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From the look on Nedrick’s face, Brett knew he’d gobsmacked the guy. He grinned, figuring he wasn’t the only one who had a little explaining to do.

“So, got any beer?” Brett teased.

To Brett’s surprise, Nedrick reached over, grabbed the backpack, and rummaged around inside. He drew out two bottles of some IPA that Brett didn’t recognize. After popping the cap off both, Nedrick handed him one.

Brett placed his unopened can of soda aside and took a swig. “Huh,” he murmured, staring at the label. “Not bad.” Then he inhaled deeply, let out the breath, and revealed, “Tyler, Tabatha, and I were walking home from the library late at night last fall. There’s a large nature park we have to walk through to get to our dorms. We saw Preall down one of the narrower side paths. We almost shouted to him, but then we saw him take off his shirt.” Brett paused, staring at Nedrick. When the man nodded, he continued. “As we watched, Preall stripped the rest of his clothes, tucked them into the bushes, and turned into a wolf.”

Scoffing, Brett muttered, “Tyler put his hand over Tabatha’s mouth because she nearly screamed.” He took another swig of his beer before eyeing Nedrick. “Then the wolf jumped into a pile of leaves that had been blown up against a tree trunk. It rolled around, waving its legs in the air like a dog.”

Chuckling, Brett shook his head. “Funniest damn thing I ever saw, especially knowing that the animal had once been Preall. I mean, the guy’s big and friendly, but he can be pretty serious and intense, too. Once the wolf disappeared into the underbrush, we rushed to my dorm room, since I’m in a private one.” Holding Nedrick’s brown-eyed gaze, Brett admitted, “We vowed not to tell anyone, but to keep watch. We started noticing things after that... about Preall and Trina. His devotion to her. Her bite scar. Normally, he calls her love, but every once in a while, he’ll use the term mate.” Tipping his beer bottle in Nedrick’s direction, Brett added, “Just like you do to me.” Seeing the questions and concern in Nedrick’s eyes, Brett quickly added, “And no, we kept our vow. We’ve never told a soul.”

Brett hummed quietly as he recalled his, Tyler, and Tabatha’s whispered conversation at the fish fry the prior evening while Nedrick had been deep in conversation with Preall. “They’re the ones that reminded me about the mate term and said that the care you’ve been showing me reminds them of how Preall treats Trina.” After a second of hesitation, Brett met Nedrick’s gaze again. “So?”

“Well, damn,” Nedrick whispered before scoffing softly. To Brett’s surprise, he grinned widely at him. “I’m so going to give Preall shit over this.” Then his lips softened into a warm smile. “And then thank him.” Holding Brett’s gaze, Nedrick explained, “A shifter only gets one fated soul mate, which we simply call our mate. That person is the other half of our soul, and if we’re lucky enough to meet that person, we do everything in our power to care for and please that person. Yes, Trina is Preall’s mate, just as you are my mate.” After a second, Nedrick added, “A shifter recognizes that person by scent, and the drive to be with them, to connect with them and bond with them, is damn near irresistible.”

Nedrick seemed to be waiting for Brett to say something at that announcement, so he nodded. “Okay. Soul mate.” Mulling that for a few seconds, Brett took a sip of his beer. After swallowing, he refocused on Nedrick. “That explains the care Preall gives Trina and you to me. To bond. The scar.” Brett slowly talked it out, piecing it together. “You bond by biting and giving your partner a scar. Does that turn them into a shifter, too?”

“No,” Nedrick quickly replied. “You have to be born a shifter.” Then he winced. “Unless there are illegal government experiments involved.” Waving his hand, Nedrick quickly added, “But we won’t get into that.”

“Ooookay.” That didn’t sound good, and Brett wasn’t certain he wanted to know. Tapping his beer against the inside of his upturned knee, he asked, “So, what does this mean for me?”

After a deep breath, Nedrick began to explain. In halting fits and starts, the other man did his best to lay everything out to him, and there seemed to be a lot. He shared about bonding through sex, biting, and blood. Nedrick explained about increased healing, strength, and extended lifespan.

The news about how anonymity was a shifter’s greatest defense made perfect sense to Brett. People could be shit to those they perceived as different.

Just look at Karissa.

Nedrick told him about his wolf shifter pack, the hierarchy, and pack life. Brett was surprised to hear that Declan and Lark were actually the pack leaders. They’d seemed so laid back and down to earth. When Brett learned that wolf shifters were not alone—that there were not only many kinds of shifters out there but other paranormals, as well—he began to feel on information overload.

Through it all, Brett realized Nedrick hadn’t answered his most important question. “Hold up, Ned,” he murmured, waving his beer bottle—his second one of the afternoon—and the other man fell silent. His expression appeared worried, so Brett quickly asked, “I still need to know. What does this mean for me?”

After a second of hesitation, Nedrick quietly answered, “It means you’re the other half of my soul, Brett.” His features tightened, turning pensive as he eyed him. “I want to claim you, bond us, build a life together. You and me against the world with my pack at our back.”

Brett sat frozen for a few seconds, knowing he should have expected that answer. “And bonding is forever.”

Even though it wasn’t a question, Nedrick still nodded. Then, as if he was worried Brett would refuse, he stated, “I know humans often need a bit more time, so if you want to date, we can. It’s just—” He thrust his fingers through his hair and growled under his breath. “It’s just that. You wouldn’t be able to date anyone else. Shifters are a jealous lot, and I wouldn’t be able to handle scenting anyone else on you. I’d—”

“Hey, easy, easy.” Brett touched Nedrick’s upper arm, gaining his attention. Once Nedrick’s worried gaze was focused on him, he smiled at the other man. “Did you know, watching Preall and Trina together, they’re kinda my relationship goal?”

Nedrick cocked his head. “Huh?”

Brett scoffed, smiling and shaking his head. “I mean, I didn’t plan on looking for a relationship or partner or whatever until after finishing college, but what they have together’s definitely something special.” Seeing that Nedrick still wasn’t following, Brett shrugged. “Sure, it’s a little earlier than I’d intended, but I’ve really enjoyed our time together these last few days, and now I understand where it’s coming from and where it’s going. I’d be a damn fool not to grab onto this opportunity with both hands and hang on for all it’s worth.”

A hopeful look lit up Nedrick’s handsome features. “Really?”

And yeah, I can think that now. This man sitting before me is a damn fine man. And I can have him as a devoted lover for all time.

“Yeah, really,” Brett confirmed. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you. I’ve really enjoyed the way you touch me.” Offering a wry smile, he admitted, “You’ll find that, for the most part, I’m a pretty laidback, easy-going guy. I’ve wanted to figure out how to touch you back more than once but hadn’t worked up the nerve, but I’ll work on that.” With a shrug, Brett swept his gaze over Nedrick’s naked body and gave him a rakish grin. “Just because you’re a guy and not a girl doesn’t bother me. It just means I’m gonna have to learn a new skill-set is all.”

A second later, Nedrick tackled him.

Brett tumbled back on the blanket, a laugh falling from his lips. That died away when he found himself with a mouthful of Nedrick’s tongue. The other man delved deep, exploring him, dominating his mouth in sweeping strokes of his tongue.

Relaxing back, Brett happily accepted the ravishing. He moved his casted arm up and out of the way while threading the fingers of his right hand into Nedrick’s hair. Brett didn’t try to use the hold to take over the kiss. Instead, he relished the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the ride, flicking out his tongue and teasing his appendage against Nedrick’s. The other man tasted damn fine, and Brett could easily get on board with enjoying him for... well, as long as Nedrick’s Fates allowed.

Nedrick broke the kiss and began pressing hot, moist kisses along Brett’s jaw to his throat. He licked and nipped at that point where his neck met his shoulder, the place where Brett had seen other people with marks. Understanding slipped through Brett’s lust-clouded mind, and he knew that was where Nedrick longed to bite him. Tipping his chin to the side, Brett gave him more access, silently letting his forever shifter lover know he was okay with that.

Yeah, my shifter lover.

Huh. How about that.

Brett smiled, liking those thoughts very much.

The other man’s hands seemed to be everywhere, stroking his arms, his rib cage, his stomach. When Nedrick wrapped his fingers around Brett’s straining cock, he groaned and bucked. Brett slid his hand to Nedrick’s shoulder, doing his best to hang on as he tried to control the pleasure coursing through him.

He wasn’t certain how, but every time Nedrick touched him, his body felt as if it burned out of control.

Mates.

Maybe that one word explained everything.

He and Nedrick were connected soul-deep, so everything was intensified.

Then Brett felt Nedrick cradle his balls and squeeze, offering the most deliciously perfect pinch of pain. He gasped and shuddered, the orbs threatening to rise with his impending orgasm. The tingle at the base of his spine shot to his nipples, causing them to bead where they were pressed against Nedrick’s chest.

“N-Ned,” Brett gasped. “Oh, god.” He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to hold on, loving what this man did to him and never wanting it to end. “Fuck!”

Lifting his head from where he’d been working where Brett’s shoulder and neck joined, Nedrick peered down at him. Lust and something more filled the man’s deep brown eyes. Nedrick’s grin appeared feral.

“Can I claim you, Brett?” Nedrick asked, his voice deep and husky as he eased his hold on Brett’s balls. “Will you be mine?”

Brett blew out a harsh breath, knowing he had to form words. “Yeah,” he managed. After swallowing hard, he told him, “And, Ned, I’m already yours.”

Nedrick groaned as he rested his forehead against Brett’s. Staring at him intently, he whispered, “My mate.” His voice almost sounded reverent. “All mine.”

Smiling, Brett murmured back, “All yours.”

Lifting up on one elbow, Nedrick roved his gaze over Brett’s face. He eased his other hand deeper between Brett’s legs, teasing the sensitive patch behind his balls.

Brett hissed, his stomach clenching. He spread his legs a little wider, offering more room.

“Have you ever played with yourself here?” Nedrick slipped his fingers down further, offering a teasing touch to Brett’s hole. He pressed ever so lightly. “Explored yourself at all?”

Planting his feet, Brett rocked into Nedrick’s touch. “Yeah,” he admitted, feeling his cheeks burn for a new reason. Still, he plowed ahead. “I have a vibrating butt plug.”

Nedrick’s brows shot up. A wide smile curved his lips. “My mate is full of surprises,” he rumbled, breaching Brett’s entrance with his fingertip. “Still, my cock’s a little bigger than the average butt plug.”

“Yes, it is,” Brett acknowledged. As much as he liked the feel of Nedrick’s finger, he had to add, “And unless you have lube in that backpack, what you’re packin’ ain’t gettin’ near my ass until we get some.”

A warm smile curved Nedrick’s lips as he eased away from Brett. “I would never do anything to hurt you, my mate.”

Brett nodded, thinking that was it. That they would find their completion another way.

Except, then Nedrick reached over, opened a side zipper pocket, and pulled out a tube of lube. Grinning triumphantly, he waggled it in his hand. Nedrick even wiggled his eyebrows.

“Ready to be mine?” he asked again.

Just as Brett had answered before, he stated, “I’m already yours.”

Nedrick groaned and popped the cap. “Normally,” he began, pouring a healthy dollop onto his fingers. “I would say hands and knees is best for your first time.” Closing the cap, he tossed the tube aside. “But because of your arm, we can’t do that.” Resuming his position between Brett’s knees, Nedrick levered over him and pressed a sipping kiss to his lips before whispering, “So I’ll distract you from the burn of stretching and entry another way.”

“Oh, yeah?” Brett asked curiously. “How?”

“Like this.”

Nedrick captured his lips in another deep, drugging kiss that Brett was more than happy to sink into. As his lover sucked his tongue and explored his mouth, he vaguely recognized the pressure of a finger in his ass. That one became two, but that size wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle.

Breaking the kiss, Nedrick worked his way down Brett’s jaw and back to where his neck met his shoulder.

Welcoming the sucking kisses and nips there, Brett turned his head and wondered if he would end up with a hickey. As that thought took hold, he felt Nedrick press a third finger into his chute. The stretch caused a slight burn, and he grunted softly, doing his best to remain relaxed and pliant.

The sharp sting of teeth sinking into his shoulder caused him to tense despite himself. An instant later, however, the pain was gone to be replaced by the most exquisite ecstasy. Heat flooded him, sending cascading tingles across his chest, down his spine, and flooding his groin.

Brett’s cock throbbed, and his balls pulled tight as his orgasm blindsided him. His body was flooded with bliss, his endorphins sending his senses soaring. The sucking on his neck made the sensations go on and on, and Brett could do little but moan and tremble in Nedrick’s grip.

Finally, as spots were beginning to flash across Brett’s vision, Nedrick eased his teeth from him. When his shifter licked over the wound, Brett hummed and smiled. Even that felt absolutely wonderful.

Nedrick peered down at him, and Brett offered him what was probably a loopy smile. “Wow,” he mumbled. “Could get used to that.”

“And how about this?”

To Brett’s surprise, he felt Nedrick ease his cock partway out of his ass, only to buck back into him. He gasped as his lover nailed his prostate, sending a fresh wash of tingles through him. When Nedrick did it a second time, Brett groaned, realizing that at some point while Nedrick had been biting him, his lover had replaced his fingers with his dick.

“Yeah,” Brett responded on a moan, rolling into the next peg. “Oh, hell, yeah.”

Nedrick growled, a look of feral pleasure lighting up his handsome features.

Gripping Nedrick’s shoulder, Brett held on for the ride as his wolf shifter began driving into him over and over... and what a ride it was.

Yup. Definitely going to get used to this.