and pressed his lips over Declan’s, but Sean kept the kiss short, a mere fluttering of butterfly wings. Declan cupped the back of Sean’s head and dragged him in for a deeper kiss, thrusting his tongue inside Sean’s mouth, seeking the taste of Sean.
He felt Sean grip his shoulders and wondered if Sean intended to push him away, but satisfaction roared through him when Sean only dug in his fingers and held on tight. Declan snaked his free arm around Sean’s waist, pulling him closer until Sean straddled his lap and their hard cocks were aligned. It pleased him to find Sean as aroused as him. “Sean,” Declan growled into Sean’s mouth.
A small moan sank into Declan and he thrust his hips upward, grinding them together. Sean gasped and gave an involuntary jerk of his pelvis. Declan could feel Sean trembling and forced himself to break the kiss and ensure his mate wasn’t in pain. Sean’s cheeks were flushed, lips swollen, and his eyes were closed as he panted. Declan’s nostrils flared as he tried to scent anything above Sean’s arousal. Sean’s eyelids flickered open and Declan could see lust in the deep blue. “Declan?” Sean rasped.
Declan leaned his forehead against Sean’s and breathed in deeply. He berated himself for losing control yet again. He needed to keep from being alone around Sean until he’d prepared Sean. “Declan?” Sean questioned again, this time his voice quivering with uncertainty.
Raising his head, Declan threaded his fingers through Sean’s hair. “It’s okay, baby. I’m sorry. I lost control.”
Sean frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“I was too rough.”
Comprehension dawned on Sean’s features. “No.”
Declan traced over the stubble burns along Sean’s chin. “You’re still healing.”
Frustration curtained Sean’s face. “I’m fine! I liked what we… uh … what we were…”
Tenderness caused Declan to chuckle at Sean’s stammering. He placed another soft kiss to Sean’s lips. “I know you did, baby.” He slid his hand down between them to cup Sean’s erection through the thin sweat pants, giving it a small squeeze, and relishing the gasp Sean set free. “Do you truly understand where what we are doing will lead, Sean?”
Again, confusion lit Sean’s gaze.
“Do you know what sex is?” Declan asked.
Sean seemed to shut down then and he looked everywhere except at Declan. “Like what my father did to Sam and Tara?”
“No!” Declan growled. “What that man did to them was rape.”
Declan could sense Sean becoming overwhelmed again as he had the previous night and decided to let it go. He kissed Sean’s temple. “It’s okay, Sean. We can discuss this another time.”
Sean shook his head. “No. I-I just… I want to know. I’ve seen things. On T.V. My father would watch them. He would do things to Tara and to Sam. Horrible things. Is that what you want to do to me?”
“God, no!” Declan exclaimed, horrified Sean believed him capable of it. He set Sean down amongst the sheets and stood. He paced to one side of the room and back again. This hadn’t been what he’d expected to discuss this morning. The information Victor shared with him the previous evening weighed heavily on him, but so did the need to clarify the difference between rape and making love to his mate. “Do you truly think I could do that to you, Sean?” he asked, stopping at the window to gaze out over the streak compound.
“You want to have sex with me,” Sean said.
“Yes, but I would never hurt you. Ever. What your… that man did to the girls wasn’t done out of care and affection for them. He did it to degrade them, to cause them pain. When sex is between two consenting adults it’s a beautiful, wonderful, amazing thing. It feels right and it feels good.”
“Why?” Sean asked.
Declan turned to look at Sean, frowning. “Why what?”
“Why do you wa-want to have sex with me?” Sean clarified.
There was no way Declan could get out of telling Sean the truth this time. He approached the bed and sank down on the edge where he grabbed Sean’s hand and held it in his own. “There are many legends in the shifter community, Sean. Not having grown up with your kind, it may be hard for you to understand this, but shifters are born with a soul mate, another half, one who is our life mate. When we find them we know it by scent alone. It is rare to encounter them, and some of us go our entire lives without ever meeting our mate.”
Sean nodded. “Sam told me