Riley’s Downfall(37)

“I had no idea it was this bad here,” Ahm said as he turned to look around the room. “I will send some of my shadow warriors to guard the village while Iam is taught how to lead his tribe. The healer will bring back the children.”

“I guess that’s my cue to pack my bags?” Riley asked.

A microscopic twinge tugged at the corner of Ahm’s mouth as he gave one regal bow of his head. “It is.”

“Thank fuck,” Max blurted out and then quickly turned away.

“Excuse my mate. He is a pampered lion,” Chey said with a grin.

“So,” Eagle began, “does this mean I don’t have to teach the elves how to fight?” Sterling could see the disappointment in the grey wolf’s face. He must have been really looking forward to the lessons.

“No, stay. Teach them how to fight and defend their village,” Ahm said. “They could use all of the help they can get.”

“Oh, hell,” Max mumbled.

Riley reached for Sterling, grabbing his hand and heading for the door at a fast pace. “Are we leaving?” Sterling asked as he jogged behind his mate to keep up.

“Not until we know the young man is out of the woods. But once we know he is all right, we’re going home.”

Home! Sterling wanted to do a happy dance. He didn’t mind roughing it for a while here, but there was nothing like cable television and a flushing toilet. He was never going to take those things for granted again.



* * * *



Riley sighed happily as Sterling’s tongue licked leisurely up the side of his neck and then back down the other side until he reached Riley’s throat. The tip of his tongue lingered around Riley’s Adam’s apple, teasing it gently with his teeth as his mate moaned. Sterling was draped over him, his cock digging into Riley’s stomach, and the moisture leaking onto his abdomen only reminding Riley that he had one sexy-ass man lying above him. He had his hands tucked behind his head, his legs spread, and Sterling lapping at his skin.

His mate’s hands were causing havoc with every inch of skin that they reached and stroked. The man seemed to know just where to touch Riley in order to drive him out of his mind. Sterling’s fingers lingered on the body hair Riley had an ample amount of, tugging at it gently as he made his way around to Riley’s ear, nibbling on the lobe. Riley gave a little growl at the sensations rushing through him. The pleasure felt like soft currents lapping through his body.

Sterling kissed Riley’s jaw and then licked his way around to the other side, doing to the same to the opposite ear. He was taking his sweet time and driving Riley nuts. He shivered when Sterling leaned to his side and began to kiss and lick one thick bicep. The man seemed to be enthralled with Riley’s large muscles, as if he couldn’t get enough of them.

His mate’s hands were caressing his pecs, his fingers pinching and pulling at Riley’s nipples. Riley groaned, turning his head so he could watch his mate lick his damn muscles like a seducer. The man knew what he was doing and was doing it very well.

The moves were slow, lazy even, but Riley could see Sterling closing his eyes as if he were enjoying every second of what he was doing. Riley sure as hell was.

Riley had worried that things between them would be strained when they returned to the ranch. He worried that he wouldn’t feel as comfortable being affectionate with his mate as he had at the village. He had feared that once they came back to his bedroom, things would be awkward between the two of them.

He was so fucking wrong.

They had barely gotten in the door before Riley was pulling Sterling up the stairs to claim him again, and Sterling had seemed just as anxious to be back in Riley’s arms. All Riley could think about was how proud he was to be Sterling’s mate, and how special he had felt when his little mate stood up to a man who scared even Riley, just to defend him.

Had anyone ever had a more wonderful mate?

He had wanted to toss Sterling to the dirt floor in the hut everyone had been standing in, not caring who was watching as he claimed his sexy, braver-than-he-truly-was mate. It had made his cock hard hearing Sterling tell Ahm off. It had been even sexier when Sterling had proclaimed that Riley was his bear in front of everyone.

Sterling was perfect.

Riley almost laughed at how hard he had fought his mating with the human. He had been so stupid to deny Sterling. He finally understood why all of his brothers, and his father, too, turned into such saps when it came to their mates.

They couldn’t help it.

And now Riley could see why. Sterling had become the best part of his life. Riley didn’t want the man to leave his side—which was one big-ass contradiction to how he had been acting just a few short days ago.