“You did,” Tyler assured him. “Donald, the man who held you, the one who started all this with your parents, confessed everything. He told us that you’d escaped. I don’t know how, he didn’t say, but you never gave up, Charlie. We are all so damn proud of you. Knox was… I’ve never seen him like that, and I never want to again. But he didn’t for one moment lose faith in you. He knew that somehow you would keep yourself alive until he could find you.”
Carter took over, his gaze trained on his brother’s tiger. “I’ve never seen him that bad. I remember what it was like when our parents died. He was distraught then, but he had us to look after, and that kept him going. When he was by your bedside, it was obvious that he wouldn’t survive if you didn’t. He loves you with all his heart. You make him happy, you give him a home, comfort, peace. I’m sure he’s told you all this. But hear it from us as well. He loves you, his tiger loves you. Look at him, he doesn’t want to let you go. You are a perfect fit for him, for our family.”
Charlie sniffed. “I love him and his tiger with all my heart. Knox is it for me. I knew he was before all this happened. There was a reason I got this tattoo. I wanted it, I wanted the extra connection with him. I hope me being a unicorn, not being PAF, not being an alpha, our differences, isn’t something you all hate.”
Before Charlie could say anything else, the tiger snarled.
“There’s an answer for you, Charlie. Knox doesn’t care if we don’t approve. He would be with you anyway. We know that. I’m sure he appreciates the fact we all get along, but make no mistake, he’d be with you anyway. Of course, he could just shift and talk.” Carter looked pointedly at his brother.
The tiger huffed and stayed exactly where he was. At some point, Charlie must have dropped the toy version of them, because the tiger carefully pulled the toys towards them, lifted it up with a single claw tucked under the ribbon, and placed it on Charlie’s chest, next to his paw print. He patted it gently, then went back to resting his paw over his mark and nuzzled into Charlie’s neck. Charlie turned his head as best he could and kissed the tiger’s head.
“I have never seen anything quite like that.” Wonder filled Tyler’s voice. “I have never seen a tiger be quite as gentle as he was then. Is that…” Tyler peered closer.
Charlie had the toy cuddled to his chest with his good arm. The one in the cast was lying against the tiger’s other leg. Every time he tried to move it, Knox snarled, so he left it there, letting the tiger take the weight. He wondered if he even felt it.
“It’s us, the toy version of us anyway.”
“It’s adorable.” Carter sighed. “You really should be in bed, but I guess he’s keeping you warm enough, and as long as you’re comfortable, I guess you can stay there.”
Charlie yawned, but it wasn’t enough to stave off sleep. As his eyes started to slide closed, he heard Tyler laughing.
“Yeah, I think he’s comfortable enough. Let’s leave them to it.”
Charlie cuddled into his tiger and let sleep claim him.
Rolling over, Charlie grunted in annoyance at the cast, making Knox chuckle.
“Morning, Sunshine.”
“Is it?” Charlie grunted.
“Didn’t sleep well?”
Charlie wasn’t about to confess to the nightmares he’d had, so he simply grunted.
“If you want, I was going to take you to the shop. I thought you might like to choose some new books.” Knox was massaging his head.
Charlie perked up at that.
“I knew that would grab your attention. What do you say?” Knox kissed a path over his forehead.
“Do you really need me to answer that one?” Charlie finally opened his eyes, gazing straight into Knox’s.
“Not really. Now, do you want me to help you get dressed?” Knox’s hand drifted down Charlie’s stomach, toying with the tie around his pajama pants.
“Do you mean get dressed, or…” Charlie licked his lips.
“You choose.”
“If I choose, you have to realize I’m choosing a treat.”
“I’m unsurprisingly okay with that.” Knox grinned.
Charlie watched Knox disappear under the covers. A moment later, his cock was engulfed in heat for a split second. He spasmed.
Knox reared up and growled. “No moving.”
“You’re just getting revenge.” Charlie let his head drop back against the pillows.
“Would I do a thing like that?” Knox teased.
“Yes! Now get to it.” Charlie swallowed the last word as Knox swallowed his cock down to the root. He lost himself to the sensations of heat and Knox, letting their connection flare, letting the love they shared manifest in this most intimate way. They seemed to spend half their time being banned from sex, but it didn’t stop them having fun. If anything, it had just made them creative. He was allowed sex; this was more to do with the amount of time it would take. They’d never get—
A slap on his thigh dragged him back to the moment. Knox pulled off with a pop.
“If you’re thinking this much, I have to be doing something wrong.” Knox went back down to his cock, kissing along it as his fingers danced across his balls. Charlie lost himself to the sensations, letting Knox have his way with him, wanting, no, needing this connection. When one of Knox’s fingers slipped inside his mouth alongside Charlie cock, he knew what was coming. He would be coming, there was little doubt about that. Knox’s finger shifted to his hole and teased him mercilessly.
“Knox…” Charlie grabbed the lube and shoved it under the bed sheet, ignoring Knox’s chuckle, or at least trying to as it vibrated his cock. All was forgiven when a lubed finger pushed inside of him. Letting his legs fall open, he concentrated on the feeling of Knox searching out his prostate, tapping against it, ratcheting up his desire, never once loosening his suction around the cock in his mouth. “Fuck me, Knox. Please, I need you.”
Knox pulled off, looking up at him. “You’re sure you’re up for this?”
“Oh, I’m up alright.” Charlie looked pointedly at his cock.
“Not quite what I meant, but I’ll take it.” Knox leaned down, brushed one last kiss on the tip of Charlie’s cock, sucking up the precum there before he kissed his way up Charlie’s stomach and chest, detouring to his nipples. Taking each one in turn, he bit and licked, teasing them.
“Damn, that’s good, but I need more, Knox.”
Knox let the nipple between his teeth go, and carried on kissing his way up Charlie’s chest, paying close attention to the paw print. He traced it with his fingers, his tongue following right behind them. As much as Charlie needed Knox inside him, he didn’t say a word, letting Knox take as much time as he wanted over the tattoo. Eventually, Knox was satisfied with his ministrations and claimed his lips.
Knox shifted position against him, lining his cock up with his hole. “You ready for me?”
“Always.”
Knox slowly pushed forward, inch by torturous inch teasing him, setting his nerves on fire.
“I want to take you so damn hard, yet softly as well. I’m as conflicted as I always am with you. On the one hand, I want you close, protecting you. On the other, there is nothing more beautiful than watching you fly free. You twist me up, yet calm me down. You are the perfect balm for my soul, and I love you.”
“I love you too, Knox, more than I ever would have believed possible. You give me courage, strength, and so much more. But right now, you’re giving me the urge to throttle you. Damn you, would you just fuck me!”
Knox mock glared, but pulled back and slammed forward. “Like this you mean?”
“Exactly like that. Fuck!”
Neither of them spoke again, lost in the moment, the heat, the touch, and taste of each other’s skin. Their gazes stayed locked together, neither of them looking away even for a second as Knox pistoned into him. When Knox shifted angle, he grazed Charlie’s prostate again, and it was too much. He’d been on edge for too long and he let go, letting his orgasm claim him
. His ass clamped down on Knox, tightening so much Knox couldn’t move.
“Oh, fuck!” With a cry, Knox followed him over.
Charlie dozed for a moment, trusting Knox would clean him up, eventually, anyway.
“Charlie, we really do need to get up,” Knox whispered into his ear. “Don’t you want new books?”
“What about tomorrow?” Charlie mumbled.
The covers were yanked back, and Knox sprang out of bed. “Nope, it needs to be today.”
“What’s going on?” Charlie rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
“Nothing is going on.” Knox was moving about the room grabbing clothes.
Charlie wasn’t so sure he believed him, but he went along with it. If Knox didn’t want to tell him, he wouldn’t until he was ready.
He was still yawning when the transport mage Knox had hired dropped them off outside his bookshop. Walking in, he shuddered, then smells assaulted him, a feeling of rightness and home settling inside of him. It was a different type of sensation of home than the one he experienced with Knox, but no less potent. Here he was truly himself, in all his geeky glory. He was surprised to see everyone there. Evie, Lane, the kiddos, Cora, Matt, Mama Alice, Sam, Alfie, all Knox’s brothers, some of Knox’s old teammates, and their friends. The group was huge.
He turned to face Knox. “What’s going on?”
Carter stepped forward and handed a parcel to Knox. Knox gently eased Charlie into the center of the room. “Charlie.” Knox blew out a breath. “The time since I met you has been crazy, chaotic, full of love and adventure, and you know what, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want our future to be just as crazy, in only the good ways, of course. I’ve never met someone as selfless as you, as prepared to go out of their way to help others. Your ideas for my book, your suggestions took the next one in the Davidson series to another level. Therefore, you should be the first to see this.” Knox held the wrapped parcel out to him.
Charlie took it, seeing Knox’s hands shaking. “What’s going on?”
“Open it up, Charlie.”
Charlie braced the parcel on his cast, peeling off the paper, aware of everyone watching him. His eyes lit up. It was an ARC of Fireman’s Inferno. “Knox, it looks amazing.”
“Open it, Charlie.” Knox’s gaze never left his.
Charlie opened the cover, looking at the blurb, the copyright, and then the dedication.
I never once believed I would find a love that could redefine who I am, or that I could find a partner who could make me see the world through fresh eyes. I was sure it wasn’t meant to be.
I was wrong.
I’ve fallen in love with an incredible man who makes my heart soar and my soul sing. This is for him –
Charlie, I love you with everything that I am. Will you marry me?
Charlie’s finger froze as it moved across the page. His gaze shot up and locked with Knox’s. “Is this… are you serious?”
Knox dropped to one knee in front of him. There were gasps all around them, but Charlie didn’t break his gaze from Knox. Holding out a box, Knox opened it to reveal a platinum ring with a rainbow-hued diamond set in the middle. “Charlie, as the dedication says, I love you. You make my soul come alive, you light up the world with your presence, and I want to spend eternity with you. Will you do me the greatest honor of agreeing to be my mate, of becoming my husband?”
A tear tracked down Charlie’s face, even as a smile broke free. “Yes.”
As soon as the word left his lips, Knox was on his feet, lifting him and spinning him around. “I love you. You are my everything.”
“No, Knox. You are mine.”
Meet the Author
Hannah Walker is a full-time mum to two gorgeous teenage sons, and shares her home with both them, and a very supportive husband. They have always encouraged her to follow her dreams.
She has always loved books from her childhood years reading alongside her father, inheriting his love of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. She has combined this with her love of MM romance to write her series: Avanti Chronicles, Elements of Dragonis, and Demonic Tales. She loves writing about a complex world where the men love, and live, hard.
Welcome to the world of MM Sci-Fi.
Where to find Hannah:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009788113663
https://twitter.com/AvantiHannah
https://www.facebook.com/HannahWalkerAuthorofAvantiChronicles?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Upcoming books:
Demons Don’t Duel, Demonic Tales book three.
Bray’s Balance, part of the Avanti Chronicles.
A new sci fi series.
A new Standalone in the Spoils of War world.
A standalone in the Dragonis world.
Other books by
Hannah Walker
The Avanti Chronicles
http://amzn.to/2q8OKEj
Corin’s Chance
Tate’s Torment
Delphini: Damage Control
Once Upon an Ocania
Dax’s Desire
Bell’s Beloved
Mission Most Mysterious
Delphini: Situation Critical
Hunter’s Hope
Demonic Tales
http://amzn.to/2q96bEO
Demons Don’t Dream
Demons Don’t Date
Elements of Dragonis
http://amzn.to/2qvOAKd
Booker’s Song
Seeker’s Portrait
Summoner’s Dance
Spoils of War
http://amzn.to/2r77iUY
A Tale of Two Horns (Corent City Tales Book 1) Page 25