by Marcy Jacks
“I missed you so much,” Sorin sighed.
Lucian paused then got back to what he was doing.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell his mate that he’d always been here, that he hadn’t left him.
But that would have been a lie. Lucian could see it now. He’d been here, physically, and he’d tried to be here emotionally, but he hadn’t been.
Lucian had been so caught up in his own guilt over what had happened, over nearly leaving his mate to die after Sorin had done everything possible to protect him, that he’d kept a distance he should not have kept.
Lucian lowered his hand, his fingers slipping beneath the elastic waist of Sorin’s pants. He found the firm length of his cock, curled his fingers around the shaft, and pumped his hand with even strokes, listening as Sorin mewled from the pleasure of it.
“Ah, God.”
Lucian had been so worried about taking things too fast. He’d been scared to death that his advances wouldn’t be welcome, that Sorin wouldn’t be ready after his ordeal. So Lucian had focused on giving Sorin as much space as possible, on being supportive without crowding him, on letting Sorin work through what had happened on his own terms, and for that, Lucian had allowed the distance between them to grow instead of heal.
He was going to fix that right now.
Lucian brought his mouth to Sorin’s other nipple. He kissed and sucked the man until Sorin was practically trembling with his pleasure. It was right where Lucian wanted him, his mate in his arms, humping into Lucian’s fist, hissing and sighing with each thrust and each pulse of pleasure that hit him.
“Lucian?” Sorin asked, his voice a pleasured, breathy sigh.
“Yeah?”
Sorin’s cheeks were getting progressively brighter. “I want you inside me.” Sorin’s hands held Lucian’s face, pulling him up so that they were now both on their knees. Even like this, Lucian was still taller, but Sorin could still reach his mouth and kiss him.
It was the kiss that proved to be Lucian’s undoing.
“Right now,” Sorin said, pressing his mouth heatedly again and again to Lucian’s, pulling him down on top of his body, spreading his legs. “Please.”
Lucian nodded. There was no way in hell he was going to deny his mate what he wanted.
“Fuck, where’s the lube?”
It had been a while.
Lucian opened up the nightstand and didn’t find it inside.
“I took it to the shower yesterday.”
Lucian blinked down at his mate. Sorin had a smile on his face but also an embarrassed expression.
Lucian grinned at him then kissed him hard on his mouth. “You’re so damned cute.”
Lucian flew off the bed. “Make sure your pants are off when I get back!”
He rushed into the bathroom he and Sorin shared. He honed in immediately on the shower stall and opened the glass door.
Yup, there it was. Sorin had either forgotten it was here or had been trying to give Lucian a hint.
Too bad Lucian was disgusting and hadn’t showered today. Or yesterday. Right. He was going to have to get that done after he finished with his mate.
He went back to the bedroom, more than pleased to see Sorin had done what Lucian had commanded of him.
His cotton pajama pants were on the floor. He sat against the headboard, above the covers, looking shyly at Lucian as though this was going to be the first time they made love.
Right. They were still testing each other’s boundaries. They were going to get back to where they used to be. This was just a step in the right direction until they made it there.
Lucian crawled onto the bed. He never took his eyes off his mate. He stared at his lover as though he was looking at something to eat.
“You are so fucking beautiful that it hurts.”
Sorin nearly ducked his head. Lucian reached out and took him by the chin. He wouldn’t allow his mate to turn away from him. “I mean it. Every single inch of you is perfect.”
He stroked Sorin’s cock teasingly a couple more times, wanting to give the man something to keep him on edge.
“So are you,” Sorin gasped, sucking back a harsh breath as he seemed to struggle to keep his eyes open as they tried to fall shut. “That feels good.”
Lucian’s heart wouldn’t stop pounding so heavily in his chest. He could hardly take it. This lust. It was powerful in its intensity. He could hardly stand it.
And then he realized the last time he and Sorin had made love it had been when Lucian’s ankle was still chained to that bed in Varrick’s house.
When Van, motherfucker that he was, wanted the ultimate performance to make sure Lucian left the house without his mate. Sorin had come to him, they’d had sex, and Sorin had to pretend that it meant nothing to him, had to make Lucian angry enough with him that Lucian was willing to walk away from the best damned thing that had ever happened to him.
So stupid. He’d been such a fool.
Now was his time to make up for that.
Lucian pushed himself out of his pants, throwing them away and leaving nothing between him and his mate as they were both, finally, naked in bed together.
The way Sorin looked at him, as though Lucian was a gift, was the best feeling he ever could have had.
Lucian popped open the bottle of lube. He coated his fingers. He could hear every hard pulse of Sorin’s heart, and he felt the soft tremble and intake of breath when his fingers reached down and touched Sorin’s hole.
“Lift your knees for me.”
Sorin did as he was told. He held his knees in place with his hands. “Like this?”
“Exactly like that.” Lucian wanted to give his mate everything. He pushed his fingers inside that tight hole just as he leaned down, wetting his lips and putting them around the head of Sorin’s cock.
The reaction was harsh and immediate. Lucian felt it. He felt the way Sorin’s spine bowed. He heard the rush of air as he inhaled and exhaled hard, and he felt the pulsing of his mate’s dick against his tongue as he lowered his mouth farther and farther down.
He didn’t stop until he was as far as he could go and Sorin was gasping and panting for breath.
The man’s asshole clenched tightly around Lucian’s fingers, which was just what Lucian wanted from him, and it was perfect.
Lucian bobbed his head as he scissored his fingers, making love to his mate with his mouth and hands. He had a lot of time to make up for.
Sorin dropped one of his knees as he panted for breath. He didn’t seem to be able to control himself. Then Lucian hooked his fingers, found that sweet spot inside him, and he thought for sure that it would have been over.
No. It wasn’t. Sorin moaned. He bucked against Lucian’s hand and fingers, but Lucian didn’t feel the rush of warmth he was searching for.
He pulled back to look at his mate, observing the panting mess that Sorin had become.
And Lucian smiled. “You’re holding back.”
Sorin blinked blearily. He glanced down at Lucian, his chest flushed as it rose and fell heavily. “Y-yeah.”
“I like that.”
Lucian grabbed the bottle again, added some more lubricant to his fingers, and then returned to stretching and pleasuring his mate. He did it slower this time. He liked the fact that Sorin was holding back, that his legs were clenching and his toes curling as he tried his damnedest to keep from having the orgasm he so clearly wanted.
Lucian didn’t want his mate to come until he was balls deep inside him.
When he pulled his fingers back, Lucian realized that he probably hadn’t prepared his mate enough. Not considering what he actually wanted to do to the man.
But it was going to have to do because he was seriously starting to develop a severe case of blue balls.
Sorin apparently noticed this as he smiled up at him. “That looks painful.”
“It won’t be after another minute, so don’t you worry your pretty little head.”
Sorin snorted a soft laugh, but th
en he moaned as Lucian pressed the blunt and slick head of his cock against Sorin’s hole.
He pushed inside. There was only the expected amount of resistance, but Lucian still forced himself to go at it so much slower than he wanted to.
Though Sorin had welcomed him into his body, there was still the immediate realization of how tight he was.
With that realization came the knowledge that it was only that way because Lucian had been keeping his distance, and now his mate had a hard grip on Lucian’s cock.
Sorin moaned when Lucian couldn’t go any deeper. He was balls deep, their bodies completely joined, as Sorin’s cock was now trapped between their bellies.
And Sorin didn’t seem to want to keep his mouth still. He pressed frantic kisses to as many places on Lucian’s neck, chest, shoulders, and face as he could reach.
Lucian allowed it. He absorbed the affection as though he had been starved for it.
Maybe he really was because this was, by and large, the best feeling he’d had in a long time. He was going to implode with all the feels he was getting right now. There was no doubt in his mind about that.
“God, you kill me,” Lucian said.
Sorin smiled at him. His eyes, which had been brimming with tears a couple of minutes ago, were now dancing at him, as though this was the best moment of his life.
“I love you,” Sorin said quickly. “I didn’t get to say it the last time, but I love you.”
Lucian stroked Sorin’s hair. “I know. I love you, too.”
Sorin nodded.
Lucian thought his heart was going to explode.
He pulled his hips back ever so slightly and then thrust forward. He kept eye contact with Sorin when he did so. Sorin inhaled a deep breath as he took Lucian into him. And then again. And then again.
Lucian thought that the instant he was inside of his mate that he would start fucking hard and fast, that he wouldn’t be able to stop himself.
Apparently he’d been wrong. Now that he was here, at this point that he couldn’t wait to get to for so long, he could only take his time, looking into the eyes of his mate as he pumped his hips with slow precision. Again. And again.
They were going to be at this all night. Lucian could tell that right now, and he didn’t mind it one bit.
Chapter Six
Angel hadn’t slept well the night before. He couldn’t stop thinking about Theron Hunter, the alpha dragon who’d kissed him, wanted him for a mate, and all the pros and cons that would come with making such a decision either way.
He didn’t want to be someone’s property again.
Angel got out of bed, brushed his teeth, took a quick shower and got dressed. It was early. Six in the morning of a new day, and two days after Theron had found him in that bar.
He was still so embarrassed by that.
Angel just wanted to get his chores done.
When he pulled on his clothes, it was still something he noticed, even though he thought he should be used to it by now.
The feeling of having no tail, of having his clothes fit so much better now that he didn’t have to cut a hole in the back to make room for the tail or hide the tail down one of his pant legs.
The vampires had cut it off just last year, when they’d found him sneaking food.
He wished he’d been working and living in this house, back when Seth had come and taken it over.
If he had, then he’d still have his tail and maybe he’d know how to read a little better and would know more about the humans.
Know enough about them that he shouldn’t leave a drink unattended around them. That would have been nice.
Nothing he could do about it now except get on with his life.
Cole was putting together his bucket in the broom closet. The first thing Angel noticed about him was the rings in his ears. Rings given to him after he was attacked by one of Evzen’s former men.
Maybe Angel should pierce his fox ears. It was a nice enough look on Cole, and maybe Theron would like them.
Angel shook his head. He shouldn’t be thinking of that man right now. It wasn’t good for his concentration.
He said nothing to Cole other than a quiet good morning. He didn’t know many of the other omegas here that well, and Cole seemed extra quiet.
Even for a former sex slave.
The only thing that piqued Angel’s curiosity was why Cole still worked. Like Angel, he often skipped breakfast, as well, as though he didn’t want to be around anyone else. He was mated to Evzen, an alpha dragon and a man formerly in charge of his own clan.
Angel had seen Evzen. He was an impressive male to say the least. Tall, well built, and clearly powerful. Even Seth held respect for him.
So if Cole had mated up to such a large extent, why did he still insist on scrubbing toilets? It seemed somewhat beneath him now that he was in a better place.
Would Angel still be expected to do chores around the mansion if he did mate with Theron? Many of the omegas still seemed to hold jobs.
Angel didn’t like dusting and vacuuming. He’d rather get to go outside and work with the flowers and the new vegetable patch that had been put in. He didn’t know anything about gardening, but at least it would allow him to go outside.
That, and sometimes the dragons like to spar out there. Theron would fight with the other dragons in friendly matches to test their strengths and weaknesses.
Many times this happened with their shirts off.
No, he was absolutely not thinking about Theron with his shirt off. It was a bonus to be had when looking at any of the dragons in the house. They were all good looking, even the mated ones.
Theron was nice, too.
At least, Angel thought he was nice. He was nice from what Angel had seen above his clothes. What would he look like if he took his shirt off?
“Do you want anything?”
Angel blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. Cole blinked back at him, backing up a step, as though unsure of why Angel had the reaction he did.
“Sorry,” Angel said quickly. “I was miles away.”
No, he wasn’t miles away. He was with Theron. Wondering what the man would look like without his clothes on. That was actually pretty close if he thought about it.
Cole nodded. “Well, I’m done with the closet,” he said, holding the handle of his bucket with two hands. “I’m going to Tiny’s room to clean up. He’s still in bed after the attack.”
Angel nodded, wincing a little. “Right.”
Here he was, thinking about all the things he wanted to see and do in the world, and he was selfishly letting himself forget about what was going on here, about the dragons who were getting hurt to protect his kind, about the other omegas who might have plans of their own.
And who might hit him harder than he’d ever been hit in his entire life if they ever found out he wasn’t jumping on the idea of being mated to Theron.
It was a great offer, one of protection, and he was probably a fool for not taking it, especially since he did like Theron, thought the man was handsome, all of it.
But he didn’t want to be owned.
Angel grabbed a roll of paper towels, a spray bottle, and a duster. He wrapped an apron around himself and set off to get to work.
He went to the sitting room first so he could wash the windows. He could tell the vacuuming hadn’t been done yet so he used his duster to get all the high places.
Then he worked down the hall and then took himself to the library.
The blinds were closed, and someone was sitting in one of the reading chairs, facing the window that was closed up, oddly enough. Probably Seth.
Angel didn’t want to talk to him because he didn’t want the alpha to ask him whether he’d changed his mind about mating with Theron, but it seemed rude to say nothing at all. “Sorry, sir, I’ll be done in a minute.”
The man in the chair leaned forward and looked back at him. Angel froze at the sight of Sorin.
Sorin stood quickly, dropping the book
he’d been holding on the floor.
They faced each other. Angel couldn’t move. No one said a word.
Not right away.
It was…eerie to say the least.
The last time Angel had been alone with Sorin the vampire had threatened to kill him if he didn’t keep it secret that Sorin was sending food and medicine to Lucian.
Back when Angel had still been a servant in Varrick’s second home.
“Hello,” Sorin said.
Angel backed up a step.
He’d heard the talking, the excuses that had been told again and again. The dragons seemed to think Sorin was innocent, that just because he wasn’t his father that it meant he’d committed no sin against the omegas who used to serve him.
And, in some cases, still did.
Angel didn’t care. He didn’t care for the excuses, and he didn’t care for this vampire. He knew he wasn’t the only omega in the house to think so. There were plenty of others who spoke about Sorin behind his back, and apparently, at one time, one of the dragons in this house had taken Sorin’s fangs out with a pair of pliers.
Angel thought it was a good idea and that it needed to be done again since he could tell those fangs had grown back.
Sorin swallowed. He stepped forward.
Angel took another step back.
Sorin froze then made no other attempt to come closer.
“I’ve…I’ve been wanting to talk to you. About what happened at my father’s other house.”
Angel shook his head. “I don’t want to speak to you.”
Sorin nodded. “I understand. I’m still sorry, for threatening you. I didn’t mean it. I just needed to make sure you didn’t tell Lucian it was me.”
“I know,” Angel said then glared. “I don’t care.”
Sorin pressed his lips together, his brows creasing, as though Angel’s words had upset him.
And Angel felt guilty, and then he was angry.
How dare this vampire, this man who had lived carefree in this house for his entire life, make Angel feel guilty for anything?
“Either way, I just wanted you to know that and to know that, if it will help Lucian and Seth, I’m ready to tell them anything they want to know about the house. I have been telling them everything I know about the house already, and we’re working on closing up the passageways to get in and out.”
