Alek got up, his bare feet not making a sound on the hardwood floor. He didn’t bother with grabbing a weapon; he was the weapon. He lifted his nose again but he smelled nothing. Fuck. He hoped it was Bell, but he wouldn’t run out there blind and encounter a real enemy. He wasn’t a fool. He understood he might be on the vampires’ most wanted list for attacking the second highest-ranking vampire in the world.
The house was dark except for the natural illumination coming through his skylights. He didn’t need artificial lights to see. Alek’s knees almost buckled when he got to the end of the hall where his home opened up into one large space. There he was standing with his back to him, in front of one of Alek’s enclosed bookcases he’d built into the cedar logs. It was his favorite renovation. Bell was touching his personal things. Smoothing his long, satiny fingers over Alek’s favorite thriller novels, his mementos he’d picked up during his travels, and his family photos. All the things that were important to him, Bell was touching. Leaving his scent all over them. Alek’s wolf perked up.
“I assume I can drop my shield now,” Bell said quietly. His voice so soft and harmonious. “Wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve never been in a shifter’s home. But, then again… you’re not just any shifter.”
“You’re welcome here. Most of all you’re safe.” Alek said roughly. He was using all his energy to stay put and not leap over his sectional and plaster himself to Bell’s back.
Alek immediately felt when Bell dropped all his defenses. His amazing scent quickly flooded Alek’s home, then reached his nose. It was a smell that reminded him of everything he loved. Nature. His mate smelled like lemongrass after a morning rain. Alek lifted his head and inhaled deeply, mentally taking all he could. He anxiously moved from foot to foot but he didn’t advance.
Bell continued to walk and survey his home, those pointed, silver-tipped boots making a provocative clacking sound on his floor. Alek’s eyes tracked every methodical step. Nothing was missed. Alek memorized Bell from his feet to the top of his stunning head. Speaking of. He wanted to run his fingers through all that gorgeous hair. More hair then he’d ever seen on a man. It worked for the striking vampire, even the long white streak that seemed to catch the moonlight at just the right times. Alek was hard as blown glass. His cock tented the terry-cloth material that covered it. He couldn’t be embarrassed over his arousal for his mate. Not when he was so happy that he’d come to him.
Alek’s eyes dropped down to Bell’s tight, round ass in those tailored charcoal slacks. He insistently licked his lips. He had a vision of folding the sexy man over his La-Z-Boy and burying his face deep between those—
“You have wicked thoughts, Belove.” Bell’s voice wasn’t as sugary as it was before, having taken on a sultry edge.
Again, Alek wouldn’t be ashamed at how much he wanted his mate. He had a lot more wicked visions to add to that one. Having been stuck on that RV for two-and-a-half days, he’d had nothing but time to let his imagination soar. “I’m glad you came, Bell.”
“I like the way it sounds when you say my name, Aleksei.”
“Me too,” Alek said.
Bell turned to face him fully. His classically handsome face and those thick, ivory lips, were begging for Alek’s kisses. He swallowed a boulder of impatience, watching his mate cautiously. Looking for any sign that he was truly forgiven for being a jerk and for ruining their mating. Then, he was looking for any indication that he could put his hands back on him. He saw the vampire’s nostrils flare.
“You smell heavenly.” Bell’s steamy groan made Alek’s cock leak. “Mouthwatering.”
Alek’s eyes widened. His mate was starving. He hadn’t fed in two days, going on three. No sooner had he thought of nourishing his mate, his blood felt like it was pumping harder and faster. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart, but it wasn’t working. Alek’s breaths got shorter, quicker, until he felt like he was going to have a heart attack. He looked down at his rapidly rising chest. “What’s happening?”
“Wick told me about this.”
Alek jolted his head up in surprise; his mate was standing less than an inch away. His eyes searching all over him, his nose running along his throat, like Alek did to him on Mikel’s lawn. “You’re able to produce enough blood to feed me.” Bell’s skin was silky against his. “I’ll warn you now. I have an insatiable appetite.”
“I want you to bite me,” Alek gritted out. Bell’s voice was making his balls ache and throb along with the blood rushing in his veins. The feeling wasn’t painful, he sort of felt like he did when he ate entirely too much food and thought he’d burst. His blood thrummed so loudly he could hear it himself. He could feel Bell’s hunger and his wolf was wanting Alek to fix it, make his mate whole and satisfied.