“Come here.”
Despite the fact he was just as big and strong as Quintus himself, Renner approached and tentatively knelt down between Quintus’s spread legs.
“I should clean up.”
“I liked the taste of you before. I see no reason to change anything now.” Quintus reached out and stroked his finger over the fresh scar he’d made on Renner’s neck. He was rewarded with a soft sigh of surrender as Renner tilted his head. “Tell me what it feels like.”
“Sir?”
“When I touch the scar. What does it feel like?” Quintus knew that if he bonded to McBride, he would have a scar on his neck that McBride could tease. Of course, McBride would carry Quintus’s mark as well. Given how it clearly affected Renner, Quintus wasn’t so sure he wanted a corresponding spot on his body that would enslave him to another.
“It feels—it feels as if you are touching all the erotic nerves in my body at once.” Renner clenched his eyes closed.
“Explain.”
“I don’t know how any more than that.”
“If I keep stroking you here,” Quintus said, slowing the passes he made against the scar, “will you climax?”
“I don’t know.”
“McBride never teases you?” Quintus knew the lines between gentrymen and slammers were quite well delineated, but now that everything was falling apart, he didn’t think it mattered so much. All his life he’d controlled himself. Why should he continue doing so when all he’d done was keep himself from a world of intense pleasure?
“No. He touches a bit, feeds, then goes.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
“I do. He’s nice.” Renner opened his eyes and looked sharply at Quintus. “I would not deliberately do anything to hurt him.”
“Neither would I.” Quintus kept right on touching his mark upon the devilishly handsome slammer. “Did he give you permission to bare your neck to me?”
“Yes.” Renner dropped his probing gaze.
“And you don’t want to?”
“I…” His voice trailed off. When Renner spoke again, his voice was a tortured whisper. “I shouldn’t want to as much as I do.”
Leaving off his scar, Quintus slipped his finger below Renner’s chin, urging him to lift his face until they were looking into each other’s eyes. He held him there for a timeless moment that he was loathe to break. He wanted to just stop time so he could memorize every smooth and rough line of Renner’s expressive face. His brown eyes were wide, innocent, and yet almost desperately hungry. His mouth trembled with a confusing mix of lust and fear. But it was the way his breath caught, and then he’d make an almost-imperceptible whimper deep in his chest. That was what pushed at Quintus to command him. Just as slammers were conditioned to submit, Quintus had to acknowledge that he was driven to take control.
Unable to resist, Quintus lifted him up until he was pressed against him and their lips were so close and yet so far. Holding him there, Quintus closed his eyes and drew a deep breath, smelling and tasting Renner before he ultimately lowered his mouth and covered Renner’s.
As soon as the contact came, Quintus was assured that his attraction was reciprocated. Renner surrendered against him, leaning up, moving closer so that he was pressing against Quintus’s bare chest. Smoothing his hand down his neck, forgoing the scar, Quintus got to work unbuttoning Renner’s shirt.
Renner pressed his hand against Quintus’s as if he would stop him, but his resolve faltered and he groaned. In the end, he helped to strip the garment away. As soon as it was gone, they were chest to chest. The shock of his hot flesh stunned Quintus. He couldn’t recall anything ever feeling as good as this man. He wanted to taste him again, but more importantly, he wanted to know him.
“Tell me what you dream of.”
“What?” Renner met his gaze, puzzled but obviously willing to please.
“What’s your fondest dream?”
“I want you.”
The comment hung in the air between them, true and stunning.
“I want you, too.” Quintus urged him close for another kiss, but Renner lowered his head.
“We shouldn’t.”
“Why?” Quintus placed his fingertip upon the scar again, but he only held it there. He didn’t think it was fair to cloud Renner’s judgment with lust.
“Because you’re promised to another.”
“I never promised McBride anything.”
“No?” Hope flared in Renner’s eyes.
“No. I thought he asked me here because we work together. Nothing more.”
“You don’t want him?” Renner seemed utterly shocked by the very idea of anyone not wanting his powerful master.
“He’s handsome, strong, and I’m sure he would be a good provider.” Quintus’s words only slumped Renner’s shoulders. “But I find that I want you.”
Up came Renner’s head, his eyes so full of yearning it was positively striking.
“But it’s illegal.”
“Not anymore.” Quintus stroked lightly over the scar then lowered his hand to Renner’s shoulder. His muscles strained under his touch, and Quintus realized it wasn’t just his teasing of the scar that aroused Renner. Simply placing his hand on his shoulder was erotic torment. “Everything has changed.”
Renner frowned and looked away.
“Should your brother and the gentryman he’s with be locked up?”
“No.” Renner’s frown deepened.
“Then why is it any different for you and me?”
Rather than answer, Renner rose up and pressed his lips against Quintus’s. A surge of need made Quintus grasp Renner’s buttocks and pull him tight. He felt incredibly strong. Using his massive body for balance, Quintus moved closer to the edge of the bed, grinding their bodies together. All that stood between his cock and Renner’s chest was the thin fabric of his underwear.
Clearly hungry for more, Renner rose up so that more of their bodies were pressed together. Groaning and grasping, they were like wild animals writhing against one another, seeking release. Quintus shoved his hand between their bodies and fumbled with Renner’s trousers, pushing them off once he got the fastener open. Renner matched him when he struggled to push Quintus’s underwear down.
When he wasn’t able to get them out of the way, he broke the kiss and pulled back. Quintus lifted up to assist him in pulling the garment down, but Renner yanked the fabric out of the way then wrapped his lips around Quintus’s cock.
A cry of surprise broke free against his best efforts to suppress it. Quintus had wondered what it would feel like to have another man take his prick in his mouth, but all the imaginings in the world didn’t come close to the slick heat of Renner’s mouth. The shock of pleasure was so great, Quintus feared he would release without fully experiencing the moment. As if he sensed his urge to climax, Renner backed off. He didn’t stop working his mouth on Quintus’s cock. He just eased back on the intensity.
When Renner reached up and stroked his hands over Quintus’s nipples, he settled back on the bed, lost in the feelings that Renner evoked. He was beautiful in his passion, eager and hungry to give Quintus pleasure. It was as if he’d been holding back his entire life and was suddenly set free.
With great care, Renner rose up, letting off Quintus’s cock while he pulled his underwear down and off. As he tugged them past the injury on Quintus’s leg, he gently kissed over the top of the bandage. It was an island of compassion in their sea of raw passion. Even though Renner was clearly hungry for sex, he hadn’t lost sight of his need to tend to Quintus’s injury.
Once his underwear was down and gone, Renner returned to teasing his cock. On the verge of completely losing control, Quintus pulled him up onto the bed. Renner groaned as they ground their bodies together. It was rough but sweet at the same time.
“Your leg.”
“It’s fine.” Quintus squirmed and wriggled until he and Renner were lying the correct direction on the bed. He slipped his uninjured leg between Renner’s thighs and encouraged him to rock his hips.
“Wait.” Renner was up and off the bed, yanking off his boots and trousers so fast it was almost like magic. When they were gone, he was back. He grabbed Quintus’s leg and centered it between his. Now when he rocked against him, Quintus felt the rough hair of Renner’s body and the smooth slickness of his pre-cum.
Quintus lowered his mouth to the scar, teasing his lips over the surface, loving the way Renner groaned and increased his hold on Quintus’s leg. Sliding his hand down his back, Quintus teased Renner’s hole then slipped his finger his ass.
“You’re slick.” Renner was tight, but he was also slick inside.
“I used a greaser.”
Quintus was stunned for a moment, almost shocked that Renner knew before he did where this was going to go, but then he was glad he’d thought ahead. Moreover, it was obvious he was willing. As much as Quintus hungered for him, he certainly didn’t want to take him against his will.
“Are you angry?” Renner asked.
“I’m pleased.” While teasing his tight nipples, Quintus continued to work open his snug hole. Renner was rocking his hips so fast Quintus was certain he would climax in mere moments.
Urging him to his back, Quintus pushed Renner’s legs apart so while he teased the tight channel of his ass, he was able to suck his cock.
Renner uttered a cry of longing while he continued to hold back. Determined to have his pleasure on his tongue, Quintus kept right on plunging his fingers while flicking his tongue over the sensitive tip of his prick. Hearing and feeling Renner struggle to hang on to his release only prompted Quintus to work harder for his reward. And then, almost by accident, he found the rhythm that pushed Renner right over the edge.
With a breathless cry, Renner climaxed, rewarding Quintus with the luscious taste of his gushing pleasure. As soon as he’d drunk the last, he found Renner easing him to his back, and then his lips were wrapped around Quintus’s cock. Up and down he worked his mouth until Quintus was so hard he practically hurt.
Rising up, Renner slung his leg over Quintus’s hips and lowered himself until he pressed Quintus’s cock against the slick entrance of his ass.
Their gazes met and held.
“Do you want to stop?” Quintus dreaded that he would say yes, but if he didn’t ask, he would always fear he’d somehow forced Renner into intimacy against his will even though he was on top.
“No. I’ve waited all my life for you.”
It was sweet and almost shyly romantic, but Quintus felt the same way. He’d never come close to sex with any other man. He’d never had any interest until Renner had dropped to his knees to offer him comfort against the dirt road and his injury. His big hands had been gentle, his expression concerned and kind.
With trembling excitement, Renner lowered himself onto Quintus’s cock. The feel of slowly penetrating his body was unlike anything he’d ever felt. It was tight, hot, and so slick he struggled to keep his eyes open. But he wanted to watch the rapture that overtook Renner’s features. He was beautiful in his bliss. When Renner held steady, Quintus’s cock continued to slide within. Before he knew it, he was buried as deeply as he could go.
Renner’s head went back. He made a purring whimper that caused Quintus to involuntarily flick his hips.
“Yes. That’s so perfect.”
With Renner’s encouragement, Quintus flicked them again. And again. Each time, Renner shivered and took another incremental bit of his cock. Just when Quintus didn’t think it could get any better, Renner clenched his buttocks, crushing his rectum around Quintus’s cock.
Growling, Quintus placed his hands on Renner’s hips, holding him as he rocked. To get better leverage, he lifted his legs, cradling Renner’s back against his thighs. When he looked down, he was able to see his prick sliding in and out of Renner. The visual added with the scents and the sounds made Quintus long to increase his pace, but he held back.
“Come close.”
Renner touched the scar on his neck and grinned. “Time it right at the moment of climax.” He lowered down, stretching his legs out behind him, offering up his neck.
Endeavoring to do as Renner suggested, Quintus teased the scar, loving the sounds of pleasure Renner made. He lifted his hands to Quintus’s shoulders, clinging tight as Quintus rocked his hips faster and faster. Right at the moment when he felt the inevitable rising up through his body, he bit down. Blood gushed into his mouth as his climax gushed into his mate.
Mate
.
The word startled him for a split second, but then he simply accepted the rightness of the feeling. Gentrymen generally selected
companions
, but what did it matter what word he used? Renner was his, and only his. Wrapping his arms around him, feeling him jetting against his belly, Quintus decided he was going to fully embrace this brave new world and live life on his own terms. The only problem was telling McBride.
McBride sat at the head of the table with Quintus seated at the other end. Along each side his men sat across from their mates, with Caleb and Renner sitting across from one another on his end of the table since they were the only two without companions. As soon as he could, McBride would rectify that situation, but he felt the time had come to claim a man for himself. He’d waited far too long and had almost gotten himself entangled with a man who would never make him happy. With Quintus, McBride could keep with tradition and be ready to reinstate law and order when the time came.