In an overzealous spin, Kaz shifted into her leopard form and bounded out of the room, an excited roar bursting free.A few seconds later, there was a loud clang of metal falling, and somebody screamed.Iyana could no longer contain her amusement and doubled over in a laughing fit.
“If the two of you could stop bursting in on me during intimate moments,” Emmeric said dryly, “that would be fantastic.”
Iyana was surprised to find she wasn’t jealous at the mention of Emmeric and Kaz’s previous trysts.The entire situation was too hilarious, and she was so over the moon about the morning she’d just had.She tried to stifle the giggles.
“You know,” she said.“Itiskind of annoying on this side of things.”Emmeric only squinted at her, and the laughter spilled free once more.As she fell back onto the bed, tears streaming down her face, Iyana saw the corner of Em’s mouth twitch into a smile.
Chapter 36
Zane
Thenightbefore,they’dbeen so exhausted that Zane and Talon had only managed to bathe—separately—stumble into bed, and fall asleep within seconds.But they didn’t have any responsibilities for the morning—that they were aware of anyway—so they slept in.
Zane relished the sensation of waking up slowly in a comfortable bed.It seemed like he hadn’t had that luxury in quite some time.And it was only made better with Talon’s body wrapped around his.Zane’s back was pressed to Tal’s chest, their bare skin heating where they were connected.He had long since given up wearing a shirt to bed.While he had once been self-conscious about the disfiguring scars on his back, Talon had taught him they were nothing to be ashamed of.And he had shown him that he loved all of him by tenderly kissing those scars, running his fingers along them.
Strong arms tightened around Zane’s middle, and a kiss was pressed into his shoulder.Zane smiled and rolled over.Talon’s hair was sticking out in every direction possible.Brushing his hair out of his face, Zane’s grin widened.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Morning,” Talon mumbled.Gods, he was adorable when he was sleepy.
“How did you sleep?”
“Actually, really well.No nightmares.”
That was fantastic.The nightmares for both of them seemed to be decreasing in frequency.Maybe being open and honest with each other was the best thing for them.There were still some nights that Zane would dream about the grinding sound of Talon’s neck realigning, or holding his limp body in his arms, but waking up next to his soul immediately eased those old fears.
Zane pushed himself forward to graze Talon’s lips with his own.He never wanted to force Tal to do anything he wasn’t ready for, so Zane was simply opening the door and waiting to see if he would walk through.
Talon tightened his grip around Zane to close that last bit of distance left between them.Rough morning stubble was in direct contrast to Tal’s soft lips, creating a heady experience.Zane wrapped his hand in Talon’s hair and held him in place.He would never let this man go ever again.He would happily stay in this bed, kissing him forever.
A moan escaped, Talon and Zane took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.Their tongues danced together.Zane was drunk on the taste.
His world was reduced to warm skin and soft lips.The smell of spiced rum surrounded him.Small pants and moans filled the air.
Tal’s hand traveled down his back, setting his entire being on fire.Callused fingers played along his waistband, teasing.It was obvious to Zane how much Talon wanted this, as he could feel his hard cock against his leg.Zane ground against it, knowing Tal noticed his arousal as well.They both moaned into each other’s mouths.
Those teasing fingers finally slipped below Zane’s waistband, and he thought he might combust on the spot if Talon wasn’t touching him within the next few seconds.He wanted Tal everywhere.Zane’s hand detangled from Talon’s hair and trailed down, down, down his chest until—
The two men broke apart suddenly when their door was flung open.Kaz rushed into their room in her leopard form and leaped onto their bed, instantly shifting.She looked between the two of them, long enough that Zane’s racing heart was able to calm down slightly.
“Damn,” she said.“Is everybody fucking but me?”
“Maybe if you hadn’t interrupted,” Talon mumbled under his breath.Zane’s stomach flipped.
Kaz bounced up and down on her knees, shaking the entire bed.“Guess what!Guess where I just came from.”
“Where?”Zane asked.
The shifter pouted.“You’re supposed to guess.”
“Well, since you said, ‘is everybody fucking but me,’ I’m going to assume you came from Emmeric and Iyana’s rooms and found them fucking.”
“Damn, prince, why are you so good at that?”
“It’s emperor, now.”Zane flashed her the smirk that usually had women dropping their panties for him.
Of course it didn’t work on Kaz, though, and she only stuck her tongue out at him.
