by Marie Medina
“You can stop it?”
Luke nodded. “If I pull out as my orgasm hits. Once I start to come, my body will lock in place if I’m inside someone.”
Dane laughed and smiled, a little nervous flutter in his stomach. He’d never felt this way before and didn’t know how to say what was in his heart, even after Luke’s declaration. “So, I’m special, hmmm?”
Luke’s gaze grew serious. “That wasn’t pillow talk, little one. I love you.”
Dane flushed at hearing the words again. “I … don’t know what to say. I feel unworthy.”
Luke shook his head. “Oh no. None of that shit.” He moved over Dane and said, “Should I claim you again to prove how worthy you are?”
Dane arched beneath him. “If you insist.” He gave in to Luke’s hungry kiss, anxious to feel the man inside him again and glad for the respite as his emotions churned deep within.
****
Three Days Later
Luke woke up in the middle of the night, as he had each night since Dane had come to live with him. He admired the fae in the pale moonlight, running his fingers through the ends of the man’s hair carefully, not wanting to wake him.
About a minute later, Dane’s eyes popped open. “You know, I can feel you watching me.”
Luke smiled apologetically. “Sorry. You’re so beautiful. Hard to sleep knowing I could be looking at you instead.”
“Really? Perhaps I should leave then so you can get some rest,” Dane said, starting to get out of bed.
Luke yanked him back under the covers. “As if you’d get very far.”
Dane laughed. “But you don’t want to risk it.”
Luke tightened his grip and kissed Dane’s cheek. “Nope.”
“Gregor mentioned the public claiming earlier today.”
“Yes?”
“When do you want to do it?”
“That’s up to you.”
“Is it?” Dane searched his face as he asked the question.
“Yes.”
“Why?” The fae pressed closer.
“Because I’ll really never let you go then. You need to be sure.”
“So, if I’m sure I’m in love with you, is that good enough?”
Luke went still, trying to read Dane’s expression. “Yes, that would be good enough.” He drew Dane against him. “Wonderful, in fact.”
“Wonderful, huh?” Dane said, so softly Luke almost didn’t catch the words.
“Stop pressuring yourself, little one.” He took Dane by the chin and kissed him gently. “You’re mine. I’m the happiest I’ve been in a long time.”
Dane’s fingers played over Luke’s chest. “You don’t understand. I’m not pressuring myself because I don’t feel that way yet.” He looked up into Luke’s eyes. “I’m nervous because I’ve never said it before. Never felt it before. But I do. I love you. I’m in love with—”
Luke cut him off with a possessive kiss. Dane squirmed against him, but he soon gave up and let Luke pin him to the bed on his stomach.
“What are you doing, you ravenous beast?” Dane said over his shoulder.
Luke reached for the lube and slicked his fingers. “You tell me you love me and think you aren’t getting pounded into this mattress? Perhaps you don’t know me that well yet.”
Dane laughed. “Oh, I do. I just—ah!” Dane arched against Luke’s probing fingers. “Mmmm, we can talk about it later.”
Once Dane was prepared, Luke slid into him. “Say it.”
“Say what?” Dane said breathlessly.
“I’ll fuck you all night if you don’t say it,” Luke said, sliding home all the way and pressing Dane into the mattress.
“I’ll never say it if that’s your best threat.”
Luke kissed the back of Dane’s neck and then nibbled on the tip of one perfect pointed ear before he bit Dane’s shoulder just hard enough to make the man cry out.
“I love you, you brute, now take me harder,” Dane said as he tightened his ass around Luke.
Luke sighed as he pumped into his sweet lover. “As you wish, my love.”
Epilogue
One Week Later
Dane hurried across the field toward Asmund, excited that the king had made time to come to the ceremony they’d planned. The night before, Luke and Dane had declared their mating to the pack, but today, they were having a modified fae wedding. Luke had insisted on it when Dane had told him about the elaborate ceremonies fae had to mark their unions. Theirs would be simple in comparison, but Dane still loved how excited Luke was about giving him this particular gift. Dane had worried the king wouldn’t have time, given the short notice, but Jared had repeatedly reassured him Asmund would come to bless the union, as he had Gregor and Jared’s before they left the fae realm.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Your Majesty,” Dane said.
Asmund smiled and actually leaned in and hugged him. “I wouldn’t miss it. I’ve been meaning to come here for a real visit anyway. You gave me a fine reason.” The king looked around. “It’s very beautiful here. Not so different from home.”
“We’re pretty deep in the woods. For protection. The land’s part of a private preserve owned by the pack, under an assumed name.”
“If the pack ever needs help, you and Jared must come to me straight away.”
“We will.”
Asmund looked around at all of the men and women towering over them. “I feel like a child at my first grown-up party.”
Dane laughed. “My neck was a bit sore the first few days.”
Asmund chuckled, but then he paused. “I sense something—someone, that is.”
Dane glanced around. “Someone dangerous?” His hand flew to the king’s arm, ready to open a portal and push the older man through it before raising the alarm.
“No. Someone like us.” His gaze fixed on a group of people across the field. “Who is that? With the sword.”
Dane didn’t even have to look to know whom the king meant. “Vadik. He’s the highest-ranking Beta under Luke.”
“He has elven blood. A very old line based on the vibrations coming from him. Vadik, you say? That’s an old name. Northern Europe.” Asmund took a step forward. “And there must be something more than wolf and elf in him as well. He’s the largest man I’ve ever seen. The elven blood should be dwarfing the shifter in him, but that’s obviously not the case.”
“He wishes to meet you. Luke said so. He’s very interested in the royal guard.”
“Yes, I’m sure he is. I’d sense the warrior within him even if he wasn’t wearing…” Asmund paused. “What exactly is he wearing? Everyone else is wearing ordinary human fashions.”
Dane eyed Vadik briefly, taking in the dark red modified leathers the man wore today. “He always dresses like that. Leather and tunics and intricately wrought weapons.”
“Your Majesty, I’m so glad you could come,” Luke said as he came up beside them.
Asmund continued looking at Vadik a moment before he turned to Luke. “I wouldn’t have missed it. It’s a joyous occasion, and I’m glad Jared and Dane won’t have to live apart.” His gaze went back to Vadik.
Luke glanced at Dane. “Vadik hasn’t done anything weird, has he?”
“No,” Asmund said before Dane could answer. “But it seems Jared isn’t the only one with mixed blood around here.”
“You can sense that already?” Luke asked, stepping forward.
“Yes.” Asmund cocked an eyebrow. “You know something?”
“Vadik wishes to meet you. His grandmother said the father of her son, Vadik’s father, was like you. Fae or elven in some way. He’s wanted to know more all his life. Jared said you can tell him about his origins simply by touching him.”
“I can tell him about his blood, not about the actual people.” When Asmund looked back to Vadik, he smiled. “It seems he’s noticed my attention. Perhaps I should go introduce myself.”
Asmund strode off, and Dane saw Vadik break away from his conversation as well. With Vadik’s l
ong strides, they reached one another quickly. The king nearly tipped backwards trying to look up at the man, but they soon smiled warmly at each other.
“Another match, perhaps?” Luke said teasingly into Dane’s ear.
Dane laughed. “Are you crazy? Asmund needs an heir. Besides, look at them.”
“I am. That’s why I said what I said.”
Dane glanced back. The two men were standing very close now. Vadik leaned against a nearby tree and bent so the king didn’t have to look up quite as much. “Vadik would crush him.”
The king held out his hand, and Vadik slipped his fingers into it. Asmund closed his eyes, but they flew open again in an instant. They stared at each other, an odd look coming to Vadik’s eyes.
The same look Dane saw in Luke’s eyes every day.
“I think our wedding is going to be eventful,” Dane said.
Luke pressed close to his back and kissed his neck. “We’re invading one another’s worlds. None of us are safe.”
Blinking to dispel his shock, Dane turned his focus to his mate. “And we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The End
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Other Books by Marie Medina:
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