Eric had been clear. No murdering the mother.
So Wolfe waited patiently through the long silence, rewarded when Eric broke, crying out miserably, “What kind of person gives up being adoctor?” He immediately winced at his own words, turning his head to face Wolfe. “I know you think it’s fine. That I don’t owe anyone anything, but anynormalperson—”
Wolfe cut in, unwilling to let his mate continue to berate himself for another moment. “Youdon’towe anyone anything, Eric. Your existence does not need to be justified by a career, however noble. If you’re unhappy with your lack of employment, we’ll look into research positions, as you’ve expressed interest before.”
Eric’s pout didn’t diminish. “What if they won’t take me? I’ve been unemployed for, like, more than a year now. They’ll think I’m defective.”
“Then we’ll compel them into giving you a job.”
Wolfe was nothing if not a problem solver.
Misery still emanated through the bond, but Eric looked for a moment like he was fighting back a smile. “That’s unethical, you know.”
Wolfe only gave him a look.
Eric let out a small laugh, a little more of that tension leaving him. “You’re hopeless.”
“I’m perfect,” Wolfe countered. “As are you. Just as you are.”
“I know you think that. I just—I still have trouble feeling it, sometimes.” Eric gave him a remarkably sweet smile. “Only sometimes though. So that’s an improvement.”
“Allow me to make it better.” It should have been a question, maybe, but it came out as a command.
Eric didn’t seem to mind. He let out a long breath. “Yeah.” He smiled again, brighter this time. “You’re good at that. Making it better.”
If Wolfe’s heart stopped, just for a moment, at those guileless words…well, that was his business alone.
Wolfe first ledEric into the bedroom, setting him on the edge of their bed while he selected a set of comfortable clothes from the dresser. He normally would have put Eric in his robe, but Wolfe’s mate was feeling fragile, so emotional comfort had to be factored in more than aesthetics.
Wolfe ultimately chose a pair of soft, worn track pants he knew Eric favored. His fingers briefly hovered over one of Eric’s more faded, comfortable T-shirts, but he left it where it was—bare skin would be preferable for them both.
He handed the pants to Eric wordlessly, waiting until Eric started undressing, then began the meticulous process of removing his own suit, changing into his preferred silk dressing gown.
He led Eric into the den.
Wolfe grabbed his current novel from his desk, then sat on the couch, spreading his legs wide, taking one of the larger throw pillows and setting it on the rug between his knees, gesturing for Eric to kneel upon it.
Eric immediately complied, looking up at Wolfe from the floor, his face open and trusting, if still touched with a bit of sadness.
He really thought someone could believe himdefective?
Eric was nowhere near defective.
He was perfect.
Wolfe let the lower half of his dressing gown fall open, revealing his cock to Eric’s perusal. It was half-hard already, responsive as always to the sight of Eric’s beautiful body, and to the low hum of arousal that had been emitting from him since he’d watched Wolfe undress.
Arousal that thrummed through Wolfe as well. But there was no urgency to it—not yet. This wasn’t about claiming—this was about taking care of what belonged to him.
“I want your mouth,” he began, and Eric immediately leaned forward, eager as ever.
Wolfe halted him with a hand on his face, gripping Eric’s chin. “You’re not to suck me off,” he instructed. “You’re to hold me in your mouth while I read. Just that, until I’m ready for more.”
Eric swallowed hard. “Cock warming?” he asked.
“Mm. I think you need a reminder, darling.” Wolfe stroked his thumb against Eric’s cheek. “You owe nothing to this world because your only allegiance is here. With me. You were born to be my mate, and as such, you are already perfect. You could spend all day kneeling at my feet, and it would be a day well spent.” He dipped his thumb into Eric’s mouth, pressing down lightly on his tongue. “Do you not agree?”
Eric sighed, his tongue swiping at Wolfe’s thumb before he removed it. “As always, your perspective is kind of skewed in the psycho direction.”
