Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 130955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 655(@200wpm)___ 524(@250wpm)___ 437(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 655(@200wpm)___ 524(@250wpm)___ 437(@300wpm)
His answer was in Radek’s kiss. He leaned in and wrapped his arms around Yev’s neck, delving in with his tongue and inviting Yev into his warmth. He smelled like summer in the middle of winter. Like sex in freshly cut grass. His tongue danced against Yev’s, and there was no denying that even though they’d barely started talking yesterday, he knew Radek. The bond they’d forged without words was true.
He rolled on top without thinking, grabbing Radek’s wrist and trapping it above his head as the slender body under his arched in greeting.
Yes. It was absolutely worth it, and he’d milk their surprising friendship for all it was worth. Maybe if he truly sated himself with Radek, his celibate future wouldn’t be quite so painful.
Radek made an attempt to touch Yev's face with his stump, but once he saw it, he abruptly hid it under the covers. "This can work, right?" Radek whispered, searching Yev’s face with innocent eyes.
Yev reached under the comforter and touched the smooth skin the witch had healed so fast with her magic. They could live here together as long as Radek remained discreet. This could work.
“If you want it to. You should still let your mom know you’re alive,” he said, pressing his forehead to Radek’s.
The boy squirmed but wasn't going anywhere, and didn't try to pull his arm away. "What do I tell her about this?" He groaned and glared at the stump as if it were an X-Ray showing that a pair of scissors was stuck in his stomach.
Yev lowered his weight on top of Radek, letting himself enjoy their shared warmth without guilt. “You can start by calling her to say you’re alive.”
Radek kissed his neck, equally comfortable with the closeness. They’d barely met as people, yet at the same knew each other so well. “I don’t remember her number. We’d have to go there.”
Yev frowned and gave Radek a little peck on the lips, which filled his heart with sunshine and rainbows. He was such a silly man. “If that’s what you want.”
Radek groaned and hugged him. “Don’t give me options. I don’t wanna go at all. I just wanna stay here, fuck, and eat raw egg yolks.”
It was such a surprising statement Yev let out a laugh and rolled to his side, pulling Radek to his chest. Radek instantly took the cue and started kneading Yev’s chest just like he used to when he was still Ember. He even gave a silly cackle, which triggered fond memories, and Yev opened Radek’s mouth with his tongue, grunting when he was allowed in without question.
This was how he wanted to feel all the time. Like a red-blooded werewolf male accepted by his mate, not someone who needed to hide his real self in order to achieve some semblance of satisfaction. Didn’t he deserve this?
Radek had given in to him so beautifully, without all the posturing and notions of dominance and submission another werewolf would have had. It was obvious Yev could break Radek in half, yet the boy seemed so comfortable with him. So happy to belong.
He couldn’t imagine this happening back at his village, but here, in the little cottage he’d been banished to, he could enjoy this slice of sunshine cake. Yev slid his hands to Radek’s ass and smiled when buttocks tensed under the touch. They both needed one another now. Radek didn’t know how to shift, had lost his hand, needed a ride to his family home, and didn’t have clothes. And Yev would gladly help him, even if the sexual fulfillment offered wasn’t on the table.
“You’ll need to leave the house sometime. I don’t have any clothes your size, and I think you should talk to someone about… solutions for your arm,” he said carefully, more than aware that this was a sensitive topic.
Radek laid down on top of him and hid his face against the side of Yev’s head. Then nipped on Yev’s ear, which was another thing he used to do as Ember. “There’s no solution. And since I have no clothes, I’ll just never leave home. You’ll have to feed me forever.”
That didn’t sound like a bad idea at all. Problem was, Yev could not live here indefinitely. He’d have to bend to the pack rules at some point. His refusal to mate with a woman was the only thing he’d stand by, but if he wanted Father to allow him that line in the sand, he couldn’t do as he pleased in every other aspect of his life.
Compromise would be his middle name. But not yet.
“As lovely as you are, you can’t walk around like this all day, or I’d get nothing done,” Yev said and slapped Radek’s ass. “My younger brother keeps a set of clothes here. They should fit you better than mine.”