The Runaway Cat (Book 2 Cloverleah Pack Series) (19 page)

“A contender is someone either from within the pack, although that is unlikely
here, or a wolf shifter from another pack who thinks they have more strength, skills or whatever else to protect the other shifter.  If they like what they see before the Mating Ritual they can challenge the wolf concerned for the right to take the other shifter as their own. The wolf has to fight all comers before the Mating Ritual can be done.”

“But…but…that’s almost barbaric.  What if the people concerned
are true mates like you and me?  Going to someone else would be a waste of time.  It is not as though the relationship could ever be…I don’t know…consummated.”

“Well,” Griff drawled, “yes I can see your point to a point.  But in a Mating Ritual challenge the contenders have to actually kill the wolf concerned, while the mated wolf only has to make the contenders submit.  If the mated wolf is dead then under Pack law it is the killer’s responsibility to care for the shifter left behind. The bond between the mated pair is broken through the death of one of the partners and then it is up to the victor to woo over their new mate after the Mating Ritual has been performed on the new pair. Wolves believe that if the original mated wolf wasn’t strong enough to fight for their mate then they shouldn’t be mated in the first place.” 

Diablo couldn’t believe that Griff was talking about this as though it all made sense.  How would anyone want to be mated to another person who had just killed their mate?  In a warped way it was all about survival of the fittest, Diablo could understand that wolves prided themselves on their brute strength and their ability to protect their packs and their mates but this was a bit much.

“What if the mated wolf is only a little wolf, someone like Dean for example?  That would be so unfair if someone bigger wanted to take his mate
from him.”

“Dean is a little bit different because he is an Omega wolf.  In that case Kane, Shawn or I would fight for him because we are all Alpha’s.  Look Diablo, it’s
not really that unfair and it doesn’t happen very often at all.  We wolves pride ourselves on our strength and our ability to protect those we love.  It’s almost a badge of honor to be able to do so in front of the pack and our mate before the Mating Ritual.  The mated wolf doesn’t have to take on more than six contenders.  If there are any more than that then another Alpha, or chosen person from the pack will take on the fight to submission only.”

“Oh great so the mated wolf” and in Diablo’s head he was thinking about Griff, “
only
has to take on six challenges.  What, were the pack leaders who made these laws worried he might not have the strength to fuck his mate at the end of the night or something?”

Griff just grinned at him. He was still leaning over Diablo, tracing Diablo’s abs with his fingers. “Something like that.
  Personally I’m looking forward to it.”  His fingers were moving lower and Diablo tried hard not to move into the touch, but it was really hard not to.  His mate had really talented fingers.

“I never said I would go through a Mating Ritual with you Griff.  I didn’t even know
there was such a thing until today.”  Diablo was fast losing the battle against moving and knew his tone of voice betrayed his lust.

“Ah but you will little cat.  You know you would do anything for me,” Griff’s sexy drawl ticked Diablo’s ear and Diablo let out a small moan as Griff’s wandering hand had finally found it’s target
in Diablo’s jeans.  Diablo let himself get distracted for a moment but then pulled his thoughts back in to line with difficulty.

“You never
actually asked me.  You don’t know what I’ll say.” Even to Diablo’s ears his voice was far too breathless to sound convincing.

“I’m asking you now kitty cat.  Would you do me the honor of joining with me in the Mating Ritual?”  Nibbling down his mate’s
abs Griff expertly popped the button on Diablo’s jeans and nudged the zipper down with his nose.  As he ran his long tongue up the full length of Diablo’s cock the cat let out another moan and fisted his hands into the sheets.

“Answer me kitty cat.”  Griff’s tongue repeated the move lapping gently at the head because his mate just tasted so delicious.

“I…er…I…reserve the right…” Diablo stopped as Griff started nibbling at the underside of the head of his cock.  Fuck yeah, that spot right there. “…er…reserve the right…to have…some blood in my brain…before…shit Griff…you’re driving me crazy here…before…I…answer…fucking suck me if you’re gonna, damn it.” 

Thrusting his hips up into Griff’s face Diablo’s cock pushed at Griff’s mouth.  Griff obligingly opened up and swallowed Diablo’s shaft down, swirling the base of the cock with his tongue.
He bobbed his head a few times feeling Diablo tense beneath him.  Just as he knew Diablo was close to the edge, Griff held still, his big hands holding Diablo’s hips firmly so he couldn’t move, Diablo’s cock wedged deep firmly in his mouth.

Answer me kitty cat.

Fuck Griff, you teasing ass hole, let me move.

Na uh, give me an answer.  Tell me you will join with me in the Mating Ritual.

This is cruel and unusual punishment, you know it.  Damn it lover I need to move or come or something.

Griff raised his mouth once more, swirling his tongue expertly around Diablo’s shaft, before moving down, swallowing and holding him down again.

It’s barbaric…we’re mates already…come on Griff please.

It’s a wolf thing.
Suck, lick, slide and hold.
A matter of pride for me.
Suck, lick, slide and hold.
What I want to do with you.
Suck, lick, slide and hold.
What I want you to do for me cos we love each other,
more sucking then hold,
want each other,
swirling tongue,
need each other. Don’t you want me?

Thrashing his upper body about on the bed Diablo cursed loudly, his fists thumping on the mattress.
His whole body was trembling and he felt like every nerve he had was buzzing over his skin.

Damn it wolf, yes.

Yes to the ceremony or yes you want me?

Yes.  I want you and yes I will join in the Mating Ritual with you. Yes damn you.

Grinning around Diablo’s cock, Griff’s talented mouth went to work and a minute later he was swallowing Diablo’s come as it pulsed deep down his throat. Only when he was satisfied that Diablo was finished did Griff move back up his lover’s body to curl the sated man into his arms.

That’s torture you know.  Answer wouldn’t hold up in court.

Told you when we met that you Feebs respond better to pleasure than torture little kitty cat.  You taking back your answer?

No my lover, too tired to argue.  Love you Griff, will let you have your fight. Won’t be any contenders anyway if it’s just the pack.

And Claude’s pack in Oklahoma, and the San Antonio Pack and the Colorado Pack.

What the fuck?

We have a lot of friends, my lover.  But you don’t have to worry about the Colorado pack cos most of them are straight.

Oh God Griff you could have told me.

Would it have made a difference to your answer?

Diablo tilted his head up to look at his handsome wolf.  A man built for fighting.  A man who loved him with everything he had.  He shook his head.  “No, my lover.  I figure you are up to the challenge.  I love you and if you want me to join with you in the Mating Ritual then I will.”  Griff’s answering grin meant Diablo had obviously given the right answer.

Chapter Twenty

Promptly at 10 o’clock Kane and Shawn arrived.  Kane on his bike and Shawn driving the work wagon with two bikes strapped on the back.
Diablo bounded off the porch as they arrived eager to reacquaint himself with the bike.  He leapt up on the back of the truck and helped Shawn to release the ties and wheel the gleaming Ducati down the ramps.  Then Diablo just stood with his hands in his pockets staring at the tank.

Griff had come out wearing his leather jacket and holding a second one.  He was just a little bit nervous.  It was one thing to say he was going to have Diablo’s tank painted, but the design idea was all Griff’s and he wasn’t exactly sure that it was Diablo’s style.  Diablo’s face wasn’t giving anything away either. In fact it looked like Diablo was making a point of not reacting to the tank at all.  Shit.  What if he really didn’t like it?  Oh well.  Better face the music. 

Taking a deep breath Griff went to stand next to his mate. Diablo looked at him but his face still didn’t give anything away.

“So, what do you think?”

“Well, my bike hasn’t been this clean in a long time.  The new brakes are an excellent idea.  Someone has adjusted my handle bars which will probably make for a better ride and that looks like a new exhaust system which should enhance the sound…”

“And…”

Diablo smiled, “the paintwork is beautiful.  Thank you,” he said softly.

“You like it?”  Griff threw his arms around Diablo and squeezed him tight.

“Yes, I like it, you big oaf.”  He hugged Griff back before leaning back. “But you ever mess with my bike again without permission man and you are in deep shit.  Understood?”

“Hey I had to make sure you would come back, right?”  Now Griff knew that Diablo liked the paintwork he was over the moon.

“Idiot,” Diablo said fondly.  He nodded over to Kane and Shawn who had been watching them.  “Thanks guys it is an awesome job. My bike’s never looked so good.  Who did the paintwork, Dean?”

“No, I did,” Shawn said with a smile on his face. “I take it you approve.”

“Awesome job man, it is beautiful work.  The detail on the wolf is just exquisite.”

“Yep,” said Kane.  “My man has got some skills.  But come on guys let’s get this show on the road.  Your Aunty Cheryl is waiting.”

Griff handed Diablo the spare jacket he was holding. “Here lover you can wear one of mine seeing as we haven’t got your stuff yet.”

“I’ll swim in your jacket, Griff.” Diablo laughed as he shrugged it over his shoulders.
Sure enough while it fitted his arms it was big over the shoulders and chest and it hung about two inches lower than his own one would.

“Here, I can fix that for you,” Shawn offered.  He flicked his fingers and suddenly the jacket shrunk so that if fit perfectly over Diablo’s shoulders and chest.  The jacket still retained Griff’s awesome scent and the soft wear on the jacket was still the same. 
But now it looked like it was made for Diablo. Grinning his thanks to Griff and Shawn, Diablo got on his bike and minutes later all four men and their bikes roared out of the yard.

/~/~/~/

The trip to the Denver Colorado pack lands took just over two hours and by the time Kane led them up a long driveway on the outskirts of town, all of the men felt refreshed and alert.  Griff noticed that Diablo was wary a lot of the time - watching traffic and paying attention to large SUVs and vans but when Griff queried him through the mind link as they rode, Diablo just laughed it off as an FBI habit.  Deciding that his mate was probably nervous about meeting his Aunt and Uncle, Griff stopped worrying about it and just enjoyed the ride.

The four men parked their bikes in front of the house.  It was a large wooden place.  Two storied it was painted white with grey trim around the windows and doors.  Someone had taken the time to plant bright flowers in the window boxes on the porch that wrapped around the house like a hug.
It looked like a happy and comforting home.  Kane and Shawn went up on the porch, Griff following behind.  Diablo was looking back along the driveway and as Griff looked up a grey van was cruising slowly past before it sped away.  Diablo looked back towards the house to see Griff watching him.

“Problems, lover,” Griff asked softly.

Diablo shook his head. “Nope.  Just being paranoid I guess.  I could have sworn that van has been following us since Cloverleah.”  He walked up to where Griff was standing.

“He was probably checking you out on that bike my lover.
  You look real hot on that thing.”  Griff grabbed Diablo’s ass and nudged him towards the open front door of the house.  Diablo reached over and kissed Griff’s neck. “You think I look hot all the time, lover.  You’re biased.”

“True, too true.”  Both men were laughing as they walked into
the house.

Inside the house was warm and comfortable with big couches, plenty of cushions and large rugs on wooden floors.  Its semi-open layout let Diablo see a large dining area and through into the kitchen where there appeared to be a lot of cooking going on.  Lunch smelt heavenly.  There were t
hree women and three men in the kitchen and when Diablo looked up he saw another huge man and a lot shorter woman greeting Kane and Shawn.  Kane looked a lot like his father so he guessed the smaller woman was his mother - Cheryl.  Diablo could feel his nerves starting to get the better of him and he schooled his face into his typical bland FBI face to hide it.  Feeling his lover’s arm snake around his shoulders made him feel a little bit better especially when Cheryl and the Alpha turned to him and Griff.

“Griff, it’s been too long since you have been on our pack land.  It’s good to see you and your mate.”  Arthur Matthews held out his hand in greeting and after a moment Griff clasped it in his own.