CHAPTER 7
Mark’s eyes opened in a slow, steady rhythm matching the beat of his heart.
His muscles didn’t coil for attack. No darkness, only the contentment that came with the safety of waking up surrounded by Caster’s scent.
He closed his eyes again, reveling in the rest he hadn’t known his body needed.
His ass clenched, the memory of their desperate lovemaking the night before intensifying his arousal.
His wolf crawled to the fore of his mind, the healing elixir he always brought with him warming his body, easing the soreness.
He wanted to stay here forever, never think, never worry, just trust Caster would be there to guide him through the disaster his life had become.
“Good. That’s what’s going to happen.”
He gasped, his eyes popping open to see Caster leaning against the bathroom door, fully dressed. How had he failed to notice him before?
“You were having a really good dream, I think.” He didn’t move, but he didn’t need to. His eyes glided over Mark’s naked form, intensifying his arousal.
Mark moaned, wishing he could touch himself, but knowing it would be a mistake.
“Yes. It would.” Caster pushed away from the wall, his casual movement further adding to Mark’s discomfort. “Get dressed. We need to go.”
He frowned, the question stuck in his mind, and Caster moved too fast for his eyes to follow. Their faces were inches apart in a fraction of a second, the storm in the gray eyes threatening to drown him, and he realized his mistake.
He tried to lower his gaze, but Caster’s tight hold at the back of his neck intensified, a dull ache racing from the contact through his mind. “You question me again…”
“I’m sorry, I forgot…”
The hold tightened, his eyes watered, the pain increasing his arousal. His wolf displayed its submission, retreating to a corner, vulnerable and trusting.
Caster’s tight grip eased to a caress, and Mark couldn’t have contained his moan if he’d had the strength of a thousand vampires.
A gentle nudge urged him to look at Caster’s face. The anger he expected was nonexistent; in its place more concern than he knew what to do with. “Can you feel him? Your wolf?”
Mark nodded.
“Good.” Caster’s thumb rubbed at his lower lip, and he resisted the urge to push closer to him. “Now, you’ll stop making me repeat myself and get dressed. We have somewhere to be.”
The kiss was subdued, the dominance hiding behind the gentle pass of Caster’s tongue over his. He did his best to follow Caster’s lead. He wanted to give up control, needed to. It was the only way to keep from drowning in things he couldn’t control.
Caster pulled away so fast, Mark almost fell into him. “What?” He stared at Mark, the storm in his eyes rising to obscure the desire. “What happened?”
Mark shook his head. “Nothing. I just don’t want to think about…”
Caster’s lips stole the last of his words, and he gave a little more of himself. He restrained his mind from revisiting his conversation with Edie, needing the comfort, the strength Caster’s kiss promised more than he needed answers.
This time, when they pulled away for much-needed breath, they were both on edge. Caster’s touch moved through his hair, past the back of his neck to his shoulder. “Go. Get dressed, my love. I want you all to myself, and we can’t have that here.”
The logistics of how he found everything he needed in Caster’s room when they’d lost everything after the witch’s attack was impressive.
But he didn’t want to think about that. The goal was to stop all thought.
He wanted to drown thoughts of the witch, of the consequences of Zeke’s return, in his surrender to Caster’s will.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d given up control like this, and he hoped he could still do it with enough precision to make everything stop.
When he found him minutes later in the sitting area adjacent to the bedroom, Caster was talking to Kyle. The simple sight of him, even if he had yet to acknowledge his presence, was enough to calm both sides of him.
Caster reached for his hand as he approached.
Kyle’s smile was warm. “We’re so glad to have you back.” He turned to Caster. “We’re ready when you are.”
Mark’s curiosity piqued at the “we,” but he tamped down on the side of him that wanted to know Caster’s plans. He’d shuttered his mind from vampire infiltration as soon as he’d realized Caster wasn’t alone, so he squeezed Caster’s hand, trying to communicate his complete trust.
Did he really trust Caster if he failed to tell him about Zeke’s new ability, how easily the Alpha had infiltrated his mind?
Mark shook his head as he followed Kyle and Caster’s lead through Damien’s mansion to the large, well-maintained lawn reminiscent of the one the witch had destroyed. The helicopter that would be their transportation came into view, along with no less than ten Born-Vampires flanking it.
His complete trust in Caster notwithstanding, Mark couldn’t contain his gasp. Mikey? Was it safe to leave his little brother here alone if Caster felt they needed this much protection to leave the compound?
Caster squeezed his hand. What is it?
Mark’s steps faltered, his guilt at thinking of no one but himself intensifying his worry. Mikey...
Caster stopped and moved in front of him, grabbing his shoulders. “Your brother is safe. He left with Riley and Damien.”
He frowned.
Caster reached for his hand again, and they resumed their walk towards the helicopter. “He’s at my father’s house. The safest place he could be.”
Mark relaxed, his exhale draining his worry away. But he still resolved to call his brother the first chance he got.