“First, this whole flaw business is a fucking joke. We aren’t flawed. That is ridiculous. It was an excuse to lock us up because we scared them. Gavrael, why the fuck would you willingly return to that fucking prison? You can call it a compound or whatever, but we both know a prison is exactly what it is. You just sit in a fucking room all by yourself. Is that what you want? To rot in that fucking place?” Gedeon demanded as he took a few steps forward putting himself less than a foot from Gavrael. Everyone else in the room seemed paralyzed from Gedeon’s razor sharp words.
“It is less than ideal, but my return is necessary.”
“Oh, this isn’t happening. We’re not going to have another one of these conversations where you have made your fucking decision and won’t listen to anyone else. Stop being so fucking stubborn. This affects me too.” Gedeon poked Gavrael in the chest with his index finger as he spoke. Gavrael looked down at the offending digit before once again meeting the furious eyes of his mate.
“I know it affects you. That is the point,” Gavrael replied, his tone soft but firm.
“What does that mean?”
“It would be best for you if I were at the compound.” Gavrael watched as Gedeon raised his clenched fists to grab at his own hair and tug.
“You don’t get to decide what is best for me without discussing it first,” Gedeon shouted.
“Gentlemen, perhaps it would be best if we took a breath and settled down,” Aleksander said and took a step closer to the two of them. Gedeon released the grip he had on his own hair and walked backward to allow their king to stand between them.
“Gedeon, I realize the two of you are close. You shared a room, but Aleksander is right. The decision is Gavrael’s to make. Like you, I would prefer him to stay, but if he wants to go we shouldn’t try and make him feel bad,” Blodwen bravely entered the fray.
“Your happiness is all I have considered Gedeon. This is for you,” Gavrael pleaded with him to understand. He had explained that he had things to learn and all of this was so he could be a competent partner. This was all for Gedeon.
“Well, I don’t want this.”
Gavrael’s head was starting to pound as he struggled to understand why Gedeon was making this so difficult. “You are the one that put space between us. You made a room of your own. I am giving you what you want. The space you need.”
“I didn’t decorate a room for myself. I decorated it for us,” Gedeon explained as he raked his hands through his thoroughly mussed hair. He was obviously frustrated, but Gavrael’s mind was spiraling into a state of complete disorder.
“I am confused,” he confessed.
“You’re not the only one. Gedeon, why would you decorate a new room for the two of you and only put one bed in it?” Dra’Kaedan asked.
Gedeon gave Gavrael a hard stare before responding to Dra’Kaedan’s question, “Because mates don’t usually have separate beds.” As the meaning behind Gedeon’s words spread through the room, several gasps were heard.
“My apologies; it would seem you do have a say in whether Gavrael stays or goes,” was the response from King Aleksander. Gavrael watched as Gedeon made eye contact with their leader.
“I apologize to all of you for not telling you sooner that Gavrael is my mate, but as you might have guessed, the revelation hasn’t been an easy one.”
“I accept all responsibility for that. It is my fault. I have not adjusted well to life here. I wanted Gedeon to have time before we tried to work on being mates, but he did not need it. This is why I must go. I have work to do to become a good mate,” Gavrael told the room.
“I’m glad you’ve finally realized I’ve adjusted, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting you go anywhere. Anything you feel you need to work on as my mate, we can work on together.”
Gavrael closed his eyes at the words. It seemed Gedeon did still want him, and he was even willing to help him. He was assaulted by a flood of emotion. Gavrael had never really wanted to return to the compound. The place was a prison, and being away from Gedeon on a daily basis would have been torture. All the color. All the life. It would be so much harder to survive there now that he knew there was an alternative like Court D’Vaire. The only saving grace was that it would make Gedeon happy and give him an opportunity to become a better person. The thought of not doing the right thing for his mate had haunted him. Now Gedeon wanted him to stay. He had decorated that gorgeous room for the two of them. Apparently, Gavrael had been stuck in his head too long because the next thing he felt was his mate’s hand on his arm. “Gavrael? You okay?”
“I will stay if you wish it,” Gavrael stated as he once again met the mint green of Gedeon’s eyes.
“Good, because if you insisted on returning to that fucking hellhole I was going to go with you, and I would find your room and never leave it.”
Gavrael’s heart seemed to soar with those words. “That does not seem like a bad thing to me. At least we would be in the same room again.”
“Oh, but it would be because you would have to listen to me bitch about how much that place fucking sucks, and we both know I never shut up. And since you’ve already got your things packed, you can move into our room tonight.” Gedeon placed his other hand on Gavrael’s arm, so he had him caged as he smiled into his face. Suddenly Gavrael’s crippling fear didn’t seem quite so insurmountable; it may have been too much for one sentinel but surely it could not survive the resolve of two of them. He could only hope Gedeon’s opinion of him didn’t change when he realized the full extent of Gavrael’s issues. There was still the chance the other sentinel would turn from him when he understood Gavrael was nowhere near the epitome of what someone of their race should be.
“I would like that. I guess it is time for us to have that discussion about our mating.”
“Fantastic, Gavrael is staying and moving into Gedeon’s new room. That whole mating discussion is probably something you want to have in private, am I right?” Dra’Kaedan asked, and Gavrael was grateful the Grand Warlock had butted in. He had forgotten there were others in the room, and if Gedeon was going to reject him it was best done without witnesses.
Gedeon replied before Gavrael found his voice, “Definitely.”
“Great. All right, I think this concludes our meeting. Enjoy the rest of your evening, everyone, and I’ll see you all at breakfast,” Aleksander said, and Gavrael wasn’t sure how his upcoming discussion was going to go, but he hoped Gedeon was still determined to see them as a couple when all was said and done.
* * *
Gedeon reluctantly let go of his mate’s arms and grabbed Gavrael’s duffle bag before the man could snap out of whatever spell was making him so agreeable. Without another word, Gedeon headed straight for their new room. A quick glance behind him assured him Gavrael was indeed following. As he walked, Gedeon tried to calm all the riotous emotions inside of him.
Rage like he had never known before nearly consumed him as Gavrael had so casually spoken of returning to the compound. Ninety-four years in that place was more than enough time for his mate to sit behind those prison walls. There was no way in hell Gedeon would ever allow him to return.
As much as he drove him crazy, Gedeon preferred his mate close by. It seemed as if Gavrael was finally willing to listen to what he had to say and work on this relationship of theirs. It was not an opportunity Gedeon was willing to give up. Now that the anger of Gavrael’s decision to leave was passing, he could feel happiness and caution coursing through his veins in equal measure.
Yes, he was moving into his room, and this thrilled Gedeon beyond measure, but he had a feeling that the conversation they were about to have would decide how those new living arrangements were going to work. As far as Gedeon was concerned, it was past time the two of them began living as true mates did. That meant the giant bed he had placed in the room should host both of them each night, and more than just sleeping would be taking place. Too bad Gavrael’s mind was a mystery, and Gedeon had easily figured out he rarely expresse
d his full thoughts on anything. That needed to change, and it needed to do so immediately.
The walk to their new room was over too soon for Gedeon to get a real handle on all the thoughts in his mind, but perhaps that was for the best. Together they would figure out how to live as mates. Together they would work on a common goal for the future. It was enough to make Gedeon light-headed after all the time he had yearned for Gavrael at his side.
Dropping the bag inside the room, Gedeon allowed Gavrael in and then shut the door, sealing them both inside. Remembering the last time the two of them had been on a bed together and Gavrael’s subsequent journey to the hard floor, Gedeon crossed the room to take a seat on the couch. Gavrael followed and took a seat next to him.
Gedeon saw no reason to delay the inevitable and immediately began speaking. “Thanks for agreeing to stay. I would’ve followed you to the compound. It would’ve become my life’s mission to find you and not allow you any peace until you agreed to return. Of course, it would’ve been impossible to let Blodwen and Trystan know we wished to come home, so thanks to you we would’ve been stuck in a tiny room sharing a skinny-ass bed. You would’ve been miserable. I don’t know why you would consider going back.”
“I thought it would make you happy. My own happiness was of no consequence. It is my duty to care for my mate.”
Giving the other sentinel a small smile, Gedeon had no choice but to argue against that train of thought. “Just as it is your duty to care for me, it is also my duty to care for you. You are my mate. Trust me, you can’t see to my happiness if we aren’t together. I’m sorry I made you feel like I would’ve been better off without you. Nothing could be further from the truth. I wish to get to know you better. We’ve been chosen to share our lives.”
“I wish to know you as well, but I have difficulty speaking my own mind.” Gedeon was glad his mate had finally let him in on what went on inside that head of his. Apparently, he was full of all kinds of thoughts and feelings but struggled to make them into words. Perhaps that was why Fate chose Gedeon to be his mate; he never lacked for plenty to say.
“That’s okay. We’ll keep things simple. I talk all the time. Maybe it will rub off onto you,” Gedeon teased.
“Simple is good.”
“Okay. So we are both agreed; it’s time for us to live as mates?”
“Yes.”
“You are ready to share this room and that bed?” Gedeon pointed to the large object in question and watched as Gavrael’s bronze eyes followed his finger.
“Yes.”
“I’ll warn you; if you get into that bed with me I’m going to want to do more than sleep.” It was only fair Gavrael knew exactly what he was getting into; Gedeon was tired of mystery.
Gavrael gave him a nod. “I have spent time watching videos and reading books on sexual relations between male mates.”
“I’ve read some stuff too. I watched some porn, but it got boring after a while. I understand it can be erotic, but you’re the only thing that seems to get me hard. Sometimes when I was watching, I tried picturing you instead of the two dudes on the screen, but that just led to me closing my eyes and jacking off. It was difficult to learn anything when I wasn’t looking at the computer.” Bravely Gedeon slid a little closer to Gavrael on the sofa as he spoke. He wasn’t sure if his mate was ready to start putting to good use all they had learned about sex, but Gedeon was ready to try.
“I read many elves are only stimulated by their mate. They lack any sexuality before meeting each other. I think we must be like those elves. I am only aroused by you.”
Like Gavrael, Gedeon had read extensively of other races in their Council. He had come to a similar conclusion based on his own experiences, but it was an uneducated hypothesis since he had only his own urges to go by. It was nice to find Gavrael was the same as he was when it came to being sexually aroused. “I read the same thing. I have to tell you I’m glad you’re only aroused by me. I like touching myself when I think of you, but the best orgasm ever was when you touched my dick. I liked it very, very much.”
“I am glad I pleased you.”
“Do you like thinking of me when you touch yourself?” Gedeon asked as he inched forward again. He was close enough to touch Gavrael now and, amazingly enough, the other sentinel was not backing away.
“I do not touch myself,” Gavrael announced, and Gedeon blinked hard. He wondered in bewilderment how Gavrael could deal with all those hormones raging through his system for the first time without jacking off.
“Why not?”
“I am more than willing to please my mate, but I will not be at the mercy of my own body.”
“So, you’ve never come before?”
“Each morning I awake with a mess in my underwear, so I seem to have orgasms in my sleep.”
“I guess ninety-four years of celibacy has caught up with you,” Gedeon said with a laugh.
“So it would seem.”
“Would you please me tonight, Gavrael?”
“Yes.” The word had barely left his mate’s mouth before Gavrael got to his feet. He reached his hand down to Gedeon, still on the couch, and he gladly took it. Standing quickly, he was soon following Gavrael to the large bed in the center of the room. Gavrael took a seat on its edge and released Gedeon’s hand. Gedeon watched as the other sentinel leaned down and began removing his gray boots.
Since he had not bothered to put shoes on today, Gedeon plopped down next to his mate and waited for him to finish his task. It did not take Gavrael long to remove both his boots and socks. Barefoot, Gavrael’s bronze eyes met his, and they stared at each other briefly before Gavrael leaned forward and closed the distance between them.
Their lips met, and Gedeon immediately began cataloging the sensations the kiss produced. Gavrael’s lips were soft and firm, and Gedeon wanted more. He cocked his head to the side and opened his mouth. His mate’s reaction was instantaneous, and Gedeon was treated with Gavrael’s tongue. Gedeon responded by sliding his own against Gavrael’s. A sound seemed to bubble up from somewhere deep inside of his chest, and when it reached his throat it came out as a deep moan, which seemed to only add to the amazing kiss.
Before Gedeon was ready, Gavrael gently ended the kiss and leaned back slightly. “Do you like kissing?”
“Fuck yes, I enjoy kissing.”
“We will need to practice a great deal to become more skilled at it.”
Gedeon gave his mate the biggest smile that had ever graced his face as he teased, “It is our duty as sentinels to become experts in all things we attempt.”
“Yes,” Gavrael agreed before grabbing Gedeon’s arms in his hands and pressing their mouths together again. Another moan filled the room, and Gedeon could care less that he seemed to be incapable of keeping the sounds to himself. Gedeon was thrilled Gavrael wanted to practice kissing, but clearly the man didn’t need to in order to drive him crazy. They had been kissing for mere minutes, and already Gedeon’s dick was hard. At this rate, he wasn’t even going to get his pants off before he came. He didn’t want to experience the sticky underpants situation Gavrael apparently dealt with each morning.
Gavrael continued to stroke his tongue inside of Gedeon’s mouth. He seemed to be memorizing every inch of it as he slid his tongue across each of Gedeon’s teeth, the roof of his mouth, and everywhere else he could reach. Gedeon was just as thorough in his exploration of Gavrael’s. All the kissing was making his head spin, and then Gavrael released the grip he had on Gedeon’s arms.
Without any thought other than getting closer to his mate, Gedeon wound his arms around Gavrael’s neck and pressed their chests together. Gavrael chose not to break their continuous kisses and snaked his own arms across Gedeon’s back. That action earned him another throaty moan, and Gedeon felt Gavrael’s arms tighten.
Clearly, Gavrael liked it when he moaned. Knowing Gavrael was turned on was electrifying to Gedeon. It was a heady sensation to realize he was having that sort of effect on the oh-so-controlled senti
nel that was holding him so very tightly.
The tight band of Gavrael’s arms around him suddenly loosened, and Gedeon pulled his mouth away to break their most current kiss. “What’s wrong?”
“May I remove your shirt?”
“Only if I get to remove yours,” Gedeon replied, and Gavrael gave him a nod before reaching down to grab the base of Gedeon’s T-shirt. Removing his arms from around Gavrael’s neck he gave his mate the space he needed to tug his T-shirt over his head. As soon as it hit the floor, Gedeon whipped Gavrael’s gray shirt off, and they both sat staring at each other. Gedeon noticed Gavrael’s chest was heaving with jerky breaths and realized he was gulping for air in much the same manner. All that kissing had really turned them both the fuck on, he thought wickedly.
The smooth skin of Gavrael’s muscular pecs and chiseled stomach made Gedeon ache with the need to touch. It seemed his mate was of the same mind, for no sooner had the thought been processed when Gavrael placed a palm on his rib cage. His other hand quickly joined the first, and Gavrael ran them both up to just below his collarbones and then down to his stomach. Gedeon was struck motionless as Gavrael explored his way back towards his shoulders and then over his arms.
“Will you lie on the bed?” Gedeon did not bother to reply verbally. He scooted his body up the mattress and shoved all the stupid throw pillows onto the floor before doing as his mate requested. As soon as he was prone on the bed, Gavrael moved closer to him. The other sentinel kneeled at his side and leaned over him to place his fingertips on Gedeon’s stomach. Using the pads of his fingers, he traced the entire expanse of all Gedeon’s exposed skin.
Gedeon closed his eyes and felt his body tingle wherever Gavrael’s fingers touched. It seemed as Gavrael was memorizing all of him. In the true way of a sentinel, he seemed to want to conquer everything he had learned of the art of sex. Apparently, first on the agenda was familiarizing himself with Gedeon’s entire body.
“I would like to kiss your body.” Opening his eyes, Gedeon smiled at his mate.
Sentinel's Dagger (D'Vaire, Book 2) Page 14
