“Touch yourself,” he pleaded. “Let me feel you come.”
A harsh moan escaped me, and I reached for my cock, tightening around him with the first stroke. Watching Saneth arch and gasp beneath me only added to my pleasure until I was blind to anything but the feel of him inside me.
His hand slid up my chest, curling around the back of my neck, and he drew me down for a kiss, changing the position enough to hit that perfect place inside me again. I couldn’t holdback any longer and came with a gasp, spilling over my fist and onto his stomach. As my body tightened around his, I drew his bottom lip into my mouth, biting down just enough to add to his pleasure. His eyes crossed, and he came with a cry, using my body to ride out the waves of his release.
Collapsing beside him, I fought for breath, one hand still planted on his chest to keep our connection. He covered it with his own, rolling his head to look at me with wide eyes.
“That was…”
I nodded, still gasping. “Even better than before.”
“Do you think… something changed… because you claimed me?” he asked breathlessly.
Humming, I forced my body to cooperate long enough to lean over him and press a kiss to his lips. “I know it did. No one can get between us now. Once that ceremony is through, you’ll be mine forever.”
His face softened and he pulled me down for another kiss before admitting against my lips, “I’ve always been yours. You were just too blind to notice.”
Snorting, I nipped at his chin. “Well, I’ve noticed now. And I’m never letting you go.”
He melted at my words, admitting, “I never dared to hope… I would have been happy to be by your side as your friend. Having you like this was a dream I didn’t think would ever come true.”
Humming, I kissed him softly, murmuring against his lips, “Next time, don’t doubt that I want you. Always.”
He chuckled, his cheeks turning a light shade of pink. “You are such a sap.”
SANETH
Our bonding ceremony was set for after our parents arrived. They had always been friends, and both mothers made noises about having known for years we would end up together. I had to ask them to stop because every time they mentioned it, Tavik looked upset. He’d admitted to me that he hated himself for not realizing how he felt about me sooner. It took a lot of reassurance from me for him to let that go. I didn’t care anymore about how long. That time was spent together and that was all that mattered to me.
“If you two aren’t careful, you’ll be too drunk to celebrate your bonding tonight,” Patrick pointed out with an amused look on his face.
We’d done our greetings to the clan as a bonded couple and finally joined our friends around the fire to enjoy a meal. Tavik had given me that look after our first cup of ale, the one that said he was going to outdrink me or pass out trying. I could never back down from a challenge when it came to him.
Tavik waved away his concern, swaying a little on the pillow next to mine. “Saneth and I have been drinking together since we were old enough to sneak ale from our fathers’ cups. We can handle ourselves. Besides, nothing will come between me and the fuck I was promised tonight.”
I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat burning in my cheeks. My bondmate said whatever was in his head without thinking of the consequences. Or looking around to see who would overhear him.
A whack to the back of his head made him flinch and duck as his mother glowered at him. I snorted out a laugh, leaning my shoulder against Patrick’s in an attempt to remain upright.
“Ouch! Why must my loved ones hurt me so?” he whined.
“Perhaps because you are acting like a fool,” his mother hissed. “No more ale for you.”
“Ha!” I pointed at him with the hand holding my ale, spilling a little on myself in the process. “You can’t keep drinking. I win!”
Tavik’s eyes narrowed, but his gaze shifted to Finn, and they shared a look I didn’t understand. When Tavik’s expression shifted, his lip stuck out as he looked at me through his lashes, my jaw dropped. How the hell did he learn to be so cute?
Rath, who sat with his bondmate in his lap, snorted, poking Finn in the side. “You taught him that look, didn’t you?”
Finn ducked his head, his already pink cheeks from the ale he had been sharing with Rath turning a darker shade of red as he tried to hide his smile.
“Cheat!” I shouted, pointing at my bondmate. “You are cheating with that look! Everyone will agree with me!”
To my surprise, the brothers who were bonded all shook their heads. I gave them all an incredulous look until Verus explained, “He’s your bondmate. It’s his prerogative to be too cute to argue with. You can do the same to him. I know I do.” He batted his lashes at Patrick who snickered and bumped their shoulders playfully.
My father, who sat in his own social circle behind us, must have been listening because he clapped my shoulder, squeezing affectionately. “You have a lot to learn, my son. Tavik may have been your friend, but you are bonded now. Bondmates have magic powers. Everyone who has bonded knows this.”
There were a lot of sage nods that made me wonder if they weren’t kidding. Was it truly possible bondmates gained magic after the ceremony?
