Page 86 of Bitten

What if he told Kane the truth and ended up getting the guy killed? Kane would go after the vamps… of course he would. And what if he didn’t make it out?

Either way, he could be killing Kane.

He turned away, feeling sick.

Caelian jumped as he felt two big arms wrap around him.

“Why so jumpy tonight?” Kane asked, his breath warm on Caelian’s ear.

Closing his eyes, Caelian melted back against the Halfling’s hard chest. “I’ve been reading up on some evil creatures the last couple of days. Has me a bit on edge.”

“What kind of creatures?” Kane asked.

Caelian turned into the circle of Kane’s arms. “I really don’t want to talk about them. Reading was hard enough.”

Kane lifted his chin with his forefinger. “What’s wrong?”

Caelian eyed the amulet hanging from Kane’s neck before lifting his stare to those dark, shining eyes. He had to save Kane. Whatever had to be done, he’d save this man he was falling in love with already. “Nothing. Nothing is wrong.”

Kane led them a few steps back, and he sat on the corner of the bed. It brought them closer to one another height-wise without those long, long legs under him. Caelian wrapped his arms around Kane’s shoulders and stared down into those eyes.

“I care about you,” Caelian whispered. “You know that, right?”

Kane’s hands gripped his hips. “I know.” He paused, growing quiet for a moment. “I care about you, too.”

Caelian swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’d never want you hurt.”

Kane smiled and frowned at the same time. “Am I in danger?”

Caelian fought the instinct to tell Kane everything again. Instead, he forced a smile to his lips. “From me,” he said, pressing his lips to the Halfling’s.

The kiss stole his breath away. Kane rolled them, pinning him to the bed.

Together, they writhed for hours, seeking solace in one another. Caelian tried to forget the evil he was about to do—hoping it was the right choice.

But something within told him Kane wouldn’t forgive him.

Ever.

But if this was his last moment with Kane, he would enjoy every last second of it, knowing he’d potentially saved the Halfling’s life.

He held Kane’s stare as the man drove deep, binding them as one. They laced fingers as they moved together, pushing one another higher and higher—until they came as one.

Kane’s name was the cry from his lips as he came, his body shattering into a million little pieces before he felt the warmth inside him as Kane reached that same spot. He held tight as his Halfling came, filling him.

Caelian let Kane roll them over, and he rested his head on the Halfling’s chest, listening to the steady beating of the man’s heart.

The beating of his heart.

Something clicked inside his mind. Something he’d read about vampires and their mates in the archives. He and Ralnur had given Kane that heartbeat back.

A sob lodged in his throat as he lay there, listening to the sound of their connection.

Tears stung the backs of his eyes, knowing it could easily be the last time he heard it. Slowly, that heartbeat quieted some under his ear. When he was sure Kane was asleep, he sat up on his elbow. Eyeing the amulet laying on Kane’s chest, Caelian considered his options.

Carefully sliding from his lover’s arms, he pulled the small clippers he’d had Cannon bring him from the nightstand. He slowly slid back into the bed and lifted the chain.

He drew in a breath…

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