“Yes.”
“Why?”
Zio shrugged. “She never said, but I think she’d be pretty happy that this was the first time I came here.”
Devan couldn’t argue with that. With Dash’s help, he’d spent a few days working through Emma’s files, separating out those still of use and respectfully disposing of those that belonged to the dead. When Dash had gone, he’d lost himself in Zio’s file, finally reading it from cover to cover, laughing and wiping away tears as she’d painted uncannily perfect pictures of his mate.I wish I’d known her.But if he had, perhaps they wouldn’t be here.
Zio took Devan’s hand and led him around the loch to a wooden cabin nestled in the trees. It was small and basic and not unlike the cabin in the snow where he’d visited the wolf pack elders so long ago. At least, it felt like a long time ago. In reality, it had been mere months.
“Stop thinking.”
“Hmm?”
Zio shut the cabin door behind them and tapped the side of his head. “Stopthinking. None of it matters anymore.”
“I know that.” Devan’s gaze zeroed in on the bed covered by a plastic dust sheet. He stepped around Zio and ripped it away. A bare mattress greeted him. Bathed in the sunlight pouring through the windows, it seemed fitting.
They were already naked from their cross-country run. Devan trailed a finger down Zio’s chest. His skin should’ve been cool from the bracing winter air, but he burnt red hot.
Zio shuddered and bit his lip. “Are you going to draw this out? Because I think I might literally die.”
Devan chuckled. “It’s tempting... to draw it out, not see you spontaneously combust, but you’re overestimating my self-control. Do you know how many times I nearly jumped you on the way here? Threw you down and claimed you in the snow?”
“So why didn’t you?”
“Because I wanted it to be perfect.”
“Thatwould’vebeen perfect.”
“But so is this.”
Zio didn’t argue. Just tipped his head back as Devan continued his exploration of his body with a single, featherlight fingertip. With one hand pressed over Zio’s speeding heart, Devan traced his smooth skin as though it was the first time he’d ever seen Zio like this—so vulnerable.
It wasn’t, but it was different now. With so much behind them, they had all the time in the world. And nothing to fear.
Possessiveness swelled in Devan’s gut, fuelled by desire and the love that hadn’t been there at the start. He pulled Zio closer, so Zio’s spine moulded to his chest, and kissed his neck, softly at first, but then with more purpose as the heat between them amped up.
Zio moaned, a slow tremble starting in his long, muscular limbs. “Please, Devan. I can’t—please.”
Devan couldn’t deny the kick he got out of Zio’s premature incoherency. The urge to claim him was so strong Devan felt it in every fibre of his being, and the beast within him preened at the knowledge that Zio wanted it too. Craved it. Would beg for it if Devan was cruel enough to make him.
But you’re not cruel. And you love him.
Devan spun Zio around, relinquishing his position at Zio’s glorious throat. He pushed Zio’s hair back from his face, tucking it behind his ears.My wild boy.
Zio still trembled.
The healer in Devan ached to soothe him, but the man in him knew it wasn’t what Zio wanted. What heneeded.He edged Zio closer to the bed and gave him a gentle push. Zio took the hint and scrambled backwards, tugging Devan along with him. Their lips met, the air shifted, and Devan’s mind emptied once and for all of anything that wasn’t Zio’s lips on his, the collision of their heated skin, and the hardness trapped between them.
They fought for dominance, rolling over and over. Zio was taller, heavier, but perhaps he wanted to win less. Lips fused together, Devan pressed him into the mattress, hooking one leg beneath his arm. Zio gasped, and a flicker of uncertainty coloured their connection.
Devan deepened their kiss and gripped Zio tighter.I’ve got you. I won’t hurt you.
The uncertainty faded. Devan found Zio’s cock and worked it gently, slowly drawing more plaintive groans from Zio. Venom dripped from his fangs as they lengthened and sharpened, eager for the bite, but he wasn’t ready to end this yet.I want him to love this as much as he loves me.
Devan had pleasured Zio before, made him shout and shake, but this was different. He didn’t need Zio to tell him he’d never allowed a man inside him before Devan. Still working Zio’s cock, he slipped a finger inside Zio, a jolt of desire thundering through him as hot, wet heat enveloped him.
Zio growled, arching his back, welcoming the sensations that licked through him, chasing more. For long minutes, Devan held off, but the need to claim his mate eventually won out.