“I don't know what’s wrong with me,” Ricky murmured, his lips pressed to Morgan’s skin. “Everything’s foggy.”
Morgan thought the liquor was the cause of his own trouble thinking, but if Ricky was experiencing the same thing, maybe it was a product of their mating. He had never heard other shifters describe that condition when meeting their mates, but then again, he didn’t know anyone who tried to push away the person fated for them.
“We’ll figure this out.” Morgan closed his eyes and purposefully slowed his breathing. If he could think rationally, he could come up with a plan that would satisfy Ricky, avoid killing Brian Berger, and not throw Golden Valley into disarray. Nothing to it.
He took a deep breath, hoping to clear his mind, but instead inhaled a lungful of his mate’s enticing lilac and jasmine scent. “Ricky,” he pleaded. Focus was hard to achieve when moist breath spread on his neck and a sexy Omega rhythmically rocked against his dick. “Ricky.” He gripped the shifter’s narrow hips, but instead of holding him still, he pulled him forward, encouraging the thrusts. “Can’t think.”
“Why do we need to think? This is instinct.”
Instinct. That sounded right. And his every instinct told him to move the rough fabric of Ricky’s shorts out of the way, so he made quick work of pulling them open and shoving Ricky’s briefs underneath his balls. The touch of Ricky’s shaft against his own sent an electric current through Morgan. “Oh, holy shit.” He clutched Ricky’s ass and pulled him forward. “Come here.”
Nails dug into Morgan’s shoulders and teeth scraped across his neck and jawline. “Alpha, Alpha, Alpha.”
Balls tight and cock throbbing, Morgan knew there was no stopping what was unquestionably going to be the best—and fastest—orgasm of his life. In his fantasies, his first time with his mate had included candles, foreplay, a bed, and sobriety, but he hadn’t accounted for the all-encompassing passion that would drive this encounter. He would romance his mate the next time, but for now, he at least needed a kiss.
Gently, Morgan skated his palms up Ricky’s flank, over his arms, and then curled them around his nape. “Come here, sweetheart.” He carefully smoothed his thumbs across Ricky’s cheeks and turned his face until their lips met. Soft, warm, and perfect, he licked his way into Ricky’s mouth and swallowed his moans. They rocked in unison, pushing against one another in an ancient dance. He had a mate, a partner, a person meant just for him, and he would do anything to please, provide for, and protect this man. “Such a beautiful Omega,” Morgan whispered, threading his fingers through Ricky’s hair in a gentle caress.
The deeper grunts Ricky had been making turned into high-pitched cries. “Alpha,” Ricky pushed himself onto his knees and humped faster and harder.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Take what you need.” He leaned forward and nipped at Ricky’s lips.
“Ah!” Ricky threw his head back, arched his neck, and stilled. “Ah!” Wetness coated Morgan’s groin and belly as the scent of his Omega’s seed filled the air.
“So good for me.” Morgan breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of his mate’s satisfaction. “Such a perfect Omega.” He raised his butt up and down, sliding his erection against hot skin and wet come. “Making your Alpha feel so good.” When Morgan’s orgasm finally hit, it wasn’t the crash he had anticipated but rather a drawn-out wave, rippling from his head to his toes and pulsing from his dick in endless bursts of pleasure.
Chest heaving, he cupped Ricky’s cheeks and kissed his forehead before tipping his head back and gazing into his eyes. This was the face he would see every evening and every morning for the rest of his days. “Going to spend my life taking care of you,” he vowed.
“Yes,” Ricky sighed appreciatively, cuddling into his embrace, and Morgan felt right for the first time in seven years.
Chapter 5
Ricky rarely left Purple Sky, so waking up in a place that didn’t smell like his home pack should have been disconcerting. He remembered accompanying Brian Berger to Golden Valley on a networking trip. He remembered seeing happy children and walking into a stunning mansion. He remembered meeting a Beta who behaved oddly and put Alpha Berger on edge. After that, Ricky’s memory got fuzzy. But when he inhaled, the scent that flowed into him filled him with comfort and peace, leaving no room for worries.
His mind relaxed and clear, he blinked his eyes open, looked around the empty room, and tried to get his bearings. No light filtered in from the windows, making the time very late or very early. He was in a den or office. And he was going to throw up. Immediately.
Frantically, Ricky jumped to his feet and jerked his gaze from side to side. He spotted the bathroom through an open door and dashed to it, barely getting his head over the toilet before losing the contents of his stomach. Although he wasn’t the tallest or strongest shifter around, he wasn’t sickly. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a cold, let alone a stomach flu. What was going on?