Page 23 of Saved By a Barbarian

My clan brother’s expression turned into a grimace. “I have no intention of dragging this out. I do not wish to be away from Finn for that long. I would ask that you come with me, my brother. We are a good team. I believe we can finish things quickly with you by my side. But I’ll understand if you wish to stay with Patrick. I will assign you to stay and hunt for the clan meals instead.”

I’d honestly not thought about how Rath would take this journey. His bonding with Finn was still new. They had yet to be separated from each other beyond hunts for meals. Rath had even more reason to stay behind, but he would go anyway to serve our clan. I did not wish to drag out his suffering by sending him off without me.

“I will go with you.”

Rath shook his head. “You do not?—”

“You are my brother,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “Besides, you’re right. You cannot do it without me. I’m just that good.”

He snorted and rolled his eyes, shoving me away from him. I snickered and shoved him back, starting a game of wrestling between us. It always ended up with him winning—he was a cheat— but it reminded me of our friendship. I would be by his side because he asked me to be. And I could only hope that Patrick would still be here when I returned.

Rath had me in a headlock when Finn and Patrick joined us. Both looked amused at our antics. I did not wish to lose in front of Patrick, so I fought harder to get free, but my victory was short lived. Rath released me to go to his bondmate. I did not actually escape on my own.

Balanced on his crutches, Patrick smiled at me. “You are brave to face him.”

Carefully, I gathered him in my arms so he could rest. “He is a cheat. He only won because of this.”

Rath’s head whipped around, and he glared at me. “I am no cheat. You are just jealous.”

I lifted my chin in challenge, but with Patrick in my arms and Finn wrapped around Rath’s waist, neither of us was willing to have another match. We would need to truly test our strength another time. Perhaps on the hunt.

The reminder made me sigh. I needed to tell Patrick. I hoped he wouldn’t be too angry with me for leaving.

Seventeen

My favorite place in the world was in Verus’s arms. Even after weeks of being with the clan, it still surprised me that he could carry me around so easily. He didn’t even look strained while doing it. His broad smile never wavered as he carried me back to his tent. It was no wonder they had to hunt daily. I’d seen the amount of meat the clan needed to have members so thickly muscled fed and taken care of. It was astounding.

Once I was settled on the thick furs, Verus claimed my lips in a hot kiss. I never had to ask for affection from him. He gave it freely, sought it out the minute we were close to one another. It made me feel loved and wanted every single time. That someone as perfect as him would want me as badly as Verus seemed to felt like a dream come true.

I ran my hands up his thighs after he straddled my hips, still thrilled I could touch him freely without worrying about someone finding us. It was finally starting to sink in that I could be with him without restriction here, without needing to hide. Not even in the towns where same sex relationships were legal were people so obvious about it. I’d never heard of a town where two men could walk down the street hand in hand, much lessone man carrying another around in a bridal carry or kissing him before he left for work. They kept that part of their life private. Here, I could just be with Verus without consequences. It felt a little like heaven.

Verus hummed, leaning into my touch as my palms slid up his chest. I wanted to touch every inch of him all the time. He had the kind of body that needed to be worshiped.

“Patrick,” he groaned, grinding his butt against my erection. I moaned into his mouth, gripping his hips to encourage him to do it again.

Rocking his hips, Verus teased me with the promise of more. We hadn’t gone a day since the first time he brought me to completion without getting off together, but we hadn’t done this before. I wanted to, and I wanted him to take me too, but Verus was taking it slow. He was worried about hurting me.

Still, I couldn’t help but encourage him, slipping my hands to grip his cheeks and knead them. His groan was filled with lust, and he ground a little faster against me, like his control was slipping and he couldn’t help himself. Each roll of his hips made me gasp, and I felt myself edging closer and closer to release.

Ripping his mouth away from mine, Verus moaned. “Patrick, I need—” He gasped and shuddered when I slipped my hands into his trousers and squeezed again. “Oh gods, I need it.”

“Please!” I wasn’t above begging at this point. I knew what he wanted, and I was desperate to give it to him.

Like mypleasewas the permission he was waiting for, Verus jerked away from me, yanking off his boots and trousers and tossing them aside. He went after my clothes with the same urgency, and I barely had time to draw in a breath before I was naked underneath him. I had no time to feel embarrassed about it, my focus glued to the beautiful man above me. He snatched the oil out of the chest nearby and dribbled some on his fingers.Despite my lack of experience, I knew why he needed it and reached for it, wishing I could help prepare him.

Verus pushed my hands away, shaking his head. “If you do it, I’ll come. I need you too much, ravsol. Let me just—” He shuddered, and while I couldn’t see it, watching his face as he stretched himself almost pushed me into completion.

Wrapping my hand around his cock was both a distraction and a small punishment for denying me. He shouted in surprise, thrusting into my hand and back onto his fingers. I watched, fascinated, as he fought to keep his orgasm at bay, his teeth gritted together and his eyes squeezed shut.

He shook his head, prying open his eyes to look at me. “I can’t—I can’t take anymore. I need you too much.”

Happiness and desire swirled in my chest, making me just as needy as he was. “I need you too. Please, Verus.”

He groaned in response, pulling his fingers free and spreading the excess oil over my length. I had to squeeze my eyes shut to stop myself from coming just from his touch, so I wasn’t prepared when he notched the head of my cock against his entrance and sank down onto me.

My eyes flew open on a gasp, and I scrambled for purchase, the pleasure out of this world. Tight, slick heat wrapped around my member, and it took every ounce of control I had not to come instantly.

“V-Verus!”

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