Sorry this took so long! I got a little caught up in life and then GISHWHES and then more life. But some interesting developments in this chapter and the next one (which is already in progress, I promise)! Also, sexytimes in this one :D More at the bottom!

I wake up suddenly with the distinct sense that someone called my name, but there's no one there. Still, I check around cautiously, unable to shake the feeling, and I jump when I hear it again. Dean?

I still don't see anyone, but it sounds like… "Cas?" I call to the room. "Is that you?"

Yes, Dean. Are you alright?

"I'd be better if I knew why I can hear you but not see you," I answer. "Where are you?"

I feel a hint of amusement that isn't mine. In heaven, he answers. And you're not hearing me so much as perceiving me. There's no need to be alarmed. This is normal.

"Normal for who?" I shout to the empty room, exasperated by how calm he seems. "What the hell is going on?"

He pauses for a moment. It's alright, Dean. I'll be there in a few minutes to explain. With that it goes silent. I sit down on the edge of the bed, wondering what my life has come to until I hear the soft flutter of wings. "Good morning, Dean."

"For you, maybe," I mutter. "You're not the one who woke up with voices in your head."

He tilts his head a little. "It's only one voice."

"That's not the point! Are you going to tell me what's going on or not?"

He nods, fidgeting with his coat nervously. "Of course. I…don't suppose I ever told you much about angel mating."

I have to pause for a minute to keep from snapping at him. "No, you didn't."

"Well, when two angels share a connection, their respective graces recognize the other as a soulmate. When that happens, a private psychic link is established between them. It makes things…easier. I did not believe it would happen with us, being that you are human, but considering your penchant for surprising me I suppose I should have seen it coming."

I sigh, trying to shake off the feeling that I'm being given the angelic birds and bees talk. "But…why now? We've been…together for months now. I've never heard you before."

He nods. "It takes two graces in agreement before it will happen. It's not immediate, and will not happen if one side is unwilling. My grace has been willing for a long time now, but even though we've been together, you've still been hesitant about it. But now you're finally becoming comfortable with the idea."

"So, let me see if I've got this right. Your grace…proposed to me, and my soul said yes?"

He shrugs. "Essentially, yes. And then the link was established."

A sudden, horrible thought occurs to me. "So you just have an all-access pass up there now?"

Cas frowns. "No, of course not. I would never violate you that way. I do not see anything you wish to keep hidden. It's more of a sense. I can feel you like you felt me this morning. I can sense the thoughts you choose to share with me, as well as your emotions. I can feel where you are if I need to. I'd imagine, with the human component, we could also trade sensory information."

"Like…pictures and stuff?" I ask.

He nods. "Or sensations, maybe. It will take some practice on both our parts. I apologize for not realizing you'd be so alarmed. I suppose I'm a bit more used to the extra senses than you'd be."

"Yeah, just a little," I mutter. "So are we… 'mated' now?" I ask hesitantly.

He sighs, looking dejected at my tone. "No, Dean. This isn't a kind of cosmic death sentence. You will not be forced into anything you don't wish to do."

I frown. "That's not exactly what I meant," I say quickly. "It's not that I definitely don't want to do…that, but…I just need some time, okay?" Finally, he smiles, relaxing, and nods. "Is it just going to be there all the time now?" I ask.

"In a way. The link will not disappear, but you can block it on your end, as I can, and we can make it…dormant, if you will. It can fade into the background." He pauses. "Dean, we don't have to use it if it makes you uncomfortable," he says softly.

I shake my head, releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding. "No, it's fine, it's just…different. I just need some time to get used to it, that's all."

He nods, relieved. "Okay. We can work on it. You know, you're just as much in my head as I am in yours."

For some reason, this makes me feel a little better. "Good to know." I close my eyes for a moment, carefully probing around the new presence in my head. Focusing hard, I feel it slip into the background, still there but somewhat muted. Then I bring it back up, feeling a little spark of pride from Cas. How was that? I try.

"That was good," he smiles. It will get easier with time. I try turning it on and off a few times, and suddenly I see an image of myself, accompanied by a warm feeling I can't pin down right away, but which feels very much like love. I open one eye at him, and he chuckles. "I've had a bit more practice than you."

"Two can play at that game." It only takes me a minute to figure out what image would ruffle his feathers the most, and I focus hard on the way he looked in my bed with his wrists bound to the frame with his own tie. I hear a sharp gasp, and when I open my eyes, Cas is bright red. I laugh, pulling him down to the bed with me and pressing against his side. "I take it that worked then?" He nods slowly. "You know, you never did tell me why you enjoyed that so much." Cas hesitates, considering his answer carefully. The same picture I showed him flashes inside my head, followed by a complex mix of emotions that takes a minute to sort out. Underneath the obvious pleasure, there's a layer of peace and trust that surprises me. He watches me almost nervously while I consider it. So you like not having to be in control?

He shrugs. I'm always supposed to be the leader. With you, I don't have to be. It's nice. He pauses. Perhaps you should try it. You might like it as well.

I chuckle. "I don't think we'd get very far with both of us tied up."

He smiles. "We can take turns, if you'd really like to try."

Maybe, I answer. But first, I think I'm going to have to do some shopping. That tie only goes so far.

He blushes again when I show him what I mean, hiding his face against my shoulder. Remembering what he said about sensations, I concentrate as hard as I can on imagining running my tongue up his spine. It takes a moment, but Cas makes a surprised noise somewhere between a gasp and a moan, shuddering beside me. "You're better at this than I anticipated. Perhaps I have some shopping of my own to do."

He grins, shifting to look at me, and something around his neck catches my attention. "Uh…Cas? What's that?"

He frowns for a moment, then seems to remember. "Oh, yes. Gabriel gave it to me. He said it was very important, and that you'd understand. He wouldn't tell me why."

I loosen his tie, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to get a better look, and suddenly I can't stop laughing. Looped haphazardly around his neck is a strip of soft black leather with a silver ring through the middle. Cas tilts his head to the side, puzzled by my outburst. "Gabriel…gave you…a collar?" I choke out when I can catch my breath.

He squints for a moment in confusion, and then his eyes widen. "Oh…Oh. I see. I did read about that. My apologies. I should have realized."

He blushes, and I chuckle. "I'll kick his ass for you next time I see him." He reaches back to take it off, but something in me makes me reach out and stop him. He looks at me questioningly. "I kind of like it," I murmur. "But it can't be very comfortable all twisted like that. Here, let me fix it." He sits back on his elbows, tipping his head down while I reach for the buckle, and I have to take a deep breath to calm myself enough to remove it. I press a soft kiss to his neck where I pull the leather away, feeling his breath hitch. "You don't have to wear it if you don't want to," I say carefully.

"I don't mind it so much," he answers softly. I prod at the connection, finding a feeling that's almost…hopeful? He looks back over his shoulder as I inspect the Enochian symbols carved into it. "It's…your name," he murmurs, embarrassed. "The inscription on the inside is a binding spell. It's inactive, of course, but…" he trails off.

I look up at him for a moment, watching as his gaze flicks anxiously between me and the collar, and I realize that he wants this. But do I? Of course you do, you idiot, the voice in my head answers. "It's a little hard to see from this angle," I say finally. Why don't you come around to this side, so I can make sure it's right." Slowly, he grins, slipping off the bed and walking slowly over to the side I'm sitting on. He hesitates for a moment, watching me carefully, before shucking off his coat and sinking down to his knees at the side of the bed. "That's much better," I chuckle, running my hand lightly through his hair. I smooth out the leather between my fingers, carefully wrapping it around his neck, then pulling it one notch tighter. Cas makes a small sound. "Too tight?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "No. It's much better," he whispers hoarsely. I nod, fastening it in the back when he lowers his head again. I let my fingertips lightly ghost over his throat, feeling his shaky breaths even out. Digging into the link in my mind, I find equal parts pleasure and anxiety. I want to say something to calm him, but I don't think I could do it out loud. Instead I try to do it through the mental link, which is slightly more terrifying given that I can't hide my emotions, but which is also probably more convincing. You're beautiful.

He looks up sharply, surprised, but I feel his anxiety fade. "It doesn't bother you?" he asks.

"You already know it doesn't," I murmur, leaning forward to kiss him softly.

He smiles, leaning into the kiss and relaxing fully into his stance. "I know. I felt it."

I thread my fingers into his hair again, tugging on it just hard enough until his head tips back, exposing his throat. He hisses softly, but all I feel on his end is blissful pleasure. It's reassuring, as is the low moan that escapes him as I bite and tease the sensitive skin. So the angel likes it rough? I tease him, mouthing roughly along his jaw. He breathes out a yes, but in his head it's a firm Yes Sir. Who knew this psychic thing would be so useful? I take a breath to calm myself again, knowing I have to keep it together if I'm going to do this for him. And I want to, more than anything, just to keep watching him like this. "Cas, are you sure you want to do this?" I ask.

He nods slowly. "Absolutely."

"And you trust me?"

With my life comes the soft answer, and I know it's true.

I nod, standing up and walking behind him, trailing my fingers over his skin as I go. He shivers, but stays in place. "Alright. Rule one: If you don't like something, you tell me immediately. That's an order. Understood?"

A hint of a smile plays at the corners of his lips. "Yes Sir," he whispers.

"Good. And rule two: no closing the link. I want to know what's going on. We're going to talk about this later, but right now, you're mine." A little whine escapes him at that, and I chuckle. "Up," I order softly. He rises to his feet, keeping his gaze trained on the floor. I nudge his feet apart, pulling his arms up and interlocking the fingers behind his head. "Clothes off, Cas. Now." They disappear, and he flushes red from head to toe. I slip my hand under his jaw, kissing him softly. He whines, and I pull him closer, deepening the kiss until he's out of breath. "Good boy," I murmur against his lips, grinning at his shiver. "Stay still," I order. I kiss him once more before dropping lower to nibble and suck at the skin above his collar. "Now, I'd love to hear about all the interesting things you've been reading about…" Immediately, my head is filled with images straight out of porn, and I wonder idly how far his research went. It takes a minute to sort through them, gaging his reaction to the different scenarios and forming an idea of my own. I walk slowly around him, trailing my fingertips over his skin. Looking over his shoulder, I grin seeing his already hard cock twitch. I wrap one arm around his waist, pulling him tight against me, letting my other hand wrap lightly around the base of his throat. He gasps, but relaxes into the hold, moaning softly as I kiss and nibble along his neck and shoulders. Suddenly, I find myself wondering how far I'd have to go to put an angel into sensory overload. And Cas did say I have to practice, right? I reach down, feeling his breath hiccup as I wrap my hand around him, stroking slowly. His face is red as he bucks into my hand, but he can't seem to stop the little whimpers and moans from escaping him. My hips rock against him of their own accord as I focus on imagining myself softly rubbing and prodding at his tight ring of muscle. I can tell when he starts to feel it, because his hips press back against the imaginary fingers, then snap forward into my hand again, trying to get both sensations at once. I chuckle, enjoying the shout of pleasure when I picture my fingers sliding smoothly into him, bearing more of his weight as he struggles to stay on his feet. My hand moves faster along his shaft as he trembles, thrusting desperately and erratically into the sensations. "Such a needy angel you are," I murmur into his ear. He whines in response. "And you want to know something?" I grin, speeding up my strokes, both real and imaginary. Unable to form words, his head slowly turns to look at me, his eyes clouded with pleasure. "You're all mine," I growl against his skin.

"Dean!" he whimpers loudly.

"Mine," I growl again, biting down on the space between his neck and shoulder. I feel him shudder hard as his release rips through him, a stream of unintelligible syllables mixed with my name escaping him. I find myself oddly proud when his knees give out, which would have sent him crashing to the floor if I wasn't holding him so tightly against me. He trembles hard, panting breathlessly as I carefully scoop him up, sitting down on the bed and settling him in my lap. He purrs softly, clinging closer as I run my fingers through his damp hair. "Jesus Cas," I murmur, kissing his forehead softly. His eyes open, staring up at me with something close to awe, but he doesn't say anything, only swallowing and panting softly. He stays that way for a full five minutes before I start to get worried. Probing around the connection in my head, I find only a blissful haze, but it's too quiet. "Cas?" I murmur. "You're starting to worry me baby. Talk to me."

He swallows hard again, still trembling lightly. "…Hi," he whispers finally.

I chuckle. "Hi yourself. Are you alright?"

"Very much so," he nods seriously, his voice rough. "I apologize, I just…that was…"

He frowns, trying to find the right words, and I kiss him softly. "That's alright. Just wanted to make sure I didn't do anything wrong."

"Of course you didn't," he says sternly. "Dean, you…you…I can't tell you what you did right now, but I will as soon as I can think straight…"

I laugh, hugging him closer. "Okay. Relax for now. I've got you."

He smiles lazily. "I love you," he murmurs, moaning softly as I lightly massage the muscles in his back.

I love you too I reply. But this time I know he feels it from the happiness that flares across the link.

Woohoo! See, I told you it was worth it. Please send me a little review if you like the story! Even a couple of words makes me happy!

Love,

TheSongSmith