The rest of the world was already starting to fall away. Cradled against Wyatt’s chest, he allowed himself to be ushered to the other side of the room, where they sat on the floor. From their position, River could easily see them with only a turn of his head. Wyatt drew Bel into his lap and held him so damn close.
Wyatt’s scent mixed with blood and sweat danced around him. Gentle arms wrapped around him, trying to be careful of his wounds while at the same time holding him close. Bel turned his head, brushing his lips across the pulsing vein so close to the surface. Wyatt shivered and one hand tightened on his hip.
“Are you sure you’re strong enough? I didn’t check your injuries. I—”
“Bel, I’m fine. I’ve almost completely healed,” Wyatt reassured him.
“Please tell me you want this,” Bel whispered so very softly, he wasn’t entirely sure Wyatt could even hear him.
“Bel, I have dreamed of this moment since that night we talked in the kitchen. Please don’t take it from me.”
“I love you,” Bel murmured, then sank his fangs deep.
Wyatt moaned and rich blood flooded Bel’s mouth. He groaned and swallowed. The blood was unlike any he’d ever had before. Thicker, richer, and even hotter. It scorched a path down his throat and drenched starved cells. Fresh life and power zinged through every nerve ending. He felt amazing.
“How much is too much?” Rafe’s voice cut through his euphoria, reminding him that he wasn’t alone with Wyatt. “When the wolf passes out?”
“No, definitely not,” Aiden said irritably. “Far less.”
Rafe sighed. There was a soft hiss of fabric shifting and sliding. He could feel his brother closer, but Bel didn’t want to lift his head or open his eyes. Being wrapped in Wyatt was so much better than whatever the rest of the world had to offer.
“Come along now, Bel. Let go of the poor wolf. I’m sure you’d prefer to leave him enough blood to work his cock.”
That was a good point. A very good one.
Bel licked across the wound, sending another shiver through Wyatt’s long frame, while the wounds easily closed.
“That was so amazing,” Bel said with a sigh. He rubbed his face back and forth, nuzzling Wyatt for a second because everything just felt…amazing. He finally turned his head and slowly blinked at Rafe. His thoughts were sluggish, but everything felt too good for him to care about it. “And you’re not allowed to talk about my boyfriend’s penis.”
“What?” Rafe squawked. “Boyfriend?”
“Oh shit,” Aiden swore softly.
“Penis. Isn’t that an odd word? It sounds so funny when you say it. Peeeen-is. P-peeen-is.”
“What the hell is wrong with him?” Rafe demanded.
Ethan’s cackle rang out through the room, but Bel couldn’t see him from where he was sitting. He didn’t want to get up. Wyatt’s arms felt so wonderful wrapped around him, all safe and snuggly.
“He’s drunk!” Ethan exclaimed.
“He can’t be,” Marcus countered. His other brother was still here? It was a regular party.
“He is,” Aiden murmured, though he was sounding a little more amused now. “Wyatt is an alpha, and Bel was severely injured. The rush of blood has gone to his head.”
“Oh my God, I love drunk Bel!” Ethan said around more laughter.
“Penis. Penispenispenis. Well, shoot. Now it doesn’t sound like anything at all. And why do they call it a cock in the first place? It doesn’t look like a chicken in the least. Dick is just too informal. Why don’t we call it a Richard? Wyatt’s is certainly regal enough to warrant a formal name.”
“Hey!” River called from too far away. Why the hell wasn’t he snuggled up with them in their usual puppy pile? “What about my penis?”
“Oh, yours is definitely a Richard as well,” Bel said with an extravagant wave of his arm. “But you must come over here too.”
There was a sound of low arguing and something like a scuffle, but it was only a few seconds before River’s smaller frame was pressed tightly against Bel. With him came the smell of old blood and sweat, bringing back ugly memories of what had brought them to Marcus’s house in the first place.
Bel turned in Wyatt’s arms and cupped his hands on either side of his face, pulling them together until their foreheads touched. “River. My sweet, beautiful River. I was so scared. We were so scared. We can’t lose you.”
“Never,” River breathed, then captured Bel’s lips in a rough kiss. He broke off and leaned forward, grabbing Wyatt’s mouth. As the kiss went on, Bel was happy to explore River’s neck and ear and anything else he could reach.
“All right, boys,” Aiden called out, but it still took another couple of seconds to get them to pull apart. “Ethan, can you show them to a room so they can get some sleep?”
Rafe snorted. “Preferably far from the rest of us. I for one don’t want to hear their celebratory ‘we’re not dead’ sexcapades.”