Chapter 28
Baldewin was early for his lunch date. He was not supposed to be meeting Tori in the dining hall for another thirty minutes, but the meeting with Rodrigo had gone better than he’d expected—once they moved past discussions of whether to destroy the Taavi Clan in a fit of outrage.
Of course, he shouldn’t have been too surprised by Rodrigo’s eagerness since the ice dragon was excited by the prospect of finally finding mages for his own clan.
But now, Baldewin feared how Tori was going to take the news that he was officially invited to the fancy state dinner with the two kings.
It was going to be a relatively small affair, only about a dozen people present, but he knew the mage was already nervous around Alric and Cameron. Throw in Rodrigo and his royal cortege, and Tori was likely going to hide in his room and tell Baldewin that he was on his own.
But he had no doubt in his mind that Tori could handle the two kings with ease. From what he’d seen already, everyone who’d met Tori adored him.
Maybe a few dragons adored him a little too much, but that was likely Baldewin’s jealous dragon growling in his ear. Word had spread fast—likely thanks to dynamic duo Ravi and Cassie—that Tori was his gefreogen. No dragon would dare encroach on Baldewin’s mage.
It took a little asking around and too much searching for his dragon’s peace of mind, but he finally located Tori in one of the greenhouses.
As he stepped inside, he was hit with the sweet scent of blossoming flowers in the damp, warm air.
The first row was filled with hyssop bushes, their tall stalks covered in bright violet flowers.
The blooms and leaves were used in a variety of cleansing spells.
Next to them were the star-shaped blue flowers of the borage, which were used against fevers and aches.
He continued to the next row, where he found his target moving easily down a row of myrtle, with its feathery white flowers and glossy green leaves, to a collection of bright purple vervain.
Tori was humming a tune that Baldewin didn’t recognize.
In front of him was a small cart that held a variety of tools and instruments for his trade.
Here and there, he stopped and pruned a bit of dead growth away from a vervain plant with a set of shears or trimmed off some of another plant and placed those bits into a jar to be used in potions and spells.
Baldewin was completely enamored. There was a soft smile on Tori’s face, and his shoulders were finally loose and relaxed. He absolutely radiated happiness. Nestori Taavi was finally home. He was where he truly belonged in the world.
“Are you lurking, Baldewin?” Tori’s voice rose in the quiet greenhouse.
Baldewin started, blinking at the mage for a moment. “How did you know I was here? I haven’t made a noise.”
Tori place the pair of pruning shears back on the cart and turned in his direction. He gave a little shrug, the smile on his lips growing even wider. “I don’t know. Just sort of felt you.”
Oh, he definitely liked the sound of that. He loved the idea of Tori being able to sense him, to feel him in some way.
Dressed in a pair of jeans that hung wonderfully low on his narrow hips and an olive-green T-shirt made of the softest cotton, Tori had a casual sexiness to him.
It left Baldewin wanting to slip his hands under that shirt and explore all the lean muscles he knew were hidden.
He wanted to push those jeans down and lick his way over every inch of the sexy man before him.
And maybe he should. Tori hadn’t enjoyed enough stolen moments of physical pleasure in his life.
Not that Baldewin was too upset over that fact.
He rather liked being Tori’s first in everything.
He liked to think that all those cries of pleasure, blissed-out sighs, gasps, and moans belonged to him.
Yes, he and his dragon were becoming incredibly possessive when it came to Tori, and he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
“What are you working on?” Baldewin asked as he strolled closer. He’d shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for Tori.
“Just a little pruning. I am also collecting some vervain and marigold for a healing potion we’re planning to work later this afternoon,” Tori replied as he continued down the row.
He snipped away another section of dead growth and tossed the branch into a waste receptacle on his cart.
“What are you doing here? I know we said that we’d meet at 13:00 for lunch in the dining hall. It can’t be that late already.”
Baldewin shook his head. “My meetings finished early, and Alric is deep in conversation with Rodrigo, Cameron, and Dieter. I wasn’t needed at the moment. Ravi and Warin are giving some of the other delegates a tour of the castle.”
A low snort escaped Tori, and he smiled. “I can’t believe you allowed Ravi to give the tour.”
“Not alone. Never. Warin is leading the tour, but I’m sure Ravi is throwing in some interesting anecdotes as they go. Alric has also arranged for Gunter to pop in and speak with them as they meet with Lisette.”
“And that’s why Alric is the king. Smart man.”
“A very smart man,” Baldewin agreed absently.
Carefully, he reached out and pulled the shears from Tori’s hand, wrapping his free arm around his waist. His hand slipped under Tori’s cotton shirt, fingers skimming lightly across his warm stomach as Tori sucked in a breath.
Lowering his head, Baldewin nuzzled Tori’s hair, breathing in the sweet scent of berries from the shampoo he’d used.
“What are you doing?” Tori’s voice came out rough and low.
He stood frozen. Baldewin moved slowly, giving Tori ample opportunity to step away from him, to pull away from his touch, but he didn’t move.
Baldewin paused, leaving the decision in Tori’s hands.
The mage shifted slightly, pushing into his hand, and Baldewin nearly growled with pleasure. His mate wanted him, wanted his touch.
Dipping his lips to the shell of Tori’s ear, Baldewin lightly kissed him and then whispered, “I thought it would be obvious that I’m seducing you.”
“No, that’s pretty damn clear,” Tori replied with a shaky laugh. “But we’re in the greenhouse.”
Baldewin hummed. “Yes, we’re alone in the greenhouse.” Sliding his hand down from Tori’s stomach, he cupped the erection starting to strain against the front of Tori’s jeans. A strangled noise escaped Tori’s throat as he punched his hips forward, seeking Baldewin’s firm touch.
“But…but…anyone could walk in.”
“That’s part of the fun. Were you expecting anyone to come help you?”
“No,” Tori whimpered as Baldewin’s thumb circled the head of his dick. Need pumped through Baldewin’s veins. His own cock was throbbing and demanding more attention with every breathless pant and shiver from Tori, but he wanted his lover’s pleasure more than his own.
“Then we should be fine. You’ll just have to be careful about how loud you are. Don’t want anyone to hear you and come investigate.”
“But…”
Baldewin stopped. He would never force Tori into doing something he wasn’t comfortable with.
He just wanted the mage to laugh and have more adventures in life.
He nuzzled his neck again before placing a gentle kiss to the rapidly beating pulse point behind his ear.
“Do you want me to stop? I will never ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. ”
“No,” Tori said, the word coming out as an almost pained whine.
“Would you rather I toss you over my shoulder and carry you back to my room?”
The noise that escaped this time was definitely a whimper, but it was neither a yes nor a no.
“Or would you rather I get on my knees and suck your cock until you come down my throat?”
A bark of badly twisted Finnish left Tori’s lips before he said, “Yes. That. I want that.” He thrust his hips forward, pressing his hard cock into Baldewin’s hand, seeming to seek even more friction and relief.
Grinning, Baldewin wrapped his arms around Tori and dragged him farther down the aisle. The mage leaned all his weight into Baldewin, as if his legs could no longer hold him up. Baldewin loved it, loved the absolute trust Tori put in him, whether the man realized it or not.
When he reached a sturdy-looking table, he shoved back a few of the potted plants and pressed Tori onto it so it at least partially supported his weight. Baldewin dropped to his knees, ignoring the hard bite of the stone floor. It was nothing compared to the ache in his dick.
But none of that pain mattered. There was only Tori’s desperate pants from his parted lips and the pupils blown wide and black with desire as he stared down at Baldewin.
Attacking Tori’s jeans, Baldewin quickly got them open and pulled both his jeans and briefs down to free Tori’s beautiful cock.
The dark red head already glistened with pre-cum, and Tori whimpered again.
Part of Baldewin wanted to go slow, to savor every little bit of Tori while he could.
But they were in a public place within the castle, and it would be only too easy for someone to wander in.
He didn’t want to risk embarrassing Tori and ruining this experience for him.
Faster was definitely better. Savoring was for when they were alone in either of their rooms.
Though, he couldn’t deny himself one long lick. He ran the flat of his tongue along Tori’s cock from the root to the head. Above him, Tori swore loudly, and one hand landed on Baldewin’s shoulder, digging into his muscles.
Baldewin chuckled softly, allowing his hot breath to gust across the damp flesh. “Quiet, remember. Don’t want someone to rush in here to check on you.”
Tori laughed, but the sound came out strained. “You’re an evil bastard.” Still smiling, Baldewin licked one of Tori’s balls, earning a sharp hiss. “Baldewin! Stop playing around.”
“What do you want, my sexy mage?”
“Suck it. Suck my dick, now.”