“Okay, now I know you’re teasing me.” Rick could feel his cheeks heat as he grinned. “And don’t get me wrong. I hear that you love your family. But I feel your family will have to learn that you are now building a family of your own, with or without children.
“You and I are still a family, and the way we live our lives and the dynamic between us is entirely up to us. And if you don’t want to babysit on a Friday night or have kids for the weekend or whatever else, then you don’t have to.
“You are not a babysitting service. You are probably a much-loved uncle. There’s a big difference, and maybe your family needs to understand that.”
“I missed you so much today,” Ian admitted.
“I missed you, too.”
“I kept thinking about you, even though I needed to focus on work. I know we’re both independent men, we both work for a living, but the distance between us felt too far away. Does that make me clingy? Do you think I’m weak?”
“I don’t see wanting to be with a mate as being weak at all, and if that was the case, then you’d better add me to the weak list,” Rick said firmly. “I didn’t want to drop you off this morning, and all dayI was mentally rearranging Ernest’s house so you could come and work there. And then I felt bad because I’ve got no right to assume that you’d want to give up your apartment and move into my den, and then spend your days working in one of Ernest’s spare rooms. I knew, respecting you as an equal and my mate, that I needed to talk to you before I just went ahead and made decisions like that for you.”
“We’re a bit ridiculous, aren’t we?” Ian said with a chuckle. “We could just as easily have talked to each other about this over the weekend, and saved ourselves a day of worry.”
“Agreed,” Rick said, noticing Ian hadn’t said no to moving into his den and working at Ernest’s house. “But I’m not going to regret the three days we spent using our mouths for other things. Are you?”
“You know I’m not.” Ian tilted up his head for a kiss, something Rick was pleased to give him. Bothersome families and expectations were tomorrow’s problem. For now, he needed to work on making his mate feel a lot more relaxed. It was his responsibility as a mate.
Chapter Twelve
Ian
The kiss became heated quickly, and his mate’s scent reassured Ian that his pathetic whining hadn’t put Rick off.
He was kissing Ian with so much pent-up desire that Ian was ready to combust into flames. Die the most pleasurable of deaths.
A deep groan rumbled through Rick, ramping up Ian’s need as he swallowed the sound, feeling it vibrate through him, making his blood sing. When Rick changed the angle and huge hands scooped Ian up like he was half the size, his cock, which had taken a big interest, went from hard to a steel rigid pipe, tearing through the seams of his work slacks zipper.
Ian moaned, part from embarrassment—okay, a very tiny part—wrapped his legs around the surprisingly lean hips, feet hooking together, his fingers threading into the silky strands to cling on.
The noises Rick made as he tugged on his hair added fuel to the desire, and he rocked his hard length against Rick’s.
“Fuck, I wanted to play with your toys,” he gasped, his mouth trailing down Ian’s throat, teeth nipping and teasing the flesh. Eachcaress, sending his body into a tailspin of want. “I don’t think I can wait.”
“We have a… argh… there… fuck yeah.” Ian couldn’t finish the thought, the ability to speak just seemed impossible with his mate squeezing his ass, moving him effortlessly against him so their arousals were like two battling swords fighting for dominance. Only Ian didn’t want control, far from it.
“You smell so fucking good.” Sharp teeth tugged at his bite mark, and Ian’s cock soaked the front of his boxer briefs and Rick’s shirt.
He whimpered when Rick bit a little harder. “Need more,” he moaned breathlessly, his fingernails digging into Rick’s scalp, unsure how to get naked and get what he wanted, Rick’s cock where it belonged.
“I love it when you beg,” he growled sexily, eyes filled with dark desire met Ian’s, and he shuddered violently. “I’m going to give it to you. I’m going to give you everything.”
Oh, my heart.
Before he could catch his breath, Rick was striding through his home, and all Ian could do was hang on. He kissed a path along Rick’s jaw, wanting to give as good as he got. The stubble, rough against his lips, reminded him of how delicious it was against his ass when Rick…
I can eat that gorgeous ass and make you moan. Is that what you want first?
Reading his thoughts definitely had benefits.Please… anything… I want all of you.
You have me, always.
It was such a romantic thing to say, Ian felt his heart swell in his chest, and his breath catch in his throat as he met his mate’s gaze. Gods, he was so fucking gorgeous.How did I getso lucky?
We are both lucky.
A wicked glint—one Ian was coming to know well—made it hard to swallow. Rick looked like he wanted to eat him whole.
