Aiden walked over to Ronan and ran his fingers through the man’s dark hair. They tightened and pulled slightly, tilting Ronan’s head up. “You scared me. So much.” His voice shook, but he didn’t care. “The first time I lost you…it almost broke me. And then losing Julianna. I can’t lose you again so soon. I love you so much.”
“You do?”
“I loved the man you were. And I love the man you are now, even if he is an impulsive idiot who has no idea that the family he’s protecting wants very much to keep him safe as well.”
“Forgive me, my king. My Aiden.”
“Of course.”
“No!” Rafe howled. “You’ve got to let him beg some more.”
“Yes, I think he should definitely beg more,” Philippe murmured.
“He’s quite good at it,” Marcus observed.
Ronan’s smile returned, but there was a lovely wicked cast to it. One hand wrapped around Aiden’s calf and slowly slid upward. “Would that please my king? Would you like me to beg some more? Beg for my life. Beg for your love.”
“You could put a pretty collar on him,” Ethan suggested. “Make him sparkle while he begs.”
“Ahh Marcus, who would have guessed Little Varik would develop such a fondness for collars?” Rafe teased.
“Jealous?” Marcus taunted right back at him.
Aiden blocked out the taunting remarks of his sons to slide his hand down from Ronan’s hair to cup the side of his upturned face. “No begging required. I love you.”
Ronan closed his eyes and pressed his lips to the palm of Aiden’s hand. A shudder ran through him, and Aiden swore he felt a tear dampen his skin. “I’ve waited lifetimes to hear those words, never believing I would. I learned to regret my entire human life because I never said them to you. I love you, Aiden. I always have.”
“I knew. I saw it in every smile and heard it in your voice.” Aiden rubbed his thumb over Ronan’s chin and smiled. “Come upstairs with me. Let me make sure those bastards didn’t harm a hair on you.” Not that he expected to find any injuries on his lover. By now, he would be properly healed, but he knew the only way to chase away the last tendrils of fear was to inspect every inch of Ronan.
“So, I take it we’re making him an official member of the Varik clan later,” Winter drawled, the sarcasm heavy in his voice.
“Later,” Aiden grumbled, but as Ronan climbed back to his feet, he was turning toward the gathering of his sons and sons-in-law.
“Would you accept me as part of your clan? It’s been a very long time since I was last in a clan, but I swear to serve the Variks—”
“It’s not about serving the Variks,” Marcus said, cutting off whatever oath Ronan was ready to make. “It’s about supporting and loving your clanmates, no matter whether they are vampire, shifter, witch, or human. Your family.”
“It’s about protecting each other,” Ethan added.
“Talking them out of stupid ideas,” Fox grumbled. “And there will be a lot of really stupid ideas.” He yelped suddenly, grabbing at Winter’s hand, which had likely pinched him.
“It’s remembering that you’re never alone,” Bel murmured.
“Yes, a large family…who can hear everything you do to their father,” Rafe finished.
Winter groaned. “Yes, go make Father happy. I’m going for a drink and earplugs.”
Aiden started to drag Ronan toward the stairs when they heard Fox snort and mutter, “Like you’re going to hear anything over your own shouting and begging.”
They barely made it to the bedroom before Aiden’s mouth was covering Ronan’s. His lover groaned and stumbled backward through the open door, his arms wrapped around him. Aiden kicked the door closed behind him as hands glided up his spine. Ronan’s skin was still cold to the touch. The insane man might not die from exposure, but it had still been stupid to go outside in the middle of winter without any proper attire. He needed to warm every inch of him up.
Ronan let out the most delicious moan as Aiden dragged his mouth down along Ronan’s neck. “Aiden, please, say it again.”
“I love you,” he whispered in his ear, letting his breath brush against the shell of his ear.
“Again.”
“I love you. Love you so much. Love you with everything that I am.”
Ronan shuddered, his hands pushing up under his clothes to get at his bare skin. “Yes. Love you,” he replied brokenly.
“What do you need?”
“Bite me. Fuck me. Make me yours.”
Chuckling softly, Aiden nuzzled Ronan’s neck again, allowing his fangs to scrape along tender flesh. “Forever.”
Frantic hands tore at clothes. Seams gave way, buttons flew across the room, and fabric ripped in their haste, but Aiden barely noticed. All that mattered was getting to soft flesh, strong muscles, and crinkly hair that tickled as it rubbed against his nipples. Ronan laughed as Aiden shoved him toward the bed. The vampire flopped onto the mattress with a bounce, dislodging pillows. Aiden grabbed the lube, hating to take even that second away from his lover, but he needed that moment to slow down, to rein in his racing thoughts.
When he kneeled on the bed, his eyes lit on each and every streak of blood and healing bruise. Part of him wanted to kill the bastards all over again. How dare they touch Ronan! How dare they harm him in any way!
“It’s not nearly as bad as the dark thoughts filling your mind,” Ronan said gently, holding out his hand toward Aiden.
“They hurt you,” he growled. Squeezing the bottle of lube in both hands just to keep his fingers from shaking.
“And I hurt them back. If it makes you feel better, I’ve got a bruise right here you can kiss and make better.” With his free hand, Ronan pointed to the faintest bruise—that might have in fact been a smudge of dirt—in the middle of his chest.
Aiden arched one eyebrow. “Why do I have a feeling that you might suddenly have a bruise on the end of your dick that needs nursing? We’re not playing this game.”
Ronan gasped loudly. “I would never take advantage of your lips. But I am pretty sure that I have a most horrible bruise on my balls that needs your attention.”
Laughing, Aiden collapsed onto the bed beside Ronan. He wrapped an arm around him, and they rolled until they were facing each other, slowly kissing over and over again. Aiden closed his eyes and sank into the feel of having Ronan against him, encircling him, holding him so that their hearts knocked into one another through their chests. This was heaven and he was afraid he’d never feel it again.
“Cherish every moment,” he whispered into Ronan’s damp lips. His lover hummed happily. “You taught me that, though I’ve been slow to learn. I’ve been so scared that this isn’t real. Scared that I’m going to lose you all over again. I haven’t been cherishing what I have right in front of me.”
Dark eyes blinked open, and Ronan’s smile turned sad. “You’ve had a lot of people trying to take loved ones from you. You’ve been fighting hard for a long time, but I’m here now to help you. We’ll protect our family together.”
Aiden sighed as he kissed Ronan again, sliding his tongue inside his mouth to tangle and dance with Ronan’s. Old weights and fears started to drop off as if Ronan’s strong hands were pushing them from his shoulders. He was lighter, freer than he had been. He could almost float away, but Ronan was there to hold him tight.