Page 45 of Midnight Rules
“I feel you too.” He also felt Marric’s knot grow. Iven worked his hand between them and took a hold of it. Marric moaned and fucked into the pressure. It didn’t take long for Marric to come again.
Marric’s emotions were inside Iven’s head, taking up the empty spaces. Marric was happy and worried all at the same time.
“You don’t need to worry about anything, honey. I’ve got you.” Iven kissed his temple. “I’ll take care of you.”
Marric finished drinking and pulled his teeth out of Iven’s shoulder. He licked across the wound. “I’ll take care of you too.”
Iven had never had anyone say that to him before.
Chapter Twenty
The sun, streaming through the crack in the curtains, woke Marric. His ass ached. He smiled without opening his eyes. He reached his hand out for Iven and came up empty. His smiled died but it came back again when he finally cracked his eyes open. Even half-lidded and still sleepy, he saw Iven sitting at Marric’s desk.
Iven slumped over what appeared to be a stack of papers. It was probably the file for Marric’s case.
Marric watched him for several minutes before he made enough noise to alert Iven to his wakefulness.
As soon as Iven discovered it, he stopped what he was doing and came over to the bed, sitting on the side.
Marric curled around Iven. “Good morning, Sheriff.”
Iven feathered his fingers through Marric’s hair. It was probably a mess. He’d slept deeper than he had in a long time. “Good morning, my little thief.”
Marric chuckled, giving Iven the reaction he wanted. “We have an inside joke now. That makes us official.”
“The mating bond did that. The inside jokes mean we like each other. It’s a huge step in the right direction.”
Marric met his gaze. He couldn’t help but smile when he saw the mating mark on Iven’s neck. “Everyone’s going to know.”
Iven nodded. “You’ll have to walk around with your shirt off for everyone to see your mating mark.”
Marric moved and pushed the covers down, exposing the intertwining vine tattoo on his chest. It was green and vibrant. The circle had formed perfectly. “It’s really pretty.”
“Thank you. Not that I picked the design. They just sort of form. No one really knows why or how.”
Marric shrugged. “The why and how doesn’t matter. It’s a permanent mark that says we belong with each other. Nothing can take it away.”
Iven frowned. “Your father is going to be pissed.”
“My dad can mind his own business and stay out of my love life. You’re mine and I’m not giving you up for him or anyone else.” Marric hugged Iven around the middle again, burying his nose in Iven’s underwear-covered cock.
He still smelled like sex. A small amount of cum clung to him even after cleaning up last night. But they’d made love twice, so it was no wonder.
“We’ll face whatever comes at us together.” Iven ran his hand along Marric’s back and side.
“What were you working on?” Marric didn’t want to change the subject. But he had made a confession about loving Iven. Or at least, he sort of did. And he wanted Iven to focus on something else. Since they hadn’t known each other for more than a few days and most of those Marric had spent bedridden with a fever, he wasn’t sure if Iven would believe him. The argument that it was too soon was a sound one. Marric would have a tough time convincing him.
“The case.” Iven trailed his hand down Marric’s side. Marric was still naked underneath the covers, so Iven could touch his bare ass.
Marric moved into his touch, wanting Iven to slip his finger inside. There was still a little lube and come inside him to slick the way. And his ass ached so deliciously. It reminded him of every gentle touch and how Iven’s thrusts were always slow and thoughtful until he lost himself in the pleasure.
“If you want to talk about the case, stop doing that to my ass.” Marric didn’t want Iven to stop, but he’d talk if that’s what Iven needed.
Iven stood and pushed the covers off Marric. “I don’t want to pop our little bubble yet.”
Marric lay on his back and pulled his legs back. “Do you mean the bubble with just you and I in it, where we’re fucking each other senseless?”
Iven chuckled. He grabbed the lube before crawling onto the bed. “Yeah, that’s the one I’m talking about.”
