Page 11 of Heart's Flame

“Wait,” Vian said, hands gripping his shoulders as Marcellus dropped to his knees. “You don’t—”

“I want this.” Marcellus looked up at him. “Do you?”

“Fuck,” Vian breathed. “Of course, I do. I just...you didn’t have to get on your knees for me.”

Marcellus smiled and leaned in to lick the head of Vian’s ample cock. “You’re the only man I’ll get on my knees for.”

Vian groaned above him as Marcellus sucked Vian into his mouth, tonguing his slit and tracing the veins running down his shaft. He popped off with a wet sound and wrapped a hand around Vian’s base, stroking him slowly. “You have a beautiful prick.”

Vian moaned out a chuckle. “I’d like to see yours. I bet it’s prettier.” Without waiting for a reply, Vian reached down and hauled Marcellus to his feet.

With deft fingers, Vian found the tie at the side of Marcellus’s breeches and pulled. The thin material slid down his legs. He kicked them to the side and watched Vian’s face as he swept his eyes over Marcellus’s skin.

“Definitely prettier than mine,” Vian rasped, getting his hand between them and wrapping it around Marcellus’s length.

He sucked in a deep breath at the feel of Vian’s calloused hand working over his most sensitive skin. Vian walked them backwards, kissing Marcellus as he lowered them both to the pallet.

“I don’t know about that,” Marcellus said, spreading his legs so Vian could settle between them. He thrust up, rocking their hips together, his cock dragging against Vian’s spit-slicked length.

“I do.” Vian ground down against him, a low groan spilling out of his mouth. “You’re going to make me embarrass myself. It’s been a long time.”

Getting his hands on Vian’s face, he looked into his dark eyes. “For me, too. Let’s just enjoy each other.”

Vian’s smile was small and private as he brought their lips together again, bodies rutting against one another as they chased their orgasms. With Vian’s breath hot on his neck, Marcellus came between them in a hot, sticky rush.

Vian followed him only moments after, the ground beneath them shaking as he bit down on the top of Marcellus’s shoulder and came with a grunt.

They lay panting until Marcellus barked out a laugh. “Did your orgasm just cause a small earthquake?”

Vian’s shoulders started to shake where he was still laying on Marcellus. He raised his head, hair half out of its binding and a blissed out look on his face. “Yes, I believe it did.”

A chuckle escaped him. “Our life will never be dull, will it?”

Vian hummed. “Our life…” He kissed Marcellus then, full of warmth and promise and the aching need for each other Marcellus was sure they’d have the best time trying to satisfy.

7

It started as a prickle on the edge of his awareness. Vian rolled over in his sleep, keeping his body pressed against the length of Marcellus’s, and ignored the sensation beginning to crawl through his body.

Vian!The shout in his mind was as loud as thunder.

Eyes snapping open, Vian jumped to his feet, naked skin pebbling in the cold.

“Vian?” Marcellus asked behind him, eyes squinted in the dim light of the tent as he sat up.

He held up a hand, asking for quiet and closed his eyes, focusing on the earth beneath his feet. The blue stone on the leather thong around his neck warmed.

Vian, I need your help. It’s Laiken.Coren’s voice filled his head again, quieter this time. His friend was the only soul outside this camp that knew about his affinity for earth magic. Years ago, when they were still boys, he’d taken the aquamarine stone and split it in two, imbuing the half he gifted Coren with enough earth magic that his friend could reach out to him in times of trouble. Only days ago on the full moon, Coren had used the stone, asking for Vian’s help for Laiken after the werewolf had slipped away. What if someone had discovered what Laiken was?

The Conservatory of Mages ruled that all werecreatures must register themselves. Laiken had been human until two months ago. The wolf that bit him was never found, but if he’d not kept it secret and registered as their laws dictated, he would have been unable to continue his training as a healer. Werecreatures weren’t allowed to be healers. They weren’t allowed to be a lot of things, and according to the law, they must always deny their biology and lock themselves up on the full moon even though older werecreatures who’d mastered their control were no more of a threat than any other person.

It was one of the many laws that Vian didn’t agree with, and one of the main reasons why he’d been working with his father and Dem in secret before his mother wiped his memories. He’d been helping werecreatures and witches over the northern border where they could find peace and community in camps like this one. Someday, these camps would become villages and towns and the peoples that made up this northern territory would be strong enough to govern themselves.

He held his half of the blue stone in a tight fist and thought,I’m coming.

The magic in the stones wasn’t enough for a true telepathic communication. Coren had no skill for magic and wouldn’t be able to hear Vian’s words in his head, but he’d told Vian he always got a feeling in his gut that his message had been received. Vian hoped he had that feeling now. He wouldn’t let his friend face whatever had happened to Laiken alone.

“Vian,” Marcellus said again, climbing to his feet as well. “What is it?”

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