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cried without thought.
He snapped straight, slapping a hand over his mouth. His
vision was filled with the watchful face of the wolf, right in front of
him. Curious. Patient.
“Oh, fuck. No, change back, help me,” he pleaded. His eyes
were wide, sinking shut to calm his heart rate. He was sitting on the
floor with a wolf!
Trembling violently he feared he was going to be sick.
Seconds later, strong arms engulfed him, brought him into a solid,
human, chest.
“Shh, baby. I got you.”
Jake clung shamelessly. Del stroked his side, petted his hair,
murmuring as though he were a child who‟d awakened from a
horrible nightmare. He wasn‟t so sure it wasn‟t a nightmare, one he
hadn‟t awakened from.
“I‟m so sorry, Jake.” Del‟s voice was quiet, whispers over his
skin. “I didn‟t know you‟d called. I didn‟t answer the phone for
anyone since you left. I haven‟t been to work. There‟s no excuse for
what I did to you, Jake.” His arms cradled him, his body rocked
him. “Please, give me a chance, Jake. I love you. I don‟t want to lose
you.”
Del pressed his forehead into Jake‟s shoulder.
“You wanted to tell me?”
“Every day, with every breath.” Lips drifted over Jake‟s jaw.
Warmth began to invade his soul.
“There‟s more like you?”
“All over. Not only wolves, either, though we keep it quiet.”
Del nuzzled to Jake‟s temple. “Jake, it was my mistake, and I hurt
you. I‟m sorry.”
Jake smiled weakly, tipping unconsciously into the heat of
those lips. “That‟s three.”
Del‟s chest staggered, then he chuckled. “Cheesy,” he
breathed.
“Made you smile.” Jake‟s lips curved, unable to keep it at
bay.
Del stretched out on the rug, taking Jake with him until he
covered him. Tenderly, he brushed at Jake‟s bangs. “Don‟t sell the
store. Please don‟t leave.”
“I might not be able to stop it now. I had a bid come in this
morning.” Jake‟s heart swelled at the dismay in Del‟s eyes. He really
didn‟t want him to go.
“What are you going to do?”
Del‟s hands swept up and down Jake‟s sides. Straddling Del‟s
naked hips was making it impossible to not feel the strength of his
body beneath him. The enlarging length of his shaft nestled beneath
him, pulsing telegraphed desire into his bloodstream. “The sale is
for the location. I‟m keeping the books.”
“You could relocate?” Del suggested hopefully. A foot
caressed Jake‟s calf. He kicked off his loafers, tugging his shirt free.
He tossed it onto the desk.
“I could.” His lashes lowered in ecstasy when Del began to
caress his chest, his fingers gliding and stroking over Jake‟s body.
Questing fingertips grazed over his nipples, and he gasped quietly,
the shock of pleasure sinking into him quickly. He‟d missed him so
much, even if he‟d been unable to admit it. He twitched, fighting the
giggles when Del purposely ran along his ribs.
“I‟m a horrible mate for you,” Del mumbled.
Jake‟s eyes popped open, staring right into those piercing
blues. “Why?”
“While I was at home, drunk out of my mind, you‟ve been
neglecting your health. How much have you lost?” Concern
darkened his face as he circled Jake‟s waist and nearly touched
front and back. Something Del couldn‟t have come close to doing in
the past.
Jake shrugged. “No idea.”
“Doesn‟t matter. I‟ll take better care of you. I promise.”
* * * *
Del‟s gaze followed Jake‟s movements. “Will you let me? I
will never say it enough. I love you.”
Jake‟s expression had been softening in stages. Del knew he
was winning when he‟d taken off his shirt. Now Del couldn‟t keep
his hands off of him, wanting to touch and caress every angle, to
drift over smooth skin. He kept hoping Jake would say it back, but
today had been a shock, the last two weeks hell. His man deserved
all his attention. He deserved patience after the way Del had treated
him, avoided telling him the truth in sheer self-preservation.
Running his palms upward, Jake arched, his head falling
backward on his neck as a slow gasp leaked from his mouth. “Sexy,”
Del breathed. Ran smooth circles over his abdomen with his
thumbs.
Jake slinked forward, his palms braced on either side of Del‟s
head. His eyes glittered with desire, wanting deepened the color of
his cheeks. No one had ever looked at Del like that, with pure
hunger. He swallowed, shivering. No one had ever looked at him as
though he were the prey.
Jake hovered, his lips resting a breath from Del‟s mouth. “No
more secrets. No more bullshit. You have to help me to understand
what it means, not hide it from me.”
Del shook his head. “I swear. But…” He glanced away.
Jake grasped his chin within firm fingers. “Del,” he growled
in low warning.
The demanding sound hardened his entire length. “The
mating urge.” He breathed through his nose, stifling the moans in
his throat. The man was killing him.
“I‟m listening.”
“It‟s a need I can‟t hide from you.”
Jake smiled knowingly. “You mean when you get all grumbly
and growly?”
“Yes. I‟ve been fighting it, to make you my permanent mate.”
An auburn brown eyebrow arched high. “Permanent?” He
said the word, as though tasting it.
“Deeper than marriage,” Del explained breathlessly. Jake‟s
lashes fluttered. He rocked his hips over Del‟s, and he moaned in
answer. “I wouldn‟t do it without your acceptance, and I won‟t.”
“I see,” he replied thoughtfully. When Del lifted a hand to
twine through Jake‟s hair, Jake captured it, pinning him. He
shuddered. Jake‟s strength took him by surprise. His lungs burned
as he fought to breathe through the sensations. Jake was in control,
and Del willingly gave it to him.
A light of acceptance gleamed in the green when his lashes
rose. “Wolves mate for life.” The statement held a wondrous echo.
Del nodded. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]