Page 6 of Home for Nathan (Secret Springs)

Chapter

Six

“ T hat was really nice,” Nathan told him when Zion walked him up to the door of his apartment. The Merchante building had some rad digs, really. He was always impressed with how clean and comfortable the place was.

“Yeah. I thought it was pretty great.” They’d gone to the Grand Springs hotel for supper, and then they’d done a mini ghost tour of the place.

He wasn’t one hundred percent ready for the night to end, but he didn’t know how to ask. It wasn’t like Nathan could have a nightcap…

“Did you want to come in? I bought some of the beer you like.”

“Oh. Sure. I would love that.” He would, in fact, love that, no lie. The fact that Nathan had invited him told him that they were moving forward, and he was damn ready.

He’d talked to his friendly not-really-a-counselor Kaleb about it at length, and he wanted to take the next step. Zion figured his eyes were open, he knew what he was getting into, and he was wanting more than a hug at the end of the night.

They headed inside, and just as they walked in the door, a book fell off the little stand next to the entryway, making him flinch. “What was that?”

“Oh, it was probably Joe.” Nathan waved a hand in an airy motion.

“You have a cat?” He peered around the room, which was really lovely, looking for a feline. He thought Nathan had said he didn’t have any pets.

“Nope. Joe is the Merchante building ghost.”

His eyebrows went up. “Oh?”

“Yep. He saved Charlie’s life. Among others. He was an omega who got killed by an alpha, and he protects us now.” Nathan headed to the kitchen, letting him trail along after, checking out the huge Victorian hutch along one wall.

“Huh. That’s a new one on me.”

“Oh, you should ask Hank at the Historical Society Museum about it. He owns the tour company that we did the hotel tour with tonight.”

“Sounds great. I thought the tour was super neat.” He sat at a barstool on the living room side of the kitchen island. “Can I do anything?”

“Nope. Now, do you want a beer? Or something else. I got a Basque cheesecake for two from the bakery.”

“Oh, wow. What are you going to have with it?” Zion wasn’t sure beer and cheesecake were a match.

“Decaf.” Nathan winked.

“Then I’ll have that.”

“Cool.”

While Nathan made little pods of coffee and cut cheesecake, he looked around, swiveling on his stool. “So did you make the rugs and the wall hanging?”

“I did.”

“They’re amazing. I love the colors.” Nathan had told Zion he was a textile artist and weaver, and the rugs and wall hanging matched, the yarns in these deep jewel blues and purples mixed with orange and red sunset colors. “Like sunset on the mountains.”

Nathan beamed at him. “That’s it. Yes, that’s exactly what I was going for.”

The look that he got…it was heated and fully directed at him. He didn’t think there was any doubt about the intent behind it. “They’re beautiful. You’re very talented. I love them.”

I want you.

“One day when I have a place of my own, I’m going to have a studio. I have the looms and everything in storage right now. I probably should have sold them, but I couldn’t do it.”

I have room . He didn’t say it, because it was creepy and weird, but it was true. He had the room at his big, rambling farmhouse. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah.” Nathan brought the coffees over, along with the teeny, tiniest little Basque cheesecake he’d ever seen.

“Oh my God, this is adorable.”

“Right? Just enough for the two of us. I like watching you eat cheesecake.” Nathan was blushing as he said it but held his gaze the whole time.

“Oh you do?” Zion liked to hear that. In fact, it started a fire in the pit of his belly.

“You know, I really do. I mean, there’s a lot of that view that I like. Don’t get me wrong. I want to be your friend for sure, but…” Nathan sighed, shook his head, grinned, and then all of a sudden just pushed right up into him, the little belly pressing into his side, and kissed him.

It was like a key fitting into a lock.

He wrapped his arms around Nathan, the motion automatic and immediate and right. His hands found Nathan’s butt, and it was totally reasonable. They belonged there.

Nathan made the sweetest little noise into their kiss—part pleasure, part hunger—and Zion was into it. He wanted to hear more of those. Little ones, loud ones, desperate ones. He wanted to hear every single one ringing in his ears.

He felt ten feet tall and bulletproof when Nathan wrapped around him with both arms and clung to him. He lifted, squeezed, letting Nathan feel his hands on those firm ass cheeks.

So sweet and hot, his Nathan. So open and giving already. And the fact that someone had taken advantage of that made him very alpha and a little ragey. But that wasn’t for now.

And besides, if the jerkface had stuck around, he wouldn’t have this. So Zion pushed everything else aside and kissed Nathan like his life depended on it.

Nathan’s arms crept around his neck, and Nathan just leaned into him, hard little body pushing a little, maybe even clinging. From this close, he could smell his omega. There were notes of peaches and cream and salt and a clean, pure hunger that made him a little dizzy.

Just the idea of this man offering himself over, and so easily too. It honored him.

He took another kiss and another, and things were getting heavy.

His cock was hard, and his balls ached, feeling full, his knot making itself known for the first time in a while.

Nathan’s ass was shifting in the loose slacks he wore, and Zion could feel Nathan’s hardness pushing against his thigh.

They needed to give themselves some room, give one another a second to breathe, so then they could dive back in.

He took a deep breath and leaned back. “We probably need to eat our cheesecake.”

Nathan stared at him, lips bee-stung and swollen, so sweet. He got the sweetest little pout. “Am I not better than cheesecake?”

“So much better,” he admitted, stroking the small of Nathan’s back. “But if I’m not careful, I’m just going to pop off like I’m a teenager and embarrass myself.”

That was the right answer, obviously, because the sadness in Nathan’s expression disappeared and turned into a soft chuckle.

“All right. Fair enough. It’s an itty-bitty cheesecake, and we don’t need to let it go to waste.

I hope you don’t mind that I took the initiative. I really wanted to… I mean…”

“I don’t mind. I’ve been waiting, but I just didn’t want to push you too hard or too fast. I know that things have been difficult for you.” He stroked his thumb over Nathan’s lower lip.

Nathan arched an eyebrow, then took his hand and literally placed it on the sweet, needy prick over his trousers.

“This has been hard for me. Or for you, actually. The idea that the asshole ex was going to just break up with me because of the baby? That was hard. Thinking about raising this baby by myself? It’s tough.

But I want you, like, really. So if you’re interested, I’m interested. ”

That was clear as a bell and made his fingers curl, nudging Nathan’s balls and making his soon-to-be lover cry out. Oh, he did like that sound, quite a lot. “Cool, because I am very interested.”

Nathan gave him a sure, solid stare. “And I’m not a virgin.” He patted his stomach. “Obviously. I’m not scared of having sex. In fact, I kind of am good at it, I think. I feel as if I’m good at it.”

Zion didn’t have the slightest doubt that Nathan would be amazing at sex. Making love. All of it.

“I imagine you’re amazing, if this sample means anything, and I think it does. I am pretty fair at it myself, and I want to knot you very badly.”

Those lips parted, and he almost bent for another kiss. But then he eased back. “Cheesecake first.”

“Damn.”

Nathan winked, but he did get two forks out and hand one to Zion.

“Thanks, honey. This looks so yummy. And then we can explore more.” He dug his fork into the cheesecake, and so did Nathan.

The first bite was so damn good. None of the deep sour he didn’t like about cheesecake, or the weird not crunchy crust. Just burnt sugar on top and creamy smooth goodness.

They both moaned, then they clinked forks together before they dove in again. And suddenly the cheesecake was gone.

Zion laughed, staring at the wee plate. “Well. That went fast.”

“I might have had an extra big bite at the end. I want to kiss you again.”

“Okay, but can we sit somewhere more comfortable than at the counter?”

“How about the bed?” Those dark eyes never wavered, Nathan serious and sure.

“I’m all over that, honey.” And he hoped he would be all over Nathan soon.

“Me too.” Nathan stood, taking his hand to lead him to the big platform bed behind the bedroom partition. It was really a clever thing, giving Nathan privacy if he needed it, making another whole room.

The bed looked kind of like a cloud. Cozy, with lots of pillows, and they sat on it, facing each other so they could kiss again.

This time, Zion went with it, letting the kisses be slow, sure, and deep. And soon they were cooking with gas, clinging to each other, moaning, and pulling at clothing.

They laid out side by side, hands and mouths moving, and his cock was as hard as it had ever been, his knot swelling fast. “Still worried I’ll embarrass myself,” he ground out when they broke for air, both of them panting hard.

“Not possible,” Nathan murmured. “I can feel how much you want me. Do you know how hot that is?”

“Mmm. I’ll warn you, though. I want to knot you.”

Nathan flushed deep pink. “I’m all wet for you.”

“Do you have a condom?”

“It’s not like I can get pregnant again, and I tested out fine.”

“So did I last time.” He laughed, feeling all at once adult and a little stupid. “Well, and all the times before.”

“Then I want you, and it’s okay that I didn’t think to get condoms.”

There was the trust he wasn’t sure he deserved, but Zion knew he would never betray it. “It is. I promise to keep you safe, even from me.”

“I just want you to touch me, Zion.” Nathan kissed him, reaching down to grasp his cock, which made his toes curl.

“Yes.” He ran his hands down Nathan’s bare back, luxuriating in the feel of the silky skin under his hands. He grabbed Nathan’s firm bottom and squeezed, loving how they felt together.

Nathan rubbed up against him, their cocks together, his leaving wet kisses against Nathan’s. He bucked, ready to sink deep into that sweet hole he could feel, wet against his hand, but he also wanted to take it slow.

Zion chuckled at himself, and Nathan blinked at him.

“Are you laughing?”

“Only at myself. I want to do all the things at once.”

“Oh, me too. But we also ate cheesecake already.” Nathan made this happy little sound.

“We did.” He slid one finger against that hot hole, then dipped it just inside.

“Oh!” Nathan arched against him even harder, hands digging into his shoulders. “More.”

“Let me do this, honey. I want to get you ready.”

“I will bite you,” Nathan warned.

“Bring it on!” He grinned wide, and Nathan bent right forward to nip his shoulder.

The tiny sting made him grunt, and he worked his finger in and out before he added another. He was going to get Nathan ready, dammit.

Before he was really feeling prepared, though, Nathan pushed him to his back and climbed on top of him. “I need you!” He looked a little wild with frustration.

“Then take what you need, honey.” Zion told him. “I’m ready.” His cock stuck up, hard and heavy, knot showing already.

“Thank God.” Nathan shimmied up Zion’s body, his slick flesh sliding in the best way. So fucking sexual and needy.

Nathan rose up, gripping him, and put Zion’s cock at his entrance.

“Not too fast, honey,” he warned.

“Just fast enough.”

He nodded, and then Nathan sank down on his cock, taking him down to the root and giving him exactly what he needed. Hot, wet, and slick, Nathan was perfect.

Zion’s hands found purchase on Nathan’s hips, holding on tight, fingertips just barely gripping “Is this okay?”

“Perfect.” Nathan bit out the words and began to ride him, the sweet body dragging down along his cock, each little thrust making his toes curl, making him push up and just take a little more.

And a little more.

And more still.

“God, I want you.”

“I hear you. I need it hard,” he told Nathan. He ached. Deep in the depths of his balls. And he could no more stop pushing into each and every desperate press down than he could stop breathing.

They found a rhythm, strong and steady, Nathan’s expression one of total bliss. The little needy noises encouraged Zion to keep going. He wanted it to last forever, but they both knew it couldn’t. Nothing this good could last. So he reached for Nathan’s prick and began to stroke it.

The way the motion made Nathan’s body grasp his cock made Zion cry out with need. That suited him to the ground.

“You like it?” Zion asked.

“Listen, like isn’t a big enough word.”

If he could be that coherent, Zion wasn’t doing his job. He stroked harder, working the tip with his thumb. And that was enough.

Nathan’s eyes crossed, and that sweet body rippled around him like a fist.

“There,” he demanded. “Right there. Don’t stop.”

Nathan chuckled. “Say please. Knot me. Do it now. Do it now, you beautiful son of a bitch.” Between the shocking command and Nathan’s orgasm, his knot engaged, just slammed in, locking them together. They cried out at the same time, the sounds sweet.

Nathan stared at him, wide-eyed and panting. “You too. It’s only fair.”

“Uh-huh.” Engaging every muscle, Zion went to town, thrusting good and hard, giving his knot what it needed.

Nathan encouraged him with body and words. “Come on, Zion.” That hot little hole squeezed down, proving once and for all that Nathan was, in fact, very, very good at having sex.

Zion let out a roar, filling the apartment, the sound echoing through the entire building, hot seed pumping out of him, his entire body on fire.

And when it all finally faded to a stop, they were slumped together, both of them breathing hard. Locked together.

“Better?” Nathan asked, and he chuckled.

“Shit, honey, I’m so much better than better.”

Nathan just kissed his jaw and then nodded. “Can you stay?”

“I can’t think of anything I want more.”

“Mmmm. Excellent.”

He managed to grab one of the big comforters and pull it over the top of them. Even in the summertime, it could get chilly at night.

Zion grinned up at the ceiling. He guessed he didn’t have to take it slow anymore.