And then he was soaring.
Wrapping both arms around his mate, he buried himself to the hilt and stilled, shuddering as he spilled himself until he had nothing left to give. Ruger trembled against him, and his head fell forward, a low moan falling from his lips as he followed after him, painting the wall and floor with his own release.
“Holy fuck, that was intense.”
Lingering in that soft, floaty place, Luka grinned.“I do not think there was anything divine about our coupling.”
"Agree to disagree.”
Gods, he had never thought he’d have this. He’d never had the audacity to think he deserved it. Now that he’d tasted what it could be like, though, there was no going back.
Ruger was his. Completely. Irrevocably.
And he’d fight the gods themselves to keep him.
Chapter four
Rugerwasjealous.
Not in the traditional sense. He knew Skye didn’t have any romantic interest in his mate, nor did she show any signs of attraction.
He just hated how easily she related to Luka, how she communicated with him so effortlessly. Benefits of being over a thousand years old, he supposed.
Of course, he felt guilty for his uncharitable thoughts. Luka’s entire existence had been turned inside out, and if the female could bring him even a moment of normalcy, he should be grateful.
And in some ways, he was. It just stung that he couldn’t relate to his mate on the same level, and he never would. Even if he spent the next decade reading from history books, it wouldn’t be a substitute for lived experience.
Repeatedly throughout the meal, he had to remind himself that it wasn’t a competition. Both he and Skye could be a part of the demon’s life in different ways. Still, the sense of exclusiongnawed at him every time Luka smiled or laughed at something he didn’t understand.
It wasn’t just their hostess, either. Everywhere he looked, he found people staring both openly and surreptitiously. From the moment they had walked through the doors of the castle, Luka had been garnering a lot of attention.
After having the male to himself for the past three days, he struggled with the idea of sharing him. Every glance triggered his possessiveness. Every lingering stare nearly pushed him over the edge.
Maybe they should have waited a little longer to accept Skye’s invitation.
“Do not fret,taavi.” Luka took his hand beneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.“In all the world, you are most important to me.”
Ruger cleared his throat and turned his face away in embarrassment.
He’d never had a problem speaking his mind, but he also knew not every thought needed to be said aloud. With Luka, he didn’t have that option. Even when he tried, he hadn’t yet figured out how to block his inner monologue from his mate.
“But it pleases me to know what you are thinking. How else will I know what you need?”
His next breath caught in his throat, and a tremor shuddered through him at the simple statement spoken with quiet earnestness.
He’d spent most of his life being the anchor—the one others looked to for answers, for comfort, for direction. Rather than begrudge that role, he had embraced it, but that often meant his own needs ended up on the back burner.
The habit of self-sacrifice had burrowed into him so deeply that the thought of allowing someone else to share the weight felt wrong. It unnerved him, this invitation to vulnerability,exposing desires he’d long ago tucked away in favor of responsibility.
Yet, as Luka’s thumb traced idle circles over his knuckles, a hush crept into the usual commotion of his mind and softened the edges of his uncertainty. Maybe, for once, he didn’t need to have all the answers.
“If it eases your mind, I do not enjoy Miss Maddock’s company.”His gaze slid across that table to Skye, watching her as she conversed with one of the waitstaff.“She makes me uneasy.”
Ruger snorted, then immediately coughed to try to cover his faux pas. He imagined a lot of people felt that way about the female but were too proud to admit it.
“Yeah, that actually helps a lot.”Cradling Luka’s hand between his own, he looked up at him, searching his expression.“We can leave if you want.”
His spine stiffened, and the muscles in his jaw strained.“We have not been dismissed.”
