Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 86432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 432(@200wpm)___ 346(@250wpm)___ 288(@300wpm)
“Indeed, mon amour. I believe that is the best kind of communication.”
“You’re fucking right.” Paul did it again and kissed him. “Come on, babe. Fuck me some more. Fill me up and make me yours forever.”
“Forever,” Laurent echoed, smiling through his tears. “And this time I will never let you go, my wolf. ”
Paul’s only answer was a kiss. But as they began to make love, he felt the tiny tendril within him begin to grow and knew that he would never be alone again.
Epilogue
“That is quite a story, mein liebling. I assume you know how very fortunate you are.” Nana cocked her head to the side and arched an eyebrow at him.
“Of course.” Laurent took Paul’s hand and squeezed it. His wolf squeezed back and smiled at him.
They were sitting side by side on Nana’s uncomfortable red brocade sofa as they had less than a month ago the first time they had come to visit her. They would be staying in the lovely old antebellum mansion in the guest suite for an indefinite amount of time. Miami was no good for either of them anymore and they hadn’t decided where to settle yet although they were still leaning toward California. Laurent wanted to be near the beach and, after a lifetime of living in the flatlands, Paul craved the mountains.
There were several places that fit the bill on the west coast and most of them were fairly tolerant. Until they decided, though, Nana had said they were welcome to stay with her. She liked the company and missed Laurent and he found he had missed her as well.
“We don’t know why the bond regenerated,” Paul said, breaking his train of thought. “But we know we’re very fucking lucky it did. Uh, sorry. I meant freaking— really freaking lucky.”
Nana smiled. “I’ve told you before you don’t have to watch your language with me, Paul. In this case I happen to agree with you. I have never heard of a blood bond regenerating like yours did—I would have said it couldn’t be done.”
“We did not think it possible either.” Laurent leaned forward anxiously. “And it seems different from before—deeper…richer somehow. I do not understand how that can be.”
“Maybe because it isn’t your old bond that has regrown. Maybe it is an entirely new bond—at least on Paul’s side.” Nana studied the were but spoke to Laurent. “If I understand what you’re telling me correctly, it sounds like Paul was willing to open himself to you in ways he wasn’t before, when your first bond was formed.”
“Uh…” Paul’s cheeks went red and he coughed into his hand. “I guess you could say that.”
“So since you opened a different part of your heart—a deeper part—the new bond that took root and grew there was also different and deeper.” Nana nodded with satisfaction. “That must be it.”
“It is nice to have an explanation,” Laurent murmured. “Although we weren’t really looking for one. Just being bonded again is enough for both of us—isn’t it, mon amour?” “Yeah, babe.” Paul squeezed his hand again and gave him a smile. “You got that right.”
“So you are severing all ties to the past? Leaving everyone in your old lives behind?” Nana asked. “I know your parents treated you horribly, Laurent, but I do believe that deep down your mother loves you.”
“Celeste thought so as well,” Laurent said quietly. “After we are settled someplace safe I may consider sending word to my mother through her. As for my father, though—he is as dead to me as I am to him.”
“I don’t think I’ll be having any family reunions with my old man either,” Paul said. “He was pretty fucking upset when he found out I was with Laurent. I don’t know what bothered him more—the vampire thing or the gay thing. My mom, though—she’s a different story.”
“Yes, Laurent told me how she rescued you and helped get him to a safe place during the sunlight hours. She sounds like a courageous woman.”
Paul nodded. “Yeah, she is. She’s working on my dad too, trying to get him to reconsider the whole I-have-no-son routine. But I dunno.” He shrugged. “Dad’s pretty set in his ways. I don’t think he’s ever going to be ready to accept a gay vamp-lover as a son.”
“And what about your old pack?” Nana asked. “I know before you left me the last time Laurent was worried about the effect your packleader might have on you.”
“Oh yeah, Angel.” Paul sighed. “Last I heard he gave up the Locas and went to work for his uncle. Chulo is running the pack now and word is their street cred has gone down to fucking zero. He’s Angel’s cousin but he’s such a pendejo he couldn’t lead a pack of puppies without getting them killed, much less a pack of wolves.”