He started laughing. Then crying. Then he wasn’t sure which.
Reid appeared behind him in the mirror, still in his torn suit, and wrapped his arms around Cody from behind. Cody turned into him, buried his face in Reid’s chest, and shook apart.
“It’s over,” Reid murmured. “He’s in custody. He can’t reach you again. It’s over.”
“I thought he was going to kill me.”
“He was never going to get the chance. I felt it through the bond. The second your fear spiked, I knew. That’s why I got there so fast.”
Cody looked up, tear-streaked. “You felt it?”
“Like a scream in my chest. I’ve never moved so damned fast in my life.” Reid’s thumb brushed a tear from Cody’s cheek. “The bond works, Cody. It works. I willalwaysfind you.”
Cody kissed him then—desperate and shaking and full of everything he couldn’t say out loud. Relief and terror and gratitude and love, so much love it felt like his ribs couldn’t hold it.
When they broke apart, Reid’s eyes were molten amber again.
“I need you,” Reid said, his voice low and raw. “I need to claim you. Again. I almost lost you tonight, and I can’t—I need to be close to you—inside you.”
Cody’s breath caught. Not from fear. From wanting.
“Yes,” he whispered. “Please, take me to bed.”
Chapter Eleven
Reid
Reid led Cody to the bedroom of the hotel suite and closed the door behind them. The sounds of Nashville—sirens, traffic, the distant pulse of music—faded to nothing.
“We don’t have to do this tonight,” Reid said, even though every line of his body was taut with want. “You’ve been through hell. If you don’t want—”
Cody silenced him with a kiss. “I need you. I almost lost everything tonight. I thought I’d never see you again. I need this every bit as much as you do.”
Reid made a sound—half-growl, half-groan—and pulled Cody flush against him. Then he kissed him, long and deep.
They undressed each other slowly, peeling away the expensive suits they’d been wearing all night. Reid was all controlled strength—broad shoulders, defined abs, scars that told stories Cody wanted to hear someday when Reid was ready to tell him. Cody was leaner, and softer, but the way Reid looked at him made him feel like the most attractive and important person in the world.
“Perfect,” Reid murmured, hands skimming over Cody’s sides. “You’re perfect.”
“I’m really not,” Cody said, breathless.
“To me, you are.” Reid guided him toward the bed. “Lie down.”
Cody did, his heart pounding. Reid followed him down, covering Cody’s body with his own, careful not to crush him. The weight was grounding, perfect.
“I’m going to take my time with you tonight,” Reid said, voice rough. “Learn every inch. Make you feel good. Is that okay?”
“More than okay.”
Reid kissed him slow and deep then started working his way down. Cody’s jaw. His throat, a careful scrape of teeth that made Cody gasp. His collarbone. Then lower.
By the time Reid’s mouth closed around his cock, Cody was shaking, completely overwhelmed. Reid was using his tongue and lips with just enough suction to make Cody’s vision white out.
“Reid, I’m going to—”
“Come,” Reid murmured against his skin. “I want to taste you.”
Cody shattered, pleasure rolling through him in waves. Reid worked him through it, gentle and thorough, then kissed his way back up Cody’s trembling body.
