Page 22 of Honey Heat
Ethan let Lucio guide the pace while he melted into the guy, giving Lucio every soft sound Ethan didn’t mean to make.
Then Ethan pulled back slowly, breath ghosting against Lucio’s lips, and watched his mate chase the space between them. Lucio’s eyes were half-lidded, lips still parted like he couldn’t quite let go of Ethan.
“My bear chose you,” Ethan blurted out, unable to stop the words from spilling free. He braced himself, unsure how Lucio would react. When his mate didn’t respond, Ethan cracked an eye open to look up at him.
The reverence in that single stare threatened Ethan’s balance on the motorcycle. “My wolf has done the same, mi elegido.”
“Me what?”
Lucio chuckled. “It means my chosen one.”
“Are you sure?” He wasn’t sure why he asked Lucio. Of course the guy knew, but Ethan wanted to make sure for some reason.
Lucio ran his hand over his low-trimmed beard, gazing past Ethan. “Hmm. Am I sure?”
“Don’t joke about it!” He poked Lucio in his pec then did it again, wishing his mate’s shirt wasn't in the way.
With a soft chuckle, Lucio dipped his head and kissed Ethan again just as a truck pulled into the driveway. Ethan had heard it but couldn’t seem to pull away from Lucio’s sensual lips. A door slammed, making Ethan finally pull away.
“Is this what you call protecting my son?”
Ethan closed his eyes. This could not be happening. His first kiss and he was busted straddling a motorcycle, in a gown, ass hanging out, clinging to a wolf shifter.
“No, sir.” Lucio kept circling his fingers on Ethan’s hips like his dad wasn’t standing right there. “This is what I call kissing my mate.”
Shit! Ethan shoved away from Lucio, desperate to get off the bike, because he knew his dad was about to pounce. But his leg got caught, and he fell sideways, trying to grab Lucio’s pantleg with his bandaged hand.
He heard boots pounding the pavement, no doubt his dad trying to catch him, but Lucio caught him, gently pulling Ethan upright.
“Dad, don’t you dare,” Ethan said, slowly working his way off the motorcycle. Jesus. How hard was it to get one leg over and dismount? Finally, his feet touched pavement, then he turned, glaring up at his father.
“Mate?” Boone glared at the wolf shifter like he was five seconds away from killing Lucio. “You said you’d protect him, not mate my fucking cub!”
“I’m not a cub!” Ethan shot back, totally mortified. This was the worst possible way his father could’ve found out. “I’m an adult, Dad.”
Boone’s nostrils flared as he stared murderously at Lucio. “Son, we’re going home. If you’re well enough to make out on a motorcycle, you’re well enough to travel.”
“You want me to leave my mate?” He knew his father was overprotective, but he never thought he was cruel. Ethan shot a glance at Lucio, who stared Boone down, jaw set and dark eyes hard. Thank god he’d chosen to keep his mouth shut. When Ethan’s father was this pissed, even logic wouldn’t reach him.
A breeze fluttered the hem of Ethan’s gown, hiking it up to expose more of his ass. Lucio reached over and tied the strings together, never once removing his gaze from Boone.
“Dad?” He looked up at the man he loved and respected, desperate for approval but unwilling to walk away from his mate. Ethan’s bear paced restlessly, ready to challenge Boone if his father tried to separate them.
Boone let out a long sigh through his nose and stepped away, dragging a hand over his short hair. The sunlight picked out gray strands mixed in with the black.
Ethan looked at Lucio, pleading with his eyes for his mate to keep quiet while Boone calmed down. His mate gave a single nod, then his gaze slid back the bear alpha.
Time slowed to a crawl while Ethan waited, his legs starting to ache from lying in bed so long. If he didn’t want to go back inside—which he absolutely didn’t—the only option was to climb onto Lucio’s bike again, this time with his back pressed to Lucio’s chest.
His dad’s gaze shot toward him, nostrils flaring.
Lucio’s arms snaked around Ethan, pulling him closer, like he was daring Boone to make a comment about it.
Fantastic. Just what Ethan needed. Two stubborn males locked in some kind of silent, testosterone-fueled standoff.
“You know it’s not up to me,” Ethan reminded his dad, voice gentle. “My bear chose him. His wolf chose me. Why is that so hard to accept?”
He didn’t even need to ask. Ethan already knew. Boone had always seen him as a kid, no matter how old he got. Sure, his dad treated him like an adult in plenty of ways, but deep down? Ethan would never be anything but a cub.
