Werewolf's Way [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 1] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) (13 page)

Caelyn seemed to be enjoying Graham’s ministrations quite a bit. He clenched his fists into the sheets, writhing underneath Graham, apparently torn between which touch he wanted more. He thrust into Graham’s fist, seeking the friction with wild abandon, and then impaled himself on Graham’s fingers. The passionate response made Graham increase the intensity of the touch. He found Caelyn’s prostate and mercilessly rubbed it, the cries of pleasure he drew from his mate flowing over him like a caress.

Likely, he could have caused Caelyn to come just like this. However, as much as that thought appealed to him, he didn’t think he could handle seeing his mate orgasm without following Caelyn over the edge. He wanted to be inside Caelyn when he found his peak, to feel his angel climax on his cock.

Graham retrieved his fingers from Caelyn’s body. Pouring more lubricant in his hand, he slicked up his cock. “Ready for me, angel?”

Caelyn nodded, once more biting his lip. “Yes, beloved. Please, inside me.”

Graham didn’t wait to be told twice. He positioned his cock at Caelyn’s opening and slowly slid inside. As Caelyn’s ass engulfed him in tight, velvet heat, Graham gritted his teeth, trying to rein in his wolf. It took everything in Graham’s power not to bury himself inside Caelyn in one single hard shove.

He kept a tempered pace, careful so as to allow Caelyn to get used to his invasion. But his mate had other ideas. Obviously not satisfied with Graham’s choice, Caelyn pushed back against him, practically impaling himself on Graham’s dick.

For a few moments, holding back became an impossible concept. In fact, Graham could have sworn he came a little, although the tension in his body never abandoned him, so it couldn’t have been true. He had no hope of controlling the explosive passion that now soared through him.

With a snarl, Graham pulled out of Caelyn’s body and thrust back in, so hard Caelyn’s teeth rattled. A small part of him feared that he’d drive Caelyn away if he was too aggressive, but he needn’t have worried. Caelyn gripped the headboard to steady himself, then with a little groan of his own, pushed back against Graham.

One would have thought that with Caelyn’s innocence and the two of them just recently becoming lovers, their coming together would be a little awkward at first. It wasn’t. There were no awkward pauses while they tried to accommodate each other’s preferences, no frustration at not finding a pace that worked for them both. Sure, Graham couldn’t automatically know what Caelyn liked, but his body was learning and tracking each and every one of Caelyn’s reactions, adapting to it. Similarly, Caelyn had an instinctive knowledge of Graham’s sexuality. Each moment became a novelty, a discovery, but also a reliving of something they almost seemed to have experienced before. Perhaps they had, in a different life, or maybe it was just the link between their souls that made it so. The reasons mattered very little. Only their beautiful union did, the connection that swelled brighter and more powerful than ever before.

Together, they chased their orgasms as their shared passion swallowed them whole, feeding on itself like a living thing. Graham was so close he could practically taste it, the bliss of completion just out of his reach.

And then, Caelyn exposed the white column of his throat to Graham, tilting it ever so slightly, wordlessly begging for what they both needed. Graham didn’t hesitate for one single second. He buried his fangs in Caelyn’s perfect flesh, branding Caelyn as his for all time.

Graham had heard many descriptions of the moment when two mates finally found each other. He’d thought them overromanticized, although he’d respected the reality of the bond too much to say so outright. But as a practical, realistic person, he’d never imagined how a person could feel time stopping or their souls exploding into supernovas of emotion.

But he felt all of that now. As Caelyn’s blood flowed into Graham’s mouth, Graham thrust one last time inside his mate’s body and came. But it was no mere orgasm. His world melted into a perfect reality, where only he and Caelyn existed.

Wet heat splashed against Graham’s stomach as Caelyn found his peak as well. His ass tightened around Graham’s member, squeezing him of every drop of cum. But their rapture went beyond the carnal. As they shuddered through their shared pleasure, their mate bond clicked into place, binding them together for eternity. There seemed to be no boundaries between Graham and his mate, and for a few perfect moments, their thoughts mingled, until Graham didn’t even know where he ended and Caelyn began.

Caelyn’s mind was a litany of Graham’s name, incoherent thoughts that all rotated around the same concept. “I love you so much.” Truth be told, Caelyn might not have thought it outright, but Graham still heard it loud and clear. He could see every truth in Caelyn’s heart. Memories of times foreign to Graham slipped into his mind, images of a past Graham had not been a part of. But that past no longer brought Caelyn or Graham pain. Right then and there, those sorrows no longer had power over them.

It went on and on, and yet, it seemed to end far too soon. Even as the sexual pleasure started to dim, though, the bliss at having finally claimed his mate didn’t fade in the slightest. His wolf was practically wagging its tail in contentment, like it had just been given a bone.

He did wince as he slipped out of Caelyn’s body, but as he collapsed by Caelyn’s side and pulled his mate into his arms, the sensation of togetherness that gripped him chased away any disappointment he might have experienced. Caelyn released a soft sigh of happiness and snuggled even closer, burying his face in Graham’s chest and inhaling deeply.
“Mmmm… You smell good.”

He didn’t even say the words out loud, but in Graham’s mind. The obvious proof of their new bond made joy swell through him. When he managed to muster an answer, it likely wasn’t one that fully conveyed the extent of his emotions.

“Of course. I smell like you.”

He knew he should be getting up to retrieve some sort of wash cloth to clean them up. The source of the scent that Caelyn liked so much—and wasn’t it interesting that Caelyn showed such enjoyment of it?—would soon solidify into something itchy and unpleasant.

But then, Caelyn chuckled and relaxed, his eyes drifting closed, and Graham couldn’t make himself move. Caressing Caelyn’s hair, he watched as Caelyn drifted into slumber, a beatific smile on his face. In that moment, for the first time in his life, Graham Powers could truly say he was happy.

A few hours later

The surface of the pearl was smooth and flawless, a true work of art. It wasn’t Caelyn’s first time holding one. Sprites used them, too, but Caelyn didn’t have the power to create one himself.

He did, however, know how to use it. But as he sat curled around his new mate in bed, he was almost afraid to do so. He wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what Eanera had to say. He and Graham might have been in a small hotel room, but it seemed like their nest, one Caelyn would have preferred to keep untouched by intrusions of a reality he hated.

But they couldn’t stay here forever, so, with a sigh, he brushed his fingers over the pearl, calling forth its magic. The spell hidden within it responded, and instantly, a sphere of light appeared, crystallizing into Sari’s image.

“Lyni!” Sari exclaimed. “Oh, my friend, it’s so nice to see you. I was so worried.”

“Why?” Caelyn couldn’t help a small smile. “Surely your mother must have told you that it all worked out.”

“Yes, she did, but not even she knows everything.” Sari released a small sigh. “I suppose I was worried knowing what you must have been through.” His expression of concern changed into one of curiosity. “And this must be your mate, right?”

Blushing, Caelyn remembered his manners. “Yes. Sari, meet my beloved, Graham Powers. Graham, this is my dear friend, Sareltae Norrenddare.”

“I’m honored, Your Highness,” Graham said.

“As am I,” Sari answered smiling. “I’m very happy that my friend found something so special.”

Caelyn felt Graham’s skepticism as if it were his own. He understood it, although it pained him. Sari was, in the end, royalty, and someone like Graham naturally felt wary of him. Not to mention that he looked a lot like Talrasar, something that summoned a measure of awkwardness between them.

“Do you mean that?” Graham asked bluntly. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m ninth caste?”

“Not the way you think it might,” Sari replied after a small moment of hesitation. “I just want Lyni to be happy, but I don’t have to tell you that the circumstances are less than ideal.”

He was right, of course, although Caelyn really didn’t want to hear it. Graham on the other hand, seemed almost pleased with the response. “Thank you for your honesty. And yes, I’m aware of that. I can only promise you that I’ll do my utmost to take care of my mate.”

“I’m sure you will,” Sari said. After a brief pause, he asked, “So you’ve already gone through with the claiming?”

Caelyn nodded, unable to contain his excitement. “Yes, Sari. Oh, it was so… I have no words.”

He shivered as the memories of what the claiming process involved. Graham obviously intercepted his thoughts, because the werewolf’s voice drifted into Caelyn’s mind.
“Careful now, angel, or the conversation with your friend will be really short.”

Caelyn’s face flamed, and he couldn’t contain a small whimper. He was sure his friend must have noticed, but Sari didn’t call him up on it. Instead, he said, “Mother said I should convey to you that Mr. Powers can find his brother in the town you call your own. According to her, he is trying to organize a force so he can free you from your imprisonment.”

“Of course he is.” Graham released a groan of distress. “He always did have more heart than sense. Likely the only reason why he isn’t already bursting into the draechen stronghold is because he knows he has to take care of the pack in my absence.”

Graham’s obvious concern hurt Caelyn deep inside. “Don’t worry, beloved,” he said. “We’ll find them before anything happens.”

His mate nodded and kissed his temple. “I guess we don’t have much choice,” he replied.

“On that note, I’m forced to say good-bye right now,” Sari said. “We’ll somehow manage to keep in touch.”

Even knowing how urgent it was for them to leave, Caelyn couldn’t help but linger for a while longer on the conversation. “Thank you again, my friend. You have no idea what your help means to me.”

Sari beamed at him. “Don’t mention it, Lyni. Just take care of yourselves. Good luck.”

As the light dissipated and the pearl vanished, Graham and Caelyn finally left the bed. “Looks like we have to leave earlier than I’d have liked,” Graham said as they started to get ready.

It took great effort from Caelyn’s part to keep himself from staring transfixed at his mate’s naked body. To distract himself, he allowed his lover to go to the bathroom first, while he packed up the few items they’d retrieved from their bags and found new clothing for himself and Graham.

Still, when Graham returned, he was smirking knowingly. Sticking his tongue out at his lover, Caelyn said, “Stop being smug. It’s not like you don’t feel the same.”

They weren’t just words. Caelyn could actually feel what Graham did, could read Graham’s soul and sense the wolf’s passion. It was most potent during their lovemaking, but it never really stopped. It would be really difficult to focus on anything else except how much they wanted each other.

Graham gave him a hot look, confirming Caelyn’s words. They might have fallen into each other’s arms again, but Caelyn decided they couldn’t afford the delay. Grumbling, he pushed past Graham and slid into the bathroom.

As quickly and efficiently as possible, he washed up, wiping away the traces of his claiming. When he looked into the mirror, he froze. He looked exactly the same, and yet, he felt so very different. There was truly no turning back now. By rights, he couldn’t even call himself a Sutharlainn anymore. He’d abandoned his sprite identity for his werewolf mate.

Intellectually, he had understood it before, but now, he fully acknowledged it. The problem was that he still remained very much a sprite. How would Graham’s family react upon meeting him?

Warm arms surrounded his waist, and soft lips pressed against his nape. “Stop worrying. Sure, they’ll be a reluctant at first, but they’ll love you. How can they not?”

Caelyn smiled at Graham in the mirror. “You can’t expect everyone to care about me because you do.”

“No,” Graham answered, “but I expect them to respect my mate bond. I’m still their Alpha, and if anyone has a problem with you, he or she has a problem with me.”

So Graham was anticipating some opposition as well. In a way, it was comforting to know that. It might have seemed counterintuitive, but it proved that Graham would be willing to face the fire of his people’s disapproval for Caelyn.

“We’ll be fine,” Caelyn said, grinning. “I’m being stupid.”

Freeing himself from his mate’s arms, he returned to the room and pulled on a new pair of jeans and another sweater. Soon, both he and Graham were ready. Grabbing their bags, they exited the room and headed toward the hallway.

Graham jogged to the front desk of the motel where he handed the keys of the room to the bored woman. With that done, they left the building and walked toward their waiting car.

“Where are we going anyway?” Caelyn inquired as he opened the trunk and placed the bag he was carrying inside.