Colton felt his body heat up as Raphael’s power surged through is body. The healing occurred rapidly and he could feel the bones of his skull knit together. He became aware of the world around him—the man lying against him, the soft lights overhead, the sound of his strong heartbeats and air easily entering and exiting his lungs. He could smell the most delicious scent surrounding him and realized in a split second who the man next to him was, as his cock hardened.My mate!Who’s my mate?He opened his eyes, trying to turn around to see the man who would be his forever but he was unable to get a glimpse. Then he heard his brother Cody in the hall arguing with Dr. Luna.
Why is my brother here? Why am I here?Colton sifted through his memories until he found the ones he was looking for. He was kidnapped by Pablo, sold at an auction, but escaped and eventually found Steel. But then it all went to hell when he fell through an opening in therocks, landing thirty feet below where he smashed his head.How the fuck did I survive? Oh yeah, an angel.He reached out through his mind link to Cody, asking him to come in. Colton could feel his brother’s pain about what happened and he needed to reassure him.
“I’m telling you, I must go in. Colton is asking for me now.” Cody turned to Steel after his futile argument with Dr. Luna, “Please Steel, you know Colton and I share a mind link. Colton is asking for me. Please, at least let me peek in to see if he’s all right. Please.”
Steel glared at Cody. He was reaching the end of his patience with him. Granted he was Colton’s brother but still, he’d behaved very badly throughout this day—screaming, attacking, yelling and threatening to kill Ian. Dr. Luna didn’t want Ian to be disturbed so why should he go against…
“Steel, think how you’d feel if Jackson was lying in there. Colton isn’t my mate, but he is as close to me as Jackson is to you. We share a mind-link like you do. What would you do if you were standing out here and Jackson was in there sending you a message to come in? Would you wait as you’re asking me to do?”
Scowling, Steel knew Cody was right. “Okay, just peek in to make sure Colton and Ian are all right.”
Cody quickly moved to the door, opening it slowly and peeked in. What he saw amazed him. His brother was sitting up, pulling out needles and disconnecting all the medical equipment connected to his body. “What the fuck are you doing?” Cody exclaimed.
Steel, Slate and Dr. Luna rushed in to see what was happening. But they were also shocked to see Ian unconscious while Colton was sitting up, apparently healed. Pushing into the room, Dr. Luna walked over to Colton. “Please let me check you over first.”
“I’m fine, Dr. Luna, Really, I’m completely healed.” But after seeing the looks of disbelief on everyone’s faces, he muttered, “Okay, go ahead. But first you have to take care of my mate. I think he fainted.”
Dr. Luna examined Ian and concluded Colton was right. Turning to the medical cupboard in the room, he grabbed smelling salts and waved them under Ian’s nose. Slowly Ian woke up, but was slightly disoriented from his wolf’s experience in his mate’s body. Dr. Luna helped him sit up while holding his arm to steady him. “How are you feeling Ian?”
Colton stiffened.Ian? Ian Wallace? DR. IAN WALLACE is my mate?Oh shit!!!
Ian sat up, his back to Colton, taking stock of his body and wolf.Everything seemed to be in order and working. Wait! The green light! The buzzing in his mate’s body? What happened?Quickly turning to search for Colton, Ian lost his balance and tumbled to the floor.Fuck!He felt Steel’s strong hands lift him up and set him on his feet.
“Are you all right?”
Ian didn’t answer. Instead his eyes were focused on his mate sitting up on the edge of the bed, seemingly healthy, with no signs of his near-fatal injuries. “It worked! I saved him!” Ian cried.
Colton looked at him with amazement. “What worked?” he asked Dr. Luna, who was taking his vitals again.
“You were near death when you arrived here and beyond any known medical intervention. After speaking with the Oracle, I asked Jackson if Ian could claim you so his wolf’s spirit could join with yours to help boost your self-healing power. And it worked,” Dr. Luna said, smiling as he finished his explanation.
Colton was stunned. The angel had healed him. This knowledge was clear as day to him, but...If I told everyone about the angel, it would hurt my mate. How could I take away my mate’s pride in saving me? My mate! Wow! Jeez, get knocked out and look what happens!Colton knew in that second, he wanted his mate. The mating pull was there, the scent was driving his body crazy and his mate had already proved what a brave and admirable person he was—willing to do anything to save someone.
He stood and approached Ian. Holding his mate’s face in his hands, he said, “Thank you so much for caring enough about me to do that. I’ll never be able to repay you.” Then, Colton, drawn in by Ian’s dark green eyes gazing at him, lowered his lips to his mate’s, ghosting over them before deepening the kiss. He could feel his wolf howling with joy as his body responded to the sweet luscious taste.
Forgetting the fact he never wanted a mate, Colton wrapped his large arms around Ian, gathering him close to his body as his tongue sought entrance to his mouth. Once it was breached, Colton’s tongue wrapped itself around his mate’s and together, they savored and explored each other in the timeless dance of love.
Colton could feel Ian’s hardness pushing against his own, grinding in search of pleasure. Instantly, he knew he needed to fuck his mate and claim him. Gently he pulled Ian back to the hospital bed they were so familiar with. Never breaking his connection with Ian’s lips, Colton turned them both around so his mate was up against the bed. He grasped Ian by the waist and lifted him onto the bed. He could feel Ian’s hands exploring his skin under the hospital gown and, eager to return the favor, Colton started to remove Ian’s t-shirt.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his bicep, pulling him away from his mate. Turning, Colton snarled in Cody’s face.Oh Fuck!!! What am I doing? Claiming my mate in front of my brother?Colton saw Cody’s worry for him. Pulling back from his mate, he murmured, “Sorry Cody. Are you all right?” Colton heard his mate mew at the loss of his lips but he wasn’t going to claim him in front of his brother.
“Doc, is my brother okay now? No lingering effects from his fall?” Cody asked, while his eyes searched Colton’s face and body.
“No, no he’s completely healed,” Dr. Luna said.
Then Steel said, “Colton, I know you want to claim your mate, but I think we need to get you back home. Jackson is frantic and I don’t want to stress him out any more.”
Cody added, “Besides, Carson needs to see that you’re fine with his own eyes. We were all preparing for your death,” Cody paused, wiping the tears from his eyes. “Oh Colton, I love you. I’m so glad you came back to us,” he murmured as he engulfed his brother in a bear hug.
He heard Ian growl as Cody threw his arms around him but Colton knew reassurances were needed at home. After returning his brother’s hug, Colton eased out of his arms and moved close to his mate. Leaning down to his mate’s ear, Colton whispered, “Ian, I do want to claim you right now, but I’d rather do it the right way, alone, just the two of us. Let’s go home where I can give you the claiming you deserve for saving my life. Is that okay with you?” He then pulled back so he could see Ian’s face.
Ian looked at his gorgeous mate, for the first time up close, and he could feel his body go weak. Tall, about six four, dark brown wavy hair, beautiful coffee brown eyes framed by long dark lashes, straight nose, and chiseledcheekbones leading to his mate’s beautiful wide mouth.Oh my gods! How lucky I am!His mind went to the place where he kept all his dream images of Colton sucking and fucking him.Yes, bed! Now!
Colton raised one eyebrow, waiting for an answer. He couldn’t speak because his breath was caught in his throat at the vision of the sheer beauty before him. Ian was shorter than he, around five nine, with black curly hair, the deepest emerald eyes he’d ever seen, high cheekbones, square jaw and the lips, oh the lips. He knew he’d spend a lifetime exploring and savoring those lips, especially the pouty bottom lip just begging to be bitten. His mate’s body was muscled with enough definition to start Colton’s mouth watering at the thought of licking each indentation. And the tattoos, two full sleeves at least—he was desperate to strip his mate’s t-shirt off to discover what more lay hidden beneath.
Ian realized he’d spent too much time lost in his dreams of how his mate would pleasure him when he saw Colton’s raised eyebrow. “Let’s go home Colton,” he said. “I don’t want Jackson to have more stress.”
Colton closed his eyes.Holy Fuck! A mate who understood him! Someone who shared the same need to take care of people!He leaned his forehead against Ian’s and murmured, “Thank you so much for understanding. I promise I’ll make it up to you.” After giving his mate another long kiss, he reluctantly pulled back. Moving alongside Ian, he put his arm around his mate’s waist protectively. Although he was eager to go home, there were still matters here requiring his attention first.
