Page 32 of D’Vaire or Nothing (D’Vaire #44)

P leasantly full and elated by the ceremony that had bound him to Heathcliff, Brinley strode into their bedroom wearing a smile.

Between cake and steak, everyone in the household had switched out of their finery to jeans, which was a shame.

Brinley had loved the way his cloak billowed behind him as he walked.

But the gorgeous garment was now safely tucked away in his closet.

Flexing his hands since he wasn’t used to the weight of his new rings yet, Brinley turned to face Heathcliff.

His beautiful Brynewielm Duke was delicious in faded denim and a deep blue T-shirt with the D’Vaire logo on it.

There was a slight grin on his face that called attention to the scrollwork now dancing along his jaw and cheek.

If asked, Brinley would’ve happily vowed that nothing could make Heathcliff more handsome, but he’d been wrong. The addition of his marks from Fate and the earring at the top of his ear enhanced the iridescence of his hair and the remarkable silver eyes.

Brinley’s fingers itched to touch him, but something had been bothering him since their ceremony, and he wasn’t one to ignore anything in his brain, heart, or soul. In this case, it affected all three, and Brinley wanted to walk into his future without regrets.

“What are you thinking?” Heathcliff asked, closing the distance between them to press a kiss to his cheek.

A happy sigh escaped Brinley, and he wrapped his arms around the tall shifter. “So, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the little speech Rafe made about me.”

“Was our High King not effusive enough in his praise?” Heathcliff teased as he nibbled along Brinley’s jaw. Ignoring the pretty shivers of desire coursing through him, Brinley reluctantly stepped away from the man he loved.

“No, he stood there and told everyone the details about my elemental. I’ve picked the color, design, and even the name of him.

So, why the fuck am I waiting? Whatever I’m learning, he can practice with me.

It’s not like they’d keep me from bringing him to magical classes with me; he enhances my power. ”

Heathcliff beamed brightly. “You want to summon him now?”

“You were kind enough to have this room altered while I was working, so he has his little private fiery tower so he can amuse himself when you bite me,” Brinley said. “Is it okay if I delay the bed romping for a few minutes?”

“Of course, I want to meet your elemental.”

Brinley couldn’t stand the amount of excitement on Heathcliff’s face, so he rushed forward to give him a hard kiss. “I love you. I’m going to do this shit, okay?”

“I love you too. Take your time. There’s no rush; we’ve got all fucking night.”

With a nod, Brinley stepped away from Heathcliff so he could concentrate. His mate was so enticing, if there wasn’t enough distance between them, Brinley would put off literally anything to strip the man. Shutting off his thoughts of a naked Heathcliff, Brinley closed his eyes.

Delving into his soul and the fire calmly blazing in its depths, Brinley separated a piece of himself—careful to push everything he’d learned about sorcery into it.

Brinley pushed it out into the air in front of him and focused solely on the design he wanted.

Heating his magic, he imagined the brightest, hottest flames.

The prettiest blue formed in his head. That was what he wanted.

Brinley continued to concentrate intently while shutting out the world as he imagined the cute phoenix he wanted to be a part of his life.

A long tail like Heathcliff’s and big blue eyes with flaming pupils.

So intent on ensuring each feather was carefully sculpted in his mind, Brinley lost track of time.

Which was why he jumped when he heard Heathcliff’s voice.

“What the fuck?” Heathcliff exclaimed. “Brinley, do something.”

Opening his eyes, Brinley laughed. The little phoenix he wanted was fully formed and adorable. He was also licking Heathcliff’s face.

“Spark, be nice to Heath,” Brinley said through his chuckles.

Heathcliff gently grabbed the affectionate elemental and tucked him in his arm. “Behave yourself. I want your mage to lick me, not you.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t want to hear about it.”

“Easy for you to say, your cheek isn’t soggy with elemental spit.”

“Okay, Spark, you have two choices,” Brinley said, reaching out to pet his new elemental, who gave a little shriek of delight at the affection.

“Either you go hang out in your new apartment over there or you can fly out and meet our family. But you’re on your own because I need to finish my matebond. ”

Spark immediately flew toward the bedroom door, and Heathcliff pulled his phone out. “Hang on, I don’t want him out there getting scared or something. I’m texting Kieran. He and Scheredin can phoenixsit.”

Happy to share a few more minutes with the elemental, Brinley gave him scratches under his beak.

Spark made all kinds of happy chirping noises, and Brinley was glad he’d finally summoned him.

There was a knock on the door no more than a minute later, and Heathcliff opened it to reveal his brother and the warlock he loved.

“Damn, look how cute he is,” Kieran exclaimed. The elemental flew up and licked the phoenix’s face.

“Well, I guess he has the same taste in men that I do,” Brinley mused.

Scheredin chuckled. “We should start a club.”

“No, because Brinley would want to call it something obnoxious like the purple dick club,” Heathcliff drawled.

“He knows me so well,” Brinley replied. “You guys cool with taking care of Spark until tomorrow morning? You can text or call if he freaks and we need to come get him.”

Kieran cradled Spark in his arms like a baby. “Yeah, I don’t think we’re giving him back. See you later.”

The trio disappeared, and Brinley turned to Heathcliff. “Um, he’s going to return my elemental, right?”

“Can’t you summon him?”

Rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, Brinley blew out a breath. “Yes. Sorry, I’ve only been an elemental parent for a few minutes.”

“You did a great job; he’s going to be a big hit around here.”

“He’ll probably hang out with you more than me. That’s what the other elementals do, right?”

“We’ll find out.” Heathcliff pulled Brinley into his arms. “Are you ready to focus on getting that second hoop?”

Brinley set aside everything that wasn’t related to how badly he wanted Heathcliff inside him. “Absolutely.”

“Good, get your clothes off.”

“You better be getting naked too.”

Heathcliff kissed him softly, then pulled away and headed for the bed. “I need to get rid of all these pillows and shit first.”

Delighted that Heathcliff had a plan, Brinley dragged his T-shirt off and removed his sneakers. Heathcliff bent to drag the coverlet to the edge of the bed, and Brinley swore the temperature of the room rose by at least fifty degrees as faded denim stretched across the Brynewielm Duke’s fine ass.

Already growing hard, Brinley worked quickly to shed his jeans, underwear, and socks.

He brushed past Heathcliff to sprawl on the sheets.

Heathcliff grabbed some lube from the nightstand as Brinley fought the urge to stroke his dick.

A little friction would be wonderful, but he refused to end things prematurely.

Stacking his hands behind his head, Brinley watched with a smile as Heathcliff undressed and bared all his beautiful dark purple skin.

He had little body hair which hid none of his muscles from view.

And the black curls around his length were partially obscured thanks to the way his hardened prick was already pointing at the ceiling.

Brinley licked his lips in anticipation and held out his arms as Heathcliff climbed onto the mattress.

The phoenix shifter crawled over Brinley and took his mouth in a searing kiss.

Burying his fingers in Heathcliff’s hair, Brinley moaned as the Brynewielm Duke lay fully atop him so they came into contact from chest to feet.

It was an intoxicating treat to hold Heathcliff close, but a voice inside Brinley screamed that they were no closer to that second hoop they so desperately wanted.

As if reading his mind, Heathcliff continued to taste him with demanding, vigorous strokes of his agile tongue as he rolled to the side.

Brinley thrust his leg up onto Heathcliff’s hip to give the shifter room to stretch him.

So focused on mauling Heathcliff, Brinley wasn’t sure where the lube had gone, but the question was answered when a slick finger traced his entrance.

Every nerve ending in Brinley went on full alert, and he pushed his ass out as Heathcliff slid that digit inside him.

Already desperate, Brinley clutched Heathcliff and focused on their kisses.

If he allowed himself to think about the way Heathcliff was fingering him, he’d lose his mind or get some friction on his dick to give his aching balls what they wanted.

The scent of freesia dazzled his senses in the best way, and Brinley loved the way being with Heathcliff overwhelmed him.

“Can I use two?” Heathcliff whispered gruffly.

“Shove six in there for all I care.”

“I’d never hurt you.”

Brinley had to take a deep breath to figure out how to use words again. Heathcliff had slipped two wet fingers into him and immediately touched his prostate.

“You’re my mate,” Brinley managed as he dug his short nails into Heathcliff’s skin. “You can’t hurt me. Fate makes sure of it.”

“Too bad. Your ass is still getting stretched.”

“For your fat purple cock.”

“Only if you don’t come until then.”

Jerking at the intense pleasure of having that little bundle of nerves inside him being toyed with every couple of strokes, Brinley wondered for the first time if he’d make it long enough to get his phoenix bite.

“Be nice to me, Heath,” Brinley begged.

“Sorry, baby, I want to make this a night you never forget. I’ll stop.”