Epilogue
Silas
Iron cooledSilas’ back as he reclined against the gate. It had been four months since he had last seen them, and a visit was long overdue.
It was five minutes to noon. The sun was high, and the day was bright. Silas let his gaze travel up and over the stairs leading to Stonecrest’s front doors, willing them to open. Seconds stretched and taunted him. How much longer would it be?
Today, after far too long spent apart, Elijah was rejoining society. Over the last few months they’d communicated through daily phone calls, and Counselor Nash had been kind enough to keep Silas updated with Elijah’s progress. No other contact had been granted. Silas wasn’t allowed on Stonecrest grounds, nor was he permitted to visit Elijah at the part-time job he’d been assigned as part of his therapy. The distance was hard, and Silas was eager for it to be over.
Today, his wait was over. The doors opened at last.
Beneath the afternoon sun, the gold in Elijah’s hair shone. He stood on the top step beside Counselor Nash, shook his hand and exchanged a few words in parting, then turned and saw Silas standing at the edge of the property. Silas watched as Elijah grinned, then lifted his hand high over his head and waved. Silas lifted a hand in greeting, unable to resist smiling back.
Four months hadn’t changed the way his heart raced when he saw Elijah, nor had they numbed the incredible connection Silas and Elijah shared. Desire lit in Silas’ stomach and corkscrewed downward, sinking low into his gut. It was hard to believe that the man Elijah had been when they first met was the one he was seeing now. Based on their conversations alone, Silas could tell he had grown comfortable with himself during his stay. The stubborn omega so set in his ways had changed for the better, and Silas couldn’t wait to learn and explore who Elijah had become.
Elijah dropped his hand and took the steps two at a time, bounding downward until he hit the path at a sprint. Silas opened his arms, and Elijah jumped into him. The iron gates supported them both as they teetered backward, Silas knocked off balance by Elijah’s enthusiasm.
Before a word was spoken, Elijah kissed him hard and rooted his hands into Silas’ hair as though he were afraid Silas might disappear. Silas kissed him back just as hard, arms slipping around Elijah’s waist and hands dipping down over the curves of his ass. Was it indecent? Certainly. After so long spent apart, Silas didn’t care what anyone else thought.
Elijah was his again. There was a lot of time to make up for.
“Baby,” Elijah cooed against his lips. “Oh my god, you smell so good.”
“I smell good?” Silas laughed. The kiss broke in full, and Silas took the time to look deep into Elijah’s eyes. The soft brown was flecked with gold. How had he never noticed it before?
“You smell like you. I missed it so damn much.”
“You don’t have to miss me anymore.”
Elijah collapsed against his chest and tucked his head against Silas’ shoulder, and for a while they remained still in each other’s arms.
“Do you think we could go home?” Elijah asked at last. “This pregnancy has been kicking my ass, and I want to get cozy and relax in bed with you.” Elijah took Silas’ hand and ran it down his stomach. What had once been flat was now rounded—almost too slight to notice.
A pang of arousal coursed through Silas, and he stood stunned for a moment as the reality of the situation leeched through him. Elijah was bringing his baby to term. They were going to have a family.
Unable to help himself, Silas let his hand leave Elijah’s ass to weave his fingers through Elijah’s hair. He tightened his grip and brought Elijah’s face forward, then kissed him savagely. Elijah hummed into his mouth and kissed back, and when the kiss broke, his cheeks were tinged pink and he gasped softly for breath.
“Or not relax,” Elijah whispered, voice saturated with desire. “Bed and you are the must-haves—everything else is negotiable.”
* * *
The second Elijahstripped off his shirt, Silas saw it. The subtle curve of his stomach, the promise of life, marked Elijah as claimed.Hisomega.Hispartner.Hisfuture. Silas had long ago learned to control the domineering aspects of his alpha personality, but seeing Elijah like that made his control slip. He wanted to possess, dominate, and protect. He wanted to step up and lead the way. More than anything, he wanted to provide.
Long ago, Silas had sacrificed the simple pleasures of life in search of professional fulfillment. Undying dedication to his career had brought him satisfaction, but had limited him as a person. Elijah had set him free. Life was about more than work. Love, Silas was quickly learning, was even more rewarding.
As Elijah shimmied out of his pants, Silas cast his own shirt aside and eased out of his slacks. By the time he was naked, Elijah had already scooted his way across the bed. Cock hard, cheeks flushed, and eyes dewy with desire, he was radiant.
“Come welcome me home, baby,” Elijah purred. “I’ve had so many lonely nights without you to keep me warm. Need you.”
Whatever Elijah wanted, Silas was eager to provide. He crawled his way across the bed, hardened cock bobbing with each advance of his thigh. Elijah grinned and sank down onto the bed, then ran his hands down his body and along the tight bump of his stomach. Silas’ arousal swelled, threatening to knot him prematurely.
He wasn’t even inside Elijah yet and he was ready to come. Four months had been too long.
As soon as he was within range, Elijah hooked his knee over Silas’ hip and lifted himself up. Silas wrapped an arm beneath Elijah’s lower back to support him, his other hand braced on the mattress above Elijah’s head for balance.
“Beneath the pillow is a bottle of lube.” The husky quality of Silas’ voice surprised even him, and lust pulsed through him anew. “Slick my cock. I want to be inside of you.”
Elijah didn’t argue. Urgent need compelled him, and he reached backward to search under the pillows for the lube. Soon enough, Elijah snapped the cap open. His hand found its way between their bodies, and he grasped Silas’ cock and worked the lube down it.
