“I heard she was murdered…a year ago.”
Aiden grunted. “Part of an attack orchestrated by the Black Wolf Clan. She was trying to protect Ethan. I wasn’t there. Couldn’t be there.” He scrubbed a hand through his sweaty hair, positive he was leaving it standing up in every direction. Somewhere along the way in their chase, he’d lost his hat. “We were together barely two years before she got sick. Doctors were useless. I wish I could say I did it because the boys needed her so badly, but in the end, I wasn’t thinking about them. I just couldn’t lose her. I turned her, but…but things went badly. I didn’t see her much after that. It was too dangerous…for everyone.”
“Fuck, Aiden…”
“The boys elected to be turned later when they were older so they could look after her and each other.”
“I’m sorry.”
Aiden nodded, his gaze falling back to his hands. “Thank you. I just wanted you to understand.”
“What?”
Looking up, Aiden stared at his old friend, simply loving the ability to see his face again. All these words were painful to say, but he needed to get them out, needed Ronan to understand how he’d gotten to this point, and maybe even what he needed to take the next step forward. “I lost you once. Losing Julianna nearly killed me. My life is good now. My sons are happy. I thought it was enough. I just worry that if I take a chance with you and I lost you again, I don’t know how I’d survive it.”
To his shock, Ronan rolled over onto his hands and knees and crawled the short distance over, inserting himself between Aiden’s legs. He braced his hands on either side of Aiden’s head, hovering over him. Ronan surrounded him, stealing his breath away as he became Aiden’s entire world for a couple of seconds.
“I know what you’re thinking, Aiden. I always have. You think you can wall your heart off and pour all your focus into ruling and protecting your sons, but it’s not enough. If Julianna truly loved you, I know she wouldn’t want that for you. Neither would your sons. I’m not saying that I’m the person you risk your heart on—though I wish you’d consider it—but you do need to try again. You deserve to be happy and loved as more than just a father.”
Aiden closed his eyes, soaking in Ronan’s rough, passionate voice. His warm breath brushed across his temple and Aiden could feel the huge presence of Ronan looming over him. It was all so overwhelming and wonderful. Cradled in all this old pain and last night’s soul-searching, he’d found a seed of hope.
“That’s not what I was thinking at all.” He opened his eyes and tipped his head up to see Ronan’s surprised expression.
“Really? What were you—”
“Kiss me,” Aiden breathed. He wanted to try again. Even if the world fell down around him and he lost everything, at least he’d have been brave enough to try.
Aiden expected to be instantly devoured by Ronan, but he was pleasantly surprised that his old friend moved so very slowly, as if he were savoring this moment. They’d both waited more than a thousand years for this. Ronan’s breath hitched and Aiden’s eyes slid shut as Ronan cupped his cheek with one cool hand, rough fingers sliding along his face. Hot breath fanned his lips, causing them to tingle and then, finally, the lightest brush. The first kiss was so small, almost like Ronan was afraid Aiden would suddenly change his mind and push him away.
The second and third kisses came with more pressure, more need. Flesh caught and scraped, becoming damp. Ronan’s lips parted so slightly, capturing Aiden’s bottom lip. Oh God, the tiniest tug of teeth and Aiden was on fire. He opened his mouth on a desperate moan, welcoming Ronan’s tongue inside to explore and claim. He lost count of the kisses. There was only Ronan’s heat, his hand cradling his face, his hungry lips and skilled tongue.
How was this the man he’d known since boyhood? How had he waited so long to kiss him? Should have kissed him the first time he saw him at the party. Should have kissed him that night in the forest.
Didn’t matter.
He had him now. His lips belonged to Aiden. The needy, growling noises coming from his throat were Aiden’s now. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.
Without breaking their current lip-lock, Aiden braced one hand on the wall behind him and pushed up. He shifted until he was on his knees like Ronan, their bodies pressed flush. The hand cupping Aiden’s cheek slid up to twist in his hair while the other wrapped around his waist, fingers digging into the muscles in his back. Aiden cupped Ronan’s head, holding him in place while his free hand dug into Ronan’s ass, pressing him in so close their hard cocks rubbed against each other.