Page 13 of Claiming Xan (Shifters of Greymercy #7)

XAN

The next morning, I texted Kace: I need a favor.

Depends on what it is, he replied. Shoot.

I wanna take River to the drive-in and the movie doesn’t start till nine. You know how Mom is. I’m gonna tell her I’m taking him to your place for game night. Can you cover for me? Tell her we’ll be late if she calls?

No answer… I held my breath, then added, Pretty please? With sugar on top?

Is this a date? Or “as friends”?

I groaned. Not you too… Does it matter? So what if I like him? He likes me too, so the feeling is mutual. It’s not like I’m jumping into bed with the guy! Yet, anyway. A small smile twitched at the corners of my lips. Just a date. A movie. He deserves to have a little fun in his life.

Mom will flip. Can’t you find a normal boyfriend? he asked.

I typed back angrily, No one judged you when you decided some homeless stray on death’s doorstep was your fated mate, so I don’t wanna hear it, Kace. I like River. He’s not a bad guy. No one is willing to give him a chance except me! It’s bullshit.

I’m just worried about you, Kace said.

Well do us both a favor and stop? Please? I’ll figure out how to handle Mom if this becomes a serious relationship, but I just want to go on a simple date. Please?

Okay. I’ll cover for you, bro, but only because I want you to be happy. I could almost hear Kace’s smile behind those words, because I knew he meant them. That’s just who he was as a person, and as a brother.

I kicked my feet happily. Thank you! I owe you one!

That evening, after dinner, while Mom and River were both still seated at the table, I made my announcement.

I cleared my throat and squared my shoulders, then said, as casually as possible, “Hey, Mom. Dinner was awesome. Me and River are gonna head over to Kace and Nevin’s place for game night now. ”

She turned to look at me, her brown eyes blinking dubiously. “Who all is going to be there?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, Mom. Probably Sevren and Klei, and maybe Pike and Phoenix, if they can find a babysitter. It’s weird when your friends all have little kids,” I said.

River suddenly looked nervous, but I shot him a look like, “Play it cool!” before adding, “Don’t worry, there won’t be any drinking with babies around. Just some snacks and games. I want River to meet some of my friends, that’s all. It’ll be good for him.” I flashed her a one-hundred watt smile.

Mom sighed and waved us off, standing to collect the dishes. “Don’t be out too late,” she said, and there was definitely a warning note in her tone.

“Don’t wait up,” I replied breezily. “Kace said we might watch a movie after, sooo…” Beaming at her, I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “Love you. See you later. C’mon, River.”

Together, we left the house and got in my car. I pulled out of the drive in silence, still grinning like the cat who ate the canary. Everything was going according to plan.

“I’m not sure I’m up for a bunch of babies,” River muttered from the passenger seat, twisting his seatbelt between his hands.

I waved at him. “Don’t worry. We’re not going to Kace’s.”

He blinked. “We’re not?”

“Nah, he’ll cover for us. I wanted to take you to the drive-in theatre. They’re playing a slasher film that looks kind of good.” At River’s look of mild horror, I smirked and patted his knee. “Oh, River. We aren’t going to be paying attention to the movie.”

River stared at me for a moment, then coughed out an, “Oh. Right.”

I giggled. “It’s a date. Well. An unofficial one. Since I didn’t exactly ask you out.”

River was quiet a moment, then, “Are you asking me out?”

“Mmm, maybe?” I singsonged. “Depends on how our first not-date goes. Guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

Greymercy’s drive-in wasn’t much to look at; a couple of massive screens in a dirt field sectioned off for parking. I parked near the back and set the radio station to the right channel, so we’d be able to hear the movie, then reached behind me to the back seat.

I pulled out the box of snacks I’d stashed there earlier today, and we watched the previews while munching on caramel popcorn.

The beginning of the movie was kind of a slog. It revolved around a girl—the blonde bimbo type—who goes to summer camp, but keeps sneaking over to the boys’ side of camp, and then suddenly? Bam! She’s being chased by some goon in a welding mask.

I glanced over to see River peering at the screen with a grimace on his face, and decided it was time to make my move.

Turning the volume down so it was merely background noise, I moved my hand over to rest on River’s leg. Then slowly slid it up his thigh, closer to his groin. River’s breath hitched as my fingertips brushed the seam at his crotch before cupping him through the denim.

“Xan.” His voice was a hush, but I pressed one fingertip to his lips to stop him.

“Shh.” I popped the button on his jeans and reached inside. My fingers slid beneath the waistband of his silky boxers, until they could curl around his cock. Drawing him out of his pants, I began to stroke him. He was bigger than I expected, nice and girthy. A groan caught in my throat.

River’s breathing grew heavy. “Come here,” he all but growled before grabbing me by the shirt collar. He dragged me over the center console and onto his lap, where I straddled his legs on the passenger seat.

Then, with a handful of my hair in one hand, he crushed his lips to mine in a bruising, searingly hot kiss that shook me to my core.

My hand on his cock stilled as my brain short-circuited from the feral way I was being kissed, sharp lips and teeth and tongue. I whimpered into it, not even realizing River was rubbing me through my pants until I was grinding against his palm.

River was far from done. He stripped me of my shirt without pause, tossing it aside to pinch and roll one nipple between his finger and thumb. I arched into the mingling pain and pleasure, my cock definitely hard now, if it hadn’t been already.

The Alpha’s hot mouth kissed down the side of my jaw, to my neck, licking and sucking his way south.

I let my head fall back on my shoulders with a soft moan, one hand gripping River’s shoulder and the other suddenly remembering it had a handful of cock.

Dazed, I began to pump over River once more, pleased by the growl it earned me.

River’s lips found my nipple, sucking and teasing it until it was tight and hard. I quivered beneath his touch as he nipped it, then did the same to the other one, before freeing my erection from my too-tight jeans.

Compared to River, my cock was slim and delicate, but River seemed rapt by it. His eyes were glassy with desire as his fingers curled around my shaft and began to work me over, and I turned to putty in his hands.

His lips captured mine once more, our tongues tangling together, a slow slide of passion and carnal desire as we jerked each other off in tandem. The windows of my Chevy began to fog up, but the thought of getting caught only made this even hotter.

I didn’t want it to end.

River grabbed me by the hips and yanked me closer.

I gasped as he wrapped one big hand around his cock and mine, rubbing our crowns together, and I whimpered as we frotted.

Pleasure tingled down my spine, and my free hand found River’s shirt.

I bunched it up in my hand and slid it up, so that his chest and abdomen were bared.

Then, low, River whispered, “Fuck into my hand,” into my ear. I shivered at the warm rasp, but did as he asked. I rocked my hips almost desperately, looking down to watch my cock slide in and out of the hole River’s fist made. Rubbing and sliding against River’s cock with each thrust.

It didn’t take long. With a soft cry, I came over River’s chest, but he was right behind me, our bodies twitching as we reached that high. I dropped my head to River’s shoulder, breathing hard.

River groaned. “Fuck. I liked that way more than I should have.” Reaching down, he trailed a finger through the cum on his stomach. When I leaned back, he held it up to my lips. “Open up.”

My stomach flipped at the demand in his tone, but I smirked down at him, then took his hand in both of mine and drew his finger into my mouth. I wrapped my tongue around the digit, licking it clean, sucking our shared release from his skin.

River groaned again, and I had him right where I wanted him. I slid down between River’s legs and began to lick his cock clean before leaning up and cleaning up the mess on his stomach. The taste of us was salty and bitter on my tongue, but it had my engine purring—and obviously River’s as well.

I loved how heated his eyes were as they watched my every move. “God, you’re a slut, aren’t you?” he uttered, reverent.

I only batted my lashes and smiled. “Maybe. You wanna go to the backseat and cuddle until round two?”

“Round two?”

I bit my lip and waggled my brows. “Unless you don’t want a blowjob?”

And for the third time that night, River’s guttural groan filled the small car. “Fuck.”

I loved the way I had his undivided attention. Sure, we’d have to sneak in after Mom went to bed and shower off the scent of sex, but it would be worth it.

Even if I kind of liked smelling like this Alpha…