“Are you ready to consummate our marriage?” He reclined. “I know it is a hardship, but we really must do our duty.” He slid a hand down the centre of his chest and towards his quickly filling cock. “For peace.”
He stroked himself and moaned.
Gerard stood in the middle of the room, watching Elias. His gaze fixed on the motion of Elias’s hand jerking his length.
“Well, if it is for peace, then we must,” Gerard said, voice husky. He tugged off his coat.
Elias crawled back until he lay in the middle of the bed. Gerard turned away and hung his coat over the back of a chair. He removed his boots and trousers. Then his fingers reached for the ties of his tunic. He hesitated.
Elias didn’t speak. That first day they’d been together, at the Tournament of Dragons in Gerard’s tent, Elias couldsense Gerard had not wanted Elias to see the scars on his torso. Since then, Gerard’s chest had always remained covered in front of Elias. Elias hadn’t commented or pushed.
After a moment, Gerard tugged at the ties. He took a deep breath and removed his tunic.
In the dim light of the candles, Elias could see that the lightning scars covered a large part of his chest and travelled over his shoulders and half his stomach.
But just like the scars on Gerard’s face, Elias did not find them unappealing. Not at all. Elias licked his lips as his cock throbbed in his hand.
Gerard strode towards the bed, gaze not meeting Elias’s. Elias reached for him. Gripping his arms, he pulled Gerard down on the bed beside him.
Gerard’s breath came fast.
Elias cupped his cheek. “You’re beautiful. You’re so fucking magnificent.” And before Gerard had time to respond, Elias kissed him, hard and firm.
When the kiss broke, Elias asked, “Is it okay if they are touched? Or would you prefer I avoid doing that?” Honestly it would be difficult for Elias to avoid touching them. But if Gerard did not wish for Elias to touch the scars, then he wouldn’t.
He wanted Gerard comfortable more than anything else.
Gerard swallowed. “It’s fine. But you should know they feel like … well …” He trailed off.
“Like scars?”
Gerard nodded.
Elias kissed him again. This time, he swept his hands over Gerard’s shoulders. Not seeking out the scars but not avoiding them either. He just wanted to touch Gerard, hishusband, the dragon warrior, the man who had almost killed him and who he’d almost killed.
At first, Gerard tensed, but as they continued to kiss, his muscles relaxed beneath Elias’s hands and his lips softened against Elias’s. Their tongues entwined.
Elias’s chest tightened. Gerard had let down his guard with Elias.
And yet Elias still kept his lies. He wished, not for the first time, that he could tell Gerard his truths. But he knew he could not.
It was just that Gerard was so strong and straightforward. He made Elias feel safe. And Elias hadn’t felt safe with anyone in … Well, not since his mother. He wondered what it would be like to tear down the walls between them. To be honest and be his complete true self for once.
Their naked bodies pressed together. Gerard’s hard cock rubbed against Elias’s thigh. Gerard gripped his arse and squeezed. Elias groaned.
Despite the fact they were both completely naked, wrapped up in each other, Elias could feel the lies between them.
But he did not wish to think of that anymore. Not tonight.
Elias rolled Gerard onto his back. He leaned over him. His hair hung down around them like a silken white curtain blocking them off from the rest of the world.
“So do you want to see what my magic can do?” Elias had held back the sparkles with Gerard. He’d been uncertain about using his magic on the man he’d almost killed with it.
But he’d been denying Gerard. And he didn’t want to deny him anymore.
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
