Demi Read online

  Then Demi leaned down and licked a trail up Reed’s chest.

  Reed gasped at the feeling of Demi’s wet tongue on his body, then moaned when he felt that tongue tease his nipple.

  Demi moved away and Reed leaned forward, going after his mate’s mouth. Demi chuckled and took his sweater off. He spread it out on the cool ground, then snatched Reed’s from the bench and did the same.

  He then put his hands on Reed’s hips and gently guided him until he was spread out on his back, the clothes under him protecting him from the cold and making the ground a tiny bit more comfortable.

  Demi placed a line of kisses up Reed’s jaw to his earlobe. He stopped there, nibbling a little before moving down Reed’s neck. Reed let out another moan when Demi sucked on his neck, probably leaving a hickey that would show everyone that Reed belonged to someone. He continued down Reed’s chest, lavishing the other nipple before kissing his way back to where he’d started, on Reed’s stomach. But he didn’t stop there this time. Reed held his breath, wondering what Demi would do. There was no way he could avoid seeing the way Reed’s cock was tenting his briefs, but they’d never gone past making out until now. Demi hadn’t shown signs of wanting to go further than what they’d done so far, but Reed wasn’t stupid. He knew Demi wanted more, and at the moment, he was all for it.

  Demi looked up, a question in his eyes, and Reed nodded. He watched as his mate eased his briefs down his hips, exposing his erection. He bit his lower lip, waiting for Demi’s reaction, but Demi was staring at his cock, not saying anything.

  Reed watched Demi, noticing how his swirling green eyes were darkened with lust. Their gazes met and Demi smirked, then lowered his face to Reed’s groin. He licked slowly up Reed’s dick and swirled his tongue around the head. Reed moaned, arching his back a little, and Demi repeated the movement a couple of times, making Reed moan with each lick. Finally, he gripped the base with one hand, opened his mouth wide, and closed his lips around Reed cock.

  Reed groaned and thrust his hips upward. He’d expected this since Demi had made his way down Reed’s chest, but the wet heat surrounding him was still a surprise, and he couldn’t control himself, not after so much time had passed since he’d last experienced a blow job.

  Demi pushed him back down on the sweaters with one hand and sucked. It felt so good, and Reed grabbed the back of Demi’s head, gripping the light green hair without even thinking about it.

  “Demi! So good...”

  Reed didn’t know how long they stayed there. He couldn’t think, not when Demi was sucking and licking and kissing. He couldn’t think, and he wasn’t even sure that what he was saying actually made sense. All he knew was that he’d never felt so close to Demi, and not only physically.

  Demi was showing so much care in how he handled him. He was blowing him, but he was also stroking Reed’s thighs, his hips, his ass. His hands and even his tail were running over Reed’s skin, and it pushed Reed so much closer to orgasm. He could feel the love Demi felt for him in every one of his touches, and he had to stop himself from blurting out the three words he knew would change everything between them. He didn’t know if Demi was ready to hear them, but he wasn’t ready to say them, not yet, not now.

  “Oh god, Demi, I’m gonna—”

  Reed didn’t finish the sentence. His orgasm tore through him and he jerked, coming hard into his mate’s mouth.

  Demi started to gag before he got his gag reflex under control and continued sucking, swallowing every last drop of Reed’s seed without protesting.

  He stopped and sat up only when Reed was spent. He looked at Reed’s face and smiled. Reed knew he probably had a dazed expression, but Demi didn’t point it out. He just lay down next to Reed, ignoring his own erection. Reed could see it pressing against Demi’s jeans and he winced, knowing how uncomfortable it could be.

  Would he be able to touch Demi and make him come, though?

  * * * *

  Lying beside Reed, Demi waited for him to come out of his dazed state. He felt kind of smug about the fact that he’d been able to reduce Reed to that, but more than that, he felt satisfied.

  He was still painfully hard, but it didn’t matter. The fact that Reed had let him close enough to touch him, and to make him come—that was what made Demi happy. Of course, he wouldn’t say no to at least a hand job, but he’d be happy even if he didn’t get one. He’d been taking care of himself for months, after all.

  Reed squirmed and turned on his side, facing Demi. Demi looked at him, relishing the flushed cheeks and the disheveled hair his mate now sported.

  “I guess I should take care of you now.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  “But I want to,” Reed whispered, his eyes huge.

  Demi wasn’t about to say no to that. He leaned forward and kissed Reed. He kept his hands to himself—mostly. He couldn’t resist burying them in Reed’s long hair, using the hold to pull him close, as close as possible.

  “Come on,” he whispered against Reed’s jaw, running his hand up and down Reed’s back. “Reed. If you really want to do this, touch me. Come on.”

  Reed moved against Demi’s side and his hand was suddenly on Demi’s waist. Reed’s fingers moved until he found the button of Demi’s jeans, but they faltered before opening it. Demi slowly lowered his hands, his gaze never leaving Reed’s face. He wanted to be sure Reed was okay with what he was doing, that he wouldn’t startle his mate.

  Reed didn’t say anything when Demi opened his jeans, or when he pushed them and his underwear down. He left them around his knees and looked at Reed, leaving the next step to him.

  There was still some distance between them, but Reed quickly closed it, and Demi hissed at the first touch of naked skin against naked skin. He wanted more, so much more, and he didn’t hesitate to take his T-shirt off.

  A hand on his cock made him freeze. Reed had curled his fingers around Demi, and it felt divine to feel someone else’s hand after so long. The fact that it was Reed made everything so much better—perfect.

  Their mouths crashed together again, messy and sloppy. Demi forgot about everything but the fingers running on his dick, the hand fisting it and pulling on it. He could fell Reed’s cock against his hip, so close to his, and it was hard again. The arousal was building in him, his dick throbbing and his skin tingling where Reed touched him. It made him wonder how it would feel if they were mated, and the words escaped his lips before he could stop them.

  “Claim me?”

  Reed froze, his hand still on Demi’s cock. “What?”

  Demi hesitated. He could pretend he hadn’t said anything important, even if they both knew Reed had heard him. Or he could repeat it, and see what happened. He didn’t think Reed would push him away, even if he said no. Nothing would change, hopefully.

  Reed slowly unwrapped his fingers from Demi’s shaft. Demi pressed his lips together—it was too soon, their relationship was too new. He’d known that. So why had he even thought about it? He knew Reed needed time to trust him, but he hadn’t kept that in mind. Demi couldn’t believe he was being so—

  “Okay.”

  Demi snapped his head Reed’s way. Reed was looking at him, thoughtful but a determined glint in his eyes. “You—okay?”

  “Yes.”

  Demi scrambled to sit up, damning the jeans that were still around his knees. Reed chuckled at his side and moved to Demi’s feet. He untied and slid off one boot, then the other, before removing Demi’s socks, his jeans, and his underwear.

  Then they were both naked. Reed moved until he was crouching between Demi’s legs and put trembling hands on Demi’s thighs. “I know you’ve been very careful with me, and that you weren’t expecting me to say yes.” He chuckled. “To be honest, I wasn’t expecting myself to say yes. But I think I’ll always find some reason to say no if I don’t say yes.”

  Demi was speechless. How could Reed possibly go from a just-kissing-no-hands-involved situation to a l
et’s-have-sex-and-claim-each-other one?

  “Wait. Claiming doesn’t mean we have to have sex, right?”

  Reed expression fell. “So you want me to only claim you? I can do that.”

  Demi reached out and slapped the back of Reed’s head. Reed’s eyes went round in surprise. “Don’t be an idiot. I didn’t mean I don’t want to have sex with you, just that we don’t have to if it makes you uncomfortable. We can just claim each other and wait for the sex.”

  Reed shook his head and smiled softly. “Sex doesn’t make me uncomfortable, Demi. It’s trusting someone that does. I can never be sure you won’t ever do anything to hurt me, or betray me, but I realize it’s okay, that I don’t have to. No one knows for sure. I just have to pray and take that step. And I want to. Now.”

  “We don’t have lube,” Demi blurted out.

  Reed laughed, and gosh, he was so beautiful it almost hurt to watch. “You better hurry and get some, then.”

  Demi scrambled to his feet and ran to the door that led to the kitchen of his new house. He heard Reed laugh again just before the door slammed shut behind him, along with a yelled, “Nice ass!”

  Luckily for him, he’d already moved most of his stuff into the house, and since he’d been hoping this would happen sooner rather than later, he’d left lube both in the bedroom and in the bathroom. The bathroom was closer, so he went there.

  He was back in the greenhouse only minutes after leaving it, breathless and panting.

  Reed was spread on the sweaters again, a gift waiting to be unwrapped, or rather, opened. That thought made Demi stop in his tracks. “What do you want to do?”

  “I thought I’d made that clear.”

  “No, I mean, yes, but I wanted to know if you’d rather top or bottom.”

  “I don’t care.”

  Demi heard the slight hesitancy in Reed’s words. “Really?” He knelt next to Reed’s hip and put the lube on Reed’s other side. “Come on, Reed. It’s me. You know I don’t care either way. I just want you to be comfortable.”

  Reed nibbled on his lower lip. “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can I... can I top, then?”

  Demi beamed and flopped on his back. He hissed when his side hit the cool ground that wasn’t covered in sweaters, but he dismissed the sensation and moved to the side. He opened his arms and legs as wide as he could. “I’m all yours.”

  It worked. Reed laughed and Demi felt him relax against his side. “I like that.” Reed kissed the corner of Demi’s lips. “You’re really mine, huh?”

  “Yeah.”

  They kissed again and Reed moved and settled himself on top of Demi’s body. The lingering kiss seemed to go on forever. They tangled their hands in each other’s hair, their erections rubbed against each other—everything pushed Demi closer to the edge, and he needed Reed now.

  He pulled back and reached for the lube. He handed it to Reed and Reed took a deep breath and knelt between Demi’s legs. He looked nervous as he opened the bottle and coated his fingers.

  Then with one hand, he reached up to stroke Demi’s cock while the he moved the other down to his entrance. Demi moaned as Reed rubbed his finger over his hole, then pushed inside, gently probing deeper. He worked another finger in, slowly stretching Demi until Demi could swear he would come just with that.

  He let out a whimper when Reed withdrew his fingers to spread the lube on his cock. Reed took a deep breath and met Demi’s eyes. Demi nodded in answer to the unspoken question and Reed positioned himself before slowly pushing into him.

  Demi gasped at the sensation, then winced. Reed froze instantly, his eyes wide. “Please tell me you’d already done this.”

  “Not exactly, no.”

  “What do you mean?” Reed asked in a strangled voice.

  “I don’t think fingers count.”

  “You’re a virgin?”

  Demi laughed and winced again at the pain that radiated from his ass. “I haven’t been a virgin in a while, and since your dick is in my ass, I’m not virgin that way either.”

  Reed huffed and pushed his hair away from his face with one hand. “Are you okay?”

  Demi nodded. “Just give me a second.”

  “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to do. I-you should’ve told me.”

  “I know, but I also knew that you wouldn’t want to do it if I did tell you.”

  Reed sighed. “You’re right. Now, can you please relax?”

  Demi did just that, and after a while, the pain lessened. “Keep going.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Just move, Reed.”

  Reed began slowly, shaking with restraint. He was obviously afraid of hurting Demi by being too rough or going too fast, but he worked up to it gradually. Demi encouraged him by moaning louder.

  Demi couldn’t deny it hurt, but as weird as it sounded, it wasn’t a bad kind of pain. It was filling. It lit up every nerve and made him want more. More Reed. More pleasure. Each thrust brought him closer to the release he’d so desperately wanted ever since he’d blown Reed.

  He was yelling Reed’s name when Reed leaned forward and bit down. Demi yelped and tensed, expecting pain, but it didn’t come, not after the first burst of it.

  Demi arched his back, but Reed used a hand to pull his head forward instead. It was a sight Demi would never forget. Reed’s hair was wild around his flushed face and blood was smeared on his lips. Demi’s blood. The blood that was bonding them for life.

  Reed used a shifted claw to tear a wound in his neck and pulled Demi closer. Demi didn’t hesitate. He latched on the wound and sucked, gently at first, then harder when Reed moaned and his hips stuttered.

  Demi came first, with a burst of pleasure so strong that it made him dizzy. He couldn’t keep his mouth on Reed’s neck anymore and he slumped back, exhausted. He felt Reed shudder and come inside him just as the bond flared between them.

  Reed collapsed on Demi’s chest, breathing hard, and Demi could feel his mate’s heart pounding against his own, and his happiness tinged with wariness flowing through the bond.

  For a while, the only sound they made were those of heavy breathing as they waited for their bodies to wind down. Demi was content.

  At least until someone knocked on the greenhouse’s second entrance and asked, “Anyone here? I knocked on the front door but no one answered.”

  * * * *

  Reed laughed at Demi’s aggravated sigh. “We could ignore him.”

  “Ignore Zach? Really? You’re telling me you can resist his kicked puppy expression?”

  “Okay, maybe not.”

  “Guys? I can hear you. Can I come in?”

  “Wait!” Reed exclaimed. “Give us five minutes.”

  Zach chuckled. “Really? In the greenhouse?”

  “Do I have to remind you I caught you and Kameron in the kitchen?”

  “At least it’s heated.”

  “The greenhouse is too.”

  Demi gently slapped Reed’s side. “What do you think? Should we get dressed, or do you want to show Zach everything?”

  Reed’s first instinct at Demi’s slap was to move away, but he kept himself in touch. He didn’t want Demi to think he was afraid of him, because he wasn’t. It was just hard to ditch the reactions that had become automatic for him.

  Reed followed Demi’s example and put his clothes back on. Their sweaters were a little worse for wear, and Reed bundled his and left it on the bench. He wasn’t about to put it on full of dirt.

  He just had the time to put his socks and boots back on when Demi strode to the door and opened it for Zach. The alpha mate was smiling. “The door wasn’t even locked. I don’t know what you were doing in here, but if it was something that required privacy you should think about locking up next time you do it.”

  “Do you need anything?” Demi asked.

  “No. I was just curious to see this place. You’ve been talking about it
for weeks.” He looked at Reed and his eyes widened. Reed could see he wanted to say something, but instead he clamped his lips together and looked away. Not before Reed could see the huge smile on his lips, though.

  Zach’s pocket squeaked and a tiny nose poked from it. He looked down and slid a hand inside. “Sorry, forgot about you.”

  Zach took his hand out of his pocket, Jago was in it. Jago climbed Zach’s arm and settled on his shoulder, then looked around.

  “So, is this it? Is it done?” Zach asked. He slowly turned on himself, taking in the greenhouse. He stopped and cleared his throat, then pointed at the ground. “All right, I’m done behaving like nothing happened.”

  “What are you talking about?” Demi asked. Reed could feel wariness and fear through their bond, and he frowned, wondering why Demi would be afraid. And shit, if Reed could feel Demi was scared of something, it meant Demi knew exactly how Reed had reacted before. He hadn’t said anything, though, and didn’t even look sad or angry, but it didn’t help Reed feel better.

  “What am I—? Really? You left the lube out!”

  Reed looked at where Zach was pointing, and sure enough, the bottle of lube was still there, and still open. He stifled a laugh, but Zach was already turning toward him and pointing at his face.

  “And that! Am I supposed to ignore it?”

  Reed instinctively raised a hand and pressed it to his neck, but he encountered only fabric. Zach rolled his eyes and pointedly stared at Reed’s face. Reed saw Demi do the same then close his eyes and shake his head. He got closer, licked his thumb, and swiped it on Reed’s lower lip and the corner of his mouth.

  Reed raised a hand too. “What...”

  “You still had blood,” Demi said in a low voice.

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.”

  A thought struck Reed. “Are you okay with Zach knowing? I know it wasn’t exactly planned.”

  “Of course I am. I’d yell it from the rooftop if I wasn’t afraid I’d slip and break something.”

  Zach giggled behind Demi. “You guys are so cute. I’m happy for you both.”