Zhuang’s smile grew into a grin. “I’ve never had anyone worry about me before.”
“Surely your parents—”
Zhuang shook his head. “All my father worries about is his reputation on the council. As long as I don’t bring shame to the family, he couldn’t care less what I do.”
“That can’t be true.”
“It is.” Zhuang sighed. “Look, don’t get me wrong, my parents are great, but they are both wrapped up in my father being an elder on the council. There isn’t a lot of time for anything else.”
“Then why are we going to see him?” Xias couldn’t understand why Zhuang wouldn’t want to avoid the man at all costs.
“Because while he frowns on me bringing shame to the family name, we are still a family. Once he discovers I’ve mated, he’ll move heaven and earth to ensure you’re taken care of and safe because you are now part of that family, as are the cubs.”
Xias didn’t understand that. Life didn’t happen that way in his clan. If anything, people tended not to form family ties simply so they couldn’t be used against them by the alpha. Xias understood that. He couldn’t think of anything he wouldn’t do for his cubs, and now Zhuang.
“I promise not to bring shame to your family,” Xias whispered, and prayed his words were true. He’d never knowingly do it, but he couldn’t tell what the future might hold, and they both knew it.
“You should go lie down for a little while, mate. We still have quite a ways to travel before we reach the council. You’ll need your rest.”
When Zhuang gave him a small shove, Xias grabbed onto his hand. “Come with me.”
“I have to keep watch.”
Xias smiled at the deep need that flashed through Zhuang’s eyes. “You can take a few minutes to rest.” Although they might not be getting much rest, not if Xias had anything to say about it.
When they reached the cot, Xias stretched out on it and then held out his arms. “Join me?”
Flames leapt to life in Zhuang’s crystal-blue eyes as he stared down at Xias. The breath left Xias’s lungs when the larger man climbed onto the cot and settled between his thighs.
Zhuang leaned down and scraped his teeth across the soft swell of Xias’s shoulder. “I’m going to bite you right here and leave a mark so that everyone knows that you belong to me.”
Xias was pretty sure everyone would already know that, but he wasn’t against being reclaimed. He felt his cat growl from deep inside of him, adding in his agreement with Zhuang’s plan, and he knew he would give Zhuang anything he wanted.
When Zhuang arched an eyebrow at him, Xias grinned. “I’m yours.”
He was. Even if Zhuang hadn’t saved him and the cubs, Xias was pretty sure he’d still be Zhuang’s. There was just something about the man that fascinated him.
“Yes, you are.” A wealth of emotion hung behind those words, but Xias was too far gone to try to figure out what they were.
Zhuang had started stroking his skin, and every little touch was driving Xias to distraction. The more the man touched him, the happier he was. He craved each soft caress.
Xias suddenly ached for Zhuang to claim him with such need that tears sprang to his eyes. “Please, Zhuang, claim me.” He couldn’t have missed the shudder that wove through Zhuang’s body at his words if he’d been blind and dumb.
He was neither.
Zhuang leaned down and took Xias’s lips with a fierceness that stunned Xias. There was so much hunger and need in Zhuang’s kiss that Xias couldn’t do anything but answer it. He opened his mouth and allowed Zhuang inside to explore and conquer.
Xias groaned when he felt Zhuang’s full weight settle on him and the man’s hands slide up his arms until their palms pressed together. Xias curled his fingers in, locking them together with Zhuang’s. He groaned into Zhuang’s mouth as the man pushed his hands down into the mattress, pinning him from head to toe.
“Mine,” Zhuang growled savagely, nipping at Xias’s lips. “You’re mine, and I will kill anyone who tries to take you from me.”
Zhuang’s words washed over Xias like a fresh summer rain, renewing him and filling him with so much emotion that he was drowning in it. He relished in the heat that ignited inside of him and began burning just for the man above him.
“Yours, Zhuang,” Xias whispered back. “Only yours, always yours.”
Xias shuddered when both of his hands were grabbed by one of Zhuang’s and held in place. Zhuang slid his other hand down Xias’s body to the apex of his thighs. He lightly skimmed over Xias’s hard cock and balls, drawing a deep groan of need from Xias, before moving down between his ass cheeks.
Xias whimpered when Zhuang’s fingers stroked over his tight hole, spreading his natural lubrication around. He wasn’t sure anything had ever felt so good before. He certainly knew he’d never felt it before Zhuang had found him.
