Page 16 of Secrets in the Shadow

For the first time in Raziel’s existence, someone touched him like he mattered, like he wasn’t just an afterthought.

Like he was truly desired beyond a meaningless hookup for mutual pleasure, destined to be forgotten.

And that scared him more than the guilt ripping through his chest.

Skimming his hands lower, he settled them firmly on his mate’s waist, closing the remaining space between them.

Raziel cursed the madness tearing at his resolve. This was wrong—dangerous, indulgent. He should have left the moment he realized what Cody could mean to him.

But now that he’d had a taste of the beautiful redhead, leaving felt impossible. The need to stay, to lose himself in this fleeting connection, outweighed the risks. Foolish bastard, he thought bitterly. One more sin to add to your ledger.

Still, Raziel had to try for both their sakes.

He dropped his lips to his mate’s ear, letting his breath warm the shell.

“Tell me to stop,” he whispered gruffly. It wasn’t a plea he expected to be answered, but part of him wanted Cody to save him from himself.

But he knew his mate wouldn’t. Not when he felt the human trembling against him, caught in the same current that had Raziel spiraling out of control.

“I-I can’t.” His mate pulled Raziel down to him, causing him to smile then groan when Cody scraped his teeth across his short beard. “Since you ate my bacon, the payment is making out with me for longer than ten minutes.”

Fuck. Raziel growled, his hands tightening on his mate. “I’m about to pay for tomorrow’s breakfast too, kitten.”

“What—” Cody’s eyes went wide when Raziel used his knee to push apart his mate’s legs before thrusting his thigh between them.

Cody was much shorter, yet their bodies fit perfectly together.

“I think you get the idea of what I want you to do.” He bit down gently on Cody’s bottom lip and then licked the sting. “Ride me, handsome.”

The blush that erupted across Cody’s face nearly outmatched the inferno of his hair. It appeared his mate was even shyer than Raziel had first thought.

And that knowledge only turned him on even more.

Gently gripping Cody’s waist, Raziel guided his timid kitten, moving his leg in rhythm to the man’s body rocking gently against it.

“Baby, if you keep moving this slowly, I might be able to get you off by the end of next week,” Raziel teased, burying his face in Cody’s neck. He inhaled deeply, the intoxicating scent drugging him.

I am so screwed.

Cody’s hips shifted against him, testing, exploring. Raziel bit back a curse as his mate’s warmth and desperation stoked a fire within him he had no business feeding.

But fuck if he was backing down now.

“See, not so hard.” Raziel playfully nipped at his mate’s chin. “No pun intended.”

Cody grinned, the smile unraveling even more of Raziel’s control. Guilt tried to rear its ugly head, but he refused to acknowledge it, solely focused on bringing his kitten as much pleasure as possible.

It killed Raziel that this was all he could give, but he didn’t dare take things any further. Not when his mate already had him dangling over the edge.

If he dropped over the abyss…

Cody whimpered softly, and Raziel tightened his grip, helping to slide his mate faster along his thigh. “Don’t hold back. Show me what you need, kitten. Teach me what you like.” He leaned in closer, his voice a gruff whisper. “Tell me what fantasy gets you off when you lie in bed pleasuring yourself.”

“Holy shit,” Cody groaned, his movements growing bolder, his rhythm falling into sync with the steady pressure of the thigh between his legs.

Raziel reveled in the way his mate clung to him, the guy’s hands fisting his long hair, his kitten’s gasps and groans breaking the silence.

Each sound felt like a reward, each shiver and tremble a victory.

---