Not breaking the kiss, Banyan lined the head of his cock up with Uri’s hole and slid inside with such tenderness, Urijah had to choke back a sob. This was what he had wanted – what he had expected – when he gave himself to his mate. This was what Uri had waited all his life to find. Never before had he experienced anything as intense as the connection he and Banyan were experiencing in that moment. What he had with Mishka wasn’t even a blip on the radar of what Urijah had with his mate. Banyan kissed his way down Uri’s jaw, pulling his whiskers between his lips. He lowered his head into the bend of Uri’s neck and inhaled. Urijah leaned his head away from Banyan, offering more skin. Uri was ready for Banyan to bite him, to make the bond complete, but he knew in his heart his mate was still hesitant. He pushed the hurt out of his mind. There was no room for negativity of any kind between them.

Instead, Urijah focused on their bodies. How, now that Banyan wasn’t trying to hurt him, the slide of Banyan’s cock in and out was erotic. Sensual. Filling. Breathtaking. Heartbreaking. Uri wanted to return the favor, but he didn’t know if Banyan would ever give him the chance. Allowing someone to enter your body was a privilege. It was one he wouldn’t take lightly if Banyan gave him the opportunity. For now, he would be satisfied being the one on the receiving end. As Banyan increased the intensity of each thrust, Urijah couldn’t hold back the moans and grunts as his mate bottomed out. Banyan’s balls hit Uri’s cheeks as skin slapped against skin. Banyan’s eyes were squeezed tightly.

“B, please look at me,” he begged. Banyan opened his eyes, and Urijah couldn’t help but smile. His mate was breathtaking. Urijah had never seen a more striking creature in all his life. Gargoyles were beautiful by nature, but Banyan’s looks mixed with his innate goodness made for a combination unlike anyone else. “Gods, you’re magnificent,” Urijah said as he drank in every inch of Banyan he could. His heart was bursting, and he wanted nothing more than to shout out how much he loved his mate, but he held back. He had already given the words to Banyan after the coronation. He wouldn’t say them again until Banyan accepted them as truth.

Banyan slowed his thrusts. “So are you, Uri. You feel amazing wrapped around my cock. I knew it would be beyond anything I could imagine when I finally got inside you. I want to do this every day. I want to lay you down and make love to you until neither of us can walk. Then I want to do it all over again. Are you ready to come? I am. I’m ready to spill my seed deep inside you. I’m ready to mark your body like I never have anyone’s before. Are you ready for me?”

Uri could only nod. Hearing Banyan’s confession had Uri’s beast ready to crow. They both had fucked others over the years, but never had either one of them marked another with their release. Uri hadn’t even bestowed that honor on Mishka, and he had married the man. Somewhere deep down Urijah must have realized he belonged to only one other.

Banyan slid his arms under Uri’s legs and lifted them over his shoulders. The change in position allowed Banyan to get deeper, hitting Uri’s prostate with every stroke. If he hadn’t already been close to exploding, that would have done the trick. He dug the backs of his heels into Banyan’s shoulders, surging up to meet him stroke for stroke. Banyan’s fangs were still out, digging into his lower lip. Uri wanted Banyan to sink them deep into his shoulder, but he wouldn’t ask for it. He would wait until Banyan was ready. Gripping his mate’s thighs, Uri could no longer hold back. Without a hand stroking him, his dick jerked, as stream after stream of cum shot out, coating his stomach and chest. As his orgasm took over, his ass clamped down on Banyan’s cock, and his mate found his own release after several harsh thrusts. With his head tossed back, the tendons in Banyan’s neck tightened as he let go of a roar that shook the windows.

 

 

Banyan ran his hands along Uri’s legs, starting at his ankles and continuing down to his outer thighs then back up again. He loved the friction under his palms. Reveled in the muscles that pushed against the pale skin. His dick was still inside his mate, and even though he’d come harder than he ever had in his life, he was still mostly erect. When Urijah’s climax hit and his ass gripped Banyan’s dick, he knew he was where he belonged. One word resounded – home. It didn’t matter where they were. All that mattered was they had finally come together in the most intimate way possible. Banyan felt bad for the way things started, and he was pissed at his beast for being so rough.

Instead of pulling out, Banyan rocked back and forth as his release eased out of Uri’s hole. Seeing Uri’s cum coating his chest and stomach was too enticing to pass up. Banyan ran a finger through the white liquid and brought it to his mouth, sucking. Urijah’s breath caught, and his eyes darkened. If Banyan had been ready to leave the warmth of Uri’s channel, he would have lapped at the cum until it was gone. But he wasn’t ready to break their connection.

At some point, fucking had given way to making love as Urijah pushed his emotions into Banyan. He felt it as strongly as if he had been inside his mate’s head. He felt it so strongly that he had come really close to sinking his fangs into Uri’s neck, but in the past, whenever he’d imagined giving over to the mate bond, it had always been with Urijah inside him. Banyan had saved himself for his mate, and when they finally completed their connection – and Banyan had no doubt they would – he wanted it to be while Urijah was making love to him.

Urijah was silent, probably giving Banyan time to come to terms with what they’d done. “I’m sorry,” he blurted out. Hurt flashed through his mate’s eyes, misunderstanding, so he quickly clarified, “I’m sorry I hurt you. I lost control.”

Urijah’s hands found Banyan’s, and he threaded their fingers together, settling them on Banyan’s thighs. “I have to admit; you surprised me. I thought for a second you were trying to punish me.”

Banyan pulled one of Uri’s hands to his mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I would never intentionally hurt you. I fully intended to keep all emotion out of the bed, but the beast had other ideas. Once I regained control, I realized that was an impossible task. We are mates, of that there is no denying. Not anymore.” When Uri nodded in agreement, Banyan continued, “Being mates, there is no way to keep our feelings at bay. Still, I was being selfish, thinking I was the only one who had been hurt in the past. Your denial of our bond cut me deep, but I hurt you, too.”

“I’m not going to ask that we rehash how we’ve hurt each other or tally the score. I’ve forgiven what happened, and I don’t want to dwell on the past. I hope you can forgive me as well and we can move forward from this point. I think we should begin anew with a clean slate,” Uri said.

Banyan eased Uri’s legs down from his shoulders so he could lean over and rest on his forearms. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Banyan kissed Uri languidly as he began making love to him again. There was no urgency in his movements, just the need to keep the connection they had. When they were both spent once more, Banyan eased out of Uri and rolled to his feet. “I’m going to take a shower.” He strode to the bathroom and started the water. When he didn’t sense Uri behind him, he looked into the bedroom where his mate was still lying on the bed. “I was hoping you would join me,” he added. Urijah was off the bed so fast, Banyan had to laugh.

“I wasn’t sure you wanted me in here,” Urijah said uncertainly.

“I want you, Uri. In the shower. In the bed. Against the wall. Now that I’ve had a taste, I’ll never get enough.”

 

 

Urijah’s ass stung, but in the best way possible. Once Banyan got the beast under control, pain turned into such unimaginable pleasure. He didn’t doubt it was escalated because the one making love to him was his mate. Seeing Banyan’s fangs cut into his lip made Urijah want to taste the small trickle of blood. Not because it was blood, but because it was Banyan’s, and anything that had to do with his mate had Urijah ready and willing. Needing.

The shower wasn’t as large as the one he had in his house in New Atlanta, but there was still plenty of room for both of their large bodies to move around, especially when they were standing so close. Banyan hadn’t been lying about not getting enough. Before they turned the water off and grabbed their towels, Banyan had taken Urijah against the wall, using body wash as lube, and then he had finished Uri off with a blow job. Before their bodies were dry, Banyan crushed his mouth to Uri’s and pushed him backward into the bedroom. When they fell onto the bed, Banyan pulled Uri up to where they were both lying on pillows, facing one another.

“Do you still want to talk?” Banyan asked, trailing his fingertips down Uri’s arm.

“Do we need to?” Urijah wasn’t sure if they had cleared the air enough to move forward or not.

“What are you unsure about?” Banyan asked, hitching his leg over Uri’s, pulling their bodies closer.

Both their cocks were hard, and Urijah’s beast was demanding he seal the bond. Ignoring the need to fuck his mate as well as sink his fangs into his shoulder, Uri said, “Do you want to be my mate? I know you released me, but…”

Banyan caressed Uri’s jaw, rubbing his thumb across his cheek and into his beard. “Yes, it’s what I’ve always wanted, but I also need to know it’s what you really want. You’ve spent your whole life denying us. Denying me.”

Urijah sat up in the bed and put his fist over his heart while settling his other hand over Banyan’s heart. “I, Urijah Torfinn Aldobrand, vow to you, my King, that I want nothing more in this life than to complete the mate bond with you and live out the rest of our days as partners and best friends.”

Banyan sat up, his blue eyes stormy as he said, “In the past, whenever I thought about the moment we sealed the bond, you were making love to me, not the other way around.”

“You would let me take control?”

“Yes, I would. I know we’re both Gargoyle, both alphas in our own right. But I always saw us as equals in everything. That included the bedroom. I have saved myself for you, Uri. If you never agreed to be my mate, I would have passed over to the other side never knowing what it felt like to have someone inside me. That privilege is yours alone.”

“What about you being King? Is our mating going to affect that?”

Banyan took Uri’s hand in his, tracing circles on his palm. “If someone has a problem with it, they can challenge me for the throne. I doubt it will come to that, though.”

“Is this where you’re going to live?” Urijah didn’t want to say anything offensive, but he hated the large house Banyan had inherited. It didn’t suit his mate.

“Fuck no. I tried to give the house to Bryn, and even she doesn’t want it. She suggested remodeling it and turning it into a type of bed and breakfast for tourists,” Banyan said, grinning.

“I like your sister,” Uri admitted.

“I’m rather fond of her myself. I can’t wait to spend more time with her and really get to know her. This last week has been bearable only because she and our parents were here.” When Uri frowned, Banyan added, “My real parents. Gautum always has been and always will be my pappa. Freyda was more of a mother to me than my own, and your parents considered me part of your family from day one.”

“So where are you going to live?”

“We are going to build a house in the clearing. It will be large enough to accommodate a few offspring should we decide that’s something we want to think about down the road. If you want to keep your house in New Atlanta, I’m okay with that. I figure if Xavier can rule Italy from New York, you and I can rule Norway from the moon if we wanted to.”

Urijah would love to be able to stay in Georgia part time for whenever the Stone Society needed weapons from the armory, but he didn’t want to share his house with Banyan. It was filled with memories of him and Finley, and Uri wanted to start fresh with new memories, so he told Banyan as much. “I’m sure Sixx can find someone to purchase my house, and we can have Rafael design us a new one that fits us both.”

“I like the way you think. But as far as the armory goes, I think our fathers are ready to retire. What do you think about us taking over for them? We can work out of their armory when we’re here, and we can work out of yours in New Atlanta when we are staying there. Plus, there’s the new one in California we could utilize if we needed to.”

“I love that idea.” Forging was in his blood, and he wasn’t ready to give it up. Banyan had covered everything they needed to get settled between them. Urijah wasn’t sure what to do, so he leaned forward and kissed Banyan.

Banyan framed Urijah’s face in both his large hands and whispered against his lips, “Make love to me, Uri. Take me and make me your mate.”

It was all Urijah could do to keep from phasing. He gently pushed Banyan to his back, and Urijah settled in between his open legs. He refused to rush things. Making love to Banyan for the first time would only happen once. Officially becoming mates would only happen once. His beast was fighting with everything it had to be released. To take their mate the same way Banyan had taken them earlier. He now understood why it had happened, and he didn’t blame Banyan, but Urijah refused to let his shifter ruin their mating.

Urijah nestled their hard-ons together, rocking back and forth as he captured Banyan’s mouth, sucking his tongue. Biting his lip. Banyan grabbed Uri’s ass and pushed their dicks together, gaining more friction. “Uri, please,” Banyan groaned.

“Please what?” Uri asked, repeating Banyan’s words from earlier. He knew what Banyan wanted since he’d already requested it, but he wanted to hear it again now that he was on top. Uri needed to make sure Banyan was absolutely certain he was read to become mates.

“Please make love to me. I need to feel your cock filling me up, making me whole.”

Urijah wasn’t going to make Banyan beg. “Raise your knees, B. Let me see what’s mine.” As Banyan pulled his knees toward his chest, Urijah leaned over and retrieved the lube off the nightstand. Uri toyed with Banyan’s hole, watching the pucker react to his touch. “So receptive,” he whispered. Uri dribbled the liquid onto Banyan’s ass, catching it before it could roll onto the bed. It wasn’t the first time he’d prepared a lover to take him, but this was no random lover. This was his best friend. This was the male who, in a few short minutes, would be his mate.

“So tight, B. You’re so fucking tight and hot,” Uri prodded with his words and fingers. When he found Banyan’s gland, his mate reacted the same way Uri had, bucking his hips. “Fuck your fist, B. I want to watch your cock slide through your fingers,” he urged.

“I’m too close,” Banyan admitted. He grabbed his dick like Uri wanted, but it wasn’t to stroke it. He was squeezing the base to keep from coming. Urijah licked his lips at the sight of his mate’s erection, veins pulsing along the length. “I’m ready, Uri. I need to feel you slide home. Fill me up and mark me. Don’t make me beg.”

Uri fisted his own cock, slicking it with the oil on his hand before lining up to what he knew would be nirvana. With his eyes locked on Banyan’s, Urijah eased his way into Banyan’s ass, not stopping until he was fully seated. He gave Banyan time to adjust to being filled and stretched.

“Move, godsdamnit,” Banyan growled, his fangs dropping, his claws adding to the damage Urijah had inflicted on the bedding earlier.

Uri pushed back on Banyan’s knees so he could set up a good rhythm. His own fangs were digging into his bottom lip, and he licked the blood away. “Fucking incredible, B. I might never let you get at my ass again,” he joked. Banyan’s chest heaved, and Urijah knew it was from the strain of keeping the beast in check. With Banyan lying on his back, his wings were trapped, but Urijah’s weren’t. He didn’t try to hold them back any longer. Gripping Banyan’s wrists, he pulled him to a sitting position so Banyan could ride him while giving both access to the other’s neck.

“Ride me, B. Ride my cock,” he urged.

Banyan’s eyes were blown as he straddled Uri’s legs and used his own powerful thighs to impale himself on Uri’s dick.

When Urijah could no longer contain the beast or his orgasm, he asked, “Are you ready, Banyan? Are you ready to become my mate for life?”

“Yes, fucking yes!” Banyan roared.

They both released their wings as Banyan continued to fuck Uri. When Banyan ran his fingers along the edge of Uri’s wing, he lost himself completely and plunged his fangs into Banyan’s skin. The sweet bite of Banyan’s sharp teeth hit Uri soon after. Neither one released their grip on the other. Urijah’s dick shot cum deep inside Banyan, filling him up as wave after wave crested through his body. Shockwaves flowed down his arms and legs as hot cum hit his chest and stomach. Banyan’s fangs retracted, but Banyan kept his mouth on Uri’s skin, sucking at the spot where he’d marked him.

Fuck, I love you.

Urijah heard Banyan’s words in his head. Releasing his fangs, he leaned back so he could look into his mate’s eyes, finding the truth there. Banyan did indeed love him.

I love you, too, B.

Urijah felt like he was floating. Like he was having an out-of-body experience. Never had he imagined anything could be as euphoric. He reached out and caressed one of Banyan’s wings, not prepared for the consequences. Before he knew what was happening, Banyan had Uri pinned against the wall with his cock buried deep.

Urijah’s beast at least had the good sense to pull their wings in while they were flying through the air, or that might have hurt. Seeing Banyan lost in the haze would have been worth it. Banyan wrapped his hand around Urijah’s throat, squeezing as he ravaged Uri’s body. Uri had never been dominated in such a way, and instead of his beast fighting back, it moaned inside Uri’s head, and Uri gave over control.

With both shifters in charge of their bodies, sex was rough. More intense than it had been the first time, but Uri’s body was lighting up from the inside. He couldn’t resist reaching for Banyan’s wing again, and when he did, Banyan sank his fangs into Uri’s neck. His orgasm was instantaneous, and his ass milked Banyan’s cock until he was shooting inside Uri once again. With their beasts sated momentarily, Banyan regained control and placed Uri on his feet, his eyes wide. “Holy fuck me,” Banyan whispered looking behind Uri.

Uri turned. Seeing the Gargoyle-shaped indention in the wall, he started laughing. “I guess it’s a good thing Brynna wants to remodel.”