Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Not yet, though. Gideon was right to hesitate with Ryder. If Gideon couldn’t stand on his own, Ryder would constantly walk all over him in the name of protecting him. Gideon needed to develop the confidence to stand up to even the people who loved him the most.
Philippe reached out, placed one hand on top of Gideon’s head, and ran his fingers through his silky soft hair, offering him love and encouragement. Gideon would get there. He just knew it.
Movement to his left had Philippe’s gaze jerking around to see Rafe standing by the door. Philippe had been so lost in thought with Gideon that he hadn’t even heard the door open. His lover stood there with such a look of absolute adoration on his face that Philippe’s eyes suddenly burned with unshed tears. How did he ever get so lucky to find a man who gazed at him with that much love and devotion?
They said nothing, not wanting Gideon to stop feeding before he should. They just stared at each other. Rafe loved him completely. He loved him for his heart and soul. He loved him for his need to help and his protective soul. And Philippe felt the same for his mate.
Gideon lifted his fangs from Philippe’s flesh and stroked his tongue over the holes, coaxing them to heal while trying not to spill a drop of precious blood.
“Feeling better?” Philippe inquired.
Gideon hummed softly, a sated sound. “Very. Thank you. And I promise, I’ll go hunt in a few days. I’ll practice.”
“That’s all I needed to hear,” Rafe announced.
Gideon startled, jumping to his feet. “You’re here!”
“He slipped in while you were feeding. I didn’t want to disturb you,” Philippe informed him.
“But I might have been eavesdropping at the door,” Rafe admitted with a devilish smirk. “I’ll agree to Philippe’s terms if you grow more confident in hunting alone. I need to know you’re taking care of yourself.”
Gideon practically flew across the room and threw himself at Rafe, wrapping his arms tightly around him. “I will! I swear I will!”
Rafe tightly hugged him, briefly laying his cheek against the top of Gideon’s head. “Good. That’s all I want,” he murmured. He released Gideon. “Fine, then. Go. Tell Ryder you’ll both be moving. After I see to mon ange, we’ll start shopping for some real estate.”
“Thank you, Rafe!” Gideon flew to the sofa, where he surprised Philippe by tightly embracing him. “Thank you, Philippe,” he whispered roughly before flying out of the room. The hug wasn’t nearly as tight as the hold the vampire now had on his heart.
Rafe crossed to the door and locked it. When he turned, there was a strange expression on his face. He slowly strolled across the room, unbuttoning his shirt with every step.
“I leave the city for just a few short hours, and I come back to find you stealing Gideon’s devotion away from me,” Rafe teased.
Philippe snorted. “You know that he will always love you best. He will always be completely devoted to you.”
Rafe shrugged, sending half of his shirt falling off, revealing pale skin and powerful muscles that always made Philippe’s heart flutter. “But if he’s suddenly devoted to you, I can devote more of my time to caring for you.”
“How was your trip?” Philippe inquired.
“Later, mon ange. My first concern is you.” Rafe slid into the spot Gideon vacated on the couch and stretched out, extending his hand to Philippe. “I need to replace what you so generously gave to my little dancer.”
“Our little dancer, don’t you mean?” he teased and Rafe’s answering smile was absolutely blinding. Philippe took his hand and allowed himself to be pulled forward. He lay on top of Rafe and nuzzled his neck, getting lost in the haunting scent of his lover.
“Yes, our,” he agreed, his voice low and husky. “Now feed, mon ange.”
Philippe licked, nibbled, and teased Rafe’s neck, reveling in the tightening of his arms around his body in response. Rafe’s breathing picked up and his body shifted, rubbing his hardening length against Philippe’s hip. Feeding from Rafe was intoxicating, but the truly addictive part was the anticipation. Those seconds before Philippe sank his fangs deep were electrifying, sending sparks dancing along his entire body.
“Mon ange,” Rafe begged at last.
He struck, fangs cutting skin and sending a gush of life-saving blood down his throat. Rafe moaned loudly. Holding him tight, Rafe rolled them so that they were lying on their sides, pressed so close on the sofa. A hand shimmied between them, tugging at the front of his pants. Philippe mentally smiled while keeping his attention on Rafe’s neck. He wasn’t all that hungry and drank lightly. It was more the connection they both craved.
There was a tug on his briefs as they were jerked lower, and then his hardening cock came into contact with Rafe’s. He moaned and instinctively thrust forward. His sneaky lover had opened both their pants. Rafe spit into his hand and wrapped it around both of them. It was hard and rough. Pleasure tinged with pain. He was drowning in the scent, feel, and taste of his mate.