Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
A fter discussing the possibility of a curse with my brothers, I honestly hadn’t thought things would work out so well once I got back. That Orthorr found a solution and got Patrick invited into the clan meant the world to me. I wanted to shout to the entire clan that this beautiful man was mine, but I realized while walking back to my tent that I hadn’t asked him yet. Him being happy in the clan didn’t mean he accepted me as his bondmate. I still had to ask.
Patrick was chilled from the rain when we ducked into my tent, so I stripped us both and dragged him under the furs to keep him warm. He immediately snuggled against me, and I marveled at how it felt for us to be wrapped around each other without him stuck on his back because of the splint.
“I missed you,” he murmured, his voice muffled with his face pressed against my chest.
A smile stretched across my lips, and I hugged him tighter to me. “I missed you too, kolrav.”
He made a questioning sound, wriggling to look up at me. “What does that word mean? And the other one, ravsol? I asked Finn, but he said he didn't know.”
I hummed, thinking about it. It was hard to describe words I knew all my life. “Ravsol is used when the sun is setting. It is a term of endearment. I called you ravsol because of your hair.”
Running my fingers through the copper strands, I smiled at his blush that highlighted the spots on his cheeks. Spots that covered his entire body. I found myself tracing them after each intimate moment. They were like stars scattered across his skin.
“And the other one?”
This one I knew because Rath told me the translation for it. He had to ask before he bonded with Finn, so he could better explain it to him.
“Kolrav is only used once, to the person we wish to bond with. In your language, it means ‘my love’.” Cupping his cheek, I rested my forehead against his. “In the clans, it is not the protector who chooses but the one he is protecting. It is your choice what we become. But should you wish it, I would ask that you bond with me. You are my other half, Patrick. I do not wish for us to part.”
His eyes filled with tears and his chin trembled, but before I could worry about his reaction, he smiled so brightly, it warmed my soul.
“Yes! I choose you! I only want you! Really?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Yes, really. You are my Patrick. I would have followed you to your next destination if you’d asked it of me.”
He shook his head, tears still streaming down his cheeks as he peppered me with kisses. “No. We’ll stay here. I’m happy here. Unbelievably happy as long as I’m with you.”
Capturing his lips, I kissed him roughly, too emotional to say more. I had everything I wanted, and I felt as though the joy was almost too much, that I would drown in it happily. It could not get better than this.
“Verus…” Patrick said between kisses, his fingers gripping my hair tightly.
“Mm?”
“Will you take me?” he whispered.
My eyes flew open, and I drew back enough to study him. His face was flushed bright red from the request. It was a first. Whenever we had been intimate before now, I always made the first move. I wanted him too much to hold back, and I was never known for being shy. Perhaps I should not have been so quick to make all the requests. It was hot hearing Patrick ask for me to take him.
Dipping my head, I tangled our tongues in a slow, sensual kiss. He moaned against my lips, pressing closer until there wasn’t an inch of space between us. I could feel his hardness pressed against my hip. Knowing such a beautiful man desired me was a heady thought.
When I broke the kiss, Patrick chased me, a needy whimper in his throat. I chuckled, whispering against his lips.
“I want more than anything to take you, my Patrick. But…” I frowned, one hand sliding down to touch his injured leg. He still used a cane, and I’d seen him flinch when I helped him stand after talking to Orthorr. I did not wish to hurt him.
“I’m okay,” he promised. “It’s just a little uncomfortable.”
It was uncomfortable now with him lying on his side and putting no pressure upon it. But if I took him as we were now, he’d end up on his back with his legs around my hips, and I knew it would hurt him to do so. Riding me would be even worse for him. I thought about it for a minute before pressing a kiss to Patrick’s lips.
“Stay as you are. I have an idea.”
He made a questioning sound, tracking me as I sat up and moved about. Keeping him on his side, I piled furs to support his leg before settling behind him. He glanced at me over his shoulder, a frown on his lips.
“Can it even be done this way?”
I could not help but smirk at him. “There are many ways that we can make love, my Patrick. I will show them all to you eventually.”
His face flushed at my promise, but he came willingly when I settled his head against my shoulder and tipped his chin to capture his mouth again. I distracted him with kisses as I slicked my fingers with oil and ran them between his cheeks.
Knowing he was untouched made my blood boil with lust, but I took my time softening him, pushing my finger inside him a little at a time. He made delicious whimpering noises, pushing his hips back to seek more, but he did not rush me. He knew I only wished to take care of him. Sliding my finger in and out, I listened for any hints of pain or discomfort. I wanted it to be good for him.
Patrick’s moans told me when it was okay for me to add another finger. He trembled in my arms, his hot breath panting against my lips. He didn’t complain about the awkward angle. He stayed relaxed, trusting me with his body, and it made me fall harder for him. I could not help the words that spilled from me.
“You are so beautiful. So perfect. My kolrav, my gorgeous bondmate. I cannot wait to be inside you.”
His moans grew louder, and he cried out when I twisted my fingers, running them along the front of his passage, where all men knew the key to pleasure resided. Patrick gripped my thigh roughly, his trembling growing more intense with each pass of my fingers.
“Verus! Verus, please!” he moaned, thrusting his hips to take my fingers. I grew desperate to be inside him, but I needed to stretch him first. I did not wish to hurt him.
Distracting him with kisses, I added a third finger, spreading them gently to make sure he was thoroughly stretched. I took care to avoid his pleasure spot as much as I could, since it felt as though he was close to completion already. If he came before I got inside him, I would feel proud of myself for getting him there, but I wished to be inside him first.
I was considering a fourth finger just to be thorough when Patrick jerked, gripping the base of his cock tightly. Knowing he was so close pushed me into action, and I pulled my fingers free, slicking my aching cock with the oil and dragging him back. Patrick’s head lolled against my shoulder, his eyes glazed with lust and his breaths quick. It was a look I never wished to forget. Perhaps, if this round ended quickly, I could get him there again at least one more time tonight. Maybe twice. We had all night, after all.
I was too far gone to focus on what Verus was doing. I’d gotten so close to release just from his fingers, and I was glad for the reprieve. My entire body thrummed with the need to come, and I could only hope I would last long enough for Verus to take me. I’d waited so long to experience it. I didn’t want to miss it because I couldn’t keep myself under control long enough for him to get inside me.
The hot, blunt tip of his cock slid along my crease, making me gasp and push my hips backward. The arm that was pillowing my head drew me closer to band across my chest, giving me something to cling to as Verus pushed inside me.
All the imaginings I had of being taken didn’t come close to the reality. He went slow, easing in an inch at a time with small thrusts that had me squirming for more. I understood him wishing to keep me from experiencing any pain, but this was too slow, even for me.
“Verus… more…” I pleaded.
He groaned, resting his head against mine. “I do not wish to hurt you.”
“It doesn’t hurt,” I promised him. “It feels good. So good. Please, Verus.”
Letting out a harsh breath, his control slipped, and he thrust his hips forward, burying the remaining inches of his length inside me. We both stilled, groaning. I’d never felt so full in my life, and knowing it was Verus inside me nearly sent me over the edge.
Verus’s head shook against my shoulder. “I’m sorry, kolrav. I can’t—” He groaned deeply, pulling his hips back an inch and thrusting forward again. “I can’t hold back. You are too perfect. I must?—”
I encouraged him with a murmured, “Please…”, clutching his arm as he drew back and thrust in again. Despite his words, he did not rush or get rough with me. His movements were steady, keeping him deep inside me and melting my insides. I almost wanted to beg for him to go faster, harder, my body craving more. But I also didn’t wish for this to end. I wanted to be wrapped in him like this forever.
Verus’s breath stuttered, and he reached around my hip, his free hand wrapping around my cock. The first stroke made my eyes roll back in my head. Feeling his cock inside me and his hand stroking me just right was too much for me to take for long. I gasped and moaned, thrusting my hips back to meet his, then forward to fuck into his fist. Tingles started at the base of my spine, spreading outward until I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Verus!”
“Oh, gods, yes!” Verus bellowed, his hips bucking against me as I came into his palm. The pleasure slammed into me hard like waves with every thrust of his hips until I went blind from the pleasure. I barely heard Verus shout with his release, but I swore I could feel it as he filled me. I shivered and moaned at the thought, letting the pleasure overwhelm me. I was safe in Verus’s arms.