Whitedell Pride 25 - Aeron Read online

  Aeron bit on his lower lip. They had already talked about this. It wasn’t Jericho’s fault that Aeron was so hesitant, and Aeron had to make a decision. Would he risk himself or Jericho dying without ever mating, or would he risk an eventual separation that could happen in a distant future?

  * * * *

  Jericho watched Aeron, wondering what was about to happen. Would Aeron tell him no? Jericho wouldn’t be happy about it, but he’d understand. It couldn’t be an easy thing to trust him, not after what he’d done.

  “All right.”

  Jericho blinked at Aeron. “All right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Wait, are you saying all right to mating? With me?”

  “No, I was wondering if I could mate with one of the enforcers. Some of them are pretty hot.” Aeron rolled his eyes. “Of course with you. Who else would I want to mate with?”

  “How about everyone? I mean, after what I did—”

  “Nope. You don’t get to bring that up every time we talk. We both know what you did, and it doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. You’re not the same man anymore, and you’re trying to atone. It’s enough for me.”

  “All right.”

  Aeron grinned. “All right?”

  “Yep. So, how does it work? You said we don’t have to drink each other’s blood.”

  “No. I just have to touch your chest and do it. We both have to want it.”

  “I think we’ve already decided we both want it.” Jericho licked his lips and pulled his sweater off, baring his chest. “So... let’s do it.”

  Aeron laughed, and Jericho wanted to bottle the sound and keep it forever. He needed to give Aeron more reasons to laugh. He wanted to hear that sound all the time.

  “You want to do it right now?” Aeron asked. He was already taking his own sweater off, so Jericho didn’t think he had a problem with it.

  “Why wait? Oh, you have to do it during sex?”

  “No, but that’s usually how it’s done.”

  “And are you okay with that?” The last thing Jericho wanted was to push Aeron to do something he wasn’t sure of.

  The smile Aeron gave him was soft and happy. “I’m sure.”

  Jericho reached for his jeans. “Lube? Please tell me you have some, because I don’t know what will happen if I have to go out and buy it.”

  Aeron blushed and gestured toward the nightstand. “Nysys gave me some. I didn’t ask him, but, well. He seemed to know you’d come back, and he apparently wanted me to be ready for anything that could happen.”

  Jericho grinned and got up. “I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I think I like him.” He pushed his jeans and underwear down his legs and stepped out of them, stopping to take his socks off on his way to the nightstand.

  “Don’t let him know that, or he’ll never leave you alone.”

  “The horror.”

  “Trust me, you don’t want Nysys to like you. He has the tendency to shimmer into peoples’ bedrooms. I think he’s seen almost every couple in the house going at it.”

  “And no one ever said anything?”

  “Eh. Nicky tried.”

  “Did it work?”

  “They have a prank war going on at the moment. I’m not sure who’s winning, and I’m afraid to ask.”

  As much as Jericho enjoyed talking with Aeron, he had something else on his mind right now. He opened the nightstand drawer and grabbed the brand new bottle of lube that was on top of the junk. He turned and almost swallowed his tongue, because Aeron had been stripping while he hadn’t been looking. His clothes were abandoned on the floor, and Aeron was naked, on his back and looking at Jericho.

  His cheeks, neck, and upper chest were flushed, and his entire body seemed to be vibrating, as if he was nervous and about to jump off the bed. Jericho knew it wasn’t fear, or at least he hoped it wasn’t. He couldn’t be sure, not with what had happened in Aeron’s past, but he hadn’t seemed to have a problem with what they’d done the other day, and Jericho would make sure Aeron wasn’t scared of anything they did.

  He climbed onto the bed, moving slowly. Aeron’s lips parted, and he looked good enough to eat. Jericho might do that, actually.

  He stopped when he was just by Aeron’s dick and grinned at him. Aeron’s eyes widened and he tensed, but Jericho didn’t think it was in a bad way. He snapped the lube bottle open and squirted some on his hand, abandoning the bottle by Aeron’s hip.

  Aeron loudly swallowed and opened his legs wider, and Jericho swallowed his cock.

  Aeron whined and his hands grabbed at Jericho’s hair. Jericho grinned around Aeron’s cock and sucked, running his tongue along the pulsing vein on its underside. He looked Aeron in the eyes and reached behind himself, enjoying the way Aeron’s eyes widened.

  “I thought...” Aeron started.

  Jericho let go of him. “I know what you thought, but it doesn’t have to be that way.”

  “What if I want it that way?”

  “Then next time, I’ll fuck you. I really want you to fuck me first, though.”

  “I’ve never done that.”

  “I’ll take care of everything. You just lie back and relax.” He swooped down and wrapped his lips around Aeron’s cock again.

  Aeron squeaked. “Relax? That is not relaxing. At all.”

  It wasn’t supposed to be, but Jericho had had enough of words. It was time to get hot and dirty. He sucked on the head of Aeron’s cock while he pushed a finger into himself. He grunted—it had been a while since he’d last done this, but it didn’t hurt. It just felt a tad weird, but he’d get over it soon enough.

  The sounds Aeron made, the way he writhed under Jericho—it all made Jericho want to hurry. He pushed a second finger into his ass as he slurped on Aeron’s dick and tried to take more of it. It touched the back of his throat and he swallowed.

  Aeron hit the bed. “Stop, stop, stop.”

  Jericho eased off. “What?”

  “It’s too much. Your mouth, the sight of you,” Aeron waved toward Jericho’s ass. “It’s too much.”

  “Time for the main course?”

  Aeron rolled his eyes. “Don’t talk about sex as if it’s a meal. Are you... ready?”

  Jericho slid his fingers out of his ass. He probably should have stretched himself more, but he didn’t care. He could stand a little pain if it meant Aeron was in him. “I’m ready.”

  Aeron sat up. “So how do we...”

  Jericho pushed him back down. “I said I’d take care of you.”

  Aeron’s eyes were incredibly wide, and Jericho climbed on top of him. He sat on Aeron’s groin and looked down at him as he reached behind himself and grabbed Aeron’s cock. He never looked away as he held it upright and pressed the head against his ass. He pushed down and felt the head pop in.

  He paused, pulled his hand away, then began to lower himself slowly. He wanted to go faster, harder, but he needed to be able to move without too much pain the next day, so he took things as slowly as he could stand it.

  He swallowed when he finally was able to sit on Aeron’s lap, Aeron’s cock completely inside of him. “Good?” he asked, needing to know.

  Aeron nodded enthusiastically and put his hands on Jericho’s hips. Jericho laughed and pushed on his knees, rising until only the head of Aeron’s cock was in him. He pressed down again and Aeron whimpered.

  Jericho lost himself in Aeron’s body. Aeron finally unfroze, playing with Jericho’s nipples and stroking his skin as Jericho moved above him. When he took Jericho’s dick in his hand and hesitantly started jacking him off, Jericho knew they had to mate right now, or they’d have to do it after sex was over.

  “Aeron,” he breathed out, and even though they weren’t mated yet, Aeron got it.

  He raised his other hand and pressed it against Jericho’s heart. It heated, almost to the point of pain, and something snapped in Jericho’s mind.

  Aeron’s hand on Jericho’s cock
never stopped moving, and when he pressed his thumb against the head, Jericho keened and threw his head backward as he came.

  He tried not to make too much noise because he knew there were people in the rooms next to theirs, but it was hard. He had to bite his lower lip to stop himself from screaming, and when Aeron’s hand started to cool again, he slumped against Aeron’s chest.

  Aeron was breathing heavily, and Jericho wanted to ask if he’d come. He hoped so, because he didn’t think he’d be able to move anytime soon.

  He mentally prodded at the thing he’d felt in his mind earlier. His eyes widened, because he knew those weren’t his emotions. What he was feeling was so very similar, but those weren’t his emotions, he was sure of that.

  “Aeron?” he asked, unsure of what he wanted to say.

  Yes?

  That hadn’t come from Aeron’s mouth. Jericho was sure of that. “Mind-talking, huh?”

  Why don’t you try it? Just think about what you want to tell me. It should be enough.

  Jericho wasn’t sure what that even meant, but he tried anyway. You came?

  Aeron laughed, his chest moving under Jericho. That’s what you ask the first time you use mind-talking?

  What? A guy likes to know these things.

  Yeah, I came. You probably didn’t notice because it was just after you started coming.

  So it was... good?

  It was better than good.

  So we can do it again?

  As soon as I can move.

  Jericho laughed and buried his face against Aeron’s neck. I’ve created a monster.

  And God, he loved it.

  * * * *

  Aeron swallowed and licked his lips, but nothing he did helped with the dryness in his throat. Nothing would. Not until this was over.

  He watched Dominic and Nate talking in a corner of the room, their heads close together. The rest of the people who’d stayed in the mansion were scattered around, holding their respective mates close and whispering to them. Aeron too had been doing just that until Jericho had gone to the kitchen to grab some water.

  The rest of the house was silent in an eerie way. It was never that quiet, not even in the middle of the night. There was always someone up, in the kitchen, or watching movies, or making love behind closed doors. The silence made the fact that something big was happening so much more obvious, and Aeron wished it was already over.

  The families and kids had been shimmered away the night before, the night after Aeron and Jericho had mated. Some of the mates had been difficult to convince—Benjamin had pitched a fit at leaving some of his friends behind, but Lucas had been able to convince him to go to the ranch. Lucas was human, and he was more used to horses than to hunters. He wouldn’t have been of any use.

  Nysys was still there. Of course he was. He’d promised he’d shimmer as soon as the hunters arrived, and everyone had heard the argument he’d had with Morin. Aeron wasn’t surprised that Morin was still around too. No one could have separated those two, not with something this important coming.

  Aeron jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder.

  “Calm down,” Jericho said as he sat beside Aeron and handed him a bottle of water.

  Aeron took it and wrapped his hands around it. “I know.” He was nervous as fuck, and he couldn’t imagine being in Jericho’s place. He was going to go against the people he’d considered family, the people he’d lived with for the past two years. It wasn’t going to be easy, but he was still doing it. No one would have blamed him if he’d chosen to leave along with everyone else, yet he’d stayed.

  Well, someone would have blamed him. Aeron wasn’t blind. He knew some of the pride members didn’t like the fact that Jericho was now considered a pride member and that he was helping with the hunters. They didn’t trust him, and Aeron didn’t blame them. He knew he could trust his mate, had known even before their mating. Now he was even surer. He could feel Jericho inside him, almost like an afterthought that was always there. It was reassuring.

  “If only it were as easy to do as it is to say.”

  Jericho smiled and knocked their shoulders together. “You’ll be fine. We both will.”

  “I wish I could believe that.”

  “You have to. I’ll have my big bad werewolf by my side. Who’s going to be able to even touch me with you there?”

  “Right.” Aeron was going to make sure no one hurt his mate, but he wasn’t fooling himself. He knew most of the hunters would gun for him, never mind Bradley. Aeron was going to have to be extra careful.

  Dominic cleared his throat and all the conversations stopped at once. The silence made Aeron uneasy and he tapped his fingers on his thigh. “Isaiah just let me know that the cameras he put in the woods on the left side of the house turned on. They’re coming. They’re still twenty minutes away, so it’ll give us the time to get in place.” He looked around. “You all know what your place is. Be safe. I don’t want to lose any of you.”

  People got up and started exiting the living room. Aeron’s place was next to Jericho, and Jericho’s place was next to Dominic. Dominic had decided that—he wanted to be the one to get Bradley, and since Bradley was probably going to go after either him or Jericho, Dominic would have twice the chance of getting him that way.

  Nysys stopped by Aeron and Aeron got up. They looked at each other, and Aeron hated how this felt like a goodbye. He didn’t want to say goodbye. He wanted to come back, wanted to officially leave Chicago and live in the mansion again, with his family. He’d thought he wanted to be independent, to not have to rely on anyone but himself, and maybe that was what he’d really wanted at the time, but things had changed. Maybe it was the fear of losing his people, but he couldn’t wait to move back to Whitedell, to come back into the pride’s fold, and he’d have that only once Bradley had been dealt with.

  Nysys bit on his lower lip and pushed himself against Aeron’s chest. Aeron enfolded him in his arms, and he wasn’t sure which one of them the hug was for. Probably both. Aeron didn’t know if he’d make it out alive, and Nysys didn’t know who he’d still find when he came back. At least Aeron would be there, in the action. He couldn’t imagine how hard it was to have to wait miles away, wondering the entire time about what was happening.

  “You better be fine when I come back, or I’ll kill you myself,” Nysys whispered harshly.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “I hope it’ll be enough. You know me. I’ll find you and hound you even if you’re dead.”

  Aeron swallowed and patted Nysys back. Morin was hovering behind Nysys, and he smiled. It wasn’t a happy smile, but then Aeron didn’t think anyone was happy right now.

  He let go of Nysys and watched him walk to Finn. Finn had become part of the pride security. He’d come a long way since Aeron had first met him. He was strong and capable, and he hadn’t wanted to run.

  “You all right?” Dominic asked from behind Aeron.

  Aeron shrugged “I will be.”

  “Let’s go. You can strip and shift outside.”

  Dominic led the way to the kitchen and out onto the porch. Jericho was behind Aeron. Aeron knew he was curious about Aeron’s werewolf form. Aeron had wanted to show him the day before, but there had been so many things to do that they hadn’t had the opportunity. Aeron hoped he wouldn’t get scared.

  He wasn’t the only one getting naked on the porch. Dominic would stay in his human form for now, but most of the enforcers and the pride’s security members would shift. It would be easier for them to move in the forest and be silent. The hunters had to know the pride knew about the attack, so they probably expected the pride members to attack. The shifters needed all the advantages they could have.

  Aeron waited until everyone else was in their animal form and trotting away. Not a lot of people knew what he looked like as a were. A few had seen him during the last battle, but everyone had been busy. He didn’t want to scare anyone, although they’d see him
soon anyway, since they were going to fight side by side.

  “Go on,” Dominic said. He looked away, giving Aeron privacy. Jericho stayed close, and Aeron noticed him sneaking glances as he stripped, then pulled on a pair of too large boxer briefs.

  It made Aeron smile. No matter what was happening, they were still in the honeymoon phase. He hoped they’d both be there to continue it.

  Once he was ready, he looked at Jericho. He shifted, and his body began to grow. He was tall as a werewolf, taller than even Dominic, and he enjoyed watching the world from that height. It was a welcome change from his five foot ten human form height.

  Fur sprouted all over his body and his nails grew into claws. His gums tingled and his fangs poked out of them. Aeron licked his lips, his tongue rasping against the tip of one fang. He looked down at Jericho, who was still staring, his eyes wide.

  Aeron couldn’t talk well in this form. He was able to, but the sounds were always more like growls than a human voice. Luckily for him, he now had the ability of mind-talk with Jericho.

  Are you afraid of me?

  Jericho jerked, like every time Aeron mind talked to him. It would take him some time to get used to it.

  No.

  You’re sure? I know it’s weird, and impressive. And probably scary.

  I’m sure. I can’t deny it is weird, but I know it’s you. I know you. I don’t have anything to be scared of.

  “Guys?” Dominic said. “They’re coming. We need to go.”

  * * * *

  Jericho was ready, or at least he hoped he was. He had no idea how he’d react once he was in front of Brad, and he didn’t fool himself into thinking that wasn’t exactly what would happen. He didn’t care much about the other hunters. They’d never been friends. Brad had, though, and Jericho had no idea what would happen once they were face to face.

  He wouldn’t be alone. Dominic, Aeron, and he were a team for the length of the attack. Dominic would probably be the one to kill Brad, and Jericho was glad. No matter what Brad had done, what he’d said, Jericho still considered him a friend.