With a final thrust, he bottomed out, and Nick wrapped his legs around his waist and his arms around his neck, wanting the connection. He buried his face in Malachi’s neck, inhaling his scent while Malachi held still, probably waiting for Nick’s go-ahead. Nick kissed up his neck to his mouth and murmured, “Go.”
Malachi kissed him again and withdrew before sliding deep again. That electricity expanded, encompassing his entire body until he was nothing but a live wire with every movement and touch flickering with fire.
“Oh, fuck,” he breathed. “More. More, more, more.”
Malachi chuckled on an exhale. “Impatient fucker.”
But he listened and increased his speed and strength, lifting to brace himself on his hands. Nick gripped his shoulders, holding on as Malachi reamed him. His cock bobbed between them, leaking precome in a long string of need that pooled on his stomach. He wrapped one hand around his shaft, hissing at its sensitivity.
“That’s it. Stroke it for me,” Malachi growled. “Show me how much you want it.”
“You. How much I want you.”
Malachi’s eyes darkened further, and he pounded into him. Arousal turned into fire, which evolved into a ball of power set to burn him to a crisp, but still, Malachi took him higher until his breath left his lungs and his entire being clenched and jerked and came apart beneath the man he loved. His eyelids fell shut, his ears ringing loudly enough to block any other noise than the rushing of his blood, and his lungs ached for oxygen.
Finally, he slumped to the bed, his legs and arms falling to the mattress with a thump. His chest heaved, and he pulled his eyes open with effort, meeting Malachi’s pained gaze. Nick frowned and opened his mouth, but Malachi beat him to it.
“Hold tight,” was all the warning Nick got, and his lover began another series of thrusts, sending sparks through Nick once more, but he couldn’t come again. Instead, he focused on helping Malachi to fall over the edge, and when he finally did, Nick was glad he’d come earlier because it gave him the chance to experience the sounds, sights, feel, scents and taste of him as he orgasmed—a sight he was unlikely to forget anytime soon.
When Malachi pulled free, Nick winced but pulled him closer, needing that connection before they cleaned up.
“Was that okay?” Malachi asked, a rasp to his voice, advertising the strain he’d put on it.
“More than. I hope you have more of that in you.” Nick snorted. “For another day, I mean.”
“You feeling your age, Mr Tennant?” Malachi teased, running his fingers up Nick’s stomach and chest.
Nick laughed, catching his wandering hand and tangling their fingers. “Definitely. Though I’m sure I can go again soon if you need to be reminded of how good it was.”
Malachi leaned over him and dropped a kiss on his lips. “I’ll remember how good it was every day,” he whispered.
They shared a grin, but then Nick broke the ensuing silence with common sense. “Come on. We need to clean up.”
Once they had, they snuggled back into bed, Nick as the big spoon, and turned off the light.
“I’m glad you’re back,” Nick murmured against Malachi’s neck.
“Me, too.”
“I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
Malachi tightened the hold he had on Nick’s arm. “I have no doubt.”
The warmth that spread through him at the words was nothing short of love. There was no denying it. He didn’t even want to. He never would. Loving Malachi was the easiest thinghe’d ever done. He just hoped he could keep the promise he’d just made. Because it seemed like someone was out to get him, and they needed to figure out who it was, and quickly.
****
The rest of Malachi’s visit was uneventful. Which was good and bad. Good because it meant Malachi wasn’t in danger, but bad because it meant they were not much closer to an answer than they had been.
Malachi had thanked Andrew repeatedly for the opportunity, and though they knew some bad articles would come from the experience, they also understood the good would outweigh those dreaded words.
Nick had gone back to his usual duties, sleeping at home instead of at the castle, and it was strange. He still saw Malachi, but they had a few weeks of busy schedules ahead of them, including another royal wedding and Dominic’s birthday party, and it meant their one and only night of passion had to keep them going for the next two weeks. It was only on the night of the charity event Brett had asked Malachi and him to attend that he saw his boyfriend in person for more than a passing few minutes or a shared night of exhaustion where they’d both fallen asleep immediately. It hadn’t been the best start to their relationship, but they’d learnt how to communicate through the phone, that was for sure.
Nick had joked about phone sex, but Malachi had pulled a face, so he’d not brought it up again. Maybe they could talk about it face to face before he tried because he wasn’t sure he could go so long without needing to share something with him again. Nick was desperate to touch him, hold him, taste him.
Which was why, when he knocked on Malachi’s door to pick him up for the event, he almost swallowed his tongue at the sight of the freshly pressed tuxedo caressing his lover’s body.
“Holy…” He blew out a breath and swallowed hard. “Yeah, we need to get this evening over with quickly.”