Page 37 of Forbidden Moon
The sun wouldn’t set for a little while, so they decided to walk and talk. Not entirely abandoned, the beach still held a few holdouts; a group of guys tossing a frisbee, some couples, and a family packing up to head home. As they started across one of the footbridges, Jonah began the conversation.
“May I ask you a question?”
RJ pulled him a little tighter to his side.
“Anything you want. I’m an open book.”
“What does RJ stand for?”
He laughed softly, having wondered how long it would take Jonah to ask him.
“Rascal James. Ma insisted on naming me after my father, though his middle name was Paul. I got teased about it as a kid, so I shortened it to RJ. I rarely use my full name anymore.”
Jonah smiled, a teasing glint in his eye.
“So were you? A rascal, I mean.”
Jonah heard and felt RJ’s laughter, higher-pitched than his speaking voice, and it left him with a pleasant tingle.
“Yes, though I hate to admit it. Nothing too destructive or naughty, but I kept my poor Ma on her toes clear through my teens. Even then, she and I were always close.”
Jonah picked up the change in RJ’s scent, prompting him to ask.
“Were? Where are your parents now?”
RJ wasn’t averse to talking about it, though it still hurt. Jonah’s Omega sensibilities alerted him, and he stopped walking to turn and face his mate.
“My father served in the army and died in a training accident when I was two years old. I don’t have any memories of him other than photos and my mother’s stories. My Ma passed away last December from cancer. She was a great woman, and I loved her with all my heart.”
RJ’s pain and loss slammed into Jonah like a punch to the gut, begging for comfort. He wrapped his mate in a tight embrace, flooding the air with pheromones. Without a word, he filed off the raw edges, short-circuited the need for tears, and soothed the grief. This is what Omegas did, and he could not deny his mate what he was uniquely gifted to do. Rascal relaxed in his arms, breathing deeply of his scent. When the man’s heartbeat returned to normal, Jonah released him and resumed their walk.
“Thank you. I guess I needed a hug. When you come to my place, I’ll show you their pictures. I look a lot like my dad.”
Jonah flushed with excitement. RJ wanted to continue seeing him!
“I’d like that. Your dad must have beenveryhandsome, then, since you’re so damn hot...”
Jonah shut his mouth before he embarrassed himself even further. RJ tried not to laugh but couldn’t hold back. Jonah felt like a fool, and just when things were going so well. RJ scooped up his hand and kissed it.
“Don’t feel bad. I think you’re hot too, only I was too scared to say it out loud.”
Jonah smiled, checked him with his shoulder, and chose not to open his traitorous mouth again for a while. They’d reached the end of the concrete path and stepped onto the grassy yard around the tall structure. It wasn’t an actual lighthouse, only designed to look like one from a distance. All the same, it gave them a romantic spot to watch the sunset without anyone else nearby. A lone sailboat in the distance augmented their view, floating on the gold-splashed waves.
The mixed scents of the water, summer air, and his mate filled Jonah’s lungs. Feeling bolder, he slid over to stand in front of his mate and drew RJ’s arms around to hold him from behind. They both sighed at the contact, the mix of pheromones drugging them into a haze of contentment, laced with lust.
Being a gentleman, and hard as a rock, RJ tried to keep a bit of space between them. Jonah wasn’t having it, pushing his ass back against his mate’s throbbing erection. RJ gasped, held in place by determined arms.
“Stay there, Rascal. I want to feel you.”
RJ moaned in Jonah’s ear.
“God, Jo, what you do to me.”
As the last slivers of light disappeared below the horizon, RJ let his hands roam a bit over Jonah’s stomach and chest, nipping at the man’s neck and ear. Jonah squirmed, grinding back against him in sweet torture. If they kept going, they’d end up having sex right here in the park. Somehow, RJ found the strength to stop his caresses and gently turn Jonah around to face him. Time for what they’d both been waiting for.
Jonah trembled as RJ cupped his face with both hands, tilting it up slightly. Eyes closed as their lips met for the first time; steady, firm, moist.Perfect. Jonah’s wolf howled in victory while the kiss lingered, both men moaning as their bodies pressed even closer together. RJ finally pulled back, gasping for air.
Jonah wanted moreright nowand reached out to snag RJ by the back of the neck to pull him in again. This time he opened wide, encouraging his mate’s tongue to explore. RJ’s unique flavor, mixed with echoes of their dinner and Jonah’s own essence, created a robust ambrosia he could never have imagined. He wanted to taste RJ everywhere, feel his hands on every part of his body, and be filled by his mate again and again until they collapsed in an exhausted heap.
