Page 127 of Alpha Awakened

“No.” He reached out to grasp Hazard’s wrist even though he hadn’t made a move to leave. “I want you here with me.”

Hazard smiled softly. “Okay. It’s time to apply the salve. Sit down and take your shirt off.”

Ice followed Hazard’s order, watching as he opened the jar and scooped up a generous portion of the ointment on his fingers.

“You don’t have to fuss. I can do it.”

“I want to. I have to.” Hazard looked at Ice with green eyes that shimmered with emotion. “I need to make sure you’re safe and healing.”

At Hazard’s insistence that he wanted to care for him, both Ice’s heart and his Instinct pulsed, spreading a comforting warmth throughout his entire body. “Okay then. Have at it.”

Hazard knelt on the floor so he could better reach Ice’s torso. He began spreading the ointment on each of his bruises withslow, gentle fingers. Each touch felt like a caress that was able to heal just as much as the salve. As Hazard knelt there in front of him, his scent changed and became stronger. It sweetened as he began releasing soothing omega pheromones.

Ice sat there on the edge of the bed, feeling as if he were engulfed in a calming, sweetly scented cloud. As his mind and his body relaxed, releasing the last of the tension from his captivity, he thought that this is where he was meant to be - here with Hazard. But never having experienced any of this before, he had to question it.

“What are you doing to me?” he quietly asked.

Hazard looked up from his task. “Hopefully making you feel better. Let me know if it hurts.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I’ve never cared about having this kind of closeness with anyone. Never needed it or even thought about it. But with you, I want it.”

Hazard sat back on his heels. “Is that a bad thing?”

Ice took a moment to think about it. This new stage of his life was completely different from the past twenty-five years. Sharing this warm intimacy with another person —hisperson — was something he didn’t even know he was missing. Now, he would do anything to keep it. He shook his head before answering Hazard’s question. “No. It doesn’t feel bad. It feels good.Youmake me feel good.”

“That’s all I want to do,” Hazard said in a soft whisper. “If you’ll let me.”

Ice raised his hand to cup Hazard’s jaw in a tender hold. Hazard briefly let his eyes drift shut, nuzzling his face into Ice’s palm. “Yeah, I’ll let you. As long as you let me do the same for you.”

“I absolutely will.”

Ice’s heart thumped again. He might have to learn how, but he would do whatever was necessary to care for the omega kneeling in front of him.

Finished applying the ointment, Hazard rose and went into the bathroom to wash his hands clean.

“C’mon, let’s go to bed,” he said when he came back out. “The doctor said you need to rest.”

Ice was in agreement with that plan. Exhaustion pulling at his limbs, he took off the rest of his clothes down to his briefs, then stretched out on the bed. Hazard turned out the light and joined him after he undressed, sliding beneath the covers to cuddle up to him. Ice threw an arm over his waist, pulling him even closer.

They lay there in silence for a few moments before Hazard spoke in a low whisper.

“I’m glad you’re okay. When I heard you’d been taken, fear hit me so hard I thought I was going to lose my mind. I kept it together only because I knew I needed a clear head during the rescue.”

“When I was captured, I didn’t only think about escaping to get back to base. I thought about getting back to you,” Ice whispered back.

Hazard scooted up on the bed to press their foreheads together.

“I knew you’d hold on until I got to you.”

“And I knew you’d come.”

Ice moved that inch needed to bring their lips together in a kiss. It was soft, gentle. Cocooned together beneath blankets and in the dark, they continued to kiss, more in reassurance than with passion. Hazard broke away to leave kisses on Ice’s jawline and Ice tucked his face into the omega’s neck.

“You smell so good,” Ice said as he drew in a deep breath. With the scent of apples in his nose, a sudden realization hit him. “Headaches,” he said aloud.

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