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Grace woke to an all-consuming need.
For a moment, he was disoriented, his body was on fire, his cock achingly hard, and every nerve ending was screaming at him to move, to take, to claim. His heart was pounding, his breathing harsh, and there was a primal urgency flooding through him that he'd never felt before.
No. That wasn't true. He'd felt it before, years ago, before the suppressants. Before they had given him the medication that kept his alpha nature locked down tight.
This was a rut.
"No, no, no-" Grace breathed, his voice rough and strained.
He'd just gotten Simon through his heat. They'd had three beautiful days of recovery, of bonding, of building something real between them, Simon’s must have somehow subconsciously triggered it or something. Now his body was going to demand this. Now of all times.
But even as the thought formed, he was already focused on something else. Someone else.
Simon was right there, warm and soft beside him, his scent filling Grace's lungs with every breath. That omega scent that had driven Grace wild during the heat, that had made his alpha instincts roar with satisfaction every time he'd made Simon cum. But this was different, sharper, more urgent, more demanding.
Grace's hand was already moving before he could stop it, reaching for Simon, and he forced himself to freeze. No. He couldn't just- he had to ask, had to make sure Simon was okay with this, had to-
Simon stirred, making a soft sound in his sleep, and Grace caught the exact moment Simon's body registered the change in his scent. Simon's breathing shifted, his body going tense for a moment, and then-
Then Simon was moving.
Still mostly asleep, his body responding on pure instinct, Simon rolled onto his stomach. His hips lifted slightly, his legs spreading just enough, his head turning to the side on the pillow. Presenting.
Grace's alpha roared with approval, with need, with the overwhelming urge to mount and claim and take, but he forced himself to stay still. Forced himself to think through the haze of rut.
"Simon." He said, his voice coming out rougher than he intended. "Simon, wake up. I need- I need to tell you something."
Simon made a soft sound, his eye opening slowly. For a moment he looked confused, still half-asleep, and then awareness flooded in. His eye widened as he took in Grace's state, the tension in his body, the way his hands were fisted in the sheets, the barely-controlled desperation in his expression.
"Ryland?" Simon's voice was sleep-rough, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"My rut…" Grace managed, and even saying the words made his body throb with need. "It's- I didn't expect- we just got through your heat I think it triggered it and I thought I'd have more time but-"
He was rambling, he knew he was rambling, but he couldn't seem to stop. "I don't know if I can be gentle like I was for you. I don't know if I can be careful. During your heat I could control it, I could focus on taking care of you, but this is different. A rut is different. I'm not sure if I can-"
"Ryland." Simon said, and his voice was clearer now, more awake. He shifted, turning his head to look at Grace properly, and Grace could see the understanding dawning in his expression. "You're asking if I can handle it."
"I don't want to hurt you." Grace said desperately. "You just went through so much, your body just recovered, and I don't want to-"
Simon pushed himself up on his hand, turning to face Grace fully. His dark eye was steady, clear, and there was something almost amused in his expression.
"Ryland." Simon said, and he gestured to his left side to the patchwork of scars, the missing arm, the evidence of everything he'd survived. "Do I look fragile to you?"
Grace opened his mouth, closed it again. His cock was throbbing, aching, and the sight of Simon, scarred and strong and utterly unafraid, made something primal surge in his chest.
"I survived the blood moon." Simon said, his voice steady and certain. "I survived losing my arm, half my vision, nearly dying more times than I can count. I'm not going to break because you fuck me rough."
The words sent a bolt of pure heat straight to Grace's cock, and he felt his control slipping like sand through his fingers. His alpha hindbrain was roaring now, demanding, insistent.
"I can take it." Simon said, and his voice dropped lower, rougher, edged with his own need. "I want to take it. So stop overthinking and just fuck me already."
Something in Grace snapped.
The careful control he'd been maintaining shattered like glass, and his alpha surged forward with a growl that was barely human. He moved before conscious thought could catch up his hands grabbing Simon's hips and flipping him onto his stomach with a strength that made Simon gasp.
"Yes." Simon breathed, already spreading his legs wider, his hand bracing against the mattress. "Yes, Ryland, like that-"
Grace's hands were shaking as he grabbed the waistband of Simon's sweats, yanking them down and off in one rough motion. The fabric caught briefly on Simon's ankle before Grace tossed them aside, and then Simon was bare before him, tanned skin marked with old scars, the curve of his ass, the backs of his thighs already glistening with slick.
The scent hit Grace like a physical blow. Sweet and musky and utterly intoxicating, Simon's omega scent mixed with arousal and the beginning of slick production. Grace's mouth watered, his cock throbbed so hard it was almost painful, and he could feel his knot already starting to swell at the base.
"God, Simon." Grace's voice came out as a growl. "You smell so good. I can smell how much you want this."
"Then give it to me." Simon demanded, arching his back to present himself more fully. The position made his ass lift higher. "Stop talking and fuck me, Ryland. I need it. Need you."
Grace's hand slid between Simon's legs, and the first touch of slick against his fingers made him groan. Simon was wet, not as drenched as he'd been during heat, but slick enough that Grace's fingers slid easily through the mess. He found Simon's entrance and pushed two fingers inside without preamble, without the careful gentleness he'd used before.
"Fuck!" Simon gasped, his body clenching tight around the intrusion before relaxing, accepting. "Yes, more, don't be careful-"
The inside of Simon's body was hot, so hot it almost burned and impossibly soft. Grace could feel the slick coating his fingers, could feel the way Simon's muscles rippled and clenched, trying to pull him deeper. He added a third finger, stretching Simon quickly, efficiently, and Simon pushed back against his hand with a low moan that went straight to Grace's cock.
"You're so tight." Grace said, his voice rough as he worked his fingers deeper, spreading them, feeling Simon's body yield. "Even with the slick, you're gripping my fingers so hard. Gonna feel so good around me."
"Then stop teasing." Simon panted, his hand fisting in the pillow, his hips rocking back to take Grace's fingers deeper. "I'm ready, Ryland, I'm ready, please-"
Grace pulled his fingers out, and the sight of them coated in clear, slick fluid, glistening in the dim light, made his alpha roar with satisfaction. He brought them to his mouth without thinking, tasting, and the flavor exploded on his tongue. Sweet and slightly musky, uniquely Simon, and Grace groaned at the taste.
"Ryland." Simon's voice was wrecked, desperate. "Please, I need your cock, need you inside me, need-"
Grace lined himself up, the head of his cock pressing against Simon's slick entrance, and he could feel the heat radiating from Simon's body.
He didn't ease in slowly this time.
Grace pushed inside in one hard, brutal thrust, and they both cried out at the intensity of it.
The sensation was overwhelming. Simon's body was tight, so impossibly tight despite the slick and hot and soft and perfect. Grace could feel every inch of Simon gripping his cock, could feel the slick coating him, making the slide smooth but the grip intense. The heat was incredible, almost burning, and Grace could feel Simon's muscles rippling around him, clenching and releasing as Simon's body struggled to adjust to the sudden intrusion.
"Oh fuck, oh fuck" Simon gasped, his body going rigid for a moment before relaxing, accepting. "Yes, yes, Ryland, so full-"
Grace was buried to the hilt, his hips pressed flush against Simon's ass, and he could feel his cock throbbing inside Simon's body. Could feel the way Simon was clenching around him, could feel the slick dripping down his balls, could feel everything.
"So tight." Grace groaned, his hands gripping Simon's hips hard enough to bruise. "God, Simon, you feel so fucking good. So perfect. Made for this. Made for me."
"Yes." Simon agreed breathlessly, already trying to push back, trying to get more. "Made for you, only you, now move, Ryland, please move"
Grace pulled back until just the head of his cock remained inside, and then he slammed back in.
The pace was brutal from the start. Grace's hips snapped forward hard and fast, driving deep, and he could hear the wet slap of skin on skin, could hear Simon's broken gasps, could feel the way Simon's body was taking him. Each thrust drove the air from Simon's lungs in sharp gasps, each withdrawal made Simon whimper at the loss, and then Grace was slamming back in and Simon was crying out in pleasure.
Grace was mindful even through the haze of rut his right hand gripped Simon's right hip, pulling him back to meet each thrust. "That's it." Grace growled, his voice barely human. "Take it. Take all of it. Show me how strong you are."
"Harder." Simon demanded, his voice breaking on the word. "Ryland, harder, I can take it, I want it-"
Grace's hand slid up Simon's back, pressing between his shoulder blades, and the pressure made Simon's back arch more, made him present more fully. The angle changed, and suddenly Grace was hitting that spot inside Simon that made him shake, made him cry out, made his whole body tremble.
"Right there!" Simon shouted, his voice raw. "Fuck, Ryland, right there, don't stop, please don't stop-"
Grace didn't stop. He drove into that spot relentlessly, feeling Simon's body tightening around him, feeling the slick getting wetter, hotter. He could feel his own precum mixing with Simon's slick, making everything wetter, making the slide even smoother while the grip stayed impossibly tight.
The sounds were obscene, Simon's broken gasps and moans, Grace's harsh breathing and possessive growls. The scent in the air was thick with sex and arousal and alpha and omega, and it made Grace's head spin with need.
"Touch yourself." Grace commanded, his voice rough and demanding. "I want to feel you cum on me- Want to feel you clench around me when you cum."
Simon's hand immediately went to his cock, and Grace could feel the shift in position, could feel the way it made Simon's body angle differently. Simon stroked himself frantically, his body shaking with the intensity of sensation, Grace's cock driving deep inside him, his own hand on his cock, the overwhelming pleasure building and building.
"That's it." Grace growled, his own pleasure building, his knot starting to swell. "Good Starlight. So good for me. Taking my cock so well. Gonna make you cum so hard."
"Ryland." Simon gasped, his voice wrecked and desperate. "I'm close, I'm so close, please-"
"Cum for me." Grace demanded, slamming in harder, deeper, hitting that spot with every thrust. "Cum for me, Simon. Show me how much you love this. Show me how much you love me inside you."
Simon came with a shout that echoed through the room, his body clenching so hard around Grace's cock that it almost hurt. Grace could feel it the way Simon's muscles locked down, rippling and pulsing around his cock, trying to milk him. Could feel the way Simon's whole body shook, could hear the broken sounds Simon was making, could feel the hot splash of Simon's release on the sheets below them.
The sensation pushed Grace over the edge. He came with a yell, his hips stuttering, and he felt his knot swell rapidly, stretching Simon even wider, and then locking them together with a pop that made them both gasp.
"Fuck." Simon breathed, his voice shaking. "Ryland, I can feel it, can feel you filling me, so much"
But unlike during Simon's heat, Grace didn't stop moving. His rut demanded more, demanded he keep claiming, and he ground his hips against Simon's ass, making his knot shift inside Simon's body. The sensation made Simon cry out not in pain, but in overwhelming pleasure mixed with the edge of too much.
"Ryland!" Simon gasped, his body trembling. "Holy shit, I can't, it's too much-"
"You can." Grace said, his voice rough and possessive. His hand slid around to wrap around Simon's cock again, finding it already starting to harden again despite having just cum. "You're going to cum again. On my knot. Show me how good I make you feel."
Simon made a broken sound, half-sob, half-moan, as Grace's hand worked his oversensitive cock. The sensation was intense too much and not enough all at once. His body was still trembling from the first orgasm, still clenching rhythmically around Grace's knot, and now Grace was demanding more.
"I can't." Simon gasped, but even as he said it, his cock was hardening in Grace's grip, his body responding despite his protests. "Ryland, it's too much, I just came, I can't-"
"You can." Grace growled, his hand stroking firmly, his knot still locked deep inside and grinding against that spot that made Simon see stars. "Your body knows what to do. It wants this. You want this. I can feel how hard you're getting for me."
It was true. Despite the overwhelming sensation, despite the way his body was shaking with overstimulation, Simon's cock was filling rapidly in Grace's hand. The combination of Grace's knot pressing against his prostate, the possessive grip on his cock, the alpha scent surrounding him it was pushing him toward another edge impossibly fast.
"That's it." Grace murmured, his voice rough with satisfaction. "So good…. Taking everything I give you. Gonna make you cum again, gonna feel you clench around my knot while you do."
Grace's hand moved faster, his grip firm and sure, and he ground his hips in small circles that made his knot shift and press inside Simon's body. The sensation was overwhelming pleasure so intense it bordered on pain, and Simon could feel himself getting close again despite having just cum.
"Ryland." Simon sobbed, his body trembling violently. "Please, I'm gonna- I can't-"
"Cum for me." Grace commanded, his hand stroking faster, his knot grinding harder. "Cum on my knot, Simon. Show me you're mine."
Simon came with a broken cry, his body clenching so hard around Grace's knot that Grace groaned. The orgasm was different this time, sharper, more intense, almost painful in its intensity. His cock pulsed in Grace's hand, releasing in weak spurts, and his whole body shook with the force of it.
Grace held him through it, his hand gentling on Simon's cock, his other arm wrapping around Simon's chest to hold him close. He pressed kisses to Simon's shoulder, his neck, murmuring praise that Simon could barely hear through the ringing in his ears.
"So good." Grace murmured. "So perfect. Did so well for me, Starlight. So good."
They stayed locked together for long minutes, Grace's knot slowly softening, and when it finally released with a wet pop, Simon whimpered at the sensation. He could feel Grace's release leaking from his body, warm and wet, and Grace's satisfied rumble told him the alpha could see it too.
Grace carefully pulled out, and Simon collapsed more onto the mattress, boneless and trembling. He could feel the mess between his legs slick and cum and his body ached in the best way.
"Stay still." Grace said softly, and Simon heard him moving. A moment later, a warm cloth was gently cleaning him, and Simon made a soft sound of appreciation.
Grace was thorough and gentle, cleaning away the mess, and when he was done, he gathered Simon close. Simon went willingly, curling against Grace's chest, and Grace's arms wrapped around him protectively.
"You okay?" Grace asked, his voice soft now, the roughness of rut temporarily satisfied. "Was I too rough? Did I hurt you?"
"No." Simon said, his voice hoarse but certain. "I'm good. Sore, but good. That was intense."
"Yeah." Grace agreed, pressing a kiss to Simon's hair. "The rut is…it's more than I expected. More intense. I need you so much it's almost scary."
"I can take it." Simon said, tilting his head to look up at Grace. "I told you I'm not fragile. I can handle whatever you need to give me."
Grace's expression softened, and he cupped Simon's face gently. "I know. But I still need to make sure you're okay. Need to take care of you."
"You are." Simon said, leaning into the touch. "You're taking care of me perfectly."
They lay together in comfortable silence, and Simon felt himself starting to drift. His body was exhausted, satisfied, and Grace's warmth was comforting. He was almost asleep when Grace spoke again.
"I love you." Grace said softly. "So much, Simon. You're everything to me."
"Love you too." Simon murmured, already half-asleep.
Grace's arms tightened around him, and Simon felt safe and claimed and perfectly content as he drifted off to sleep.
Grace woke maybe two hours later, and the need was even stronger than before.
His cock was already hard, pressing insistently against Simon's thigh, and the urge to claim was overwhelming. The rut wasn't fading, it was building, intensifying, and Grace's alpha brain was demanding more. More claiming, more possession, more proof that Simon was his.
The scent in the air was thick and intoxicating, their previous moment still lingering, mixed with Simon's scent and the faint sweetness of slick. Grace inhaled deeply, and the scent went straight to his cock, making it throb with need.
Simon stirred against him, making a soft sound, and Grace could smell the change in his scent immediately. Arousal, sharp and sweet, mixing with something else a hint of soreness, of tenderness, but also readiness. Simon's body was responding even before he was fully awake, recognizing what Grace needed.
Grace's hand slid over Simon's hip, and he could feel the slight tremor in Simon's muscles. Tender from their previous session, but still responsive. Still willing.
"Again?" Simon asked, his voice rough with sleep but not surprised. There was a breathless quality to it, anticipation mixed with awareness of his body's soreness.
"Yes." Grace said, and his voice came out as almost a growl. The rut was stronger now, more demanding, and he could feel his control slipping further. "Need you again. Need to claim you again."
"Good." Simon said, and he was already moving, rolling onto his stomach with a soft groan. The movement was slower than before, his body protesting slightly, but he spread his legs willingly. Eagerly. "Take me, Ryland. I want it."
Grace moved over him, his hands sliding over Simon's back, and he could feel the heat of Simon's skin. Could feel the slight tension in his muscles, the way his body was both sore and aroused. Grace's hands were gentler this time as they traced over Simon's spine, checking, assessing.
"You're tender." Grace said, his voice rough with concern and desire. "I can feel it. Can smell it."
"I'm fine." Simon said, pushing his hips back in clear invitation. "I can take it. I want it. Please, Ryland."
Grace's hand slid between Simon's legs, and the first touch made them both groan. Simon was slick, not as much as during heat, but more than before. His body was producing it steadily now, responding to Grace's rut, preparing itself. But there was something different about the texture thicker, warmer, and when Grace's fingers found Simon's entrance, he could feel how it was different now.
Simon's was more open than before. Still tight, but yielding more easily to Grace's touch. The first time had stretched him, opened him, and now his body remembered. Grace pushed two fingers inside, and Simon gasped at the intrusion not in pain, but in a mix of pleasure and the sharp awareness of tenderness.
"Fuck." Simon breathed, his hand fisting in the pillow. "I can feel- I'm more sensitive now. Everything feels more intense."
"Good." Grace growled, working his fingers deeper, feeling the slick coating them, feeling the heat of Simon's body. "Want you to feel everything. Want you to feel how much I need you."
He added a third finger, and Simon's body accepted it more easily than before, but Grace could feel the slight clench of discomfort mixed with pleasure. Simon was sore, tender, but his body was still responding, still wanting.
"More." Simon demanded, his voice breathless. "Stop preparing me and just fuck me. I'm ready. I'm open. I need your cock, not your fingers."
Grace pulled his fingers out, and the sight of them coated in slick, thicker and more abundant than before made him feel such satisfaction. He lined himself up, the head of his cock pressing against Simon's entrance, and he could feel the heat radiating from Simon's body.
This time when he pushed inside, it was different.
Simon's body yielded more easily, the stretch less intense but the sensation somehow more overwhelming. Grace could feel every inch of Simon as he slid inside hot and slick and gripping him perfectly. The tenderness made Simon more sensitive, made him gasp and clench around Grace's cock in ways that sent sparks of pleasure up Grace's spine.
"Oh God." Simon moaned, his body trembling as Grace filled him completely. "You feel bigger. Everything feels bigger. More."
"You're more sensitive." Grace said, his voice strained as he fought for control. "Your body is tender from before. Every sensation is more intense."
"Yes." Simon agreed, his voice breaking. "Don't stop. I want to feel it. Want to feel everything."
Grace pulled back and thrust in again, and the pace he set was harder than before. More demanding. The rut was building, intensifying, and his control was slipping further with each thrust. His hips snapped forward with bruising force, driving deep, and Simon was taking it all.
The sounds were even more obscene than before, wetter, louder. Grace could hear the slick with each thrust, could hear Simon's broken gasps and moans, could hear his own harsh breathing and possessive growls. The scent in the air was overwhelming, sex and arousal and alpha and omega and the lingering evidence of their previous time together.
"Harder." Simon gasped, even though Grace could feel his body trembling with the intensity. "Ryland, harder, I need-"
Grace's hand slid up Simon's back, pressing between his shoulder blades, pinning him down. The position arched Simon's back more again, changed the angle, and suddenly Grace was hitting that spot inside Simon with every thrust. Simon cried out, his body clenching hard around Grace's cock, and Grace could feel him shaking.
"That's it." Grace growled, his voice barely human now. "Take it. Take everything I give you. You're mine. Mine to claim. Mine to fuck. Mine."
"Yours." Simon sobbed, his body trembling violently. "Always yours, Ryland, only yours"
Grace could feel his knot starting to swell already faster than before, harder than before. The rut was intensifying, and his body was responding with increasing urgency. He could feel the pressure building at the base of his cock, could feel it thickening, stretching Simon even wider with each thrust.
"Touch yourself." Grace commanded, his voice rough and demanding. "Want to feel you cum on my cock. Want to feel you clench around my knot."
Simon's hand went to his cock immediately, and Grace could feel the shift in his body, the way it changed the angle slightly. Simon stroked himself frantically, and Grace could feel through the connection of their bodies how close Simon was how the combination of Grace's cock hitting his prostate and his own hand on his cock was pushing him toward the edge impossibly fast.
"Close." Simon gasped. "Ryland, I'm so close, please-"
"Cum for me." Grace growled, slamming in harder, his knot swelling rapidly now. "Cum for me. Show me you're mine."
Simon came with a shout, his body clenching so hard around Grace's cock that it triggered Grace's own orgasm. Grace cried out as he came, his knot swelling fully and locking them together with a pop that made them both cry out. His cock pulsed inside Simon's body, releasing in hot spurts, and he could feel it filling Simon, could feel the way Simon's body accepted it, milking him.
The sensation was more intense than before, sharper, more overwhelming. Grace's vision whited out, and for a moment all he could feel was the pleasure, the satisfaction, the primal triumph of claiming his omega again.
When awareness returned, Grace was collapsed over Simon's back, both of them trembling and gasping for breath. His knot was locked deep inside, still pulsing, and he could feel Simon's body clenching rhythmically around it.
"Holy fuck." Simon breathed, his voice wrecked. "That was even more intense than before."
"Yeah." Grace agreed, carefully shifting his weight so he wasn't crushing Simon. "The rut is building. Getting stronger. I needed you even more this time."
"I could tell." Simon said, and there was satisfaction in his voice despite the exhaustion. "You were rougher. More possessive. I loved it."
Grace pressed gentle kisses to Simon's shoulder, his neck, anywhere he could reach. "You're amazing." he murmured. "Taking everything I give you. So strong. So perfect."
They lay there locked together, and Grace held Simon close, feeling the bond between them strengthening with each claiming. This was more than just physical. This was building something deeper, something profound.
When the knot finally released, Grace carefully pulled out and immediately reached for the cloth to clean them both. Simon whimpered softly at the sensation, his body clearly tender now, and Grace was extra gentle as he cleaned away the mess.
"Water." Grace said, helping Simon roll onto his side and bringing a bottle to his lips. "Drink for me, Starlight."
Simon drank obediently, and Grace could see the exhaustion in his face, the satisfied flush on his skin, the marks already forming on his hips and back. Evidence of Grace's claim.
"Sleep now." Grace said softly, gathering Simon close. "Rest while you can. The rut isn't over yet."
"I know." Simon murmured, already drifting off. "I can feel it. Can smell it on you. You'll need me again soon."
"Yeah." Grace agreed, holding Simon protectively. "But I'll always take care of you. Always make sure you're okay."
"I know." Simon said, and then he was asleep, trusting and content in Grace's arms.
Grace held him close, feeling the rut still simmering under his skin, knowing it would demand more soon. But for now, this was enough. Simon was claimed, satisfied, and safe in his arms.
And that was everything.
Grace woke as pale morning light filtered through the window, soft and golden, painting everything in gentle warmth.
For a moment, he simply lay there, watching the way the light touched Simon's skin illuminating the curve of his shoulder, the line of his jaw, the dark fan of his lashes against his cheek. Simon was still asleep, curled against Grace's side, his breathing slow and even, his body relaxed and warm.
The rut was there, simmering under Grace's skin, but it was different now. Not the frantic urgency of the night before, but something deeper. A slow, insistent need that built with each breath, each heartbeat, each moment he spent watching Simon sleep.
Grace's hand moved almost of its own accord, sliding over Simon's hip, tracing the bruises that were forming the dark purple marks in the shape of Grace's fingers. Evidence of his claim. Evidence of his possession. The sight sent a bolt of satisfaction through him, primal and possessive, and he felt his cock beginning to harden.
Simon stirred at the touch, making a soft sound, and Grace watched as his eye slowly opened. For a moment, Simon looked confused, disoriented by sleep, and then awareness flooded in. His gaze found Grace's face, and something softened in his expression.
"Morning." Simon said, his voice rough with sleep, and Grace could hear the exhaustion there, but also something else. Contentment. Satisfaction.
"Morning." Grace said, and he couldn't keep the roughness out of his own voice. The need was building, spreading through his body like heat, and he knew Simon could see it in his face. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore." Simon admitted, but there was a small smile on his lips. "But good. Really good."
Grace's hand slid up Simon's side, feeling the warmth of his skin, the slight tremor in his muscles. "I need you again." he said, his voice low and honest. "Not as rough as before. But I need you. Need to be inside you. Need to see you."
Simon's eye darkened with arousal, and Grace watched as his body respondedhis breathing quickening, his scent shifting to something sweeter, more inviting. "Yes." Simon said simply. "I want that too."
Grace moved slowly, carefully, helping Simon roll onto his back. The morning light illuminated Simon's body fully now the scars, the bruises Grace had left, the flush spreading across his chest, the way his cock was already starting to fill. He was beautiful like this, marked and claimed and willing.
Grace positioned himself over Simon, bracing on his hands on either side of Simon's head, and he could see the way Simon's eye dilated at the position. Grace was bigger, and right now he was using that, caging Simon in, surrounding him, claiming the space around him.
"I want to see you." Grace said, his voice rough with need and emotion. "Want to watch your face while I'm inside you. Want to see every expression. Want to see what I do to you."
"Yes." Simon breathed, his hand coming up to rest on Grace's shoulder. "Want you to see me. Want you to see everything."
Grace leaned down, capturing Simon's lips in a kiss that was slow and deep and possessive. He could taste sleep and something uniquely Simon, and when he pulled back, Simon's lips were swollen and his breathing was ragged.
Grace's hand slid down Simon's body, tracing over his chest, his stomach, and then between his legs. The first touch made them both groan, Simon was already starting to slick, his body responding to Grace's need, preparing itself without conscious thought.
"You're always so ready for me." Grace murmured, his fingers sliding through the slick, finding Simon's entrance. "Your body knows what I need. Knows what you need."
"Yes." Simon gasped as Grace pushed two fingers inside, slow and careful. "Always ready for you. Always want you."
Grace worked him carefully, watching Simon's face the entire time. He could see every flicker of pleasure, every gasp, every moment when his fingers hit that spot inside that made Simon's eye flutter closed. The morning light made everything more visible, more intimate, and Grace felt something tighten in his chest.
"You're so beautiful like this." Grace said, adding a third finger, feeling Simon's body yield to him. "Taking my fingers so well. Opening up for me. Made for this. Made for me."
"Ryland." Simon's voice was breathless, needy. "Please. I'm ready. I need you inside me. Need to feel you."
Grace pulled his fingers out slowly, and Simon whimpered at the loss. Grace positioned himself, the head of his cock pressing against Simon's slick entrance, and he paused there, looking down at Simon's face.
"Look at me." Grace said, and Simon's eye opened immediately, dark and dilated with arousal. "Keep looking at me. Want to see you when I fill you."
He pushed inside slowly, so much slower than the night before and he watched Simon's face the entire time. Watched the way Simon's lips parted on a gasp, the way his eye widened and then fluttered, the way his hand tightened on Grace's shoulder. Grace could feel every inch of Simon's body accepting him hot and slick and gripping him perfectly.
"God." Simon breathed, his body trembling as Grace filled him completely. "You feel so good. So big. So perfect."
Grace was buried to the hilt, his hips pressed flush against Simon's body, and he held still for a moment, just feeling. The heat of Simon's body, the way he was clenching around Grace's cock, the rapid flutter of his pulse visible in his throat. The morning artificial light illuminated everything the flush on Simon's skin, the marks Grace had left, the way Simon's body was stretched around him.
"You're mine." Grace said, his voice rough with emotion and possession. "My Simon. Mine to claim. Mine to protect. Mine to love."
"Yours." Simon agreed, his voice shaking. "Always yours, Ryland. Only yours."
Grace pulled back slowly and thrust in again, setting a pace that was steady and deep but not brutal. Not the frantic claiming of the night before, but something more deliberate. More intimate. Each thrust was measured, controlled, driving deep and hitting that spot inside Simon that made him gasp.
"That's it." Grace murmured, watching Simon's face. "Take me. Take all of me. Show me how good I make you feel."
Simon's hand slid up to cup Grace's face, and the gesture was so tender, so trusting, that Grace felt his chest tighten with overwhelming emotion. "You make me feel perfect." Simon said, his voice breathless but certain. "Complete. Like I was made for this. Made for you."
Grace shifted his weight to one hand and used the other to hook under Simon's knee, pushing his leg up and back. The angle changed, and suddenly he was driving even deeper, and Simon cried out at the sensation.
"Good?" Grace asked, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining control.
"So good." Simon gasped, his body arching up to meet each thrust. "Right there, Ryland, don't stop, please don't stop."
Grace didn't stop. He maintained that deep, steady rhythm, feeling Simon's body responding to him, clenching around him with each thrust. The morning light made everything more vivid he could see the sweat beginning to bead on Simon's skin, could see the way his chest was heaving with each breath, could see the marks he'd already left and feel the satisfaction of knowing he was adding more.
"You're going to be mine forever." Grace said, and the words came out without thought, driven by the rut and something deeper. "Going to mark you. Going to bond with you. Going to make sure everyone knows you belong to me."
"Yes." Simon sobbed, his body trembling. "Yes, Ryland, I want that. Want to be yours forever. Want everyone to know. Want to be bonded to you."
The words sent a bolt of heat straight through Grace, and he felt his control slipping. His pace increased, his thrusts becoming harder, deeper, more demanding. He could feel his knot beginning to swell at the base of his cock, could feel the pressure building, could feel himself getting close.
"Touch yourself." Grace commanded, his voice rough. "Want to feel you cum around me. Want to see your face when you do."
Simon's hand went to his cock immediately, stroking in time with Grace's thrusts, and Grace could see he was close. Could see it in the tension in his body, the way his breathing was changing, the desperate sounds he was making.
"That's it." Grace murmured, driving deeper, harder. "Cum for me, Starlight. Show me how good I make you feel. Show me you're mine."
Simon came with a cry, his body clenching hard around Grace's cock, and Grace watched his face through it all the way his eye went wide and then squeezed shut, the way his mouth opened on a silent scream, the way his whole body shook with the force of it. The sight was so beautiful, so perfect, that it pushed Grace over the edge.
Grace came with a groan, his hips stuttering, and he felt his knot swell and lock them together. His cock pulsed inside Simon's body, releasing in hot spurts, and the sensation was overwhelming pleasure and satisfaction and the primal triumph of claiming him.
He carefully lowered Simon's leg, and then collapsed forward, catching himself on his forearms so he didn't crush Simon. Their faces were inches apart, both of them breathing hard, and Grace could see the satisfaction and love in Simon's eye.
"Love you." Grace said, his voice rough and thick with emotion. "Love you so much, Simon. You're everything to me. Everything."
"Love you too." Simon said, his hand coming up to cup Grace's face again. "My Ryland. My everything."
Grace pressed his forehead against Simon's, and they lay there locked together, breathing in sync, hearts beating in tandem. The morning light surrounded them, warm and golden, and Grace felt a peace he'd never known before.
This was what he'd been searching for. This connection. This intimacy. This love.
And he was never letting it go.
The afternoon sun slanted through the window, warm and golden, painting long shadows across the bed.
Grace woke slowly, awareness returning in stages. Simon was curled against his chest, breathing deeply, and Grace could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. They'd slept for a few hours after the morning session, both exhausted and satisfied, and Grace had made sure Simon ate and drank before they'd dozed off again.
But now the rut was stirring again, building under Grace's skin like a slow fire. Different from before, not the frantic urgency of the night or the tender intensity of the morning. This was something deeper, more insistent. A need that was building toward something profound, something permanent.
Grace could feel it in his bones, in his blood. The rut was reaching its peak, and his alpha side was beginning to demand more than just physical claiming. It wanted something permanent. Something that would tie them together forever.
But not yet. Not quite yet.
For now, Grace just needed to be close to Simon. Needed to feel him, claim him, hold him.
Simon stirred against him, making a soft sound, and Grace's hand slid over his hip, gentle and possessive. "Hey." Grace murmured, his voice rough with sleep and desire.
"Hey." Simon said, his voice still thick with sleep. He shifted slightly, and Grace could feel the soreness in his movements, the way his body was tender from their previous times. "How long did we sleep?"
"A few hours." Grace said, pressing a kiss to Simon's shoulder. "How are you feeling?"
"Sore." Simon admitted, but there was no complaint in his voice. "But good. Really good."
Grace's hand traced over Simon's side, feeling the warmth of his skin, the slight tremor in his muscles. "I need you again." he said softly, honestly. "Not rough this time. Just…..I need to be close to you. Need to hold you while I'm inside you."
Simon's breathing quickened, and Grace could smell the shift in his scent arousal mixing with something softer, more trusting. "Yes." Simon said. "I want that too."
Grace carefully helped Simon roll onto his side, facing away, and then curled his body around Simon's from behind. The position was intimate, protective, and Grace could feel every inch of Simon's back pressed against his chest, Simon's ass nestled against his hips, their legs tangling together. It was Simon’s favorite position during his heat, and felt fitting now.
"This okay?" Grace asked, his lips against Simon's ear. "Comfortable?"
"Perfect." Simon breathed, and Grace could hear the truth in his voice.
Grace's left arm slid under Simon's body, wrapping around his chest to hold him securely. This position was deliberate before and now, Grace's arm provided support and stability that Simon's missing left arm couldn't, holding him close and secure. Grace's right hand rested on Simon's hip, and he could feel the bruises he'd already left there, dark marks of possession.
"I've got you." Grace murmured, his lips brushing Simon's ear. "You don't have to do anything. Just let me hold you. Let me take care of you."
Simon made a soft sound of agreement, his body relaxing completely into Grace's hold, and the trust in that surrender made Grace's chest tighten with emotion.
Grace's right hand slid down between Simon's legs, and the first touch made them both groan. Simon was already starting to slick, his body responding to Grace's need, and Grace's fingers slid through the wetness, teasing, preparing.
"You're always so ready for me." Grace murmured against Simon's ear, his voice low and rough. "Your body knows what I need. Knows what you need. So perfect, Starlight. So perfect for me."
"Only for you." Simon gasped as Grace's fingers found his entrance, circling but not entering yet. "Only ever for you, Ryland."
Grace worked him slowly, carefully, his fingers sliding inside with gentle pressure. From this angle, he could feel everything the heat of Simon's body, the way he was clenching around Grace's fingers, the slick coating them. He took his time, stretching Simon carefully, making sure he was ready despite the soreness.
"That's it." Grace murmured, his lips against Simon's neck. "Open up for me. Let me in. Let me take care of you."
Simon pushed back against Grace's hand, and Grace could feel him trembling not from fear or pain, but from need and trust and overwhelming sensation. "Please." Simon breathed. "I'm ready. I need you inside me. Need to feel you."
Grace pulled his fingers out slowly and positioned himself, the head of his cock pressing against Simon's slick entrance. From this angle, curled around Simon's body, he could feel everything the heat radiating from Simon, the way Simon's body was already trying to pull him in, the trust in the way Simon relaxed completely in his hold.
Grace pushed inside slowly, and the angle was different from this position deeper somehow, more intimate. He could feel every inch of Simon's channel gripping him as he slid inside, hot and slick and perfect. The position let him go deep, so deep, and he could feel Simon's whole body shuddering at the sensation.
"Oh God." Simon gasped, his hand reaching back to grip Grace's hip. "You're so deep. I can feel you everywhere."
"Good." Grace growled, his arm tightening around Simon's chest, holding him close. "Want you to feel me. Want you to feel how much I need you. How much you're mine."
He started to move, and the rhythm was slow and deep and devastating. Each thrust drove deep, the angle letting him hit that spot inside Simon that made him shake, and Grace could feel Simon's whole body responding. The position meant Simon didn't have to brace himself, didn't have to support his own weight, Grace was doing all of that, holding him secure, supporting him completely.
"You feel so good." Grace murmured against Simon's ear, his voice rough with pleasure and possession. "So tight around me. So hot. Made for this. Made for my cock. Made to be claimed like this."
"Yes." Simon sobbed, his body trembling in Grace's hold. "Made for you. Only you. Always you."
Grace's right hand slid from Simon's hip to wrap around his cock, and Simon cried out at the sensation. Grace stroked him in time with his thrusts, and the combination was overwhelming, Grace's cock driving deep inside him, Grace's hand on his cock, Grace's arm holding him secure, Grace's voice in his ear.
"That's it." Grace growled, his pace increasing slightly, his thrusts becoming harder. "Take it. Take everything I give you. You're mine, Simon. My mate. Mine to claim. Mine to protect. Mine to love."
"Yours." Simon agreed desperately, his body shaking. "Always yours, Ryland. Forever yours."
Grace could feel something building inside him, not just the physical pleasure, though that was intense and overwhelming. Something deeper. Something primal. The need to mark, to claim permanently, to make Simon his in a way that transcended the physical.
Not yet. But soon. Very soon.
For now, Grace focused on the sensation the heat of Simon's body, the way he was clenching around Grace's cock, the sounds he was making, the trust in the way he surrendered completely. Grace's hand worked Simon's cock faster, his thrusts becoming deeper, harder, and he could feel Simon getting close.
"Cum for me." Grace commanded, his voice rough and possessive. "Cum on my cock, Starlight. Show me you're mine."
Simon came with a broken cry, his body clenching so hard around Grace's cock that it triggered Grace's own orgasm. Grace groaned as he came, his knot swelling and locking them together, his cock pulsing inside Simon's body. The sensation was intense the deep angle, the way Simon's body was milking him, the overwhelming satisfaction of claiming his omega again.
Grace held Simon close through it all, his arm tight around Simon's chest, his hand gentle on Simon's softening cock, his lips pressing kisses to Simon's neck and shoulder. They were locked together, wrapped around each other, completely connected.
"Love you." Grace murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "Love you so much, Simon."
"Love you too." Simon said, his voice shaking with exhaustion and satisfaction. "My everything."
They lay there locked together, and Grace felt the rut building toward something more. Something permanent. Something that would change everything.
Soon. Very soon.
But for now, this was perfect.
Grace woke as evening fell, shadows lengthening across the bed, and the rut was stronger than before.
Not frantic, but deep and insistent. His alpha hindbrain was demanding something more than just sex, more than just physical satisfaction. It wanted to claim. Wanted to mark. Wanted to make sure everyone knew Simon was his.
But it was more than that. Grace could feel it in his bones, in his blood, in every cell of his body. This wasn't just about possession. This was about bonding. About making Simon his in a way that transcended the physical, that would tie them together permanently, spiritually, completely.
His alpha side was screaming for it. Demanding it. The need was so intense it was almost painful, a physical ache in his chest that wouldn't be satisfied by anything less than the mate bond.
Simon was already awake, watching him, and there was understanding in his eye. He could see it in Grace's face, could smell it in his scent the shift from simple rut-need to something deeper, more profound.
"I can smell it." Simon said, his voice low and rough. "The rut's getting stronger. You need something more, don't you?"
"Yes." Grace said, and his hands were already reaching for Simon, trembling slightly with the intensity of what he was feeling. "I need- Simon, I need to mark you. Really mark you. The mate bond. I need-"
He couldn't even finish the sentence. The need was overwhelming, consuming, and he could barely think through it. His whole body was vibrating with the urgency of it, every instinct screaming at him to claim, to bond, to make Simon his forever.
Simon's eye widened slightly, and Grace saw the understanding dawn there. The mate mark. The permanent bond. The bite that would tie them together forever, that would let them feel each other, know each other in ways that went beyond the physical.
"Yes." Simon said immediately, and his voice was breathless with want. "Yes, Ryland. I want that. I want to be yours. Permanently. Forever."
"You're sure?" Grace asked, even as his alpha hindbrain roared with triumph. "It's permanent, Simon. It's not just a mark. It's a bond. You'll feel me, always. We'll be connected in a way that"
"I know." Simon interrupted, and he was already moving, rolling onto his knees, chest down against the bed, arching his back to present his ass in the air. The position was deliberately presenting, offering himself completely. But more than that, he turned his head to the side, exposing the junction between his neck and shoulder. The place where an alpha's mark belonged. "I want it, Ryland. I want to be bonded to you. I want everyone to know I'm yours. I want to feel you, always. Please."
Grace felt something crack open in his chest. Love and need and overwhelming emotion flooded through him, and he moved behind Simon with shaking hands. His whole body was trembling with the intensity of what was about to happen, the profundity of it.
He could see Simon's body already responding. Slick was dripping down his thighs, his body preparing itself for what was coming. The scent of it filled Grace's lungs sweet and musky and utterly intoxicating and his cock was so hard it was almost painful.
Grace's hands gripped Simon's hips, and he could see the marks he'd already left. The bruises were darkening, visible proof of his claim, and something primal in him was satisfied by the sight. But it wasn't enough. The rut wanted more. Needed more. Needed the permanent mark, the bond that would tie them together forever.
He positioned himself, the head of his cock pressing against Simon's slick entrance, and he could feel the heat of him. The wetness.
"I love you." Grace said, his voice rough and thick with emotion. "Simon, I love you so much. You're everything to me. Everything."
"I love you too." Simon said, and his voice was shaking. "Now claim me, Ryland. Make me yours. Forever."
Grace pushed inside in one hard, deep thrust, and they both cried out at the intensity of it.
Simon's body accepted him perfectly. The slick made the slide easy, but the grip was tight, so tight, and Grace could feel every inch of Simon clenching around his cock. The heat was incredible, almost burning, and the wetnessGod, Simon was so wet, so ready, so perfect.
Grace immediately adjusted his grip, one hand on Simon's right hip to pull him back, one hand helping to support Simon's balance on the left side, and then he was moving.
The pace was intense from the start. Demanding. Grace's hips snapped forward hard and fast, driving deep, and he could hear the wet slap of skin on skin, could hear Simon's broken gasps, could hear his own harsh breathing and possessive growls. The sounds were obscenethe squelch of slick with each thrust, the impact of their bodies, the desperate sounds they were both making.
"That's it." Grace growled, and his voice was barely human. "Take it. Take all of me."
"Yes." Simon gasped, his hand fisting in the sheets, his body rocking forward with each thrust. "Yes, Ryland, harder, give me everything."
Grace's hand slid up Simon's back, pressing between his shoulder blades, and the pressure made Simon arch more, presented him more fully. The angle let Grace drive even deeper, and he could feel the head of his cock hitting that spot inside Simon that made him shake, made him cry out, made his whole body tremble.
"Fuck." Simon cried out, his voice breaking. "Right there, Ryland, right there, don't stop."
Grace didn't stop. He drove into that spot relentlessly, feeling Simon's body tightening around him, feeling the slick getting wetter, hotter, and the sounds Simon was making were desperate and needy and perfect.
Grace could feel his knot starting to swell already, the base of his cock thickening, but the rut was demanding something more. Something permanent. His alpha side was screaming at him to mark, to claim, to make this undeniable.
He leaned down, his chest pressing against Simon's back, and his lips found the junction between Simon's neck and shoulder. The place where an alpha's mark belonged. The place where it would be visible, permanent, undeniable.
The skin there was soft and warm, and Grace could feel Simon's pulse racing beneath the surface. Could taste the salt of his sweat. Could smell the intoxicating mix of Simon's scent and arousal and slick.
"Ryland?" Simon asked, and there was something in his voice, not fear, but anticipation, wonder, desperate need.
"Need to mark you now." Grace said against Simon's skin, his voice rough and shaking. "Need to make you mine. Permanently. Need to bond with you."
"Yes." Simon said immediately, and his voice was desperate, pleading. "Yes, Ryland, please. Mark me. Claim me. Bond with me. Make me yours forever. I want it. I need it. Please."
"You're sure?" Grace asked even though they’d just spoke about it he needed to be sure, even as his teeth were already pressing against Simon's skin.
"Bond us." Simon said, and he pushed back hard against Grace's cock, taking him impossibly deeper. "I want to be yours forever. I want you to be mine forever. Please, Ryland. Please mark me. Please bond us. I'm ready. I want this. I want you."
Grace's teeth found the soft skin of Simon's shoulder, right at that perfect junction, and he bit down.
Not hard enough to break skin deeply, but hard enough to leave a permanent impression. Hard enough to matter. Hard enough to bond.
His teeth sank in, claiming, possessing, and the sensation was overwhelming.
Grace could taste copper and salt, could feel the skin breaking beneath his teeth, could feel Simon's pulse racing against his tongue. But more than that, more than the physical sensation he could feel something else. Something profound and spiritual and utterly transcendent.
The bond.
It snapped into place like a physical thing, like a cord connecting them, and suddenly Grace could feel Simon. Not just his body, but his emotions, his pleasure, his overwhelming surrender and love and need.
Simon cried out, a sound that was half-scream, half-sob, and his body went rigid beneath Grace. Not in pain, but in overwhelming sensation.
"Oh God." Simon gasped, his voice breaking. "Ryland, I can feelI can feel you-"
Grace could feel it too. Could feel Simon's pleasure as if it were his own. Could feel the way Simon's body was clenching around his cock, could feel the overwhelming emotion flooding through Simonlove and trust and complete surrender.
"Yes." Grace growled against Simon's skin, his teeth still holding the bite. "Feel me. Feel us. You're mine now. Mine forever."
"Yours." Simon sobbed, and Grace could feel the truth of it through the bond. Could feel how much Simon meant it, how completely he was surrendering, how desperately he wanted this. "Yours forever, Ryland. Always yours."
Grace held the bite for a long moment, feeling the skin beneath his teeth, feeling Simon's pulse racing, feeling the bond settling into place between them. This was different from anything he'd ever experienced. This was an alpha's claim. This was a mate mark. This was forever.
And through it all, he was still moving. Still driving into Simon's body with hard, deep thrusts. Still claiming him physically even as he claimed him spiritually.
The combination was overwhelming. The physical pleasure of Simon's tight, wet heat around his cock, combined with the emotional and spiritual pleasure of the bond forming, was almost too much to bear.
Grace could feel his knot swelling rapidly now, thickening at the base of his cock, and he could feel through the bond how much Simon wanted it. How much Simon needed to be knotted, to be filled, to be completely claimed.
When Grace finally released the bite, he could see the deep indentation of his teeth in Simon's shoulder darker than the other bruises, more deliberate, more permanent. Blood was welling up in the marks, and Grace's mind roared with satisfaction at the sight.
But he couldn't stop to admire it. The need was too great, the bond was demanding completion, and his body was screaming for release.
Grace's hand slid around Simon's hip, finding his cock, and he wrapped his fingers around it. Simon was hard and leaking, his cock slick with precum, and Grace could feel through the bond how close Simon was. How desperately he needed to cum.
"Cum for me." Grace commanded, his voice rough and possessive. "Cum on my cock while I knot you. Let me feel it through the bond. Let me feel everything."
Grace stroked Simon's cock in time with his thrusts, and he could feel Simon's body tightening, clenching, getting ready to shatter.
"Ryland." Simon gasped, and his voice was wrecked, desperate. "I'm going to- I can't- it's too much-"
"You can." Grace growled, driving deeper, harder. "Cum for me, Simon. Cum for me. Cum for your mate."
Simon came with a scream that echoed through the room.
His body clenched so hard around Grace's cock that it was almost painful, and Grace could feel it not just physically, but through the bond. Could feel Simon's orgasm as if it were his own. Could feel the overwhelming pleasure, the complete surrender, the shattering intensity of it.
It was too much.
Grace's knot swelled fully and locked them together, and he came with a roar. His cock pulsed inside Simon's body, filling him, claiming him, and the sensation was unlike anything Grace had ever experienced.
Because he could feel it from both sides.
He could feel his own orgasmthe overwhelming pleasure, the satisfaction, the primal triumph of knotting his mate. But he could also feel Simon's response through the bond. Could feel how it felt for Simon to be filled, to be knotted, to be completely claimed. Could feel the way Simon's body was accepting his seed, the way his omega instincts were singing with satisfaction.
The combination was transcendent. Overwhelming. Grace felt like he was being torn apart and put back together, like every nerve ending in his body was firing at once, like he was experiencing pleasure on a level he'd never known existed.
And through it all, he could feel Simon. Could feel Simon's love, his trust, his complete surrender. Could feel how much Simon wanted this, how right it felt to him, how perfect.
Grace collapsed forward, his chest pressing against Simon's back, his arms wrapping around Simon's body to hold him close. His knot was still locked deep inside, still pulsing, and he could feel Simon trembling beneath him.
"Simon." Grace breathed, and his voice was shaking with emotion. "Oh God, Simon, I can feel you. I can feel everything. You're- we're-"
"Bonded." Simon finished, and his voice was thick with tears and overwhelming emotion. "We're bonded, Ryland. I can feel you too. I can feel how much you love me. I can feel everything."
Grace pressed his lips to the mate mark on Simon's shoulder, and he could feel Simon's response through the bond. Could feel the way it made Simon's heart race, the way it sent pleasure and love and satisfaction flooding through him.
"I love you." Grace said, kissing the mark reverently. "I love you so much, Simon. You're mine now. My mate. Forever."
"I love you too." Simon said, and Grace could feel the truth of it through the bond. Could feel how deeply Simon meant it, how completely he loved Grace. "My mate. Forever."
Grace carefully helped Simon shift so they were lying on their sides, still locked together by the knot. He wrapped his arms around Simon, holding him close, and pressed more gentle kisses to the mate mark.
The mark was already starting to bruise, the indentation of Grace's teeth clearly visible, and there was dried blood around the edges. It was permanent. Simon was claimed, bonded, mated.
Grace's hand came up to trace the mark gently, and he felt Simon shiver at the touch. Through the bond, Grace could feel how the mark made Simon feel, claimed, protected, loved, satisfied. Complete.
"Does it hurt?" Grace asked softly, his fingers gentle on the mark.
"A little." Simon admitted, and Grace could feel through the bond that it was true there was pain, but it was a good pain. A satisfying pain. "But I love it. I love knowing I'm marked. I love knowing I'm yours."
"Mine." Grace agreed, and he pressed another kiss to the mark. "And I'm yours. The bond goes both ways, Simon. You own me just as much as I own you."
"I know." Simon said, and Grace could feel his satisfaction through the bond. "I can feel it. I can feel how much you need me. How much you love me. It's- it's overwhelming, Ryland. In the best way."
They lay there locked together, and Grace felt something profound settle in his chest. This wasn't just physical. This wasn't just sex or claiming or possession. This was a bond. A real, permanent, spiritual bond that tied them together in a way that nothing could break.
Grace could feel Simon through the bond, his emotions, his love, his satisfaction, his slight discomfort from the mark and the intensity of what they'd just done. And he knew Simon could feel him too. Could feel Grace's overwhelming love, his protectiveness, his alpha satisfaction at having marked and claimed his mate.
"I never knew it would feel like this." Grace said softly, his hand sliding over Simon's stomach, holding him close. "The bond. I never knew it would be so intense. So complete."
"Me neither." Simon said, and his hand came up to cover Grace's. "But I love it. I love feeling you. I love knowing we're connected like this. Forever."
"Forever." Grace agreed, and he pressed another kiss to the mate mark.
When the knot finally started to release, Grace could feel Simon's slight disappointment through the bond, the omega part of him that wanted to stay connected, stay filled, stay claimed. But there was also relief, and a bone-deep satisfaction.
Grace carefully pulled out, and he could see his cum leaking from Simon's body. The sight sent a bolt of primal satisfaction through him, and he knew Simon could feel it through the bond.
"Possessive alpha." Simon said, but there was amusement in his voice, and Grace could feel through the bond that Simon liked it. Liked knowing Grace was satisfied by the sight of him marked and filled and claimed.
Grace grabbed a cloth and cleaned them both carefully, gently, his touch reverent on the mate mark. He could feel Simon's response through the bond the way the gentle touch made him feel loved, cared for, cherished.
When they were clean, Grace pulled Simon close again, arranging them so Simon's head was resting on his chest, his marked shoulder visible. Grace's hand came up to trace the mark again, and he felt overwhelming emotion flooding through him.
"You're mine now." Grace said softly, and his voice was thick with emotion. "My mate. My starlight. My Simon. Forever."
"Forever." Simon agreed, and Grace could feel through the bond how much Simon loved hearing those words. How much he loved being claimed, being marked, being bonded. "And you're mine. My Ryland. My mate."
Grace pressed a kiss to Simon's hair, and he felt tears prickling at his eyes. The intensity of what they'd just done, the profundity of the bond, the overwhelming love he felt for Simon it was almost too much to bear.
"I never thought I'd have this." Grace said, his voice breaking slightly. "I never thought I'd find someone I wanted to bond with. Someone I wanted to mark. Someone I wanted to be tied to forever. But youSimon, you're everything. You're everything I never knew I needed."
"You're everything to me too." Simon said, and Grace could feel the truth of it through the bond. Could feel how deeply Simon meant it, how completely he loved Grace. "I was- I mean a few weeks ago I was a beta, I didn’t think….I’d ever have anything like this. Never thought I'd be bonded. But with you- Ryland, with you it feels right. It feels perfect. Like this is what I was always meant for."
They held each other close, and Grace felt the bond settling between them. It was still new, still intense, but it was also solid. Permanent. Unbreakable.
Grace's hand traced the mate mark again, and he felt Simon's response through the bondlove and satisfaction and pride. Pride in being marked. Pride in being claimed. Pride in being Grace's mate.
Grace felt something in his chest tighten with overwhelming love, and he pulled Simon even closer. "I love you." he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I love you so much, Simon. My mate. My everything."
"I love you too." Simon said, and Grace could feel it through the bond, the depth of Simon's love, the completeness of his surrender, the absolute certainty that this was right. "My mate. My forever."
They lay there together, bonded and claimed and completely connected, and Grace felt a peace he'd never known before. This was what he'd been missing. This was what his alpha had been searching for all these years.
Not just an omega. Not just a partner. But a mate. A bond. A connection that transcended the physical and tied them together in a way that nothing could ever break.
Simon was his. And he was Simon's. Forever.
And Grace had never been more certain of anything in his life.