Page 71 of Blades and Bone

“I think the word you want is vanilla. Since I’ve already had my fun and made you squirm with need, I will give you what you want.” He pressed into him, slowly, enjoying the way Hamish’s body responded, opening so easily and taking him deep.

Hamish’s lips parted as his eyes closed, as if even this was enough and there was nothing more he wanted. And in that moment, the only thing Brodie wanted was to see him become lost in pleasure. He thrust slowly, as Hamish’s heartbeat quickened, and his breaths became shorter as he got closer. This time Brodie didn’t stop him from tipping over and coming. Spilling over his own stomach and chest. Brodie kissed him, taking the moan from his lips, and cutting his tongue on Hamish’s fangs in the process. Hamish sucked on his tongue as if tasting the blood and wanting more.

Brodie turned his head, offering, wanting to feel Hamish’s fangs sink into him as he came. For a couple of heartbeats, he wasn’t sure Hamish would; then he moved, and the tentative flicker of a tongue danced over his skin.

Now. He wanted it now.

Did Hamish hear it in his pulse?

Did he know how to listen to a lover’s heartbeat and hear the secrets they didn’t speak aloud?

Hamish wrapped his legs around Brodie’s hips and threaded his fingers through his hair, holding him in place as he bit.

Brodie groaned as he came, still fucking, drawing out every sensation. It was only when he stopped moving that Hamish licked and kissed the bite better.

“Why do you do it?” Hamish asked. “All the games and…it’s not torture…extreme teasing?” Hamish’s breath ghosted over his neck.

Brodie didn’t lift his head. He didn’t want to move at all right now. “I like making people enjoy themselves.”

“Even if it doesn’t get returned?”

He propped his head up on his hand. “It is…just because I’m not the one gasping or begging in pleasure doesn’t mean I am not enjoying it.”

Hamish’s fingers moved against his scalp. He pressed another kiss to the bite. “That wasn’t quite normal.”

“It wasn’t for humans…but it’s normal for vampires. Perhaps you’re still holding onto what was normal for you before instead of figuring out who you are now.”

“And what if I don’t like who I’ve become?”

“You’re an Ashby now, so I guess you get to start over again.”

Hamish nodded. “I don’t want to do family jobs.”

“You won’t have to.”

“The current situation says otherwise.”

“The current situation is something the Reids need to deal with. As part of the treaty, they can operate freely in our territory to deal with Orlan-related issues. Okay?” He smoothed a thumb over Hamish’s cheek.

“Yeah. Thank you for not abandoning me.”

“I’m not going to do that.” He kissed him. “But I am going to move and grab my towel off the floor so I can clean you up and try to get a couple hours of sleep.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

It was Brodie’s phone going off that woke Hamish. It felt as though he’d hardly slept, and he hadn’t, between his inability to get to sleep and stay asleep, the attack, and everything that had followed. He’d be lucky to scrape together a few hours.

Brodie answered, sounding much more put together than Hamish could’ve managed while still lying in bed. He was fine once he got moving…it was the getting moving part that was the problem.

He scrubbed his hand over his face and eavesdropped on the conversation. It was Garrick from the sound of his voice. It bugged him that Garrick was calling Brodie, not him, but then they were counterparts, so maybe it was technically correct. He had no doubt that Garrick had slept less than he had last night. Which meant he would be even more clipped than usual.

From what he could hear, last night had been a whole lot of nothing. No other attacks, and no Felix. Brodie confirmed that there had been nothing else at their end and that he hadn’t heard from Vivian either.

“Have you located Lara yet?” Brodie glanced at him, as if noticing that he was awake for the first time.

“Haven’t had a chance. Take Hamish and go to lunch with Vivian. Ann has already spoken to her. We have extra people coming over. They should arrive tonight, but they won’t be staying here. They will head straight into unaffiliated areas,” Garrick said as if reading off a list.

“Right, is there anything else you want me to do?”