Pack and Mate (9 page)

Chuckling, Cort ran the brush over his belly in long
strokes. It was amazing. His eyes rolled and he melted, sprawled and panting,
aching with the caresses. Then Cort began petting him as well. The brush would
run over his belly followed by Cort’s hand. The sensations were different—one
sharp, one soft. Both luscious.

“Sensual pup.” Cort’s words almost purred against his ears.

Happy. He knew that. He was happy.

The grooming continued until he was drooling then Cort
shifted and wrapped around him, nose to tail. He snuggled close, vocalizing,
singing to Cort. Cort rumbled out his pleasure.

Soon he was napping, snoring hard, and dreaming of chasing
rabbits.

The last night of the moon had come and gone and Cort wanted
to show off his pup, so they were having supper in the club dining room. He
pulled the chair out for Finn, wanting to impress Finn too.

Finn sat, eyes wide, looking around. “Lots of people.”

“There are a lot of club members. And tonight’s the first
night after the moon. We’ve all come out to play.”

“Play? Is there games or is that just meaning a party?”

Cort smiled. “It means we’re showing off our mates and some
people indulge in sexual games.”

His sweet pup was so innocent.

“Sex games? Do you— Oh. You have…there are people here
for…for you?” Finn’s cheeks went dark red, head ducking. “Oh. I didn’t—I
misunderstood.”

“What? No, pup, you haven’t misunderstood at all. You’re the
one for me, my mate.” He took Finn’s hand. “There is only you.” And he would
beat anyone who suggested otherwise.

“I don’t… I don’t want to have sex with others.”

He growled, unable to even stop if he’d wanted to. “No one
else will ever touch you.” He would do more than beat anyone who suggested
otherwise on this point.

“No?” Finn looked both relieved and unnerved at the same
time.

“You’re mine, Finn. My mate. We belong only to each other.”

“Yes. Yes, that. Oh.” Finn reached for his hand. “I was
worried.”

“I’m sorry, pup. I never wanted you to worry. I wanted to
show you off. I’m very proud of you.”

“Proud of me?” Finn smoothed his hands over the newly washed
silk shirt.

“Oh yes. So proud of my mate.” He let his eyes admire.

Finn was well-groomed, red hair bright as a fox, and his boy
preened a bit, for him. He licked his lips, foot sliding along Finn’s ankle.

One of the servers came over, stood silently by their table,
waiting to be acknowledged.

“Do you know what you want, Finn? Or should I order for both
of us?” he asked.

“I don’t know. You can.”

Cort turned to the waiter. “Surf and turf for two, please.
Meat rare.”

“Wine, sir?”

“A strong red, please.” He knew Finn had never had any and
he wanted his pup to have a chance to try it, to try everything.

“Yes sir.”

Once the waiter left, Cort gave Finn his full attention
again. “Have you ever had lobster?”

“I’ve had shrimp.”

“Lobster is sweeter. And more fun to feed to you with my
fingers.” Oh yes, he loved being able to introduce Finn to new things.

“That sounds—”

One of the Masters turned a pup over his knee, spanking him
hard and fast, and Finn yelped.

Reaching out, Cort took Finn’s hand and squeezed. “Easy,
Finn. The pup wants it.”

“I-I-I— He’s hitting him.”

“Spanking. They’re playing. Like when I held your hands over
your head.” It would be a joy to introduce Finn to this kind of thing as well.

“Playing?” Finn stared.

“Doing it for fun, for pleasure. To increase the sensation
and love between them.”

“I-I need a walk. I need—I’ll be right back.”

Cort grabbed hold of Finn’s hand, not letting him get up and
walk away from the table. “Don’t run from me, Finn.”

“I…”

His pup’s eyes rolled and Cort dropped his mouth onto Finn’s,
kissing hard and deep. Finn needed to remember who his mate was and how much he’d
loved everything Cort had done to him so far. It took a heartbeat for his pup
to melt, relax, cuddle into his arms but Finn did at last. Good boy.

Grabbing hold of Finn’s tongue, Cort sucked on it. His arms
wrapped around Finn, protecting and surrounding, holding on. He kissed Finn
until his pup’s prick pushing against his thigh. Only then did he back off.

“Sit closer, mate.”

Finn nodded, moving closer to him and leaning against him.

“What is done here is like pack only deeper, stronger. More
intense.”

“I don’t understand.” Finn’s fingers traced his, fingertips
touching softly, driving him crazy.

“I’m your Alpha. You and I are a pack of two.”

“Only two.” Finn traced a question mark on the back of his
hand.

“We have a family pack of—how many is it?—seven altogether,
but you and I are our own pack within that.”

“A clan. Yes. Yes, I know about that. I do. Am I enough for
you? For your whole pack?” Finn asked, his pup so earnest.

“You’re my entire world already, Finn.”

“That doesn’t explain why there was hitting,” Finn noted
dryly.

Cort didn’t smile though he wanted to. He took a breath
instead and explained. “So similar to an Alpha and a beta, I’m a Dom and you’re
a sub. And we do things, crazy and wild and fun for pleasure.”

Finn shook his head. “My cousin? The one that mated? Is
there hitting for him?”

“I don’t know. Every relationship is different. It’s really
a matter of trial and error and what works for one pair might not be what works
for another pair. Everyone finds their own way.”

“I’m not bad.” That was very, very sure. “I’m good. Even Pat
says so.”

“But what if you enjoy being spanked?” Cort asked. He knew
there were plenty of subs who did things on purpose to be “punished”.

“You don’t,” Finn insisted. “That’s why it’s what happens
when you’re bad.”

“You might be surprised. That pup who just got spanked
probably likes it. He probably is enjoying sitting next to his Alpha with his
ass on fire.”

Oh, moon and stars above, his pup gave him a look that would
wilt a weaker man.

“You won’t know unless you try it,” he insisted.

“No. No, that’s bad,” Finn insisted.

“Are you saying you wouldn’t even try it? For me?”

Oh, Finn was caught in his tiny trap. He could see it in his
pup’s eyes.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Good. Glad to hear it.” Cort kissed the side of Finn’s
mouth.

Finn scooted even closer. “No one will hit Pat and the pups,
right?”

“No one hits anyone without permission. Or at least without
having their safeword, so they know that the person understands they can stop things
anytime they want.”

“The city has complicated rules,” Finn noted.

“These are club rules rather than city rules.” He tugged
Finn closer. “First of all you should choose a word that means ‘I need
everything to stop.’ It’s called a safeword.”

“Why would I need everything to stop?”

“What if we try the spanking and you can’t take it? What if
we try something and you feel scared?”

Finn blinked at him. “Then you would stop because you’re my
mate.”

“Well, yes, but…” He obviously wasn’t explaining it very
well but he’d never had to explain it to anyone before.

Finn nodded, as though that was that. “You know me, in your
soul.”

Cort nodded. He supposed he did. He couldn’t deny that. “I
do.”

“Well, then, if I need you to stop, you will.”

He considered that, then nodded slowly. They were their own
pack—they could make their own rules. Finn settled more happily next to him,
fingers twined with his.

Their order came before they could talk about anything else,
two plates full of food, including lobster, shrimp and scallops for the surf,
and steak and venison for the turf.

Cort’s stomach growled and he licked his lips. “Are you
hungry, pup?”

“I am! I’m always hungry.” Finn offered him a smile and he
loved that, how his pup let worries go with a pop.

Grinning, happy down to his toes, he grabbed a shrimp and
slipped it into Finn’s mouth. Finn snapped it up, laughing, eyes only on him.
Leaning in, he licked Finn’s lips, tasting the spiciness that had been on the
shrimp. Finn chuffed softly, head tossing a bit.

“Beautiful pup.”

He grabbed another shrimp and ate it. Then he shared a kiss
with Finn. Finn leaned in, one hand on his thigh.

“Let’s eat the steaks.” The seafood was nice but it didn’t
fill a man up like the meat did.

Those pretty eyes glinted, but after three days of good food
and running, it was quick, faint, the wolf inside Finn sated, satisfied.

They shared the beef and the venison steaks, eating bites of
both and Cort couldn’t choose a favorite between them. “I can’t decide which
one I like better.”

“I like the venison.” That was happy, simple, offered right
over.

He pushed the rest of the venison to Finn’s side—he was just
as happy with the beef steak.

“Oh, you don’t have to. I wasn’t asking.”

“But I like them equally and you prefer the venison.” It was
a no-brainer, really.

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t take from you.”

Cort growled softly. “I have given it to you.”

“Thank you.” Finn nuzzled his cheek, his jaw.

“You’re welcome.” He rubbed back, loving the glide of their
cheeks together.

They finished their meal, bodies touching, the sound of the
others around them comforting. This was a safe place and while not a pack, they
were comfortable here.

“Do you want dessert, pup?” He hoped so, he’d heard they had
berry crumble with ice cream tonight.

“Ice cream?” His pup bounced, so cute.

“There’s berry crumble with it. I think.” He waved at their
waiter.

“Ice cream. Ice cream.” The words were whispered into his
ear.

Laughing, he asked the waiter for two desserts, with extra
ice cream.

“Pretty laugh.” Finn nibbled at his jaw.

“You make me happy.”

“Do I?” His cheeky pup bit again.

It made him laugh some more and he hugged Finn to him. “You
do.”

“You make me happy too.” Finn was dear, gentle.

“Good.”

Their dessert came and Cort licked his lips. Steam came off
the top of the crumble, which smelled like sweet and strawberries and
raspberries and blackberries, and the vanilla ice cream was melting where it
touched the hot dessert.

Finn picked up a spoon and gathered a big bite of both ice
cream and crumble. “Open up!”

Cort did, making a happy noise as the cooked berries hit his
tongue.

“My mate likes berries.” Finn was nearly giddy. It was a
good look on his pup.

Laughing again, he kissed Finn. He was so in love with this
pup.

“Cort? Is that our stern Cort smiling in the dining room?”
Handel, a big bear of a man with a quick smile and a ready laugh grinned down
at him.

Cort put his arm around Finn’s shoulders, instinctively
protecting his pup. “Good evening, Handel. Did you have a good moon?”

“Exceptional.” Handel might be addressing him, but the big
man was staring at Finn. “Who is this pretty one?”

“My mate. Finn.” Cort emphasized both
my
and
mate
.

“Finn. I’m Handel. Pleased.”

They shook hands and Cort swallowed down the urge to growl.
The big man was just being polite. Probably. Anyway, it wasn’t as though his
Finn was going to stray, his dear pup was his heart and soul and they both knew
it. Still, they were new, brand-new, and he was buzzing with the energy.

“We were actually about to return to our rooms.” He stood,
managing a smile for Handel.

“Oh, have a lovely evening. When you are free we should work
out together again.”

“I’ll call. It’ll probably be a few weeks.” The bond was so
new.

“Yes. Yes, enjoy it. I’m so happy for you, friend.”

Cort shook Handel’s hand, his arm going around Finn’s
shoulders again as soon as they were standing. He wanted to snap and snarl and
growl and Handel didn’t deserve that. He just couldn’t help it.

Finn leaned in, breathing deep, as if his pup were inhaling
him. It was unbelievably sexy, having his mate here with him, doing things like
that. It eased him greatly.

And it was time to go, be where they could be alone. Where
he could do anything he wanted to Finn. And oh, the things he wanted.

Somehow he managed to guide them from the dining room
without running. And without running into Finn’s family either. In fact Cort
got them back to their home in record time.

Finn looked at him, laughing. “We forgot our ice cream!”

“I want you more than ice cream.”

“I want you more than anything,” countered Finn.

Beaming, he let them in and pushed Finn up against the
closed door, bringing their mouths together. Finn arched, a low cry pushing
into his mouth, needy. Cort rubbed their bodies together, loving the heat at
Finn’s groin.

So many things to explore, so many sensations.

Biting at Finn’s lower lip, he grabbed his pup’s ass,
squeezed. Finn yelped, climbing up his body. He loved the feeling of Finn’s
legs wrapped around his waist.

“So strong, my Alpha. So strong. So fine.” Finn’s words were
a hymn.

“Yours, pup. All yours.” He walked slowly toward their bed.

“Mine.” Finn even growled a little for him. “I never knew
such need.”

“Good. I don’t want anyone else having this from you.” Right
now the thought of someone else touching Finn made him a little crazy. Maybe it
always would.

He climbed onto the bed, still carrying Finn, refusing to
let go. Leaning in, he eased them down onto the mattress. From there he pressed
his pup into the bed, lying on top of the slender body.

There were far too many clothes between them though, and he
stood, tearing his own clothing off. “Naked. Now,” he ordered. He didn’t trust
himself to take off Finn’s clothes without ripping the pretty silk.

Once they were finally both naked he pounced onto the bed
and lay back down on his pup. His fingers dragged down Finn’s sides, scoring
the pup’s skin. He pinched one hip then leaned in to lick at the mark on Finn’s
neck. His mark. Finn’s chin lifted and his pup keened softly.

He tongued the mark, pressing against it, then breathed on
it, heating it up. He felt Finn vibrate, heard more of the needy sounds.
Letting his teeth scrape, he dragged them along Finn’s skin.

“Need.” Finn twisted, groaning, the sound happy.

“Me too. Need you.”