Julian excused himself and left. Damien sat behind Caster’s desk and leaned back, a fraction of the tension he didn’t try to hide dissipating with his exhale. “Why would he do this?”
“It doesn’t make sense. It can’t be just about the treaty…” Caster longed to sit, but his energy was all over the place, torn between his family and Mark.
“And Bas…” Damien’s heavy sigh increased the tension in the room. “You know he just wants Father’s approval.”
Other than their identical looks, their fathers also shared an imposing character. Unlike his brother, Uncle Lucien used his to manipulate his children for his own sinister purposes. “We’ll do everything we can to save him.”
“You think the wolves will just let it go?” Damien scoffed and then shook his head. “Not after what he did to the Prime Alpha’s brother.”
“We’ll convince them it’s in their best interest.”
They both chuckled. “Goddess, this is so fucked up.”
He had no idea.
Damien stood. “I need to eat. I’ll see you in the morning?”
The new complication consumed Caster’s mind as his cousin’s burdened form moved past him toward the door. Trouble was over the horizon; every ounce of his being was certain of it. The greatest test his father reiterated every time they talked about what made a good king was here. Would he crumble, as Uncle Lucien had all those centuries ago, or would he rise to the occasion, be the leader his people needed?
His mind too consumed with the possibility of failure, he’dforgotten about Mark until he neared his bedroom door. A calm, steady heartbeat spoke of the wolf’s rest, but he almost laughed when he walked into the sitting area to find him asleep. His body was too large for the small couch, and the position he was in would prove a bad idea in the morning.
Caster surrendered to the need to comfort him and reached for his hair, gentle touches aimed at waking him. Mark moaned, the ever-present walls he erected dissolving into the comfort of sleep, but he didn’t stir. Even when Caster took off his shoes and belt, he grunted his disapproval at the disturbance and went right back to sleep.
“OK, come on!” He whispered to no one in particular and gathered Mark’s bulk in his arms, carrying him to bed with little effort. He snuggled into the bed like he belonged, and Caster was plagued by images of him there every night. But he wouldn’t go there; there was still too much to figure out between them, and that was before they unraveled the role his family had played in his pain.
Still, he didn’t try to fight the desire to hold him, changing into his pajamas in quick movements before joining Mark. He tried not to think too much about how well they fit as he closed his eyes and allowed the oblivion of sleep to dissolve his worries.
Mark gasped awake. The unfamiliar comfort and warmth of the covers were trumped by a contentment he hadn’t experienced in a decade. He’d slept through the night. No more darkness and death. Rest.
Lost in the joy of connecting with a part of himself he thought was gone forever, Mark almost missed the warm body next to him. Lust replaced wonder in the instant the memory of last night clouded his mind.
He had a few seconds to take in Caster’s face, relaxed in sleep, so young, almost innocent, before a smirk broke through the calm. Shit.
“That’s a first. There is nothing innocent about me.” Caster opened his eyes. “And I am way…older than I look.” Concern clouded mirth. “How did you sleep?”
“Why? Did I wake you?” It was possible he couldn’t remember his nightmare.
Caster moved close, so close they shared a breath, his voice dropping to a whisper. “You need to stop answering my questions with a question of your own.” His hand found Mark’s hip, drawing his lower thigh against his erection. “It is becoming very annoying. And you don’t want me to be annoyed, do you?”
Mark may have said no, but he didn’t think he’d even let the words out, not when Caster’s expert hand found a way past his clothing to grip his cock. The first stroke was too constricted, hindered by his clothes, and Caster cursed, the unmistakable sound of his clothing ripping at the seams only a minor concern.
His sigh morphed into a moan as soon as Caster’s hand found its prize and started a steady rhythm. He started to close his eyes, but the slight shake of Caster’s head was a deterrence he couldn’t get past.
“I want to see you fall apart.”
Caster’s commentary drew every sensation to the fore of his too-aware mind. He wanted nothing more than to do what he asked. The whole world faded away, his wolf’s total acceptance of Caster’s dominating presence the only thought he allowed himself.
Their lips met, the kiss too gentle for his purposes. “That’s it, Baby. Take from me.” Caster continued to speak between kisses, but his words faded into the pleasure the pull of his hand enticed as Mark did his best to chase the retreating rhythm.
The kisses moved to his neck, and Mark couldn’t hold back any longer.
“No, not yet.” Caster’s breath tickled his throat, and he drifted further towards the pleasure pooling in his fluttering core, but he was an instrument in Caster’s symphony, the melody set, leaving him no choice but to follow along.
“Goddess, you are beautiful. Open your eyes.”
He didn’t remember closing them and regretted obeying when he saw the look of undisguised desire on Caster’s face. It was as if he wanted to own him, but just as disturbing was his total lack of objection.
“Fall apart for me.”