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  “That’s the man from the café. The one who asked about hunting and pets,” Bailey said.

  “This is the same man you came to see me about the other day?” Micah asked. Bailey nodded.

  “I’m sorry if I scared you or freaked you out,” Milo said to Bailey.

  Bailey gave him a soft smile and nodded. He turned to Lexi and wrapped his arms around his neck. “Do what you need to do. I’ll wait here for you.”

  Lexi smiled and kissed him chastely. “Thank you, mate.”

  “On one condition,” Bailey said. Lexi tilted his head and looked at Bailey questioningly. “You put some damn clothes on and stop showing everyone your goodies,” he said with a laugh.

  Lexi laughed and hugged Bailey close. “Deal.”

  * * * *

  Lexi and Bailey sat in silence as they held hands and looked out over the lake through the windshield of Lexi’s truck. The moon was shining down on the surface of the water, causing a billion dancing lights. Lexi sighed and turned to face his mate.

  “Thank you for letting me stay and help Milo out with the Alpha. Knowing what we know now, I think he really needed us there,” Lexi said softly as he twisted his fingers with Bailey’s.

  “Of course. I know what desperation looks like, Lexi, and Milo definitely had the look. I feel so bad for him that his brother was taking from him like that, but at the same time, I feel angry because of the paranormals he killed on the way here,” Bailey said, and let out a long sigh. “I know why he did it, but I still think about who they may have been. Did they have families that are now destroyed from their loss? Are they now out looking for revenge on Milo? And if so, what does that mean for Josh?”

  “I agree. That’s why Micah took him back to the pack house. He explained to Milo that he wanted him to speak with the council and they would go from there. Micah also informed me that they would take his state of mind and his connection to Josh into consideration,” Lexi explained. He took a deep breath and slowly released it. “What’s boggling my mind is how Josh’s heat hasn’t kicked in. I thought that cat shifters’ heat started the moment they met their mate.”

  “Yeah, me too. I asked Josh before we left and he said it was because he wasn’t of age yet. Once he turns eighteen, his heat will kick into high gear,” Bailey answered.

  Lexi chuckled. “So I guess he and Milo better get busy talking and getting to know each other so they can get busy with the bow-chicka-wow-wow, in a few months.”

  Bailey laughed at Lexi’s words. “You have such a colorful way of explaining things,” he said with a big smile.

  “I try,” Lexi said with a serious face that turned into a smirk as soon as the words were said.

  “You’re gonna keep me on my toes, aren’t you?” Bailey asked in amusement.

  “Sometimes, but mostly on your back or on your knees.” Lexi smirked at him, biting his bottom lip as he tried to hold in the laugh. Bailey threw his head back and laughed. Lexi joined in and squeezed his hand. After a few minutes of uncontrollable laughter, they quieted down.

  “So how was he able to get you guys anyway?” Bailey asked as he stared at their joined hands and twirled his fingers with Lexi’s.

  “He was out in the woods when he spotted Josh. He was just about to get Josh’s attention and ask him about the animals in the area, when he saw Josh shift. Earlier Josh had called me and asked me if I could meet him out there. He wanted me to add something to your memory box before he took it home to wrap it. I had just spotted Josh myself when I saw Milo shoot him with a tranquilizer gun. Josh went down pretty fast. I shifted and took off after Milo, but he saw me and shot the tranq gun at me. The first hit made me stumble a little and it was just enough to let him get another shot off. We woke up chained to a wall in an abandoned house not too far from where we were.”

  Bailey looked at him with wide, horror-filled eyes. “He could have killed you both.”

  “I know. We were lucky he used a tranq and not the real gun on us,” Lexi said and shook his head.

  “So how did you talk him out of killing you?” Bailey asked in wonder. Lexi smiled and started to laugh. “What?” Bailey asked. Lexi explained everything that happened from the time they woke up in the house until they went to Evan’s. Bailey laughed at what Lexi told him. He couldn’t believe that a movie saved their lives. “That is so crazy and fucked up.”

  “I know, right? But it worked. I could see in his eyes he was terrified of what he wanted to do. I could smell the indecision on him. I wasn’t sure where I was going with it or how I was going to stop him. I only hoped that if I could talk him to death that I could confuse him. But then he said, ‘Prepare to die’ and that movie hit me,” Lexi said with a shrug.

  “You’re insane. You know that right?” Bailey said with humor.

  “Yeah, but you wuv me anyway,” Lexi said in a teasing voice while giving Bailey a wide smile and wiggling his eyebrows. Bailey’s face turned serious at Lexi’s words and he looked down. “Hey, pretty baby, what’s wrong?” Lexi asked. He put a finger under Bailey’s chin and raised his head until their eyes met. “What is it?” he asked in concern.

  “I…I know it’s…too soon…but…it’s true,” he whispered shyly.

  “What’s true?” Lexi asked in confusion.

  “I…I do love you…Lexi,” Bailey whispered.

  A wide smile took over Lexi’s face at Bailey’s confession. He stroked his thumb lightly over Bailey’s bottom lip and stared into his eyes. Lexi’s eyes were full of love and happiness. “I love you, too, Bailey.”

  Bailey’s eyes went wide in surprise as he gasped. “You do?”

  “Yes, pretty baby. I do.”

  Bailey’s face changed from one of surprise and a big smile spread across his mouth. His eyes lit up with happiness and he bit his bottom lip. Lexi used his thumb and gently pulled on Bailey’s lip to release it from his teeth. “I’ll never know what that sexy lip of yours did to you to make you want to abuse it so,” he said with mirth as his eyes sparkled with mischief. “I guess I’ll have to kiss it and make it feel better,” Lexi said and leaned forward. He gently pressed his lips to Bailey’s, nibbled on his bottom lip, and then licked it. Bailey’s mouth opened slightly on a moan and Lexi slid his tongue into Bailey’s wet heat. Lexi groaned from the taste of him mate. Bailey was delicious, like chocolate-covered strawberries.

  Lexi’s hand slid to cup the back of Bailey’s head, drawing their lips closer together as Bailey’s hands ran up and down Lexi’s chest in a loving caress. Lexi intensified the kiss, the bold thrust of his tongue making Bailey’s head spin and his cock fill instantly. Bailey latched onto Lexi’s mouth, returning the same intensity. His hands moved to the buttons on Lexi’s shirt and his fingers trembled as he popped the buttons open. He pulled the shirt loose from the waistband of Lexi’s pants and spread the halves apart, exposing Lexi’s gloriously chiseled chest. Lexi moaned into his mouth as Bailey slipped his hands inside of Lexi’s shirt and touched his bare skin.

  Lexi slowly ran his free hand up the inside of Bailey’s jean-covered thigh. His hand continued up to his hip, but he dragged his thumb over Bailey’s rigid cock. Bailey moaned at the contact and thrust his hips into the touch. Lexi did it again with a little more pressure and Bailey thought he would go mad just from the small touch. He drew back from the kiss slightly and whispered against Lexi’s lips, “Make love to me, Lexi. I want to feel you inside me.”

  “Are you sure?” Lexi asked in a lust-filled, husky voice that sent a shiver down Bailey’s spine.

  Was he sure? Hell yes, he was sure. He wanted Lexi the minute he met him. It was driving him crazy that his mate wanted to wait. He couldn’t wait to give Lexi his virginity. “I have never been more sure of anything in my life,” he whispered confidently, then recaptured Lexi’s lips. He thrust his tongue into Lexi’s mouth and devoured him with his need to be closer. He poured all his lust and desire into that kiss. Bailey’s hand slid up Lexi’s pecs and up over his shoulders, drawing his shirt
off. Lexi released Bailey, letting the garment slip off his arms.

  “I know this is your first time, sweetheart. I promise to be gentle and go as slow as you want,” Lexi promised.

  “I know you will, Lexi. I trust you. I thought I would be scared when this moment came, but I’m not. I know you won’t hurt me.”

  “Come on,” Lexi said and opened his door.

  “Where are we going?” Bailey whined.

  Lexi gave him a warm smile. “Trust me,” he said, then reached behind the seat and grabbed a couple of blankets from the back. He reached over Bailey’s lap and popped the glove box open, grabbing something out of it. Bailey raised a brow in question. But Lexi only gave him the same heart-stopping smile and said, “Trust me.”

  They climbed out of the truck and walked to the front. Lexi took his hand and led him to the water’s edge. Lexi laid out a blanket and placed the other blanket nearby. Then he turned to Bailey and took the step that separated them. He wrapped his arms around Bailey’s waist and pulled their bodies together. Bailey could feel Lexi’s hardness pressed against his stomach. He had seen Lexi’s naked body briefly at the house, but didn’t get to really examine it with everyone around. He knew the man had an amazing body, but he hadn’t realized how big and thick his mate was until now. He worried that he wouldn’t be able to take Lexi’s size inside him, but damn did he want to try.

  “Bailey,” Lexi whispered against his lips as he thrust his hips forward slightly. “Are you sure you’re ready for this step, pretty baby?” Bailey’s heart constricted with the knowledge that as much as his mate wanted him―and if the hardness of his cock was any indication, then the man definitely wanted him―Lexi would stop if he asked him to. He wouldn’t force him.

  Bailey looked into Lexi’s brilliant blue eyes and saw all the love for him there in Lexi’s eyes. There were no doubts, no hesitation―he wanted his mate inside him. “Yes.”

  Lexi kissed him tenderly. His soft lips pressing against his own, and Lexi’s warm, slick tongue slid into his mouth to dance with his tongue. Bailey grabbed onto Lexi’s strong shoulders, squeezing their warm bodies against each other. Lexi’s kiss was drawing him in. His brain swirled and he was drowning with sweet asphyxiation.

  Lexi’s hands roamed over his body and settled on his tight globes. He squeezed the flesh with a deep need. Bailey lowered his hands, popped the button on his jeans, and lowered the zipper. He grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled the garment up. They broke the kiss to allow Bailey’s shirt to go over his head. He tossed it to the side and brought his hands to the waistband of Lexi’s pants. Bailey unbuttoned the jeans and placed his hands inside the waistband as Lexi mirrored his movements with Bailey’s jeans. They both slid each other’s jeans down their hips, and let them drop to pool at their feet. They both kicked their pants aside.

  Lexi cupped Bailey’s cheek as he continued to stare deeply into his eyes. Lexi shoved his fingers through Bailey’s hair and gave him a light kiss. Bailey held on to Lexi’s hips and stepped closer. He could swear he heard their skin hiss as they came together.

  Bailey felt like he was falling, floating, as his back touched the blanket. Lexi’s hands slid up his legs, causing his body to shiver and his skin to prickle from the touch. “You are even more stunning than I imagined, pretty baby,” Lexi whispered as he looked at Bailey in awe. Lexi leaned over him and his warm lips grazed across his jaw. Lexi kissed and licked a path down his throat and then up to his ear. His warm breath caressed him as Lexi spoke into his ear, “I love you, Bailey.”

  Bailey’s eyes closed from the euphoric feeling running through his body. His hands slid up Lexi’s arms and wrapped around his neck, fingers entwining with Lexi’s silky hair. Lexi’s lips and tongue slid down his throat on his sensitive skin and Bailey moaned, “I love you too.”

  Lexi thrust his hips, rubbing his arousal against Bailey’s. The slide of their cocks together made Lexi hiss as Bailey moaned. Lexi did it again and Bailey could feel the wetness from both of their leaking cocks on his stomach. Lexi moved down his collarbone to his chest, tasting and sucking every inch until he found one of Bailey’s hard peaks. He laved the nub with his wet tongue, then sucked it into his mouth and bit down gently. Fireworks exploded behind Bailey’s eyes. He never knew it could feel wonderful like this.

  He ran his hands over the hard muscles of Lexi’s back and gloried in the feel of Lexi’s hot skin under his fingers. Lexi released his nipple and continued down his stomach, then slowly licked down to his rigid cock. “Oh gods!” Bailey cried out as Lexi licked the tip of his shaft.

  “Mmmmm, you taste phenomenal, mate.” Lexi breathed heavily and licked Bailey again. Bailey’s fingers thrust into Lexi’s hair and he gripped his head tight. The growl that came from Lexi was so damn sexy that it sent shivers through Bailey’s body. Suddenly his balls were engulfed in Lexi’s hot mouth and Bailey arched off the blanket. Lexi moaned and the vibration sent a new kind of shiver straight through his sac and up his cock. The sensation like nothing he had ever felt before. Lexi’s hand gripped his cock and slowly pumped as he sucked his sac.

  “Lexi!” Bailey cried out. “Oh fuck! Oh shit! Oh hell,” he yelled and whined out the last words as his head shook from side to side uncontrollably.

  Lexi released his balls and dragged his wet tongue up the underside of his cock to the leaking head. He pressed his tongue into the small hole and Bailey’s hips thrust upward, sliding his hard cock into Lexi’s warm mouth. Lexi wrapped his hand firmly around the base and pulled back so just the plump tip was in his mouth. He licked and sucked and nibbled on the sensitive spot until Bailey couldn’t take any more. “Please, Lexi, please, fuck me. I need to feel you inside me,” Bailey begged.

  He felt a cold wetness against his puckered hole and his body flinched. Then he felt the tip of Lexi’s finger as it pressed against him, wanting entry. He tried to relax his muscles so that Lexi could slide in. The tip of one finger pressed past the outer ring of muscles and Bailey let out a moaning sigh. A cold breeze came across the water, washing over his skin, chilling the sweat, and causing him to shiver again, just as Lexi slid the digit in farther and began to pump in and out of him. Slowly he felt his inner muscles relax and open for his lover. Two fingers pressed inside him and he hissed at the slight burn, but it didn’t last long as his mind went blank when Lexi sucked his cock down the back of his throat.

  Bailey’s body broke out with a slight sheen of sweat as he tried to hold off his orgasm. He wanted to come with Lexi while his mate was buried deep inside him. His body shook as he fought against the immeasurable pleasure that was racing toward him. Lexi pulled off his shaft and their eyes met. “Come for me, pretty baby, let me taste all of you,” Lexi said with a husky voice.

  “No, I want to come with you inside me,” Bailey whined.

  Lexi smiled mischievously. “You will, lover. I promise. But right now, give me all your delicious cream.” Lexi engulfed his cock again and swallowed him down. Lexi doubled his efforts to make Bailey come and he was lost in the sensations. He couldn’t fight the need any more. His back arched and he gripped the blanket beneath him in a death grip as his orgasm slammed into him and his seed shot from him like a bullet. “Oh my fucking gods!” Bailey screamed as loud as he could. “Yes!”

  Lexi continued to suck him until there was nothing left to give. Then his mate licked him clean and pulled off his spent cock. Bailey lay there boneless as he tried to catch his breath. He felt soft lips against his and he opened his eyes. Lexi was looking down at him so lovingly that it brought tears to his eyes. Lexi kissed him tenderly and he loved the taste of himself mixed with the taste of his mate.

  Lexi sat back on his calves and grasped Bailey’s ankles, lifting his legs up and apart. Bailey felt the blunt tip of Lexi’s cock touch his hole. He held his breath in anticipation of finally feeling Lexi inside him. Lexi pulled away and Bailey’s eyes snapped open and looked at his mate. “What’s wrong?” His voice quivered as he spoke.

 
“I think we should wait,” Lexi said in a deadpan voice.

  Bailey’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t you dare fucking stop now,” he growled in frustration.

  The side of Lexi’s mouth raised in a smirk as his eyes filled with mirth. “Damn, pretty baby. I love when you get all forceful on me.”

  Bailey smirked back at Lexi. “Fine, we can stop now and then you can drive me home,” Bailey said teasingly.

  Lexi chuckled and pressed the tip of his cock through Bailey’s outer ring of muscle. Lexi closed his eyes from the pleasure as he sucked in a quick breath. Bailey cried out beneath him. “Hell no. We are definitely not stopping now,” Lexi ground out.

  “Don’t stop, Lexi,” Bailey panted. “Please don’t stop.”

  Lexi pushed with a little more force and slid deep inside Bailey’s silken channel, filling him up. Bailey sucked in a sharp breath as his back arched off the blanket. The initial pain brought tears to his eyes. Lexi froze to allow his mate to get used to the size of him. He gently released Bailey’s legs and grasped his hips, changing the angle and finding Bailey’s sensitive button. “Shit!” Bailey hissed out and pushed his head back harder against the unyielding earth, as his body tensed. Even though he had only just come a few minutes ago, his cock was filling again.

  “You doing okay?” Lexi asked.

  “It hurts a little,” Bailey panted.

  “That will stop in a minute, trust me. Then it will feel like nothing you have ever felt before.”

  “Okay. I trust you, Lexi.”

  “Don’t think I’m a girl if I start to cry, okay?” Lexi said through clenched teeth. “You feel so damn good, Bailey. I have never felt anything more magnificent in my life.”

  “As long as you don’t think I’m a sissy when I do,” Bailey said as a tear rolled down his temple. Lexi met Bailey’s tear-filled eyes with his own. He released Bailey’s hips and grabbed his hands. Entwining their fingers, he raised Bailey’s hands up to lie on either side of his head as Lexi put most of his weight on his forearms, bringing their faces within inches of each other. Lexi looked deep into Bailey’s eyes as he began a slow, steady thrust in and out of his mate’s ass.