Chapter Seventeen

R yker came awake in increments, wanting to shut out the noise, the world, and continue laying in Marshal's arms.

They still had a long way to go, but after last night, he was hopeful.

First order of business and call him vain for it, but he was going to return the call from the plastic surgeon about his scars. He'd put it off because it hadn't mattered to him what he looked like.

Now?

Well, he wanted to look his best for the man he loved. The man he'd always loved.

Marshal was one of a handful of people in the world that he truly trusted. And none of the small, tight circle of people were his family. Sure, he loved his mom and always would, but he didn't trust her with his secrets because she deferred to his father too much.

And his father? No. He didn't trust him much at all. After all, who would sell their son? Selling him might not be an accurate description of his engagement with Hailey, but with the deal between Hailey's father and his, he might as well have been sold. He wondered if Hailey felt the same way.

Probably.

Marshal's arms tightened around him and Ryker carded his fingers gently through the man's sleep tousled hair.

Thinking of Hailey reminded him that he needed to speak with his father and soon.

This was his life, damn it, and he wasn't marrying just because he'd been told.

"You're thinking pretty hard."

The gruff, sleep-filled voice sent shivers down his spine and visions of last night made his cock go hard.

"Mmm," he agreed.

"Care to share?" Marshal reached up and caught the back of his neck to draw him down for a good morning kiss.

He chuckled softly into the kiss and ran his hands over Marshal's chest, plucking at his nipples. The man's quick inhalation was the only warning before he was flipped onto his back right where he wanted to be.

Hovering above Ryker, Marshal gazed into the man's bright blue eyes.

He wouldn't call it lucky to have this man in his arms, because he didn't believe in luck. But when his lies came out and there was hell to pay, he hoped—if there was such a thing—that luck would be on his side.

And if dreams really did come true, he and Ryker had a long life together ahead of them.

He wanted to go slow and draw making love out, but Ryker slipped a hand down his stomach and gripped his cock.

The man's touch drove him wild and when hands tugged him down, he crushed his mouth to Ryker's throat and sucked up a mark. Ryker moaned and undulated against him and pushed at him.

Curious, he lifted up and Ryker wiggled from beneath him to push him onto his back. Marshal went willingly, watching the slender redhead devour him with a heated gaze.

"Oh fuuuuck." Marshal breathed long and low when Ryker dipped his head and mouthed the head of his cock.

His whole body tightened and he fisted the sheets. It took all the control he had not to grab Ryker, flip him over, and fuck him until dusk.

Ryker swirled his tongue along the crown, over the slit, and down the vein that ran the length of him. And then he did it again. That talented tongue sent him into a tailspin before his cock was engulfed in the warm, wet heat.

Ryker couldn't fit him all in his mouth, but he did a fucking fantastic job at it and Marshal felt his release rolling up. He cupped the back of Ryker's head to pull him off, but the man stayed his hand.

While he loved the blow job, this was not how he wanted to get off. His only desire was to be buried balls deep in Ryker's ass and come so far inside the man that Ryker could never be apart from him. He stood it for as long as he could and then lifted Ryker from his cock. The man's lips were wet and red and Marshal took Ryker's lips in a deep kiss.

Powerlifting Ryker, he rolled them and placed the man beneath him, wrapping those slender legs around his hips, he grabbed the lube and slicked up his cock.

Ryker moaned and thrashed and Marshal grabbed the man's throbbing dick with his slicked hand and gave it several long slow twisting jerks.

Needy, hungry hands scratched at his arms and chest and Marshal knew he'd proudly wear the marks for days.

When Ryker's cock pulsed in his hand, Marshal lifted up enough to slide his slicked dick into the entrance of the man's tight channel.

Slowly, he eased inside as he gave Ryker a lip-crushing kiss. The man moaned into his mouth and bit at him, sending chills of pleasure up Marshal's spine.

Marshal pulled back out and then shoved in again, this time not stopping.

Blue eyes widened and then a gasp left Ryker's throat when he was seated all the way inside.

The tiny gasping sound drove him crazy.

That and the sudden pulsing of Ryker's dick as he came in his hand. Seed covered his fingers.

Marshal groaned, sounding more like an animal, and eased his dick partially out only to shove back in harder. Ryker clung to him with his cock spilling between them, his slender body convulsing, and Marshal could no longer hold back his own release.

He shuddered, jerked, and shot deep.

"Yes," Ryker moaned on a high note, thrusting into his fist, grinding upward.

The man's ass tightened around his cock, milking every ounce of juice from his body.

Their eyes met, gazes locked, and Marshal wanted this moment to last forever.

Ryker had altered his life.

Trembling fingers touched his lips and cupped his jaw and Marshal felt the first moment of fear when he saw the love in Ryker's eyes.

Later, he would realize that this first inkling of fear would not be the last.