“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.
They shifted together on the bed, legs tangling together as the kiss took on a new urgency. Flesh tugged and little hairs scraped, sending tingles through his nerve endings. Their hard cocks brushed along one another, and they both moaned. Aiden grabbed Ronan’s hip with one hand, forcing him to remain still as Aiden thrust against him, grinding their dicks together. Pre-cum leaked, making the friction and slide all the better. There was an innate decadence to simply touching Ronan, to feeling his body move along his own that made him want to simply luxuriate in all those warm and sinful noises.