Jade Archer - Sandpipers 2 - Raven's Mark (21 page)

Mark paced around Raven’s living room, unable to settle and too wound up to really take any of the details in. Which was a pity. This definitely wasn’t how he envisioned his first visit to Raven’s apartment.

After a long afternoon of answering questions, followed by both Ryan and Wolf needing some serious comfort and reassurance, then the guys insisting on feeding them, Mark was exhausted. He was ready to collapse in a heap and sleep for a week.

Several tender spots had made their presence known over the course of the last few hours. He’d come away with scrapes, bruises and a rather nasty gash to his right elbow after his run in with Maria’s car and the rough asphalt of the parking lot. The muscle aches alone had him wishing for a long, hot soak in a tub. But mentally he couldn’t switch off and settle. What-ifs and dark thoughts plagued him like a swarm of mosquitoes, each taking a bite out of his composure. They ate away at his peace of mind until he was running dry and ready to start climbing the walls.

Thank goodness it was actually his night off at the restaurant. He honestly didn’t feel up to running a kitchen this evening. Not to mention he couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from Raven and Ryan right now. Even waiting for Raven to come back from tucking Ryan into bed was killing him.

Mark turned and paced back across the length of the living room. The police had arrested Maria. Of course, there were no guarantees she would stay in jail. That was up to the courts to decide. But the fact she’d violated a restraining order, been caught red-handed kidnapping a child, crashed the getaway car and started abusing the cops that turned up to attend the scene certainly wouldn’t help her case. The only saving grace was she hadn’t been as drunk as Mark had initially feared. Apparently adrenaline and pressure had done a number on her driving skills and a mild concussion had messed with her coordination after the crash. Still, hopefully they wouldn’t hear from her for a very long time.

But regardless of what happened in the future, Mark was unbelievably proud of the way Raven stood up to her. Raven had proven himself to be a fighter. He’d taken Maria on and won. Maybe not physically, and she might never be truly banished from their lives, but from now on, Raven would fight and win. And more importantly, the look of triumph in Raven’s eyes as the police led Maria away said he knew it. That was where the real victory lay.

Unfortunately, Mark wasn’t so sure he could claim a similar victory over his own demons. The crisis was over, but inside Mark’s guts churned and his already sore body ached with tension. He couldn’t stop thinking about how close things had come to disaster.

The muscles in his neck cramped. The room was too quiet and still. There was nothing to do. Nothing to distract and focus on but the sheer terror of Ryan having been in a car crash with a lunatic. He could have been killed.

The crash that had claimed his parents—his father in the twisted hunks of metal, his mother in the years of pain and depression that followed—came rushing to the present. Only it was Ryan and Raven he’d nearly lost. Then the shaking started and Mark simply couldn’t stop. He shook so hard his teeth literally rattled. He was dimly aware of a low moan escaping, but there was nothing he could do to hold it back. Control slipping further and further away, he leant back against the closest wall, closed his eyes and bowed his head. Desperately trying to hold it all together, he clenched and unclenched his hands.

Mark’s head jerked up, sending a stabbing pain up the back of his neck and straight into the base of his skull. He swallowed and stared back at Raven, not trusting his voice to answer.

His lover looked so worried. Mark desperately wanted to do something to take that look of concern away. God knew Raven had enough on his plate right now. But he couldn’t come up with anything. He just stood and stared.

Without a word, Raven walked over to him, stepped right in and very gently pulled him into a hug. Mark shuddered in the embrace.
“Shh, it’s ok-kay,” Raven murmured.
And the slim hold he had on his self-control shattered. He pulled Raven closer and hung on for dear life. “Don’t leave me. Please. You’re not allowed to die and leave me.”
Raven’s breath hitched. “Oh M-Mark.”
His lover’s arms tightened around him and it felt so good, and yet at the same time he was mortified by the words that had escaped him. They’d just tumbled out without permission. Embarrassed, distraught and so damn tight inside it felt like a giant fist was wrapped around his heart and lungs, trying to squeeze the life out of him, Mark clung to Raven. Every last word was the truth—every syllable the stark vulnerability at his core. Mark could only hang on and trust in Raven.
“You know I can’t p-promise that, M-Mark.” Raven stopped to take several deep breaths.
“Raven—”
“Shh.” Raven raised his head to fix Mark with bright, shimmering eyes. “I can ppromise I love you. I can p-promise here and now and…as m-many days as I’m g-given.”
Mark didn’t have the words in that moment. And even if he did he wasn’t sure he’d have been able to get them out past the painful, raw constriction of his throat. Instead he kissed Raven. Hard and desperate, Mark put everything he couldn’t say into his mouth devouring Raven’s.
Nothing was spared. Teeth, tongues, soft moans and the bruising pressure of their lips was everything. The rest of the world just fell away. If he could have he would have pulled Raven right into himself so they’d never have to part. Blood rushed in his ears. His heart drummed wildly, finally escaping the vice-like grip of fear that threatened to crush it.
When they eventually pulled away, something had eased and settled inside him even as a new burning desire and need had taken its place.
Raven took a step back, and Mark instantly reached for him.
But Raven just took his hand. “Come with m-me.”
Caught up in the velvet-over-steel look in Raven’s eyes, Mark was in no position to argue. He trailed obediently behind as Raven led him by the hand down the hallway and into what was obviously his bedroom.
It was a nice room—dark reds and creams and honey-coloured wood. Still holding his hand, Raven walked them over to a dresser and lit several candles lined up along the top. One by one the small flames began to dance and sway above their wicks. With a flick of the light switch, the room was plunged into the soft, warm glow of candlelight.
It was beautiful. But not nearly as beautiful as Raven in that moment. Inside and out, he was incredible. And he was ‘it’ for Mark. He knew it down to his last breath. Raven was the other half of his soul. The half he’d never realised was missing…until Raven.
They came together for another kiss, meeting in the middle as if each move was choreographed. And this time the kiss was slow and tender and filled with a gentle calm that gradually filtered in past Mark’s defences.
It went on and on—wondrous and all consuming. Then, still kissing, Raven gently began to manoeuvre them towards the bed. And reality intruded.
Mark pulled out of the kiss. “Wait. Your arm and ribs. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You w-won’t,” Raven promised, his voice low and husky and so damn sexy Mark’s cock throbbed at the sound. “Just lie down with m-me.”
Mark still hesitated. The thought of causing Raven any pain overrode everything, even the primitive need to make love and know they really were okay after the trauma of the afternoon and recent weeks.
“Come on. It’ll be okay. I p-promise,” Raven said, tugging gently on his hand.
Mark moved onto the bed, all the time watching Raven as he lay back, searching to make sure there were no doubts or second thoughts on his lover’s face.
There weren’t.
But as Raven crawled into the bed and wriggled into place beside him, his bottom lip still caught between his teeth.
“You’re hurting?” Mark asked quickly.
“Not enough to m-make me want to stop.”
Mark hesitated, studying Raven. All he saw was a sensual, determined lover staring back at him. He was so gorgeous.
Raven started to turn towards him, but stopped on a quickly indrawn breath.
“Raven—”
Raven ignored the concern and tugged at him insistently. “Kiss m-me.”
Mark suddenly realised how much of an idiot he was. It would be much more comfortable for Raven with his banged up ribs and heavy cast if he lay still while letting Mark do all the work. He cursed himself for not thinking of it sooner and quickly moved to lean over Raven. He offered a light kiss to Raven’s lips by way of unspoken apology. Raven smiled and pulled him in for a more demanding kiss.
When they finally broke apart they were both breathless and Mark’s cock was rock hard behind his zipper. Glancing down, he saw that Raven was in a similar predicament. Unable to help himself, Mark palmed the inviting bulge.
Raven moaned and thrust up into his hand. It was a sheer delight seeing the lust clouding his lover’s eyes.
“There’s one…c-condition,” Raven suddenly said, and Mark froze.
“What?”
Raven’s eyes cleared a little as he stared up at him. “All my d-days, freely and without hesitation, but…you have to p-promise to live them to the fullest with me. No more worrying about things you c-can’t do anything about. No second-guessing each other.”
It was a pretty tall order and probably completely unrealistic. But Mark could certainly get behind the spirit in which it was intended. More than anything he wanted what Raven was promising for them. And seeing the way Raven looked at him right now, he believed in it too. Together they could do anything.
He took a deep, shuddering breath and released the last of the day’s tension. “Cross my heart.”
Raven’s soft smile turned into a wide grin. He reached down to fumble with Mark’s pants. Wrong handed and at an awkward angle, Mark had to help. And while he was there he helped himself to the pleasure of freeing Raven’s gorgeous cock as well.
Mark settled into a more comfortable position, then turned slightly towards Raven until he was able to reach both their cocks.
“Let me,” he murmured, and Raven nodded.
One hand on Raven, one hand on his own cock, Mark began to stroke them both at the same time. Up and down, caressing the sweet spot under the crowns in unison and watching as pre-cum leaked from the slit of Raven’s cock to coat and wet the mushroom-shaped head. It caught the golden light from the candles and glistened invitingly.
But as wonderful as it was to feel Raven in his hand, to be able to pleasure them together like this, it was also slightly clumsy and awkward. And he wanted more. He wanted to taste Raven. To drink him in.
He shifted until he knelt between Raven’s legs and took his lover’s cock into his mouth. The salty drops of pre-cum over his tongue made him moan in delight. He drew more of Raven’s cock in until the tip touched the back of his throat. He couldn’t quite pull off the porno swallow trick, but he put everything he had into making the sensation of his tongue and lips and the suction of his mouth as he moved up and down over Raven’s cock as pleasurable as he could possibly make it.
“M-Mark!”
Oh, he wanted so much more of that desperate, needy sound. Forever.
Redoubling his efforts, he reached down and stroked his own hard shaft. He wanted to come with Raven so badly.
“Oh M-Mark! I… Oh! M-more.”
Running completely on instinct, Mark reached up under Raven’s soft cotton shirt and tweaked one hard, peaked nipple. And that was all it took. His mouth was flooded with the creamy, salty essence of Raven’s seed. The sensation pushed him over the edge at the same time. Lightning bolts of pleasure raced up his spine. His balls pulled tight and his cock exploded, sending long splashes of cum over his hand. He moaned around Raven’s cock in ecstasy.
He stroked himself through the orgasm as he continued to swallow Raven down and gently licking him clean. He finally let the softening shaft slip from between his lips right before he knew the sensation would be too much for Raven to bear.
He pulled back and looked up the length of his lover’s body. Raven shuddered with an aftershock, his eyes still closed and his lips parted sensually.
“M-Mark.”
Mark couldn’t resist. He carefully crawled up the bed, making sure to keep his weight well away from bruised ribs and broken arm, then bent to taste the sweet look of euphoria from Raven’s lips. Gently thrusting his tongue into Raven’s mouth, he shared the last drops of cum still lingering there. Raven groaned in answer and thrust his tongue back, licking and exploring to find all the sweet, secret places inside Mark’s mouth.
As the kiss came to an end, he realised there was a mess where he’d shot his load over Raven’s leg and across the sheets. But Mark couldn’t bring himself to be overly worried. He’d clean the sheets for Raven tomorrow and a hundred times over to do what they had just done again.
Retrieving several tissues from the box on the nightstand, Mark cleaned up as best he could for the moment so there wouldn’t be a wet spot. But he was more interested in cuddling than fussing.
Finally, spent and blissfully exhausted, Mark crawled into place and lay down beside Raven. He pulled the blanket up from the foot of the bed to keep them both warm as they snuggled together in the afterglow.
Mark couldn’t deny there had been a little pain for them. His bumps and bruises, Raven’s arm and ribs. But so much pleasure and love at the same time it was worth it. Even with every twinge and ache, it would always be worth it.
“I love you,” Raven whispered.
A lump formed in Mark’s throat and his breath caught. The candles flickered gently and everything was perfect.
“I love you too.”

Raven was so excited he could hardly contain it. The exhilaration building in his chest threatened to go supernova at any second. He’d done it. Finally, after years of patience and practice and plain old-fashioned persistence—going back time after time following yet another knock back—he’d sold his novel to a major publishing house.

Young adult fiction. Sixty thousand words of blood, sweat and tears. The possibility of more books in the same series. Raven’s smile was so big it literally hurt his cheeks. He had to share the moment with Mark. And after that he wanted to tell all the friends he’d unexpectedly found at Sandpipers Restaurant. He wanted to shout it out loud to the world. He was giddy with the thrill of success after so much hard work.

Raven pushed through the door into the kitchen and zeroed in on Mark. His lover stood by one of the counters, concentrating on his knife strokes as he diced stalks of celery with fast, efficient movements. As if sensing his presence as he walked towards him, Mark lifted his head and smiled.