“I have?”
“You were willing to put my needs above your own.”
Gannon hadn’t thought of it that way. “But I will get you what you need.”
“I trust that you will.”
They worked silently for a long while, picking items off the bed and then finding a place for them to go. Gannon felt as if he were rediscovering himself through all the things he thought lost. He was honestly amazed at all the cool things he had.
“Is there something that you would like?” Gannon added another item of clothing to the growing pile of things that needed to be washed. About once a month, when he ran out of things to wear, Gannon did his laundry. He had machines in the back part of the kitchen, and he knew if he were more organized he would be able to do it in some kind of timely way, but every time he went to get it together, he got distracted and decided he’d rather play games.
“I don’t need much of anything.”
Alden turned away and seemed to be deliberately tuning Gannon out. Moving toward him, Gannon touched his shoulder very lightly, hurting inside when he flinched. “Sorry. I just wondered what you like to do. I like to play with the gamer.”
“I like to read.”
“My brother, Devon, likes to read. I’ll ask him if he wouldn’t mind loaning us some books.”
“Do you like to read?”
“Not so much. But I would like to have you read to me.” The idea of settling in after a long day, his head in Alden’s lap, listening to his melodious voice, sounded far better than losing himself in the violent games every night. He could see that becoming his very favorite thing to do.
“I would like to read to you.”
“You have an amazing voice.”
“I do?”
“Yes. I—oh. I guess you can’t hear it.”
“When I could hear, I never thought it was particularly interesting.”
“It really is.”
Alden shook his head.
“Why don’t you just say thank you?”
“I—I’m sorry. I’m used to being picked on.”
“Then we’ll have to get you used to being complimented.”
Alden grinned. “I like that goal.”
They put the last few items away.
“I found clean sheets in the living room.” Alden walked off to get them while Gannon wondered how in the world his sheets ended up in there. He’d probably cleaned them, folded them, and forgot all about them when the gamer called to him.
Gannon stripped off his old bedding and winced. It was lightly fragrant from him not always showering before he got into bed at night. Sometimes he spent hours playing and then tumbled into bed for a few winks before work started again. For the first time in his life, Gannon was deeply ashamed of the way he lived. Not only was he a slob, but he was often filthy. But no more. He needed to turn things around now that he had a mate.
Alden entered with the clean sheets, and together they stretched them over the bed. They were almost crisp they were so new.
“It’s a beautiful color.”
“I bought it because it matched my room.” The sheets were a dark blue like the carpet in his bedroom and the paint on the walls. “Wow.”
“What?”
“They complement your eyes.”
Alden looked at the sheets then up to Gannon. “Should I get in?”
Suddenly nervous, Gannon swallowed hard and nodded. Looking at him in his bed was both arousing and arresting. Alden was fragile, and as much as Gannon lusted after him, he was loathe to hurt him in any way. He waited until Alden was settled then reached to turn out the light.
“Please don’t.”
“You sleep with the light on?”
“At the thrall house, they would put me in a closet and close the door.” Alden closed his eyes and shivered. “I would hide from them in another closet, but it was smaller and I was keeping them out, not being locked in.”
As strange as it was, Gannon understood the difference immediately.
“I was so scared because it was almost pitch black. The only light came from under the door, but once they realized that, they would stuff a towel along the edge, blocking even that out.”
Gannon wished he could go and give those bullies a taste of their own medicine, but he knew that would never happen. Instead of focusing on retribution, he’d be better off helping Alden get back to a more normal place.
“I don’t mind leaving a light on.” He turned on the little lamp by Alden’s side of the bed. “Will this be okay?”
He nodded. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Unsure if he should strip down for bed, he looked at Alden and realized he was chewing his bottom lip as he tried very hard not to stare at Gannon’s shorts. Deciding to err on the side of caution, he left them on. Carefully, so as not to startle his mate, Gannon slid into the crisp bedding. Rolling to his side, he looked over and right into Alden’s eyes. “Can I hold your hand?”
“I’d like that.”
They clasped hands and Gannon tried to relax, but he couldn’t. Earlier, when he’d been carrying Alden, he hadn’t been able to smell him, but he could now. There was a faint scent of laundry products lingering on the sheets, but there was also the scent of Alden’s body. It wasn’t sweat or grime, just the smell of his skin. Gannon hardened so fast he practically levitated the bedclothes.
“You smell good.”
“Me?” Gannon was surprised.
“I can smell you pressed into the pillows.”
Gannon turned his head and sniffed. Zooks! It smelled like his sweat! He was ready to leap out of bed and toss the pillows in the wash but for the fact Alden said he liked the scent.
“I like the way you smell.”
Gannon moved a little closer.
Alden squeezed his hand, and he moved a little closer.
They met in the middle.
“Are you really happy to have me?”
“I am.” Gannon let go of Alden’s hand so he could reach up and touch his face. His skin was so soft against his rough fingertips that he felt badly for touching him and pulled back.
“Don’t. Your hands are so strong.”
“You said they would make good marks on you.”
“That’s before I knew how gentle you are.” Alden leaned closer.
Gannon tried to resist, but he couldn’t. He moved the little bit it took to press their lips together. A surge of passion made him want to pull Alden closer still, but he didn’t want to frighten him, so he stayed right where he was and simply cupped his face.
After a long time of swirling their tongues together, Alden pushed lightly against Gannon’s shoulders. Unsure what he was trying to do, Gannon rolled over onto his back.
“McBride told me that you had an idea about how we could mate without you being afraid. Something other than tying me up.” Gannon grinned and winked. “But to be honest, I don’t mind if you tie me up.”
Alden giggled and covered his mouth with his hand. It was such a curious gesture, and Gannon discovered he instantly adored it.
“So? Tell me what your idea was.”
“My idea was to do just what I did.”
Gannon looked up at him.
“Put you on your back. Now, you lift your hands above your head as if you are bound.”
Gannon played along and put his hands up. To his shock, Alden climbed on top of him. His long, strong legs straddled Gannon’s hips, and he settled his bottom on top of Gannon’s rapidly hardening cock. The only thing that stood between them was the fabric of Gannon’s shorts. Normally, he thought the weave was light, but tonight it seemed a mile thick. He’d give just about anything to have that gone so he could feel Alden’s tight bottom pressed against his prick. When Alden started rocking his hips, which slid his ass along the shaft of Gannon’s cock, he knew he was in trouble. As much as he wanted to grab him and press him down harder, he kept his hands up. To remind himself what his role was, he intertwined his fingers and cupped
them behind his head.
As Alden continued his sinuous dance against him, Gannon tightened his grip on the back of his head. Faster he rocked, making delicious friction against Gannon’s body.
“Please kiss me. I swear, I won’t move a muscle if you’ll just kiss me while you keep doing that.”
Grinning, and clearly secure in his position, Alden kept right on squirming over Gannon’s prick, but he leaned forward to kiss him. When their lips touched, it took all Gannon had not to grab him and hold him tight. Gently, he rocked his hips, using his hands behind his head to balance out the movement he made with his lower body.
“Can I take off your shorts?” Alden’s question was breathless and hungry.
Gannon’s immediate yes was tempered by the fact he might not be able to control himself if Alden did. Also, McBride was supposed to be here to instruct them. The last thing Gannon wanted to do was anger his very generous master. But he also wanted to do whatever Alden felt comfortable with. Torn, Gannon finally decided he would leave everything up to his mate.
“If you want to take them off, I won’t struggle. I mean, unless you want me to.”
“I want you to stay still as if you were bound to the bed.” Alden rose and scooted down the length of Gannon’s body. As he moved downward, he pushed the bedclothes off both of them, which didn’t matter to Gannon since he felt he was practically on fire. Once he was down far enough, Alden lifted his soft hands and skillfully parted Gannon’s shorts. Watching him was hypnotic since his long, delicate fingers traced over the fastener with something almost like a musical finesse. Eventually, Alden got them parted and then pulled them down.
“Wow.” Alden hesitated as his gaze riveted on Gannon’s exposed prick.
“Is it okay?” Gannon wasn’t sure what Alden wanted from him, so he worried that his body wasn’t quite right. He didn’t do any body sculpting work like his twin, Ollie, but he thought their bodies were fairly similar anyway.
“You are stunning.” Alden leaned close and kissed the tip of Gannon’s prick. “You are so very beautiful to me.”
Gannon let out a sigh of relief then one of pleasure as Alden’s lips parted and he sucked the tip of Gannon’s cock into his hot, wet mouth. Another surge of need made him want to grasp the top of Alden’s head and help him bob his luscious mouth up and down on the knob of his cock. As much as he wanted to do that, Gannon didn’t. He had to grip his hands firmly to his head to restrain himself, but he managed.
Closer Gannon came to release. He wanted to warn Alden back, or do something, say something, but he found he was unable to do anything but hold tight to himself and do all he could to stop himself from thrusting hard into his fragile mate’s mouth. Wavering between letting him do as he pleased while keeping his hands bound and warning him what was coming, Gannon decided to err on the side of caution.
Taking his hand from the back of his own head, Gannon touched Alden’s head as gently as he could. Rather than flinch, Alden looked up with curiosity and no trace of fear.
“I’m so close. So very close.” When Alden cast him a perplexed look, Gannon realized he had to be precise. “If you keep doing that, I’m going to climax.”
“Good.” Alden grinned and then lowered his mouth to the swollen tip of Gannon’s prick. He darted his pointed tongue around the most sensitive edge of his knob then sucked the entire tip into his mouth where he further tormented him by flicking his tongue along the slit. Gannon tried to hold off. Desperately, he tried to hold back, but Alden was extremely talented. Blown away by his skill and enthusiasm, Gannon lifted his hands to the ceiling as he came. A satisfied bellow escaped his lips as Alden didn’t flinch away but sucked firmly at the tip of his cock. Able to feel every swallow he made, Gannon had to tense his entire body not to thrust.
When his ground-shaking orgasm finally came to an end, Gannon went limp on the bed. After a long moment to recover, he opened his eyes.
Alden had released his cock and rose so that he was sitting on the meaty part of Gannon’s thighs. Big, pale blue eyes considered Gannon.
“Wow.” It was just about the only thing he could manage at the moment.
A grin curled the edges of Alden’s lips.
“You are very skilled for a virgin.”
“I was extremely attentive in class.”
Gannon grinned back at him and then lifted his hands from his head. Moving slowly, he lowered his hands to Alden’s hips. “Okay?”
“Yes.”
Picking him up very slowly, Gannon again asked, “Okay?”
“Yes.”
Carefully, Gannon moved Alden while rising slowly up from the bed. They met in the middle. Drawing Alden’s cock into his mouth, Gannon sucked gently and looked up with lifted brows.
“Yes.” Alden breathed the word and then cupped his hand to Gannon’s head. “Oh, yes.”
Gannon continued to suck his mate’s prick into his mouth. Following his lead, he teased his tongue all along the most sensitive skin under the head then flicked the tip of his tongue along the slit in the top of Alden’s cock.
“Oh, my mate. I—you—I—I’m not going to last.” Alden closed his eyes.
Gannon knew he wouldn’t hear anything he said, which was fine since he had a mouthful of his mate’s cock, but he knew Alden could feel the sounds that he made. While he sucked him hard, Gannon let out a low, slow groan of pleasure.
The truncated cry that escaped Alden’s mouth and practically echoed in the bedroom shivered Gannon all the way to his toes. When he first tasted Alden’s spurting release, his mouth watered, causing him to suck harder, which only made Alden surge forward. Taking his cock down until his lips touched the root gave Gannon a unique thrill. Lifting his massive hands, he cupped them gently to Alden’s hips and buttocks. Using the easiest pressure, Gannon pulled him close as he rose up a bit farther.
Alden made another noise that was so wickedly pleasurable, Gannon was almost worried he’d hurt him until Alden gripped his shoulders and thrust his hips forward, drilling his prick deep into Gannon’s mouth. He made a series of sighs and moans that were like a song given how melodious his voice was. Gannon could happily continue sucking on him, but Alden whimpered and struggled back. Letting go was difficult, but Gannon did because the last thing he wanted to do was frighten Alden.
Chapter 6
Alden had never known such peace. His body was drained and he felt he could sleep without the light on. Tonight, there were no bullies waiting for him in the dark. No one would sneak into his room to tease him or torment him. He was alone with his very sweet mate.
“Will McBride be angry with us?”
“No.” Gannon put his hands back behind his head. “I think he will be happy we figured something out on our own.”
“You don’t want him to teach us?” Alden had been rather comforted by the notion of an older man teaching them the ways of love.
“It’s not that, not at all. My brother Bailey said he was a very good teacher. I just don’t think he’ll mind that we were able to do something without him.” Gannon looked up at the ceiling. “Maybe that’s why he had us just be together and work on cleaning up my—our—bedroom. He knew what would happen.”
“He is clairvoyant?”
“You mean like he knows stuff before it happens?”
Alden nodded. He’d heard of men with supernatural abilities. He’d never met one, but he didn’t meet a lot of outsiders in the thrall house.
“Naw. I mean, no more than any other man. But I don’t think it takes special skills to know what a lusty slammer and his beautiful thrall will end up doing once they are alone.” Gannon grinned and then winked.
Alden laughed and lowered himself to the bed. He curled up to Gannon’s side, closed his eyes, and fell into the deepest, most dreamless sleep he’d ever had. When morning came, he woke up happy and ready to get started on cleaning up the bathroom.
Unsure what time Gannon had to be to work out in the fields, Alden got up quietly and went about h
is usual morning routine. The only thing that was an issue was finding a clean towel in the cluttered bathroom. Once he employed Gannon’s sniff test, he was able to find one. That was a particular habit that he was going to break his mate of. If nothing else, Alden would keep the house tidy.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Gannon. His eyes were half-open and he was leaning against the wall nearest the bathroom.
“Good morning!”
Gannon grunted and went past him, closing the door without saying a word. Or perhaps he had spoken, but he moved his lips so little that Alden hadn’t been able to make out what he’d said. Reading mumbles was impossible. All he knew was his mate was clearly not a morning person.
Unfazed, Alden went into the kitchen. He’d made a lot of progress cleaning yesterday, but there was plenty for him to do today while Gannon was out working in the field.
Unsure how the cookbot worked, he started to methodically put all the clutter on the table so he could clear it off.
“Where the hell am I supposed to eat?”
Alden froze. He’d read his mate’s lips clearly, but what held him still was the anger that flashed in his eyes. That was the look he was used to. All too soon Gannon would start hitting him. Terrified, Alden looked for possible escape routes. Gannon was blocking the archway to the hall, but there was another archway that went into the living room.
Spinning on his heel, Alden ran that direction, fumbled with the door, wrenched it open, and ran as fast as he could to the big house. McBride said if he needed anything he could find help there. What stunned Alden was how fast things had turned ugly. Last night they had come together easily, but this morning was nothing but trouble.
Alden didn’t bother to look back and see if Gannon was behind him. If he was, he would know soon enough. Any glance backward would slow him down, so he pushed himself forward, using the adrenalin of pure fear to give him strength. As soon as he reached the door of the big house, it came open and he ran right into McBride.
“Whoa!” McBride reached out to stop Alden from falling, but he spun away, confused and frightened.
Gannon was making ground-eating strides across the yard.
Gannon Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 5
