Chapter 4 #3
Wyatt forced a smile on his face at River’s trembling words.
Life with the MacPherson clan had felt like a failure on his part.
Yes, he’d kept them alive, but that had been about it.
He was desperately praying Beltran Varik would be a much better alternative.
“It’s my intention that you’re never going to find out. We are together forever.”
“Forever,” River hummed. The sound was light and happy again, helping soothe some of his jagged nerves.
“What do you think of Varik?”
River stepped out of his arms, his lip curling. “The vampire.”
Wyatt suppressed a laugh at River’s automatic derision.
He shouldn’t have to point out how chummy they’d seemed on the couch while discussing food, or exactly how many times Bel had made him laugh while they were talking.
That vampire was quite good at getting River to lower his guard when he wasn’t paying attention.
“Yes, the vampire we’re begging to hand our lives to.”
River sighed and lifted one shoulder in a kind of half-hearted shrug before turning to the extremely comfortable-looking bed.
“He’s okay, I guess. It’s not like we’ve got much choice.
” River’s gaze slid over Wyatt, and there was a hint of a devilish smile on his lips.
God, he looked so sexy when he was thinking something wicked. “He strikes me as sort of silly.”
“Don’t mistake his kindness and compassion for being a pushover. We saw how deadly he can be when he fought Brett while still controlling those cats,” Wyatt warned.
River rolled his eyes, the playfulness dissolving. “True.” He stepped into Wyatt’s arms, cuddling close as if he couldn’t get enough of his lover. Wyatt welcomed the contact. He would do anything to make sure he had more moments just like this with River. Promise whatever he had to.
“He’s a vampire,” River said against his chest. “They’re cold and confusing…and they’re the only thing protecting us from certain death.”
“But I don’t think aligning with Bel will mean selling our souls.”
“Maybe,” River whispered. “Can we…can we just not think about it for a little while? It’s been so long since we had a nice place to simply be. Can we just…not…”
Wyatt pressed a kiss to River’s neck. He understood what his lover was asking, and he didn’t blame him. They could escape the worries and stress for a little while. “Why don’t you jump in the shower? I’ll join you in a minute.”
River twisted around in his arms, heat flaring in his pale hazel eyes, threatening to consume him. Yes, they could steal this moment. It felt like it had been so long since they’d last enjoyed each other, and Wyatt was not going to pass up this opportunity.
The smaller werewolf hurried off to the bathroom.
It was only a couple of seconds before the water came on in a rush followed by the dull thuds of River’s shoes hitting the floor.
Wyatt sank down on the end of the bed. He started to reach for his own shoes but stopped and let his eyes drift over the beautiful room.
The same thought trickled back in his brain that had haunted him for nearly a dozen years.
It wasn’t supposed to be this way.
His life would never have included a fancy house like this. No, it would have been simple and cozy. But it would have likely included a wife and a kid. River would have been forced into the realm of stolen moments away from prying eyes. A shameful secret.
But he hadn’t wanted that for them. He’d demanded the right to hold River’s hand in public. The right to build a life with him.
And they’d earned exile and death threats. An existence on the run and in hiding. They were slaves of vampires—the only creatures he knew capable of protecting them.
What if he’d just kept his mouth shut?
They’d still be among their own kind. They’d have homes and lives. Jobs and friends.
But he’d never again feel the strength of River’s hands on his body. He’d miss River’s smile and wonderful laugh. He’d have to live without River’s love. And that was no life at all.
He prayed that his lover felt the same way after so many painful, exhausting years.
Kicking off his shoes, Wyatt stood and pulled off his T-shirt, dropping it on the floor as he walked into the bathroom.
A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth as he found River’s clothes strewn about the white tile.
He was standing under the spray, the heat already fogging up the long mirror over the dual sinks and the glass wall of the stall.
His head was reclined, and his body looked relaxed. Part of Wyatt wanted to stand there admiring the beautiful curve of his back as it swooped to his perfect ass. But the rest of him wanted in that shower to feel all that slick, warm skin pressed to his own.
Shucking the rest of his clothes, Wyatt stepped into the large stall. He slid his hands along River’s shoulders and across his chest, his cock stiffening at all that flawless tan skin and the low moan of pleasure that rumbled up the man’s throat.
“How could I have forgotten how good you feel in my arms?” Wyatt murmured. He stepped up against River, his dick cradled between his cheeks as he slowly moved his hands over River’s body. He wanted to memorize every ripple of muscle and sweet hollow.
River rested his head on Wyatt’s shoulder, lifting his lips for a kiss. Wyatt could never deny River anything if it was within his power to give it. And River so rarely asked for anything. Just Wyatt’s love.
Lowering his mouth, he kissed River. He licked along parted, full lips and then deeper, inch by slow inch, until their tongues tangled.
River reached up and thrust his fingers into Wyatt’s hair, trying to hold him captive so he could deepen the kiss even more.
It took all his willpower to end the kiss, and it nearly broke on River’s hungry moan.
His lover was all passion and wildfire. Wyatt wanted nothing more than for River to let all that desire loose on him, but tonight was about cherishing each second.
“Let me take care of you tonight,” Wyatt murmured, his lips brushing against River’s as he spoke.
“You always take care of me.”
Wyatt hummed, turning his face to rub his nose along River’s cheek and jaw. He smelled of sunshine and summer again. “Yes, I love taking care of you.”
He released River long enough to reach for the bottle of shampoo on a shelf in the stall.
Popping open the cap, he sniffed it and smiled.
A nice mix of rich spices. And very likely to be expensive stuff if the appearance of Bel and Rafe were any indication.
He poured some of it into his hand and put the bottle aside so he could wash River’s hair.
The lingering sexual tension in River’s frame eased and he relaxed under Wyatt’s touch, making little noises of pleasure.
After his hair was done, he switched to the body wash.
He moved his hands over every inch of River, massaging tense muscles until he felt loose and relaxed.
He leaned one shoulder against the tile shower as if it were the only way he was still standing upright.
As the hot water washed away the last of his suds, Wyatt dropped to his knees. He licked around the straining head of River’s cock. His man sucked in a harsh breath and straightened, as if waking from the spell Wyatt had put him under.
“Oh God, Wyatt!” River cried.
“I can’t help myself.”
River dropped his head to the tile and spread his legs just a little. A shaky laugh left his parted lips. “I don’t want you to ever feel that you have to stop yourself.”
Wyatt leaned forward again, taking River’s dick in his mouth.
He worked him slowly while wrapping his fingers around the base, stroking him in time with each movement of his head.
The feel of River’s slick, satiny cock on his tongue was like nothing he’d ever experienced, and he was forever addicted.
It didn’t take long for River’s pants to grow louder.
Strong fingers grabbed his hair, holding him in place while his hips gave little punches forward, as if he were trying to remain still, but his control was slipping.
Wyatt lifted his free hand to cup and tug lightly on River’s balls before sliding behind them.
He pressed one finger against River’s hole, teasing those tight muscles.
“Oh, fuck!”
It was Wyatt’s only warning, and then River was coming down his throat. He swallowed every drop, loving the taste of him. Loving the way he shivered with pleasure between the broken gasps.
Only when he’d licked him clean did Wyatt let River slip from his mouth. He looked up and his heart beat harder at the sated, crooked smile and flushed cheeks. River was completely blissed-out and relaxed.
His own cock throbbed and demanded his attention. He’d love nothing more than to turn River around and plunge deep inside him, finding his release. And River would love it. But tonight, he wanted this. Quiet and relaxation. A feeling of safety they hadn’t enjoyed in far too long.
“Gimme a sec,” River said, his words adorably slurred.
“Later. I want to enjoy you just like this for now.” Wyatt pressed a kiss to the inside of River’s hip before pushing back to his feet. He grabbed up the shampoo and quickly washed his own hair, then the rest of his body.
His companion was just coming out of his stupor when he shut off the water.
They wordlessly dried off and walked into the bedroom but stopped at the sight of two small piles of clothes on the end of the bed.
Wyatt looked over to find that the bedroom door was closed, but they’d left the bathroom door open.
“Do you think he heard us?” River asked, his voice barely over a whisper.
“Probably.” Wyatt chuckled and wrapped an arm around River’s waist from behind, pressing his face into his wet hair. “But I don’t care. Best he understands now that you belong to me.”
River snorted. “I think his only possible interest in me would be for dissection.”
Wyatt wasn’t so sure he agreed with that.
There had been something in Bel’s gaze that was more than simple curiosity.
There had been something appraising. Something…
enraptured by River, which wasn’t surprising.
River when he was laughing and free was a very intoxicating creature.
He’d certainly won Wyatt, heart and soul.
There was also something very curious about Bel. The vampire called to him in ways he couldn’t quite explain and was slightly afraid to explore. Was this linked to the vampire’s ability to speak to animals?
Wyatt kept those thoughts to himself. He didn’t want to upset River when he was still so uneasy around the vampire.
Besides, they still needed to convince Bel to let them stay.