Aiden sighed softly and nodded. “Yes, please. Can you also reach out to Sofia? It would be best if she or a trusted representative from the Montgomery clan were present as well.”
“I’m sure Sofia will make time for this meeting after she learns what occurred.”
Aiden narrowed his eyes on Marcus. “She doesn’t need a full report.”
Marcus shrugged. “I can tell her, or I can leave it to Rafe. God only knows what that will sound like since he’s already getting the story secondhand.”
“It must be a full moon. You’ve never been such an evil child.”
His son chuckled. “Blame it on the fact that you’ve never been quite so easy to tease.” Clearing his throat, Marcus’s expression turned serious again. “However, what I was going to suggest was that, since it will be a few hours before we can get everyone gathered, maybe you could show our newest exile to where he will be staying with us. You can talk. Maybe Ronan knows something more of the Ministry’s plans that we don’t yet.”
“Oh? Do you have a dungeon?” Ronan asked playfully.
Marcus glared at Ronan but said nothing.
“Thank you, Marcus. Message me when the others are to arrive.” Aiden turned his attention to Winter, who was watching both him and Ronan with a strange expression, as if his youngest son were still trying to process that he had kissed the other vampire. “Thank you for acting so swiftly and protecting Ronan.”
Winter groaned. “Yeah, well…you seemed fond of his face.” He paused and rolled his eyes, though it seemed to be directed at himself. “A lot more than I was expecting.”
Aiden nodded. He didn’t want to try to explain the emotions tangled up in his chest. At least, not until he started to work them out.
He led the way out of his office and up the grand staircase to the second floor, Ronan following behind him on silent footfalls.
“You know, if your family is not comfortable with me staying here, I can arrange for other safe lodgings,” Ronan offered.
“You’re new to this city. You have no idea what’s safe,” Aiden scoffed. He paused outside a pair of double doors and turned to face Ronan, his heart hammering in his chest. “Besides, I’ll never be able to sleep during the day unless I’m sure you are safe.”
Turning back toward the doors, he pushed them both open and stepped inside. There was a small sitting area that led to the rest of the bedroom with its large bed and thick canopy. The decor was a mix of white, silver, and cool shades of blue. A simple, understated elegance. To the left was a private bath done in white and gray marble with silver fixtures.
“It’s beautiful,” Ronan murmured. “Far better than I’ve enjoyed in a long time.” He stepped up behind Aiden and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on Aiden’s shoulder. “But you could always save the cleaning crew the work and let me stay in your room.”
Aiden pulled away from Ronan enough so that he was facing him. “This is my room.”
Ronan’s head jerked around, taking in the space with fresh eyes. From where they stood, he might be able to see some of his personal grooming products on the bathroom counter. There were a few pictures of his sons on the bureau as well, but there wasn’t a lot of evidence that it belonged to Aiden.
“Really? Are you sure?”
Leaning in, Aiden lightly brushed his lips across Ronan’s. “Stay,” he breathed.
“Yes,” Ronan whispered before seizing his mouth in a blistering kiss.
Aiden let the kiss consume him for only a moment, and then he was pushing Ronan away with a grin. “Go shut the doors,” he instructed as he backpedaled. Aiden shrugged out of his suit jacket and tossed it over a chair while he toed out of his shoes. Ronan nodded and darted away, pushing the doors closed.
When Ronan moved toward him, it was more like watching a large cat on the prowl. Sinewy muscles rolled and flowed, bringing them closer while those dark predator eyes narrowed on him. He wanted to be this man’s prey at last. He wanted to feel his mouth, teeth, and hands all over him.
Ronan tossed aside his jacket and pulled off his tie. It landed somewhere over his shoulder. Aiden didn’t see where. He couldn’t take his eyes off Ronan’s face.
“Are you sure about this?” Ronan asked in a low, rough voice.
A harsh laugh ripped from Aiden’s lips. “I’ve been sure since we were teenagers. I think I’ve been asked to wait long enough.”
Ronan slid his arms around Aiden’s waist, but he pulled away when Aiden moved in to kiss him again. Aiden’s brow furrowed. “I wanted to be sure because once I have you, I’m never letting you go again. This isn’t some fling for me.” Ronan lowered his head to brush his nose to Aiden’s cheek. “I know you’re still getting over the loss of your Julianna. I will move as slowly as you need me to, but I swear that movement will always be forward. I want you to be mine forever.”
Closing his eyes against the sting of tears, Aiden nodded. “That’s what I want too. We’ll figure the rest out later. Just want you with me.”
The kiss was slower this time. Aiden fell into learning and exploring the man he hadn’t seen in so long but was sure he knew as well as he knew himself. Questing fingers steadily removed his tie and plucked at buttons until his shirt fell away as if by magic. Aiden’s fingers stumbled over Ronan’s clothes until they both hissed at finally feeling skin on skin. He knew this body against his. He’d watched Ronan moving, fighting, washing, and even fucking when they were human, but he’d never felt his flesh and muscle pressed to him. Not like this.
Aiden’s hands roamed down Ronan’s back to cup both ass cheeks, holding him prisoner as Aiden rolled his hips, grinding their dicks together through far too much material. Ronan broke off their kiss on a loud groan.
“Jesus fuck, Aiden. That should be illegal,” he muttered. “I will never forgive you if you make me come in my damn pants.”
Moving his lips along Ronan’s jaw, he lightly nibbled on his neck as Ronan tilted his head to the side. “And how would you prefer to come?”
“With you deep inside me,” Ronan gritted out. His fingers tangled in Aiden’s hair and grabbed his hip, as if he were trying hold as much of Aiden against him as possible.
Aiden hummed and licked across Ronan’s shoulder. “Then we should finish getting these clothes out of our way.” And yet they continued to kiss and hold each other tight for another several minutes. He couldn’t get himself to release Ronan. They’d never been this close before. Life and time and fate had kept ripping them apart. If they stopped, would something new present itself to destroy this moment?
Ronan chuckled and finally put his hands on Aiden’s shoulders, pushing him to place some distance between them. A chill of cold seemed to sweep over him where Ronan’s warm flesh had been just a moment ago. “Not going anywhere. Nothing could possibly stop us right now.”
“I have children,” Aiden said flatly.
Ronan snorted. “You have grown children, and if they don’t want a very graphic show involving their father, then they will stay away.”
“True.” Aiden attacked his pants, shoving them off along with his briefs. He tugged at his socks while watching Ronan struggling to keep his balance as he undressed as well.