“I’d rather talk more about my current hungers.” Ollie tried to lick the scar again, but Jonas turned his head, blocking him. “Backward in that you should mount me.”
“Because why?” Jonas rubbed the tip of his finger over Ollie’s scar, making him growl.
“Because you’re older, and higher up the class scale than I am.”
Jonas frowned and extricated himself from Ollie’s grip. “You think there’s something wrong with me because I want you to fuck me?”
“No, not at all.” Ollie shook his head and drew Jonas close enough so he could kiss the top of his head. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you or me. Just—it’s not supposed to be like this according to…” And there he faltered because Ollie wasn’t certain who set up the rules of how the class system worked. “Please forget I said anything. Clearly, the rules are ridiculous because we are perfect just the way we are.”
“When two landed gentrymen meet and want to bond, they are responsible for deciding who does what to whom. But with us, there are no rules because we’re not supposed to be more to one another than blood offering and blood drinker.”
“And we turned that on its head, too.”
“Do you not want to do the ritual?”
Ollie kissed Jonas’s head and squeezed him hard enough to make him sigh. “I want that very much, but only if we do so as equals.”
“I want that, too.” Jonas squeezed back and then looked up. “You know I’ve never thought of you as less than me.”
“I know. And you know that I’ve never thought less of you for wanting to be on the bottom, right?”
“I do.” Jonas kissed him quick and then stepped away. When Ollie reached for him, he waggled his finger and moved farther away. “Ah ah ah. Tonight, my love. We will wait for tonight.”
After sighing dramatically and looking pointedly at his erection, which was tenting his white apron, Ollie nodded. “Until tonight.”
Chapter 15
Jonas had never been so exquisitely aware of his own body. He stood naked in the master bedroom with Ollie standing naked on the other side of the big bed. McBride was fully dressed and seated at the vanity.
“Are you ready to begin?” McBride looked from Jonas to Ollie, nodding when they both indicated they were ready. Rising, McBride went to the door and closed it. “The lights are on and angled so that our shadows will cast against that window.” He pointed to the huge picture window that faced the cul-de-sac of the brothers’ houses. “Since Ollie and I are almost the same size, it will look like Jonas and I are doing the ritual. After tonight, you two can have this room and I’ll sleep in another.”
“But you should have your father’s old room,” Jonas protested. He didn’t want to take everything away from a man who had already been extremely generous.
“I should, but I don’t want it. It’s honestly my choice, Jonas. I’m not comfortable in here and you are. It’s yours.”
Rather than argue the point, Jonas nodded, and then looked to Ollie. He was about to ask if Ollie really wanted to do this when his gaze landed on the scar across his belly. That mark was physical proof that Ollie would die to protect him. If that didn’t say unending love, nothing could. Without words, Ollie had shown him just how much he loved him.
“Climb onto the bed, on your knees, and face each other.”
Unable to stop himself from shaking, Jonas crawled onto the surface of the bed. In anticipation of the night’s activities, McBride had rolled the bedclothes down to the foot of the mattress. Below his knees, the sheets were almost sinfully soft, but what held his attention riveted was the look on Ollie’s face. He was so happy he practically glowed.
McBride took a black candle and placed it on Jonas’s bedside table. “This represents the binding of your bodies.” He lit the candle and stepped back. “You may embrace one another.”
Shuffling forward on their knees, Jonas and Ollie met in the middle. Jonas wrapped his arms around Ollie’s neck, while Ollie wrapped his around Jonas’s waist. Body to body, they pressed close so that they could feel each other’s heartbeats. As they clung together, Jonas was able to feel the pulsing heat of Ollie’s erection against his belly. When he looked toward the window, he saw their combined form and thought they looked something like a flower bulb ready to sprout.
“The candle is lighting up your hair.” Ollie stroked his hand over Jonas’s golden curls. “You’re really beautiful, you know?”
“When you look at me like that, I know.” Jonas kissed the center of Ollie’s chest.
“Decide who will claim whom for the ritual.”
“We’re doing this as equals.”
McBride hesitated. “No penetration?”
“No.” Jonas met Ollie’s gaze. “We’re going into this as equals.”
McBride didn’t speak or move for a long time. Out the corner of his eye, Jonas noticed a look of envy cross McBride’s face. It was in that moment that Jonas realized just how much McBride wanted Caleb. He would never act on his desires, and that made Jonas even more grateful that he’d been blessed enough to have what he did with Ollie. Without McBride’s help, they’d still be pining away for one another. Sadly, there wasn’t anything he could do to help McBride and Caleb unless they asked for his assistance. If McBride was honestly trying to stay away from Caleb, Jonas certainly wasn’t going to be pushing him that direction, not after the kindness he’d shown. However, if McBride ever asked for help, Jonas would bend over backward to assist him.
McBride moved to Ollie’s side with a white candle. “This represents the binding of your souls.” His voice was husky, and he cleared his throat as he lit the candle.
Flickering light slipped through Ollie’s light-brown strands, making gold dance over his head. Ollie looked like a man being elevated to godhood. He was everything Jonas had ever wanted, and he was going to do everything in his power to ensure happiness for the both of them.
“You may kiss.” McBride moved toward the vanity where he’d been sitting earlier.
Looking deeply into each other’s eyes, Jonas lifted his lips to Ollie. Their kiss was tentative at first then turned more passionate as the intensity of the moment caught up to them. This was what Jonas had been waiting his whole life to do. He wanted to bond with a partner who understood him as a man, loved him despite his foibles, and cherished him because of the person he was rather than the person he wanted to be. Ollie did that for Jonas, and Jonas swore he would always do the same for Ollie.
“Every sacrifice I’ve made in order to be with you was worth it. I can’t imagine bonding myself to anyone but you.” Jonas kissed the scar he’d made on Ollie’s neck.
“No matter what I have to do to be with you, I will gladly do it, because there is no one else for me but you.” Ollie kissed the scar on Jonas’s neck.
“This represents the binding of your blood.” McBride settled the red candle next to the mirror then lit it. He stepped away and turned off all the lights so only the triangle of candles lit the room. A golden glow encompassed them, driving away the darkness, but giving them the privacy of low lighting. “You may bite one another.”
This was the part that only landed gentrymen were supposed to do. In a binding ritual between a slammer and a thrall, the slammer penetrated the thrall and drank his blood for the first time, but since Jonas and Ollie were proceeding as if they were equals, they had forgone the penetration and they would now drink at the same time.
After a moment of silent communication, Jonas lowered his mouth to Ollie’s neck. He waited for Ollie to get into position, and then they bit at the same time. Pain pushed their bodies tightly together while passion hardened their cocks. Drawing deeply of his mate’s blood caused a need to swell inside Jonas. They were equals in all ways in his eyes, but he would always long to be the man on the bottom. Having his mate’s cock buried in his body was the ultimate pleasure. Jonas knew without asking that Ollie would allow Jonas to penetrate him, but he had no desire to do so. After such
a long time hating himself because he didn’t understand his own desires, Jonas now embraced himself for exactly who he was. This was what he enjoyed. He no longer cared what anyone else thought of his choices. The only man’s opinion of him that mattered to him was Ollie’s. And Ollie had made it clear he loved him exactly as he was.
Once they finished drinking, Jonas turned and lay back on the bed, calling Ollie to him with his gaze alone. When Ollie moved on top of him, Jonas willingly parted his legs and wrapped them around Ollie’s hips.
“But I haven’t prepared you.”
“I’m ready for you.” Jonas had slid a greaser inside right before the ritual started because he knew this was how it would end. They would come together as equals, but eventually, he would surrender his body to Ollie.
“I truly do love you, Jonas.” Ollie cupped his big hands on either side of Jonas’s head. “I can’t imagine being with anyone but you.”
“I honestly love you, Ollie.” Jonas couldn’t help but shed a few tears. He was so happy and grateful he felt overwhelmed. “Those are tears of joy.”
“I know.” Ollie kissed them away as he lowered his body against him.
Ever so slowly, Ollie slipped his cock inside Jonas. Even though they had done this dozens of times, this night was special because this time they were committed to one another in body, soul, and blood.
“I won’t last,” Ollie breathed against the scar he’d made on Jonas’s neck.
“Nor will I,” Jonas confirmed as he wrapped his legs around Ollie’s hips, digging his heels into his buttocks. “I don’t want to make this a marathon session, my love.”
“I don’t want to make it a sprint.”
They laughed together, and then Jonas lifted his upper body so he could peer over Ollie’s broad back.
“What?” Ollie asked.
“McBride.”
Ollie looked over toward the vanity. “He’s gone.”
“I think he couldn’t take any more.” Jonas relaxed into the bed.
“We must do something for him after all he’s done for us.” Ollie plunged his hands under Jonas’s back then gripped his shoulders. Slowly, Ollie rocked his body atop Jonas, using his handholds to steady Jonas for his thrusts.
“Don’t do anything unless he asks.” Jonas let out a gasp of lust and longing as Ollie drilled his cock ever deeper. By angling his hips, Jonas allowed his mate to go so fully inside it was almost painful.
“I want to help him.” Ollie lowered his mouth to the scar he’d made upon Jonas’s neck. Rather than bite, he teased over the mark, making Jonas squirm with delicious agony.
“I want to help him, too, but I don’t want to push him where he doesn’t want to go.” Jonas still couldn’t comprehend McBride’s amazing generosity. Where his father had been secretive and utterly self-serving, McBride seemed to be open and completely selfless. “Your master is unlike any landed gentryman I’ve ever met.”
“He is that.” Ollie lifted his head and grinned at Jonas.
“Did you—do you—you aren’t attracted to—”
“How can you even ask that after all we’ve done to be together?” Ollie seemed so deeply hurt that Jonas went overboard to reassure him.
“I’m a fool to even suggest such a thing.” Jonas kissed Ollie a dozen times. “Forgive me?”
“You know I do.” Ollie kissed him back, but he took his time and placed the kisses with deliberate intent. “You are just worried because everything is so new and fragile.”
“You know me far better than I thought.” Jonas hooked his feet together and pulled, ramming Ollie into him. Arching up, he met his drilling prick with total acceptance. “Ah, my love.”
“You make me crazed.” Ollie lowered his lips to the scar against Jonas’s neck and teased it as he rocked his cock in and out of the clutching heat of Jonas’s ass. “Tell me the truth that you will always be mine.”
“Forever yours. Always and forever yours.” Jonas struggled to catch his breath, but he was unable to do so when Ollie thrust hard and bit him. While sucking hard of his blood, Ollie plunged his prick, making his mark so deep inside Jonas no one would ever be able to erase his show of possession.
“Say it. Say what I want to hear.”
“I surrender. I give all that I am to you.” Jonas arched up and climaxed against his mate’s belly. He couldn’t see, hear, or feel anything for the longest time. Lost in the bliss of submission, Jonas only knew the profound power of his chosen.
“I claim you with all that I am.” Ollie rocked his body atop Jonas, his cock reaching new depths with each thrust. Once Ollie bottomed out in Jonas’s body, he growled, bit down, and drew hard, sucking Jonas’s blood. The rush of loss was almost frightening, but Jonas knew Ollie wouldn’t drain his life force away.
After a deep swallow, Ollie licked the wound closed, lifted his head, and grinned down at Jonas. “You amaze me.”
“I do?” Jonas felt weak but not from blood loss. His languid feeling was from knowing he was now eternally bonded to his mate.
“You do. Your trust in me is one thing, but the fact that you gave up so much simply to be with me is spellbinding.”
Jonas reached up and cupped his lover’s face. “That you accept me just as I am, for all that I am, is what makes me so willing to do anything, everything to be with you.”
Chapter 16
McBride left the master bedroom because he couldn’t take another minute of watching Jonas and Ollie twine their bodies, souls, and bloods together. They represented everything he wanted and would never have. He envied them for their bliss, but moreover he resented them for showing him exactly what he could never obtain with the man of his dreams. No matter what McBride did, he couldn’t duplicate what Jonas and Ollie had captured with Caleb.
Watching them bond together had been difficult because McBride had to put aside his own longings. When he realized that he couldn’t ever bond because he’d claimed Jonas as his companion, something in his soul cried out. He’d made a mess of things. Well, that wasn’t totally true. Ollie and Jonas were happy, and even though they had to live a lie, McBride thought they would continue on being grateful for what they had because it was far superior to nothing.
McBride thought of these things as he made his way down the hall. He wanted to get as far from the master suite as he could. The last thing he needed right now was to hear the sounds of their passion. He went to the opposite end of the wing and entered a bedroom. Without turning on a light, he went over to the window and peered down into the cul-de-sac.
Most of the lights were out in the tiny houses, but Caleb’s light was still on. He was sitting with his back to the window. McBride studied him, wondering what he was doing. Reading? He was looking down at something on the table, but his hand was making rhythmic motions over whatever it was.
Rather than try to figure out what he was up to, McBride allowed himself the total indulgence of just looking at and enjoying the sight of Caleb. His back was bare since he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Bronzed skin stretched over his powerful frame, but McBride knew that color would only darken as the summer drew on. Each day would add a bit more to his tan, which would make his smile seem whiter.
Sadly, McBride didn’t think Caleb was going to be smiling any time soon.
That made McBride wonder if Caleb had watched the shadows dance against the windows of the master bedroom. If Caleb had indeed watched, had he believed what he’d seen? McBride didn’t know, and he certainly couldn’t ask. From this point forward, he and Jonas were dedicated and fully bonded companions.
Reaching out toward the window, McBride touched the tiny image of Caleb. When Caleb turned as if to luxuriate in the stroke, McBride grinned, but his joy faded when Caleb rose from the table, shut off the light, and disappeared into the darkness. This was as close as he was ever going to get. Even drinking from Caleb would be impossible. McBride didn’t think he could keep up the charade when he was alone with a man whose mere gaze could inflame his passions.
As if summoned, his crimetech, Quintus, called, making the back of his earlobe vibrate. McBride knew it was him since he’d given him a distinctive tone. He didn’t want to miss anything about the Larsden case.
“McBride here,” he said after touching the back of his ear to activate the unit.
“Quintus here.”
There was a long beat of silence that made McBride stand up from the window. “What’s wrong?”
Quintus didn’t ask how he knew, nor did he try to downplay the news he had to share. He spit it out in one big chunk. “We have another case just like Larsden.”
Everything in McBride’s body turned ice cold. Fear laced his muscles with adrenaline, preparing him for fight or flight, but he could do neither. There was no one to fight, and there was nowhere to run.
“It gets worse.”
Even though he didn’t want to ask, McBride found himself doing just that. “How?”
“The man, Denafo, lived in a close-knit neighborhood.”
“They heard what was going on?”
“They did,” Quintus confirmed. “One tried to stop him and almost got his arm wrenched off for his trouble. He’s over at the hospital now, but he won’t be there long.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Everyone is leaving. Word spread like wildfire.”
Ollie Morgan [Seven Brothers for McBride 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 11