Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
B ain
Bain should have insisted on the safe house from the beginning. As he led Clive up the porch steps, the power of the wards enveloped his body as if he were walking through thick gelatin, then popped free. The Protective Solutions offices felt the same, so he was used to the sensation. The power of those wards stayed humming in the background of his mind at all times after that, but that never bothered him. He felt so much better here with Clive. Felt he was safe—and he wanted this man safe more than he’d ever wanted anything.
He looked around as they stepped inside and he set the bags down. He’d always liked this home. One story and set far back off the road, it was one of the older houses with exposed high-ceiling beams and a stone fireplace. A dark brown leather L-shaped couch faced the fireplace and the large flat screen mounted over it. The house held three bedrooms, the master being a real thing of beauty with a sitting area nook.
“This is really nice. No one lives here?” Clive wandered to the fireplace, then turned in a full circle.
“It’s kept for this sort of thing, so no. Every now and then, we use it for vacations, but it pretty much stays empty.”
Clive set his laptop bag on the small desk in the corner, then stood nervously wringing his hands. The poor thing looked like he was going to crawl out of his skin, and Bain hated that he was so uncomfortable.
He needed to set him at ease somehow.
“How about I show you to your room and then we’ll continue our Star Trek marathon?”
“My movies are at home.”
“We can order them here.”
Clive just nodded, chewing on his plump lower lip. Which only reminded Bain of the kisses earlier. The ones that had blown his mind so much he hadn’t stayed aware of their surroundings. That wendigo should have never gotten so close, and he was fucking angry with himself over that. He’d have to do better because there was no way he was keeping himself away from Clive now. Luckily, with the wards and Alaric out doing his commune with nature thing, the chances of something getting through the wards were slim.
An hour later, they were settled on the couch, Clive cradling a mug of one of his teas.
Bain could hardly pay attention to the movie. He was too aware of this human who so intrigued him. Clive was to be his mate. If Clive wanted that—and Bain so hoped he did. He’d never, ever considered having a mate, but now it was all he could think about.
And the heat during that kiss…
It was beyond anything Bain had ever felt. But it was more than that. He wanted to be on the other side of the couch with Clive tucked up against him. Wanted to hold him close. Sleep with him. Wake to him.
He wanted to just be with him.
But how did he make that happen? He knew how to seduce. Sex was easy. It was all the other stuff he had no experience with. Could Bain even be everything Clive would need? Worrying wasn’t a feeling he was used to. Neither was insecurity, and he was feeling that in spades.
“You said you’re not dating anyone,” Clive suddenly asked, “but is there someone you’re interested in?”
“No, I wouldn’t have kissed you if I were.”
“Good. I should have asked before. Should have asked more about you before. And I’m sorry if it’s seemed like I’m selfish and not interested in your life.” Clive sipped his tea and curled one leg beneath himself. “You’ve lived so long. I can’t even imagine what’s that like. What kinds of things have you done? Seen?”
Bain thought about where to start for a moment, then shrugged. “I grew up in California, watched San Francisco grow to become the economic hub of the Pacific Coast. I traveled a lot, fought in several wars, including the Civil War. I’ve always found slavery abhorrent, so you can guess which side. I watched the political parties here change.” He met Clive’s gaze, deciding to be perfectly honest with the man. “I met Xavier in the 1970s. It wasn’t a good time for me because I’d had a run in with some rather nasty preternaturals, and they’d left me for dead. I truly thought I would die and was lying in a dirty alley when he found me. He took care of me, and then we traveled together for many years before we settled here.”
“Why here?”
“I’d thought it was because it’s a powerful area, full of ley lines that Xavier can draw power from. There are more power-filled areas, like the UK, but we both like it on this side of the pond.”
“What do you mean you’d thought that’s why you moved here?”
“Just that my best friend, my boss, Xavier, tends to have reasons why he does things and rarely shares those reasons. He’s said some things lately that have me understanding things are different than they seemed.”
“That’s a rather convoluted… and vague answer.”
Bain grinned. “I know.”
“Have you traveled in other countries?”
Bain nodded. “Many, but I always come home. Xavier and I spent about three years in France. We also lived briefly in Australia.” He grinned. “I loved traveling with him, but when we came here, we were both ready to settle down. Starting the business was the best thing. I love working there.”
“What about relationships? You must have had some in all that time.” Sadness pulled down his lips and darkened his eyes. “Oh,” he whispered. “You must outlive everyone.”
“I’ve had brief trysts, but no, nothing long term for that very reason. It’s too…hard.”
“I can’t imagine how awful that would be.” Clive went quiet. Bain wondered what he was thinking.
“It’s not so bad. I don’t want for sex, and I love it. All varieties. But maybe it’s time to give something more a try.” Bain grinned at him. “Don’t worry, I like that you don’t share.”
Clive’s mouth opened and closed a couple of times before he scooted a little closer. “Are you saying what I think you are? What about the company rule?”
“After kissing you, I find that I’m more of a rule breaker than I thought. Clive, I couldn’t keep my hands off you if I tried now.”
Clive sucked in a deep breath then seemed to stop breathing as he slid closer.
Bain had expected the man to be afraid of him after seeing his other form, not seek more from him. He held his breath, too, as a wild mix of desire and hope tore through him.
“I need to see something,” Clive murmured as he moved all the way into Bain’s space.
Bain heard Clive barely whisper something about fireworks right before he shocked Bain by climbing into his lap. He spread his legs on either side of Bain. Feeling his weight and that beautiful ass over his thighs made Bain’s desire ramp up to fiery levels. He gripped Clive’s waist and took in the way lust changed Clive’s features—eyes glazed, lips parted and the most beautiful flush on his neck and freckled cheeks. Their gazes locked and stayed that way as Clive drew closer, finally breaking when he kissed Bain. This time, his lips were firm.
Bain let him lead the kiss for now but parted his own lips to invite Clive inside. The slide of that sweet tongue into his mouth made Bain groan, and that noise seemed to light a spark in Clive. He reached around to tug the tie out of Bain’s hair, then speared his fingers into it on either side of Bain’s head, holding tight as he deepened the kiss. Their tongues stroked sensually together. Bain was burning up. He tightened his fingers on Clive, pulling him closer.
Clive parted his legs more and nestled his already hard cock against Bain’s. He pulled back briefly and seeing his lips puffy and red along with those glassy, cornflower eyes made Bain’s need turn into something wondrous—like he’d been sucked in by a spell. Clive’s spell.
Clive kissed him again, deeply, a small moan vibrating in his throat. Seemed his little accountant had hidden, passionate depths under all that buttoned-up perfection. He plastered his body against Bain’s, tangling their tongues together. He smelled of his body gel, a warm amber with a hint of vanilla. It went to Bain’s head as he ran his palms up Clive’s back and cupped the nape of his neck with one hand, while holding him as close as possible with his other hand flattened on Clive’s back. Clive began to thrust against him, rubbing, another barely audible moan escaping his mouth.
When Clive pulled back to gasp air into his lungs, his hands immediately went to the buttons of Bain’s shirt. He made quick work of them before spreading the shirt to the sides and running both his gaze and his hands over Bain’s bare chest. “After you fought that wendigo in my house, you were naked. I should have been focused on the horror of something like that coming to kill me, focusing on the fact you have another form, but all I could see was how stunning your body is. You should be naked all the time.”
“That could be arranged.”
Clive paused, still panting, then shook his head. “I take that back. I love the way you dress too much not to see you in clothes.” He grinned. “At least some of the time.”
“I’m happy to indulge either way.” Bain helped him pull the shirt all the way off, then grasped Clive’s shirt at the waist to pull it out of his pants. He tugged it over his head, then couldn’t resist all that smooth skin, pushing Clive back so he could kiss and taste. He started at one shoulder, kissing, licking, before lifting Clive up so he could take one nipple into his mouth. He ran his tongue around it before biting down gently.
Clive sucked in a breath, hands tangled in Bain’s hair.
Kissing across to Clive’s other nipple, Bain flicked his tongue across it, then lowered Clive so he could take his mouth again. Their angle grew awkward because Clive seemed determined to rub all that silky bare skin against Bain’s. Bain’s dick throbbed, pre-cum soaking through his underwear at the friction of Clive’s writhing groin pressing hard into his.
He needed to touch Clive everywhere. He traced his fingers down the sinewy muscles of his back, down to cup his ass. A strangled noise sounded in Clive’s throat as his hips picked up the pace, rubbing against Bain hard and fast until Bain couldn’t stand having a barrier between them any longer. He tore his mouth away, reaching up to cup Clive’s face until the man blinked back into awareness, then lifted an eyebrow.
“Open my pants, Clive.”
“Fuck,” Clive bit out as he hurriedly worked Bain’s belt free, then unbuttoned and unzipped him. He clambered off his lap to tug everything all the way off, before tackling his own pants.
Clive climbed into his lap again and Bain ran his hand down Clive’s lean, muscled thighs. The man had a very pretty cock, slim and not long—perfectly proportioned to his frame.
Then all thoughts just tangled in his brain as Clive pressed that hard cock against Bain’s and started that sexy rubbing again. He couldn’t get a hand between them but didn’t care so much because those soft lips were back on his, Clive’s tongue spearing into his mouth.
His heat, his skin…his lovely scent, it enveloped Bain in a spinning vortex, his heart racing hard. He dug his fingers into the meaty cheeks of Clive’s ass just as Clive’s entire body went still and he held his breath. Then he cried out loudly as he shot a line of cum between them. He continued to come, letting out another harsh cry, hot breath wafting into Bain’s mouth. Warm ropes painted Bain’s chest, and it was more than he could take as he watched Clive come completely undone. It was so fucking beautiful. His own orgasm tore through him fast and hard; he sucked in a deep breath that had more of Clive’s air than his own. Unbearable pleasure washed over him, his head rocking back and his eyes closing as it took him over.
When he could think coherently again, Clive was peppering kisses all over his face, murmuring about fireworks again. Bain couldn’t stop his slow grin. “What are you talking about?” he asked, voice low and gritty.
Clive’s already flushed cheeks turned even more red before he buried his face in Bain’s neck. “I felt them,” he whispered. “Felt the fireworks I’ve always read about. Never had before.”
Bain wrapped his arms tight around this precious human, hugging him close and not giving a shit about the slippery mess between them. “Neither had I,” he whispered back, nuzzling into Clive’s soft curls. “Neither had I.”