Page 23 of Tender Wild

Beneath his palms, Jared’s thighs trembled slightly. Not from fear. Miguel could smell the heady scent of arousal, but from restraint. From wanting. Every touch seemed to draw a twitch, a soft exhale, fingers flexing.

The cotton of his boxers did nothing to hide his arousal, the fabric stretched taut.

His thumbs hooked into the waistband of his mate’s underwear, dragging the fabric down in one smooth motion. Jared’s cock sprang free, flushed and hard against his stomach. Miguel wrapped his fingers around the base, his mouth watering to taste.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. He lowered his head to press his lips to the inside of Jared’s thigh. The skin there was softer, more sensitive. Each kiss drew a quiet gasp from above.

“These still sore?” Miguel asked, thumbs pressing into the muscle of his mate’s thighs.

“Can’t remember,” Jared breathed. “Something about your hands makes it hard to think.”

A smile curved Miguel’s lips. “Let’s see if I can make you forget completely.”

He worked his way inward, tasting salt and heat, feeling muscles quiver beneath his touch. When his mouth finally reached Jared’s cock, Miguel paused, breath ghosting over sensitive flesh. The anticipation built between them, tightening like a spring.

Then he took him in, one fluid motion that had his mate gasping, fingers clutching at the couch cushions. The weight of him felt perfect on Miguel’s tongue, hot, heavy, and incredible. He hollowed his cheeks, drawing him deeper, savoring the strangled sound that escaped Jared’s throat.

Glancing up, Miguel found his mate watching him, lips parted, eyes dark with need. The sight sent heat coursing through him, pooling low in his gut. He held that gaze as he pulled back slowly, tongue dragging along the underside.

“Fuck, your mouth.” A low purr resonated in his mate’s chest.

Miguel took him deeper, until the head nudged the back of his throat. Lips stretched around his width, tongue pressed against the underside. A raw sound escaped Jared. Not quite a whimper, not quite a moan.

Lifting his hands, Miguel spread Jared’s thighs wider, pushing them back slightly to expose more of him. Every subtle twitch of Jared’s hips told him exactly what felt good.

“Holy shit,” Jared gasped, one hand sliding into Miguel’s hair. “Your mouth should come with a warning label.”

His own arousal strained heavily against his jeans, demanding attention he refused to give. Not yet. This moment belonged to Jared.

“Miguel—” His mate’s voice caught as Miguel took him deeper, nose brushing against the soft skin of his pelvis. His tongue traced the underside, following the prominent vein while his fingers caressed Jared’s balls, rolling them gently.

His mate’s hips bucked upward. Miguel pinned them down with one forearm, control and restraint in every movement as he pulled back, lips tight around the head before sinking down again.

“Sorry,” Jared mumbled, fingers threading through Miguel’s hair, not guiding, just holding on.

Miguel released him with a wet pop. “Don’t apologize.” His voice came out rough. “I like knowing what I’m doing to you.”

Without waiting for a response, he dipped lower, dragging his tongue across the delicate skin of his mate’s sac. Each lick drew another beautiful sound from above, a half-choked gasps that sent blood rushing to Miguel’s already painfully hard cock.

“Miguel.” Jared’s voice cracked. “I can’t—”

“You can,” he assured him, pressing a kiss to the sensitive skin behind his balls before taking one into his mouth, rolling it gently with his tongue. His fingers caressed the insides of Jared’s thighs, feeling the quivering tension there.

“Turn over,” Miguel commanded softly, patting Jared’s hip.

Jared blinked, as if momentarily confused. “Huh?”

Hesitation flashed across Jared’s face, just for a heartbeat, then disappeared beneath desire. He rolled, exposing the perfect curve of his ass to Miguel’s hungry gaze.

“Like this?” Uncertainty colored his words.

Miguel guided his mate to his knees on the couch, chest pressed against the armrest. Moonlight carved shadows across the planes of Jared’s back, highlighting the dip of his spine, the two dimples just above his ass. Miguel traced them with his thumbs, mesmerized. His mouth followed, pressing kisses down the ladder of vertebrae until he reached the swell of his mate’s ass.

“Just like that, cariño.” He followed the cleft with his mouth, dragging his tongue between his cheeks.

Jared glanced back over his shoulder, uncertainty mixed with desire. “I’ve never—”

“Trust me,” Miguel murmured against his skin, spreading him open, his breath warm against sensitive flesh. The first touch of his tongue made Jared jolt, a surprised sound escaping his throat.

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