Bell held still as Alek touched him. It wasn’t easy. He wanted to curl into him and press his mouth to his throat. Bell could feel the restrained power smothered deep down in his beloved’s body—too much power for him to keep there safely. Bell rested his palm over Alek’s heart “Maybe it’s time to bring you all together again.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” Alek whispered, caressing Bell with the gentlest touch he’d ever felt.
Bell stared into troubled, pretty blue eyes. Alek. The other night… when he’d been bitten—those eyes could’ve shot ice daggers, they’d been so brilliant and sharp. Wolf.
Someone was missing. There was another… the feared one. Bell could feel it.
And what are you called?
What in Hades was all this he was feeling for Aleksei Volkov, and so soon? Bell had no knowledge of this sort of issue in a shifter. A man and wolf divided, their souls ripped into pieces. Unheard of. Bell probably shouldn’t have been making recommendations just yet. However, this was his beloved. He ached for him. He didn’t want to feel this way. Didn’t want to feel someone else’s pain. Bell had so much work to do, a king to advise, and an entire community to speak for, but yet there he stood, paralyzed for the first time in his life. Just as conflicted and torn as his cherished. Not able to budge until he knew more and understood.
“Come with me,” Alek whispered.
Maybe I should. Bell turned his back to Alek, staring at the window and not knowing what awaited him on the other side of those heavy drapes. He tensed when he felt Alek’s rough palms gliding down the sleeves of his dress shirt.
“Don’t fear me, mate. Please don’t. I might get overly passionate about certain things—like solidifying our bond—but I won’t ever harm you. I really hope you believe that, Bell,” Alek begged. “I know this is a lot to take in at once but I just need a chance to fully explain.”
“You asked me if I had patience, Aleksei… but do you?” Bell challenged.
Alek touched his waist, slowly embracing him as if giving him a chance to refuse the contact. “Oh I do,” Alek paused. “Just not all of me does.”
Bell was overcome by Alek’s scent as he pressed closer into his back. Warm breaths caressed his cheek while heavy hands palmed his stomach. “Bonding is extremely important to me… and to Wolf right now.”
“I know this is your way. To sense your mate, then to bite, then consummate.” Bell ducked his head when Alek’s forehead met the base of his skull. He tried to keep his voice soothing. “But you seem to be neglecting that vampires have a way as well. I need a moment to sort some things out in my head, Alek. Speak to Wick about the time you want.” Bell laughed humorlessly. “But first I have to get outside.”
“It’s okay,” Alek assured him. “I’ll go with you.”
Did he want Alek to go out there with him? Fuck, yes. He was anxious and he didn’t want to show that kind of weakness, but he wasn’t sure he could step into the light for the first time on his own. He should feel safe with the large shifter at his back, and to some degree he did, but Alek had already shown he could be unpredictable.
“Nothing will happen to you, Bell. Mating with a shifter should make you compatible with me.”
“‘Should’ doesn’t sound very reassuring. Doesn’t sound like a fact. I’m not the king. The Mother may not have given me the same blessing for being fated to one of her children. I could explode as soon as I open the door.” Bell gulped at the thought.
“I didn’t mean to make it sound that way. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”
“I need to hear more.” Bell struggled to believe the impossible.
Alek’s voice dropped a few octaves. “You were about to step into the light in the living room a few minutes ago. If you were in any danger… Wolf would’ve reacted. Way before I even could. He knows trouble is coming before I do. And he’ll… ” Alek trailed off before finishing with, “He’ll save you. Always.”
Alek made it sound as if Bell had several mates who would all act for him. Gods. How do I do this? Bell’s pulse raced and he wondered if this was what it felt like when humans had panic attacks. He was sure he was having those symptoms. The labored breaths, dizziness, the heat in his throat, and the tingling in his gums to bite into tender, supple flesh... Okay. Maybe humans don’t experience all those symptoms.
Perhaps Bell was just craving another taste, with Alek holding him and the sound of his blood rushing in Bell’s ears? As soon as he finished that thought, the pleasant warmth in his throat ignited into an all-out inferno. Alek clutched him tighter and Bell leaned into the embrace without thought. He swore he felt each erratic beat of Alek’s heart and each tensing of muscle. When Alek’s lips touched just beneath his ear, a wave of lust washed over Bell, causing his cock to throb in his designer slacks. Alek’s body was hard everywhere, especially the thick bulge digging into the upper part of his ass. Bell didn’t mean to respond by grinding against that hardness, but it was difficult to resist.