Mates & Allies

Tavo paused in the bedroom, his suitcase packed with a few more changes of clothes. He looked around the half-finished house wondering if they would ever return. Though he and his mates had been there only for a couple of days before Deke had challenged Ethan for the lone wolves, he could see them living there, building a life there. He turned to find Jett watching him from the doorway.

“You miss this place,” Jett said. “And damn it, I missed it too. The herd house was the first real home I’d had since being sent to my father, but here…” The cougar strode forward. “Here I was with my mate.” He pulled Tavo into his arms. “Are they going to build a house on the lone wolves’ property? We can’t live in campers forever.”

Tavo leaned back so he could look Jett in the eye. “It’s hard on you, isn’t it? A reminder of the shed you had and not really feeling like you fit in.” He brushed strands of Jett’s long, dark hair from his forehead. “We’ve got some time. Our mates know we’re safe. Let’s take a nice, long shower.” He didn’t ask for permission, just reached down and tangled his fingers with Jett’s, then led the cougar to the bathroom.

He stripped without fanfare, noticing Jett did the same, their clothes in a single pile on the bathroom floor. Tavo took a moment to stare at the domestic jumble, the tile cool beneath his bare feet. Then, he walked over to the large shower and turned on the water, stepping beneath the spray as soon as it was warm enough. It was only then he realized that he’d packed their toiletries, and they had nothing to wash themselves with.

Jett must have realized his error at the same time because he chuckled and went to the cupboard, getting out a bottle of body and hair wash and taking it, along with two washcloths and two towels over to the shower. He hung the towels, then carried everything else into the shower, settling it on the low ledge designed for that purpose. “Forgot we packed everything, didn’t you?” He asked as he handed Tavo a washcloth.

“Yeah, I did,” Tavo admitted.

“See, you need me to keep track of these things for you.” Jett reached around him to get the washcloth wet, the routine movements something more as the cougar’s chest bumped his, and his cock began to rise.

“Oh, I need you all right.” Tavo brushed a hard, fast kiss against Jett’s lips. He turned just enough so he could get his washcloth wet, intending to clean Jett’s back, but the cougar beat him to it.

“Turn around. I’ll do you first.” He flicked open the cap of the gel cleanser with a click, then squirted it onto the washcloth. The smell of sandalwood and musk surrounded them, mingling with the steam from the hot shower.

It was so good to stand beneath the hard, hot spray and not have to worry about water supplies or how long it would last. Tavo bit back a moan as the water sluiced over skin that hadn’t really felt clean after their quick showers in the camper or the shower house. He closed his eyes and let his chin fall to his chest, pushing back the wave of emotion threatening to pummel through him. Loss? Regret? They’d be back in this house soon, and he could always return for herd business. And yet, he wouldn’t be living here, building a life here, at least not for a long time, and now his cougar would be taking over a claw requiring his mates to be split even more.

“Is it selfish that I don’t want you to go?” Tavo asked softly. “I know you have to do it. But I can’t help but feel like I’m losing my mates to duty, and I—” He scrubbed his bare hands over his face, afraid that he’d let tears fall. “Fuck, I know that it’s my privilege talking. That I really didn’t know what was going on since I grew up Redsand. But damn it, Jett. I love you. I’ve loved you for a very long time, and it would utterly shatter me if something happened to you.” The words poured out of him in a rush, no longer able to be held back, a potential future that had to be spoken to be fully understood.

“Oh, ponyboy.” Jett pressed the washcloth to his back and cleaned him, then tenderly worked over his ass and down the back of each leg. Neither said anything for long moments until Jett stood and told him to turn around to rinse his back. Then he turned and presented his back so Tavo could wash him.

Tavo used the washcloth like an object of worship, covering each inch of Jett’s tanned back. When he finished there, he worked over Jett’s hard, toned ass, then down the back of each muscled thigh, over the curve of his calves and then his feet. He straightened and put the washcloth on the shelf. “Your turn to rinse. I know we have infinite hot water, but I can think of other things to do.” He stroked his hand across Jett’s flank, smiling when the cougar’s cock responded.

Tavo savored watching Jett wash his hair. The cougar moved with efficiency, cleaning his front, then stepping out of the way so Tavo could do the same. Soon, they both were clean, and Tavo turned off the water. He pulled one towel off the warming rack, then handed the other to Jett.

They dried off together, and Tavo tried to imagine what it would be like to live here with Jett full time. He’d built the house with Jett in mind, though he realized now that he’d added the extra rooms and space because he knew they wouldn’t be the only ones. How long would it take for all of this to settle down, and would it even be possible for Deke to run the lone wolves and Jett to handle his claw without living on premises?

“Shh, you’re thinking too much again.” Jett stepped forward and gently ran his fingers down the side of Tavo’s jawline. “I know what you’re thinking, and we’ll figure it out. It’s for the best, and just like Deke, I don’t have to rule the claw for long.” He plucked Tavo’s towel from his hands and put it back on the rack along with his. “Let me love you before we have to get back to the others.”

Jett framed Tavo’s face in his hands then gently kissed him, brushing their lips together with the faintest of touches. One kiss led to another, and soon they were hungrily drinking from one another, open-mouthed kisses and tongues stroking together until somehow Jett managed to maneuver them out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. He had the peace of mind to open the drawer and pull out a bottle of lube, setting it on the nightstand next to the bed. They tumbled onto the bed.

Jett lay across him, his heavy weight pinning Tavo to the mattress. He relished being held down, the cougar’s hard shaft against his leg and the soft moan he made when Tavo ran his fingers across the mate mark. He shivered, opening himself up to the mating bonds, to the ways in which he felt connected not just to Jett, but also to Deke and Colt. Tavo placed himself into Jett’s winning and very talented hands, moaning as slick fingers stroked his cock.

Tavo pumped his hips into Jett’s hand. He splayed his fingers across his mate’s back, the other sliding through that glorious black hair to hold Jett’s mouth against his chest. He bucked his hips, his body already demanding not just release, but also to be filled.

“I need you, Jett,” Tavo said between panting breaths.

Jett released Tavo’s cock, then shifted so he knelt with Tavo’s legs draped over his shoulders. It took only a moment for him to lube his cock, then he pressed it against Tavo’s opening. “You know if we had time I’d do this to you all night long,” Jett said, then he pressed forward.

Tavo welcomed the slight burn and then the exquisite sensation of his mate’s cock stretching him, filling him without much preamble. Jett groaned as he slowly slid his cock into Tavo, and soon he was fully seated inside him. Tavo lay there and breathed, trying to make his passion last, but the desire to come had him starting to move, and then Jett was moving, and they were thrusting, pushing toward that crest.

Jett circled Tavo’s cock with his fingers and began to stroke. His rhythm sped up and then Tavo couldn’t do anything except go along with his body’s rising needs. He gave himself over to his mate’s fingers and cock, knowing that this moment would be all too fleeting, over all too soon. And then he was cresting, crashing into his release with a guttural cry, spilling himself all over his stomach and Jett’s fingers.

A moment later Jett came, filling Tavo’s channel with his come. He slumped forward, his cock still buried inside Tavo. The sounds of their harsh breathing surrounding them.

“Shit, we’re going to have to get cleaned up again,” Jett commented with a chuckle. “But it was worth it.” He rose off Tavo, then brushed hair off his face. “I love you, ponyboy. I hope no matter what happens you don’t forget that.” He kissed Tavo, then rose to his feet and went to the bathroom.

~* * *~

Tavo and Jett stopped by the herd house before going back and Tavo’s mom had loaded up the truck with boxes of food for them. Jett had spoken with Aristotle while Tavo had helped his mother and sisters pack and load the food. He knew his mate would tell him how the meeting went down and what his father said.

“This is hard on you,” his mother told him as she loaded the last box. “You worry about Deke and Jett taking on their responsibilities. But you have to remember, just as you were born to Redsand, they were born to pack and claw. You do not have to lead as we do, and our herd is large enough it is not on you to breed an heir. You can choose whoever you want to succeed you.” She touched her son’s shoulder. “Jett is like a son to your father and I. We are so glad you found one another. We’ve taken in shifters from time to time, but your father is speaking with Shifters United about opening one of those safehouses here. Since it’s our goal to lead the herd for many more years, your father and I would like you to lead the safehouse. You seem to have a knack for finding lost shifters and giving them family.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Tavo answered. His family herd had taken in shifters from time to time. There’d been a half-centaur, half-shifter who was a few years older than him who had lived with them for several years. “Except that I couldn’t think of a better place, and I’m honored that you’d trust me with this responsibility.”

His mother smiled. “The next time Deke talks to them, make sure you’re on the call. I’m sure Carmen would like to know you’re on board with this.”

“I will. Thank you.” He kissed his mother on the cheek and gave her a big hug, then his father and Jett walked out of the house.

Jett also gave Tavo’s mother a big hug, and then the two of them were headed back to the lone wolves. It was close to dark by the time they arrived, but the pack was called together for a feast, and for a little while at least, Tavo didn’t have to think about his mate challenging to lead a claw.