The threat is gone. The job is over. It’s still too soon for an honest conversation, but Simon’s quiet patience pulls the words from Cody anyway. “I’ve had trouble controlling my wolf, ever since I got kicked out. But even drugged, I knew who you were.” Cody swallows. There’s no going back from this. “I knew what you were. Or at least, what I want you to be.”
Simon tilts his head. He’s entrancing as always, flimsy tank top hanging over death-white shoulders. “What is that?”
“My mate,” Cody says.
Simon’s eyes widen.
Cody can’t stop talking now that he’s started. “I knew you were mine. I couldn’t hurt you. I’ve never been able to take control like that, and I remember everything. No blank spots. No matter what you want to do next, thankyou for that.”
Simon adjusts his posture, up onto his knees. A masklike expression hides his thoughts once more. “What do you mean, what I want to do next?”
Cody has to force the words out. His desire to do the right thing for Simon conflicts with his instinct to claim him. Simon spent centuries bonded to a monster. He can’t be eager to tie himself to someone new. “Neither of us expected this job to end how it did. I’ll understand if you never want to see me again. Even if you do… you agreed to let me take you out for a drink. We can just date like normal people.”
“Because we’re such normal people.” Simon leans forward, tank top dropping past his collar bones, one hand braced next to Cody’s thigh. His gaze is piercing. “You say it’s up to me, which means you’ve decided whatyouwant already.”
Cody’s bare skin prickles with Simon’s nearness. He can’t resist covering Simon’s cold hand in his. With the jolt of touch, Cody isn’t afraid of his own honesty anymore.
Settling his wolf used to be his deepest desire, but it’s a side effect now. Cody wants to mind-speak with Simon while he’s shifted. He wants to always know where Simon is. He wants every other werewolf to smell that Simon belongs to him.
He never dreamed of immortality until it meant night after night, year after year, forever with his mate.
“I want you,” Cody says, and each word feels right. “For as long as you’ll have me. You’re the only pack I’ve ever wanted. I don’t expect you to say yes, with what happened to your brother. But if you ever ask, I want to claim you as mine.”
Cody’s heartbeat is the only sound in a breathless moment.
Then Simon lights up in a wicked smile. “Does tonight work for you?”
“Tonight?” Cody repeats, certain he’s misheard.
“Tonight.” Simon’s knee rests between Cody’s thighs, mere inches from his stirring cock. “I’ve spent over four centuries waiting for you.” Cool hands wind around Cody’s neck, and a slight weight rests on his thigh. “Why should I wait any longer?”
Each word heats Cody’s blood. He struggles for reason—but is it truly reasonable to resist? “I don’t want you to regret anything. I’m moving fast by anyone’s standards, normal or not, but especially from your perspective.”
Simon shrugs. Which is distracting, because one side of his tank top completely gives up on clinging to his shoulder. “A year is scarcely longer than a month. A decade is more substantial, but anything could happen. Even though you’d look very attractive at thirty-eight.” His cockiness wavers. “We can still wait, though. Immortality is a lot to process, and I don’t want to—”
“We’re not waiting onmyaccount,” Cody growls, and yanks Simon closer. His blood rushes hotter with the flush on Simon’s porcelain face. He affects Simon just as deeply as Simon affects him. “I remember everything from my shift tonight. Including what you said.”
Simon’s gaze darts away. “You’re imagining things. You were deranged.”
A foolish grin splits Cody’s face. Simon’s denial means Cody remembers correctly. And that Simonmeant it.
Weeks before, even days before, Cody might have balked at binding himself to a vampire. The mating bond is for life, which means something entirely different when immortality is involved.
Tonight, a hundred lifetimes with Simon don’t sound like enough.
“I’m sober now.” Cody gently turns Simon to face him. “I love you, too, you beautiful brat.”
Simon’s bashfulness melts into a smirk. “You have excellent taste, wolf. Does the mating bond involve fucking?”
Impossible heat grips Cody by the balls. “That can be arranged.”
Cody’s hands tighten on Simon’s waist, and Simon rocks down. Friction on his bare cock sparks a moan, quickly swallowed by Simon’s lips. Simon kisses ravenously, rough and wet. Cody drinks just as deeply, meeting the sharp edges of teeth in kind.
Something like magic swirls beneath his skin, a building storm, but it has nothing to do with the mating bond or the moon’s call. This is more primal than that. Instinctive, mundane need.
Cody grabs Simon by the hair. At the first tug, Simon melts, opening up to let Cody take control. Very much letting him. Simon’s choice of submission fuels Cody’s surging possessiveness. All his years of loneliness are worth it because they led him here.
Panting for breath, Cody breaks away to look at his vampire. Simon is still too poised, even with his hair mussed and his tank riding up his stomach. Cody needs to take him apart.
