Page 3 of The Stars of the Pack

It didn’t cross his mind to use his own hands, even though his arms were long enough he could reach. He didn’t want to touch himself, he wantedJosh.

And Josh he got. His alpha had run out of patience; instead of making Ray close his knees and lift his arse, he simply took his boxers by the waistband and ripped them down the middle, catching the elastic before it bounced back against either his belly or his cock.

Ray whimpered at the relatively cool air hitting his sensitive skin and as if it was a command, Josh’s mouth descended, taking half of his length in with a single perfect suck. The rest would have gone in as soon as Ray clenched and pushed upwards, but Josh was holding onto his knees, pinning him to the bed as he swallowed again, taking him deeper but perfectly in control.

He probably couldn’t even hear Ray’s little sounds of pleasure and desperation, because it was growing like the tide, so intense it had to end and yet not allowed to reach the edge, Josh using their connection to tell when Ray was too close and pulling back, sometimes with a little edge of teeth, sometimes with a kiss—tender enough to bring tears to Ray’s eyes but not enough pressure to get himoff.

Josh could have kept him going like that for hours, but certain members of their family were less than keen on the grinding.

“Josh...” He was breathless and it was just his name, but his alpha’s eyes found his own.

There was no hazel left in Josh’s. “You got it,” he promised, and got his hands on Ray’s arse cheeks, bending over to take him so deep his cock hit the back of Josh’s throat just as it contracted. It was like breathing after too long underwater, his body seized at once, tight as it could go and then kept going, again and again, barely easing down. Josh didn’t stop sucking for one second.

***

“COME ON, I’M TAKINGyou out for breakfast.”

The timing was definitely not accidental, Ray was sprawled on his back, shivering pleasantly, body still recovering from the race to the finish line. He was just beginning to get a little cold now that Josh had uncurled from his side. He was also covered in his alpha’s come, because even when he was literally carrying it inside his body, Josh still wanted it spread all over his skin any chance he got.

He lifted his head just enough to find Josh standing next to the bed, waiting for him, then went to the effort of getting an elbow under himself to keep looking. It was early morning but even the hazy winter sunlight coming through the just opened drapes was enough to delineate every finely sculped muscle and feature. Ray swallowed, licking his lips.

Josh didn’t say anything, but his lips were already curving upwards into something very close to a smirk. “Want to shower together?” he suggested.

And it was, in all fairness, an offer Ray was not interested in refusing.

***

RAY COULD HAVE STOPPEDany time, he knew that. Once he’d showered—which had taken a little longer than usual because there was no way for them to share a naked activity without it ending in orgasms—the reality of the situation started to land a little heavier.

But he could let Josh wrap him in a fluffy towel and grab him fresh clothes from their bedroom, then dry his back tenderly while planting butterfly kisses over areas he found particularly tempting. He could take his hand for balance while he got his leg through his trouser legs. It was an expansible design from Gabriel’s mother for his last birthday that he’d received with some reluctance. Now, he was grateful for her forethought. It was strange how things were losing their edges; was that getting older or just experience? It was his third pregnancy, it was hard to believe it was the end of the world. He’d even kind of wanted it, on his terms, on the day he’d chosen (with some allowances for the Full Moon), with the man he had chosen to lead his pack with him, the man who was an alpha, yes, but who would gladly spread his legs and give himself to Ray.

It was enough to trust to make him want to sink to his knees and give thanks. The physics of that were a bit beyond his current shape, but he could at least follow Josh to the car with the same faith.

Josh kept up his chatter as he turned the Jeep into the path and Ray offered a few noises to indicate he was listening—it was mostly true, his eyes stuck to the treeline. No one was going to clear the roads in their land, and it was easier to put chains on their vehicles than to keep up the fight against the snow.

Getting close to the border set his wolf on edge and his eyes to tracking every movement around them—a small animal in the distance caught his eye and he was still intent on it when they came out into the main road to Lanchester and the pull of his land stretched and bounced a little like a broken rubber band.

He grunted, shoulders coming up, eyes closing for a moment.

“Ray?” Josh’s voice had an edge to it. He must have got something from the bond. Ray felt the weight of his gaze, interrupted by his need to pay attention to the road.

Ray swallowed, then inhaled raggedly through his nose, before letting it slowly go again. “Go,” he said and rolled down his window, already heaving.

Fortunately, he hadn’t had anything but water so it was mostly a little bit of bile. By the time they got to the Granary Café, his head had started hurting too. Josh had offered to stop the car, but just the once, after that, he’d stayed silent. Now he smoothly slid the car into the parking space despite the tension Ray could feel exuding off him and came around to open the passenger side door for him.

Their eyes met and Ray shrugged a little at the unspoken question. He wasn’t sure what he needed, but he knew he didn’t want to be stuck back home for the rest of his natural life. If this was the result of nearly six months of it, he was going to have to schedule regular outings. Josh’s right arm was strong under his hand, his other hand coming up to steady Ray’s belly as he stepped down from the high seat of the Jeep.

“Deep breath,” he murmured as they let the door close and turned towards the restaurant. Ray did it, the crisp December air was a lot better when it wasn’t slapping him in the face and he really appreciated the ground not swaying.

It wasn’thisground, but at least it was solid and if you went deep enough, all earth was connected, each particle of soil under his feet linked to one that eventually touched his home.

He didn’t even think about how big he was until they’d already crossed the threshold and a guy sitting by the door did a double take at him. He pretended not to notice—his jacket was puffy but probably not puffy enough to hide the fact that his belly was disproportionately protruding. But fuck them if they thought that was odd, Ray had every right to be here. His dad used to bring him, Marisa and TJ when they were young, a special Saturday treat that Ray—now a parent himself—suspected had a lot to do with letting their mother sleep in with baby Anne.

“Ray?”

Ray turned to him and realised they were by a table next to the window. Josh was hovering, waiting for him to sit down. He did and found his eyes were drawn to the white backyard right outside it. “My dad used to bring us here.”

“I remember,” Josh replied, surprising Ray into looking at him. “He invited me along once. He was fun.”

---