Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“I think it’s time for me to shift for a few hours. I can heal faster if I do and maybe cut down on how long I’ll have to deal with this. There’s a lot of work to do and cleanup after the storm. I can’t just sit here.”
“That’s what your help is for, but clearly, they’re not as dedicated as you,” Notalus gritted out. “I have tended to your fields already, Dustin. They should be fine at dawn’s first light.”
Dustin couldn’t believe Notalus had done it again. He’d saved their crops and prevented the pack from suffering through a very scarce winter. But Dustin didn’t want Notalus as his savior. He wanted him to be much, much more than that. He needed to show that he had something to contribute to Notalus, but even getting to a standing position was proving harder and more embarrassing than he thought.
“Let me help you.” Notalus came to his side and sat on the couch beside him, the worn piece of furniture groaning and dropping dramatically from their combined sizes.
Dustin shook his head, but he didn’t remove Notalus’ palm, where it rested on his shoulder. “You have done more than enough. I can tend to myself.” Dustin didn’t want to only be on the receiving end of their budding companionship or whatever they were developing at the moment. There was so much more to him than just being needy.
“Don’t be stubborn, wolf. I am not only doing it for you because you’re hurting, but I am also doing it for me as well because it is affecting me to see you in such discomfort.”
Dustin gazed into Notalus’ sincere eyes, realizing how close they were, their thighs pressed together. And despite how bad it hurt to move in any direction, Dustin wanted to lean in and close the short distance between their mouths. What would Notalus’ full, infinitely tempting lips feel like pressed against his own chapped ones? Dustin almost groaned out loud when his dick jerked and inched further down his pants leg.
And as if he knew just what Dustin was thinking, Notalus cupped his cheek and eased toward him until their foreheads were touching. Please kiss me. Kiss me, Dustin hollered in his mind, his animal agreeing and wanting some of Notalus for himself.
There was a bronze light in Notalus’ green eyes, something more promising than mere words could describe as he helped Dustin to lie back. “Close your eyes.”
But I want to keep looking at you. Dustin did as he was told, his body trembling with anticipation as Notalus drew nearer until they were chest to chest. Notalus’ warm breath caressed his cheek before his strong, masculine voice was in his ear.
“Keep them closed.”
“What are you going to do?” Dustin whispered, turning his head toward Notalus’ breath, blindly seeking him out and needing to somehow get closer.
“I’m going to pray to the goddess of healing that once lived near my land. She was cast from her home for attacking a dryad and sought sanctuary in Fhomhair for many years. She will send her light through me if she accepts my praise. It will mend your broken bones and eliminate your pain.” Notalus’ mouth tightened when he added, “What I assumed your own healers would do for you.”
Dustin blinked. Did he think shifters were magical? If they hurt themselves, they had to recover from it like everyone else. While it took them far less time to do it, time to heal was still necessary. Before Dustin could defend Ms. Zhang and Lenora, Notalus began to faintly whisper words near his temple that he couldn’t make out. Dustin thought maybe he was speaking another language, an ancient one that only a deity would hear because it sounded rare and wistful. Notalus’ chant-like praise grew bolder, and his hands began to shimmer a brilliant white gold where they touched him on his back and thigh.
The light grew bolder, warmer, while Notalus ran his hands over Dustin’s body, muttering over and over, “Praise you, dear goddess, for your compassion and light. Praise you, Vanir.”
Unable to hold it in another second, Dustin released a satisfied moan, his limbs feeling heavy and his body melting into the couch cushions with Notalus leaning over him. He craved the feeling of his body against Notalus’, delighting in the intensity of the goodness coursing through him.
“Yes,” Dustin exhaled. The room seemed to spin as the most incredible pleasure imaginable overcame him. He’d never had a need for westernized pain medicine, but he assumed this was what a double dose of morphine felt like. He unconsciously lifted his arms and wrapped them around Notalus’ waist, holding him too tight for him to get away. He was so drunk on pleasure that his tongue felt thick in his mouth. “You feel s’good.”
“Such a handsome mortal. What in the heavens shall I do with you?” Notalus touched his lips to Dustin’s forehead. “I swore to never take another human lover. The pain of the loss is too unbearable, in which it would take years to recover. But you, my dear mortal, are not so human after all.”