Blinking rapidly, I swung around, studying the group. Bhortis blanched when I looked at him, and the rest looked sheepish. All except Tavik, who was focused on Orn, moving his body protectively in front of mine so that Orn would have to go through him to get to me. It reminded me of the day I fell for him, when he hurt Orn for hurting me. Only we were men now, and Orn wasn’t smart enough or strong enough to get the better of either of us.
Orn made a face, giving the group a look of disgust. “This is all an act? How pathetic. Are neither of them man enough to make a claim without such falsities?”
“Go waste air elsewhere,” Tavik snarled. “I will not tell you again.”
“Or what?” Orn sneered again.
“Or you face us both,” I answered, stepping up to Tavik’s side. “Act or not, we are a team. Unless you think you can take us both, walk away.”
He gave us another disdainful look, and I could tell he wanted to argue, but the group we had been fighting before surrounded us, putting him at a severe disadvantage. He was smart enough to recognize when he was outmatched and huffed a scornful laugh before walking away with a, “Not worth my time,” tossed over his shoulder.
After he and his friends left, I turned to Tavik with a frown. “Tavik?”
He hadn’t said anything about Bhortis’s slip or Orn’s accusations, and I was too afraid to ask outright.
With a sigh, Tavik waved away the rest. “I will speak with him.”
They looked annoyed, but not at either of us. They all patted him on the back as they walked away, and I got a few apologetic smiles as they passed me. I shot a confused look at Tavik, who waited until they were gone to speak.
“I’ve wanted to ask you for days. I thought doing this would make you more likely to say yes.”
My heart began to gallop in my chest, and I stared up at him, hope threatening to choke me. “Ask me what?”
Stepping closer until we were toe to toe, he took my free hand, kissing the knuckles. “I would ask that you bond with me, Saneth. You are my other half. You always have been. You said it yourself. We are a team. I wish to stay that way always.”
Never in my life did I think he would ever ask me such a thing. I thought with enough time, I might be the one to convince him. I knew I had loved him longer than he had wanted me. But he was right. We had always been a team, even before my confession. And I never wanted to change that. I didn’t want to change anything about our relationship aside from the intimacy that I’d always craved from him. If we could have both, I would be a fool to stay no.
“Yes.”
I’d spoken quietly, aware that we had an audience, even if they had given us space to speak with each other. It wasn’t that I didn’t wish for them to know. I only wanted to share the moment with my other half first.
“Yes?” he asked, barely banked hope in his expression.
Huffing a laugh, I nodded. “Yes, Tavik. I would love to bond with you.”
Seven
TAVIK
“F-fuuuccckkk,” Saneth groaned, fingers digging into my hips.
After he accepted my claim, we had gone straight to Orthorr for permission to bond. He seemed pleased with the match, admitting he’d always hoped we’d come to realize our connection. Afterward, we’d gone straight back to my tent and sought to claim each other in the best way we knew how until the bonding ceremony was held. I’d given Saneth the win for our faux fight since he’d held his own against Orn, who was not supposed to join, and sat on his cock the moment I was prepped enough to take him.
For a man his size, Saneth was well endowed, and it took a moment for my body to adjust to him. I breathed through it, distracting myself by watching Saneth squirm beneath me. I could tell he was trying to stay still, but the little movements and gasps told me he was struggling to maintain his control. I thoroughly enjoyed the payback for the torment he gave me regularly.
“Please tell me you’re ready,” he panted, squeezing his eyes shut.
Chuckling, I leaned to press kisses along his neck, squeezing my inner muscles just to hear him curse through gritted teeth. “I don’t know. I might need a few more moments.”
And because he was a good man, he would give them to me. He looked pained to do so, but he swallowed hard and nodded, flexing his fingers on my skin to keep himself in check.
Deciding to put him out of his misery, I lifted my hips and sank back down, watching in heated satisfaction as his head flew back and a shout escaped his lips. The feel of him inside me made me groan. I rocked my hips, taking him deep and grinding, gasping as a fire built inside me. Every thrust, every noise Saneth made, fanned the flames until sweat dripped down my skin and my cock throbbed with a need for release.
Saneth’s hands moved to my ass, gripping tightly as he readjusted, planting his feet. I only had a moment to question what he was doing before he thrust upward in such a way that he pegged the key to my pleasure with every movement.
“Saneth!”
He groaned along with me, his expression lax as he focused on bringing me pleasure. Too much pleasure. I felt my balls draw tight and my stomach clench. I wasn’t ready to finish—I was enjoying it too much—but if I didn’t come soon, I would lose my mind.
