Page 9 of Taste of Danger

When they finally broke apart, Arion’s eyes remained closed, his breathing shallow and erratic.

“Open your eyes, honey bunny,” she whispered in the sweetest, softest voice, causing him to immediately obey.

For giving him the first kiss that made him feel worth something, Arion would do anything for her.

He gazed into her meadow-green eyes, fell into them, and then Arion noticed Jax leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, wearing an odd expression.

Arion quickly took a few steps back, glancing toward the floor and bracing himself for the berating he was so used to receiving.

“You don’t have to act like you’ve been caught doing something wrong, pumpkin. We’re mates.” Jax’s gaze swept over him, and Arion knew that look, had experienced it for a decade.

Pure lust.

“It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.” Jax smiled with a wink. “Feel free to kiss Elvine anytime you want, handsome. It’s very erotic to watch.”

Elvine glared at Jax. “So glad you’re deciding when I can be kissed,” she growled, and it was the cutest sound Arion had ever heard.

“You know that’s not what I meant, brat. You’re not spinning what I said like Jaytee’s and Damon’s mates did.”

Arion had no idea what they were talking about, and didn’t care. He was more interested in kissing Elvine again while also craving Jax’s lips. Arion wanted to know how his mate’s beard would feel abrading his skin, to know if Jax’s lips were as soft as they looked. Without realizing what he was doing, Arion licked his lips.

His body might be a collection of scars brought about by cruel punishments, but that didn’t stop him from yearning to be a part of this mating.

To be a part of something beautiful instead of condemned to something cruel and meaningless.

Jax stepped to him, leaving no personal space between them. Arion’s lips slightly parted at the hungry way the wolf shifter gazed at him, causing his throat to grow tight. He knew Jax was moving in for a kiss.

Arion wasn’t entirely sure why he was so nervous. This wouldn’t be his first kiss, but maybe his subtle trembling was due to the fact it would be the most important one of his life.

Tilting his head, Jax slowly glided his lips over Arion’s, as if his mate wanted to draw out the pleasure.

That was something else Arion knew all too well. Only, this kiss wouldn’t precede pain or humiliation, and Akai wouldn’t drag Arion off to be tortured afterward.

Don’t think of the sadist. Just…sink into the moment.

The way Jax watched him, Arion had never felt so possessed by a single glance and a simple brush of the lips. How could an intense moment such as this capture him so completely?

This time, Jax cradled Arion’s cheek, kissing him deeply. His mate could kiss like a wet dream. The scrape of his facial hair against sensitive skin caused Arion to moan. Wanting closer, he rested his palms against Jax’s broad chest while also telling himself not to get too attached or involved.

If you leave now and return home, Akai won’t find and hurt Jax’s family.

If he stayed, Jax and Elvine would discover the mortifying truth about his life.

Despite that, he couldn’t make himself pull away, couldn’t muster the strength to abandon Jax’s soft lips or deny the way Jax’s touch made Arion feel like he truly mattered for once in his life.

Jax moved his hand to cup the back of Arion’s head, while the other rested against his neck, completely focused on seducing him into feeling cherished.

Then he sensed Elvine move in behind him, felt the nervousness radiating off her like a scared deer trying to be brave.

Reaching back, he held on to her hip as she timidly kissed his bare shoulder. He could feel her slight quiver and her trembling breath against his skin and wanted to reassure her, but he didn’t want to break the kiss.

Jesus. Arion had never felt so surrounded by pure body heat before. Elvine’s soft lips glided across his shoulder, causing goose bumps to break out all over him.

Jax’s tongue delved inside Arion’s mouth, devoured him as if he was some type of delicacy to savor.

Arion’s heart was thundering like crazy, his breaths shooting out in rapid shudders as Elvine flicked her tongue gently against his body.

His insides grew hot and racy, turning his blood into an electrical current as his mates focused their attention on him… Until their hands began to wander over his patchwork of scars.

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