Chapter Thirteen #2
“Then we make sure it stands for another five hundred years.” Redford moved closer, adjusting the chain around Damon’s neck. The touch sent a warm tingle through Damon’s whole body. “Ready to start the grunt work?”
“With you? Always.”
They spent the next few hours doing what they’d originally come to do - surveying the foundation damage and planning repairs.
“The foundation here is the worst.” Redford crouched in the tower’s base, his hands pressed against granite blocks that had shifted dangerously. “I’ll need to reinforce them from below, essentially rebuilding the footing.”
“I can translocate supplies directly into position if you like, which would save you the trouble of hauling them down.” Damon made notes on his phone, cataloging everything Redford mentioned. “What else?”
“The crack needs to be stabilized immediately. I can work magic into the mortar, which will supplement what’s left of Beatrice’s wards.
” Redford straightened, brushing dust from his knees.
“It’ll take a while, as I said earlier, but by doing it slowly, in stages, no one will notice the tower improving too quickly. ”
“Good thing I like long projects.” Damon grinned. “And I’ve got nowhere else to be.”
Redford’s expression softened. “Neither do I.”
They worked until just before dawn, planning every detail of their secret restoration project. By the time they trudged back to the cottage, happy but filthy, Damon’s mind buzzed with plans that extended far beyond simple repairs.
“We should contact the Paranormal Council,” he said as they stripped off his dirty clothes. “They’ll want to know about the documents.”
“After we’ve made copies and secured the originals.” Redford headed for the shower. “I’m not letting those out of our possession until we’ve established proper protections.”
Damon followed him into the bathroom, watching his mate’s broad shoulders relax under hot water. “Our possession. Does that mean you’re planning to stay in Scotland after your leave ends?”
Redford turned, water streaming down his chest. “I’m planning to stay wherever you are, and you seem to be at home here.”
“I do travel at times, visiting the pack mostly.” Damon stepped into the shower, crowding into Redford’s space. “But yeah, I feel like this place is home.”
“For both of us.” Redford pulled him close.
/~/~/~/~/
The hot water ran down their bodies, steam curling between them. Damon’s fingers traced the rough planes of Redford’s chest, over his ribs, and the dip of his waist.
Redford’s dark eyes tracked the movement. “You’re thinking too hard.”
“Just admiring the view.”
A low chuckle rumbled in Redford’s chest. “Liar.”
Damon grinned, unrepentant. The discovery of the tower’s history, and the weight of what they’d committed to, was fizzing through his veins, and he wanted to celebrate.
Needed to. And the way Redford’s body responded to his touch, the way his mate’s breath hitched when Damon’s fingers drifted lower… Yep, that’d work.
He dropped to his knees, the hot spray hitting his back. Redford’s cock was already half-hard, thickening further as Damon wrapped his fingers around the base. He looked up, holding his mate’s gaze as he flicked his tongue over the tip.
Redford’s hands fisted in the air, like he couldn’t decide whether to grab Damon’s hair or the shower wall. “Fuck, Damon…”
“Shh, let me.”
Damon took his time, teasing, swirling, pouring his love and arousal through their bond, just enough to make Redford’s skin prickle with heat.
His mate’s thighs tensed, his hips twitching forward, but Damon held him still, savoring the taste and weight of Redford’s cock in his mouth, and the way Redford’s groans filled the shower.
When Redford was pounding against the back of his throat, Damon pulled off with a wet pop, grinning up at him. “Or,” he said, voice rough, “we could take this to the bed.”
Redford’s jaw was tight, his voice strained. “You’re a fucking tease.”
“And you love it.”
That earned him a growl, but Redford didn’t argue. He shut off the water, yanked Damon to his feet, and nearly dragged him out of the shower. They barely bothered drying off, leaving a trail of damp footprints across the cottage floor.
Damon fell onto the bed first, bouncing once before rolling to his back. He crooked a finger at Redford. “Come here.”
Redford loomed over him, all hard muscles and dark eyes. “You’re in a mood.”
“A good mood.” Damon reached up, tangling his fingers in the short hair at the nape of Redford’s neck, and pulled him down for a kiss.
It was messy, open-mouthed, the kind of kiss that left them both breathless and still wanting more.
When they broke apart, Damon smirked. “Are you going to let me top you, Red?”
Redford’s eyebrows shot up. “You?”
Damon laughed. “Problem?”
“No. Just…” Redford shifted, settling between Damon’s thighs. “Surprised. You usually…”
“Usually like you in charge. Yep, I do.” Damon traced the line of Redford’s shoulder and followed the swell of his bicep. “But today, I want to be the one making you fall apart.”
He flipped their positions in one smooth motion, pressing Redford into the mattress. His mate let out a surprised grunt, but there was no real resistance, just a challenge in his voice. “You sure you can handle me?”
Damon leaned down, nipping at Redford’s bottom lip.
“Oh, I can handle you.” He trailed kisses along Redford’s jaw, down his throat, biting just hard enough to make his mate groan.
When he reached Redford’s chest, he swirled his tongue around one nipple, then the other, savoring the way Redford’s body arched into the touch.
Redford’s hands found his hair, his fingers tightening. “Damon…”
“Patience.” He ghosted his lips lower, down the ridged planes of Redford’s stomach, dipping his tongue into the groove of his hip. When he finally took Redford’s cock back into his mouth, his mate’s hips jerked up with a curse.
Damon hollowed his cheeks, working him slowly, his free hand cupping Redford’s heavy balls. But he didn’t let it go on too long because he wanted more.
He pulled back, licking his lips. “Lube. Now.”
Redford fumbled for the drawer, but Damon was faster, zapping the bottle into his hand with a flick of his wrist. Redford’s eyes flashed. “Show-off.”
“You love it.” Damon popped the cap, squeezing a generous amount onto his fingers, not wasting any time. Two slick digits pressed against Redford’s tight hole, circling and teasing.
Redford hissed, his body tensing. “Damn it, Damon…”
“Shh. Breathe.” He pressed in, slow, letting his mate adjust. Redford was tight, the heat almost scorching, but Damon didn’t rush. He scissored his fingers, stretching, tracing that spot inside that made Redford’s breath stutter. “Just feel.”
Redford’s grip on the sheets was white-knuckled, his chest rising and falling fast. “You’re killing me.”
“Not yet.” Damon added a third finger, crooking them just right. Redford’s back bowed, a rough sound tearing from his throat. Satisfied, Damon withdrew, slicking up his own cock with what was left on his fingers. He lined himself up, the head pressing against Redford’s entrance.
Redford’s breath hitched. “Fuck, you’re big.”
Damon chuckled. “You’re one to talk.” He pushed in, inch by slow inch, letting the burn stretch into something better. Pleasure. Fullness. Connection. He bottomed out with a groan, giving them both a moment to adjust.
“Okay?” he panted.
Redford’s answer was a guttural, “Move.”
Something Damon was happy to do. He set a rhythm - deep, rolling thrusts that had Redford cursing, his fingers clawing at the sheets. With them so closely bonded, every sensation was heightened, every touch, kiss, and thrust amplified.
Redford gasped against his lips, his body trembling. “Damon…fuck…”
“Yeah,” Damon breathed. “That’s it, let yourself go.”
He adjusted his angle, nailing Redford’s prostate with every snap of his hips. His mate’s body tensed, his cock leaking against his stomach. Damon reached between them, wrapping his fingers around Redford’s length, his strokes matching his thrusts.
Redford came with a shout, his release spilling over Damon’s fist. The sight, the feel of it - Damon’s own orgasm crashed over him like a wave, his hips stuttering as he emptied himself deep inside his mate.
They collapsed together, a sweaty, trembling mess. Damon stayed buried inside Redford as long as he could, savoring the closeness.
When he finally pulled out, Redford made a protesting noise, but Damon just chuckled, rolling to the side and tugging his mate against him. “Miss me already?”
Redford huffed, but there was no heat in it. He pressed a kiss to Damon’s shoulder. “You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re mine.”
Redford’s lips curved against his skin. “Just as you’re mine.”
Damon grinned. “That’s the best part.”