Page 34 of Sanctuary
The entire world went silent as he exploded, waves of ecstasy rolling out from that place that Patton still tormented as he chased his own pleasure. Ori fell boneless even as Patton stiffened, crushing himself against Ori’s body, his breath coming in harsh gasps as he claimed Ori in ways that made Ori groan in delight.
One final trembling thrust and Patton collapsed on top of Ori, so close that Ori could feel his heart pounding like they’d been running all night after prey. He stroked Patton’s hair back from his temples, the dark locks damp with sweat, and kissed him gently because his heart was so full of love he couldn’t find the words to speak it.
Too soon, Patton pushed himself up on his elbows and shifted his weight off to one side. “Sorry, didn’t mean to crush you.”
“I like how you crush me.” The air rushed in to chill Ori’s sweaty skin, and he cuddled into Patton’s side for the warmth, pulling the blanket over them to create a little nest.
The wind curled down into their shelter, picking at the edge of their blanket, playing with it as it tried to sneak its way under to warm itself against their bodies. A faint ticking noise sounded above them, growing rapidly to a roar as the promised rain began in earnest. Ori jumped up laughing and shook Patton off the blanket. “It’s going to get wet!” He folded it while Patton frantically gathered their clothes, but Ori had a better idea. He stole the bundle from Patton, trading it for a kiss, and spread them out on the rocks around their camp. “Laundry!” he shouted and grabbed Patton, intending to dance him in a circle until his heel sent a flash of pain up his leg and Ori quickly changed his idea to just hanging off Patton’s neck.
Patton laughed and picked Ori up to whirl him around, then set him so gently on his feet that it didn’t even hurt. He began to hum, something Ori recognized from the dances the pack sometimes held. “Dance with me,” he said. “I mean, I’m not much of a dancer, but that’s what mated couples do, right? And I still have to court you.”
“Are we courting now?” Ori laughed and stretched, then draped his arms around Patton’s neck. “Do I get to court you too?” He tested his foot against the ground and thought, if he was careful to stay up on his toes on that one, he might be okay with a little dancing.
“Sure, if you want to. We’re breaking all the other rules, right? Might be fun to be courted.” He put his arms around Ori’s waist and began to sway. “Can I play hard to get?”
Ori glanced down at their naked bodies and the not-quite-entirely-disappeared stiffness of Patton’s cock. “I think that rabbit’s got away already,” he said judiciously. To prove his point, he reached down and ran his hand, not over Patton's cock, but up the inside of his thigh.
Patton jumped and laughed, but his cock stiffened some more. "The things you do to me, mate." He pulled Ori tightly against him. "Are we dancing or what? I never got to dance with you in the pack."
He was right. Ori traced Patton's lower lip with his index finger and smiled. "I'd love to." He laid his head on Patton's shoulder and closed his eyes, steadfastly ignoring his aching foot, and let the rhythm of the rain and the wind and of their beating hearts carry him away into their future.
C H A P T E R T H I R T Y - T W O
W hen the time came, it was hard making the decision to leave their little den. Patton was enjoying this time alone with Ori, to talk, and plan, and enjoy each other’s company. The sex was a big bonus too, and once they were both well rested, they rediscovered all the energy they'd been using to power their day-long walks, and put it to excellent use. But they could only stay there so long, and on the morning of the third day, Patton woke up to see Ori staring contemplatively at their supplies as he fed slivers of wood into the tiny fire in their fire pit.
"Suppose it's time to move on," Patton said in a regretful tone.
"I think so." Ori frowned at the fire then smiled up at Patton. "If we had water here in camp, I'd be tempted to just stay for while, until the hunt died down for sure. I don't think we can though." He ended that last sentence on a rising note, like there was more information to come.
"You're pregnant. For sure." Patton had been expecting it. Ori had mentioned that he usually had less than a week in between his heat. He'd made a face and complained about super-short cycles, though Patton couldn't see the problem with getting it all over with at once, but it was obviously an omega thing.
"Yeah, pretty sure. I should have noticed something by now." He looked down at the fire again. "You sure you're all right with this?" he asked in an uncertain voice.
"Yeah, I am. Hope he looks like you, though. Be shit luck to go through life as plain as dirt." Patton sat up and started brushing the dust from his clothes. "Better if he's cute."
Ori sat back and snorted. "I like the way you look." He cast that look at Patton again, like the one he'd given him the night it had rained, a look that made Patton's heart beat faster and made him want to run out and do heroic things on his mate's behalf.
"Well, you're gorgeous," Patton said after an awkward pause. "I wouldn't say no to a bunch of little yous running around.” He got to his feet and stretched. “I’ll go for water while you pack up?”
“Sure.” Ori smiled at him again and, because there was something in his expression that made Patton think he needed it, Patton kissed him.
“Sorry about the morning breath,” he said when it ended.
“Goofy beta,” was all Ori said, but the oddness in his expression had disappeared. “Go wash, then, if you’re going to fill the jugs today. Might as well make use of the water.”
“Yes, sir, Captain Ori.” Patton snapped off a salute, making Ori laugh again, then went to rinse his mouth and scrub quickly at his smelliest parts.
When he came back, Ori had water on the fire heating and was organizing tea and oatmeal for their breakfast. “I forgot I stole some of Maw’s dried strawberries, the ones she got for Christmas. I think I might as well use them up—there’s only enough for one meal anyway.”
Patton’s favorite food, outside of meat. “Yum.” But the mention of Ori’s Maw made him think. “Someday, when we’re far enough away, do you want to send her something to say you’re all right?” He’d like to do that for his Ma and Da, but even at only eighteen, he knew that to do it before they were well out of reach would just be asking to be caught.
“Yes.” Ori stuck a finger in the pot and shook his head. “I did leave her a note to let her know I was leaving. Just so she’d know I wasn’t kidnapped or anything.” He sat back and stared broodingly at the fire. “Sometimes I wonder, if I’d asked her, would she have helped me get to Mercy Hills?”
“Hard to say.” Patton sat down beside him and pulled Ori’s head down to rest on his shoulder. “You didn’t tell her that’s where we’re going, did you?”
Ori shook his head. “Naw. Almost did though. Caught myself just in time. I told her I was leaving because I didn’t want to be mated to a guy who was as old as my father and only saw me as a toy or a decoration, and that I’d be safe and I’d let her know where I was when I got there. It was hard.” He frowned and picked up a nearby branch, breaking it in two with more violence than necessary. “I didn’t think it would be that hard.”
“Well, she won’t be wondering long. This jog north will take us some extra time, but not too much. If you want, we can send something before we turn east. Maybe they’ll think we’re going to Canada.”
