Page 110 of The Spellreader and the Phoenix

Max’s face twitched, and Rory rose smoothly to his feet, because that had definitely not been enthusiastic agreement.

“No?” he asked mildly. “Not everyone does, and that’s totally fine.”

Max sighed. “I, uh, might actually like them with you, but my memory of them is mostly of someone ‘trying to get me in the mood’ when I, uh, wasn’t. Or giving one, and mostly, I was just thinking that my jaw was getting sore and when would this be over.”

Ah.

Rory leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to Max’s lips, which he returned.

“That’s the fun thing about a new relationship with someone who isn’t a total jerk: figuring out what the two of you actually like together.”

Max huffed a laugh. “Yeah, okay. Way to sound reasonable about it.”

Rory waggled his eyebrows. “So. You, me, frotting?”

And just like that, Max was smiling again. “Yes. Let’s do that.”

They tumbled into the bed together, Max’s hand still curled around the lube. They wound up with Rory on his back, pressed into the mattress by Max’s delicious weight.

Rory thought that might be all they did tonight, which would be totally fine, but then Max gasped out, “Lube. Can you get me ready?”

“Of course,” Rory said. “If you’re sure.”

Max just nodded. “I’ve always found it awkward, doing it myself. Possibly because I didn’t do it often, and probably because I wasn’t that into it when I was doing it. But with you, all of me feels all fired up.”

Rory nodded. “I’d be delighted. Just tell me if we need to switch to project penguin at any time.”

Max snorted and nodded, his eyes warm and bright. He didn’t look uncomfortable, which made Rory feel a lot better.

“Do you have a preference for position?” Rory asked.

“I definitely want to see you.”

They rearranged so that Max was on his back and Rory was between his thighs. Rory took possession of the magical lube, slicked up his fingers, and proceeded to stretch Max open more carefully than he’d ever stretched anyone open in his life. He made sure to liberally graze his mate’s prostate, which soon had Max squirming and moaning and telling him to get on with it.

Once Rory was sure that Max was adequately prepped, he slicked up his own cock.

“Still good?” he checked.

“Still good,” Max confirmed. “I want you to fill me up. I want to bond with you. I want to be your mate.”

“I want that, too,” Rory breathed, the fiery heat of arousal ramping higher inside him.

He’d never given up hope that he’d find his mate, but as the centuries had passed, it had been harder to stay quite as positive. And yet, here he was. He’d let the Magic tug him where it thought he should go, and there was nowhere Rory would rather be.

He pushed into Max slowly and carefully, cataloguing every expression and body movement. He also kept one hand wrapped around Max’s cock so he could slowly stroke him and remind Max of the fun bits. One of Max’s legs was hooked around him, and Rory was clasping the other, connecting them.

But Max’s gaze never left Rory’s, his expression wide and open and vulnerable as they came together. His eyelids fluttered as Rory settled fully inside him.

“You’re so hot,” Max breathed.

Rory could only grin. “Thank you.” He sobered a little. “Remember to tell me if anything doesn’t feel good. I don’t mind stopping no matter what.”

Max nodded. “I feel hot and full and turned on and happier than I can ever remember being.”

Rory felt tears sting his eyes. “Me, too.” He sniffed. “Still want to bond?”

“So much.”