Page 20 of The Cordial Bride

Ian set the cup on the nightstand and wrapped his arms more firmly around Calan. “Are you hungry? There’s some bread, cheese and honey that someone was thoughtful enough to set out for us along with the wine.”

Calan couldn’t help giggling. “That someone was me. As the bride, it was my responsibility to make sure we were well-provisioned for this night. You shouldn’t be surprised, either. That wine and the cheese and honey are what you gave my aunt, and I made the bread from the flour and salt that you also brought.”

“Huh! Your customs are finally beginning to make sense to my blockhead. Everything has a practical application as well as providing the continuity of customs. But who decked out our room with all this pretty finery?” Ian plucked up a flower petal and rubbed it against one of Calan’s nipples. “Silky soft, like your skin.”

Calan couldn’t hold back a moan and a shudder. “That must have been the doing of the women on the council. For sure, Aunt Celia didn’t bother to do it.” He bit his lip as his cock started to rise. “It’s usually done by the bride’s friends, but I didn’t expect it because I don’t really have any of my own…friends that is. Not close ones, anyway. I’ve always been better with plants and animals than people. And it’s a womanly thing to do. I may be your bride, but I’m still a boy.”

Ian left the petal where it was and moved his hand down to clasp Calan’s shaft. “Indeed you are. Is your ass too sore for another mounting? I can always suck this, maybe with some of that honey drizzled on it,” he mused.

“Oh.” Calan arched into the touch. “Do I have to choose? Can’t I have both?”

Ian pinched the skin underneath Calan’s cockhead, making him yelp. “Greedy boy. Whatever shall I do with you first?”

Calan had an idea of what he wanted, and Ian’s playful manner made him bold. “How about…” With a quick twist that caught his husband off guard, Calan flipped himself onto his hands and knees. He turned his head to peer at his husband. “Mount me this way. I’ve heard it makes a cock go deeper.”

That fierce look came over Ian’s face once more. “I must thank your source of so much knowledge, although I must also insist that from this point forward, only I will be your teacher.” He grabbed the cream and slathered his now-rock-hard-again dick before positioning himself between Calan’s legs. This time, there was no gentle prep. His husband pressed the head of his cock at Calan’s entrance and pushed his way in balls-deep with one long thrust.

Calan threw his head back before collapsing onto the bed. The pleasure was so unexpectedly intense, he lacked the strength to keep himself in position. It didn’t matter. Ian gripped his hips with a sufficient force to keep him right where he wanted him. The man began to fuck him hard and fast, ramming his dick so deep inside Calan’s ass that it was difficult to breathe. He didn’t mind. Air was overrated compared to the wave of orgasm rippling up from his balls. Cum hit his heaving chest as he panted through the spasms. All the while, his husband bucked against his ass, the sound of skin slapping against skin and harsh breaths filling the room. The man was a beast galloping toward his climax. With a yell, Ian slammed against Calan’s ass and ground his pelvis against it.

Calan thought he must have passed out from exhaustion for a while, because the next thing he knew, he was in Ian’s arms again, his back plastered against his husband’s chest.

“Are you all right, darling? I’m sorry. I fear I was too rough.”

Calan shook his head. “No. It was amazing.” He tilted his head in an effort to look his husband in the eye. “I’m yours now. Nothing can keep us apart.”

Ian’s grip tightened and he kissed the top of Calan’s head. “Yes, you are…my wife. Hmm, I never thought I’d say those words.”

“I like being that—your wife and not just your lover.” He frowned at a thought that hadn’t occurred to him before. “How shall I be known? I mean, what will people call me?”

“My dear, you are Calan, Countess of Charteris, and people will refer to you as ‘my lady’. Will that bother you?”

“Not at all. It’s just another way that marks me as yours.” He frowned again as more questions that had formed in his mind before the marriage bubbled up to the surface. “I want to be known as myself, too, though. My reputation as an apothecary has begun to grow in Shadow Valley. I need to continue with my work, even as your wife. I’ll be terrible at keeping house for you.”

Ian actually laughed. “I think you’ll be better than you expect, because you are a very clever boy. However, you needn’t worry about such things. My household runs very well under the guidance of my housekeeper and major domo. They are the head servants,” he added, wisely understanding that Calan knew nothing of all of this. “One of the reasons I offered to marry you was due to our obvious compatibility. We both like being outside, getting our hands dirty, and being worthwhile. I hate lying around Charteris Manor being waited on, and I expect you’ll feel the same. Besides, the treaty gives you ultimate control over the production and delivery of the cordial. That is a heavy responsibility.”

Calan felt alarmed. “Really? No one told me that.”

“You mean your aunt didn’t.” Ian’s chest rose and fell on a sigh. “One of the best things about marrying you is that I’m glad to free you of her control.”

Guilt overtook his concern about his duties. “I’m afraid that’s something that pleases me, too. She…she hasn’t always been nice to me.”

Ian tightened his hold. “I suspected as much. She’s been remiss, too, I’ll wager, in assuring you of your worth. I know you’ll do right by the treaty and do so much more. There is much to find in Moorcondia. Who knows what medicine you might discover?”

Relieved and comforted, Calan settled more into his husband’s embrace. A large yawn popped out before he could stop it. “I fear I must leave you wanting now, husband.”

Ian kissed the top of his head. “Sleep, darling. I’m not such a ravenous, rutting beast that I can’t wait until morning to have you again.”

“Hmm. Morning sex. I hadn’t realized that was a thing.”

“Oh, it is, as well as afternoon sex and early evening sex. We’ll try them all to see what you like best.”

“I’m sure it will be impossible to choose.” But as much as the idea of lying in bed all day with his husband appealed to him, there was something more that had to be done to make this marriage and the treaty successful. Knowing the power he’d been handed under the terms of the treaty, he would share his secret with the man he loved on the morrow. It was something he’d been considering since the betrothal, and now he was certain it was the right thing to do—and he didn’t need the council or his aunt to tell him so.

* * * *

Calan tugged his husband up the hillside toward their destination with mounting excitement. Ian was uncharacteristically docile, allowing Calan to take charge, not telling him where they were going or why and appeared bemused by Calan’s assertiveness. He seemed inclined to give him whatever he wanted so far in their marriage. Their morning had started with a vigorous bout of lovemaking, as well. There was a deep ache inside Calan’s ass that he reveled in. It marked him as something new. One moment he was still a virgin and the next one, he was… not. He’d peered closely into the mirror in their room before leaving, trying to see if he looked different. While dreaming about the losing of his innocence, he’d assumed he would, that people would somehow know. All that had stared back at him was his usual face, albeit with brightness in his eyes that spoke of the pure joy he felt.

Once he showed Ian his secret, their bond would be complete. That was how he saw it, anyway, and for no other reason than he wanted his marriage to be based on trust as well as affection. Love, perhaps. It was too early to hope for that, but he did, nevertheless. It was in his nature to be exuberant, something he thought Ian liked in him. It was okay to think of such happiness without having to voice it and pressuring his husband into saying something he didn’t feel. He squeezed Ian’s hand with excitement as they approached the cave entrance and put away his other thoughts.

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