by Liv Rider
It was two more hours before the others left, and then another thirty minutes before Cameron and Parker had cleaned up, although five of those minutes had been spent arguing over whether or not Cameron could help. In the end, Cameron had argued while clearing the cutlery away, and Parker had given up while grumbling under his breath.
“I’m not just going to sit around while you do everything, am I?” They’d both settled on the couch with some coffee.
“You’re my guest.”
“I’m your boyfriend.”
That made Parker beam from ear to ear. “Exactly, and sometimes I just want to take care of you.”
He recognized that impulse. “We can take turns indulging each other.”
“Accepted.” Parker rested his hand on Cameron’s thigh. “We could start with that right now, you know.”
He squeezed Parker’s hand, feeling desire stir again. “Mm, you could. I’ve got a few ideas.”
“Do you now?” Parker slid his hand further up Cameron’s thigh.
“I brought my Evil Dead 2 DVD.” Cameron managed to keep a straight face as he said it. “I mean, we never did finish it.”
“Because you distracted me!”
“I promise not to distract you this time.”
Parker drank his coffee. “Did you enjoy tonight?”
“Yes.” He was a little surprise at the change of subject. “Why?”
“And you like my friends?”
“Yes!” He laughed, realizing Parker had just been worried. “They seem very nice, and it’s good to know I’m not the only human stuck with a dragon shifter.”
“You’re not stuck with me!”
He carefully moved closer, mindful of his coffee, to lean against Parker. “Don’t worry, I’m enjoying it very much so far. I mean, now that I actually know what’s going on.”
“There’ll be more moments like that.” Parker put his arm around Cameron, stroking his arm. “Where I have to explain things, or forget to explain things, because they seem so obvious to me.”
“And probably the other way around.” He wasn’t sure how used Parker was to being around humans, but there was a reason Stacy thought he was a weirdo.
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
“You’re probably right,” Parker admitted. “I guess we’ll both have some new things to get used to.”
“Yes. Like horror movies.”
“I wondered when you’d get back to that. Okay, put the movie on. We’ll see how far we get.”
Cameron sat up. He had actually brought the DVD along, just in case. “You don’t mind?”
“Of course I don’t mind. I told you that I planned on watching the movies you recommended to me, and I will.”
Fated mates or not, Cameron did want Parker to at least give the movie a try. He had no illusions they’d actually finish it tonight, but he wouldn’t mind having to make multiple attempts.
He settled back down next to Parker after starting the movie, and caught Parker up on some of the scenes they’d talked through before. As the movie progressed and the situation in the cabin went from bad to worse, Cameron kept glancing at Parker to see whether or not he was enjoying it. He looked surprisingly thoughtful as he watched. “Do you like it?”
“I’m not sure,” Parker replied, which was honest at least. “But I was thinking. If I suggested we go on a nice, romantic holiday to a secluded cabin in the woods somewhere, would you even like that?”
Warmth spread throughout him at the thought of Parker already planning holidays. “So long as there’s no tape recorder with recordings of demon-summoning Latin, I think we’re good.”
“Even if there was, I’d pick you up and fly you to safety.”
“You can do that, can’t you?” It was amazing to think Parker really could.
“Yes.” Parker ran his fingers through Cameron’s hair, and Cameron hummed in pleasure. “I’ll take you flying. We’ll have to figure out a good time and date for it. It’s getting dark pretty early, so that would work in our favor.”
Cameron finished his coffee, giddy at thoughts of flying on a dragon and going on holidays with Parker together. “I’ll leave you to do the planning.” He put his empty mug back on the coffee table, then settled back next to Parker, cuddling up to him.
“You’re distracting me again.” Parker wrapped his arm around Cameron, pulling him closer.
“I’m just sitting here.”
“Exactly.”
“Sitting next to you isn’t being distracting.” Cameron put his hand on Parker’s thigh, slowly sliding it up. He nuzzled Parker’s neck, kissing his jawline. “This is.” He smiled as Parker spread his legs a little, and he slid his hand up further to cup Parker’s cock through his trousers, slowly massaging him. Parker let out a soft groan, tilting his head back.
Cameron kissed his way up to lick and nibble on Parker’s earlobe, and Parker shivered against him. “Mmm, very distracting.”
Cameron pulled back and Parker turned his head to look at him, his brown eyes dark with lust. Cameron’s breath caught as Parker moved to push him back down on the couch. He spread his thighs to give him more space, then pulled Parker on top of him as they kissed. He moaned as Parker ground his hips down, already half-hard with desire coiling low in his stomach. He needed to touch Parker. He needed bare skin. He started pulling Parker’s shirt out of his trousers, and Parker sat up to pull it over his head, letting Cameron’s hands roam across the muscles of his chest, arms, and back. He didn’t think he was ever going to get tired of that.
“Your turn.” Parker’s teeth scraped against his neck, making Cameron shudder underneath him.
“Bedroom?” he suggested instead. There was a blood-curdling scream from the TV screen, making him laugh. “Well, at least we made it further than last time.”
Parker’s hands slid under his shirt, stroking his sides. “Maybe in a few months we’ll be able to watch it the whole way through.”
“Maybe.” Cameron sighed in disappointment when Parker sat up to lead him to the bedroom. He lost his shirt and one of his socks in the hallway. Once in Parker’s bedroom, he stood still while Parker flicked on the light.
Parker hesitated as he looked around. “It’s not much, is it?”
Like the rest of his apartment, it was sparsely furnished, and the only sign someone actually used this room were the two books on the nightstand. “It’s very you?” Cameron tried, remembering what Parker had told him, but that just got him a brief glare. It was reassuring to see Parker be insecure about something. “You’ll figure it out. You did say you were busy with work.”
“I will.” Parker took Cameron’s hands to pull him close. “Or maybe it’s good, because it means there’s plenty of space for your things.”
Cameron blinked at him, wondering if Parker was saying what Cameron thought he was saying. “Are you asking me to move in with you?” They’d only met a week ago.
“Yes.” Parker watched him closely. “I’m rushing things again, aren’t I?”
“Little bit, yeah.” He kissed Parker. “I don’t mind leaving some of my things here, extra clothing, a spare toothbrush, movies I think you should watch….”
“Ah, the important things.”
“Exactly.” He didn’t feel ready to move in with Parker, but they could take it step by step. “Clearly, watching movies together isn’t working.”
“I’m not hearing complaints.” Parker’s arms were around him, hands moving down to cup his ass through his jeans.
Cameron laughed, leaning forward. “Definitely no complaints.” He pushed back against Parker until he was sprawled out on the bed, then crawled on top of him. He was never going to get enough of touching Parker and feeling the warm skin and hard muscle underneath his fingertips. They kissed, and Parker’s hands roamed up and down his body too, sliding through his hair again before moving down to tug on his belt.
Cameron rolled off of Parker to deal with his belt and the buttons of his jeans,
watching Parker do the same after a moment. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“Mind what?”
He threw his jeans and remaining sock on the floor. “Me not wanting to move in with you immediately?”
Parker sat up to get rid of his own trousers, toeing his socks off as well. “I’d like nothing more than for you to move in with me, but I understand that it’s too fast for you. You can go at any pace you like.”
“Oh, I can?” He pressed his hand against Parker’s groin, feeling the outline of his hard cock.
Parker hissed as Cameron slowly stroked his cock through his boxers.
“Any pace I like?” Cameron kept his movements slow, kissing Parker’s cheek as his hips rocked forward, into his grip.
“Yes,” Parker managed, his breath coming fast. “Anything you like.”
He guided Parker to lie back down on the bed, and pulled Parker’s boxers down. His cock jutted out, and Cameron wrapped one hand around it as he used the other to remove Parker’s underwear. “Okay.” He was achingly hard himself, and he wanted to feel Parker’s cock inside of him, but more than that, he didn’t want this to be over too soon.
“Cameron….”
Parker tried to pull him closer, presumably for a kiss, but Cameron had other plans. He knelt on the bed and lowered his head to slide the tip of Parker’s cock into his mouth.
Parker gasped at that, fingers digging into his shoulder. “Cameron!”
Cameron patted his thigh, leaving his other hand wrapped around the base of Parker’s thick cock as he kept sucking. He bobbed his head up and down slowly, swirling his tongue around the head of his cock every now and then. He used one hand to stroke Parker’s cock, and the other to gently stroke and fondle his balls, checking if he liked that and if so, what exactly he liked.
Parker whimpered as he spread his thighs further. “Oh yes, Cameron, yes.”
Cameron continued to lick and suck Parker’s cock, his hands drifting up and down his thighs every now and then before going back to stroking his cock or testicles. He knew he wasn’t going fast enough to make Parker come, but that wasn’t his goal. He wanted to hear Parker moan and whimper and gasp. He wanted to feel the shivers underneath him. He wanted Parker to rock his hips into his grip.
“Cameron, please.” One of Parker’s hands was in Cameron’s hair again, but his touch was light. He wasn’t trying to push Cameron down or guide him. “Let me—I want—”
Cameron lifted his head, grinning at Parker. “Anything I liked, right? Maybe I like this.” The sight of Parker’s flushed face and the heat in his eyes made him grow hot with want. Cameron wanted to keep teasing him like this, but he also wanted to feel Parker inside of him.
“Mmm, in that case, keep going.” Parker lay his head back on the bed, closing his eyes. “I’m all yours.”
A thrill went down his spine at those words. He had no doubt that Parker meant them. After one more stroke, he let go of Parker’s cock to crawl back up to kiss him.
Parker’s hands went around him immediately, pulling their bodies flush together. Cameron gasped at the friction against his cock, even through his own boxers. “You’re still wearing too much.” Parker nipped at his ear. “You should do something about that. If you wanted to.”
He definitely wanted to. Cameron tried to keep kissing Parker while removing his boxers. Once they were finally both naked, Parker pulled them flush together again. Cameron shuddered at the feeling of Parker’s cock pressed against his own. “I want you,” he muttered. “I want you inside of me. Where’s the—”
Parker was already moving to get the supplies from his nightstand. “How do you want to—oh.”
Cameron had got up on his hands and knees, then looked over his shoulder at Parker, whose dark eyes were glued to his ass. “What are you waiting for?” He wriggled his hips impatiently.
Parker blinked, then knelt behind him. “Enjoying the view.”
“That’s always your excuse, isn’t it,” he teased. “Last time you also—” He gasped at the feeling of slick fingers pushing inside of him. He spread his knees wider, pushing back.
Parker’s other hand curled around his hip. “I don’t want to rush this either.”
Cameron whimpered as Parker’s fingers pushed deeper, curling and stroking until he was rocking back eagerly. It wasn’t enough. “You can, mm, you can go faster.”
“Are you sure?” Parker teased, slowing the movement of his fingers.
“Yes!” Trust Parker to discover his playful side now. He gasped as Parker removed his fingers, and then Cameron took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he listened to Parker put the condom on. He was hot all over in anticipation.
But then he felt the tip of Parker’s cock against his hole, and he had to remind himself not to push back immediately. Parker had one hand around his hip again, and he pushed in slowly.
Cameron closed his eyes, focusing on the sensation and staying still. When the first few inches were inside of him, he let out a relieved sigh. “I’ve missed this.”
“And here I was hoping it was about the pleasure of my company,” Parker managed.
Cameron laughed, and that sent Parker further inside of him. Oh yes, this was what he needed. It felt so good. “Nope,” he gasped, “I’m just—just using you for sex.” He moaned when he felt Parker lean forward to press a kiss against his shoulder. One of his hands was on the bed, right next to Cameron’s own hand.
“I’ll have to be really good at sex, then,” Parker’s voice was low as he said it, sending a shiver down Cameron’s spine.
Cameron didn’t reply. He couldn’t find the words. Not when Parker was completely inside of him, his chest against Cameron’s back. He should’ve felt trapped and smothered, but instead he felt safe and wanted.
Parker began to thrust, slowly at first, letting Cameron get used to his size and girth.
Cameron tilted his hips slightly, finding a better angle that also let Parker slide deeper on his next thrust. Parker gasped against his hair. Pleasure filled his body with every thrust, and his skin felt hot where Parker’s body brushed against his. “Harder, please.” He needed more than this.
Parker pushed himself back up, holding Cameron’s hips with both hands now. The next thrust was harder, and Cameron moved with him, pushing back when Parker thrust again. He was lost in the rhythm and sensation after that, every thrust sending him higher until he thought he was going to explode. He was close to coming, and Parker wasn’t even touching his cock.
It was that thought that sent him flying, coming hard as white-hot ecstasy filled every fiber, every cell in his body. It seemed to last forever, the overwhelming pleasure ebbing away slowly. His arms couldn’t hold him up anymore, and he collapsed onto the mattress, making Parker freeze.
“Cameron?”
“Hngf.” He still couldn’t manage words.
Parker gently moved them both so they were lying on their sides, Parker’s arm wrapped tightly around him. He began to thrust slowly, and Cameron whimpered in pleasure.
“Good?”
“Mmm.”
He felt rather than heard Parker chuckle. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Cameron enjoyed the little aftershocks of pleasure thrumming through his body. His hand found Parker’s, and he twined their fingers together. Parker’s breath was hot as he thrust faster and faster. He pressed kisses against Cameron’s skin, and Cameron could tell he was about to come by how desperate his groans were. There was one hard, deep thrust, Parker tightening his grip on Cameron’s fingers as he shuddered and came.
They both lay there as their breathing and heartbeats returned to normal. Parker was the first to move eventually, pulling out so he could get rid of the condom.
Cameron turned to cuddle up to him once Parker was back in bed. “Mm, that was amazing.”
“I know.” He felt Parker press a kiss against his hair.
It was easy to lie together in a companionable silence. It wouldn’t always be this easy.
They both knew that. But Cameron also knew that Parker would always be there for him, no matter what. There was a lot he still didn’t know about shifters, but he was pretty sure that was the most important thing. Everything else he could learn.
Epilogue
The following spring
The most difficult part, Parker thought, of standing outside the large barn while Dr. Thompson was inspecting it, was pretending he didn’t already know that the bat wasn’t hibernating anymore.
Cameron and Andrew were there on behalf of Halloween Fest, since they’d requested Dr. Thompson give the go-ahead for them starting the preparations for this year’s Fest. Parker thought it was early in the year for that, but both Cameron and Andrew had insisted they needed to get started.
Olivia and Isaac were there on behalf of his council, or Shifting North as far as Dr. Thompson and Andrew were concerned. The doctor had visited the barn a few times after the sale had been completed to check up on the bat. Fortunately, Olivia had been able to persuade him to contact her to make an appointment first, arguing that otherwise no one would be at the farm to let him in.
So far, dozens of shifters from all three districts of Lewiston had made use of the barn. There was still grumbling from shifters who couldn’t use it, or who felt they didn’t get to use it often enough, but it was a step in the right direction. Parker still wasn’t sure what they could do to thank Glen properly. Extra time off? An all-expenses paid trip to a destination of his choice for him and his family? It didn’t seem enough.
When Dr. Thompson walked out of the barn with a clipboard in his hand, Parker tried to look suitably nervous.
“And?” Andrew’s voice wavered, betraying his nerves.
“No sign of the bat anywhere,” Dr. Thompson replied. “Plenty of signs of its inhabitation, though. I recommend you clean up the bat droppings before doing anything else.”
Parker sighed. Of course Glen had done that. To be fair, it would’ve been strange if the bat hadn’t left any droppings behind at all. “We’ll take care of that.”
