Red couldn’t stop himself; he dipped his head and sniffed Pierce’s neck.
Did you just sniff me?
A smile tugged at Red’s lips as Pierce’s question brushed his mind. I can’t help myself. Everyone has a scent. Yours is irresistible to me.
Pierce released a soft pant. Red felt Pierce’s desire stirring. “What do I smell like?”
Red buried his nose in the crook of Pierce’s neck and breathed him in. Ambrosia and wildflowers mixed with honey. You smell like you’re mine. “Would you like to see your new home?”
Pierce nodded, but he didn’t move away.
Red’s heart squeezed. “It’s okay if you still feel unsure.”
“It’s not that. I just can’t seem to make my hands move away from you. The last two weeks have been hell. Everything should feel strange and awkward, but it doesn’t. I just want to touch you. Kiss you.”
Red captured Pierce’s lips. He didn’t need to be told twice. Since setting eyes on Pierce, Red hadn’t wanted to do anything but this. Pierce tasted like heaven. He swept Pierce from his feet. “I’m sorry. I need to hold you.”
Pierce didn’t argue. He held Red’s neck and let Red carry him inside. If Pierce checked out his new home at all as they passed through the living room, Red didn’t notice. Red had one goal in mind, getting inside his new mate and reconnecting with what he thought he had lost. He couldn’t believe Jonathan had spoken to Pierce. Red would have to make a trip to see the king and thank him.
“Jonathan is a king?”
Red smiled. “You’re reading my thoughts so easily. I’m impressed.”
Pierce shrugged. “Don’t be. I’m not trying. I just hear you.”
Red eased Pierce down on the bed. He took off Pierce’s shoes and toed off his boots before climbing onto the mattress and straddling Pierce’s body. “To answer your question, yes. Jonathan is our king. He doesn’t actually look the way he does inside your head. His true image is a lot more powerful. I imagine it cost him a lot of energy to keep his form in check so he could visit you. Nephilims are pure power. That form wouldn’t like being contained behind a human image.”
“Who is Celeste? Jonathan said she’s his grandmother, but she’s way too young for that.”
Red went to work on stripping away Pierce’s clothes while he answered. “She’s who humans worship as God. To us, she is everything because she chooses our mates. She handles a lot more than that, but mates are everything to us, so that’s huge. Eternity is an extremely long time to be alone. Being fated a mate changes everything. It means we don’t have to walk the world alone. And, yes, Jonathan is her grandson.”
Pierce unbuttoned Red’s jeans. “I’m only human. Being stuck with me doesn’t sound like much of a blessing to you. I can’t live forever.”
Red covered Pierce’s hands, stopping Pierce from unzipping his jeans. This was too important for divided attention. It was possible this part would freak Pierce out again. He held Pierce’s stare. “You’ll live as long as I do, and I’ll likely live forever unless something happens that I can’t heal from quickly enough to survive.”
Pierce visibly swallowed. “How fast can you heal?”
Red bit into his forearm right next to the scar Pierce had left from biting him during their mating. He showed Pierce the bite mark and let him watch it instantly heal.
The moment the bite was gone, Pierce felt of where it had been. Then his fingertips moved to the scar he had left behind. “Is this where I bit you?”
Red nodded. “As my mate, you’re the only one who can mark my skin.” He caressed the scar on Pierce’s neck. “Anyone who sees our scars will know we are mated. It’s our wedding bands, sort of speak.”
Pierce’s gaze moved from the scar to meeting Red’s stare. “So we’re basically married.”
A smile snapped to Red’s lips. “Oh, sexy. We are so much more than that. Mates are possessive and obsessive. We won’t be able to tolerate being apart for long. You’ll notice people around here averting their gaze from you. That’s because jealousy is pretty out of control when it comes to new mates. Neither of us will be able to control it for a while.” He went back to stripping them. “Luckily, I’m old. So my self-control is pretty solid. Otherwise, I might have left my pack to chase you when you left the state. Like you said, the past two weeks have been hell.”
“How old is old?”
Red chuckled at the question but didn’t answer until they were nude. He hoped Pierce would be less likely to run away in the buff. Red captured Pierce’s mouth again, delving deep. Three hundred and ten, give or take a few years. You lose count eventually.
Holy shit.
A chuckle vibrated through their kiss. Pierce boldly stroked Red’s cock, turning the sound into a moan.
“I’ll take things slower this time. You don’t have to worry.”
Pierce nipped at his bottom lip. “I’m not worried. We’re in bed this time around. Hopefully, we’re not dependent on some barely enough magic lube.”
An unexpected laugh burst from Red. “Magic lube, huh? No. I had a small packet of lube in my wallet, but you’re right that it wasn’t enough.” His laughter died away. Red stroked Pierce’s jaw. “You have no idea how much I hate that I hurt you and scared you.”
Pierce’s gorgeous blue eyes stayed locked on Red, making feelings stir in his chest. When Pierce finally spoke, his voice came out in a whisper. “Is it crazy that I don’t even know your last name, but I’m completely in love with you?”
“No. We’re two halves of the same soul. It’s supposed to be this way. Also, it’s Wulf with a u. It’s actually your last name as well now.”
Pierce blinked. “Your name is literally Red Wulf.”
A smile stretched Red’s lips. “Not everyone has parents to name them. My name was handed to me by Odin.”
“I didn’t say I don’t like it.”
Red was trying hard to keep Pierce distracted. Pierce wasn’t accustomed to the rough treatment he had gotten their first night together, but Red still fought his true nature. This was his mate. Red wanted to bite at Pierce’s skin and fuck him hard. Being gentle took patience he didn’t feel at the moment.
“I’m not afraid.” Pierce’s quietly spoken claim sounded steady and proved how little Red could hide now.
“You still deserve better and you’ll have it.” With that vow still hanging between them, Red bit his way down Pierce’s body and swallowed Pierce’s cock.
“Fuck.”
The breathless curse had Red leaking. He was on the edge just thinking about being inside Pierce. Red sucked while his mind filled with images of all the ways he would take Pierce. He set a pace aimed to please while wondering if Pierce would ever let Red take him while in his true form. Hot cum filled his mouth as Pierce’s short fingernails scored his shoulders. Red swallowed while his mind raced. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he might have sent Pierce over the edge with his imagery. If so, that boded well for their future together.
Right now, though, he didn’t waste any time. Red grabbed the lube and quickly coated his dick. He didn’t want Pierce to come down from his high. While Pierce’s body still shook, Red spread the man’s thighs and eased in. Unlike last time, Pierce didn’t tense against him, fighting his intrusion. Still, Red kept Pierce distracted with biting kisses as he pushed his way inside. By the time he was fully seated, Red’s skin was covered in sweat.