Chapter Twenty-One
It took a few days before Liam started to believe that nothing had changed between him and Jensen. The alpha was especially attentive and kept Liam close. They fell into a new routine, Liam staying over with him in the clinic at night.
Now that it was all out in the open, Liam expected Jensen would want to know everything. But the alpha took a different approach. He didn’t ask many questions about Liam’s life before the den but made sure Liam knew he was there to listen whenever he wanted to talk.
At first, Liam thought the answer to that would be never. There was so much he didn’t want Jensen to know. But little details slipped out now and then. Before, he would have stopped himself from saying them, afraid to draw attention. That fear was dialing down slowly as Jensen’s reactions were nothing but kind and supportive.
Liam sat down with Cade and Ollie one evening to talk about something important and ask their advice. The other omegas had listened to his idea and questions and both had done their best to tell him what he needed to know. Then Liam talked to Eve and Joe, arranging for both him and Jensen to have a few days off work. If things went as planned, they would need them.
Jensen had the feeling Liam was up to something. He seemed distracted yet excited, his sleep restless.
He woke one morning, a week after their return from the event, to find Liam already awake, his hands under his chin, watching Jensen.
“Good morning.”
Liam grinned. “Morning. Can we go exploring?”
Jensen mentally checked his schedule. It was a Saturday and there was nothing that needed his attention.
“Sure. After breakfast?”
“Great.”
Liam moved as if to bounce out of bed, but Jensen caught hold of him. “There’s no rush. How about we cuddle for a while?”
He had an armful of omega a moment later, Liam pressed tight against him.
It was an hour later when they finally clambered out of bed and went in search of breakfast. Afterward, they dressed and headed out. Liam made a beeline for the house he shared with Ollie and Davyn.
“Wait, I thought we were going exploring?” Jensen asked.
“We are. I just need to get something,” Liam said.
Bemused, Jensen followed him. Ollie opened the door before he got there, clearly waiting for them.
“Here you go,” he said, handing out a basket. “You two have fun.”
“Thanks, Ollie,” Liam said brightly, taking the basket, and walking back to join Jensen at the gate.
“What’s this?” Jensen asked, gesturing to the basket.
“Lunch.”
Jensen took the basket from Liam’s hands, surprised at the weight of it. He peeked inside.
“That’s one hell of a picnic. How far were you thinking of traveling?”
Liam turned, pointing into the distance. Jensen knew what was in that direction but he waited for the omega to say it.
“I thought we might go to the cottage.”
“Are you sure?” He wanted Liam to be certain, to want this for the right reasons.
“I’m sure, so sure. I love you and—”
That was all Jensen needed to hear. Setting the basket down, he caught Liam in his arms and kissed him, pulling back, and murmuring to him. “I love you, too. Come on, let’s head out.”
Hand in hand, Jensen carrying their picnic basket, they set off.
“It’s all arranged,” Liam said. “Eve knows I’ll be busy and Joe will cover for you if he needs to. Ollie will make sure we have enough to eat. They’re good friends.”
“They’re happy for us,” Jensen said. When they reached the cottage, Jensen left the basket inside and, after a quick look around, urged Liam back out.
“Where are we going?” Liam asked, looking almost disappointed that they weren’t getting right down to it.
“I thought we might shift and do some exploring.”
“Now?”
“Now,” Jensen replied, putting a hint of challenge in his tone but balancing it with a smile.
Minutes later, he was chasing Liam through a grassy field, the omega making a beeline for the nearest river. Jensen never got tired of seeing Liam’s shifter form. After more than a decade of being the only lion in the den, having someone who looked and smelled like him was amazing. Liam liked a good game of hide and seek, so Jensen slowed down, letting the omega gain some distance. When he reached the bank of the river, Liam was nowhere in sight. Jensen paused, listening and looking. Liam’s scent went as far as the bank but then-
Some reeds by the bank rustled and Liam leaped out of the water, landing right in front of Jensen. Jensen pounced on the omega and the two grappled on the ground, play-fighting with their paws until Liam surrendered, collapsing with a huffed whine.
Jensen gave a playful roar of triumph. Sometimes he let Liam win, but today was different.
They explored further, going right to the boundary of the den before looping back to the cottage, stopping for a swim in the river on the way back. When they reached the cottage, they shifted back to human form.
Stripping their damp clothes, Jensen got a fire going while Liam got lunch together from the picnic basket.
Jensen looked up when Liam made a sound of happy surprise.
“What is it?”
Liam held up a wrapped plate. “Buttermilk chicken. I love Ollie.”
Jensen chuckled. “Easily pleased, you are. If I’d known buttermilk chicken was all it would take—”
An apple sailed through the air in his direction, Liam throwing it at him. He caught it easily and took a bite, grinning. Next to him, the fire took, a small burst of warmth radiating out into the room.
They ate their fill, then lay together by the fire. Liam was lying on his side facing the fire, Jensen spooning him from behind. He teased Liam, pressing kisses to the back of his neck, the omega gasping and whimpering as the sensitive skin was stimulated.
Soon, the food and heat did its work and they were both drowsing.
Jensen woke to find Liam’s face only inches from his, the omega awake, and watching him.
“Hey, how are you feeling? Did you have a nice nap?”
“It was lovely. I feel… I feel…”
Jensen reached a hand to Liam’s forehead. The omega’s scent had changed, stronger and subtly different.
“You’re warm.”
Liam sighed at the touch, leaning into it.
“I think I’m in heat. Cade said it would start like this.”
“He’d know,” Jensen agreed, grinning at him.
He wasn’t expecting Liam to take charge, but the omega did. Jensen found himself pushed onto his back while Liam straddled him.
“Is this okay?”
“More than okay.”
Within moments, Jensen was under intense scrutiny from Liam, the omega drinking in the sight of his body. His hands splayed out across Jensen’s chest, dragging downward, along his stomach before coming to a stop at his hips.
Liam’s proximity and scent were working their magic on Jensen. He found himself growing hard before the omega’s hands had even touched him. But touch they did, tentatively at first, Liam biting down on his bottom lip, his cheeks flushed, his eyes intense. Jensen moaned and arched his back, reaching full hardness with one stroke of Liam’s hand.
“Can I taste you?”
Jensen managed a nod, watching under hooded eyes as Liam bent down, one hand wrapped around his shaft while his tongue stole its first taste and he took just the tip of Jensen’s cock into his mouth. He hummed happily, and Jensen moaned again, grabbing hold of Liam’s waist, and running the palms of his hands up and down, trying to distract himself from the sheer intensity of Liam’s mouth on him.
“Good?” Liam asked, sitting up and turning his head to the side as he looked down at him.
“Amazing. And, very soon, I’ll be returning the favor.”
“Not yet,” Liam said. Jensen loved his confidence and assertiveness.
“Sure, just making sure you know the pleasure goes both ways.”
Liam nodded, straightening and giving Jensen a shy grin. He placed his hand against his own chest, slowly drawing it downward. Jensen’s eyes followed as he skimmed across his stomach and down to his groin, palming himself with a low moan.
Jensen gently grasped Liam’s wrist, and tugged it away, replacing the omega’s hand with his own. Liam bucked against him, his breaths deepening.
“I need you inside me,” the omega insisted breathlessly, then shifted forward, pressing his hands against Jensen’s stomach.
Jensen kept his hands loosely gripping Liam’s hips but gave the omega free rein. Liam pushed up off of him, then sank slowly downward. Jensen helped angle him, his cock finding Liam’s entrance and pushing inside slowly.
Liam’s eyes never left his, his hands pressed tight to Jensen’s body. He moaned, long and loud, as Jensen bottomed out inside him.
“That’s it,” Jensen encouraged. “Feels amazing. So good.”
He stroked his thumbs over Liam’s hips as the omega caught his breath.
“What now?” Liam asked.
Jensen grinned. “What do you feel like doing? What would feel good?”
“I want to move.”
With his hands still holding loosely to Liam’s hips, he supported him as he started to move, pushing up before sinking back down.
Jensen held his gaze, loving each sound of pleasure pulled from Liam’s throat, each gasp, hitched breath, and moan. His own pleasure was building, wave after wave gathering, like a storm on the horizon.
Letting go of Liam’s hip with one hand, he stroked the omega’s shaft, drawing a gasp and shudder from him.
Liam’s movements quickened before his knees tightened around Jensen’s waist and he stilled, coming over Jensen’s hand with a quiet sound of surprise. Liam’s body tightened around Jensen’s cock, the pressure pulling him over the edge. Pleasure took him, hot and white and overwhelming. Flopping back to the floor, he reached for Liam, drawing the omega down to lie against his chest. Bringing his mouth to Liam’s, they kissed, deep and intense, their tongues melding together.
Something happened then. In the post-orgasmic bliss, their lips pressed together, Jensen felt their hearts beating in sync, felt suddenly whole, like a piece of him that had been missing suddenly slotted into place.
Liam broke the kiss, made a sound of deep contentment, and laid his head against Jensen’s chest.
“You were amazing,” Jensen murmured, stroking a hand along Liam’s back. He felt something on Liam’s skin, an area a little hot to the touch. He lifted his head and tried to see. A lion’s paw was imprinted on Liam’s back. His mating mark.
“My alpha,” Liam sighed, cuddling closer.
“My omega.” They were words he never thought he’d get to say. Yet there was no denying his mate in his arms, warm and so very real. “My love.”