Page 81 of Soren

“I love you too,” Soren said softly, eyes on the smoking rubble in front of them.

Gabe grinned smugly. “I know. I can feel it.”

Soren huffed at him. “You’re going to be insufferable with this bond, aren’t you?”

“Probably.”

They sat in silence again. Eventually Soren turned to face him, and Gabe was surprised to see pain etched on his vampire’s features.

“I didn’t mean what I said. Any of it,” Soren said, pale eyes pleading.

“Baby.” Gabe wrapped an arm around Soren’s shoulders, tugging his small frame against himself. “I know you didn’t. You were protecting me.”

“You turned for me,” Soren said for the second time, voice breaking on the words.

They were already touching, shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip, but Gabe reached out a hand, wanting even more contact. He traced a finger along Soren’s cheek. “I did.”

Soren grabbed onto his finger, halting its progress. “To help me fight Hendrick.”

“Yes.”

“But you didn’t— He was already—” Soren gave him a helpless look. “Do you regret it?”

Gabe smiled softly, plucking his finger out of Soren’s grasp and resuming its tracing, etching the shape of Soren’s face. “Not a bit.”

Soren glared at him. “Why not?”

“I want to be with you. Always. Forever. I want to be yourmate.” He pressed a brief kiss to Soren’s lips, fighting to ignore the beast inside him that wanted him to deepen it, demanding he take more.

He could wait. Hewouldwait. They had time…

Soren flushed. “How did you even know? I never said…”

Gabe laughed. “As much as you love to call me one, I’m notactuallyan idiot. I guessed we were mates.” He paused, removing his hand from Soren’s face, suddenly uncertain. “Is it okay that I did it?”

Maybe Soren hadn’t actually wanted to be stuck with Gabe for a whole eternity.

“Of course it is,” Soren huffed, pressing his face back into Gabe’s palm. “Idiot.”

Gabe smiled, warmth blooming in his chest. “Glad you feel that way.”

“Speaking of feelings…” Soren gave him a sly look, swiping his tongue over pink lips. “I can feel how much you want me. You’re practically bursting with it. Why aren’t you making a move?”

It was true. Gabe knew he should be in a somber mood, what with the murder-covering arson they were committing, but all he could think about was how much he wanted to touch Soren…

Allof Soren.

This new energy inside him wanted to claim their mate more than anything. Wanted to touch and lick and fuck him into oblivion.

Gabe shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just…you’ve been through something. With someone who has a history of…taking without consent. I can wait.”

Soren stared at him. Gabe flushed at the scrutiny.

“You really would,” Soren said, long seconds later, awe in his voice. “Newly turned, the baby vampire inside you raging for its mate, and you would…waitfor me. To be ready.”

Gabe wondered if he should be offended at the surprise Soren felt at that, but one second of reflecting on Soren’s past and he couldn’t blame his mate for any amazement he might feel at others’ restraint.

He shrugged, refusing to take credit for common human—commonvampire, he corrected himself—decency. “You’ve been waiting for me a whole lot longer. I can hang on.”

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