Neither could have said when it would have stopped, had one of the tray tables not clattered to the ground, spraying melted wax and putting out the candles.

They broke apart, panting and stunned.

“Let’s…” Cale gulped and looked at the tray table. “Let’s not set the cabin on fire.”

“A-agreed.” Jaden carefully moved the remaining one to safety. As he did, he stopped and wondered just what the hell he was doing. He sat back on the couch and looked at Cale. The alpha’s cheeks were flushed, but obviously not from the cold.

“I’m sorry,” Cale said. “I don’t know what came… I mean, I know exactly what came over me; it’s that true mate thing. But, I’m sorry. I thought I could control it better.”

It took Jaden a moment to recover from his surprise at the alpha’s apology. “Me too,” he said softly.

They stared at each other, neither certain what to do next, both aching to pick right back up.

Jaden stared at Cale, studying him in the flickering light from the remaining candles. The damned alpha seemed to get more attractive by the second. The omega licked his lips, still tasting the other wolf on his tongue. He felt his dick straining against his pants and shifted his weight, hoping Cale wouldn’t notice.

Cale stood abruptly and paced the short distance between the couch and the bed a couple of times, before sitting on the edge of the bed. He cleared his throat, obviously considering saying something, but frowned and remained silent.

For a moment, Jaden hoped that the alpha was going to suggest sleeping arrangements, but he knew the weather had dictated them already.

This was going to be a long, long night.

Jaden’s heart was still pounding and every breath seemed to fill him with the alpha’s scent. Cale was watching him with a positively predatory stare. It was the sexiest and the most intimidating thing Jaden had ever seen. The image of Cale returning to the couch, grabbing him and kissing him again flicked through Jaden’s head. A day ago the very thought of it would have terrified him. Now, it made his breath quicken and his body tense with desire.

“This doesn’t mean I intend to let you claim me,” Jaden said, shoving away the mental image of Cale straddling him. He didn’t want a true mate, damn it.

“I still have no intention of doing so,” Cale said softly. “I see now why people always laughed and told me I’d change my mind after meeting my true mate. You’re…” To Jaden’s surprise the alpha actually looked like he was blushing in the dim light. “You’re irresistible. I never imagined…” He shook his head and snorted, trying to rid his nose of the scent.

“Yeah, you’re making me pretty horny,” Jaden admitted.

Cale threw back his head and laughed. The omega couldn’t help but join. Once the moment was over, they locked eyes again and silence fell. Jaden could hear the wind howling and the sound made him shiver. Now that the blanket had fallen around his waist and Cale’s warmth was gone, he was starting to feel really cold. He was sure Cale was feeling the temperature as well. They were going to have to get close to stay warm. There was no choice. But, Jaden didn’t think he could trust himself with the alpha that close.

“Maybe we should just get it out of our system,” Jaden muttered. It wasn’t until Cale’s eyes widened in shock that Jaden realized exactly what he had just said.

He straightened, frantically thinking of a way to backpedal and take back the absurd offer. As he thought, it only made more and more sense. He tried to convince himself that he was just thinking with his dick, but the logic his brain threw in couldn’t be denied.

“Look,” he said slowly, letting his thoughts organize themselves. “We have no idea how cold it’s going to get tonight. Or if the storm is getting better or worse. Hell, we don’t even know what time it is. But, the way I see it, we do know three things for sure. It’s cold. It’s going to get colder. And we only have one blanket between us.” Jaden pulled the blanket out from under him and held it up, aware of Cale nodding along in agreement. “It’s just naïve to think we won’t be sharing this tonight. I doubt we’d actually freeze to death in here, but I mean…”

“We don’t know how cold it will get.”

“Exactly. And even if we wouldn’t freeze to death, we could get sick. Very sick even. And for what? Stubbornness? I don’t want you to claim me. I don’t want a true mate at all. But I’m not going to get sick, and even risk death or at least frostbite, to avoid you.”

Cale pursed his lips. Jaden was absolutely right. It was the same conclusion to the same argument that had been running though his own head.

“And it’s stupid to sit here freezing while we try to hold out, only to give up and share body heat anyway,” added Cale. “Why make ourselves suffer?”

“So, it’s inevitable.”

“I think so.”

“So…” Jaden knew he had to return to his original point. “If we have to get cozy anyway… I mean, I don’t know if I can resist you. I lasted all of, what, fifteen minutes under the blanket with you? We’ll go crazy doing that all night. As you said, why make ourselves suffer? But it’s not,” he added firmly, “going beyond tonight.”

“Just once then,” Cale agreed. “To see what it’s like. Nobody has to know.”

“Nobody has to even know we’re true mates,” said Jaden firmly.

“I didn’t plan on telling anyone. This is just a one-night stand, as far as I’m concerned.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

They stared at each other. Now that the decision was made, it was time to act, but neither was certain where to start. Before things could get any more awkward, Cale rose and walked slowly to the couch, never taking his eyes off of Jaden.

The omega swallowed nervously as the alpha approached. It seemed almost as if Cale was stalking toward him. Each step sent a shiver up his spine. He held the alpha’s gaze, aware that he was nearly trembling in anticipation. Jaden lifted the blanket and extended it as an invitation.

Cale sat next to him, allowing the other wolf to drape half of the blanket over his shoulders. They leaned closer. This time was different somehow and they both knew it.

Seconds slowly ticked by as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Jaden didn’t think either of them was moving, but suddenly they were nose to nose again. The overwhelming scent of his true mate washed over him. He blinked and their mouths were against each other.

This time there was nothing chaste about it. The moment their lips touched they parted and their tongues began to duel. Jaden tangled his fingers in Cale’s hair and felt the alpha’s hands run down his sides.

Cale grabbed him by the hips and pulled him onto his lap. Jaden straddled him without breaking the kiss, marveling at how perfectly they seemed to fit together. In past trysts he hadn’t felt comfortable in that position, but he could have stayed right there for hours. He draped an arm around Cale’s shoulders and pressed closer, feeling the heat from the alpha’s chest through their clothes. Was the little shack even cold anymore?

A chilly hand slipped under his shirt, sending a shiver up Jaden’s spine. Knowing Cale’s hands would warm up soon, he focused on kissing. An icy finger teased over his nipple, the cold hardened it almost instantly. Cale’s finger rubbed across it again, eliciting a moan from Jaden. In response, the alpha did it again, this time catching it between two fingers and gently pinching. Jaden’s fingers tightened in his hair and his entire body seemed to quiver. With his other hand, Cale grazed his fingernails up Jaden’s back, testing out what the omega liked. He was rewarded with another groan of pleasure.

He nipped at Jaden’s tongue. The omega responded by returning the gesture, nipping at Cale’s lower lip. Instead of a quick nip, he bit down and tugged it into his mouth, giving it a good, hard suck. Cale sighed against him and gave his nipple a harder tweak. Jaden bit harder in surprise and involuntarily ground his hips against Cale’s.

Their cocks brushed against each other, sending a thrill of excitement through them, even with pants between them. Cale returned his hands to Jaden’s hips and tugged, rocking the omega against him again. Jaden took the hint and thrust against him several times, seeking the friction against his own dick, as much as he made sure to rub against Cale’s.

For the first time, the kiss broke as Jaden threw his head back with a gasp. His bared neck was irresistible and Cale lunged forward the moment he saw it, latching his teeth firmly onto the exposed flesh.

Jaden had never let anyone bite him there. It was too symbolic of submission and mating. But the feel of Cale’s teeth clamped onto his throat was suddenly the most erotic thing he had ever felt. He ground himself against the alpha, trying to get even closer. With anyone else Jaden would have shoved the offender away; resisted the display of power. Instead, he arched his neck back further and pressed it into the bite. He felt Cale’s grip tighten and heard his own breath rasp and quicken.

One of Cale’s hands slipped into Jaden’s pants and the omega jumped as it brushed against his rock-hard penis. He shivered at the contact, but not from cold this time. He moaned as Cale’s hand wrapped around him, stroking gently. He released his grip on Cale’s hair and reached down to undo the alpha’s pants. Cale’s dick practically sprang out to meet him and Jaden quickly matched the other wolf’s pace.

Cale released his throat and Jaden gratefully took a deep, unimpeded breath and dropped his forehead onto the alpha’s shoulder, shuddering as Cale’s hand sped up. Jaden took a deep breath, nose pressed against the bare flesh of the alpha’s throat, inhaling the marvelous scent. Cale smelled different now. His usual scent was strong with arousal and lust.

Jaden felt the urge to bite him back. Not on the front, in a dominant move, but just on the side. Cale’s neck vibrated with a moan of pleasure as Jaden took hold, and the omega was glad he had gone for it. He could almost feel Cale’s pulse hammering beneath his jaws. He swiped his tongue out, tasting the flesh. He could have licked every inch of the man. If it wasn’t so cold, Jaden was sure he’d strip the alpha naked and do just that.

There was no telling how much time had passed. All Jaden knew was that he was in heaven under Cale’s touch. When the alpha eased him off of his lap and switched their positions, Jaden never questioned if he actually wanted to have sex. His body was screaming for it. Cale tugged down his pants and dropped to his knees. He licked up the length of Jaden’s cock, sending a jolt of pleasure through the man.

It was immediately followed by a shiver as the cold air hit his now-wet skin.

“Are you cold?” Cale asked. His deeper, huskier voice sent a chill of its own through Jaden.

“It’s okay, I’ll be fine,” Jaden said.

“Nonsense. I want you to enjoy this.”

With that, Cale urged Jaden to roll over to his knees. He positioned himself behind the omega and flung the blanket over them, shutting out the cold.

For a moment, Jaden marveled at the thoughtfulness. Then Cale’s finger drove into him, driving out any coherent thoughts Jaden had.

Jaden accepted the digit easily, pushing back against Cale’s hand when he sensed the alpha hesitating. A second finger quickly joined the first at the encouragement.

“You’re slick already,” Cale breathed.

“I want you.”

The alpha groaned in response and pushed his fingers in deeper, seeking Jaden’s sweet spot. His fingers brushed it and Jaden bucked against him with a cry of pleasure. Cale made note of the location and scissored his fingers, taking care to return to the spot. Each time he was rewarded with another gasp from Jaden.

“Are you ready?” asked Cale.

“Yes!”

Cale took a moment to slip his pants down, sucking in a breath as the blanket slid away and a blast of cold air hit him. He quickly readjusted the blanket and then pushed forward and into Jaden.

“Oh fuck,” Jaden gasped as the alpha’s cock slid inside him, filling him. He felt the press of the alpha knot against him and braced himself. It was his first time with an alpha, but somewhere along the way dreading the idea had turned into embracing it. “Knot me,” he moaned, raising his ass and pushing into the alpha.

Cale obliged. Jaden gasped as he stretched to accommodate the knot. It was painful, but somehow pleasurable at the same time.

“Just relax.” One of Cale’s hands returned to Jaden’s cock, stroking it gently.

A half-moan, half-sigh escaped Jaden’s lips and he blew out a long breath after it, relaxing into the touch. All at once, Cale slipped forward and he felt the bare skin of the alpha’s crotch against his buttocks. Cale wrapped an arm around his chest, supporting him, his other hand speeding up.

Once Jaden was practically grinding against him, Cale started thrusting. Jaden yelped once, then started groaning in pleasure and rocking in time with Cale.

Cale couldn’t believe how hot and tight the omega was. He knew he wasn’t going to last long. One of Jaden’s hands reached back and locked around his thigh, holding him in place and the voice was silenced.

The alpha thrust harder, matching his pace with his hand. Jaden slammed back to meet him every time.

“I’m gonna…” Jaden moaned.

Cale bent down and clamped his teeth around the back of Jaden’s neck. The omega howled and drove his ass against him. The movement pushed Cale over the edge. He released Jaden’s neck, threw back his head, and howled with his mate.

Their twin voices rivaled the wind as they came together.