Andvari
At the time, they’d not known what they would encounter or who the other guardians would be.
Travel by flight meant security screenings and regulations on identification that some clans preferred to avoid.
The bus had served them well on their journey from Henry’s pack to the house they now called home.
They would once again be taking the bus, even though Sawyer had put up a slight protest over the length of the drive versus a flight. It came down to safety and the risk of exposing more humans to their secrets.
They would drive through the night with the additional guards surrounding them in multiple SUVs.
It was the best they could do on such short notice.
Eduard had secured an appointment for them the following morning with his personal shopper, who’d only been given their approximate sizes and coloring as suggestions.
“Hey,” Sawyer said quietly. He leaned against the door frame, chewing nervously on his bottom lip.
“Hey,” Andvari said. He zipped the last of his bags closed and pushed to his feet. “You okay?”
Sawyer nodded. “A little overwhelmed. I didn’t realize what a production it would be to leave.
Viv has been cooking up a storm, so we don’t have to stop for food.
Cecil has somehow managed to get us all packed with Ms. Robinson’s help.
Draco and a couple of the vamps took the bus to get refueled.
We shouldn’t have to stop for gas until we get to the shopping guy’s place. ”
Andvari knew all of this information. He’d been there when they’d made the plan.
He walked over to Sawyer and cupped his cheek gently in his hand.
“You’re going to be fine,” Andvari said softly.
“Think of it as an adventure. We’re just beginning on our journey, and there are so many things you’re going to see. ”
“So I’m a hobbit, huh?”
Andvari shook his head and pulled Sawyer close. “No, Frodo, you’re not a hobbit. But you’ve entered a pretty fantastic world and it’s not all bad. I swear, Sawyer. There’s so much good and beauty in our world, too. We simply haven’t been able to show you very much of it yet.”
Sawyer snorted. “Have you looked in a mirror? Plenty of beauty right there. But I get what you’re saying. It’s been pretty fantastic so far, attempted murders notwithstanding.”
Andvari pecked a kiss on Sawyer’s forehead then pulled back to look into his overly-stressed face. “I could use a workout before we go. How about you?”
Sawyer grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
He pulled off his shirt and tossed it into the corner of the room.
Sawyer had taken to the training regime easily, and although Andvari had pushed him on the self-defense aspect of things, he’d also taken a longer approach on the philosophy of the vampire martial art.
Learning form and breath was as natural to Andvari as fighting, but to someone who hadn’t grown up doing exercise involving rhythm, breath, and movement, it wasn’t as easy as it seemed.
Humans had a similar martial art in Tai Chi, which had a similar philosophy even if the movements and rhythms were completely different than the vampire version.
He took his position at Sawyer’s side, and they moved into the first form together. After such a short time training, Sawyer had the basic forms memorized, and they could flow through the movements as a dance, their bodies aligned as they slid from one position to the next.
They moved quietly, no longer needing words, Sawyer’s body telling Andvari everything he needed to know about his mate’s well-being. Andvari paid attention to Sawyer’s breathing, listened as each inhale became slightly longer, more relaxed. And with each exhale tension released.
Andvari soon lost himself in the rhythm, centering both his mind and body for the upcoming changes.
For as easy as Sawyer had accepted them into his life, he and Andvari were alike in that adjusting to changes took something out of them.
The natural rhythms of their day to day lives moved with each new addition or change of location and they had to, in effect, practice.
They did that now, preparing themselves for yet another change in their routine, calming their minds and bodies as they readied themselves to leave.
When they finished nearly forty-five minutes later, Sawyer lowered his head in the traditional student to teacher form. Andvari bowed in return then cupped Sawyer’s cheek again, wrapping his other arm around Sawyer’s waist and fitting their bodies together. “Better?”
“Yeah. Much.” Sawyer pushed up slightly, capturing Andvari’s lips with his own.
Andvari ran his hand slowly up Sawyer’s sweat-slick back until he could feel his heart beating beneath his palm. The cadence had become soothing to him over the past few weeks, the steady rhythm of a steady soul. He pulled Sawyer closer, chasing the heat of him with his body, his tongue.
Sawyer groaned into his mouth then hitched one leg up around Andvari’s hip.
He took the hint and lifted Sawyer, letting Sawyer wrap his legs around Andvari’s waist. He carried him a few steps to the wall, and then pressed him against it.
When he finally tore his lips away, they were both panting for breath. “What do you want?”
“You,” Sawyer murmured. “Just you.”
Moments with only two of them together were fast becoming rare. Oddly, as much as Andvari craved alone time and privacy, he found he didn’t mind being with these men who’d somehow managed to become both his heart and family in such a short period of time. He craved Sawyer’s presence.
But not only Sawyer.
The others were missing pieces of his soul as well. Outside of his all-night training times when he slept during the day, Andvari hadn’t slept alone since they’d all come together a few weeks before. It was even more strange because it was the one thing he swore he’d never give up.
When Eduard had first begun working on the design for the house, Andvari had insisted on two spaces for himself: the gym and a bedroom to call his own.
He kept his clothes and a few other belongings in the bedroom.
He stayed in the master with Sawyer and the others unless he’d spent the night training.
In order to stay sharp, he did actually need sleep, even with a dragon and griffin providing him with the blood which kept him strong.
Andvari helped Sawyer stand then backed away long enough to tear his loose-fitted pants from his body.
Sawyer repeated the action, grinning wickedly as he leaned back against the wall and began stroking his cock.
Andvari growled, dropping to his knees and pushing Sawyer’s hands away.
“Mine,” he rumbled before sucking Sawyer deep into his mouth.
Sawyer groaned above him, his hand tangling in Andvari’s long curly hair and holding on.
He didn’t try to control his movements with the grip, but simply kept himself grounded.
Andvari bobbed his head, each stroke taking Sawyer’s cock deeper until it finally hit the back of his throat.
He swallowed around it, and Sawyer gasped out his pleasure.
“This is gonna be over quick if you keep doing that,” Sawyer groaned.
Well, they couldn’t have that, now could they?
Andvari pulled off and grabbed Sawyer’s hips. He guided him down until Sawyer was straddling his thighs then flipped them over so Sawyer landed on the mats on his back.
“Why is it so hot when you manhandle me like that?”
Andvari grinned and leaned down to nip at Sawyer’s stomach. “Because you like knowing I’ve got excellent control.”
He loved taking Sawyer to the edge, fucking into him until he was so close to coming before slowing his pace, leaving him desperate and begging for release.
He was tempted to do the same now, but Sawyer was too frazzled after the attempt on his life earlier.
Andvari could practically see his frayed edges, even after they’d worked out.
“You do,” Sawyer said. He reached for Andvari, dragging him down so their lips could meet in another teasing kiss. “Excellent control. Superb, really.”
“Enough to know that I need to go get lube now or we’re both going to regret it.”
Sawyer huffed as Andvari pushed to his feet.
He hurried into the attached bathroom and retrieved the specially made oil Eduard had introduced them to.
They had little pots of the stuff stashed in every room of the house.
Sawyer hadn’t yet realized that Cecil refilled them daily.
He’d probably keel over in embarrassment when he did.
He made his way back to the gym and found Sawyer sprawled out on the mats exactly as he’d left him. He hadn’t even started touching himself again. He was spread out like a sacrifice, legs bent at the knee, ready for Andvari to find his place between them.
Andvari knelt there, setting the oil aside, and lifted one of Sawyer’s legs in his hand. He kissed the bottom of Sawyer’s foot, and then his ankle. He massaged away the tension as he went, determined to cover every inch of Sawyer with his hands, his mouth.
Sawyer’s breath caught when his fingers found a tight spot on his calf. Andvari locked his eyes on Sawyer’s as he eased the ache away before moving upward again. He paused only to dip his fingers into the oil, spreading it on Sawyer’s muscled thigh as he massaged away any tension he found.
When his left leg was relaxed, Andvari turned his attention to the right, repeating the process, worshiping every inch of the young man who’d changed his life in every way.
Setting Sawyer’s right leg down, Andvari eased his way up further so he could lean down to press a gentle kiss to Sawyer’s cock.
He moved away again, teasing his hands up Sawyer’s side, over his chest then to his arms. Sawyer smiled at him, letting Andvari kiss each of his fingers softly before sliding his way up, over his forearm to his bicep and his shoulder.
The other arm received the same treatment until finally, Sawyer was relaxed completely on the mats, staring up at Andvari with so much love in his eyes it made Andvari’s heart stop for a moment.
He bent down, nestled his face against the throbbing pulse in Sawyer’s neck. He longed to bite there, taste the depths of Sawyer’s blood, connect him even further to this man who was his.
“Do it,” Sawyer whispered. “You can.”
Andvari’s fangs responded, inching their way out. He shuddered. “Eduard would not be pleased if you showed up covered in fang marks.”
“Then do it where no one but us will see.” Sawyer gently guided Andvari down toward his thigh. “Here.”
The pulse throbbed there as well, calling to him. “Are you sure?”
“Please,” Sawyer begged.
Andvari dipped his fingers into the oil once more then lowered his mouth to the vein in Sawyer’s upper leg.
He wrapped one hand around Sawyer’s cock, stroking it in a firm grip while using his other hand to spread Sawyer’s legs further, giving him better access.
He kissed the smooth skin there, feeling the blood pumping through the vein.
Sawyer moved, pushed up onto his elbows and stared down at him.
“I trust you.”
Andvari bit.
It wasn’t the first time he’d had a taste of Sawyer’s blood, but it might as well have been.
The last time, he’d been so wounded he hadn’t been able to think or feel or know.
He’d been focused purely on his survival.
Now though, he could taste every bit of Sawyer’s unique flavor as it burst across his tongue.
He sucked deeply, savoring it again. Sawyer groaned above him, and it reminded Andvari he needed to move.
He tightened his grip on Sawyer’s dick, tugging and twisting as he continued to feed.
Sawyer thrust up, his body writhing as the pleasure of the bite consumed him.
He’d not known about that; Andvari had never told him.
He’d never thought to explain how they could be connected like this with the power of Andvari’s will.
He could bite to kill or he could bite to give pleasure.
Sawyer would only ever get his pleasure.
He poured every ounce of his concentration into giving Sawyer the most amazing experience he could, and it didn’t surprise him when moments later, Sawyer bucked up and his body began to tremble its way through release.
Andvari removed his fangs carefully then crawled up Sawyer’s body and stared down into his eyes.
“Wow,” Sawyer said. “Just… wow.”
Andvari nestled his face back into Sawyer’s neck and lay down on top of him.
Sawyer wrapped his arms around his back, holding them together as both of their hearts slowed back to a normal rhythm.
Andvari’s body sang, having never joined so completely with another before.
He raised his head and smiled down at Sawyer. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The door to the gym burst open and Draco stood there panting. “Why do I smell bl… oh. Oh, wow.”
“That’s what I said,” Sawyer said on a sigh.
Andvari lowered his head between Sawyer’s neck and shoulder again, the pleasure of their joining still singing through his veins.
“He’s glowing,” Draco said after a moment. He came over to them, lowering himself to his knees once he was by their side. He ran his hand down Andvari’s spine softly, reverently, before turning an awe-filled gaze toward Sawyer.
“Yeah?” Sawyer whispered. “I bet it’s pretty.”
“It is,” Draco murmured. “I didn’t know I could see happiness like this, but he’s really happy.”
“And he’s right here,” Andvari grumbled.
“Shush,” Sawyer said. “I made you happy. Be happy still.”
“I am,” Andvari said. He smiled into Sawyer’s neck.
“We need you guys to be happy on the bus. We’re loaded up and ready to get on the road. I’ll even let you guys take the bedroom and rest for a while.”
“Oh you’ll let us, will you?” Sawyer said.
The man was so full of sass. He never let them get away with anything.
“Yeah,” Draco said. “I’ll let you. Then I’ll join you. Because fuck if I’m not horny now.”
“You’re always horny.”
Draco didn’t reply, but his hand drifted over Andvari’s ass, and Andvari knew exactly what the dragon had planned for him later. And he didn’t mind at all