Marcus collapsed on Ethan, arms wrapping tightly around him, their sweaty and cum-covered skin sliding against each other. Marcus licked at his neck, stopping the bleeding and healing the fresh wounds. He barely registered the sweet words Marcus whispered as he nuzzled him.
Ethan wanted to whisper tenderly to him as well, but he was so fucking drained. He’d just close his eyes for a minute. They needed to shower and discuss this whole transformation process, but right now, the world could wait. There was nothing more important than being wrapped in the warmth and strength of Marcus’s arms.
Chapter Thirty
Ethan stretched, a smile spreading across his lips to feel the soreness of his ass. Yes, Marcus had done a wonderful job fucking him senseless. He didn’t even remember falling asleep. Just lying there in Marcus’s arms…which were now missing. Ethan opened his eyes and was surprised to find that he was in bed alone.
Sitting up, he instantly located Marcus standing at the end of the bed. He looked freshly showered and dressed in a soft, gray sweater and black slacks. There was love shining in his eyes, but also worry.
“You should have woken me,” Ethan admonished as he stretched against the sheets. “I would have showered with you.”
Marcus shook his head. “You needed your rest, and I needed to make some phone calls. They’re here now, if you still want to do this.”
Ethan’s smile fell away as he turned over Marcus’s words. Do what? It took only a moment to recall their conversation in the music room. Ethan’s transformation.
“Yes. But who’s here?”
“My brothers.” Marcus winced a little. “I’m sorry, but I need them here for this. We were together when we were changed, and I want them here for yours.”
“As a family tradition.”
Marcus nodded, but his frown deepened. “Also, as a precaution.” Marcus sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Ethan’s hand, holding it tight. “There are risks. I always fear that something could go wrong as it did with my mother, but I know of some cases where people died in the transformation.”
The words caused Ethan’s heart to skip, but he forced himself to give Marcus a reassuring smile. “There are risks with everything in life. They say you can die when you’re put under to have your wisdom teeth removed, and there are few things more boring than that. You’re worth the risk. Our future life together is worth that risk.”
“I love you,” Marcus murmured. Some of the tension eased from his shoulders and they slumped.
“Love you too. But I need to shower if I’m going to see your brothers.” Ethan started to climb out of the bed, but Marcus’s fingers tightened around his hand, stopping him.
“Just a little. You smell like me, and I don’t want you to lose that completely. I want you reborn into this world smelling like you belong to me.”
Ethan chuckled and nodded. He could deal with that.
Marcus released his hand and walked out of the room, leaving Ethan to lightly clean off and pull on some clothes.
A few minutes later, he found the four Varik brothers in the library. Marcus was pacing while Winter stood by the window. Rafe was lounging across the sofa, and his twin was perched on the edge of his seat as if he could barely contain his excitement.
“I guess this is a bad time to ask if you’ve ever done this before,” Ethan said, half joking.
Some of the enthusiasm drained from Bel’s face.
Rafe snorted. “Definitely late for that question, Little Varik.”
“We were all together when Aiden changed us. I went first,” Marcus said. “I was awake to see my brothers, but still kind of out of it for Rafe’s transformation. I helped with Bel and Winter.”
Nervous energy zipped through Ethan, and he struggled to sit in the other open chair when he really wanted to pace the room with Marcus.
“Is it hard…to transform someone into a vampire?”
“Nope. Drain them and then get them to drink vampire blood before they die,” Winter explained. He turned away from the window and stared at Ethan. “You’ve got the hard part. Don’t die.”
“Okay. Yeah. Doesn’t sound like rocket science,” Ethan said, trying to reassure himself that he was in capable hands. It wasn’t like they had to cast some complicated spell or perform some intricate ritual. Marcus and his brothers had drunk a lot of blood over the years, so they had that part down. Ethan drinking their blood, while it sounded disgusting, wasn’t a hard thing. He could do this.
Clapping his hands together, Ethan jumped to his feet and moved to the center of the room. “How are we going to do this? Marcus transforms me and you guys stand around as cheerleaders?”
“Ethan,” Rafe said and Ethan was stunned to hear him so serious. All the mocking and jokes were gone from his expression. “Is this what you truly want? You must know that you’re already a Varik without this step. We’ll always protect you. Always count you as one of us.”