"If you call raging impatience calm, then yes." "He wouldn't be Orlando if he wasn't impatient," Karl laughed. He brushed a piece of lint from Harry's lapel. "There. You're as presentable as I can make you now." "He'll do," Viggo said, strolling into the library and smiling at them both. "Given the lack of a crowd, one hopes this ceremony will be more normal than the others you've been involved in." "Where the Eternal Idiots are involved, I think you expect too much," Sean replied, walking up to join their group. Karl noted he was also impeccably turned out for the ceremony. "This is true," Viggo conceded. "Where's your charge?" "Changing shirts," Sean replied, with a grin. "Apparently the one he was wearing wasn't good enough for Harry." "Oh, that's irony," Karl laughed. "You'd be just as happy if Orlando was naked all the time." Harry just shrugged. "He looks better naked." "So do you," Orlando said, flashing them a sweet smile as he stepped into the room. "I agree," Karl concurred. He looked Orlando over, nodding in approval at the black pinstripes, snowy white shirt, and red tie. "You look nice." "I can manage to dress myself without your advice once in a while," Orlando replied, with a cheeky grin and a wink "You look fine," Harry said, and held out his hand. Viggo waited until everyone was in place before speaking. "I'll make this brief, since this is mostly a formality." Harry simply gave a slight nod to give Viggo permission to continue. Karl noticed that Orlando's grip on Harry's hand was tight, almost crushing. //Steady, love. Deep breaths.// //Right.// Orlando visibly inhaled, then drew himself up, straightening so he was standing tall by Harry's side. Viggo took that as his cue to begin, and true to his word, kept the ceremony simple and short. When Viggo asked for witnesses, Karl and Sean replied together, voices firm and clear. They earned a grateful smile from Orlando, who still clung tight to Harry's hand. After Viggo delved into Orlando's mind and when it came time for the blood exchange, Karl tried to pull back, dampen his link with them both just a little, but the full force of their bond locking into place, strengthened by ten years of love and companionship, rocked him to his core. It was like an explosion going off in his head, and only Sean's hand on his arm kept him steady. "Jesus," he breathed as he watched them, breathless from the emotions racing through him. Orlando was still trembling, eyes wide when he lifted his head to look at Harry. "I think..." He trailed off, voice hoarse, hand finding Harry's again. "Wow." Karl noticed that even Harry looked stunned. "Wow just about covers it," Harry said, voice uncharacteristically gruff. He spared Karl a quick glance, then locked eyes with Orlando again. "I think this answers most of our questions." "I have to say I agree," Viggo said, looking between them with a thoughtful gaze. "The claim is declared, accepted, and witnessed. Finally." Harry cupped Orlando's cheek with his free hand. "Finally," he repeated, then bent his head to give Orlando an achingly slow, tender kiss. Karl felt the echo of it clear to his toes. "Finally," Orlando whispered, smiling when Harry lifted his head. "I...it's like I was missing something and didn't know it." "And now you're not," Viggo said, glancing at Harry, then Karl, before looking back to Orlando. "And now I'm not," Orlando agreed, his smile blinding in its intensity when he finally looked away from Harry. There was a new quietness to Orlando that was both pleasant and odd, but Karl thought he could get used to it in a hurry. "I think," Karl said, clearing his throat as Orlando turned back to Harry, "that's our cue to leave, gentlemen." "I believe you're right," Sean said, patting Harry's shoulder before he and Viggo turned to go. Before Karl could move away, Orlando reached out to catch his wrist. "Karl..." He paused, glanced at Harry, and Harry gave a small nod. "Karl, I...we want to talk to you." "Now?" Karl furrowed his brows. He'd have thought the two of them would be aching to cement the connection between them. The lust and need pulsing through them was bright enough to light a small city. "Unless you're busy?" Karl loosened his tie, then stared blankly at the full glass that Harry pressed into his hand. He hadn't even noticed Harry going to the bar. "No, I'm not busy. I just thought..." Orlando gently pushed Karl onto the sofa, then settled beside him. His jacket and tie were already long gone. "Don't worry, we'll be kicking you out soon enough and letting you get back to Josh," he grinned, then nuzzled at Karl's cheek. "But this is important." "Alright," Karl said, slowly. He relaxed against Orlando's warmth, smiled a little as Harry crouched in front of them, one hand resting on Karl's knee, the other wrapping around Orlando's hand. "So...what are we talking about?" Another look passed between them, then Orlando took a deep breath and smiled. "Women." "Women?" Of all the things he'd expected Orlando to want to discuss, women were at the very bottom of the list. "Apparently, seeing me with Kate last night made Orlando realize that he's never shared that part of our lives with us," Harry said. Karl frowned again. He had a distinct impression there was something he was missing. "You don't like women like that," he finally said to Orlando. "Well, no," Orlando shrugged, but then offered a rueful smile. "But that doesn't mean that I'm not curious about you and Harry with them. And, as Sean and Dave had both told me, I'll be around a very long time, and there might be a woman out there at some point that does something for me." "Alright." Karl glanced from Orlando to Harry. "I'm still...this is unexpected." "Equals," Harry told him quietly, and that one word told Karl everything. "If this is something you truly want, then I'd be honored to share that part of my life with you. Though..." "What?" "Just that you'll gain more from sharing with Harry. He's had far more women than I have over the centuries." Karl grinned at Harry's flat look. "Not that I'm not perfectly willing to share with you whenever you're ready, love." Orlando's muffled giggle was the best sound in the world. "You make him sound like a...a..." Orlando dissolved into silent laughter that had Karl fighting back laughter himself. "Sometimes I wonder why I put up with either of you," Harry sighed. Karl leaned forward to rest his forehead against Harry's. "Possibly because your life would be incomplete without us, as ours would be without you." "You never did fight fair," Harry murmured, then closed the small distance between them with a kiss. When they parted, Karl wasn't remotely surprised to see Orlando avidly watching them. "I'm the luckiest man in the world," he said with a happy sigh, brushing light kisses along their jaws. "And that was easier than I thought it would be." "You thought I'd be difficult about it?" Karl asked, fingers tangling in Orlando's hair to hold him still long enough for a proper kiss. "No," Orlando replied when the kiss ended and he slid from the sofa to Harry's lap. "I just thought it would be more difficult for me to talk about it." "The thought of watching us with women scares you that much?" "Maybe? Yes? Before the ceremony tonight, I would have definitely said yes." "And now?" Karl asked, as he watched Harry wrap his arms around Orlando's waist and pull him close. His gaze softened. Orlando may consider himself lucky, but Karl knew he was the one that was truly blessed. Orlando dropped his head on Harry's shoulder. "And now I think I might be alright with it." Harry brushed a kiss to Orlando's forehead. "Things do seem like they're in their proper place now." "Not to mention, I don't think there will be any worry about me subduing any of my claim on Orlando now to make sure yours is the alpha one," Karl grinned. "I have to agree," Harry said as Orlando made faces at both of them. "Shame we didn't think of this sooner. It would've saved us a lot of headaches." Orlando snorted. "Saved you headaches? Imagine how I feel." "Oh, I know exactly how you feel," Harry said, gaze darkening as he looked down at Orlando. Karl's breath caught in his throat at the intensity of that look, knowing all too well what it was like to be the recipient. Orlando just swallowed and nodded his head. "Yeah, I guess you do." "And on that note..." Karl slapped his hands to his knees and got to his feet. "I don't think either of you will be needing me for the next portion of the evening." Harry snagged his hand when he made a move towards the door. //Love you, old man.// //And I you, puppy. Take good care of him tonight.// Harry just smiled. //I think it'll be us taking care of each other.// //As it should be.// Karl bent to give Harry, then Orlando a soft kiss. "Have fun. Do everything I would." "Maybe I'll do some things that you wouldn't," Orlando said, fingers brushing Karl's before dropping to curl around Harry's. "I'm not sure that's possible," Karl laughed. "But I look forward to the story if you do." "Pervert," Orlando said, fondly. "You're no better," Harry stated, smiling as he surged to his feet, drawing Orlando up with him. Orlando's startled yelp followed Karl to the door. *** One day, Orlando thought, he wouldn't be so surprised by Harry's strength, as Harry wound his way up the stairs and towards the bedroom. When Harry set him back on his feet, he kept his arms wrapped around Harry's neck to hold him in place. "I..." he stopped, unsure of what it was, exactly, he was trying to say. "It's alright." Harry rubbed one of Orlando's curls between his fingers. "It'll take some getting used to for the both of us." Orlando nodded. "I guess I didn't have time to think about it, really. I just assumed..." "Me, too," Harry finished, seeming to read Orlando's thoughts. "But maybe the past ten years have been a good thing. Maybe you and Karl needed the time to fully cement your bond with each other." "Definitely a good thing," Orlando smiled. He worked at the tie at the base of Harry's skull, then thick, silky hair spilled over his hands. "Why's that?" Harry looked amused as Orlando stepped back, already moving to the buttons of Harry's shirt to slip each one free. "Because I would've probably ignored Karl if we'd had this ten years ago," Orlando said, brushing each bit of skin as it was exposed. He looked at Harry, smile fading. "And Dave wouldn't have had a chance at all." "No, he wouldn't have," Harry agreed, amber eyes serious and dark. "What we all had with him was fleeting and no less beautiful for it. But it's nothing compared to this." "Is this...?" Orlando stopped, toying with the last button of Harry's shirt. He wasn't sure if he should continue. "Go on." Finally, Orlando looked up. "Is this anything like what you and Karl have?" Far from looking angry, Harry just smiled. "A little. It's comparable, at least." Comparable. That was good enough for Orlando. He eased the shirt down Harry's arms, let it fall to the floor. He splayed his hands on Harry's chest, one palm covering the scar that nearly killed him. Then he looked up and took a deep breath. "I love you. And I know I've said it before, a million times by now, but I still mean it. My life is yours, Harry, and I swear I'm going to make you proud of me." Strong hands gripped his in a steady clasp. "You already do. Not a day has gone by the past decade where I haven't been proud to call you mine." Orlando couldn't even nod; he just allowed himself to get lost in what he saw in Harry's eyes. The force of everything Harry felt for him was enough to stagger and humble him. //Yours.// He knew a large part of him would always belong to Karl (and gladly so), but he couldn't help feeling that this truly was where he was meant to be. //Just as I am yours.// Harry's lips brushed Orlando's, and Orlando flexed his fingers against bare skin. Then Harry dropped one hand to flick at the buttons on Orlando's shirt. "You're still dressed." "So're you," Orlando protested, laughing when Harry grinned. "Well, partially. We should fix that." Harry stepped back and spread his arms wide. "Yours to command." Orlando's mouth went dry. Then he gave himself a mental shake. This was Harry, and they'd done this before, too many times to count. But never like this, Orlando reminded himself, then stepped in, smile slow and wicked as he started to unbutton his shirt. "Mine, hmm?" he mused. "Then I want you to make me scream." Harry's eyes darkened to almost black. "I think I could do that." Orlando shivered as his shirt fell to the floor and he stepped forward. Harry pulled him closer, splaying his hands along Orlando's back and down to his hips, and he shivered again at the contact. This was crazy, even for them. They weren't even naked yet, and already Orlando was so hard he was shaking. He licked dry lips, tried for bravado. "Still not naked." Harry's smirk was arrogant enough to weaken Orlando's knees. "I don't need to get you naked to make you scream." The next moment, hard lips covered his as Harry flicked at the charms on the ring at his navel. Orlando's back arched, and he clasped on to Harry's shoulders, gripping tight. Ten years, and he still had yet to learn not to challenge Harry. Harry's fingers danced and twisted, his tongue tangling with Orlando's, and the spikes of pleasure shooting through him were so intense they were painful. He shuddered, whimpered into the kiss as he was overwhelmed with sensation. Harry might not need to get him naked, but Orlando wanted bare skin, wanted to drown himself in the feel, the smell, the taste of Harry. He held on to his control by sheer will alone, hands dropping to fumble with Harry's belt and trousers. //Please...// The plea seemed to be ripped from somewhere deep inside him as his fingers curled around Harry's cock, jerked up when Harry twisted the ring again. He was so close... //Please...Harry...// Thankfully, Harry took the hint and made quick work of getting Orlando's pants off before resuming his onslaught on Orlando's senses. //Now.// The command was low, guttural, filled with authority. Disobeying wasn't even an option. Orlando cried out, body arching against Harry's. White light exploded behind his eyes, and he could barely feel his hand clenching Harry's bicep in an effort to stay upright. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think, and he wasn't entirely sure he was still conscious. //Fuck...// //More.// Orlando could only manage a moan as Harry started on the ring again. He was absolutely, 100-percent, going to die this time. He just knew it. There was no way any person could be expected to live with the surge of emotions whipping through them right now. //Harry...// Soft lips nuzzled at his throat. The fingers slowed, but didn't stop. //So beautiful like this. Aching, vulnerable, mine...// "Yours," Orlando whispered, head falling back to bare his throat. His body moved, rubbed against Harry's, and he whimpered again at the feel of hard flesh sliding across his sensitized skin. Every nerve was on fire. Orlando knew he'd see stars dancing in his vision if he opened his eyes. //Forever.// Sharp fangs just grazed his throat, replaced once more by soft lips, and Orlando's skin pebbled. "Yes..." The word was breathed across Harry's skin as Orlando managed to slide his hand between their bodies, once more curling snug around Harry's cock. //Please, Harry...// //Love the way you beg for me.// Then the bottom dropped out of Orlando's world again as Harry lifted him off his feet and lowered him to the bed, following to pin him down. Orlando arched, rubbed against every inch of skin he could reach, reveled in the feel of hard muscle against his. Then Harry started to move down, lips lightly teasing along Orlando's throat, then collarbones, then lower. Orlando clutched at Harry's shoulders, then moved up to tangle in dark hair. "Please..." He couldn't remember the last time he ached so much, wanted so much. "Anything," Harry promised, with enough heat in his voice that Orlando knew he'd be in cinders (and happily so) before the night was over. If this was what was in store for Orlando every time he and Harry had sex now, he wouldn't have to wait for the unmaking ceremony to worry about dying. Onto Part Fifty-Three
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