Chapter 13
Thirteen
R ath must have sensed my mood during the hunt, because he did not tease me like usual. He settled onto a branch of the watching tree, speaking low to not startle the creatures of the forest.
“What happened?”
My scowl deepened, but I didn’t answer.
The silence stretched between us for a few moments. I wasn’t fully present in the hunt. My thoughts strayed constantly to the look on Patrick’s face, so full of pain and embarrassment. Tavik’s cruel words had hurt him, and if Patrick hadn’t asked me to take him to his work, I would have?—
“You are growling,” Rath pointed out calmly. “Speak now about what bothers you before it scares the entire forest.”
I shot him a dirty look. I was not so loud that I would be overheard.
Still, I did not answer him. I could handle Tavik on my own. I didn’t need help. I just needed to finish this hunt so I could track him down and hurt him like he hurt Patrick. He would wear his shame for hurting such a sweet man.
“Do you remember when my Finn arrived? He was being harassed but would not seek help. Not even from me. He drew out his suffering by doing this and there was nothing I could do to fix it because I did not have all the information. I asked for your help then, in seeking those who would hurt my bondmate. Why do you not trust me to help you the same way? Have I done something to strain our friendship?”
I grimaced. “No. It is not that. I don’t need help to find who hurt Patrick. I know who is responsible. I just didn’t have the chance to handle it. Patrick asked me to take him away. I cannot deny him what he wants.”
Rath hummed, his eyes constantly scanning the surrounding forest. “That is probably for the best. If he was with you, then getting him somewhere safe should be your first priority. Was his harasser alone?”
The question made me pause. No, Tavik had not been alone. He rarely was. Saneth had been with him. And while most warriors had more honor than to attack an injured man, I didn’t trust him. Saneth was in love with Tavik, despite Tavik never returning his affections. Everyone knew this, except maybe Tavik. He would do much to make Tavik happy. Including hurting Patrick while I was distracted with Tavik.
Letting out a slow breath, I nodded. “It was good to get Patrick safely away. I will handle Tavik later.”
That made Rath frown, and he swung his gaze to look at me. “Tavik? Why would a clan brother be harassing Patrick?”
“I do not know. He said many cruel things to Patrick, and because Patrick isn’t considered a tribute, he feels he can do as he wishes. I will not let him get away with it.”
“No, he isn’t a tribute, but he is to be your claim, is he not?” Rath asked. The way he said it, like it was already decided, lifted my spirits a little. At least one person was on my side in this.
“I wish him to be,” I admitted. “But we have not discussed it. He is recovering and still learning about the clan. He has started helping Yamileth with the cooking, though. I hope that means he wants to stay.”
Rath made a disgruntled noise. “It is difficult to read those not from our clan. Learning to read Finn had been a challenge. I hope he stays for you too, my brother. You deserve happiness. Does Patrick seem happy with you?”
“He did before Tavik’s comments. We have been intimate with each other, too. But you’re right, he is difficult to read. I’m not sure yet if he truly wants to stay or if he is only trying to show his thanks to the clan by helping where he can.”
The conversation slowed when a sorvik came closer. Rath jerked his chin in that direction, urging me to take it. Carefully, I slid out of the watching tree, keeping against it to hide myself. The sorvik had yet to notice me. I pulled my bow from my back, setting an arrow against it.
“Take your time,” Rath murmured so low, I almost didn’t hear it. “Remember to breathe.”
It had been a long time since I learned to hunt. I knew to do these things. But instead of being indignant of his lessons, I listened to my friend, waiting and taking slow breaths until the sorvik was in a good position. I let my arrow loose, pulling out a second immediately in case I missed. I didn’t. My arrow lodged in the sorvik’s chest, and it dropped to the ground with a whine.
Rath dropped from the tree, grinning as he gripped my shoulder. “Excellent shot, brother.”
I made a face at him. “It is not my first sorvik. You know this.”
“I do,” he nodded. “But you have been distracted as of late. It has affected your skill. I only wish to commend you when you put aside your troubles and bring great honor to our clan.”
I settled a little at his words. I had been distracted. My jealousy of him split my focus. Then Patrick arrived, and I wanted so much to return to him that I didn’t give my whole self to the hunt. I was an excellent hunter if I focused on the task. I needed only to slow down and remember that.
Rath helped me bring the sorvik to the waiting tree. He had more hunting to do, and I had herbs to look for to bring to Yamileth. Before we separated, he put his hand on my shoulder and spoke low to me. “Whatever you choose to do about Tavik, you have my support. And my sword, should you need it.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I grumbled. I was angry with Tavik, but I had yet to reach the urge to kill him. If he kept insulting Patrick, though, the choice would be taken from me. I would claim Patrick, should he choose me back. And I would never let him come to harm. Not even from my own clan brothers.
My leg was throbbing after making the morning meal, so Yamileth sent me to Verus’s tent to rest. She said I could return to help with the afternoon meal only if I rested, so I didn’t argue with her. She had yet to tell me what she planned on doing about Tavik and his friend, but I did my best not to think about it. It was out of my hands, and I just wanted to forget the words that were said.
I was lying down, but not asleep, when Verus showed up. He looked incensed, and I wasn’t sure why. I thought maybe he was angry with me until he climbed on top of me and captured my lips. I gasped in surprise, and he took full advantage, sliding his tongue into my mouth. A rush of arousal swamped me, and I was helpless to do anything about it. Verus’s mouth dominated mine, and I could only hang on and let him have his way with me.
I was so distracted by his mouth, I didn’t notice his hands until they were tugging on my tunic. When he broke the kiss long enough to pull it over my head, I breathlessly asked, “What?—”
Verus didn’t let me get the entire question out before taking my mouth again. He sucked on my tongue, and I moaned against his lips, my fingers digging into his tunic to keep him close.
Unlike last time, Verus seemed to be in a hurry. I wasn’t sure why, and I didn’t have time to ask. He carefully stripped off my trousers and smallclothes, leaving me bare beneath him, then set to work kissing every inch of me, until I was breathless and my whole body felt flushed.
Lost in the sweet way he touched me, I didn’t expect him to take me into his mouth. I choked on a gasp, arching my back, as he sucked me down to the root. I’d never felt anything like it before. Hot wet heat wrapped around my member, his tongue flattening along the vein underneath. I fisted the blankets beneath me, my head thrown back as I tried to get any words past my throat. If he didn’t slow down, I was going to finish in his mouth.
I opened my mouth to beg him, but for what? For more? To slow down? I wasn’t sure. All that came out was a whimper either way.
Verus released me with a pop, lifting his head to lock eyes with me. “The sounds you make drive me to distraction. I want to taste every inch of you, ravsol. Will you let me?”
I still couldn’t get any words out. My cock throbbed in his grip, and I felt certain I would explode if he put his mouth on me again, but still I nodded. He lit up like I’d given him a gift, smiling at me, before he dipped his head again, skipping past my length to draw one of my balls into his mouth. I groaned in surprise, feeling them draw up tightly. I was so close, my stomach quivered with it. But I didn’t expect what he’d do next.
He moved my good leg up and out, spreading me wider. It might have embarrassed me had I had the capacity to feel anything other than aroused. I felt his fingers grip my ass, felt his mouth move lower, but I didn’t expect his tongue to slide over my hole. Pleasure sparked through me in ways I didn’t think possible, and I felt my arousal climb higher than it ever had before. I wanted more, wanted to beg for it, but I could only moan and gasp until he pushed his tongue inside me and I fell apart at the seams. My release coursed through me like a lightning storm, and I couldn’t draw in a breath until it passed. When I finally went boneless, I realized I’d squeezed my eyes shut and pried them open, looking at Verus with wonder.
“What… was… that…?” I asked between heavy breaths.
His grin was wicked when he said, “I told you I wanted to taste you everywhere. Did you like it?”
I could only nod rapidly. That was amazing. There were no words to describe it. And when Verus dipped to kiss me and I could taste myself on his lips, my cock twitched with one final aftershock of pleasure.
While it still made me nervous, it felt wrong not to offer to give him pleasure in return. When Verus pulled away, leaning his forehead against mine, I felt my voice shake as I asked him, “Can I do the same to you?”
He raised his eyebrows slowly. “You want to eat my ass?”
That… hadn’t been what I meant, but now I was a little curious. And I didn’t think it would hurt like the other thing might. I bit my lip, studying him. “Would you like it?”
A light dusting of pink overtook his cheeks, stunning me. He looked embarrassed to admit it, which was absolutely adorable.
“I do like it, but I wouldn’t ask you to do more than you’re comfortable with. You are still new, and I don’t want to rush you.”
My heart swelled a little, and I smiled shyly at him. “I’d like to try…”
He’d mentioned the noises I made earlier. I was too distracted by what he was doing to truly listen, but I wanted to see if I could bring noises from him as well. Verus sucked in a shaky breath like he was nervous, but the eagerness in his expression made me laugh. He took off his clothes, and I watched with greedy eyes as every beautiful inch of skin was exposed.
When he was bare, he looked down at me with heat and excitement in his eyes that made my stomach quicken and my cock twitch, despite the explosive finish just minutes before. A wicked grin flashed across his face again, and this time, when he climbed on top of me, straddling my chest and then leaning over to brace his arms on either side of my legs, he was facing the other way.
I honestly wasn’t expecting this part of him to be sexy, but it was. Getting to see the most intimate part of him, to touch him like he touched me. It took my breath away. I couldn’t help but run my hands over him, up his thighs and over his ass, touching every inch of him. When my thumb brushed over his hole, it contracted, and he groaned in response. I did it again, my stomach jumping when he rocked a little in a silent plea for more.
I wanted to give it to him. More than anything, I wanted to give him what he needed. With my hands on his hips, I pulled him backward and, ignoring the nerves fluttering in my belly, flicked my tongue over his hole.