Arrow Inferno
Chapter 65: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ The Talk!

***

Under the shelter of a picturesque gazebo in a beautiful garden, soft classical music and chatter could be heard. The gazebo was surrounded by well-trimmed shrubs and colorful flowers which gave off a lovely fragrance, and attractive potted plants that gave the structure a look of elegance and grace.

In the gazebo, Mathias, Anton, Stan, and Will sat around a table with an array of breakfast dishes, eating and chatting.

"Know what son," Mathias addressed a clearly smitten Will at some point, "You can actually eat and gaze at him at the same time." His amused gaze was on the Arrowhead's plate.

"What?" Will flushed, tearing his gaze away from Stan. "I wasn't gazing..."

"Yes, you were." The Admiral scoffed, drawing a chuckle from Anton and a smile from Stan.

"I'm eating, Sir." Will forked a strip of juicy bacon into his mouth even as he glared at Stan who looked amused.

"Well, you weren't."

"Get off his case already, Matt." Anton yawned.

"Sleepy?" Stan murmured, trying to take the heat off his mate.

Anton nodded. "Very. Some of our friends kept us up till this morning."

"Y'all need to get some sleep then," Stan suggested as he filled Will's half-empty glass with more juice.

"We do," Mathias muttered as he got to his feet. "I was too excited to sleep after the party anyway." He reached for Anton's hand. "Come on, honey. Let's leave these love birds alone." "We won't be here by the time you wake up," Stan said.

"Too bad." The admiral gave a regretful smile. "I was looking forward to us hanging out this afternoon.

"I have some stuff that I need to take care of so gotta go." Stan's smile was full of appreciation. "Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Mathias."

"The pleasure was mine, Stan. I'll give you a call later in the day."

"I'll be expecting it."

"Later, Williams."

"Yes, Sir."

Anton chuckled at Will's response. "It was lovely having you two here. Let's do it again soon."

"Hell, yeah." Stan grinned. "Maybe a double date."

"That would be great." Anton beamed and then followed his fiancé out of the gazebo.

"I need to stop stealing glances at you all the time," Will mumbled as he watched his boss and his partner leave. He turned his gaze on Stan. "I was staring at your mouth," he breathed, ignoring the smug look on Stan's face. "I know," Stan smirked.

"It was so fucking difficult holding myself back from kissing you in front of those two," Will murmured as he leaned in to press a short but seductive kiss on Stan's mouth.

"Why didn't you just go ahead and do it?" Stan asked breathlessly, totally affected by the kiss.

"That's my admiral, dipshit." Will rasped. "Gotta be respectful."

"Hmm, so that was a respectful Will huh?" Stan leaned closer and drew Will's lower lip into his mouth. He sucked on it sensuously, drawing a needy moan from Will. "You taste so sweet." He breathed against the soldier's wet lips when he let go. "It's the juice." Will laughed as he rested his forehead on Stan's shoulder. "Why do I have a constant urge to kiss and touch you tough?" he mumbled. "Very distracting. Does it have anything to do with the mark?" he raised his head and fixed curious eyes on Stan who laughed softly.

"Even before you got that mark, you were obsessed with my mouth, soldier."

"Cocky bastard," Will muttered, scattering tiny kisses around Stan's mouth. He particularly loved how Stan's breath caught in his throat anytime he flicked the corners of his mouth with the tip of his tongue.

"Will," Stan groaned warningly even as his eyes fluttered shut in arousal. "Stop."

"I can't." Then he was kissing Stan in earnest, not minding at all that the servers stood close enough to see them.

Will wanted Stan and his kiss conveyed as much. Although they'd both been horny the night before and would have loved to get down and dirty with each other, they'd both kept it...respectful. It had certainly been the most relaxed, heartfelt, and sexiest talk Will had ever had. Just remembering their night made him smile...

**

"I'm ready to answer all your concerns," Stan said softly, his intent gaze on his mate.

"So what does this mark make us?" Will asked without preamble. His expression, serious. "Mates," Stan responded simply.

"I know. So...we're married, right? I mean in your world, we're married."

Stan gazed at Will, trying to get a read on him. He wished Will's expression could give him a clue as to how he was feeling or where he was going with that line of questioning. But Will's face was expressionless, his eyes hard. Stan took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"This is worse than a shotgun marriage." Will's lips twisted into a humorless curve, the bitterness in his voice so sharp it struck at Stan's heart. "At least with those, the people involved know what's going on." "I'm sorry." Stan's voice was edged with frustration.

"Relax." Will rasped, his expression softening. "In your next life maybe you should propose first."

"I'll remember that." Stan looked a bit wary because he didn't know what to expect from his mate.

"I've thought extensively about everything this past week." Will's voice was low and serious. "And from what I observed and what Gaia pointed out, you did great. I think I need to acknowledge that." "Thanks. Good to know I crossed your mind." He murmured teasingly.

"You don't cross my mind. You live in it." His voice had gone all husky, not that he could help it. "My mind is full of you." He added in a whisper.

Stan was too surprised and overcome by that response he didn't know what to say. He just stared at his mate.

"Listen, I pride myself on being very objective," Will said. "And so I get it. We can't fight what we feel for each other. It is what it is." He shrugged. "So don't worry too much because I understand."

"Thank you."

"The most important thing, in my opinion, is for us to know and understand each other. I think we cleared the first part back in Ghana. We got to know each other very well. I mean between you and the wolf, you know pretty much everything about me."

"That's true."

"And I also got to know a lot about you...well, except for the obvious. We talked so much I feel like I've known you for years. That is if you were being truthful..."

"I never lied to you." Stan inhaled sharply. "I only omitted...the obvious."

Will nodded. "I still need to get used to some parts and understand things better though." At Stan's nod, Will asked. "So how does this work? Do you live with your pack?"

"Not all the time." Stan shook his head. "I have a place in the pack house but I have apartments outside the pack house."

"Apartments?" Will raised a brow.

"I keep apartments in each of my clubs. But I mostly use the one at Pawz." He didn't think it was necessary to tell his mate he owned a couple of condominiums and houses so he didn't.

"Everyone needs some peace and quiet once in a while. Doesn't the noise bother you?"

Stan shook his head. "Inside my apartment, you don't hear any sound from the club. I took care of that."

"Magically?"

"Nope. Good old soundproof. The best of its kind."

"Just how rich are you?"

"My parents left me a sizable inheritance. Philip is a beast when it comes to investments so I've done quite well growing that inheritance. My businesses generate a lot too. Let's just say I'm okay." He shrugged. "So are you," he added softly. "Of course I'm okay. I live within my means."

"That's not what I meant but okay," he chuckled. "So we can live anywhere we want."

"We?"

"I thought..." Stan trailed off when Will began to slowly shake his head.

"You don't learn, do you?" Will sighed. "You've just assumed I'll move in with you."

"But the last time I checked, married couples live together." He rasped, reaching for Will's hands and fixing his smoldering gaze on him.