~Cedric~

Waking up with Mat and I entangled in each other and the sheets was truly the best feeling in the world. I had never dreamed I would find my mate, it was part of how I ended up as Head Warrior for Dark Forest. I threw myself into training, using it as a distraction from the emptiness I had started to feel about a year after coming of age.

Now he was here, in my bed, in my arms, hogging said bed. I smiled and rolled onto my side, drawing him against my body as I curled around him. He stirred and snuggled into me further. He was adorable when he slept. It was the only time I had ever seen him without the weight of some worry or concern on his shoulders, in his eyes.

I enjoyed just holding him for a few more moments before I kissed his shoulder softly, “Hey you. We need to get up. We’ve already missed breakfast.”

He stirred and rolled onto his back, stretching his arms above his head. I couldn’t help but let my gaze drift down the lines of his chest and abdomen until they disappeared under the sheets, and back up to his face, smiling as his eyes opened, “Can’t we just spend the day in bed instead? Sounds so much more appealing at the moment.”

“I can’t argue with that, it really does, but no. We only have a couple hours until the cookout and unfortunately, we have to be responsible adults today.” I leaned down and kissed him softly, my hand trailing down his chest to his waist, curling my fingers over his hip as I pulled him into me.

His arms came around me and drew me down into him as my kiss was returned with vigor, his fingers tangling in my hair and tugging gently. A low, soft moan escaped my throat and reverberated into the kiss we shared.

I pulled away slowly, “Mmm, as much as I would love to take you right here, right now, we don’t have time for all the things I want to do to you.”

“I need a cold shower then.” He pressed his hips into mine, and I could feel his hardened length pressing against my thigh.

“That makes two of us.” I pressed my own erection into him before forcing myself to separate from him and get out of the bed, trudging towards the bathroom in disappointment.

Once the shower was started I returned to the bedroom to find him curled back up around my pillow. I laughed, “Come on, you can shower first.”

“Mmm, but the bed is comfy and smells like you.” He flashed me a lazy smile, half hidden by the pillow his face was partially buried into.

“I know. Maybe we can slip away early tonight and have some time to ourselves before the trip back home tomorrow.”

Home. I rolled the word around on my tongue, trying to adjust to the oddness of referring to someplace other than Dark Forest as home. Truth was, Mat was home. The physical location was truly irrelevant at this point.

“Promise?” He lifted his head to stare at me, his eyes raking down my naked form and sending delicious shivers down my spine.

“Absolutely. Especially if you keep looking at me like that.”

He grinned and unabashedly looked me up and down again before rolling off the bed and heading for the bathroom. Now I was the one checking him out as he crossed the room.

“You could always join me.” He gave a teasing smile as he peered out the bathroom door at me.

“We both know where that will lead and then we would be late to our own cookout. It is so, so tempting though.” I shook my head, trying to clear out the ideas and visuals flooding it, “Go on. I’ll find you some clothing.”

He pouted a bit and blew me a kiss with a wink before closing the door. I heard him get into the shower and smiled to myself as I went into the closet, looking to see what they might have left out clothing wise.

It looked like they had packed all my personal clothing and put some basic jeans, basketball shorts and t-shirts in the drawers. The typical stuff we kept around for shifting purposes. Thankfully, Mat was about my size, so I grabbed a pair of jeans and a gray t-shirt. I looked in the other drawers for boxers, but found none so we would just have to go without for a couple days.

I grabbed a second set of jeans and a black t-shirt before exiting the closet and walking into the bathroom. I set both stacks of clothing on the counter, “They packed up all my personal clothing and left some general stuff for shifting in the drawers, unfortunately I couldn’t find any boxers so we will have to make due for now.”

“That’s fine, I’ve never minded going commando.”

“Mmm, as if I needed more images of you in my head when I can’t act on them. Thank you for that.”

“Always happy to help. It’ll just give us something to look forward to tonight.”

“Tease.”

“Hey, you’re the one being all responsible. I was more than happy to be a little late.” He laughed and I shuddered, the sound of his voice enough to get me going.

“Someone has to be.” I laughed as well and poked my head through the shower curtain just long enough to steal a kiss. The sight of him with water trailing down his muscles was torture, but worth it to taste his lips, even if briefly.

“Mmhmm, says the man who couldn’t resist peeking.” He looked me dead in the eye as he ran soap all over his form.

“Glorious, pleasurable, torture.” I closed the curtain with a grin and stepped out of the bathroom to wait for him to finish.

When the door finally opened again, Mat stepped out clad in the jeans that he hadn’t bothered to button up yet, and he was in the process of pulling the t-shirt over his head, leaving his v-line peeking out and his abs on full display.

“Are you trying to torture me further?” I stood and walked over, kissing him as his head cleared the shirt.

“Mmm, maybe. Is it working?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me hard, his lips devouring mine.

I enjoyed it for a few moments before stepping back, “Alright, my turn for a cold shower… Ice cold.” Slipping past him, with a swat on his ass as I went, I went into the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

Adjusting the temperature on the shower I stepped into the cold water, letting it jolt my system. My mate was going to be the death of me. At least it would be a delicious, sweet death.

The cold water helped me power through the shower quicker than I normally would. After drying I pulled on my own jeans and t-shirt, stepping out of the bathroom to join Mat. He was sprawled lazily in a chair, looking like a god.

“How is it you can be doing absolutely nothing and still be a tease?”

“Natural talent?”

“Uh huh. Likely story.” I took his hand and pulled him up to his feet and into me, “Ready to go?”

“With you? Always.” He pressed his hips into mine to prove his point and I groaned.

“Not what I meant. Come on, before they come looking for us.”

We headed out of the house, hand in hand. I looked over at him, “Be prepared, we’re likely to be bombarded when we get there. Not everyone was present last night when we arrived.”

“I figured as much. Anyone I need to be aware of?”

“I don’t think so. I’d be more worried that some of the she-wolves would be eyeing you like candy.”

“Ew. No.”

I laughed and squeezed his hand as I pulled him into my side, wrapping warm around him and slipping my hand into his back pocket, “You’re adorable.”

We headed down the path to the Pack House, which is where Dark Forest, like most packs, held their events, in comfortable silence. It was easy to just enjoy the peaceful company of one another, especially knowing chaos was about to ensue.