Thanks to hours spent relaxing, I woke up the next morning bright eyed and excited. I was finally going to be married toUttin, and no one would get between us again. I was bouncing as I dressed in the traditional wedding robe laid out for me, and Samira kept laughing at the staff’s attempts to settle me with snacks and drinks.
It wasn’t until I was walking down the aisle that I finally settled. Uttin waited for me in wedding attire my family must have provided for him. I knew there were parts of his culture that would be part of the ceremony, but I would bet he chose the clothes to make me happy. And he looked quite handsome in them too.
There was another long speech but it was hard to feel annoyed while looking into Uttin’s eyes. He looked at me affectionately, squeezing my hands where we held them in front of us, keeping my attention on him and not on the priest or anyone else in the room.
I was so distracted by him, I barely noticed when the wreath of flowers was placed around our shoulders together. I only moved when Uttin led me, and I kept my eyes on him until he flashed me an expression of amusement, tipping his head toward the crowded room. I wrinkled my nose, having no interest in anyone in that room other than him, but grudgingly turned forward, letting my gaze drift over the people I considered family in the room. My blood family, parents and siblings and their spouses, and the family I made during my journey. Simon, now my closest friend, wiggled his fingers, leaning against his bondmate as he listened to the priest’s speech. The other male bondmates, who’d accepted me into their group even before I was truly claimed. And the barbarians who protected me even against an army.
I’d thought when Hameed betrayed me that I’d lost everything dear to me. Instead, I got more than I would have ever thought to hope for. All thanks to the barbarian beside me. My protector. My bondmate. The fates had heard my pleasand sent me the perfect person to be by my side. I couldn’t be happier.
UTTIN
After the ceremony set up by the king and queen, Orthorr followed up with the familiar speech of unity he typically gave during bonding ceremonies. I gifted Zakai a pendant of gold I’d made myself with instruction from a blacksmith who worked for the royal family. I wanted Zakai adorned as the other bondmates were, but wood or clay didn’t feel quite right to me. Zakai beamed at the trinket, pleased, and I felt my heart settle a little. I worried he’d be harder to please after his upbringing, but he seemed happy to accept whatever I gave him.
After the warrior’s chant bringing Zakai into our clan, we were led to a table for the newly wedded couple where food was laid out and we could be greeted both by my clan and by Zakai’s people, most of whom he told me were part of the court and not his biggest fans. They put on polite smiles, though, and seemed to know better than to say anything rude in my presence.
The party thrown by the people of Al Nuzem was tame in comparison to a true bonding ceremony, and Orthorr had instructed the clan to be on their best behavior while in the palace. I felt the need to throw Zakai a proper party once we left his family home. He enjoyed having fun, and I agreed with him that the droning speeches of the priests had been exhausting.
We were allowed to slip away after a few hours, and Zakai was the first to bound to his feet when his parents said we could. There were catcalls and cheers from my clan as we left, but Zakaijust winked at them and gave them a thumbs up before dragging me out of the room.
When we reached our rooms, he groaned, flopping face first onto the bed. Chuckling, I shrugged out of the robes given to me by the staff and kicked off my boots. Zakai pretended he wasn’t watching, but I could see him peek out and the way he squirmed on the bed told me what he needed from me.
After my clothes were removed, I set to removing Zakai’s. Like the brat he was, he did very little to help me. He enjoyed me manhandling him too much to help. He laughed out loud when I flipped him onto his back so I could better reach the fastening, clawing to keep himself where he was when pulling off his legwear dragged him down the bed. Seeing the joy on his face, the excitement in his eyes for what was to come, warmed me, and I attempted to taste that joy with my lips on his, dropping my weight on top of him and pinning him beneath me.
Zakai let out a moan, arms thrown around my neck as his tongue tangled with mine. He seemed to enjoy kissing more and more every time we came together. Like he couldn’t get enough. I was happy to provide him with what he needed.
We stayed that way until Zakai grew restless and stretched away from me to grab the oil. I took advantage of this, kissing and sucking along his neck, making him shiver and gasp.
“You evil barbarian,” he growled breathlessly. “I can’t focus when—Ah!”
While he’d been complaining, I slid a hand between us, rubbing over his hole in a teasing caress. My little prince loved to be fucked and even little touches set him off. He bucked his hips, trying to push down against my fingers, but I wouldn’t allow it. Not without the oil, which was held loosely in his hand, his attention on my teasing touches. I took it from him, grinning when he whimpered and planted his feet, lifting his hips to give me better access. Demanding even when he wasn’t using words.
As I pushed a finger inside him, I watched his face, taking in the greedy eagerness as he babbled for more. I took my time, as I always did with him, ignoring his whines and avoiding the key to his pleasure until his bratty nature came out to play.
“Damn it, Uttin! Stop teasing!” he growled, shoving his hips down to take more of my finger. He reached for me, perhaps hoping to pull me closer to get more of what he wanted, but I captured his wrists, pinning them above his head as I slipped another finger inside. His mouth dropped open on a gasp and his eyes clouded over with lust.
“You like when I hold you down, don’t you?” I whispered against his ear, feeling his shiver like we shared it. “You like when I make you accept what I give you.”
He shook his head, his words breathless when he said, “I don’t know why. I’ve never let someone do that to me before. I just like—ungh!” His voice cut off for a moment as I rewarded his words by rubbing against the key to his pleasure. His hips popped up in abortive thrusts, his neck arched as he was forced to feel the pleasure without being able to take it for himself.
“Does there need to be a reason, kolrav? Is it wrong to enjoy when I take you in such a way?”
He bit his lip, some of the lust fading as he opened his eyes to look at me. I removed my fingers, rubbing small circles on his hip instead as I waited for him to share his truth.
“I… I’m still coming to terms with the idea that the man getting fucked isn’t by nature weaker. I never let anyone fuck me before you because I was worried I would be seen that way. Admitting that I also enjoy being pinned down and fucked within an inch of my life doesn’t make accepting that thought any easier.”
Humming, I ran my lips over his neck. A part of me wanted to be annoyed that he was taught to believe such a thing, but I alsodidn’t want to shame him. He was being honest with me; that deserved a reward.
“Thank you for telling me. I promise, it is not that way. And if it bothers you, I can?—”
“No!” he cut me off, his voice startled. When I lifted my head to look at him, he looked embarrassed but also earnest when he said, “I like it. Please fuck me until I can’t see straight. It’s our wedding night, after all.”
The smirk that accompanied his request drew a matching expression from me. I let the conversation go for now, focusing on the needs of my bondmate. I would make sure over the time we were together to reinforce that he was my equal. No one was stronger than the other. For now, I would give him what he asked for, as I always strove to do.
“You want to be fucked until you can’t see, kolrav? I can do this for you.”
He beamed at me, but the smile faded and turned into something more sultry when I flipped him onto his stomach, then his hands and knees. He groaned, wiggling his perfect behind at me in a silent demand. I palmed it, smacking it once just to see his look of shock as he gaped at me over his shoulder.
He yelped when I used my grip on his hips to yank him to the edge of the bed. Standing behind him, I oiled my cock, rubbing the head against his hole until his body contorted with pleasure and his whining pleas became laced with desperation. Only then did I push inside him in one smooth motion.
