WARNING: Toe-sucking.
Aldwin POV
"I'm not some fragile piece of porcelain, wolfy."
They lay together in their own little corner of the Healarium. This crystalline bed was all well and good, if a little strange, but Aldwin wanted to be with his new mate somewhere more private. D*mn those Hemmings!
Caden chuckled as he continued massaging Aldwin's feet, his tone playful. "Oh, I know you're not, love. But you deserve a little pampering. Let me take care of you for once."
Caden licked and sucked Aldwin's feet, making the ex-bandit gasp. "Nnnngh," Aldwin choked out. "How did you know?"
Caden kissed his feet, kneeling before him. "I didn't. But I have a bit of a foot fetish. And you have damn sexy feet."
"They're callused and worn from too-tight boots and freezing my toes off at times."
"Like I said, sexy."
Aldwin gasped again, his toes curling as Caden's tongue and lips moved over his feet. "S-stop, that's- ah!" H
Caden grinned at Aldwin's reaction, loving how sensitive his mate was. "Oh, why should I stop? You seem to be enjoying it more than you're willing to admit." He continued his sweet torture, his touch both teasing and tender.
Aldwin tried to rein in his reactions, but his body betrayed him. He squirmed and let out another soft gasp as Caden's tongue and lips work their magic. "B-bastard ..."
Caden chuckled, his eyes glimmering with mischief. "Yep, and I'm all yours." He continued his deliberate, skilled assault on Aldwin's feet.
Aldwin's breathing grew ragged, his toes flexing and curling with pleasure. "You're fighting dirty, you know that?"
Caden grinned wider. "Oh, are you now?" He leaned down and licked the sole of Aldwin's foot, his tongue flickering against the sensitive skin. "I think I can use that ..."
Aldwin craved this man's touch. This pleasure. Oh God.
It should bother him that they were doing this in the Healarium, even though he'd taken his pleasure in a bedroll when camped and surrounded by a dozen or more men ... he'd just been as silent as on one of his jobs. But when his mate touched him, he couldn't resist ...
His mate.
He might as well surrender to this. To his fate. To those bewitching lips like velvet.
Caden kissed his instep. "You're tough, tender, and you'll protect the pack like nobody's business. You'll be a great Luna."
A Luna. A ruler. From the leader of one of the most notorious bandit clans to the ruler of a wolf pack. A Luna was usually a woman.
"Are there male Lunas and female Alphas?"
Caden smiled. "It's not common ... but it does happen. Luna Ravyn is now the Alpha of the Silverpaw Pack, because even though the Alpha is the last word, everyone knows that what comes from the Luna is as good as what comes from the Alpha, just like any royal couple."
Aldwin felt a chin thinking about what happened to Jude. "Terrible thing ... a great king like that being plagued by something inside him. It's a wonder he's not babbling in a corner."
"Not Alpha Jude." Caden smiled appreciatively at him. "You're all heart, you know that?"
Aldwin shuddered, feeling completely exposed. "Hmph, don't go getting soft as pudding on me. I'm a hardened criminal, remember?"
Caden slowed his touch, turning more gentle and loving. "Oh yes, you're a heartless bandit." He worked Aldwin's toes slowly, making them feel as soft as new leather. "So heartless. Spending hours with a little boy, teaching him how to be a great Alpha."
Aldwin's eyes rolled back in his head. "I don't know whether to curse you or kiss you."
Caden lay beside him, taking care not to rub against his bandage. "I'll take that kiss."
Aldwin devoured Caden with his eyes. "Then give me those gorgeous lips for me to plunder."
He craned his neck and captured Caden's lips in a fierce and passionate kiss. He didn't even feel the pain from the blazing wound in his side. Caden moaned into the kiss. Aldwin bit down gently on Caden's bottom lip, his hands roaming over his mate's abs.
Caden buried his head in Aldwin's shoulder, nuzzling and nipping at his skin. "When you're better, you're in for a long night."
Caden lay on the outside of the bed, as if to protect Aldwin from more attacks. From anyone that might seek to injure him or even upset him in any way. He buried his bearded, mustachioed face in Aldwin's shoulder, kissing his skin, stroking Aldwin's unruly dark hair and beard. "I'd give you the claiming bite, but you should rest."
"I don't give a flying dwarf about rest. I'll rest later. Claim me."
Caden smirked, and stroked the side of Aldwin's long neck. "With pleasure. This gorgeous, strong neck is what I want to put my mark on. Everyone will know you're mine. Are you ready? Because once I bite you--"
"Just do it already."
He was used to pain. He could take pain. Blazing wound in his side, and he still wanted to kiss and caress this man. You'd think that being skin to skin with someone would be the last thing on his mind, but maybe he was just as sturdy as old boots.
Caden licked his neck as gently and delicately as he'd done to Caden's toes.
Aldwin shuddered hard enough to rattle his bones as Caden's teeth sank deep into his flesh. "Wolfy ... that hurts so good."
Caden kissed the tingling patch of skin. "There. All better. Can you feel what I feel?"
"Smug as all-get-out?"
"That's it. NOW, you rest."
Exhaustion overtook Aldwin and he clasped Caden close, falling into a contented sleep. He'd have to be discharged from Lord Talon's and Lady Kelara's employ, and travel to a frozen, harsh land he'd never seen ... but for now, he felt contented.
He fell into a deeper sleep than he'd ever known in his life.
Just a couple of romantic interlude chapters, then we go back to the serious drama with Jude. I love Aldwin and Caden! They're a great couple and include a little A/B/O.
Creation is hard, cheer me up!