Chapter 78
“It is your duty, Donal, to be to Alexei a considerate, tender, faithful, and loving husband, to support and cherish him in prosperity and trouble. To give him counsel and help him to bear his burdens with grace, to comfort him in need and rejoice with him in plenty—to love him as your Mate for all eternity. Do you do as I say?srdquo;
“I do.” Donal gave Alexei a wide smile.
“You may exchange rings.”
Alexei took the rings from Armand that he had taken off their fingers no more than an hour ago. He gave the larger one to Donal, and Donal slipped it on his finger. He slid the smaller ring onto Donal’s finger, and they both raised their eyes to Justice Albert.
“I now pronounce you spouses. May the gods look on this union with loving intentions and may our Alpha and Alpha Mate live in happiness for the rest of their days.”
“Here, here,” shouted Etienne.
Donal and Alexei walked down the aisle arm in arm, a mated and married pair under loup garou and human law.
* * * *
New York townhouse
Late Thursday evening
Vasily and Grigory brought the bags into the house. “Tell Boris and Katya we will unpack in the morning. I want my Donal and my bed in that order.” Alexei’s arm snaked out and he pulled Donal to his side and into the elevator. He pushed the button for the third floor and seized Donal’s shoulders. He leaned over and scorched Donal’s lips with his soul-stirring kiss.
The elevator door opened, and Alexei still had Donal in a lip lock. Finally, they had to breathe. Alexei grabbed Donal’s hand and dragged him into the master suite. Both of them kicked off their shoes. They had changed clothing on the plane, so Alexei was able to remove Donal’s sweater and turtleneck in one smooth move.
Alexei tumbled Donal down onto the bed, frantically reaching for his Mate’s belt. Alexei unbuckled the belt, undid the closure, and pushed Donal’s pants over his hips. “I’m crazy for you. I’ve got to have you.” Alexei pulled the slacks and boxers down the rest of the way and flung them to the floor. He quickly undressed himself and joined Donal on the bed, covering his face in a frenzy of kisses.
Feeling under the pillow, he found a tube of lube, not the desensitizing lube but something called Ride Silk Hybrid. Alexei remembered what Armand told him about not using the desensitizing lube for more than the first few times. Obviously Vasily had paid attention because what was under the pillow was exactly what he needed.
“You’re making me nuts…take me. I want it hard and fast.” Donal bit Alexei’s neck.
“I’m not using the numbing lube tonight. I want to make sure you don’t tear.”
“Are you using lube?” There it was, the note of uncertainty in his mouse’s voice; the fear of being hurt. Donal tried hard to trust in his love, but his brain and life experience kept getting in the way.
“Of course we’re using lube, just a different kind that will allow you and I to tell if you are about to be hurt.” Alexei needed to be patient with Donal. His mouse had little reason to trust. It was a miracle Donal trusted him enough to mate and marry him. Damn Arthur McConnell for putting his mouse on the path he had traveled.
The realization that Donal had doubted him washed over his mouse’s face. “I’m so sorry.” Donal started to cry.
“You have been sorely abused, little mouse. It is good that you are looking out for yourself, even with me, but I swear to you, I’ll never hurt you on purpose.” Alexei attempted to soothe by rubbing circles on Donal’s back and speaking in a silken voice.
“My heart knows that, but sometimes my head gets in the way.” Donal swiped at his eyes.
“Don’t cry. I’m going to spend the rest of our lives proving how much I love you and want to care for you.” Alexei slowed down and gave Donal lazy kisses, palming his cock. Donal, by some miracle, hadn’t gone soft. When Donal was hard and weeping pre-cum, Alexei kissed his chest and moved down to his cock. He took Donal’s hard shaft in his hand and stroked, and then took it in his mouth and used the flat of his tongue on the sensitive underside.
He plunged his mouth down on Donal’s cock which was now leaking pre-cum at a furious rate. Alexei licked at the head and around rim. Alexei lifted his head and moved down to suck on Donal’s balls.