Licking his lips nervously, Brady walked around to the other side of the bed before removing his shirt, pants and shoes, leaving him in his boxer briefs. Pulling back the sheet, he climbed into bed, scootching over until his body was touching his mate’s. Placing an arm under Lucius’ neck, and the other over his chest, Brady inhaled deeply before murmuring, “How’s this?”
“Perfect…absolutely perfect.” Closing his eyes, Lucius felt his whole body relax. And for the first time since becoming a vampire, he fell into a deep and restful sleep.
~/~/~/~/~
A sliver of early morning light falling across his face finally woke Brady when squeezing his eyes tight didn’t chase it away. Lucius was sprawled on top of him, anchoring him to the bed. The treatment was successful and Lucius had regained the use of his limbs. Listening to the deep, even breathing of his mate, Brady began to sort out his thoughts.
To say his life had taken an unexpected turn was an understatement; it was more like an earthquake had shaken his life, leaving a jumble of broken and jagged pieces that didn’t fit together anymore. It was an unnerving feeling. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, letting his mate’s scent calm him. After a few more breaths, he tackled his thoughts, organizing them into two groups. Setting aside his commitment to Mystia and Oracle, he concentrated on his mate first.
Gaining access to Lucius’ memories was both a blessing and a curse. Being privy to the pain his mate suffered would help him in understanding Lucius but it also fueled his anger at the ones responsible for it. Coming to terms with that feeling was the first thing he needed to focus on, since anger would only strain their relationship. He’d already realized his mate was a kind, caring person, eager to please which is exactly what Valerian was looking for. Mentally swearing at the dead vampire, Brady vowed it would be the last time anyone ever exploited his mate’s good-hearted nature again.
Practicing the calming techniques he learned after the Witches’ Council banned him, Brady concentrated on ridding himself of every negative thought filling his mind about the vampires who’d enslaved his mate. They were dead and would never be able to hurt him again. That was the most important thing for him to remember. With each deep breath, Brady felt the poisonous anger in his body slowly leach away, replaced by love.
Lucius was awakened by his mate?tenderly stroking his back. Sighing with pleasure, he burrow against Brady’s chest, relishing the skin-to-skin contact. He was definitely in heaven; it’d been too long since someone held him. He never dared allow himself to seek comfort with any human after Valerian changed him?especially after witnessing what happened when the vampires fucked their donors. It was a bridge he refused to cross no matter how many times Valerian threw temptation his way.
But now, Lucius willingly surrendered to pleasure. Turning his head slightly, he took a deep whiff, his mate’s scent exploding in his mouth. Whimpering softly, he wanted—no,needed— more, driven by his urgent desire to taste. Extending his tongue, he licked his mate’s chest, moaning as pleasure filled his body. Then, without warning, his fangs dropped, his mouth watered and before Lucius knew it, his teeth sank deeply into Brady’s flesh. Blood filled his mouth. Unable to stop, Lucius began swallowing the sweetest elixir on earth, each mouthful restoring his strength.
Gasping when his mate’s fangs pieced his flesh, Brady stiffened briefly before euphoria consumed him, melting his tension away and sweeping him into a sea of pleasure as the bonding of his soul with Lucius’ occurred. Brady felt a surge of power course through him unlike anything he’d ever experienced. And though it should’ve alarmed him, he couldn’t find the strength to let it. Closing his eyes, Brady floated while his mate continued to drink from him.
Sweet jumpin’ Jehosephat!Lucius couldn’t get enough of his mate’s blood. Each drop on his tongue ignited fireworks, filling his heart with a special love, the kind he lost when turned. It’d been so long since his mother hugged him, reassuring him she loved him after finding out he was attracted to boys. He mourned the loss of her love every day after waking up from Valerian’s bite, but now he had a mate who also loved him unconditionally.
Happiness crowded out Lucius’ sordid past. The years under his master’s rule faded away like stars in the early morning light. His future now stretched out before him, freeing from all his fears. It was a place Lucius never expected to be, but as he continued to drink, he was grateful to whoever was responsible for giving him this perfect mate. Joining Brady in the sea of pleasure, Lucius floated along with him, ecstatic that they were now bound together?forever.
It was his mate’s moan that roused Lucius from his dream-like state. He’d heard that sound before when the vampires were draining their donors. Quickly removing his fangs, horror overcame him for putting his mate in danger. He stared anxiously at Brady for a few moments before breathing out a sigh of relief at the steady rise and fall of his mate’s chest. Then noticing drops of blood oozing from the punctures his fangs had made, Lucius leaned back down, healing them with his tongue before asking, “Brady? Are you okay?”
~/~/~/~/~
Carson studied Remy’s face, seeing his mate’s indecision along with his fear for the boys’ safety. Sending them to California wasn’t an easy choice to make but after speaking with his brother last night, he was certain it was the right one.
Pulling Remy into his arms, Carson brushed a kiss against his forehead, before asking, “What’s worrying you the most?”
Opening his mouth to respond, Remy paused before saying, “The boys will be half a world away from me…”
“True, but you’re only a second away from them, if needed.”
“I know…but…what about Galen’s nightmares? He hasn’t had any…”
“Since I arrived?”
“Yes…and now I’m sending him to a place he doesn’t know. What happens if he starts having them again?” asked Remy.
“That worries me too…but after talking to Cody and Colton, I think Galen will be fine. Remember, we are identical triplets so Galen will have a familiar face there. Cody assured me he and Dylon planned to sleep in the same room as the boys so they won’t ever wake up alone. Plus, Mrs. B will be there along with my mother who will spoil them rotten.”
Remy broke into a laugh. “That’s good…”
“But you are going to miss them, aren’t you?”
Raising his head, Remy looked at his mate, surprised at how perceptive Carson’s question was. Nodding, he said, “Just the thought of getting up in the morning without seeing them is breaking my heart. In the beginning, I was just trying to survive as I muddled my way through being responsible for three small boys. I can’t begin to tell you how many mistakes I made, but through it all, the boys never complained. Then, one day, I realized, I couldn’t imagine my life without them.”
“I understand,” Carson said, “because I feel the same way. My initial reaction when Cody suggested they leave France was ‘hell no’ because they are part of me…part of us.”
“Exactly! But, then I think about the sacrifices my parents made to protect me…”
“I’m right there with you, babe. My mother did the same thing so this is the part of being a parent that sucks.”
Grimacing, Remy nodded. “We have to put our wants aside and do what’s best for the boys.”
“Even if it will hurt like hell.”
