Pain spiked through his hip. Crying out, he dropped back to the towel. His aching prick rubbed across the towel, sending tingles down his stalk to his balls.
Shivering, Roman trembled, trying to catch his breath. The dual sensations caused his head to spin, and not in a good way. The need to come eased as his arousal waned.
“Easy, Roman,” Tian murmured. “I got you. I’ll take care of everything.”
Roman nodded, because what else could he do? He felt Tian’s fingers slide across his wing, then massage around his hole. The pain in his hip eased enough for him to realize Tian had to be pressing his dick’s cap against his hole, stimulating and teasing him, giving him something else to focus on.
That his lover had that much control, teasing them both, Roman found it so damn sexy. Needing to please his human, to feel him moving inside him, massaging his prostate, Roman blinked open his eyes. He eased his claws out of the headboard, ignoring the fact that his nails had scoured the wood. Peering back at the man, he again focused on pushing out.
When Roman’s entrance gave way, allowing Tian’s crown to slide inside him, he sighed in pleasure. He heard his human grunt, the sound one of surprise. Grinning over his shoulder at his lover, he reveled in the knowledge that he was connected with his mate.
“Now,” Roman urged. He squeezed lightly around Tian’s knob, stimulating his lover. “I give myself to you. Take me.”
“Yessss, now.”
Tian began pushing, his prick sliding deeper into Roman’s body. Roman moaned at the stretch. He bowed his head and milked his lover’s invading member.
“T-Take me. Take me.”
As Tian’s shaft moved inside him, firing Roman’s nerve endings, he ground his teeth together. It took everything in him to keep still. He desperately wanted to get his knees under him and rock up to meet his lover. Knowing he couldn’t... it created a delicious form of torture all its own.
Roman’s balls tingled. His cock throbbed, an ache that felt so fantastic. Sweat broke out on his skin, sending a chill through him that had nothing to do with being cold.
Finally, Tian bottomed out, his dick reaching so very deep inside him. His lover sprawled over his back, petting his wings. He even nuzzled against his nape, pressing kisses and nips, licking and sucking.
“Roman.” Tian whined his name. His body shuddered atop of him. “Oh god, so tight. So hot.” He nibbled Roman’s upper shoulder for a few seconds before whispering, “Never felt anything as exquisite as you. Amazing. Want to stay here forever.”
Roman groaned. His desire to please his mate, to say never move, warred with his body’s need for him to do just the opposite. Fortunately, Tian’s natural urges must have caught up with him.
Moaning deep in his throat, Tian slid his hands down and off Roman’s wings. While he missed the sensual petting, he loved what happened next so much more. Tian must have planted his hands, for he lifted his body and began easing his dick out of Roman’s body.
Feeling the glide of Tian’s prick along his inner muscles, Roman moaned at the feel of the internal massage. When his lover pressed back into him, pegging his prostate with his cock head, he jolted. A rough groan ripped from his throat.
In an embarrassingly swift amount of time, Roman felt his balls tingle and tighten. The skin of his groin goose bumped. A tremble worked through his body, and his orgasm swelled through him.
“Tian.”
Roman cried out his lover’s name as his seed poured onto the towel in harsh, heady spurts. Blissful fire coursed through his veins. Black spots danced across his vision, and he felt as if he floated on waves of euphoria.
Panting harshly, Roman vaguely heard Tian’s roar of completion as he reveled in the ecstasy coursing through him. He felt the warmth of his mate’s fluid fill him. Resting his cheek on the comforter, he hummed and smiled, loving that he carried something of his mate inside him.
A second later, Tian’s weight landed on Roman’s back. His lover’s hot breath wafted over his neck. He tilted his head on instinct, offering more room for his mate to bite him even as he knew his human wouldn’t understand the move.
Roman had to squelch the disappointment that surged through him. While Tian spilling his seed inside him had started the bonding in a minimal way, biting Roman would have completed half of it. Roman wanted that so very much, but he reminded himself that he’d promised Tian time.
At least he’s here with me. He’s giving me a chance.
Tian let out a long sigh, catching Roman’s attention. He felt his lover slide his hands up his sides, then down again. When his right hand hit the top of the scars above his left hip, Roman couldn’t help but stiffen.
“Hush,” Tian crooned. Evidently, he’d felt Roman’s tension. His fingertips danced lightly over the skin, so light in fact that Roman hardly felt it. “I don’t mind the scars. I told you that. I only care how they affect your movement, so I don’t hurt you again.”
Remembering those few seconds of pain, Roman turned his head and peered awkwardly over his shoulder at Tian. “It wasn’t your fault,” he countered even as he forced his body to relax under Tian’s ministrations.
His lover must have taken that for permission, for he began sliding his fingers lower, checking out more of Roman’s ruined flesh.
Instead of stopping his mate, Roman murmured, “Your touch, your scent, my desire to feel you buried deep inside of me, it all went to my head.” Letting out a rough chuckle, he smirked. “My lack of control was what caused the pain. You brought me only pleasure.”
Tian pressed a kiss to his shoulder blade, his lips teasing where his wing joint connected. It caused goose bumps to break out over Roman’s shoulder, and a shiver worked through him. He barely even registered Tian’s palm sliding over his hip, massaging and fondling his misshapen side.
“You know,” Tian began softly. “I’m not much of a top, but with an ass like yours and the way you respond to me?” He nipped at the flesh then chuckled. “I am definitely going to want to do this again and again.”
“Good, because you feel fantastic right where you are.”
Roman spread his wings fully and stretched under his lover. He groaned softly when the move caused Tian’s softened prick to ease from his channel. When his mate made a move as if to rise, Roman reached back and gripped his hip.
“Stay,” he urged, squeezing his lover’s lean hip. “I like you there.”
Tian relaxed back onto him, once again kissing his shoulder blade. “I like lying here on top of you, too,” he admitted. He continued to explore every inch of skin he could reach.
Searching for a subject, Roman decided to share, “I’m almost seven hundred years old.” When he heard Tian make a noise that sounded suspiciously like surprise or disbelief, he chuckled. “Yeah, been around a while. I know you’re not college age, so how old are you?”
Chuckling, Tian revealed, “Twenty-nine. Do you like younger men?”
Scoffing, Roman nodded. “When you’re a paranormal, age doesn’t really matter to you... as long as the person is of legal age in whatever country we’re living in.”
“Then why’d you bring it up?”
Roman heard the curiosity in his lover’s tone. “Well. A gargoyle can live upward of two millennia, so I guess I just wanted to give you a heads up on how long you’re going to be dealing with my injured ass.”
To Roman’s surprise, Tian slid his hands between them. He palmed his globes and squeezed lightly before starting a massage to his cheeks. He hummed in obvious appreciation.
“I happen to like this injured ass of yours very much.” Tian even slid the fingertips of his right hand over the scars where they edged a little way onto his cheek. “Eventually, when you’re comfortable enough with me, I’m going to kiss, lick, and nip every inch of it... and every inch of your scars. Do you know why?”
Roman shook his head. He truly couldn’t fathom why his mate would do that. What was the point? Tian didn’t
make him wonder long.
“Me being the perceptive person that I am, I’ve realized that you’ve been hiding yourself away from the world.”
Tian spread his legs, bracketing Roman’s thighs. Blatantly pulling Roman’s mounds apart, he rubbed a thumb lightly over his used hole, drawing a gasp from Roman. He did it again, followed by dipping his thumb into him.
Roman sighed at the sensation. He spread his legs wider, loving his mate’s touch. Never had he enjoyed something so thoroughly.
“God that’s fucking sexy... my seed dribbling from your hole.” Tian pushed his second thumb in beside the first and used them to spread him. “Gonna stick my dick back in there, I think.” To Roman’s surprise, Tian released him and rolled off of him, smacking his ass in one smooth move. “Roll over. Want to see you this time.”
Obeying, Roman rolled left. He arched his back, so he could position his wings as he spread his legs again. Tian took total advantage and shoved a pillow beneath his hips.
Roman peered up at his lover, inordinately pleased to see Tian’s long slender shaft jutting from his groin. It was once again hard and weeping, curving up toward his human’s stomach. The organ still gleamed from either the slick or his earlier release... maybe both.
Without waiting a second longer, Tian gripped the base of his dick and guided it to Roman’s hole. He felt the pressure and pushed out. The sensation of his lover sliding into his body was nothing compared to the rapturous expression on his human’s face.
Tian gripped Roman’s thighs for leverage and closed his eyes. As he sank his prick deeper and deeper into Roman’s body, his lips parted. His cheeks flushed a beautiful rosy hue, and he let out a long, low moan, the erotic sound one of complete ecstasy.
When Tian bottomed out, he stilled. A shudder seemed to work through him, and his jaw sagged open. Slowly, his eyelids opened, and he offered Roman the sweetest, bliss-drunk smile.
Roman squeezed his chute muscles, relishing that the simple move pulled another groan from Tian. His lover arched his back and used his hold on Roman’s thighs to grind his groin against Roman’s opening. The man’s balls rubbed against his crack, and from the look of pure pleasure on Tian’s face, his mate absolutely loved it.
Finally, Tian seemed to focus on Roman. He wore a hungry almost feral expression. “Now, to answer your question.” Tian began to ease his prick out even as he rubbed his fingers over Roman’s scarred hip. “I hear you’re an amazing chef.”
Roman was having a hard time keeping up with Tian’s comments. “Y-Yeah,” he responded, since he knew it was the truth.
Then, Tian pushed back into him and nailed his prostate, sending tingles of blissful fire through his veins. It made it damn difficult to understand his mate’s next comment. Especially when Tian’s left hand gripped his hip, his thumb massaging the skin of his crotch, which sent differing sensations through his groin, one mild, one acute.
“I’ve been out of the world a long time, too,” Tian told him as he fucked him. “Time for us both to rejoin it.” He skimmed his hands up his torso, tracing abdominals and tweaking his nipples. “I think we should do that together.”
Holding Roman’s gaze, Tian peered down at him with lust-blown eyes. His grin was lascivious as he took a few seconds to sweep his gaze down Roman’s body, taking in every bit of him. Then he refocused on Roman’s eyes.
All the while Tian continued to move, pegging Roman’s prostate, touching his body.
Roman found himself being driven out of his ever-loving mind. His mate’s touch, both inside and out, felt beyond wonderful. The way he possessed him, spoke to him, making it seem as if he was sticking around.
“Think we can do that together? Explore the world anew?”
At Tian’s question, Roman immediately nodded.
“Say it,” Tian urged. He slid his hands up Roman’s arms and threaded their fingers together. Leaning close, he pecked a kiss to his lips. “Together. You and me.”
“Yes,” Roman agreed. His heart felt as if it skipped a beat in his chest. “You and me. Together.”
Tian grinned widely, then groaned and shuddered. His eyes appeared to almost roll into his head as a shiver worked through him. His hot seed warmed Roman from the inside out once more.
Feeling his mate come, knowing he wanted to share with him—bond or not—it was more than his over-stimulated body and mind could handle. Roman let go, and his own orgasm swelled through him. Releasing Tian’s hands, he wrapped his arms around his human and held him close.
Chapter Nine
Tian spent the next several days extremely busy. He spent his days going to classes, keeping up his ruse of a college student. In the afternoons, before nightfall, he met with Detective DeSoto.
They worked together on a viable cover story for Collin learning Tian’s true identity. Much to Roman’s displeasure—his gargoyle had expressed it thoroughly after the fact—Tian sliced open his upper arm and went to the local emergency room. Due to the nature of the injury, the detective was called in. A blood test run by the nurse, Leroy Wilde—a human nurse mated with a shifter—revealed his true identity, giving them the story they needed.
Unfortunately, Tian had to work damn hard to assure Misha that it was still safe to remain on the job. His handler didn’t believe that the detective was clean, claiming his record was too stellar. The record that would help Tian get a job later on, in this situation, worked against him.
Tian finally managed to convince Misha, sending over a file that he’d compiled on Collin early on in his investigation. One of his first tasks in a small town was to double check all local law enforcement. He proved that the detective was a straight-shooter with a good upbringing and a stable relationship with a fairly new arrival to town, Tristan Alderman. Most of his family was even okay with him being gay.
Good thing Raymond did a fantastic job making up thorough identities for their rescued shifters. Tian would never have known that all the information he’d pulled regarding Tristan while researching Collin was bogus. The little gargoyle technical guru was better than anyone Tian had ever seen. He also knew they’d need that skill to help him clear up the mess someone had caused.
Once Tian convinced Misha that they could use Collin in their investigation, she agreed to send the anonymous complaint messages to the detective. As it turned out, two of the complaints were audio messages followed by texted pictures. The third was a piece of mail with photographs.
Tian looked forward to checking them out.
Tian enjoyed his evenings the most. After sundown, he spent hours with Roman. They shared much of their histories, although his gargoyle still hadn’t told him who’d burned him or why. He had learned that his lover had lived in upstate New York at the time. His clutch had thought he’d die of his injuries and had called in a Doctor Blevins—Perseus’s predecessor—who was a specialist among their kind.
After Roman had healed enough, he’d returned with the doctor to the Falias clutch. That had been nearly four hundred years before.
Tian still had trouble wrapping his mind around thinking of Roman’s life in those terms. He also couldn’t figure out how the man had managed to live during a time when medicine wasn’t much more than tonics, pastes, and tinctures. His respect for the gargoyle grew by leaps and bounds.
Too bad Roman didn’t think that way.
After his last class of the day, Tian jogged down the stairs of the building. He strode swiftly across the commons, waving at a few students he knew. Just as he reached his Camaro, his cell phone buzzed.
Tian pulled it from his pocket, and seeing Collin’s name pop up, he swiped the screen. Lifting the phone to his ear, he greeted the man. As he listened to the news the detective shared, he had to smile.
“That’s great,” Tian replied. He swung behind the wheel of his vehicle and shut himself inside before continuing. “I’m just leaving campus, so I’ll see you at the estate shortly. Does the chieftain know you’re coming with it?�
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“He does,” Collin replied. “He’s already notified Raymond. He’s setting up a computer in a large study so we can all view it together. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get this all cleared up soon.”
Tian nodded, even knowing Collin couldn’t see it. On one hand, he looked forward to that. He was damn tired of some of his college classes and was more than ready to put this last case to rest. On the other hand, the end of the case meant leaving Roman... at least for a little while as he cleared everything up and put in for a transfer.
His chest suddenly felt damn tight. He rubbed his pectoral and shifted in his seat. After he told Collin he’d see him soon, he sat in his car for a few minutes, trying to get his head together.
The opening of Tian’s passenger side door pulled him out of his thoughts. He peered over and spotted Andre. The other man had a sheepish expression on his face.
“Hey, everything all right?” Tian asked, concern filling him.
“Hey, Tian,” Andre responded. “Yeah, yeah. Uh... no.” His brows furrowed as he shook his head. “I think my brother slashed my tires, so my truck’s in the shop. I saw you sitting here and wondered if you’d give me a ride to the estate.”
“Holy shit, really?” Tian motioned for the other man to get in. “What an asshole. You pressing charges?”
Andre slid into the passenger seat and closed the door behind him. “Yeah, if I can prove it was him,” he told him. Grimacing, he admitted, “Been having trouble with him and my parents for a while. Homophobes.”
“Damn.” Just that fast, Tian appreciated his lack of family. “Hope the cops can prove it.”
Except, as he drove toward the estate, Tian realized he did have family. Well, he had family if he had the balls to reach out and take it. He could have a whole group of guys... and a few women, too, who’d have his back.
Missy, Sapian’s mate was a sweet and feisty woman... even while pregnant—it’d be their third hatchling. Tian had met Cornelius, too, Einan’s rhino shifter mate who was pregnant with the pair’s second child. Seeing them, Tian had actually felt an odd pang which he’d realized was jealousy.
The Truth is even Stranger Page 7
