Chapter Six
Tank stood in the doorway of the bedroom watching Niles move around, completely ignoring him. In fact, Niles gave no impression he knew that Tank stood there, but Tank was certain Niles was fully aware of his presence.
After watching him for another minute or so, Tank said, "Niles.”
Without turning around, Niles said, "I asked you to leave."
"I want to try."
"Will you tell your family about us?" Tank looked away. "I didn't think you would. Please leave."
"What do you want me to say? I'm struggling with all of this. And you should know that more than anyone because you can feel it, feel me. We do this at my pace. I'll tell them when I'm ready. I need to get used to you first and—" Tank waved his arm around the room—"everything."
"You've had time to get used to this. You've had months, Tank."
"Then what's wrong with giving me a little more? We're mates now, let me get used to it."
Niles stared at him and eventually nodded. "I'm not someone you were expecting." Niles sat on the bed, dropping his head in his hands. Tank could feel how emotional Niles was in that moment. Pain, sadness and a little fear was coming through to him from their connection. Unable to stop himself, Tank walked over and sat on the bed next to him. "I'm sorry."
"Stay," Niles whispered.
"I..." He wasn't sure if that was a good idea, considering what had happened already between them.
"Please." Niles turned his head to look at him. "Give me tonight. I've waited months for you."
Guilt flooded him at the truth of Niles' words. He had waited months for him. "I know. You should have told me the truth from the beginning."
"You're right, I should have, but it doesn't matter now, does it? Please say you'll stay."
Tank's eyes flickered to Niles' as he reached out tentatively and touched the back of Niles' hand. Niles turned his hand over and slid their fingers together. Looking at their entwined fingers, Tank said, "I will. Oh, and by the way, I sleep naked."
"So do I, but I've got some sleep pants somewhere."
What did it matter now? They'd had sex already. Sighing, Tank said, "It's fine."
"There's a spare toothbrush under the sink," Niles informed him, pointing to the door that led to the bathroom. "You go first. I’ll get the bed ready."
Tank stood, and quickly used the bathroom, washing and brushing his teeth. He leaned on the sink and stared at his reflection in the mirror and sighed heavily. What a mess. A mess he'd caused, and now he needed to man up and move on. He was mated, and he liked Niles. He was a caring, thoughtful male, and yes, Tank was physically attracted to him. If only he could let go of his own fears and just try. That was all Niles was asking.
He stepped out of the bathroom and Niles pushed past him, closing the door quietly behind him. He stared at the bed and suddenly laughed, slapping a hand over his mouth. Jesus, what was he doing here? Did he go on his own side of the bed or the other side of the bed? Did men sleep differently together?
In the end he chose the side of the bed that was closest to the window and stripped quickly before he slid under the cool sheets pulling them up to his chin. Rolling onto his side away from the bathroom door, he stared at the closed curtains. He could feel the stiffness in his body, the rigid way he held himself and he made a conscious effort to relax. This was his mate, Niles. He wouldn't do anything unless Tank wanted him to.
The bathroom door opened and the lights switched off, and then the bed dipped behind him.
"Night Targon."
"Night."
He lay on his side, unable to relax and he could feel Niles moving restlessly around the bed. Rolling from one side to the other and then onto his back, sighing occasionally. After a good ten minutes, Tank had had enough.
"Niles.”
"It's okay, Targon. I'm just struggling to relax, that's all."
Rolling onto his side to face Niles, Tank stared at the man who was his mate and gave in to the urge to touch him. He reached over and gently traced Niles' jaw. He went to do it a second time, but Niles reached up and grabbed his hand.
"You don't need to do anything."
"What if I want to?" Tank whispered into the darkness.
"At your pace."
"Okay. Then kiss me."
Niles slid over to him and gently rolled Tank onto his back. "Are you okay with this?"
"Kiss me, Niles."
Niles slid a leg between Tank’s and moved over him, one hand moving to Tanks' waist and the other tunneling through the strands of his hair. Their lips met, brushing across each other slowly. Soft, gentle kisses that left Tank wanting more.
His hands moved up until both of them were gripping Niles' shoulders as he angled his head and slid his tongue out, licking across Niles' lips. Niles groaned deeply and sucked Tank’s tongue into his mouth. Tank moaned, and his hips arched up off the bed, rubbing his dick against Niles' hip. At the same time, he became aware of how hard Niles was, his dick leaving a damp trail on Tank's skin, and he shivered in response. Arousal burned through him and Tank moaned again.
As they continued to kiss, learning each other's mouths, lips and tongues, Tank let his hand slide down Niles' back, feeling the warm skin beneath his fingers. He stopped only when he reached the top of Niles' ass, hesitating to continue. He'd never touched a man like this before and he was nervous and a little afraid.
Niles must have sensed his emotions, because he broke from the kiss, saying, "My body is yours."
They stared at each other in the darkness until Niles lowered his head and kissed him again and all thought fled Tank's brain. He gave his hands free rein to touch whatever they wanted and they slid down Niles' back to grip his firm ass. Niles moaned in response, arching up into Tank’s touch. "Yes," he whispered.
He moved over Tank, settling in between his legs, pushing them wider to accept his body. Tank gasped, the sensation of having Niles naked and on top of him short-circuiting his brain. He simply felt.
Niles rubbed against him, pushing Tank's arousal higher as their tongues danced together, their kisses becoming wet and messy and Tank loved every second of it. He arched up into Niles' touch deepening the contact. He needed to feel more.
He whimpered into the kiss, and his hands grabbed Niles, pulling him closer until there was barely any space between them.
Niles lined their dicks together and thrust rapidly. At this point they were barely kissing, just open mouths moving over each other, feeding off each other.
Tank eventually pulled his head away, breaking the kiss and panting harshly. His balls pulled up tight, and he rutted against Niles, needing to come. The hand on his head tightened, pulling his head to the side, and he had a split second to stare in fascination at the red glow that emanated from Niles' eyes before Niles' fangs sank into his neck.
Tank cried out, his body jerking, his dick pulsing. Come spurted from it and he felt Niles come too, covering them both in warm wetness. He could barely move, his orgasm so intense and the connection he shared with Niles ramping up the level of intensity that flowed over him.
Feeling Niles' orgasm, the pleasure it brought him, pushed his own even higher and his vision darkened. At the same time, a ringing in his ears blocked out all other sounds.
He was barely aware of Niles pulling his fangs free and licking the wound closed. Was barely conscious of Niles' heavyweight on top of him, or the breath that brushed against his neck.
At some point, reality returned, and he turned his head to the side, opened his eyes and stared into Niles'. Niles pulled his hand free from Tank's hair and his fingers gently stroked across his cheek, his thumb rubbing Tank’s lips.
"You okay?" he asked.
Tank licked his dry lips, seeing Niles' eyes watch the movement, a faint red glow lighting them up. He lifted his hand and traced a finger under Niles' eye.
"Your eyes."
Niles closed them and buried his head onto the pillow next to Tank’s. "Sorry. It's just I've waited so long for you and now you're here in my bed and I can't stop thinking of anything else but the need to kiss and touch you... you get the picture."
"It's okay," Tank told him, and strangely, it was. He liked the idea that Niles wanted him, that even though he'd just come, he still wanted him.
"We should clean up and then get some sleep."
Now that Niles had brought it to his attention, Tank cringed at the cold, wet come pooling on his abdomen. "Yeah, you're right."
Niles chuckled as he pushed up and sat between Tank’s spread legs. "Yeah, coming is great but clean-up is awful."
Tank barked out a laugh, completely in agreement with everything Niles just said. "Yeah, there's nothing like crusty, dry come, is there?"
Niles chuckled again. "You stay there. I’ll get a cloth and bring it back in."
Tank sat up, shaking his head. "You don't need to do that."
Leaning down, Niles kissed him slowly, but thoroughly. "I know, but I want to."
Slowly, Tank nodded and lay back down on the bed as Niles got up and walked into the bathroom. He heard the water running, then a minute later, Niles walked back into the bedroom and sat next to him on the bed, cleaning his body.
Tank could feel the heat in his cheeks, knew he was blushing and when he looked up at Niles, he saw the satisfied smile on his face. Rolling his eyes, he said, "Okay, I've never had anyone clean me before. I feel a bit like a girl."
"I like doing it, like taking care of my mate."
When Niles finished cleaning him, he threw the washcloth back towards the bathroom and got back into bed.
"Want to be the big spoon?" Niles asked.
Tank stared at him, not knowing how to answer the question. Niles smiled and took pity on him. "How about you be the big spoon and if it's not comfortable, we can swap."
"Okay." Tank swallowed and then stopped. Why was he getting all worked up about who was the big spoon and who was the little spoon when he'd just had sex? In this bed with his mate. Shaking his head, Tank moved over and cuddled up to Niles' back and moved his arm over his waist. "This okay?"
Niles laid his arm on top of Tank’s, threading their fingers together. "More than okay," he mumbled, sleep already coloring his words.
Tank got comfortable, then slowly relaxed. Every breath he took, he breathed Niles in. Closing his eyes, he kissed Niles on the neck and then drifted off to sleep.
❊❊❊
Spencer paced the IT room, watching the data scroll across the screen, a frown on his face to give the illusion of not understanding the data in front of him. "Well?" he asked for the fifth time.
"You need to let us set our trap. The hacker can't know we know about them. If they even begin to suspect we're onto them, then they'll stop, and we'll lose our chance to find out who it is."
"I know that, Carter. You don't need to keep explaining it to me."
"Then why are you still here, breathing down my neck?"
"Just remember what we can do to you and your family, Carter."
"Like I can forget when you threaten me every single day with it," he muttered.
"Good. I'm glad we have that sorted." Hands on hips, Spencer asked, "How long before we know anything?"
"It depends on when he or she tries again. It's a waiting game now."
"We can't have them finding out our plans. Those plans have been years in the making, waiting for the right time to implement them. They must succeed."
"I know. You'll get your chance, don't worry."
Spencer turned away from the screens and walked to the door. "Inform me immediately if you get anything."
"Don't worry, I will."