I hum. “I get that. But one day, we’ll be husbands.”
“One day.”
His eyes glitter, and I’m sure mine replicate his as I brush back his curls, the electricity from our bond zapping between us. We both release a contented sigh at the waves of pleasure.
“Life has never felt this colourful,” he whispers, and the reality of it makes my chest constrict. To see how far he’s come. “And I’m so glad I get to experience it with you.”
I lean down to brush my lips over his. “Baby, I’m going to be here forever. Through the ups and downs. I’m not leaving your side.”
Evan blinks at me with tenderness in his gaze. “How have you been?”
“Good,” I say. “Eagerly waiting for you to come home, but I’ve been keeping busy. I started therapy, and I’ve been working on trust with my pack. It’s been productive.”
Evan grins. “I’m glad you’ve been doing things that matter. And therapy, how’s that going?”
“Hard, as expected, but it’s progress.”
“It’s important, and I’m glad you’re talking to someone.”
“I needed to work on myself before any problems from my buried trauma start to come between us.”
Evan’s eyes sparkle. “We’re growing, Caleb, and we’re not going to let your father or my brother destroy that.”
“We should sleep,” I say as I slip us both beneath the covers and wrap him up in my arms. “It’s been a long day for you.”
He cuddles closer into my chest. Bare skin on bare skin, and it’s exhilarating.
“Be here when I wake up?”
“As I said, I’m not going anywhere.”
I kiss his head.
“Goodnight, Caleb.”
“Goodnight, pups.”
My first nightbeside Evan was the deepest sleep I have had in a long time—comfort and contentment buzz around my body.
We didn’t move the whole night, which is usually unconventional—but neither of us wanted to. Evan’s still firmly in my arms, his back pressed up against my chest, my fingers laced through his.
I had woken up a few times, but found myself dozing back off again when I realised where I was and who I was sleeping beside.
Evan shifts in my arms, but I’ve been awake for a few minutes. My eyes are still shut as I feel him rotate and gently brush his fingers against my lips and chin. It sends pulses through every part of me.
When I eventually open my eyes and peek at him, I can’t help but smile. It’s been a while since I’ve woken up beside him, and I’ll never take it for granted again.
“Good morning,” I rasp.
He swallows as he studies me, his fingers still dancing along my skin.
“You okay?” I frown as I slide my hand into the back of his hair.
Evan nods but doesn’t say anything, his eyes fixated on my own. I’d be concerned if I didn’t sense the overwhelming sensation of his happiness flowing into my body, but now the bond is back, feeling his emotions reassures me.
He drops his hand from my face and pushes himself up from the bed. I follow his actions with my eyes, expecting him to step out of the bed, but instead, he straddles my torso.
The second he presses his palms flat to my chest, I release a little grunt of satisfaction, at the same time his crotch presses down against mine, only the thin layers of our boxers between us.
