I freeze, hating that I’ve startled him. Once again, I let that inhuman part of me control what I do.
“Jericho?”
I finally lift my face.
Evan’s brows are pulled together. “You okay?”
“I need to claim you,” I say in a rush. It’s not how I wanted to have this conversation, but with Kaine’s threat on my mind, I can’t help it.
His eyes widen.
“I wanted to rip that man’s head off for hurting you,” I say with barely-controlled rage. I force it aside, brushing a thumb over Evan’s stubbly cheeks. “You’re mine, Evan. You’ve always been my partner, even when I didn’t think it was possible. You’re the only one who’s ever owned my heart. The only one who will. Let me claim you so I can protect you. It’ll—”
He puts a finger to my lips. “I know what it’ll do,” he says softly. His tone is full of awe and bewilderment.
Marking Evan as my life mate would mean no other vampire could feed from him. It’s forbidden. It would grant legal protection should his life ever be in mortal danger, which means I could kill to defend him. Including Foxx or anyone from his coven.
It’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since I was turned, but it hadn’t felt right, even after I crashed back into his life. I had no claim over Evan. No right to his heart. At least, that’s what I believed.
Now I know differently. Evan not only wants me, he loves me. He wants to be my partner, and the fight with Kaine put all of that at risk. I thought I was going to lose him. Kaine had been so consumed with his need to fight Foxx that it blinded him to anything else. Even Evan’s humanity.
Evan leans up to kiss me. “Iamyours. Heart and soul.”
I relax, sliding my arms under him, and tuck my face against his neck. I didn’t realize how cold Evan was until that moment. The water had been only a few degrees above freezing, and it had soaked us the moment Kaine lost control of his gift.
Evan must notice it too because he begins tugging at my wet shirt, but it clings to me like a second skin. “Let’s get out of these clothes.”
I kiss him softly before reluctantly climbing off the bed. Peeling out of the torn sweatshirt, I toss it to the floor. When I remove myundershirt, I notice Evan staring at my crotch with so much heat in his gaze that it sears me like a branding iron.
Without saying a word, he leans forward to lick my stomach. At the same time, he quickly unfastens my fly to push my pants and underwear down. I freeze, both from surprise and desire. Evan strokes the base of my shaft while licking the head and peering up at me. Those wide, beautiful eyes reveal everything. His trust, his loyalty. His love.
“Evan,” I breathe.
He scoots to the edge of the bed, pulling me forward. I drop my head back as he sucks every inch of my long cock into his mouth. When he hollows his cheeks, I grit my teeth and bend over to tug at his shirt.
Evan stands to yank it off, then quickly lowers his pants. With his clothes gone, I wrap one hand around his shaft before stepping in close to kiss him.
Evan hums against my lips, making my heart stutter. “I want you,” he says.
I slide my arms around him. Want doesn’t even begin to describe my level of desire for Evan.
We return to the bed, and Evan offers me a bottle of lube. I’m about to ask where he got it when he pulls me in for a long, deep kiss.
“Claim me, Jericho. Make me yours.”
29
EVAN
Jericho grins at me, pure joy emanating from his eyes. He kisses me one more time before going back on his heels. Uncapping the bottle, he coats two fingers and quickly slips them in my hole. I grimace, yet welcome the pain. He hadn’t been the only one terrified when Kaine held me captive. I thought for sure my time with Jericho was over. That we’d never have this again.
Grabbing a pillow, I shove it under my hips, grunting when Jericho’s quick fingers brush that spot inside of me. “Holy fuck.”
Jericho bends over to suck my cock, distracting me to the discomfort as he adds another finger. He pushes my legs wider, then goes lower to suck on my balls. With his free hand, he jerks me, making precum drip from the head. I lift my head just in time to see Jericho go back up to lick it clean.
“Jeeesus, Jer,” I moan.
He grins, then reaches for the bottle. With one hand, he coats himself with an ungodly amount of the liquid before getting to his knees. He positions himself at my entrance, pressing in slowly. I gasp at the intense pressure, but Jericho quickly reaches for my hands, threadingour fingers together. He looms over me, hair curtaining his face in a beautiful wave of darkness. “I love you.”
