Page 21

Chapter Nineteen

I ven set his overnight bag next to the door and then shut it behind him.

The bedroom smelled like Marric. It was the first thing he noticed. The second thing was Marric’s nervous gestures.

Marric wrung his hands together and averted his gaze to the floor.

“I’d understand if you didn’t want to bond with me tonight.

Because I’m still technically cursed, although Regan won’t maintain it anymore.

He’s scared I’ll send him back to the coven.

” Marric shook his head. “I keep telling him I won’t, but I think it’ll take time. ”

“He’s been through a lot.”

“I think he needs stability.” Marric stepped into Iven’s space. “Bonding will go a long way in creating stability for me too. Which is my point in bringing up bonding. Gods, I’m nervous.”

“Are you ready for that?” Iven didn’t know if Marric was making excuses because he didn’t want to or if he was insecure where Iven was concerned.

Iven hadn’t had any expectations of bonding upon entering Marric’s bedroom. It hadn’t crossed his mind. He hadn’t even thought about making love. But Marric certainly brought it to the forefront of his mind.

“Very ready. More than ready, actually.” The uncertainty disappeared when Marric answered.

“I’m not opposed to it. But we need to talk about Regan.” On some level, Iven understood the distrust. He was a dad, too. He would protect his sons at all costs.

Iven sat in the chair beside the door and took his shoes off. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

“He was the witch I told you about.”

“I figured that, honey.” Iven smiled.

“He just showed up one night. He wore dirty underwear and nothing else. Someone had beaten him. That was a few months ago.” Marric raised his chin. “But he’s a Ransome now. I won’t give him back to the bastards who hurt him without a fight.”

“Those witches and wolf shifters planted him here.” It wasn’t that Iven disagreed, but he needed to know Marric’s motivation. Iven had two choices. Either he approached the situation as a sheriff, or he approached it as Marric’s mate. Marric’s motivation would determine how Iven moved forward.

“He’s just a scared little boy, Iven. He needs someone to save him as much as I do.”

“Does he know his parents? Or where he came from?”

Marric sat on the edge of the bed. He shook his head. “He’s said more tonight than he ever has before. He’s mentioned a dungeon once.”

“With all the farmhouses in Timeston, I wonder if he means a basement.”

“I never pressed him. He’s been through so much. The coven is prejudiced. Not just against dark magic users, but pretty much anyone who’s different.”

“When all this is over, we need to get him into therapy.” Iven wouldn’t abandon the kid.

Marric’s shoulders sagged. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, looking up at the ceiling. “You really are going to help raise him. You won’t turn us in?”

“No. In fact, I’ll help you gain custody.” Iven stood and closed the distance between them. Iven put his arm around Marric, pulling him even closer. “I won’t let anyone hurt Regan again.”

Marric put a hand on Iven’s thigh. “Let’s stop talking.”

Iven smiled when their gazes met and then he leaned in, kissing Marric next to his ear and then down his neck.

Marric tipped his head to the side, giving Iven more room. He gripped Iven’s thigh a little tighter. “That’s…” Marric moaned. “Oh gods.”

Iven smiled and bit Marric’s neck again. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt. It was just a scraping of his teeth across his skin. But it had the effect Iven had wanted it to have. He smoothed it over with a lick and then a kiss. “Is your neck sensitive?”

“I guess it is. No one has ever…” Marric moaned again. Iven had a feeling it wouldn’t take long for Marric to come out of his skin. Iven could burn him up if he wanted. “Iven. Gods.”

Marric put his arm around Iven. But it wasn’t close enough. Before Iven knew it, Marric straddled his lap.

It was after Iven had his arms around Marric that he realized Marric was shaking.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

Marric kissed Iven on the crook of his neck and growled. His wolf was close to the surface.

“If you want to leave a mating mark, you’ll have to wait until after we’re naked.” Iven would come in his jeans if Marric bit him before he had his cock out. He might have an overnight bag with extra clothes inside, but it was best if he didn’t have cum stained pants.

Marric growled again but then stood and pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it to the floor. His pants came next. Before Iven knew it, Marric stood in front of him with nothing on.

Marric wasn’t delicate everywhere. He worked the land, and that showed in the definition of his shoulders and chest. He had a smooth abdomen which trailed down to his hard cock.

The longer Iven stared, the more Marric folded in on himself.

“Don’t hide from me.” Iven hadn’t meant for his tone to sound so assertive.

He’d told himself to wear kid gloves with Marric.

He was sick and didn’t need Iven to be the voice of authority in his life.

Iven had learned that the day they met, when Marric told him he wouldn’t always follow Iven’s orders and then fell asleep with a raging fever in the backseat of Iven’s car.

But his control slipped when Marric stood in front of him, so open and vulnerable.

All he wanted was to memorize every little thing about him, searing his image in his mind.

Marric let his arms fall to his sides again. He bit his lip. “I feel weird.”

“You’re not even close to weird.” Iven was as hard as a rock, but he ignored it to draw Marric to him. Iven kissed his abdomen when he was close enough. “You’re gorgeous.”

“Can I see you now?”

Iven didn’t want to let Marric go. He could hold him forever if Marric let him. But he wanted to make love and since Marric wanted that too, Iven released him.

“Lay on the bed.” Iven stood and waited for Marric to get comfortable. Iven expected Marric to get under the covers, but he laid on top, exposing himself to Iven’s gaze.

Iven untucked his shirt before he began unbuttoning it. He had on a t-shirt underneath. When he pulled the t-shirt off, that’s when Marric moaned again.

Iven stayed in shape. He didn’t have a gym body, but he ran three days a week and did some strength training as well.

He knew he had an okay body, but he had love handles that wouldn’t go away, no matter how hard he tried.

He’d always considered himself average at best. But no one looked at him the way Marric did.

Marric licked his lips as he focused on Iven’s chest. When Iven undid his belt, Marric took his cock in hand.

His reaction made Iven float.

Iven had to take his gun belt off first before he worked on his jeans. Before he knew it, he was as naked as Marric and hard as a rock.

“Don’t make yourself come.” Making Marric feel good was Iven’s job.

“Come here then.” Marric licked his lips.

Iven climbed on the bed, but instead of settling on top of Marric, Iven moved to his side.

“You’re going to kill me slowly, aren’t you?” Marric groaned as if it would be a hardship for Iven to take his time.

“I’m not done touching you.” Iven ran his hand along Marric’s chest. He played with his nipples, running the tips of his fingers over them just to gauge Marric’s reaction.

“Iven.” Marric’s whine was what Iven wanted to hear.

Exploring Marric with his mouth was the best idea Iven had ever had. As soon as Iven licked across Marric’s little nub, Marric arched his back as if wanting to get closer to the pleasure.

Iven put a hand over Marric’s mouth when his moan grew in volume.

The last thing Iven wanted was Marric’s father in the room with them.

That would kill the mood quicker than anything could.

There were also a lot of other people in the house.

He’d have Griffin and Riley’s smart-mouthed teasing in the morning regardless, but he could minimize it if they didn’t have evidence to prove anything.

Marric bit into his palm. It didn’t hurt, but it proved a point. What point? Iven didn’t know. Either Marric liked the restriction, or he knew he needed it.

Iven kept his hand in place.

He worked the nipple with his teeth and then licked across it.

Marric’s cock jumped. It looked angry and needy. If Iven took Marric in hand, how quickly would he come?

Iven worked his way down Marric’s chest to his abdomen. He took his hand away when Marric set the fatty part of his palm free. “What is your experience level, honey?”

Things were progressing fast. It wouldn’t be long before Iven was pushing inside Marric. He needed to know if he should slow things down.

“I’m going to come if you touch my cock.” The truth of the statement came through in the strain of Marric’s voice. And while it wasn’t an answer, it answered Iven’s questions somewhat.

“Do you want to come?” Iven didn’t stop kissing.

“When you’re inside me. Please, Iven.” Marric’s begging set Iven off. It heated his blood in ways nothing else could.

Iven sat up. “Do you have lube?”

“Nightstand.” Marric had lube, which meant he’d used it. As soon as Iven opened the nightstand drawer and saw the dildo, he knew what sort of experience Marric actually had.

Iven grabbed the tube but left the dildo inside. It would be fun to play with it, but they’d save the experience for another time. Their first time would be all about bonding.

Iven put some lube on his fingers and rubbed it enough to warm it up.

Marric pulled his legs back, giving Iven the perfect view of his opening. When Iven entered him, Marric took Iven’s free hand and put it over his mouth. And then he moaned into Iven’s palm.

He entered Marric with a single finger. Slow but steady, creating just enough of a presence inside Marric’s body to acclimate to the invasion quicker but still make himself crazy with need.

When Iven pulled out part way, Marric moved his hips as if protesting. Iven crooked his finger and ran it over Marric’s prostate.

Marric’s eyes widened, and he moaned as he bit Iven’s palm again.

Iven entered Marric with another finger. He figured he’d have to go at a glacial pace, but Marric made demands with his body. Still, Iven watched Marric for signs of discomfort. Iven would change the pace at even the slightest sign.

Marric was so responsive. Even without working his pleasure spot, Marric still moved into Iven’s touch, seeking him out.

“Do you like the burn, honey?” Iven would give him another finger if he didn’t, opening him up even further to prepare him more for Iven’s cock.

Marric’s nod was almost frantic. He pulled his legs back even more, as if making room for Iven.

Iven pulled his fingers out and then settled over him. He took his hand away from Marric’s mouth and replaced it with his lips. With his other hand, he lined his cock up to Marric’s opening and entered him until just the head was inside.

Marric sucked in a breath and held it. His eyes were wide, but then he shut them.

“Are you okay?”

Marric nodded, but he didn’t speak.

Iven stilled. Should he pull out? Maybe Marric needed more prep. Or maybe they just weren’t ready.

Marric’s cock was still hard. The invasion hadn’t made that go down. Still, it didn’t mean he liked it. It just meant his body was responding.

It wasn’t until Marric said, “move”, on a breathy moan that he understood Marric was trying to calm himself so he wouldn’t come.

Iven pushed in further. He went slow, letting Marric’s body adjust, but he sucked in a breath at the pleasure. He had felt nothing better in his life.

“Mate.” When Marric growled and flashed his fangs, Iven thought he’d bite him, but he didn’t. The second time he spoke the word, it was on a breathy moan. “Mate.”

“That’s right.” Iven panted as he bottomed out. He stilled, telling himself not to come. “So good.”

Marric’s arm tightened around him. He kissed Iven’s neck before biting him. It didn’t break the skin, but it came close.

Iven pulled out part way and then pushed in. His thrusts were slow at first, letting Marric get used to the movement.

As soon as he picked up the pace, Marric bit him for real, breaking the skin.

“Fuck.”

The pleasure was overwhelming. It crashed through him. Everything he did afterward was instinct. His pace picked up even more. He pressed his palm to Marric’s chest, right above his heart.

That’s when Marric ended the bite. His moan was loud. He cursed and then wrapped his legs around Iven.

Come covered their abdomens.

The white-hot need built in Iven’s core, spilling over with just a few more thrusts.

Iven caught himself with his elbows as he came down from his orgasm. The last thing he wanted was to crush Marric underneath him.

Marric didn’t seem phased. He licked across Iven’s wound as if he were a vampire in need of blood.

“You can bite me again, honey.” Iven was tired. The day had been a long one, but it ended on a wonderful note.

“I can feel you. You’re as satisfied as me.” Marric bit him again after speaking.

Iven smiled and shut his eyes.

“I feel you too.” He also felt Marric’s knot grow. Iven worked his hand between them and took a hold of it. Marric moaned and fucked into the pressure. It didn’t take long for Marric to come again.

Marric’s emotions were inside Iven’s head, taking up the empty spaces. Marric was happy and worried all at the same time.

“You don’t need to worry about anything, honey. I’ve got you.” Iven kissed his temple. “I’ll take care of you.”

Marric finished drinking and pulled his teeth out of Iven’s shoulder. He licked across the wound. “I’ll take care of you too.”

Iven had never had anyone say that to him before.