Ilno

by Toby Aden

  When they both stopped coming, Ciran fell down onto Ilno, allowing the man to take his weight as all the energy was sapped from his body by that powerful orgasm. They stayed together like that, panting and riding on the afterglow of the amazing sex they’d just had.

  “Whoa. That was hot,” Ilno said, stroking his man’s back and nuzzling the man’s head in his arms.

  Ciran chuckled, also doing the same and just allowing himself to feel Ilno’s strength and inhale his scent. “It was more than hot. Sublime.”

  “Hmm. Just the right words, that,” Ilno agreed, lazily stroking the other man and content to remain like they were.

  After that, the only sound in the room was the sound of their breathing, which slowed gradually from a pant into the regular range.

  Chapter Eight

  “Are you sleeping?” Ilno asked, his voice soft and hoarse.

  “Mmm. No, but don’t feel like moving.”

  Ilno snorted. “Have to. They do expect us at the celebration, you know. It would have been nice to get that part over with before dragging me off.”

  Ciran lifted his head to stare down at his mate, one eyebrow cocked upward. “Are you complaining?”

  “Never,” Ilno said.

  One side of Ciran’s lips curved upward, and a gleam crossed his face. “Good or I’d demonstrate all over again why I had to pull away.”

  “No way. I am too sore to go another round right now. Now come on. Let’s go out before your mother decides to send someone to come find us.”

  Seeming to realize that Ilno was serious, Ciran sighed then pulled out of Ilno gently so as not to hurt his mate. He flopped down onto the bed beside Ilno then shifted until he was sitting on the bed and finally getting up. He held out his hand for Ilno, and when the man took it, he pulled him up and out of the bed.

  They walked toward the bathing chambers together and proceeded to wash each other. They did not spend long in there before they were both walking back into the bedroom to get suitably dressed for their mating celebration.

  The moment the newly mated couple appeared into the great hall, everyone paused to eye the couple, and when Ciran lifted their joined hands up, the crowd burst into loud cheers, displaying their joy for the couple.

  Soon, they were swept up into the festivity, joining in on the drinking and dancing to celebrate the happy day. Ciran’s brothers stood up and came to encircle them, giving them hugs one after the other and welcoming Ilno into their family.

  “Congratulations on your mating, brother,” Galen said, folding Ciran into his arms. Then holding his hands out, he smiled and gave Ilno a bear hug, whispering, “Seems luck is on your side, my friend. Take good care of him for us.”

  “I will,” Ilno promised as he was released and took Ciran’s hand to give it a squeeze.

  Kalen moved in next and gave Ilno a hug. “Treat my brother well, or else.”

  Ilno chuckled, taking the threat and the gleam in Kalen’s gaze for what they were, his way of welcoming Ilno officially into the family.

  Kalen turned to stare at his younger brother, holding on to the man before nodding and squeezing Ciran’s nape. “You take care of yourself, brother, mated or not, understand?”

  “Yes, Kalen. Though I’m sure Ilno will be there to ensure I do,” Ciran quipped.

  “Good,” Kalen said, nodding with satisfaction at their responses.

  Xiran and Ciran touched their foreheads together next, both staring at each other as though sharing a telepathic communication. They probably were, too, what with their twin bond and all.

  “Now you lovebirds go mingle and enjoy this day with those here to celebrate with you,” Galen said, waving the couple away.

  Together, Ilno and Ciran went to introduce themselves first to Ciran’s parents and then his, receiving their congratulations and happy wishes for a good mating. It wasn’t long before Ilno spotted his cousin Radisq and his cousin’s mate along with another couple standing beside them. Pulling Ciran along with him, Ilno led them toward the two couples.

  “Rad. So good of you to come,” Ilno said once they reached the couples and pulled his cousin into a hug.

  “I wouldn’t have missed it for the whole world. You know that,” Radisq said.

  “I do know,” Ilno said with a grin before ruffling his hand over Radisq’s spiky blond hair.

  Radisq batted his hand away. “Don’t do that.”

  Ilno laughed. “And when has you ever telling me that stopped me?”

  Radisq turned to Ilno’s mate, saying with a straight face, “You have your hands full with this one.”

  Ciran burst out laughing. “I sure do and don’t I know it.”

  Ilno crinkled his nose at them. “Be nice.” Turning to Aaeren, he held out his hand to clasp the other man’s, pulling him into a one-hand hug. “So good of you to come, Aaeren. I know how busy you must be.”

  “Not busy enough to miss my mate’s cousin-in-law’s mating. Never too busy for that,” Aaeren said with a grin.

  “Thank you. And where’s the little terror?” Ilno asked, looking around for Kelric.

  “We left him home with my mother. She would have been bored alone without him, but she sends her felicitations,” Aaeren explained.

  Ilno nodded, knowing that also. “My regards to her too. Come meet my mate.” Turning to pull Ciran closer, Ilno introduced them, grinning proudly at his mate as he stared at the man with pure adoration.

  When he saw Radisq roll his eyes playfully at the sappy look on his face, Ilno responded childishly by sticking out his tongue.

  “Introduce us. I don’t think we’ve met before,” Ilno said, staring at the other couple who had been watching their interactions.

  “Oh, so sorry, Ilno,” Aaeren said then pulled the pregnant delicate-looking man closer to himself, a fond smile on his face as he stared at the redhead. “This is my younger brother, Yves. Once we got the invite, I sent it on to them.”

  “Nice to meet you, Yves,” Ilno said. With only a slight hesitation, he moved in and pulled the man carefully into a hug. “We’re practically family, so no need to stand on formalities.”

  Yves laughed, his voice lyrical and just as beautiful as he looked pregnant. “And it’s nice to meet you, too, Ilno. Congratulations on your mating.”

  They pulled apart and grinned at each other. “Thank you, and believe me, no one is happier than I for meeting Ciran.”

  Next, Ciran came up and pulled the pregnant man carefully into his arms. “Thanks for coming, Yves, and it’s nice to meet you.”

  “You, too,” Yves said. “And welcome to the family,” he added shyly.

  Ilno glanced up at the other man beside Yves. The man was downright gorgeous, but to Ilno, not as gorgeous as his Ciran. Noticing whom Ilno was staring at, Yves said. “This is my mate, Apollo.”

  Ilno laughed as he held out his hand for the man to clasp. “Your parents a fan of the Greek mythology?”

  Yves laughed hard, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes, and Apollo glanced at his mate tenderly, sliding an arm around his waist as they seemed to share a moment together. Ilno looked at the two in confusion. It appeared they were sharing an inner joke, and when they saw him staring, Apollo explained.

  “Yves asked me the same thing when we first met. It seems when others hear my name, that becomes the foregone conclusion.”

  Yves nodded then added, “But, he’s the real deal. The Apollo of the Greek mythology.”

  Ilno and Ciran’s eyes bulged open as they stared in surprise at the golden man before them. They had never seen that one coming, and suddenly, standing before such a god, a powerful being became overwhelming. Yves and Apollo both chuckled at the look of awe and fright on their faces.

  “But as you said, we are practically family. No need to stand on ceremony,” Apollo said, trying to ease their reaction.

  Frowning, Ilno came back to himself, nervously snorting. “Using my own words against me. So unfair.”

  Yves, Radisq, Aaeren, and Ap
ollo all burst into laughter, and Ilno trained an annoyed look on them before turning to his cousin. “And why didn’t you tell me or at least prepare me?”

  Radisq shrugged sheepishly. “Well, you know…now?”

  “Are you asking me or telling me?” Ilno asked, a brow raised.

  “Uh…” Radisq said, staring up at the rest of them for help. However, it seemed no one was willing to come to his rescue as they were all also staring at him, waiting for what he would say next. Radisq shoved his elbow into his mate’s side, communicating with his eyes for the man to say something and save him.

  At his antics, Aaeren chuckled then picked up two glass of wine from the tray of a passing servant, offering one to Ilno and the other to Ciran. The couple, knowing what Aaeren was up to, still went along, accepting the glass. The others were soon picking up a glass of their own, but Apollo took Yves’s own from his hand and replaced it on the tray, choosing blended fruit instead and handing that to his mate.

  “A toast to the newly mated couple,” Aaeren said, lifting his glass.

  They all raised their glasses, clinking it all together cheering, “To the newly mated couple.”

  Withdrawing their glasses, they drank down the contents and were soon moving to occupy seats at a table to hold their number. They talked among each other, laughing and enjoying the relaxed conversation as the celebration carried on well into the night with drinking and loud bawdy jokes.

  Chapter Nine

  Once the excitement had died down, Ilno and Ciran made their way out, moving toward their bedroom. The entire day had taken its toll on them, and they were tired enough to fall asleep the moment their heads hit the bed. Greeting the many people there for them as well as just relaxing with family had been a great way for them to begin their mated lives together.

  “It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?” Ilno asked.

  “Hmm.”

  “I’m happy,” Ilno said.

  Turning to glance at his mate from his position on the bed, Ciran asked. “Yeah?” More in search of confirmation than anything else.

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Me, too,” Ciran said.

  The entire day had been one of joy and happiness for the couple as well as those who had come to witness their binding. When the moment had arrived for them to be joined together by the priestess, the entire thing had proved surreal for Ilno.

  Neither of them could believe that after centuries alone, they’d finally found their soul mate. Today had really brought that into focus for the both of them.

  When Ilno’s mother, Ferai, had heard the news of his finding his mate, he had received a letter of which he could read her excitement and joy for him.

  She had threatened him with bodily harm should he proceed with the preparations for the mating ceremony without her presence. When he’d relayed this to Cicitiana, the queen had only laughed and said that it was normal for his mother to want to be involved in the entire process. She had agreed to hold off until Ilno’s mother could be a part of the preparations.

  After that, it hadn’t taken long for his parents to arrive and he’d been enfolded into the soft arms of his mother and the strong arms of his father as they passed him from one parent to the next, both congratulating him. When Ilno had introduced them to Ciran, he had pretty much received the same treatment with warning to treat their only son well.

  Cicitiana and Ferai had from the first moment they met clicked together, and soon, they were brainstorming ideas on how the ceremony should be, all without input from the two sons who were to be mated. Ciran and Ilno had only shaken their heads, grinning widely as they hurried to move out of the way of their mothers’ scheming.

  Now, here they were, mated and glad for it, too. They both pulled their clothes off and climbed into the bed, getting comfortable in each other’s arms. Neither spoke for a long while, both content to stay in the comfortable silence which engulfed them as they recalled the events of the day.

  “What did you think of Yves? His being pregnant I mean?” Ilno asked, breaking the silence they had fallen into.

  “He’s definitely a good guy and you could see how pregnancy made him glow,” Ciran said.

  “And have you ever given much thought to kids? Having them I mean?” Ilno asked tentatively, trying to figure out his mate’s stance on the subject.

  A thoughtful look crossed Ciran’s face, and he seemed to be far away as he responded. “I can’t say that I ever have. It hasn’t really been a priority with me, what with moving around so much and frequently. It wouldn’t be fair to a kid, you know. The lifestyle I lead, and I’m not ready to give it up yet.”

  A disappointed look crossed Ilno’s face, but he wiped it away fast before Ciran could notice. He’d always wanted kids and had thought once he found his mate, they could get on making some, but it seemed as though Ciran didn’t want them. He had never thought of this as a possibility before that his mate would not want kids. Hearing it made his heart shatter at the loss of a dream he’d always wanted.

  However, between a choice of having kids and keeping his mate, he’d choose Ciran every time. He would resign himself to the fact that his mate wasn’t willing to give up being a wanderer to settle down and have kids. Truth be told, he also didn’t want to give up an integral part of himself. But he’d at least thought that they could come to a compromise as time went by.

  Knowing that kids were not on the cards at all was a game changer but not a deal breaker. After all, he couldn’t possibly have it all. He’d just have to be careful not to take Ciran without sufficient protection during his fertility period or be taken during his own fertility period without protection either.

  “Why do you ask?” Ciran questioned, glancing at his mate.

  Forcing a smile onto his face, which he prayed Ciran didn’t look too closely at, Ilno said, “No reason. Just curious, I guess. Forget about that.”

  A genuine smile crossed his face, and taking Ciran off guard, Ilno rolled the bigger man onto his back and lay on top of him.

  “What are you doing?” Ciran asked with amusement.

  “If I have to tell you, I must be doing something wrong,” Ilno said then slammed his mouth on Ciran’s, driving his tongue in and licking the inside of his mate’s mouth.

  Caressing Ciran’s cheeks, Ilno pulled back. “Have I ever told you how much I like your lips?” he whispered then leaned down to suck Ciran’s upper lip into his mouth, licking and biting and sucking on it before releasing it to give his bottom lip the same treatment.

  Ilno moved until he was settled well between Ciran’s legs, his dick thickening, and he thrust into the junction between Ciran’s thigh and pelvis. Ilno rolled his hips then pulled back and thrust again. He watched Ciran’s face tense with lust and the man open his mouth in a silent gasp.

  Again and again, Ilno pumped against Ciran, his muscles bulging and his gaze intense on the man beneath him.

  “Fuuuck!” Ciran cried, tightening his hold on his mate’s arms. “I’ll…I’ll…” He moaned loudly, feeling his eyes roll into the back of his head with the tension and pleasure washing over him from the friction between their bodies.

  Ciran spread his legs farther apart, tilting his hips up to meet Ilno’s thrusts.

  “You’ll what?” Ilno asked from between gritted teeth as he kept right on teasing his mate.

  Ciran heart thudded violently beneath Ilno’s palm, his breath getting excited and his body tensing. Clutched Ilno, Ciran stared at his mate and the slow, steady way he tortured his body. He moved faster against Ilno’s thrusts, seeking more friction even as his body shook underneath Ilno’s.

  “Cuuumm!” Ciran yelled, veins bulging on his neck and forehead as he felt his body react and an anxiety to come filled him up.

  “Good!” Ilno said then leaned forward and took Ciran’s mouth in a brutal kiss. He wiggled and thrust his tongue inside Ciran’s mouth, drawing the other man’s out to play, and soon, they were intertwining together and both racing toward relief
.

  Ilno moved his body so his dick began thrusting against Ciran’s balls. Over and over again, he continued this until they were both a moaning and groaning beautiful mess. Ciran arched against Ilno, and pleased, Ilno kept grounding against his mate, causing electricity to shoot up their bodies.

  Ilno reached out with one hand and began stroking Ciran’s cock even as he kept thrusting against Ciran’s balls. When breathing became a necessity once more, Ilno broke their kiss and began whispering dirty things into Ciran’s ears before taking the lobe into his mouth and sucking on it.

  It wasn’t long before the both of them fell over the edge and began shooting their release all over each other. Ilno threw his head back as he came all over Ciran’s dick, and Ciran shut his eyes tightly, letting the waves of pleasure carry him to completion. When they finally stopped coming, Ilno stared down at Ciran.

  “You’re so beautiful, my mate,” he whispered then leaned down to press a kiss to the side of Ciran’s head, folding the man into the curves of his arms. “I love you, mate,” he whispered into Ciran’s ears.

  Ciran gasped then pushed Ilno until the man was leaning on his elbow on either side of Ciran’s head and staring at him. “You love me?”

  Ilno gave him a breathtaking smile then nodded. “I love you, Ciran.”

  Ciran’s shoulders shook, and a blinding smile spread across his lips. “I love you, too, Ilno.”

  Together, as one, they leaned forward and met halfway, sealing the words and the promise with a kiss. They kissed languidly, a softer kiss to cherish what they had between them. The kiss was an unhurried meeting of mouths as they took the time to savor each other.

  “Love you, Ilno,” Ciran murmured against Ilno’s mouth then resumed the kiss once more, content to just take it slow without turning it into a lust-driven kiss.

  Ilno drew back, caressing Ciran’s face and nose before dropping another kiss to Ciran’s nose and getting up from the bed. He padded into the bathing chambers and came out minutes later with a wet washcloth, which he used to wipe them down before tossing it onto the floor.