Chapter Thirteen
Playing the bodyguard never stopped. After the training, the years of work, and actively saving people occasionally, the eyes automatically sought every dark corner, focusing on every passing face.
Sometimes German even caught himself memorizing tag numbers.
He always expected the worst. Maybe that was why it surprised him so much to watch Marc marry Valon.
To him, they had felt very unlikely to make it.
Not only was Valon a notorious brat most guards refused to get anywhere near, but they had planned to ruin one of Valon’s dads.
Granted, Dad was a loose, undeserved title, and the guy had been a horrible person; sometimes the heart didn’t care about any of that shit.
Your father was your father, and that could cause some complicated as fuck feelings when the parent did terrible things.
While, in the end, Marc had done nothing wrong to the man, German had still expected the entire situation would bite him in the end.
Somehow, no. They had looked fiercely serious while exchanging vows, and their smiles had been huge when they were announced as spouses for life.
Sometimes life brought together the strangest pairings. It was kind of nice.
A muscular figure moved his way. The string of lights twinkling above the pool highlighted the gray in Steel’s salt and pepper hair.
Steel had always been a mystery to him. He treated every one of his employees like family.
He was always there when anyone needed him.
But German sometimes wondered if Steel had a single actual friend.
There was something about him that felt untouchable—almost as if his entire personality was a veneer no one saw beneath.
He smiled as he handed German a glass of champagne. “Why do I always find you in a corner?”
German avoided the question. “This is one hell of a nice wedding and reception to have gotten thrown together in a few hours.”
Steel let the dodge stand. He shrugged, making his custom-made suit highlight his muscles for a second. “Money moves mountains. You know this. We see it every day in our business.”
He supposed that was true. “I guess something about this one seemed especially rushed but still somehow perfect. So, I’m guessing you’re feeling pretty proud of yourself. First, Kash and Ledger. Now, Marc and Valon. You’re becoming quite the matchmaker.”
Steel tossed him a wink before downing his champagne.
Someone jostled German from behind, falling into him. Blaze, the drummer of Valon’s band, moved past him, all drunken smiles. “Sorry about that, my guy. Didn’t see you there.”
German bit back his annoyance. Valon’s drummer was also a client. He had to stay polite. “No worries. Six foot five is practically invisible.” Blaze barked out a laugh. “Yeah. For sure. Everyone’s getting lit in the pool house if you’re in.”
German fought to hang on to his smile. Blaze was young, especially compared to German. He had unbelievable talent and a life most would kill to have. Yet, just like every rockstar before him, he threw everything away for drugs.
“Less for me means more for you. Have fun.”
Blaze winked and turned away, getting carried away by a sea of men. He would probably fuck every single one of them by the end of the night. German blew out a sigh. He missed guarding Jathan. That had been a quiet job.
Steel slapped German on the shoulder and squeezed, grabbing his attention. “You’d best watch out. Maybe I’ll doom you to a life of happiness next. Anyhow, enjoy yourself. I’m headed out.”
German looked around. “Already? They haven’t even cut the cake or anything.”
Steel’s silver eyes danced with humor. “Yeah. The grooms sneaked away a good half an hour ago. It’s just a party now. We won’t see those guys again.”
“Well, damn.” German had kind of wanted to congratulate Marc. He was one of the few guards German saw as a friend.
With a laugh, Steel wandered away with his hands in his jacket pockets. Alone. The way he always was. German kind of felt a little sad for him, and he didn’t know why.
“I happened to think.”
German startled at the loud, slurred words. Blaze was back.
“You didn’t tell me your name.”
German had no idea why he was smiling. Everything about the situation just seemed humorous. “You didn’t ask.”
Blaze hummed. “I see. A smart-ass. I’m Blaze and you are…”
German’s smile got brighter. “German.”
“Cool. Now we know each other. Let’s go.”
With no clue how it happened, German found Blaze’s arm linked through his, dragging him away.
For some reason he couldn’t place, he was having a good time.
He still couldn’t stop smiling. German used Steel’s solitude as a lesson to choose life.
No one was meant to be alone, and everyone only lived once.
Valon tore at Marc’s clothes. Marc fought to catch his breath from all the excitement.
They both laughed as they left a trail of clothes behind them on the way to the bedroom.
Their horrible morning felt like a lifetime ago.
They had done this crazy thing and tied their lives together forever with next to no planning.
Their kiss was aggressive. Marc couldn’t get close enough to Valon to appease his heart.
He took Valon down onto the mattress like he physically attacked him.
Valon came back just as rough. His short fingernails dug into Marc’s skin.
Marc tore his mouth away and panted. The knowledge that he had married the center of his obsession was all-consuming. He couldn’t get inside Valon quickly enough. “I need you.”
“I love you.” Valon’s gasped words had Marc grabbing the lube where they left it last night.
Marc responded while he worked, lubing Valon’s asshole.
“I love you so fucking much.” He couldn’t wait any longer.
Marc pushed his way inside. “Fuck.” Marc couldn’t stop the groaned curse.
If he could never stop being joined with Valon, Marc would do it.
Every time they made love, he wanted more before he even got fully started.
His body was as greedy as his heart. He pumped inside Valon hard and fast until reality hit again.
Marc slowed and savored the man who belonged to him now.
“The way you look at me is addictive. I can tell how much you want only me by your eyes alone.”
Marc changed angles. Valon shouldn’t be so coherent.
Valon moaned and visibly fought his way toward the edge. “Please, baby. I want to drip with your cum.”
Marc’s crazed emotions doubled. Valon begged for him.
Him. His emotions grew to an uncontainable level.
No matter how hard he tried, Marc couldn’t go slow tonight.
He needed to mark his territory. Marc nipped every place he could reach as he took Valon so hard, heavy breathing and slapping skin were the only noises in the room, broken only by the occasional moan or plea.
Valon tensed beneath him. Marc focused on every tiny detail.
He didn’t want to forget a single thing about this night.
When Valon came, Marc changed angles again and rode his orgasm.
Marc’s entire body stiffened in anticipation. He blew, crying Valon’s name.
Valon sucked a spot on Marc's chest while Marc whined his way through the gut-wrenching pleasure. As the air began to cool his skin, Marc shifted positions and cuddled Valon. His lips still didn’t want to leave Valon’s skin.
Time passed while they savored their new existence. Valon was the first one to speak. “Do you think Dad will be pissed we left our own reception?”
Marc chuckled. The laugh sounded tired even to him. “Judging by the looks he kept exchanging with Kash, I doubt he’s noticed.”
Another silent moment passed. Guilt set in. Ledger and Kash had immediately returned to the house when Valon and he decided to marry that night. They had worked hard, calling people and getting everything arranged. Marc shouldn’t have pulled Valon away from everyone celebrating them.
“We could always clean up, change clothes, and return like that had been our intention all along.”
The way Valon carefully made the suggestion, as if he didn’t want to disappoint Marc, had Marc jumping right in to do anything Valon wanted. “We should do that. I want to look back on tonight and have tons of memories.”
They rushed through getting ready. While Marc helped clean Valon’s body, an image of their future ran through his mind.
Things would be exactly like this for the rest of his life.
Every pointless dream he had ever dared to imagine had come true.
He was floored all over again by the blessings he had been handed.
“You know I meant every word, right?” Marc’s question came out soft yet serious. “Every single vow.”
“I didn’t.” Valon’s response stopped Marc’s heart. “I have no intention of letting death take anything from me.”
Relief had the blood returning to his brain so quickly, his head spun. Valon wrapped his arms around Marc’s neck. “You’re not getting away from me that easily. I’ll either haunt you or meet you in the next life. You’re mine.”
Marc’s throat swelled. He had never stared into the face of so much love. He desperately wanted to keep it forever. “You have a deal.”
A soft knock landed on the door. Ledger spoke through the wood. “Are you two coming back or should I try to wind things down out here?”
Smiles exploded across their faces.
“We’ll be down in a minute.” Valon yelled the answer without ever looking away from Marc. “Let’s go, beautiful. We’re one new set of clothes away from champagne.”
Marc kissed the tip of Valon’s nose. “In.” Not only for champagne but for eternity. He had prepped for this for years. Now he planned to ensure Valon benefited from every crazed desire Marc had begged the universe to share with Valon. It seemed insanity had some perks.
Keep an eye out for the next Steel Security, Just in Time.