by Marie Medina
Lorelei took them both by the hand and drew them toward the balcony, and the door opened with a wave of her hand. “Come have some fresh air. You’ll feel better.”
“I’ll feel better once I’m alone!” Asmund said.
Lorelei laughed. “I highly doubt you want to be completely alone right now.”
Vadik pressed close behind him again, his strength comforting. Asmund actually leaned back against him, not resisting when those muscular arms wrapped around his shoulders again. “You’re so tall,” he said absently.
“You just now noticing?” Vadik ask with a laugh.
“Brain’s not really working. Ignore me.” He turned his head and leaned into Vadik more, closing his eyes and listening to the man’s heart beating.
“I’m sure you want me gone, but if I’ve really caused as much trouble as you say, I’ll apologize right along with you tomorrow,” Lorelei said.
Asmund opened his eyes. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”
“Good!” She came forward and pulled Vadik down so she could kiss his cheek, and then she ran her fingers gently along Asmund’s jaw. “I think you’ll feel better once he’s put you to bed,” she said with a wink.
She lifted her skirts and went back inside, her laughter immediately echoing around them as someone congratulated her for “a masterful end to the evening.”
Vadik laughed and kissed the top of Asmund’s head again. “Open a portal. Bed is exactly what you need.”
Asmund flicked a hand to do so, and then he gasped when Vadik picked him up and carried him through. The larger man set him down on the foot of the bed and immediately began undressing him. Asmund waved his hand again to close the portal. His private life had already been on display enough for this lifetime.
Asmund watched Vadik’s face, waiting for the man to kiss him. He fought for control of his trembling each time those strong, warm fingers made contact with his flesh.
“What do you usually sleep in?” Vadik asked, glancing to the chest of drawers once he had Asmund bare.
“Uh … I sleep naked unless it’s very cold.” He felt far from cold as he said those words.
Vadik smiled. “Fine with me.” The man then stripped down to a pair of black boxer briefs. Asmund had never thought men’s underwear from the human world to be very flattering or interesting, but the form-fitting garment certainly drew his attention, especially as he’d been given a brief preview of what was inside it.
Vadik walked toward him, and Asmund held his breath in anticipation. But the man went to the head of the bed and turned the quilt and blankets down on each side. He sat on the other side of the bed and patted the mattress. “Come on. You’re exhausted.”
“All that’s happened this week, and we’re really just going to sleep?” Asmund said, even as he turned and crawled into bed, feeling his body grow heavy.
Vadik gave him a smile before he rose and extinguished the candles around the room, only the moonlight shining in as he came back to bed and pulled the covers up. He drew Asmund to him and kissed the corner of his mouth before pulling him down under the covers and spooning him from behind.
“Now that you’ve accepted that you’re mine, and I’m yours, I can finally relax. Your needs will always be my first and last thought every moment, and right now, you’re in need of rest.”
“I’m not sleepy,” Asmund said, rubbing his ass against Vadik. Yet he did this with his eyes closed and the warmth of drowsiness engulfing him.
Vadik chuckled against his neck. “Sleep, my love.”
Blurred thoughts came to him as he drifted off, and he tried to say something as he remembered Vadik saying, I will fight for you because I’ve fallen in love. Vadik hushed him and held him tighter, and the world slipped into darkness as the scent of his devoted shifter surrounded the king.
Chapter Eight
Vadik stroked Asmund’s hair, enjoying the warmth of the king’s steady breaths against his chest. Asmund had turned in his arms sometime last night, and it felt so sweet to be tangled in his embrace that Vadik found it easy to ignore the stiffness in his limbs.
The king stirred a bit as more sunlight filtered in through the curtains. He drew in a deep breath, as if startled, and tightened his grip on Vadik. After a moment, Asmund tilted his head back enough for their eyes to meet.
“Feels like I’ve been asleep a long time,” Asmund said.
“It’s close to noon, but I don’t think anyone is going to disturb us.” Vadik ran his hand along the king’s side.
Asmund smiled at him. “I doubt there’s anyone brave enough to try.” His hand roamed over Vadik’s chest. “I meant what I said last night. I lashed out because I was tired and stressed, but I didn’t get possessive just because I was angry. I’ve made a big mess of everything, I know.”
“It’ll make a nice story to tell the grandkids.”
“The grandkids?” Asmund asked, laughing.
“We can adopt, can’t we? I’m not saying we start tomorrow, but wouldn’t it be nice?”
“Maybe. I hadn’t given it much thought.” His hand drifted lower. “I’m focused on other kinds of thoughts right now.”
Vadik reached down to slide out of his boxer briefs, not liking to let go of the king for even that long. He was very glad the other man was already naked because he didn’t know if he could control himself much longer. “Good, because you’ve kept me waiting a week for this.”
Asmund chuckled. “Poor thing. But I did promise to make it up to you.”
Vadik took both of their hardening cocks into his hand and gently stroked. Asmund gasped and closed his eyes, and Vadik leaned in to nip at his lower lip. “Look at me.”
Asmund’s eyes fluttered open, and Vadik said, “I’m yours. Always. And once I’ve claimed you, you’ll be mine. No turning back.”
“I don’t want to turn back.” The king began to pant heavily. “Slow down, or I’ll come too fast.”
Vadik smiled and pushed Asmund to his back. “I’ll get you hard again.” He ran both hands down the man’s body and then settled on his knees to suck his mate’s cock.
Asmund’s hips bucked up as he cried out, and Vadik tried to be gentle so it wouldn’t happen too fast. But it seemed waiting all week had the king as wound up as Vadik was, and Asmund came in less than two minutes. Vadik moaned as the hot cum spilled into his mouth, Asmund trembling under his grasp. When he drew back, he moved his hands and kissed the finger marks he’d left on the king’s hips.
Vadik was trying to keep himself in check, but that plan failed when Asmund tangled his fingers in Vadik’s hair and yanked his head up for a heated kiss. Asmund reached down and stroked him, pulling back and looking into his eyes as he said, “Take me. There’s oil on the dresser. I need this inside me before I lose my mind.”
Vadik rose before even looking to remind himself where the dresser was. He spun quickly and found it, retrieving the oil and turning back to the bed. He stopped short when he saw Asmund moving to his hands and knees. His wolf surfaced just enough for a real growl to drop from his lips, and the little whimper that followed from Asmund made it necessary for Vadik to squeeze the base of his shaft a moment.
“I may lose my mind before you,” Vadik said, slapping the king’s ass and loving the sound of Asmund’s immediate moan. As he made himself focus on massaging the oil against Asmund’s hole, he asked, “You’ve taken a man before?”
“Yes. Didn’t compare to you, but please, you won’t hurt me. You couldn’t.”
His mate sounded desperate, and Vadik slid one finger in tentatively, adding another when Asmund moaned again. His mate was begging by the time he set the oil aside. He moved in to mount the king, covering Asmund’s body with his. He softly said, “Got carried away listening to your moans and sighs.” He kissed the back of the king’s neck as he spread his cheeks and got into position.
Vadik entered him slowly, but the king’s body demanded more. He slid home as he wrapped one arm around Asmund and said, “I love y
ou, mate.” He quickened his pace as his own body reacted in a way it never had before. He’d found his mate, and his heart finally had a home.
****
Asmund shook with emotion, wanting to respond but unable to say anything at first. Vadik’s cock spread him wide, yet the invasion only hurt for a few moments. He could already feel the base of the shifter’s cock beginning to swell. He managed to find his voice and said, “I want to look at you.”
Vadik slowed, growling again but then kissing a trail down Asmund’s back as he pulled out. He flipped the king roughly and pushed his knees to his chest. He licked his lips and smiled down at Asmund as he entered him again. “You almost missed your chance. Another minute and nothing could’ve made me pull out of you.”
Vadik’s pace was slower now, but his thrusts felt harder. Their eyes locked, and Asmund put his arms around Vadik’s neck, locking them in the man’s wild hair and tugging a bit. Another growl came, and Asmund tightened his channel. “Love that sound.”
Vadik captured his mouth with a deep kiss, and then his hips quickened as the tension built in their bodies. Asmund had never felt so attuned to a lover, and he actually grew dizzy as their climaxes approached. He cried out as he came a second time, and he looked up at Vadik as he felt the man’s cock locking deep inside him. Asmund trembled at the primal joining, the warmth of the seed gushing into him making him cling to Vadik more fiercely. He could sense the wolf watching him, and he loved it.
Vadik trembled as well, feathering kisses on his face as they waited to pull apart.
Asmund touched Vadik’s face and made him still. He licked his lips and said, “I love you, too, and I’m so sorry that I—”
Vadik shook his head at those last few words and stopped him with a kiss. When he finally released Asmund, he said, “Nothing to be sorry for. I expected so much from you. I’m glad we mated for love rather than lust.”
Vadik drew back, his body finally relaxed enough that he could slip free. Asmund felt full and empty at the same time. He blushed, as he’d never been so conscious of a man’s seed inside him. “I think we both need a bath now,” he said, gingerly moving to the side of the bed.
Vadik moved quickly and got ahead of him, lifting Asmund into his arms again. “Allow me,” Vadik said softly.
Asmund slid his arms around Vadik’s neck again. “If I must,” he said, smiling as he ran his hand into Vadik’s hair again.
“Oh yes, you must,” Vadik said.
Their lips met again as Vadik sat on the edge of the tub, and Asmund didn’t even notice Vadik had run a bath for them until the larger man lowered him into the water. As Vadik settled across from him in the large tub, Asmund said, “You’re distracting. I’ll have to keep my guard up.”
Vadik laughed. “You think you’re a match for me?”
“No, but I think that’s going to be the fun part,” he said as he moved over and straddled the man’s lap.
****
Vadik smiled to himself as he leaned against the stone wall and watched his mate walking down from the small dais in the courtyard. Asmund had insisted on formally apologizing to everyone who was still there that afternoon, and now he seemed to be caught in a long line of congratulations. Vadik watched the others in the crowd, damned glad he didn’t see Tasia anywhere.
Just as relief settled around him, she emerged from the palace, looking somewhat different. Her sword remained at her side, but she wore plain brown leathers and a darker brown cloak. Her hair had been braided and then curled around her head. She came toward him, and he straightened, ready for anything.
With no preamble at all, she said, “No other offers will be forthcoming. Your one chance of a closer alliance is gone.”
“We’ll be fine,” Vadik said.
“Humans are nosy, and your people are already too close to them. Asmund and his father are setting a lax precedent. Danger may be coming soon.”
“Humans will always be a danger. I’m more concerned about other threats.”
She stiffened. “As I said more than once, we control our passions. We’re not going to do anything in retaliation. But be aware that our interest in you is at an end.”
“Glad to hear it.”
She looked at him as if he were a difficult child she couldn’t get to eat his vegetables. “A small group may attend the wedding since you are of our blood. That will be up to the elders.”
“Will they be displeased with you?”
“My report will show I did all I could. They will more likely shake their heads at your foolishness.” She glanced around. “The shortsightedness of all of you.”
“No concern of ours.”
She frowned deeply. “I think I’m glad you rejected the idea. You have lots of appeal, but you’re too immature. You truly are infuriating.”
“Of course I am, but Asmund loves it.”
“A stupid thing to love.”
“That’s your opinion.”
She turned away slightly and looked at everyone. “You’re all weak. You’d have been a burden to us.”
“Then rejoice and be on your way.”
She met his gaze for a long moment. “Don’t ever ask us for help. We won’t even acknowledge the request.” She gave a very curt bow and turned on her heels.
“Like we’d even bother,” he said under his breath.
Kalen strolled up to him, grinning. “You won, but I’m not at all surprised.” He took a flute of something blue and sparkling from a nearby table and came to lean against the wall as well. His gaze followed Tasia as she disappeared from sight. “I was coming over just as that ogre walked up. I thought she’d never shut up.”
“Hopefully that’s the last we’ll see of her. She was clear the Sons of Fenrir are washing their hands of us.”
“Good.”
Curious, he asked, “Are ogres real?”
“No. Human legend. For us, it’s a derogatory word we stole from their fairy tales. An ogre is someone who is both unpleasant and unattractive. Or exceedingly rude.”
“Ah.”
“She would’ve been an awful match for the king. You, however, will provide a handsome and rugged contrast to his beauty. A stunning couple.” A smile touched his lips as his gaze roamed over Vadik.
“I see you met someone,” Vadik said, trying to deter the admiring look Kalen gave him.
“I did, but I’m not sure he’s for me.” Kalen scanned the crowd. “I keep losing track of him, and I haven’t gotten as far as I expected.”
“Oh.”
Kalen gave a half shrug. “Elementals can be fickle, and I think my lack of progress is due to his preferences.”
“He likes women?”
Kalen laughed. “Yes, but what I meant is that his philosophy seems to be the more, the merrier. Which is fine, but just not for me anymore. I want a lover’s full attention.” He smiled up at Vadik. “Care to introduce me to a few wolves?”
Vadik eyed Kalen’s silk clothes. “A wolf might be a bit rough around the edges for you.”
Kalen gestured to his attire. “I don’t dress like this all the time. And I like my men rugged. Big and strong.”
“I’m sure there’ll be many wolves at the wedding. I’ll try to introduce you then.”
Kalen smiled but didn’t say anything else at first. He watched the crowd for a while. Once he’d drained his glass, he turned and said, “Your mate is already proving to be a fine king. It’s good he’s going to have such a strong spouse.”
“Seems the fates do know what they’re doing.”
Kalen laughed as he began to move away. “Yes, but they do love having their fun.”
Vadik shook his head as Kalen wound his way through the crowd and smiled up at a very handsome man, who immediately smiled back and who was definitely not the elemental they’d just been talking about. He pushed away from the wall and went in search of his mate, slipping his arm around Asmund’s shoulders once he’d found him.
Asmund leaned into him as the people he was talk
ing with went right on talking. Vadik waited patiently, knowing there was a lot of this kind of thing in his future. Once they were free, Asmund turned into his arms and leaned his head back.
“Kiss me so everyone will leave us alone for a minute.”
“A whole minute? Don’t you have to breathe?” Vadik said before obeying.
Asmund’s amusement showed when he opened his eyes after pulling back. “You knew what I meant,” he said softly.
“So, when’s our big day?” Vadik slipped his arms around the king and drew him even closer.
“It takes quite a while to plan a royal wedding.”
“As long as I’m in your bed, I don’t care how long it takes.”
Asmund blinked up at him. “Well, last night—or this morning, rather—was a special case. I’m not sure it would be proper for us to share a room until after the wedding.”
Vadik growled before he could stop himself.
Winding his arms up over Vadik’s shoulders and around his neck, Asmund kissed his chin. “I’m teasing you. Just wanted to hear that growl again.”
“And how did you know I’d growl?”
“Oh, I knew you would.” The king drew back and tugged at Vadik’s hand. “Come on. I’ve only gotten one glimpse of my wolf, and that wasn’t enough.”
“Where are we going?” Vadik asked.
“Somewhere much more private.”
Vadik caught up with the king and leaned down to whisper in his ear. “Then lead the way.”
They went through a portal once they were out of sight, and Vadik saw they’d emerged in the same field Asmund had taken him to before. Asmund kissed him and then backed up. “Strip for me. I want to see you change.”
