Nysys shrugged. “I’ve never been in a relationship, and this one was too important to mess up.”
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Probably, yeah. I think I’d have waited until this mess was over, though. Until I knew you better.” Nysys hesitated, but he had to ask. It didn’t look like Morin was going to send him packing, but he had to be sure. “So, what now? Are you going to send me home?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you are home, hon.”
Hope swelled in Nysys’ chest. “Really?”
Morin stroked a hand down Nysys’ back, making him shiver. “If you want to, yes. We don’t have to decide anything right now, though. You should take your time and think about it.”
“I know what I want.”
“And what’s that?”
“You.”
Morin looked into Nysys’ eyes. Nysys had to resist the urge to close them, because it felt as if Morin was reading him. He was apparently satisfied with what he saw there, because he nodded and kissed Nysys again.
Nysys opened his mouth willingly, wanting nothing more than to finally be with Morin. He hadn’t realized it, but being so close to his mate while trying to keep his distance from him had left him strained. Just the touch of Morin’s hands on his back, his waist, was enough to loosen the tension that had been growing in the past month.
Nysys had to ask one last question, though. Okay, maybe two. He pushed away just enough to free his lips and looked at his mate. “What do you want?”
“You.”
Nysys nodded, but he wasn’t done yet. “Do you... want to mate? With me? Or do you want to wait? We can do that, too, if you want.”
“What will mating with you entail?”
“That I won’t be able to have any other man. That you probably won’t want any other man. That we’ll be linked forever, and it’ll be a long forever. Nix live as long as shifters.”
“How long?”
“A hundred and fifty years, more or less. You’ll have to watch your sister and your brother die, unless they end up being mates to a paranormal creature. You’ll have to leave your current life before people notice you’re not aging as you should, go into hiding.”
“With you?”
“Yeah.”
“And what do I get in return?”
“Me. For as long as I live, I’ll only be yours. Only want you.”
Morin smiled. “That’s good enough for me.”
“Are you sure? Don’t you think it’s too soon to tie ourselves together? It hasn’t been a month yet.”
“Do you feel it’s too soon?”
“No, but I’ve known I had a mate all my life. You’re human. They don’t usually believe in love at first sight.”
“Is it love? Do you love me?”
Nysys shrugged. “I don’t know. I know I like you, and that I... trust you. I just don’t know how love feels.”
“I know I’m already halfway there. I’ve wanted you since the beginning, and not only your body. But if you want to wait...”
“I don’t. I just don’t want you to regret mating with me.”
“I can’t tell you I won’t, just like you can’t tell me you won’t.” Nysys opened his mouth to protest, but Morin shook his head. “No, you can’t promise me you won’t. I know we’ll have to work on this relationship like every couple. That we’ll fight and get angry at each other. Every relationship is like that.”
“But in normal relationships you can leave whenever you want. I won’t be able to do that.”
“Then we’ll have to try to work our problems out even harder.”
“But—”
Morin put a finger in front of Nysys’ mouth. “No buts. I want you.”
Nysys nodded, and the weight that had been sitting in his chest ever since he’d first met his mate finally lifted. “You have me, then.”
The smile Morin gave him was better than a thousand words. He still had small doubts, but he knew they’d always be there, for one reason or for another. He had to take the leap of faith Ani had told him about and hope everything would be all right. It had to be. “So... what now?”
“Now I’m going to take you to my bed and fuck you senseless until all the doubts you still have disappear.”
Nysys gulped loudly. He liked the sound of that. Morin had been nothing but sweet and gentle during the time they’d spent together, and while he was surprised to meet this new side of him, Nysys wasn’t afraid of it. “I don’t... have that much experience. With men. You know, in bed.”
Morin smiled slowly, the smile telling Nysys exactly what his mate wanted to do with him. “That won’t be a problem.” Morin sobered a bit. “I won’t hurt you, and I want you to tell me if you’re uncomfortable about something. I’ll stop right away.”
“You will?”
“Yes. Even if I’m mid-thrust.”
Nysys’ brain froze on that image. “Mid... thrust?”
A hand snaked around his waist and lowered to his ass. It squeezed. “Yes. Mid-thrust.”
Nysys took a deep breath and looked at his mate. “What are you waiting for, then?”
* * * *
Morin grabbed Nysys’ hand and pulled him along. He hurried to the bedroom, afraid Nysys would change his mind. He hadn’t lied when he’d said he wanted them to mate. Morin had had a few serious relationships, but none of them had ever felt like this. He’d never felt the urgency to be with the other person, the deep knowledge that it would be forever, and that it was right.
He took them to his room and stopped next to his bed. “Do you want to shower first?” God knew Morin needed it. He wanted to take off the dirty feeling the killer had left on him, on his skin.
Nysys nodded. “You go first.”
“We could shower together.”
“No. We’d end up having sex in the shower.”
“And that would be a bad thing?”
Nysys smiled softly. “For our first time and our mating, yes. I know you don’t... understand this completely, but I’ve dreamed about it since I was old enough to understand what mating entailed.”
Morin nodded and kissed Nysys. “I understand. I’m going.”
“I’ll be on your balcony.”
Morin hurried in the bathroom. He pulled his clothes off and let them fall on the floor, then started the water in the shower stall. The urgency slowed down once he was under the warm spray, though. He knew Nysys would be there when he was done. He wanted this as much as Morin did.
He scrubbed his skin slowly, enjoying the relaxing warmth and thinking about the night ahead. He slipped his hand down and rubbed his cock lightly as he smiled and fantasized about him and Nysys curling up on his bed together, touching skin and stroking cocks. He tugged himself while leaning against the tile wall as the warm water washed over him. He thought about skin and taste and touch as he stroked himself to climax. He came silently, then sighed as the water washed away the evidence of his fantasy. He hoped this would take the edge off, because he wanted to enjoy what was about to happen as much as possible and not come too fast. He climbed out and wrapped a plush white towel around his waist. Still dripping, he exited the bathroom and pushed the French doors that led outside open.
“Your turn,” he called softly. Nysys looked up and gaped at him. Morin felt his cock stiffen slightly under his stare, anticipation building again. Nysys closed his mouth and swallowed hard, then passed by Morin’s side and disappeared inside.
Morin followed him inside and flopped on the bed. He sprawled on top of the sheets and stared up at the ceiling, tracing the golden light and shadows the single lit lamp casted with his eyes.
He heard the shower taps crank on and tried not to think about Nysys in there, lathering his firm, supple body beneath the spray. He imagined rivulets of water following the soft lines down his chest and thought about chasing droplets with his tongue. His towel started to tent over his rapidly hardening cock. He rolle
d onto his side to make the problem a little less apparent, not that it mattered much. Nysys would see him naked soon anyway. He just didn’t want to give the guy an eyeful as soon as he stepped out of the bathroom.
The shower cut off and Morin could make out the sound of wet feet on tile as Nysys stepped out of the stall. He listened intently as Nysys padded around the bathroom and waited for the sound of the door opening.
Morin sat up and took in the sight of Nysys, still dripping and wrapped in a white towel. His tousled pink hair left drops of water around him on the floor as he stared at Morin, his chest rising and falling with his quickening breath. Morin let his towel fall to the side, revealing his erect cock. Nysys’ gaze flicked down and took in the sight, then moved back up at Morin’s face, clearly needing an invitation. Morin extended his hand.
Nysys rushed to him and pushed him down onto the mattress, losing his own towel in the process. He pressed his mouth to Morin’s and moaned as Morin kissed him back. Morin grabbed on tight and moved them up to the head of the bed, trying to get as comfortable as possible while having his lap full of pink-haired naked man. He stroked his fingers along the dampness of Nysys’ ass, tracing droplets in circles and lines, spreading the dampness. Nysys pushed his cock against Morin’s with urgency and raked his fingers through Morin’s hair. Morin wrapped his arms around his middle and held him close as he pushed passed Nysys’ lips and explored with his tongue. Nysys yielded under his touch and let Morin take the lead. Morin rolled them over so that Nysys was beneath him and nestled his legs between the other man’s knees.
He released Nysys’ mouth with a wet smack. “Still sure about this?” he asked in a whisper, his heart pounding in his chest. It was a risky thing to ask, but he wanted Nysys to know he was the one making decisions, that Morin wouldn’t push him one way or the other.
“Yes,” Nysys whispered back, gently tracing the line of Morin’s jaw with his finger. “I trust you. Really.”
Morin nodded and slid his hand between them. He stroked Nysys’ balls as Nysys nodded back and licked his lips. Morin swept in and kissed him, his hand still stroking, rolling the flesh with his fingers. They pushed against each other and touched sensitive places, their arousal filling the air around them. Morin finally indulged his fantasy after weeks of only thinking about it and ducked his head to lick and kiss his way down the length of Nysys’ torso, licking and kissing the tattoos and piercings he encountered as he went.
Nysys drew Morin back up to his mouth and kissed along his jaw. Morin opened his eyes and stared down at the man who had come to mean so much to him in such a short time. He kissed Nysys on the nose and separated their bodies for an instant. He reached to his nightstand and opened the drawer, then blindly searched for the bottle of lube he kept there. He retrieved it and settled fully on top of Nysys again. He opened the bottle and slicked his fingers, then threw it somewhere on the bed.
Their gazes locked again as he slipped his hand between them again and traced his finger around Nysys’ entrance. Nysys’ eyelids fluttered closed and his mouth opened on a perfect O.
He gasped as Morin slipped inside his warmth and nodded, whispering “Yes...”
Morin crooked his finger and stroked in search of Nysys’ prostate, pulling a strangled groan from his throat when he found it. He kissed up Nysys’ neck and sucked his earlobe into his mouth as he slipped a second finger in. Nysys pushed back, clearly eager for more, his arms curled around Morin’s back, clutching at it. Morin slipped a third finger in and scissored them gently, encouraging the muscles to relax and accept him.
When he felt Nysys was ready he slipped his hand free and searched for the lube again. He also made to grab a condom, but Nysys’ hand on his arm stopped him. “We can’t mate with a barrier.”
That made Morin pause. He’d never gone bareback, not even during his most serious relationships, but he knew Nysys was right. He’d read what his father had discovered on matings. He also knew Nix didn’t carry diseases, so it was safe. He’d just gone with what he was used to. “Okay.”
“We can stop if you’re not sure.”
“No, it’s fine. Really.” Morin gave Nysys a smile before grabbing the lube once more. He slathered his cock, then raised his head and looked deeply into Nysys’ eyes, searching for any sign of reluctance. He saw only desire. Holding his mate’s gaze, he tilted his hips and pushed past Nysys’ entrance, their gazes locked together as the penetration drew them closer than Morin had ever dreamed possible.
He could see Nysys struggle not to close his eyes against the sensation of being entered. Nysys grasped two handfuls of Morin’s hair and held his face above his, so close Morin could feel the man’s breath fanning on his cheek. Nysys’ green irises shone and he breathed deeply as Morin began to push.
It was incredibly intense, the most intimate connection he’d ever experienced. He didn’t know if it was only because Nysys was Nysys, or if it was because they were mates, but it didn’t matter. He stayed fixated on Nysys’ eyes and thrust slowly at first, then with more pressure and speed. Nysys stared back, blinking as Morin pushed inside of him, deeper and deeper.
They were making love, their bodies locked together as heat rose between them. Morin swept Nysys’ mouth with his and Nysys groaned in ecstasy. He welcomed the deep kiss until his breath shortened and he whimpered. They separated as Morin thrust faster, and he could feel Nysys’ fingers digging into his back, probably leaving imprints.
He pulled at Morin’s hair and grasped his shoulders, soft moans and pleads spilling from his lips. Morin wished it could last forever, but then Nysys cried out, his back arching and his knees rising up. He pushed against Morin’s cock and his muscles clenched furiously as he came in shockwaves. Morin was swept up in the tide and followed Nysys, shouting to the ceiling as he came inside of him, waves of ecstatic pleasure pouring through his veins.
He felt a hand leaving his shoulder and landing on his chest, on his heart. The skin there heated almost to the point of pain just before the feeling started dissipating, following Morin as he came down from his orgasm. He kissed Nysys’ neck, tasting the salty sweat that had formed there, and slowly slipped free. He collapsed on his side and smiled when he felt Nysys’ arms pulling him close.
Nysys lightly stroked his fingertips down Morin’s arm as they both tried to catch their breath. Morin raised his head and checked Nysys’ face for any sign of regret. Nysys smiled as he slid his hand up to Morin’s ear and drew him close for a kiss. Morin obeyed gratefully and kissed him back, again and again, telling himself he wouldn’t stop until Nysys wanted to. They kissed on and on, holding each other close and pressing their mouths together as though making up for the time they’d lost over the past few weeks. Finally Nysys withdrew and butted their foreheads together.
“What was that?” Morin asked.
“What was what?”
“The warmth. On my chest.”
“It was me claiming you.”
Morin looked down and his eyes widened. He fingered the brown mark that now sat there, stroking down the N, then up the M. “Our initials.”
“Yes.” Nysys looked hesitant—as if he was scared Morin would suddenly decide he’d made the wrong decision.
Morin had never been so sure he’d done the right thing, though. He kissed Nysys’ chin, his nose, his forehead. He took the man’s hand and pressed each knuckle to his lips, then kissed the fingertips. Nysys laughed and pulled him closer. Morin kissed his shoulders, his neck, the dip between his collar bones, then worked his way back up to his mouth again. He wasn’t sure at what point sleep set in, but when it did, they were still in each other’s arms, kissing and kissing until the world faded away.
Chapter Five
Nysys blinked and realized he wasn’t in his bed. The strong arm around his waist tightened and he smiled.
He was with Morin. He was mated to Morin. They’d fallen asleep kissing, and Nysys was still in his arms. He tilted his head upward and looked at his
mate’s sleeping face. Morin looked peaceful, more than ever before. Not that Nysys had ever seen him asleep, but it wasn’t rare to see Morin frown or wear a serious expression.
The sunlight played over Morin’s bare chest, turning the hair there almost blond. Nysys buried his hand in it, relishing in the fact that he could do it. Morin murmured in his sleep and hugged him closer, and Nysys cuddled against his side.
Then his eyes strayed toward the nightstand and the clock on top of it. “Shit!”
Morin snapped up and Nysys tumbled to the side. “What? What’s wrong?”
Nysys didn’t waste time trying to explain. He jumped from the bed and looked down at his body with a grimace. They’d fallen asleep without cleaning up, and it showed. His stomach was encrusted with dried semen and he could feel his inner thighs were still slick with lube. “Eww. I need a shower.”
“Nysys? What’s wrong?”
“We’re late. Come on, up! We have to shower and shimmer to Whitedell.”
Morin’s eyes went wide and Nysys wanted to laugh. He restrained himself and strode to the bathroom, but his mate stopped him before he could go far. A strong arm snaked around Nysys’ waist and pulled him toward the bed again. “I want a kiss first.”
Nysys couldn’t say no, not when Morin was looking at him like that, with desire and tenderness in his eyes. He looped his arms around Morin’s shoulders and let himself be held close and kissed. “We should go. We only have twenty minutes to get there, and I’d rather not shimmer into a room full of shifters and face your father covered in dried cum.”
Morin leaned back and frowned. “I’d nearly forgotten about my father.”
Nysys held him close and kissed his mate’s forehead. “I know it’s hard.”
“Not yet. But I don’t know how I’ll react when I see him. He’s not expecting me there. He’s not expecting what I did with his company, and he’s certainly not expecting me to be mated with a Nix.”
“Do you think he’ll disapprove?”
Morin let out a dark laugh. “Oh, he’ll definitely disapprove. Not that I care. Now that I have you, I won’t let you go.”
Nysys Page 8
