Brad’s knot swelled inside him, and Ian groaned, his body stretching to accommodate his alpha.
“Mine,” Brad panted, dragging his wrist down Ian’s chest.
He kissed up Ian’s neck, pausing at Ian’s scent gland. The sharp points of his teeth grazed Ian’s skin, sending a thrill of pleasure down his nerves.
Brad hesitated there, kissing Ian’s scent gland, sucking on it. “I want to mark you so bad.”
Ian’s stomach flipped. Being marked? That sounded so good. “You shouldn’t.”
Brad growled, but he pulled Ian closer against himself, fitting their legs snug together. Then he pressed kisses over Ian’s nape, burying his nose in Ian’s hair. “Mine. You feel perfect.”
Ian huffed a breath of laughter. “I’m not, Brad.”
“Yeah, well. I’m your alpha, so I decide. And I think you’re perfect.”
Ian wanted to protest. But the sentiment was sweet, and despite his cynicism, he couldn’t help but want to believe Brad. “I’m too old for you, you know.”
“Fuck that.”
Brad hugged Ian closer so their bodies were pressed together, sweat and all. And Ian didn’t mind it a single bit.
It was bliss, being held by Brad just because. When there was nowhere either of them had to be, and Ian could fall asleep in the safety of his alpha’s arms.
“You ever think you shouldn’t do this?” Ian murmured, his fatigue creeping back in.
Brad snorted. “Sometimes I wonder why you don’t mind sticking around me. I mean… you could do so much better.”
Ian blinked. “Better than you? Are you serious?”
“Yeah. I told you, you’re perfect. Beautiful.”
Even though Brad sounded honest, Ian tried squirming around, to look Brad in the eye. He half-managed, propping himself up on his elbows, Brad’s knot locked firmly inside him. His body tugged on Brad, and pleasure thrummed through him. They both groaned.
Brad swept the longer strands of Ian’s hair behind his ear. “I wouldn’t be here if I thought you were terrible, you know.”
“This is your home,” Ian said dryly. “Of course you’d be here.” He couldn’t bear to consider the implications of Brad’s words.
Brad rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“But this isn’t love,” Ian said. “Is it?”
Brad stroked down Ian’s side. “Close enough. Made my heart hurt, though, when you cried today. I want to help.”
“You were helping.” Ian blushed, looking down. “I love your music.”
“You do?” Brad’s eyes gleamed. He pressed kisses up Ian’s arm, and Ian realized Brad had kissed over the scars without batting an eyelid.
“You kissed my scars.”
Brad raised an eyebrow. “You thought I wouldn’t?”
Then Brad dipped his head, kissing around Ian’s arm, as far as he could reach.
Ian’s heart squeezed. “What are you doing, Brad Saxon?”
“Kissing you. Showing you I really don’t care about the scars. I just don’t want you to add more to yourself, okay?”
Ian’s throat grew tight. His heart swelled, and he didn’t know what it was he felt toward Brad, this tight, aching feeling in his chest. “This isn’t going to last, is it? You and me.”
Brad glanced up, meeting his eyes. “Only if you don’t want it to.”
“Why are you even interested in me?”
“I told you. You’re a good person. You’re kind. You listen to me without judging. You’ve raised Gwen better than I ever could, and, well.” Brad blushed, looking away. “Just… just that.”
“I’m also eighteen years older than you. And I was supposed to be your teacher.”
Brad snorted. “Not like it mattered when you were begging me to fuck you, did it?”
He rolled his hips, pushing his knot deeper into Ian. Ian groaned, and Brad smirked.
“So I want you to know that you’re terrific. And I’ll play all the music that you want. I’ve got them in MP3 files, you know. You can load them onto CDs and play them in your car. That’s if you… well, if you really want…”
Brad looked embarrassed then, uncharacteristically shy. Ian’s heart melted. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, if Ian gave in. “I’d like that. Please.”
Brad smiled, leaning in to press a kiss to Ian’s lips. “I’ll put them on a CD first thing tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” Ian said, leaning into Brad. “You don’t know how much better I felt after listening to you play.”
“Yeah?” Brad’s eyes filled with joy, and Ian couldn’t believe how fond he was of this man.
I can’t be in love. But what else could this feeling be?
“Yes,” Ian said, snuggling into his alpha.
His adrenaline faded, fatigue chasing on its heels. It was deeper, more powerful than before, turning Ian’s limbs heavy with each moment he lay with Brad. “I need to—to sleep.” He yawned.
“I’m here,” Brad murmured, tugging the sheets over them both.
“If anything h-happens to Gwen tonight—” Ian fought off another yawn, his eyelids drooping “—please wake me up.”
Brad squeezed his arm, kissing his shoulder. “I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
Then Brad froze, swearing.
“What?” Ian asked.
“Before I forget—did Gwen tell you she kissed some kid in her class?”
Ian frowned, trying to imagine that. He decided he didn’t want to. “She what?”
“Yeah,” Brad said. “Exactly how I felt. She said she did the tongue thing. She said it was gross, though, so I don’t think you have to worry.”
“Oh, gods,” Ian groaned, covering his face. Gwen, French-kissing someone? “This isn’t—isn’t the right time to deal with this.”
“I know. Sorry.” Brad slid his arm around Ian’s chest, pulling him close. “Just wanted to say it before I forget. Thought you’d want to deal with it.”
“Thanks,” Ian said. He’d probably give her a warning when he woke up, just so she wouldn’t get herself into uncomfortable situations again. Maybe Brad would be around for that, too.
The thought of Brad parenting with him… it sounded nice. Familiar. Like Ian had someone to count on.
“I’ll remind you in the morning,” Brad said. “Sorry. Sleep now. I’ll check on her later.”
Ian tried to fight off the drowsiness that fogged over his mind, but it was difficult to. “I—I’ll try.”
He
