Chapter 7
Seven
TAVIK
“F-fuuuccckkk,” Saneth groaned, fingers digging into my hips.
After he accepted my claim, we had gone straight to Orthorr for permission to bond.
He seemed pleased with the match, admitting he’d always hoped we’d come to realize our connection.
Afterward, we’d gone straight back to my tent and sought to claim each other in the best way we knew how until the bonding ceremony was held.
I’d given Saneth the win for our faux fight since he’d held his own against Orn, who was not supposed to join, and sat on his cock the moment I was prepped enough to take him.
For a man his size, Saneth was well endowed, and it took a moment for my body to adjust to him.
I breathed through it, distracting myself by watching Saneth squirm beneath me.
I could tell he was trying to stay still, but the little movements and gasps told me he was struggling to maintain his control.
I thoroughly enjoyed the payback for the torment he gave me regularly.
“Please tell me you’re ready,” he panted, squeezing his eyes shut.
Chuckling, I leaned to press kisses along his neck, squeezing my inner muscles just to hear him curse through gritted teeth. “I don’t know. I might need a few more moments.”
And because he was a good man, he would give them to me. He looked pained to do so, but he swallowed hard and nodded, flexing his fingers on my skin to keep himself in check.
Deciding to put him out of his misery, I lifted my hips and sank back down, watching in heated satisfaction as his head flew back and a shout escaped his lips.
The feel of him inside me made me groan.
I rocked my hips, taking him deep and grinding, gasping as a fire built inside me.
Every thrust, every noise Saneth made, fanned the flames until sweat dripped down my skin and my cock throbbed with a need for release.
Saneth’s hands moved to my ass, gripping tightly as he readjusted, planting his feet. I only had a moment to question what he was doing before he thrust upward in such a way that he pegged the key to my pleasure with every movement.
“Saneth!”
He groaned along with me, his expression lax as he focused on bringing me pleasure. Too much pleasure. I felt my balls draw tight and my stomach clench. I wasn’t ready to finish—I was enjoying it too much—but if I didn’t come soon, I would lose my mind.
“Touch yourself,” he pleaded. “Let me feel you come.”
A harsh moan escaped me, and I reached for my cock, tightening around him with the first stroke. Watching Saneth arch and gasp beneath me only added to my pleasure until I was blind to anything but the feel of him inside me.
His hand slid up my chest, curling around the back of my neck, and he drew me down for a kiss, changing the position enough to hit that perfect place inside me again.
I couldn’t hold back any longer and came with a gasp, spilling over my fist and onto his stomach.
As my body tightened around his, I drew his bottom lip into my mouth, biting down just enough to add to his pleasure.
His eyes crossed, and he came with a cry, using my body to ride out the waves of his release.
Collapsing beside him, I fought for breath, one hand still planted on his chest to keep our connection. He covered it with his own, rolling his head to look at me with wide eyes.
“That was…”
I nodded, still gasping. “Even better than before.”
“Do you think… something changed… because you claimed me?” he asked breathlessly.
Humming, I forced my body to cooperate long enough to lean over him and press a kiss to his lips. “I know it did. No one can get between us now. Once that ceremony is through, you’ll be mine forever.”
His face softened and he pulled me down for another kiss before admitting against my lips, “I’ve always been yours. You were just too blind to notice.”
Snorting, I nipped at his chin. “Well, I’ve noticed now. And I’m never letting you go.”
He melted at my words, admitting, “I never dared to hope… I would have been happy to be by your side as your friend. Having you like this was a dream I didn’t think would ever come true.”
Humming, I kissed him softly, murmuring against his lips, “Next time, don’t doubt that I want you. Always.”
He chuckled, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “You are such a sap.”
SANETH
Our bonding ceremony was set for after our parents arrived.
They had always been friends, and both mothers made noises about having known for years we would end up together.
I had to ask them to stop because every time they mentioned it, Tavik looked upset.
He’d admitted to me that he hated himself for not realizing how he felt about me sooner.
It took a lot of reassurance from me for him to let that go.
I didn’t care anymore about how long. That time was spent together and that was all that mattered to me.
“If you two aren’t careful, you’ll be too drunk to celebrate your bonding tonight,” Patrick pointed out with an amused look on his face.
We’d done our greetings to the clan as a bonded couple and finally joined our friends around the fire to enjoy a meal.
Tavik had given me that look after our first cup of ale, the one that said he was going to outdrink me or pass out trying.
I could never back down from a challenge when it came to him.
Tavik waved away his concern, swaying a little on the pillow next to mine. “Saneth and I have been drinking together since we were old enough to sneak ale from our fathers’ cups. We can handle ourselves. Besides, nothing will come between me and the fuck I was promised tonight.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat burning in my cheeks. My bondmate said whatever was in his head without thinking of the consequences. Or looking around to see who would overhear him.
A whack to the back of his head made him flinch and duck as his mother glowered at him. I snorted out a laugh, leaning my shoulder against Patrick’s in an attempt to remain upright.
“Ouch! Why must my loved ones hurt me so?” he whined.
“Perhaps because you are acting like a fool,” his mother hissed. “No more ale for you.”
“Ha!” I pointed at him with the hand holding my ale, spilling a little on myself in the process. “You can’t keep drinking. I win!”
Tavik’s eyes narrowed, but his gaze shifted to Finn, and they shared a look I didn’t understand. When Tavik’s expression shifted, his lip stuck out as he looked at me through his lashes, my jaw dropped. How the hell did he learn to be so cute?
Rath, who sat with his bondmate in his lap, snorted, poking Finn in the side. “You taught him that look, didn’t you?”
Finn ducked his head, his already pink cheeks from the ale he had been sharing with Rath turning a darker shade of red as he tried to hide his smile.
“Cheat!” I shouted, pointing at my bondmate. “You are cheating with that look! Everyone will agree with me!”
To my surprise, the brothers who were bonded all shook their heads.
I gave them all an incredulous look until Verus explained, “He’s your bondmate.
It’s his prerogative to be too cute to argue with.
You can do the same to him. I know I do.
” He batted his lashes at Patrick who snickered and bumped their shoulders playfully.
My father, who sat in his own social circle behind us, must have been listening because he clapped my shoulder, squeezing affectionately. “You have a lot to learn, my son. Tavik may have been your friend, but you are bonded now. Bondmates have magic powers. Everyone who has bonded knows this.”
There were a lot of sage nods that made me wonder if they weren’t kidding. Was it truly possible bondmates gained magic after the ceremony?
Looking down at my cup, then back at Tavik and his sweet pout, I sighed in defeat and set it aside. His beaming grin made my chest tight, and I knew in that moment they were telling the truth. Tavik had magical powers over me. It was the only explanation for how he’d gotten me to give in so easily.
We spent a little more time with friends and family before Tavik suddenly stood and yanked me to my feet. We were both off balance because of the ale and nearly toppled, but there were enough brothers around to steady us on our feet while laughing at our expense.
“Time to go, kolrav.” He smiled a big dopey smile. “I like that. I want to call you that often.”
I had to laugh to stop myself from melting in front of the entire clan. I didn’t know Tavik could be so romantic.
“Not yet,” Yamileth interrupted before he could drag me off to the tent we would share for the next three days alone. She handed me a basket with my favorite treats before shoving a cup into Tavik’s hand. “Drink that.”
He immediately shook his head, trying to give it back, but she was more stubborn than he was and glared up at him. “It will sober you enough to enjoy your night with your bondmate. Just drink it.”
He eyed the cup suspiciously, still not trusting her after the torment she’d put him through, but when he noticed her handing me a cup of my own, he lurched forward to stop me.
“Don’t! It could be poisoned!”
“What?” Tavik’s mother asked, confused and concerned.
“I’ll explain later,” Orthorr said, amusement still dancing in his eyes. It was hard not to laugh about it now.
“Drink it, or I’ll take the treats away,” she demanded.
Tavik, always led by his stomach, glanced down at the basket in my hand, then back at her. “Did you put in that sweet bread from last week?”
“I did,” Patrick piped up. “Two loaves so you wouldn’t run out.”
Again, Tavik’s gaze dropped to the basket, and I could tell he wanted to give in. While he was distracted, I knocked back the drink Yamileth had handed me, smacking my lips at the taste.
“That’s not bad. What is it?”
“A family recipe,” she quipped, raising an eyebrow at Tavik. Reluctantly, he brought the cup to his lips, tipping it back to take a small sip. When he realized it tasted good, he drank the rest, handing her back the cup and taking my wrist.
“Thank you. We will go now.”
He left no room for argument, dragging me away amongst cheers and whistles from the clan.
I laughed the whole way, feeling the warmth of the drink spread through my veins and into my cock.
It cleared my head, but it also made my blood run hot, and by the time I had the lantern lit, I was panting with need.
Tavik also, by the look on his face. He was hard in his legwear, rubbing himself thoughtlessly as he panted for breath.
“What… did she give us?”
“I don’t know, but we can get back at her later. Right now, I need you to fuck me.”
Never in my life had I felt so needy. We came together six times, using hands and tongues when we were too sore to continue to fuck.
By the time the drink wore off and we were both sated, the sun was climbing in the sky and my balls were wrung dry.
I lay on top of Tavik, still reeling from our last orgasm, while he caught his breath beneath me.
“I want to be angry because she drugged me again, but I find that I can’t,” Tavik admitted, one hand cupping my ass not to arouse but to keep me close. I allowed it because I was too sated to complain.
“See? She’s not that bad.”
He snorted. “I still want payback for the first time.”
I knew better than to dissuade him. Instead, I tried to manage his trickery so he didn’t give the elder a heart attack. “How about a prank? Patrick said she likes things just so in the cooking tent. If we move it all around, it’ll drive her nuts.”
He hummed, his breath slowing as he finally fell asleep.
I was quick to follow him. We’d figure out a plan later.
And I’d figure out a way to thank her properly too.
Without her and Patrick, I never would have found my way here.
All the pain and heartache was worth it in the end.
Because I got to bond with Tavik. And I couldn’t be happier.