Page 15 of Dante's Circle Reborn

“I meant to tell you that a bit later.” He slid his hands through his hair and started pacing nervously again. “I didn’t really want to blurt it out like that. But, yes, I fucking love you. I’ve loved you for longer than I care to admit.”

“And yet, we haven’t done anything about it.”

“Because we have our heads so far up our asses and are so worried about what the other might feel and what others have done to us that we’ve ignored it. Goddess. We’re out here trying to protect our Pack and doing what others might find cruel and difficult. We’re going to get it done.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Alec said softly. Liam froze, dread filling his belly. What if Alec didn’t feel the same way? What if he didn’t feel the connection between them like Liam did?

“You don’t have to say anything.” A frozen pause. “I’ll head back into the main house if you need some space.” He turned, and the rustling of sheets behind him made him stop. And then Alec was behind him, his hand on his hip. Liam wanted to lean back, to feel the heat of him. However, he wasn’t sure he could.

“Don’t go.”

Liam turned so they were facing each other, hip to hip, their breaths mingling. “Why?”

“Because you’re not the only one who hid everything. I know you’re my soul mate, Liam. I had to be a man worthy of you first. I think I made a mistake.”

“You’re not the only one.”

“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. Ever since you smirked at me and threw me down on the ground as we fought just to see who was more dominant.”

“I won that one,” Liam said with a laugh.

“And I won the next. Because we’ve always been even. We’ve always been exactly who we needed to be for each other. And I should have told you long before this. I love you, Liam. And I shouldn’t have hidden from you. I know you’re my soul mate, and I will always regret wasting so much time worrying. Not saying anything.”

“If you can regret that, then I can do the same. I want to put this behind us.”

Alec nodded. “It’s just you and me. Right now. ‘Cause I don’t want to wait any longer. I don’t think I can.”

“You’re usually a man of few words.”

“And you’re usually the one taking action.” And then Alec’s lips were on his, and they both groaned. It was decades’ worth of angst and temptation. There was no soft kissing, no tentative exploration. That would come later. They both knew that.

They ripped at each other’s clothes, the rending of fabric splitting the air as Liam’s shirt hit the floor. He didn’t care, didn’t want to think about what they were going to do in the morning. They would find Charlie, they would deal with the rogue, they would deal with Kit. They would deal with their Pack. All of that would come.

For right now, it was just the two of them.

Alec tasted like coffee and man. Like his best friend. And Liam wanted him inside him.

Alec groaned, and they both growled, their claws out as their wolves pushed at them. Their other halves wanted this, wanted the mating bond that had been so long denied.

“I’ve wanted this for so long,” Liam whispered against Alec’s mouth, and then he tilted his head as Alec bit down on his shoulder. It was a hard, fast bite, a claiming.

“No time for finesse,” Alec growled out. And then Liam kissed Alec hard on the mouth and bit down on Alec’s lip, just a gentle nibble. He loved seeing the surprise in the other man’s face, and then he moved to Alec’s shoulder and bit down hard, another claiming bite. They were each other’s soul mates, and they were so close to being fully mated. He needed release, needed something. And then Alec’s hands were on Liam’s jeans. The snap was undone, the sound of a zipper, and then the denim was shoved down to his ankles. Liam tore off his shoes and socks and then shucked his jeans the rest of the way.

Alec was still wearing his pants, and Liam was standing there naked. Then Alec’s hand was on Liam’s cock, and they both groaned.

“You know, I’ve seen you naked before countless times.”

“Because we shift in the nude,” Liam said, rocking his hips into Alec’s fist.

“Yes, then, too. And I’ve done my best not to stare.”

Intrigued, Liam let out a slow breath. “I haven’t been very good about not staring.”

Alec raised a brow and squeezed, forcing Liam’s eyes to cross. “I’ve noticed.”

Alec reached down between them and undid his pants. He shifted to remove them completely. And then they were both naked, and Alec was groaning into Liam’s mouth. Liam reached down and gripped Alec’s thicker cock, and they rubbed against each other. He loved it. Hell, he’d been waiting his entire life for this.

“You think the dragon has lube in here?” Liam asked, and Alec laughed.

---