Chapter 35

“Couldn’t we come home later, after the house has retired for the evening?” Niall asked for the tenth time as Ran parked in the courtyard and shut off the car.

“Stop. This is our home and we’re done living in fear. We’ve wasted too many years,” he said as he gave Niall’s hand a squeeze then cocked his head. “Let’s go. We’re starting over tonight,” he added and Niall’s lips fluttered as he forced out a breath before he nodded.

“We’ve wasted too many years,” he agreed under his breath then offered Ran a weak smile. “Let’s get this over with. I didn’t get to prepare the conservatory before I left and I’m worried about what I’m going to find,” he admitted and Ran chuckled as he pushed his door open.

“Nature found a way to survive for quite a bit of time before man came along, I’m sure it can manage a week without you. Everything will be fine,” he promised as Niall got out and made his way around the car. He hesitated at the bottom step and his eyes were large and heavy as he looked up at the stained glass windows and spires.

“It doesn’t feel the same, does it?” He asked and Ran grinned as he took Niall’s hand.

“It doesn’t. It feels like Spring, like a long, hard winter has come to an end,” he said then gave Niall’s hand a tug before he pulled him up the steps. The door opened and Pearson smiled as he waved them in.

“Welcome home, Lord Lachlan. Lord Brewarden,” he said as he bowed and Ran felt Niall trip as the entire staff stared, waiting to greet them. Everyone down to the newest footman was gathered in the main hall, at the foot of the stairs.

“Thank you, Pearson. It’s wonderful to be home and we have excellent news,” Ran said. His voice rose as he looked around and he pulled Niall against his side and put his arm around his shoulders. He was shaking and studying his feet as he prayed under his breath. “Trust me,” Ran whispered then cleared his throat as he addressed the crowd. “First, some…other news. Lady Brewarden and my stepbrother, Mr. Simon, were killed and while his lordship and I have been cleared, we’re not at liberty to discuss the events that led to their demise. But I feel confident in saying that myself, his lordship and everyone at Gallahide will pull together, heal and enjoy a brighter, happier future,” he said and paused as everyone nodded and tried their best to hide their relief. Ran angled his head in acknowledgement then cleared his throat. “I am very pleased to announce his lordship and I will be getting married once we’ve had time to mourn appropriately and sort out the legal details,” he stated and Niall leaned against him for support as his legs failed and his eyes flared. A wild eruption of laughter, whistles and cheers filled the hall and Pearson and Ms. Brundage dabbed at their eyes. “As you can imagine, this is a lot for Lord Brewarden. We’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing before we interrupted and we’ll give him a little time to get himself together,” Ran announced and people clapped and hugged each other and waved at them then slowly drifted down the hall and back to their assigned duties.

“Why did you do that?” Niall asked hoarsely as he blinked rapidly at the tile. He looked dazed and pale. Ran scooped him into his arms and Niall’s arm locked around him, as he clung to him for support.

“Because I knew they’d be neither surprised nor bothered and their only question was going to be ‘When are the two of you going to get the hell on with it, Lord Dunderhead?’” He explained and Niall’s eyes narrowed and he looked dubious.

“I’m sure more than a few of them are disappointed you didn’t find someone a little more exciting and famous or powerful. Or a woman,” he speculated and Ran shook his head dismissively.

“I’ve known these people my whole life and the younger staff grew up with me. They know you and what kind of man you are. You’re the only one who believed Isla’s lies about you. Everyone loves us and wants us to be happy. We’re home now and we’re going to be happy,” he insisted and Niall relaxed and rested his chin on Ran’s shoulder.

“And married?”

“And married. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted to share my life with. You are my life. I’ll tie myself to you in every way I can and I want everyone to know I belong to you,” Ran explained and Niall muffled a nervous shriek as he bit him.

“This doesn’t feel real,” he said then leaned back in Ran’s arms. “I don’t know what to do now,” he confessed and Ran caught his chin and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“Check on your butterflies and catch your breath. You’ll feel better once you’ve seen that everything’s fine and the nightmare’s behind us,” he said and Niall nodded. “Do you want me to have something prepared? We stopped for dinner a little early,” Ran asked and Niall shook his head.

“I’m glad we stopped earlier, I can’t eat now,” he stated. Ran frowned in concern but Niall patted his chest. “I’m really happy and excited. It’s just surreal to be here and know it’s all over and we don’t have to hide anything anymore. I’m expecting Isla to come down the stairs and remind me of what I did or that I can never have you. But I’ll be fine.”

“I’m going to run out to my office for a moment then head upstairs to bed, come up whenever you’re ready,” Ran said and a startled laugh burst from Niall as he clutched his forehead.

“I won’t be too long,” he replied shakily and Ran watched Niall closely as he backed away then turned and hurried down the hall to his conservatory.

“He’s handling this well,” Ran said then chuckled as he headed for his office. His smile fell as he tried to image how traumatizing Niall’s existence must have been. Niall went to great lengths to hide it from Ran but he still felt responsible. He ignored his gut when it came to Isla and Simon and thought it was enough to keep them confined to Gallahide instead of… “What was I supposed to do with them? Have them committed?” He shook his head as he pushed open the door to his office. He was done being blindly obedient to his father’s wishes. His father had a vision for Lachlan and Gallahide but it was time for something else. It was time for Ran to accept that the last Lord Lachlan put his own happiness before Ran’s and their legacy and it almost destroyed everything. Isla and Simon would have squandered it all and hurt countless people if Niall hadn’t stopped them. Ran and Niall’s love would be Lachlan’s legacy. They defeated their dragons and together, they would do great things for the world and Gallahide would be a happy, peaceful place again. And Ran was at peace. For the first time in his adult life, he had a clear vision and was optimistic.

Niall was still downstairs so Ran took his time undressing and brushing his teeth then settled into bed. He was halfway through pretending to read a contract when there was a soft tap at the door. “Yes?” He asked as he raised a brow then pulled in his lips to keep from smiling as it opened and Niall’s head peeked tentatively around it. “You don’t have to knock,” Ran said as he tossed the stack of papers on the bedside table. He crossed his arms over his chest as he reclined against the headboard. Niall’s face was a deep red and his eyes dropped to the floor as he slipped in and shut the door behind him. He pressed his back against it as if he wasn’t sure it was safe and Ran cleared his throat. Niall’s lips twisted as he pushed away from it then leaned and scanned as he took a few steps.

“I’ve only stuck my head in here a few times, I’ve never actually been inside,” he admitted and Ran’s eyes flicked upwards as he considered. He’d visited Niall’s room but never actually entered it. But it was strange that Niall had never been in his room, Ran had always been so open with him and they were so close… Then again, they did their best to avoid temptation as much as they could. Aside from the conservatory, they were rarely alone behind closed doors.

“You can move your things in here or keep them in your old room but we’ll sleep here and the whole castle’s yours. Go anywhere you want,” Ran said and Niall’s eyes were huge as they snapped to his.

“But it’s not…” He started to argue and Ran gave him a hard look.

“It would all be gone, if it weren’t for you. I’d probably be dead, the line would end and Gallahide would go to the Trust. This is our home now. You helped fight for it,” he said firmly and Niall threw up his hands as he looked out the window and was a little stunned for a moment. The view of the gardens and the stud was breathtaking as the setting sun turned the vale into a blanket of deep blues and purples as it spread around the estate.

“I love you and I had to save you,” Niall said simply as he turned back to the bed and Ran groaned as he took off his glasses and set them on top of his reports.

“Come to bed, lad. I love you more than life itself and this is where you belong,” he said and Niall made a dreamy sound as he drifted closer. He was shaking as he pulled his shirt over his head and let it drop and Ran felt a tremor of anticipation as Niall unzipped his pants.

“Are you…” He flailed vaguely at the sheet stretched across Ran’s waist and he grinned.

“Always. I don’t wear pajamas and I’m not a big fan of underwear,” he stated and Niall nodded jerkily.

“I noticed you don’t wear any when you’re in London,” he said as he pushed his boxers down his legs and Ran stifled another tremor. He never allowed himself to believe it was possible but this was what his heart yearned for, more than anything. Ran went to bed every night wishing Niall was next to him. He imagined talking about their day and exchanging advice as they settled into bed then flirting and teasing until they got carried away. It was such a distant, impossible idea then suddenly, it was real and Ran could touch Niall as much and as often as he wanted. They belonged together and nothing was standing in their way anymore.

“I wasn’t worried about being decent,” he said absently as he reached for Niall’s hand. He pulled it to his lips and kissed it as he looked up at him. “Anything you want,” he whispered as his lips danced across his knuckles. “All I want is to make you happy from now on.”

“Anything?” Niall asked as his eyes slid down Ran’s chest and stomach then settled in his lap. Ran’s cock became heavy as heat swirled in his groin. He wasn’t sure where Niall’s imagination was going but he was staring at Ran’s hard-on as it pressed against the sheet and there was so much longing in his gaze, it made his heart stop.

“Anything,” Ran vowed and Niall pulled in a steadying breath as he reached for the edge of the sheet then raised it. His head tilted and his teeth dug into his lip as he whimpered. “Anything,” Ran repeated but it came out as a plea and a soft, shy smile tugged at Niall’s lips. He set his knee between Ran’s thighs and carefully crawled over him. Their lips clung before he slid lower, rubbing his face all over Ran’s body along the way. Niall spread Ran’s thighs then settled between them. His arms wound tight around Ran’s waist and he hugged him as he rested his head on his thigh. Niall made a deeply content sound as he nuzzled his face into Ran’s groin and pressed it against his cock. His breath huffed against Ran’s sack as the tension left his body.

“I just want to stay like this,” Niall muffled as he held Ran tighter then inhaled euphorically.

“Like this?” Ran asked in disbelief as he cradled Niall’s head uncertainly.

“Just like this. I used to go to sleep with my face buried in my pillow and I’d pretend we were laying like this and I could stay here all night,” Niall explained with his nose and lips pushed deeper into Ran’s crotch.

“Sure… We can do this, I suppose,” Ran murmured and his lips tightened as he looked around. He reached for his glasses and the stack of papers and his hand froze as Niall’s tongue washed up the length of his erection then curled around the end. Niall sucked as his head burrowed into his lap and Ran grabbed the headboard and braced his hand on the mattress as Niall took him deep into his throat. His arms and hands were lashed around Ran’s middle and Niall’s head rose and fell slowly as he swallowed his length. He was so thorough and demanding. Niall’s lips and tongue pulled at Ran’s shaft as they bathed it in lush, sucking heat and pleasure and pressure coiled in his groin. “Jesus, Niall,” he moaned as his head rolled against the headboard but Niall wasn’t listening. He was lost in his reverie, gorging himself on Ran’s ragged cries and the pre-cum leaking from his cock. “Oh, fuck!” Ran gasped as his head fell back and his jaw stretched. His eyes rolled as sparks of light and heat spilled down his spine and the pressure rushed up his shaft. Ran’s hand fluttered against the back of Niall’s head in warning as his toes curled and the pleasure was excruciating, it was so intense. His nerves twisted tighter as Niall’s lips slid up his length before he sucked at the head and Ran snapped. “Niall!” He cried as cum burst from the head and his back arched as Niall greedily swallowed his release. Waves of light and warmth rolled through Ran as his body jerked and twitched before his bones melted and he sagged into the pillows. “Wow,” he breathed. Niall hummed and it was sated and drowsy as he rubbed his nose into his sack.

“Thank you,” Niall mumbled then yawned into Ran before his head became heavier and his body went limp.

“Are you sure you want to sleep like that?” Ran whispered as he raised his head and looked down at Niall.

“Mmmm…” He replied faintly before a soft snore wafted against Ran’s balls.

“As long as you’re comfortable,” Ran whispered but wasn’t sure how long he’d be comfortable.

Until just before sunrise, apparently. He woke with an unconscious Niall still wound around his waist and his lips still clinging to Ran’s angrily throbbing erection. Need dug its claws into Ran as he shook Niall’s shoulder but he grumbled incoherently as his arms tightened around him. There was a happy, delighted, lethargic moan as he began to suck and Ran swore as he swatted at the bedside table and snatched the bottle of lube. He hooked his arms under Niall’s and pulled as he rolled them.

“Noooo! Thasss mine! Don’t take it away!” Niall complained drunkenly as he fought to hold on and his jaw and tongue stretched, searching for Ran.

“Aye, it’s all yours,” Ran agreed raggedly. “You can live there for as long as you like but I have to fuck you now,” he explained as he rose over Niall.

“Oh, that’s very good, then,” he babbled as his arms and legs hooked around Ran. It was a bit clumsy and rushed, Ran slapped a palm full of lube onto his cock while Niall clutched at him like a child trying to horde all the toys. Niall barely rested at Carlton House but apparently, he was making up for it. Ran set the head of his erection at Niall’s entrance then gasped in relief and ecstasy as he filled him with a long, steady stroke.

“It’s so good,” Ran agreed as he buried his face in the corner of Niall’s neck and drove hard.

“Ran!” Niall cried as he came awake and his nails and heels dug into Ran’s back and ass as he pulled him closer and deeper into his body. “Don’t stop!” He begged and Ran shook his head.

“I’m never stopping and I’m never letting you go, lad,” he promised as his lips, teeth and tongue worshipped Niall’s shoulder, throat, jaw, ear… Every part of him was sacred and tasted divine as Ran lost himself in Niall’s tight heat.

“Harder, please!” Niall sobbed as he clawed at Ran and writhed beneath him. There was a clinging desperation to Niall as he strained to take in more of Ran and hold on tighter. It made Ran’s heart burn and his eyes watered as he thrust deeper. Niall fought so hard but part of him hadn’t accepted that it was over and he’d won. He was still afraid Ran could be broken or taken from him. Ran sent Isla and Simon’s ashes back to their mother’s family but Ran would erase every trace of them at Gallahide. He’d make Niall forget and he’d help him heal.

“I love you,” he huffed as his hands curled around Niall’s ass and he rolled his hips as he ground hard and slow. “Every breath in my body belongs to you and I’ll keep you safe and happy until my heart stops,” he vowed then gave into his body’s demands as pleasure and joy claimed them.