Chapter 46
The water grew colder, but they didn’t move.
Mark was the perfect fit in his arms, his body so relaxed, it was easy to think he’d gone to sleep.
Caster pressed his face to his hair, its strands tickling his skin, as he listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
They were both aroused; he doubted he could hold his arousal at bay with Mark in the same room, but the urgency from before was gone.
Mark’s mind was devoid of too much activity, but Caster had been privy to the last significant thought, and he feared the consequences of it.
He wanted nothing more than to make Mark his, collar and all, but he was a realist, and forcing that on whatever this was would be detrimental to Mark’s health.
There was also the whole politics of it, and as the Crown Prince, he couldn’t ignore that. Not for his needs.
As good as it was so far, today was the worst idea he’d had in a long time. Still, he wouldn’t trade this for the world.
“You must be hungry.” His desire to reciprocate the trust the submissive in his arms had displayed with care shone through all his confused feelings.
Mark nodded, but snuggled deeper into the embrace that Caster was only too happy to tighten.
He still instructed Sophie to bring Mark his breakfast, set it up in the sitting area, and leave.
Now, more than ever, he wanted to keep Mark to himself.
It was silly, but he had the sense that if he left his door open today, that if anyone intruded on this, he would lose it forever, and he wasn’t ready for that. Would he ever be?
He listened to Sophie’s movements as she entered the room, placed the dishes on the table, and closed the door behind her. He wouldn’t need to lock the door; Kyle would see to his need for privacy today.
His wet hand pushed Mark’s hair out of his face, his heart breaking further at Mark’s complete surrender to his subtle command to look at him. “Let’s feed you, hmm?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, fearing the longer Mark acquiesced with little fight, the harder he would fall.
He stepped out of the tub and held out his hand, helping Mark to his feet.
His other hand went around his waist to steady him.
When he was sure he wouldn’t crumble to the floor, Caster reached for a towel and, with more care than he could remember, dried every inch of his body.
Mark stared at him, his mind quiet as if he’d recognized his mistake in sharing his desire for more and had re-erected the walls to keep Caster out. Losing the intimacy of that connection made Caster’s chest ache, but his rational mind could appreciate the need for a small measure of distance.
His body, though, had other ideas. He couldn’t keep a distance, couldn’t stop touching Mark, whose moans of utter surrender further intensified the crackling desire between them.
Caster grabbed one of the bathrobes hanging on the door and wrapped it around Mark’s body. He stepped out of Mark’s way. “Go. Breakfast is on the table.”
The confusion on Mark’s face disguised the pain the subtle change in his heartbeat couldn’t conceal, intensifying the raw, unfamiliar emotions roiling in Caster’s gut.
“I’ll be right there.” He needed a moment away from the overwhelming need for Mark if he was to gather his thoughts.
Mark said nothing, pulling the robe closed as he walked out.
Wet, afraid, more out of control than he’d ever been, Caster leaned against the closest wall. This was wrong. He could all but hear Marcus’s admonishment when he sought his advice later, and there was little doubt he would. He couldn’t hope to survive whatever this was without help.
He wanted Mark. He needed Mark to be his, all his. But Mark still belonged to another dominant. The fact that the wolf whose very name he was envious of was dead didn’t diminish the strength of the influence he still had on Mark.
Even now, mired in the realization he wanted someone who would never want him the same way, his body craved Mark. That part of him, the part drowning in a desire for the submissive a few paces away, planned their next play session with remarkable precision.
Perhaps he should make the most of this day.
Take everything Mark could give. He’d never claimed to be selfless.
Would it be so bad if he took what he needed?
If they couldn’t be together in that way, he’d always have today.
And with the witch still a threat, there was no guarantee they would ever have this again, let alone the forever he craved.