Page 21 of Honey Heat
Ethan burst out laughing as Lucio straddled his bike, placing his mate in front of him so they could face each other.
After everything Ethan had been through, hearing his pure joy cracked something open inside of Lucio—something fierce and protective that roared with satisfaction at being the one to put that light back in Ethan’s eyes.
Lucia brushed a wind-tossed curl from his mate’s forehead. “You should laugh more.”
“Then you might get attached,” Ethan said, still breathless with amusement.
“Too late for that.” Lucio didn’t rush. He tilted Ethan’s face, ran his fingers down the side of his mate’s throat, and kissed him like he had time. Like he could learn his elegido by mouth alone.
His lips brushed Ethan’s, tentatively, just once. Testing. When his mate didn’t pull away, Lucio kissed him again, and this time, he let himself feel everything he’d been holding back.
Ethan’s breath hitched, the sound quiet and needy, making Lucio kiss Ethan deeper than he’d meant to. His elegido tasted like heat and innocence. Lucio had never craved something so much he ached for it.
Lucio pulled back just enough to look at him. Ethan’s eyes were still closed, mouth parted, lips still wet from the kiss. Then Ethan blinked at him, as if Lucio had just pulled the ground out from under his mate.
He cupped Ethan’s jaw, thumb brushing the corner of his mouth. “Perfecto.”
Chapter Six
Ethan’s lips still tingled from Lucio’s kiss. His bear rumbled contentedly inside him, confirming what he’d feared on the phone with Stewart. His animal had chosen this wolf as his mate. The realization should have terrified him, but sitting here in Lucio’s arms, all Ethan felt was right.
“That was...” He struggled to find words that wouldn’t make him sound like a complete novice.
“Tu beso fue mejor de lo que esperaba, cariño,” his mate said, and then he ran his thumb over Ethan’s bottom lip.
“I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded sexy as hell,” Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lucio smiled. “I said your kiss was better than I had hoped for, sweetheart.”
“You weren’t bad yourself,” Ethan teased.
Lucio chuckled. “Then I guess next time I’ll have to do better.”
Ethan wasn’t sure how his mate could do better. That kiss had knocked him off his feet and left him breathless. He’d never been the object of such focused desire before. The men in his clan either saw him as Boone’s untouchable son or treated him like a kid brother. But Lucio looked at him like he was something precious and desirable all at once.
Before Ethan could respond, the clinic door swung open, and Dr. Martinez stepped out, arms crossed.
“Ten minutes is up,” he announced, eyebrows raised as he took in their intimate position on the motorcycle. “Though I see you’re feeling much better, Ethan.”
Lucio chuckled, helping Ethan stand. “Just getting some fresh air, Doc.”
“Hmm-hmm.” Martinez’s knowing smile made Ethan want to crawl under the nearest rock.
“Five more minutes?” Ethan pleaded. “I feel better out here than I have in days.”
“Five more minutes?” Lucio matched his mate’s pout, directing it at Martinez.
The doctor rolled his eyes. “I’ll give you ten if you two never double-pout again.” He went back inside, the door closing behind him.
“Yes.” Ethan pumped his arm, accidently hitting his mate’s chest with his elbow. “Sorry!” He petted the spot he’d struck to soothe whatever pain he might’ve caused, but… sweet mercy. He couldn’t stop rubbing Lucio’s pecs. He poked the hard muscle then gave it a little squeeze. At best he could with his wrapped hand.
When he looked up, one of Lucio’s brows was arched, but it was the intense desire in his eyes that made Ethan pull his hand away.
“Never feel embarrassed about touching me, hermoso.” A low, seductive growl emanated from Lucio’s chest. He placed Ethan’s hand back on his pec. “Explore any part of my body that you want.”
Ethan’s gaze lowered to Lucio’s lips. “And if I want you to kiss me again?”
Lucio’s hand slid up to cradle the back of Ethan’s neck as their lips met. He kissed like he wanted to get inside Ethan’s skin, like Lucio was trying to tell him something he didn’t know how to say out loud.
