“We were resting, sir,” Ryland said.
“He has his own bed.”The words were very controlled.
Ryland lifted his head.For a moment, he moved as if to look over Arslan’s shoulder at him.
Arslan stopped him short.“He’s fine.”It was said with perfect confidence and without ever turning around to glance at him.Marrick had the distinct feeling that was because Arslan had been very careful to aim him at the sofa when he threw him, very gently all things considered, out of his bed.It wasn’t just Arslan’s words that were intensely controlled.
Ryland stared up into Arslan’s eyes, without any sign of hesitation or fear.“Once a man gets used to sharing his bed with lions, sleeping alone isn’t easy—especially if things aren’t settled between him and his mates.”
Arslan stared down at Ryland for a few seconds.“You’re good to look after the others in your pride, but there are better ways to do that, pet.”
Ryland nodded his acceptance of the gentle little correction.There was just a flash of something in his eyes, perhaps a trace of doubt over if he had displeased his master.
Arslan dipped his head and pressed a kiss against Ryland’s lips.When he pulled back again, Ryland smiled up at him, obviously at ease with the whole world once more.
Finally, Arslan turned to Marrick.
“I should be getting back to my room,” Marrick suggested.
Arslan dismissed the suggestion with a shake of the head.“No.Go downstairs—to the meeting room.”For all he annoyed the hell out of Marrick, he had the same way about him that some of the truly magnificent older doms in the local clubs had.Completely confident in his ability to control of the whole world and entirely sure that everyone around him would do as he said—and probably right on both counts.
“Blaine and Luther—”
“They’re already here.They’ve been looking for you,” Arslan said.
There didn’t seem to be any point in arguing about it.Marrick walked out of the room and down the stairs.
The room was empty, for now at least.The door soon swung open, but again, it was Ryland who stepped in, not Luther and Blaine.
“Are you in trouble?”Marrick asked, cautiously.
Ryland shook his head, but he didn’t have time to utter a sound.
Luther and Blaine burst into the room, travelling at full speed.They each stopped barely an inch away from him.
“You came back.”
Marrick looked up, relishing both the sight of them and the way something had started to settle inside his soul the moment they appeared.“You were right.I shouldn’t have left like that.”
Blaine reached out.His hand came to rest very gently on Marrick’s cheek.Without even thinking about it, Marrick turned his face into Blaine’s palm.That seemed to be the cue they’d been waiting for.No longer halting an inch away, they surrounded him completely, barely giving him room to breathe.
For the first time since they’d walked out of his house, he felt entirely at peace inside his own skin.Closing his eyes, he rested his temple on Blaine’s shoulder, arching his spine against Luther’s hand as he stroked his back.
Blaine touched Marrick’s cheek again, guiding him to offer his mouth up to be kissed.Marrick let their lips meet.He let Blaine turn his head so Luther could kiss him, too.
All Marrick wanted right then was for the three of them to go up to their room, screw themselves senseless and sleep for a lifetime, and he was pretty sure that idea would be a very easy sell to both the lions.
“It’s not that simple.”
Marrick looked over Blaine’s shoulder.Arslan had appeared in the doorway.
“What?”Blaine demanded.
“It’s not that simple,” Arslan repeated.“Keeping a man, human or feline, happy for as long as it takes to have sex with him is easy.But, if you don’t address what that drove you apart in the first place, he won’t remain here for long.”
Marrick felt Luther and Blaine tense.
“There can be no question of you making him any sort of official offer until you can prove you can take care of him.”
