Renard woke to a warm hand caressing the skin underneath his shirt, and a pair of lips nibbling at him.
"Got something in mind?" he murmured as the tongue swiped over one ear.
"You, me, bed... hot, unrestrained sex," Nick answered huskily.
The words, the rough voice, the hooded expression in the gray eyes, all conspired to send Renard's blood straight into his groin. He bit his lower lip as he felt himself harden.
They had been apart for weeks, the psychic bond broken, the regnant alone and forced to wait for his mate to decide. Before he had slept with Nick, he had been forced to watch from afar, too, but afterwards a lot had changed.
Forever.
And he wanted his mate so badly…
Nick grinned at him, very much aware of that.
"Hot?" Sean asked, gazing at the other man as Nick worked the shirt over his head. "Unrestrained?" The shirt was tossed away.
"You and me," the Grimm confirmed.
Deft fingers removed the hindering clothes, exposing Renard to the hungry, gray gaze.
"That sounds… perfect."
The room temperature seemed to rise with each piece of clothing that landed on the floor, and by the time Nick was naked, Renard was close to jumping him. But he wanted this to last. He needed this to last. Slow, passionate, drawn out.
"Bed," Sean growled, nipping at his throat.
Nick's breath caught in his throat and he moaned. They kissed each other, savoring the other's warmth and presence.
"Yeah, bed," he gasped, his own proof of arousal pressing against Renard's thigh.
It was a haphazard walk-stumble, but they managed it into the bedroom. Just about so. Nick landed on his back, grinning up at the other man, clearly inviting.
Kissing his way down the slender, muscular form, Renard paved a wet, hot trail to the straining arousal, toying with it with his lips, tongue and fingers. He knew just how far to go to keep his mate from hitting the edge, where to suck, nibble and lick to get the maximum reaction, and he was quite aware of how long he could torture Nick before the Grimm started begging and pleading.
He was planning to let everything run to the max today. He needed it; Nick needed it. It had been too long and the primal side in him wanted to reclaim his mate.
Nick let him.
Running gentle fingers over the muscular thighs, massaging the warm skin, Renard let his tongue lick along the straining erection, nibbling at the head, making Nick writhe. His partner gasped softly, hands clenching into the sheets, hips starting to buck. He grabbed the hips and gently held him down, continuing his oral exploration.
Nick cried out as he swallowed more of him, running his tongue over the skin. He finally abandoned his prize to kiss and nip at the insides of the thighs.
"Sean!" he exclaimed, breathing harder as questing fingers mapped out well-known territory.
Renard chuckled and rose slightly, kissing the tense stomach, then carefully rolled Nick onto his side, continuing his trail to one buttock. A moan of appreciation told him he was giving his lover what he wanted. He crawled back to the sinfully desirable lips and demanded a kiss that soon turned into a war of dominance between two agile tongues.
He felt the power of the Grimm, let it wash over him, entwine with his own. This was what he wanted, his equal, his mate, the powerful Grimm who had taken on incredible opposition and won.
Nick nipped and lightly bit at his lower lip, the gray eyes flaring.
Gold shimmered in Renard's eyes and felt the façade shift.
He faced the other hunter-predator, aware of the danger he was in, of the danger he presented to the Grimm, and it was exhilarating and terrifying in one. Giving in to Nick was surrender and submission, taking Nick was dominance and power. Nothing sat well with Renard and still he – they – found a middle way in all of this. They faced the other, lethal predator and both submitted and dominated in one.
He felt something tremble through him, his soul burning with desire and need.
Nick ran exploring fingers over the sharpening features, smiling knowlingly. The next kiss was deep and hard and the Grimm succumbed in the end, breathing hard, eyes alight with desire.
"I want you," he whispered.
Renard felt no triumph, only need and want and lust for him. "Your wish is my command," he answered huskily before kissing him again, ending the kiss with a swipe over the lower lip.
The lube was never far from the bed and Renard believed he could find it in his sleep. Hell, he had found it in the dark after one quick fumble before. Nick rolled onto his stomach and Renard's breathing grew more ragged. He prepared the man thoroughly, scissoring his fingers inside the tight opening, drawing grunts and exclamations of pleasure.
"Damnit, Sean, please!".
He chuckled and positioned himself, entering slowly. An impatient twist of the hips told him that Nick didn't want slow. Well, bad luck. For now, he still planned to draw this out.
When he was finally sheathed, Sean stopped, hearing the quickened breathing from his partner, the soft groan as he tried to move himself. Renard stopped him.
The beast in him was snarling to be let out, to take back his mate, to claim. He kept it leashed for now.
"My game," he growled, strong fingers on the slender hips.
"Sean!"
"That's my name," he murmured against one ear.
Nick was again pushing back.
The regnant set a slow pace, alternating between deep thrusts and quick jabs that drew a cry of pleasure out of his partner every time. He knew he couldn't last forever either, but the stimulation for Nick was a lot stronger than for himself. Renard reached for the straining cock, wrapping his hand around it, stimulating it in turn.
"Sean…" Nick begged. "…please… now. You're killing me!"
He ran his hands over the slick skin, feeling muscles bunch, shiver and twitch.
"Just… please... I…" Renard threw his head back, chest heaving, and calmed himself, stopping his movements to remain motionless inside the other man.
Claws itched at the tips of his fingers and he so badly wanted to let go, show the Grimm who he was, face the other hunter, feel his power as they both let go and just were themselves.
No barriers.
No lies.
Just… them…
Nick's fingers buried in the mattress and his muscles trembled. His forehead rested against the blankets and he was fighting for control, too.
It was an amazing sight.
Renard placed a kiss between the sweaty shoulder blades.
Turning his lover onto his back, he quickly re-entered the pliant form before Nick's cry of protest had even left his lips. He wanted to see the handsome face in climax, wanted to swallow his cries, wanted to be with him, closer than ever.
And he knew he had reached his limit. The sight of Nick was intoxicating, making him feverish with need.
Starting to move again, his thrusts never became rough. They became more intense, as if each one had an individual meaning, a special feeling, and to him, they had. Nick pushed back, harder every time, until Renard lost the last strand of control.
The primal side roared in triumph.
It didn't take him much more than three thrusts and the tidal wave hit him.
Nick arched underneath him, screaming almost soundlessly, a harsh whimper ending it. Renard growled as he came, latching onto the pale skin. There was a moment of hesitation, then his fangs sank into the soft skin and he felt Nick's shudder, his groan, tight muscles clenching around him. Sean felt arms come up loosely around his back.
He heard his own harsh breathing, his heartbeat thundering in his ears, and Nick's breath gusted against his shoulder and neck. The taste of the Grimm's blood on his lips was sending tingles through him. He felt the connection between them completely realign itself, perfect once more, as it should have been, and the last vestiges of doubt fled.
He had no idea how long they stayed like this, but Nick suddenly started to shiver slightly and Renard raised his head, looking into the dazed, sated gray eyes.
"Cold?"
A smile curved the thoroughly kissed lips. "With you on top of me? Never."
"We should clean up."
"If you want to move…"
He didn't. He really didn't. But the sticky mess between them wouldn't go away on its own. Reluctantly and after several minutes of contemplating the pros and cons of just staying, he did move. Nick gave a soft mumble of protest when the other man moved out of him. He walked over to the bathroom, wet a cloth and lovingly cleaned the dark-haired man lying like a limp weight on the bed. Nick grabbed his wrist and tugged. As Renard leaned closer, he was kissed gently. He threw the cloth in the general direction of the bathroom and climbed into the bed again, pulling the blanket over their sated forms.
Renard had never felt better in his life. Never more happy.
And the bond hummed softly in the back of his mind.
x x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x xx x x x x
He woke alone.
Renard returned to the land of the conscious and rolled around to one side, arm flung out – only to encounter… nothing. The spot at his side was empty. He opened his eyes and something inside of him clenched painfully at the sight.
Nick was gone. He was alone in bed and there was no one else.
Drawing a deep breath, he tried to calm himself. According to his watch, it was still quite early in the morning, just past five. Outside the world was dark and damp, the rain coming down in a faint drizzle. Forecasts were for more rain and thunder shower warnings.
Nick had simply left.
He cursed silently. But why? He had thought they had resolved their problem. At least as much as they could, given the root of it all: his lies.
Renard sat up and ran a hand through his hair. His clothes looked slept in – no wonder – and his eyes felt gritty. He felt gritty, come to think of it. Like he really did need more sleep, but right now that was the last thing on his mind. He didn't believe that Nick had play-acted again last night. There was no way he had returned to Renard out of some false loyalty. He was a strong, independent man, a Grimm, an officer of the law. Nothing held him in Portland. He could just leave.
Like he had apparently done.
After the most breathtaking renewal of their physical relationship. After laying together, holding the other, exchanging caresses. It had been the most calming and soothing and, well, yes, Zen experience of his life. The connection had been back and it had thrummed with life, chasing away the pain.
"Hey."
The voice snapped him out of his morose thoughts and Renard's eyes widened as he discovered Nick. A towel was slung low around the slender hips and the hair looked still damp from the shower he had apparently taken.
He hadn't noticed. He hadn't been aware of the other man in his bathroom. It showed Renard just how bad things had been, how much of his senses he had lost. The bond hadn't felt torn, just… Well, he hadn't thought about it to hunt for his mate. Not after the insane realization that Nick had been gone.
"Nick?" he asked.
A frown crossed the handsome face. "You okay?"
"I thought…" He shook his head, fighting for composure.
But his shields were blown, his façade wavering badly, and all Renard wanted was to never let go of what he had found once again.
The Grimm walked over to him, movements lithe and powerful and so intense, it took Renard's breath away. He wanted this man, his mate, by his side.
"You thought I had left," Nick finished the sentence.
Renard gazed into the gray eyes. "Yes," was all he managed.
"And why would I do that?"
"After what I did and what I didn't say, I can't blame you."
Nick shook his head in faint exasperation and leaned down to brush a kiss over his lips. Renard's hands automatically came up to rest on the towel-clad hips. He ran his fingers across the material, up the thighs to the hips, down the curve of the buttocks, and he felt his mate react. He wanted this man, but the voice of warning was still strong.
He let himself sink back, pulling the other man with him. Nick followed willingly and his fingers worked under Renard's rumpled tee and played over his skin, finding the right spots to tease. The towel was suddenly gone and having the man naked on top of him had the regnant feel a new kind of appreciation.
"Nick…"
He was silenced by a hungry kiss that relayed the same need he felt. Last night had been about the hunger; they had both been in need of closure, of answers to questions, and of acceptance of the other. Sean had accepted Nick as what he was, fully, wholly, and he would honor his promise.
No more lies, even if the truth hurt.
x x x
They lay together in the hazy aftermath, Renard holding his mate as Nick was breathing hard, his head pressed against the regnant's bare chest. Sean ran his fingers through the sweaty hair, smiling as the Grimm nuzzled his chest with a contented sigh.
"Shower," he mumbled.
"You are insatiable."
Nick chuckled. "I was merely suggesting a shower, but if you have other ideas… your highness?"
Renard smiled, amused by the address, and looked at him, a sly expression in his eyes. "You up to it, Grimm?"
"Depends on what 'it' is in your dictionary."
The taller man laughed. "My current dictionary is rather limited and all it contains are words that should be censored."
Nick pulled him into a kiss, devouring him. "Then let's cool you off," he breathed.
He nimbly slipped out of bed and Renard swallowed a groan as he watched his naked mate walk over to the shower. Yes, he had fallen deeply, the lust was burning bright and hot, and currently, it governed his thinking.
Whatever Nick wanted, he would give him. He would answer all his questions, he wouldn't let the bond break ever again. He needed this.
Not just the sex. That was hot and heavy and steamy and just the right side of possessive. No, he needed the whole package; everything the Grimm gave him.
He quickly followed Nick, catching him in the doorway and pinning him against the wall. Gray flared, hunger mixed with the Grimm warning him just a little, and Renard wanted it all. He wanted to walk the line with this man, wanted to test the boundaries, wanted to see him come undone, wanted to have him restrain the creature inside of him, wanted him to balance out the emotional flares. He wanted it all.
He pressed their bodies together, reveling in the feel and the sound of his mate.
"I want you," he whispered, voice a bit rough.
"You've got me."
It was a promise and a pledge of allegiance and everything wrapped up in four simple words.
Mine, the primal side crooned. Mine, mine, mine.
Gray eyes regarded him openly, reflecting the truth, tinged with renewed want.
"You've got me," Nick repeated.
tbc...