Page 41 of Luca

“It’s simple,” I said. “I love having you full to the brim with my scent, seeing your belly bulging with it, because it cements how thoroughly and irrevocably you are mine. You carry the evidence of our coupling for days, and it satisfies that primal urge in me to show off to the world that I am your mate.” I smirked at his aroused squirming and how easily his cheeks flushed pink. “And unless my senses are failing me, pet, you seem to enjoy it too.”

“Well, yeah. It’s hot. I like you being all possessive and territorial. It makes me feel wanted and… I don’t know, secure?”

“Never doubt how much I want you.”

“I don’t.” He huffed in frustration, though it wasn’t aimed at me. “I guess I’m only asking ’cause I wasn’t sure if, since you’re next in line, you had a deep-rooted instinct to… sow your seed. Like, are you hoping to procreate for the good of the realm? Or is it justyou, you know?” Luca worried his bottom lip, his gaze on my chest as he contemplated. I opened my mouth to answer his question, but before I could, he sighed and blurted, “Are you content with what we have, or are you looking for more?”

I flinched.

There it was, the reason for his probing.

He thought I wasn’t content with only him.

I cupped his cheek, urging him to look at me. The uncertainty in his eyes broke my heart. “I have all I need with you, Luca.” I hoped the sincerity in my tone would be enough to soothe him. “Neither consciously nor subconsciously do I seek anything more than what we have, I swear to you. Forgive me if I’ve made you believe otherwise.”

He studied my face for a beat before sinking into my touch, the tension in his body loosening. “It’s not you. I just overthink, as you know.” He huffed a self-deprecating laugh, and I nodded. “I don’t know… This all just seems a little too good to be true sometimes, and part of me is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. It’s dumb, I know. I trust you, and I can feel your contentment through our bond, so I should listen to that, right?” He sighed again. “My brain just likes to work against me sometimes.”

The timid creature I had met in the club over a year ago was not the same boy who’d crossed over realms to set up a life in the Otherworld with me. His confidence had grown considerably, his true nature shining through like the most dazzling sunrise, though there were still moments when self-doubt creeped in and he retreated back into his shell. After a lifetime of being sheltered, and being left to deal with his self-conscious thoughts alone, it was never going to be something that disappeared overnight, or even left him entirely. However, it could be eased with love and encouragement—both of which I was more than honored to provide.

There would always be days when he’d be too overwhelmed or distressed to fight against the dark spiral of negative voices in his head—the reapers could no doubt be blamed this time around—but as long as I was beside him, I’d be there to shower him with as much patience and reassurance as it was in my power to give.

“I love you more than I can put into words,” I said simply, my thumb brushing the spot under his eye. “You are my everything, and you will always be my everything. I’ll gladly tell you every minute of every day if it’ll soothe you, my heart.”

With a soft smile, he shook his head. “You say it plenty, and I believe you.” He leaned up to plant a quick kiss on my cheek before propping his head on one hand and drawing patterns on my pec with the other.

There was a pause before he spoke again.

“I’m sorry you always have to reassure me. It must get annoying.”

“Absolutely not.” I combed my fingers through his hair, brushing the unruly strands behind his ears. “I am happy to give you whatever you need… just as you do the same for me.”

“I love you so much.”

I leaned in to nuzzle my nose against his. “And I you.”

Calmed, he plastered himself to my chest once again, snuggling impossibly closer, almost as if he wanted to merge our bodies into one.

“Okay, I can settle now knowing you’re just a kinky bastard,” he said before pinning me with a cynical side-eyed look. “Even though you said you weren’t.”

“Actually, if you recall, I said nothing of the sort,” I corrected him. He just snorted, neither confirming nor denying. I saw it as a challenge. “Well, since you’re so adamant, there is one thing I may wish to try sometime, if you are willing?”

Luca appeared nonchalant, though I knew better. “Hm?”

“Sounding.”

The cock twitching against my stomach and scent of intrigue were my answer.

And my victory.

* * *

As soon as daylight broke, I reluctantly peeled myself from my mate’s side, gently moving his head from my arm to the pillow. His nose scrunched in protest, but almost immediately, the creases smoothed out, and his soft snores returned. I smiled down at his sleeping form, so small within his bundle of blankets, and leaned in to kiss him on the forehead before getting dressed and slipping out of the room.

Cee was watching over the hallway from her position against the adjacent wall, her eyes alert though she appeared relatively at ease. I guided the door closed behind me, and signaled her over. She was at my side in an instant.

“Your Highness.”

“I would be grateful if you both trailed closer for the remainder of our journey,” I said, keeping my voice low so as not to disturb Luca’s sleep. “I understand that your duties are typically confined to the shadows, but I do not wish to cause my mate any more distress, and I believe he would feel safer having you both at a more visible distance.”

---