Graham did everything he could to make Emory as comfortable as possible with his prep.He knew how important this was to Emory after everything that had happened with Carlyle, and he wanted to erase those memories.He never wanted Emory to think about Carlyle again, and while he knew that was impossible, maybe he could give him better memories to think about when he did.
When he pressed the head of his cock against Emory’s entrance, he paused to meet Emory’s gaze.Emory hooked his legs around Graham’s waist and pulled him forward, clearly impatient.
The initial pressure was intense, and when Emory gasped, Graham froze.“Okay?”
“Yes,” Emory hissed.“Don’t stop.Please.”
Graham pushed forward slowly.The heat was unbelievable.Emory’s body welcomed him, but he still moved slowly, and once he was fully in, they both went still for a moment.Graham was overwhelmed by all of it, but he’d also never wanted anything more.
He began to move.
He started with shallow thrusts, just in case, but Emory didn’t say anything to stop him.The slide was smooth, aided by the lube, but the friction was still there, a delicious, building burn.Emory’s eyes were shut tight, his head pressed back, and he was babbling.
He was beautiful.
Graham leaned down to kiss him as he drove into him deeper, finding a rhythm that made Emory’s whole body shudder.Graham could feel the tight heat around him with every thrust, the way Emory’s body welcomed him and pulled him in deeper.He pressed one hand next to Emory’s head, while he gripped Emory’s hip with the other, hard enough to leave bruises.
Emory was Graham’s whole world right now, something Graham could never have hoped for a few months ago.He hoped it never changed.He was willing to cherish Emory for the rest of his life, and he hoped Emory would want that.
He reached between them, wrapping his hand around Emory’s cock.Emory shouted, his hips jerking off the bed.“Fuck, Graham!”
That was all it took.The way Emory’s body tightened around Graham was like a fist, coupled with the spill of him coming all over Graham’s hand, sent Graham over the edge.He lost all rhythm and buried himself to the hilt as his own orgasm ripped through him.He came inside Emory, Emory’s name on his lips.
Graham collapsed forward, catching his weight on his elbows, and pressed his forehead against Emory’s shoulder.They were both sweaty and panting, but the intimacy was everything Graham dreamed of.For a long time, the only sound was their heavy breathing as they both calmed down.
They couldn’t stay like this forever.Graham carefully pulled out and rolled onto his side, taking Emory with him, unwilling to break the contact.He dragged the blanket over their bodies, and Emory immediately curled against him.
They lay tangled under the covers, Emory’s head on Graham’s chest and Graham’s fingers trailing patterns along Emory’s shoulder.The castle was quiet around them, but Graham could hear the distant sound of the lake outside.
“Thank you,” Emory murmured.
“For what?”
“For staying.For coming back.For being patient with me.”
Graham pushed back a strand of dark hair from Emory’s forehead.“You’re worth the patience.You’re worth everything.”Maybe it was too soon, but Graham was sure of that.
Emory pressed a kiss to Graham’s collarbone.“Stay,” he whispered.“Not just tonight.Stay.”
Graham’s throat felt tight.He knew what Emory was asking.“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised.“You’re stuck with me now.”
He felt Emory smile against his skin.“Good,” Emory murmured, sounding half-asleep.“That’s good.”
Graham lay awake a while longer, listening to Emory’s breathing as he slipped into sleep.For the first time in years—maybe for the first time ever—Graham felt like he was where he was supposed to be.He pressed a kiss to the top of Emory’s head and let himself relax into the moment.
Tomorrow, they’d figure out what this meant, how to be together in a castle full of powerful mages and dragon shifters—some of whom hated Graham.But tonight, Graham let himself simply be happy.
Epilogue
––––––––
“HOW ABOUT EGYPT?”GRAHAMasked.“I’ve always wanted to see the pyramids.”
“See as in go inside of them?”Emory asked, sounding less than enthusiastic about that.
Graham didn’t let it dampen his enthusiasm.“You can wait outside if you don’t want to come in.”
“You think I’d let you go anywhere inside apyramidwithout me?”