it.
Slick fingers touched his hole and Cullen’s body relaxed automatically. Apparently Adam had stashed some lube somewhere because everything was wet and slippery and oh, so good.
It was awkward though, with Adam reaching around him. It meant that his finger couldn’t breach Cullen very far at all. And Cullen wanted to be breached so badly. “Adam,” he said on a breathy sigh. “More.”
“Mmm,” Adam moaned. Adam pushed gently at his hip until Cullen rolled over. He would have rolled all the way to his stomach and pushed up on his hands and knees but Adam stopped him when he reached his side.
Adam spooned against him and Cullen shuddered at the feeling. They’d had sex more times than he could count, but they’d never done it this way. It was probably going to be a little more difficult to coordinate, but the feeling of Adam’s muscled chest against his back, warming him all the way through, was worth it.
Another finger joined the first in Cullen’s body, and his eyes rolled back. He could feel every ridge of Adam’s knuckles stretching his inner muscles, and he’d never had the chance to savor the feeling before. Sex between them was nearly always rough and passionate. It seemed Adam was all about savoring today, though, because no matter how insistently Cullen pushed back on those fingers, he refused to be rushed.
Warm lips brushed against the back of his neck, and Adam paused to lick at the sensitive spot behind his ear.
By the time Adam had three fingers inside him, Cullen was frantic for release. “Adam,” he whimpered. “You need to slow down, or I’m going to blow.”
Instead of withdrawing, he circled his hand around the base of Cullen’s shaft and pumped slowly. “It’s okay, baby. I want you to come. I want to feel you explode around my fingers and soak my hand. And then, I want to feel you come on my cock.”
Adam’s words, and the rough, sexy voice they were said in, pushed Cullen even higher. “Twice in a row,” he managed to tease. “Not sure I’m young enough to pull that off anymore.”
The fingers in his ass pegged his prostate, and white hot pleasure zapped down his spine. Adam chuckled in his ear. “Oh no, Cull. We’re not stopping at two. You’re going to have to come a third time when you take me.”
Cullen had no breath left for words, so he decided to simply let the pleasure take him away. It wasn’t like Adam was going to give him a chance to do anything else, anyway.
Adam pressed against his gland firmly and began a short, quick stroke right over the tip of his cock.
Pleasure rained down on him, and his hot seed spurted, drenching the pillows and blankets even as Adam continued to milk the last of the spasms out of him.
He was so lost in the sensations he completely missed the fact Adam had replaced his fingers with his dick. “Shit,” Adam swore and froze.
Cullen whined and pushed back. He still had a hard on and it throbbed in anticipation. “Why are you stopping?”
“Feels too good,” Adam said on a groan.
The realization Cullen was feeling Adam in him without a barrier of latex separating them hit him suddenly. “Adam? What the hell?”
“I love you, Cullen. I don’t want to lose you because I was too much of a pussy to man up and make an honest wolf out of you.”
Oh God, now Cullen’s heart was pumping for an entirely different reason. “Ad? We should talk about this before we do anything rash.”
“You don’t want to mate with me, now?” Adam asked, his voice breaking.
Cullen could hear the uncertainty in his lover’s voice. That would not do. He couldn’t look into Adam’s eyes, and he couldn’t kiss away any doubts because of their position, so he did the next best thing. Seizing Adam’s hand, Cullen pressed it against his heart so that Adam could feel it beating. “I will always want to mate with you, Adam. Make me yours.”
“Mine,” Adam agreed with a snarl.
They rocked together, both moaning. God, doing it raw was probably the best thing next to heaven. Maybe even better than heaven. Cullen could feel every ridge, every pulse and throb. The drag of skin on silken skin was too much.
Cullen lost it again—every muscle in his body contracted as incredible pleasure swept through him.
Sharp teeth pierced his shoulder, and for the first time ever, Adam pulsed inside him, flooding him with the mating pheromones.
Cullen lay stunned as his soul seemed to shatter apart and mix with the broken pieces of Adam’s soul only to knit back together, entwining them as one.
“You okay?” Adam asked, pulling his hips back slightly.
Cullen winced when Adam’s softening shaft slipped out of him. He turned around so that they were facing each other again. “I’m so much better than okay. I’m great.”
He pushed his fingers through Adam’s sweaty hair and feathered a kiss against his forehead. “Why now?” Cullen asked before he could stop himself.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did he have to go and mention it? The seed dripping out of Cullen’s ass was still hot, and he had to go and ask something so stupid.
Adam returned the caress, and the kiss, before answering. “I talked to Quinn and realized that as scary as it is to be mated, the thought of living without you is far more terrifying.”
Oh, his dear, sweet mate. “I love you, Ad-man. S
o much.”
Adam smiled and stretched, groaning as he straightened. “Now all that’s left is for you to claim me.” He drifted his fingers over the side of his neck, indicating the spot where he wanted Cullen to mark him.
“God, I don’t think I’m able to get it up right now.” He wanted to try. Oh, he wanted to try so badly. But he was pretty sure he’d just blown his brains out through his dick. He held his breath, hoping beyond hope Adam wouldn’t take his answer for a rejection.
“Well,” Adam said. “Maybe we should wait until Declan and Quinn can arrange for a public mating. That way everyone can watch you claim me as yours.”
Cullen melted, relief and love flowing through him. “I could get behind that.”
Adam smiled and petted his face until he fell asleep.
Chapter 7
“How can you be so damned relaxed?” Adam grumbled at Declan.
Declan looked up from his book and smirked. “Because I’m not the one who’s going to get naked and boned in front of the whole pack.”
Quinn smacked Declan in the chest. “Matings are supposed to be romantic, Declan. It’s not ‘getting naked and boned.’ It’s declaring their love in front of their friends and family.”
Adam made a face at his Alpha and resumed pacing the room. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask why Dec and Quinn hadn’t had to do the whole thing in front of the pack, but then he remembered the condition Quinn had been in at their mating.
Besides, he had been the one to suggest the public part of their mating.
Declan stood and stretched before helping Quinn to his feet. “You ready, Adam?”
God, he was about to hyperventilate.
Quinn was at his side in a second, patting his arm. “Why are you so nervous?”
“He’s probably got performance anxiety.” Declan flinched when Quinn swung at him again.
It wasn’t performance anxiety. Hell, he was catching tonight. He technically didn’t even have to get hard—although he was pretty sure Cullen would make sure he enjoyed it. He just wanted to make sure everything was perfect for Cullen—that was all.
There was no way he was going to admit that in front of Declan though. The man would never let Adam live such a sentimental thought down.
“Don’t be so sure about that, Ad. Quinn has totally changed my way of thinking. I know what it’s like to be so in love with someone, you’re willing to make a fool out of yourself for them. Things are perfect. Quinn made sure of that, remember?” Declan draped a heavy arm over his shoulder and pulled him close in a one-armed hug.
Apparently he’d spoken his fear out loud. He took the comfort his Alpha offered before pushing away.
Quinn tiptoed over to the window and peeked out through the drapes. “Looks like everything is set.”
It was time to put on his big boy underwear. Or take them off, as it were. Throwing his shoulders back, Adam blew out a deep breath and nodded at Declan, who smiled at him encouragingly.
Declan squeezed his shoulder before he walked over to Quinn and then through the back door.
Adam could hear the Alpha announcing the ceremonial words and waited for his cue to step onto the back porch, where Cullen and the rest of the pack would be waiting for him.
“Adam?” Declan called.
Shit, he’d missed his cue. He rushed out, stumbled over a loose board on the deck, and nearly fell flat on his face. Strong arms wrapped around him, saving him from breaking his nose and bleeding all over the beautiful deck Declan had had stained the year before.
Cullen held on to Adam until he was steady of his feet. “Thanks for not letting me fall,” Adam murmured gratefully.
“I’ll never let you fall,” Cullen whispered back.
A hot rush swept through his belly, little butterflies taking up residence in his stomach. “That was so cheesy,” he commented, cupping Cullen’s cheek.
Cullen grinned and turned to press a kiss into the center of Adam’s palm. “But you love it.”
“Yeah, I do,” Adam admitted.
“Yeah, yeah,” Declan said, pushing his way between them. “Now, can we get back to the matter at hand? Please? Because Quinn just told me he has a surprise for me and that usually means I end up balls deep in him.”
Cullen looked into his eyes, and Adam could see the love sparkling in those beautiful blue eyes. “You sure you want to do this?”
Oh, God, he was never more sure about anything in his life. “Yes, I am.”
“Then let’s do this,” Cullen said. He turned Adam around so he faced Declan and the rest of the pack. “I choose this man as my mate.”
Declan stepped forward. “I acknowledge this mating, as Alpha of his pack.” He threw back his head and howled.
The rest of the pack howled back, and Cullen gently pushed Adam to his knees. The pack’s collective gaze was on him. Rather than feel insecure, Adam’s heart began to pump and his dick twitched.
Cullen’s hands traced up the backs of his thighs and paused to tickle his ass. God, what a feeling. “You have a little bit of an exhibitionist streak, huh?”
“Apparently,” Adam grunted, his cock going from interested to full mast in a matter of seconds. “Although I think it has more to do with your hands on my body than everyone watching.”
“If you like my hands so much, you’re going to love this.” Cullen separated Adam’s cheeks with two hands and licked along his crease.
Oh, holy hell, that was wonderful. Cullen worried his tongue around Adam’s pucker until Adam thought he would pass out from pleasure. There was no way things could feel any better. But then Cullen inserted two fingers and licked delicately at the stretched-tight skin, and Adam’s pleasure ratcheted up to a whole new level of sweet-baby-Jesus-please-don’t-stop.
The muscles in Adam’s abdomen cramped painfully as he fought against the urge to come with nothing but the warm spring breeze brushing against his cock. Cullen nudging his prostate with those questing fingers didn’t help matters.
He didn’t even have enough breath to warn Cullen about his imminent explosion, but his mate seemed to know exactly what was happening.
Cullen slowly freed his fingers, and Adam felt him kneel between his legs. The already damp tip of Cullen’s cock, pushing insistently at his opening, told Adam just how aroused Cullen was. “I’m probably not going to last long,” Cullen muttered.
“S’okay,” Adam managed to grit out between his clenched teeth. “I’m already right on the edge.”
Cullen’s thick shaft breached his body, and Adam gasped. Full. He had to work to relax around his mate’s cock. Cullen hadn’t stretched him out completely, but that was okay. He liked the burn.
By the time Cullen was balls deep, the slight pain morphed into a pleasure so deep, so intense, Adam had forgotten how to breathe.
“Shit.” Cullen pulled back a little. “Sorry, babe. Can’t hold back.” He slammed in and pulled Adam up by the shoulders so that they were pressed together, chest to back.
Wrapping his hand around Adam’s straining shaft, Cullen stroked him off. “Want to feel you come. Fuck, need you to come, Ad.”
Well, that was okay by him. He only needed one little thing to push him over that edge. “Bite me, Cull.”
“Yeah,” Cullen agreed. “Mine.”
“Yours. Always.”
Cullen grunted and sunk his teeth into the fleshy part of Adam’s shoulder.
The first, stinging sprays of Adam’s orgasm were almost painful in their intensity before they melted into spine tingling pleasure. The climax went on forever and Adam only vaguely felt Cullen pulsing inside him.
The ties that had formed when Adam first took Cullen as his mate tightened into something unbreakable. He felt Cullen’s pleasure like it was his own, felt his mate’s satisfaction that nothing could tear them apart and gloried in the same feeling.
Cullen finally freed his fangs from Adam’s shoulder and let out a joyful howl.
Adam’s muscles were no longer able to support
him, and he flopped forward to collapse on his belly, wincing when the action caused Cullen’s softening cock to slip out of him.
A warm body snuggled close to his, and Adam managed to throw his arm around Cullen’s waist and drag him close. Declan was standing over them, addressing the pack. “This mating has been witnessed and approved. Tonight, we celebrate this long-awaited event.”
“What Dec really meant to say was: let’s party!” Quinn exclaimed.
Cullen got to his feet and hauled Adam up. He was shaky, and he doubted his legs would support his body weight, so he leaned into Cullen, confident that his mate would hold him up.
He smiled and accepted the congratulations from his pack members as they filed past to lay waste to the spread Quinn had put out in the Alpha’s house.
Some of the females glared at them, though, narrowing their eyes and pouting. “What the hell is the matter with them?” Cullen asked.
Adam was just as bewildered. He hadn’t thought they would meet any resistance to their mating. After all, they’d been together forever. Besides, the Alpha had mated a male.
“Are you kidding?” Declan said with a smirk. “Those girls have been vying to have the first mating of the spring.”
“Yeah,” Quinn said, slapping Adam on the back. “They’ll be spring mates, but you’ll always have the distinction of being the first mates this spring.”
Hmm. Spring mates. Adam followed his Alpha and Quinn into the house, still wrapped up in Cullen’s arms. He liked the sound of that.
“I think spring is my new favorite season,” Cullen murmured against Adam’s temple.
“Me too,” Adam replied quietly. “Me too.”
The End
Publisher’s Note
Please help this author's career by posting an honest review wherever you purchased this book.
About Lynn Tyler
Lynn Tyler was born and raised in Southern Ontario and still calls it home today. She married her first and only boyfriend and now they have two beautiful, very active children. When not writing, Lynn can be found engrossed in her e-reader and is seriously considering starting a campaign to make chocolate its own food group.
Beneath a Spring Moon (Those Sexy Shifters, Book 1) Page 7
