Devotion

by Grace R. Duncan

  “Okay.” He turned and smiled up at Tanner a little sheepishly. “Hi. Uh, that’d be nice.”

  Tanner glanced at his parents, both of whom were beaming at him. He turned away and held a hand toward one of the logs away from the other pack members. When they took a seat, Tanner found himself suddenly, completely tongue-tied. “Uh… hi.”

  That made Finley smile. “Hi yourself, uh, mate. I… didn’t expect to find a destined mate,” he murmured.

  Tanner shook his head. “Me either. I thought, because I was gay….”

  “Yeah, me too. Guess not, huh?”

  Tanner laughed. “Yeah, I guess not. Um… how old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Finley chuckled. “You’re my mate. I’d think you should know everything about me.”

  “True,” Tanner said, feeling himself relax. Well, all but his cock, which was still hard from smelling his mate.

  “I’m sixteen,” he said, tilting his head. “You look quite a bit older than that.”

  Tanner scowled without heat. “I’m not that old. Twenty-two.”

  Finley shook his head. “Definitely not old. Too hot to be old.”

  Tanner’s face heated. “Um… thanks. Glad my mate thinks I’m hot.” He let himself run his eyes over Finley’s body. Young maybe, but he already had some lean muscle and, if the lump in the jeans was any indication, was well-equipped. He tore his eyes away and back up to Finley’s amused expression.

  “Like what you see?”

  Tanner heard the slight tremble in the question, and reached out, running his fingers over Finley’s cheek. “Very much so. I think I won the mate lottery.”

  The smile on Finley’s face turned blinding. “I’ll have to disagree. I did.”

  Tanner grinned. “We might just have to argue about that sometime.”

  “Maybe.” He glanced up at the sky. “I don’t think we have time now.”

  “Would you like to run together tonight?”

  Finley nodded. “I’d like that very much.”

  “Me too. It looks like we’ll have to talk more later.” Tanner glanced up, then back at Finley. “May I kiss you quickly before we shift?”

  “I’d like that even more,” Finley whispered.

  Tanner leaned in and caught Finley’s mouth with his own. The link he felt earlier seemed to thicken and gather them even closer. Without realizing it, Tanner pulled Finley into his arms and ran his tongue over Finley’s bottom lip. Finley opened to him, and he slid his tongue into the warmth of Finley’s mouth with a soft moan.

  Finley tasted amazing. There was something sweet, downright decadent about the way he tasted. Tanner had a feeling if he lived to be a thousand years old—not that they were that long-lived—he’d never get tired of it. He explored Finley’s mouth, savoring the feel of his mate responding to his kiss, thrilling in the soft moans Finley let out.

  When he finally managed to gather his wits and pull back, he realized his vision had turned gray again. He had to find a way to calm down. As excited as he was that he had found a mate—his destined mate—he had to slow down. He couldn’t very well grab Finley, strip them both, and take him then and there. For a lot of reasons, not the least of which they just met five minutes before.

  Still, he let himself brush the backs of his fingers over Finley’s cheek, smiling when he saw Finley’s eyes were still closed.

  “That was about a thousand times better than I ever imagined.”

  “Hmm?” Tanner asked.

  Finley opened his eyes. “My first kiss.”

  Tanner’s own eyes widened. “Your… first?”

  Finley smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’m pretty happy my destined mate got my first kiss.”

  Tanner frowned, realizing he didn’t have that to give his mate, but Finley put a hand on Tanner’s cheek, drawing his attention back.

  “I’m well aware you’re too old to still be kissless.” He chuckled, and Tanner found himself smiling again already. “That’s quite all right.”

  “I’m afraid I’m not a virgin, either,” he blurted. He really had to stop doing that, especially around his mate.

  “Again, I wouldn’t expect it, not at your age.” Finley smiled again. “Really, I don’t mind. You’re mine now, though.” The smile turned into a grin with just a little bit of leer to it.

  Tanner laughed. “Yes, that is true. Did you feel it?”

  “The connection? Our bond?” Finley asked and Tanner nodded. “Yes. Right after I saw you.”

  “It’d be a little freaky if I didn’t know what it was,” Tanner said, chuckling.

  “No doubt,” Finley agreed. “So, will you show me around the pack lands tonight?”

  “I’d love to. There’s this great place I like to go that looks out over everything.”

  Finley smiled. “I’d love to see it.” He paused and shook himself a little. “It’s about time. Better strip before I rip my clothes.”

  Tanner gulped. “I, uh, think I should probably turn around.”

  Finley raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

  Tanner cleared his throat, deciding to be completely honest. “My dick is already hard enough to pound nails.”

  Finley burst out laughing. “That is uncomfortable, yes,” he agreed. He stood up, and Tanner couldn’t mistake what he was seeing in the front of Finley’s jeans for anything. “I understand.”

  Tanner grinned. “I can see that.” He stood too, then leaned in and left a soft kiss on Finley’s lips. “I’m so glad I found you,” he whispered.

  “Me too,” Finley replied, then returned the kiss. He kicked off his shoes, and Tanner did the same. He let himself watch Finley take off the T-shirt, and got a good look at his mate’s chest.

  Finley still had the lean chest of a teenager, but Tanner could already see hints of muscle in the pecs and abs. He forced himself to pull off his own shirt and let Finley look too. Finley stared, mouth hanging slightly open.

  “So?” he asked when Finley didn’t say anything.

  “Uh, sorry, too busy drooling.”

  That surprised a laugh out of Tanner, and he couldn’t stop a grin. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment, but….” He paused, feeling his wolf pushing hard against his consciousness. “Time to go,” he said and turned his back quickly. He managed to peel his jeans and underwear off before the moon forced him through the shift.

  Tanner’s eyes were always the first to change, and the green trees turned gray. His teeth elongated and claws emerged next. He had the ability to stop there, if he needed to, to fight. He’d used it once to get away from a jackass who wouldn’t take no for an answer when he was down in Pittsburgh. Generally, though, he didn’t risk changing anything in front of the humans.

  He didn’t stop there this time—couldn’t on the full moon anyway—and no more than ten seconds later, his bones had realigned, muscles shifted, fur sprouted, and he now stood on four legs. He gave himself a good shake, grateful the shift was as natural as breathing.

  He noticed ruefully that his ridiculous hard-on even translated into wolf form. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened. He shook himself again—a little harder than strictly necessary—and turned around.

  What greeted him was the most beautiful, almost solid black wolf he’d ever seen. Tanner recognized part of that was the fact that Finley was his mate, but Finley’s wolf was as beautiful as his human side. He was all sleek and lean, and Tanner would have bet everything he owned there was plenty of hidden power and strength in the wolf in front of him.

  Finley tilted his head, and Tanner realized he was staring. He shook again, then stepped closer to his mate. He gave Finley one long lick to the face, then took off running.

  Tanner heard a bark, and then in very short order, Finley had caught up to him. If he’d been human, he would have laughed when he felt a nip to his leg. Instead, he chuffed and poured on the speed.

  He was thrilled Finley kept up with him. He took his mate all over their lands. He showed Finley th
e different streams and ponds, pointed out—as best he could while still a wolf—where the roads were, and took him up to his favorite overlook. They spent some time sitting under the stars, taking in the amazing view.

  Later, they brought down a buck. Tanner loved how well they worked together, even without the telepathy they’d have once mated. Once they’d eaten, they found another stream and played in the water for a little while.

  When they got tired of that, Tanner took Finley to one of his favorite clearings. There, they play fought, and he didn’t even have to let Finley pin him. Finley managed it quite well without his help. They rolled and nipped, bit and growled, and then finally they both stopped in pure exhaustion.

  Tanner led Finley back to their pack clearing, and they settled down together by the log they’d been on earlier. Finley curled up next to him, and Tanner let himself study Finley’s wolf for a few minutes. Even now, hours later, he thought Finley’s wolf was as beautiful as the human version. He knew he was incredibly lucky to have been given a gift like his mate.

  He moved in and licked Finley’s face, trying to show what he was feeling as much as he could in the limitations of wolf form. Finley seemed to get it, because he returned the licks just as eagerly. Then he laid his head on Tanner’s front paws with a big sigh. Tanner settled against Finley and rested his own head on Finley’s back.

  HE WOKE in human form. He didn’t often shift back unconsciously, but it happened now and again. He didn’t have to guess why this time, though. The reason for that was curled up in his arms, as human as he was.

  And as naked as he was.

  Which would explain the nearly painful morning wood he had, as well.

  Despite that, despite the fact that he knew he should wake Finley, get dressed, and give him a little bit of space, Tanner found he couldn’t quite yet. In the few times in college he’d had sex with someone, it’d always been quick, always been more or less a friendly fuck. And he’d always gone home alone. So he’d never awakened with someone in his arms.

  He thought he could probably get used to that pretty quickly.

  The problem was, he was facing a dilemma. Finley was young. Younger than he’d ever expected his mate to be. Not even legal to be with an adult in the state they lived in.

  They had time, though, and he wasn’t ready to face all of that. Instead, he’d give himself this bit of time with his gorgeous mate in his arms before they had to face questions like that. Besides, as he’d realized the night before, they’d just met. It wasn’t like Finley was going to be ready to be claimed just yet.

  And Tanner wasn’t quite ready to claim Finley just yet either. He wanted to spend some time getting to know Finley. Sure, it was a foregone conclusion that they’d mate, at least eventually. But until then, well, he wanted to give them a chance to build more than the mate bond. He wanted to give them a chance to fall in love as humans too. He wanted to give Finley a chance to grow up, enjoy things, before they were tied together for life.

  He buried his face in Finley’s hair and took a big inhale of his mate’s scent. He let it fill his senses, his mind, to pull back out later. He memorized the feel of Finley in his arms, so when he was alone in his bed, he could imagine it.

  He dropped a light kiss on top of Finley’s head, and Finley stirred, then looked up. “Good morning,” he murmured.

  Tanner smiled at him. “Good morning.” He couldn’t resist closing the distance and catching those amazingly tempting lips in a kiss.

  Finley came alive under him, opening to him, moving against him. He snaked an arm around Tanner, and pulled him in tighter. He felt Finley’s erection against his own, pulling a soft moan from him that Finley swallowed with the kiss.

  He couldn’t stop himself from rocking into his mate, nearly devouring Finley’s incredible mouth. Finley’s hand slid down Tanner’s back to rest on his hip, and when Tanner rocked again, it tightened as Finley moaned as well.

  It took all Tanner had to break the kiss. He had even more willpower than he realized he had to keep from diving back in when he got a look at Finley’s face. Finley had red, kiss-swollen lips, gorgeous green eyes hazy with lust, and a flush on those beautiful, pale, round cheeks.

  Tanner’s cock jumped against Finley’s, and he knew he’d be spending some quality time with his hand and the bottle of conditioner later that morning. “We should get going. I smell my parents.”

  Finley nodded. “Mine too. This was a… wonderful night.”

  Tanner smiled and nodded too. “Very much so. Should we get dressed?”

  “I suppose.” He grinned cheekily and Tanner smacked Finley’s hip lightly.

  “Come on, mate,” Tanner said, standing up.

  Finley laughed and took the hand Tanner held out to him. His green eyes darkened when they fell on Tanner’s cock. “Oh my.”

  Tanner’s cheeks heated, but he couldn’t help but feel good about Finley’s reaction. He let himself get a good look at his mate and was certainly not disappointed by what he saw. “That’s about right,” he said, voice husky.

  Finley blushed and Tanner leaned in, kissing Finley’s cheek. Then he forced himself to pick up his clothes. They dressed in silence, and when they were done, he took Finley’s hand as they walked back toward the parking lot together.

  “I’ll get your number from my dad. Would you like to go out? Dinner, maybe?”

  Finley smiled. “I’d like that very much. I’m… gods, I never thought I’d find you.”

  Tanner brushed his fingers over Finley’s cheek. “Me either. But we have found each other. And I am so very glad.” He kissed Finley softly on the forehead. “I’ll call you later.”

  Finley’s smile was almost shy. “I can’t wait,” he murmured, then kissed Tanner softly on the lips before stepping back. He hurried to his parents’ car, waved, then slipped into the back seat and out of sight.

  Tanner watched until the taillights were out of sight, then turned to see his parents grinning at him. His cheeks turned bright red. “What?” he asked, knowing he sounded irritated but unable to help it.

  His mom’s grin widened. “Congratulations, honey. We’re happy for you.”

  Tanner looked over to where Finley’s parents’ car had disappeared. “Thanks. I’m… pretty damned ecstatic myself.”

  Chapter Three

  HE WAS gone. Finley was gone. Tanner couldn’t wrap his head around it. His mate had packed a suitcase overnight and gotten on a train.

  Sure, the Coopers had promised Finley would be back. But Tanner didn’t understand why Finley hadn’t told him directly. When he’d shown up, they wouldn’t even tell him where Finley had gone, only that he’d taken a train. Finley’s two younger sisters, Anna and Beth, had both looked like they were ready to shift and claw his face off. The entire family was pissed at him, though he couldn’t fathom why. What had he done?

  Tanner was, in fact, pretty sure the trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He just didn’t know what he could do about it. Especially since Finley refused to answer his cell phone. Any of the six times he’d tried, so far. Tanner stared down at his own again for a full minute, trying to decide what to do. It hurt—there were no two ways about it. He just couldn’t understand what was going on, what was happening with his mate.

  He dialed Finley’s number once more and listened to the rings.

  “What?” Finley’s annoyed voice answered after five.

  “You left.”

  “Your powers of deduction are astounding.”

  Tanner frowned. That didn’t sound like Finley. Sure, Finley could be sarcastic at times, but snark—biting snark especially—wasn’t usually part of his repertoire. “Why?”

  “I need some space. I can’t… I can’t keep doing this, Tan.” He paused and let the silence sit. “You know, mating at my age isn’t that far out of the question. It’s not even unusual.”

  Tanner pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d known Finley was frustrated, but he didn’t see why it was that big of a deal. “N
ot for—”

  “Don’t you dare say ‘not for some.’ There’s nothing any different about me than there is them. We are destined mates. We’re supposed to be together. But we’re not. You won’t claim me. Since you won’t, maybe it’s time I find someone who will.”

  Despite the panic rising in his chest—with the added bonus of his wolf’s panic—he heard how shaky those last words were. “Baby, please don’t.”

  “No.”

  Tanner was having real trouble breathing and wondered if the lack of oxygen was affecting his thought processes. “No?”

  “No. You don’t get to call me ‘baby’ anymore, Tanner. You don’t get to call me ‘mate.’ You don’t get to do anything anymore. Not unless you’re willing to claim me.”

  The silence sat heavy between them. Tanner struggled to keep the panic back, to find the words to speak. “Are you… breaking up with me?”

  Finley didn’t answer for a few long moments, and Tanner’s already underperforming lungs struggled further. Finally: “I guess I am. Unless you claim me. Unless you’re ready to mate.”

  Shit. “Finley, I—”

  “No. Here’s the deal. I’m spending the summer… away. If I meet someone while I’m there, I’m not going to turn down the chance to date him. If I date him and like him, and he’s willing to mate and bond, then I’ll accept him. If you don’t want that, then you’re going to have to claim me. Use those amazing deductive powers you’ve got to figure out where I am.”

  It took Tanner a full minute to realize Finley had hung up. He stared at his phone for quite a bit longer before setting it on the seat next to him. He considered trying to call back, but knew it would be futile. If Finley hadn’t turned the phone off, he at least wouldn’t answer. Tanner looked up, realizing he was still sitting in the Coopers’ driveway. Finley’s mom was looking out the window at him, her arms crossed and face set in angry lines.

  Tanner couldn’t begin to figure that out. He couldn’t believe they’d be that angry over him not claiming Finley yet. But he was too freaked out to try to understand that.