Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117167 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
When he at last settled to earth, he found a crooked smile on the devilish elf’s face.
“You’re even prettier when you’re coming,” Rei murmured.
“You only think that because you’ve got no blood running to your brain,” he teased.
“Nope, you’re endlessly sexy. I can’t believe we didn’t do this sooner.” Rei bumped his nose into Yichen’s, smirking. “Decades sooner.”
“I didn’t want you to think I was easy.”
That earned a bark of laughter. The elf was still laughing when he slipped out of the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Water ran briefly, and he returned with a damp towel. Yichen tried to take it from him, but Rei batted his hands away as he cleaned them off before tossing the towel aside and settling the blankets over them.
Snuggled together, Yichen let his eyes fall shut as his arms tightened around his lover. He was home. He had his family back. And now, he had the one his heart had decided would be his mate for the rest of time. It was everything he could ask for.
The one problem was that Rei’s family was determined to tear it all apart.
Unfortunately, Yichen wasn’t sure which scared him more—King Ash’s evil plans or Rei’s need to protect him. Even if it meant sacrificing himself to keep his Yiyi safe.
No, if he was going to have everything at long last, he’d have to protect his family and possibly Rei from his own crazy ideas.
Chapter 20
Rei
He could have stayed in bed with Yichen forever. He’d been willing to give it a serious go. At long last, he had everything he’d ever wanted snuggled in his arms, dozing with a small smile on his perfect lips.
Why the fuck did reality have to intrude?
But Huli had returned with news that he’d located Trin and delivered the message. What was more, his half brother was willing to meet with him.
So, here he was, trudging through the woods with Yiyi at his side instead of snuggled in bed, enjoying this new stage in their relationship where they could kiss, lick, and suck on all the fun parts of their bodies.
“You’re pouting,” Yichen stated as he stepped over a fallen log. “I don’t even need to look at you. I can feel you pouting.”
“Of course, I’m pouting. I’m insulted that you’re not pouting!” Rei snapped, shoving a branch out of his way.
“What? Why should I be pouting?”
Rei huffed. “Really? You’d rather be out in the woods where we are being watched by my brother’s soldiers as we slog to this stupid meeting place just hours before sunrise?”
To his credit, Yichen possessed the best “Are you fucking crazy?” expression he’d ever seen. The vampire had stopped walking and was now staring at him over his shoulder as if he’d lost his damn mind. That helped a little.
“Not only did we get dragged out of bed, but I didn’t get to wear any of the pretty clothes my Yiyi bought me,” Rei continued. Why not? He’d already dug himself this woe-is-me hole—might as well wallow in it.
Yichen lifted his empty hands to the forest that surrounded them with its bushes full of thorns, closely growing trees, and damp, muddy ground. A blanket of leaves blotted out the night sky, leaving them walking in near perfect darkness while also holding in the day’s humid heat. Whichever human storyteller had come up with the idea that elves didn’t sweat was a damn madman. His T-shirt was drenched and sticking to his skin. He wished he’d pulled all of his hair into a messy bun or at least a long braid.
So yes, Yiyi had a good point. This trek would have ruined his pretty new clothes, but that meant Trin should have come to them for a civilized conversation somewhere air conditioned and with tea.
Holy shit! These vampires and their obsession with tea was the best thing!
All conversations now needed to be had while holding these small handleless cups filled with steaming herbal tea. It made everything better. More manageable.
As he reached Yichen, his lover grabbed his wrist and pulled him in close to kiss the underside of his jaw. Okay, so maybe that made things better as well. “It’s one brief meeting that could help us a great deal,” Yichen murmured as he continued to kiss his way along Rei’s throat. He paused over that beating pulse point, his lips teasing as they brushed back and forth as he spoke. “When it’s over, we’ll go home, find some lube, and I’ll fuck you properly. No one will make us get out of bed for a very long time.”
“And you’ll bite me,” Rei urged, his voice rough as the bark on the trees surrounding them.
“Rei.” His name was nothing more than a warning growl.
“No, I want one more time. I know we have to break the blood bond, but I get one last time with you. Please.”