Mads swore as his body writhed, entire body wrenching tight, shuddering. “Spirits! Fuck! Mar—Marquis!”
Marquis sucked and held Mads tight, humming as the omega came, his entire body jerking in time with his heartbeat as sweet pulses caressed his tongue. Since the Mads he knew could get overstimulated easily, Marquis relented, pulling away with a soft lap of his tongue to clean the last of the cum away.
Mads went familiarly limp, and Marquis counted the exact three and a half seconds he waited before giving a single, shuddering sigh. And after, he opened his mouth, always wanting to say something that he never did. Perhaps a thanks or a praise.
“Should we leave it at this for the night? I did bring Tolstoy and some pastries with me?” Marquis chuckled, but Mads opened a single, dark eye with a terse expression dominating his face.
“Why do you tempt me so? Can we still have pastries and Tolstoy after we fuck?” Mads pouted.
Marquis chuckled and drew his body up and over Mads’s and leaned into his ear to whisper their favorite quote fromWar and Peace—a book they’d never managed to finish. “‘All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.’”
“I’m not ready forWar and Peace.” Mads groaned. He always said he had this horrid feeling that the day they finished that book would be the day they were no more. The unfinished chapters time they had remaining.
“Good thing I broughtThe Cossacks.” Marquis nuzzled around the shell of his ear.
“Ravage me and feed me.” Mads sighed contentedly as Marquis drew his hand between Mads’s legs and slid a finger between his slick cheeks to circle his mate’s bud. The soft, pliant hole nearly welcomed him in with a drink and slippers. The familiar warmth and slickness were home to his body, and, perhaps too soon, Marquis moved to a second finger, rocking thedigits in and out to search for his spot. He knew he’d hit it when Mads jerked stiffly and whimpered, cock perking back to life.
“Gladly.” Marquis slid his fingers out before sliding them easily along Mads’s crease. As he drew his fingers away, glistening with slick, he made a fluid gesture to spread it over his cock for a single stroke. And in a breath’s time, he went from celibacy to fulfillment, sheathing his cock where it belonged the most.
Heaven.
Marquis hadn’t known such pleasure since he’d had Mads last. He believed Mads had been pregnant with Rexford the last time they’d hadmaritals, as it were. The world stood still, a dozen beats of his heart thudding away before he was able to move. Mads threw his head back, neck a beautiful and exposed canvas as his throat bobbed. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered in a broken rasp. “Thank you.”
There was noyou’re welcome. There was no response to give, save for another thrust. Another strike of his hips, the gentle percussion of flesh to flesh gaining a satisfying pace.
Mads spread his legs wider and threw his head back, hands scrabbling for purchase. He never did learn what to do with them when in the throes of passion. Didn’t even tug his own cock, despite Marquis encouraging him to do so. It was as if Mads never felt entitled to the pleasure. It saddened Marquis to see that hadn’t changed. So, Marquis did it for him, balancing himself on one arm and his knees, thrusting to the tune of firm strokes to Mads’s cock. The clear stings of precum dripping onto his pale belly made Marquis’s cock kick. He wanted to hold himself back, to keep the pleasure rolling, but his magic had other plans, rising to the surface of his skin. The two of them had barely exchanged magic save for teasing touches since they’d come together once more. In that moment, magic wanted Mads as much as Marquis did.
“In the eyes of the spirits, we come together, a mage and his mate, alpha and omega. What is mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine. May our unconsummated bond solidify. May we love. May we prosper.” Marquis tensed as his entire body sparked as if electricity lived beneath his skin. Marquis couldn’t help himself as he grabbed for Mads’s hands. They twined their fingers, and Marquis pressed Mads’s hands above his head, squeezing tight. Magic flowed. It flowed and didn’t stop. It replenished Mads and filled the well of him, echoing from the walls of his aura to bounce back and fuel Marquis to greater heights.
“What’s mine is yours, and I will give more than I take. I will—” Mads choked, body bowing. Magic brightened his eyes, glowing in his irises. They always looked black, but Marquis knew better. They were blue. They were so dark of a blue, it was nearly indistinguishable from black, but when the light set in, stormy skies and midnight stars made him appear more alive than he ever had. “I—I will…”
Marquis cut his moan off in his throat to hear Mads’s proclamation. He gritted his teeth and teetered on the edge as cum shot up Mads’s belly. He cried out with a whimper. “I will live for you alone.”
As Mads’s insides pulsed, Marquis let himself fall, his orgasm crashing down like cold summer rain, a wash of relief that had him tangling arms with Mads to roll onto their sides, locked in embrace. They laughed, because that’s what you did after sex. The noises were always funny, the pleasure of hormones and brain chemicals gone wild. Utter relief.
“I feel like I’ve been holding that in since—” Mads sighed. “You know.”
“I’m not so sure. You tasted sweet, and I know when you’re pent up, it changes your flavor.” Marquis kissed the tip of Mads’s nose.
“Emotionally. I’ve been regularly self-abusing thinking about you and going wild for weeks.” Mads laughed. “My heat shouldn’t be that far off, so we may want to part ways for a little while. When we get back, that is.”
Marquis remembered what the doctor had said. “Is that what you wish?”
Mads scoffed. “I have dreamed of being in your bed for a heat for decades.”
“Why not, then?” Marquis didn’t press the issue.
“I dunno. It feels like… What if I get pregnant? Won’t Rex think I replaced him?” Mads sniffed anxiously and buried his forehead in Marquis’s neck.
“You have a grandson to shower love upon. He’ll see that love and know what you wanted to give him. If you want to spend your heat with me, say so. And I will ensure we have Rexford’s blessing.” Marquis knew Rexford would be okay with it. Jealousy would thrive, but Marquis’s son was anything if not practical.
“On one condition.” Mads sighed, and Marquis hummed in acknowledgement. “No more stuffy names.”
Marquis laughed. “Recruit Rexford for help in finding one.”
“Hell no. He named his child Caspian. He’s as stuffy as you. He calls the boyCaspian! Not Cas, not Casper, nothing. Caspian. He’s you made over.” Mads laughed, and the sound was the sweetest thing Marquis had ever heard.
“Deal.”
