The Woods ✔

Dreaded Plans

Caden didn't know if he should hide forever under the bed out of pure shame about what had happened or if he should wrap himself around Ajax and purr for the rest of his life. To say he felt conflicted was absolutely right. Furthermore, he wondered if it was okay to feel dirtier after taking a shower than before.

He helped Ajax carrying their breakfast from the kitchen to the table in front of the big window in the open living space. The clothes he wore - sweatpants because all of the normal pants simply slipped down from his hips even when he didn't move, and a t-shirt - were too much for his oversensitive skin and at the same time not enough because he wanted to cover up every inch of his body to hide what he had experienced. Ajax held a jar of deep red jam and the basket with the buns and other pastries out to him and their fingers brushed when he took them, making him almost drop them.

Ajax steered him to one of the chairs and he obediently sat down while the lion filled his cup with warm milk. Caden muttered a quiet thanks and carefully sipped at it to avoid burning his tongue. A sudden thought made him choke on the beverage whereupon Ajax frowned worriedly at him and patted his back.

"You did- earlier when you, you know, you did- Why? I mean, you just" Caden rambled on horrified and Ajax cocked his head questioningly to the side.

"I don't make sense, do I?"

This time the lion shook his head, a glint of amusement in his unique green eyes. He drank from his own cup which was filled with coffee - Caden had cringed at the dark liquid that wasn't mixed with any milk or sugar - and Caden squirmed embarrassed on his seat.

"Earlier, in the shower, when you" He hesitated since he didn't know a word that was suitable for this situation.

"Gave you head? Sucked you off?" Ajax volunteered without batting so much as an eyelash. The heat shot so fast onto Caden's face, he thought he even felt dizzy because of it.

"Yes, that," he mumbled, his face becoming thermonuclear hot. "You swallowed my, err"

"Cum?" Ajax threw in nonchalantly and picked up a slice of orange that he held to Caden's lips, prompting him to eat it. Caden shyly opened his mouth and let the man slip the fruit in which made him think of the escapade in the bathroom again. If breakfast proceeded like this he wouldn't even make it to lunch without melting into a puddle of sheer embarrassment.

"Why? Why did you do that?"

Ajax thought for a moment about the question then he shrugged. "I wanted to."

He wanted to? Caden couldn't understand how someone would want to swallow something that came out of another person's genitals. Wasn't it gross?

"Don't worry about it," Ajax said softly. "I wanted to, you enjoyed it; that's all that matters to me."

"O-Okay," Caden stuttered and picked his mug up to hide his face behind it.

They ate mostly in silence, Caden oddly relaxed despite the morning run and the embarrassment that kept him from looking too long into Ajax' eyes. The buns they had picked up at the bakery were still warm and fresh and a ravenous hunger spread through his stomach after the first few bites.

However he didn't have to worry about it because Ajax was more than happy to feed him endlessly. The lion seemed to be very pleased when Caden leaned back in his chair and rubbed his bloated belly.

"I can't move anymore," he groaned and made a face that expressed his discomfort. The last time he had felt so stuffed was when he had eaten those marshmallows with Michael. Instantly, his mood dropped but he tried not to show it on the outside, not wanting to talk about it with Ajax. Despite their closeness and the feelings of affection he had for the lion, he didn't want to share this with him. It just didn't feel right.

"My parents will come here soon, the rest of the pride will follow," Ajax proclaimed seriously and Caden bit his lip.

The family dinner had been hell and now the whole pride seemingly wanted to meet him. Not only that, but they would judge him; if he was strong enough, brave enough and confident enough to stand next to their alpha male. Should they come to the conclusion that he was inferior it would not only affect him but Ajax, too. After all, he was the one who picked the cougar instead of a proper lioness.

"When?" he inquired and was kind of proud that his voice sounded not half as anxious as he felt.

"Soon, any minute," Ajax answered and finished up his gross coffee. He set the cup down and stared at it thoughtfully. Caden really wanted to lean over and brush his fingers through the messy blond hair. Perhaps they would kiss then and he could count those cute freckles again while they tried to catch their breath.

"They won't like me," he blurted out instead and wanted to bang his head against the wall. His brain was obviously still in tadpole mode.

"They only need to respect you," Ajax grumbled.

Caden dejectedly looked down at his plate. Apparently there was no way to avoid meeting the lion's family and pride.

"Okay," he agreed and a warm sensation spread through his whole body when he saw the look on Ajax' face, full of adoration and, yes, love. He took Caden's hand and kissed first the upper side and then the ticklish palm. He even went as far as to kiss the knobby scar repeatedly until Caden squeaked and wiggled his fingers out of the other man's grip.

Ajax smirked smugly and rose from his seat to carry the dirty plates and cutlery to the kitchen. Caden huffed and helped him tidying up although he only wanted to curl up somewhere warm, digest the food and hope that the dreaded gathering wouldn't take place at all. Maybe if it was rainy or there was unexpectedly a tornado warning?

"They need to know you're mine, only mine," Ajax growled lowly after Caden had dried off the last fork. This time he really squeaked when the lion hoisted him up and sat him down on the kitchen counter so he could wedge his way between the cougar's spread legs. His big hands massaged Caden's thighs and the golden flecks in his eyes held him captive.

"Only mine," he repeated while nuzzling the side of Caden's neck.

"Yours," he agreed softly and closed his eyes, practically inhaling the lion's scent.

"Mine," Ajax growled over and over again while he licked the hickeys he had left there in the past and occasionally sucked to deepen the color.

Caden let it happen without protest apart from some groaning and hissing when it just got too much.

"You're going to be a perfect alpha male," Ajax commented confidently and Caden shrugged uncomfortably. He wasn't convinced at all and if he had been in his animal form, his tail would have flicked back and forth nervously.

Ajax tipped his head up so he had to look at the lion and couldn't hide behind his too long hair anymore.

Caden drew in a shuddering breath.

"You're already perfect."