Page 14 of The Wolf's Prince
What had come over him? He was being even more ridiculous than Soren was.
To say someone was your mate was one thing, for them to believe you, was quite another.
Nikolai wasn't like this. He didn't have the inclination for commitment. He wasn't searching for the one. He liked meeting people, making connections and new friends, and trying new bodies along the way. That was what interested him. He couldn't be with only one person no matter how attractive they were, or how warm their embrace.
As carefully as he could, Nikolai extracted himself.
The moment that he was free though, Soren, still fast asleep, reached out and tugged him back into his lovely warmth.
Nikolai shut his eyes, allowing it for another minute before he tried again.
It took three tries, but eventually, he was free.
Soren sighed in his sleep, rolling onto his back.
For a minute, Nikolai stood next to the bed, watching him as a strange feeling settled over him. He didn't know how to label it, whether it was good or bad, he just feltstrange.
Finally, internally shaking himself, he turned to look for his clothing. It was all spread out over the floor. Nikolai only remembered the state of it as he picked up his shredded shirt.
His pants and undergarments, though filthy, were at least in one piece, so he pulled them on. He paused and then picked up Soren's suede jacket with the fur collar. It had been tossed near the door and Nikolai couldn't resist slipping it on.
He looked back at the bed, one more lingering look at Soren's form, sleeping peacefully.
What had gotten into him?
He couldn't have possibly developed feelings so fast. It made no sense.
Even so, he had to force himself through the door.
While trying to sneak away as quietly as he could in the early hours of the morning, even the clicking of his boots on the marble floor sounded too loud.
He looked back twice, expecting Soren to appear behind him, ready to drag him back to bed before carrying him off to a wolf's den in the wilderness somewhere. He shuddered, even as he pulled Soren's coat closer around his shoulders.
Panic was filling him by the time he stepped into his room.
Inside was silent and dark. The curtains were tightly sealed and there was not a sound to be heard. For a moment, Nikolai had the worrying thought that Andrey wasn't there. What if he'd spent the night in someone else's bed, just as Nikolai had?
That wouldn't be like him though. Andrey tended to keep his buttons tightly done up.
“Who is there?”
Nikolai sighed in relief at the sound of his brother's whispered voice.
“Oh, thank goodness,” he groaned. “Andrey, you're here.”
“Of course,” Andrey said in the dark, suddenly sounding annoyed. “And youweren'there. All night. I could hardly sleep worrying about you.”
Nikolai swallowed.
“You should have slept,” he said, creeping in the direction of Andrey's bed. “You know how I am.”
“Yes,” Andrey said sharply. “I know how you are. That was why I didn't worry when you left the party early. But you always come back, or at least come to your own bed after you've had your fun.”
Nikolai grimaced.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered, sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached out, somehow finding Andrey's hand in the dark.
His older brother sat up and gripped his hand in return.
