“Fuck, Aiden…”
“The boys elected to be turned later when they were older so they could look after her and each other.”
“I’m sorry.”
Aiden nodded, his gaze falling back to his hands. “Thank you. I just wanted you to understand.”
“What?”
Looking up, Aiden stared at his old friend, simply loving the ability to see his face again. All these words were painful to say, but he needed to get them out, needed Ronan to understand how he’d gotten to this point, and maybe even what he needed to take the next step forward. “I lost you once. Losing Julianna nearly killed me. My life is good now. My sons are happy. I thought it was enough. I just worry that if I take a chance with you and I lost you again, I don’t know how I’d survive it.”
To his shock, Ronan rolled over onto his hands and knees and crawled the short distance over, inserting himself between Aiden’s legs. He braced his hands on either side of Aiden’s head, hovering over him. Ronan surrounded him, stealing his breath away as he became Aiden’s entire world for a couple of seconds.
“I know what you’re thinking, Aiden. I always have. You think you can wall your heart off and pour all your focus into ruling and protecting your sons, but it’s not enough. If Julianna truly loved you, I know she wouldn’t want that for you. Neither would your sons. I’m not saying that I’m the person you risk your heart on—though I wish you’d consider it—but you do need to try again. You deserve to be happy and loved as more than just a father.”
Aiden closed his eyes, soaking in Ronan’s rough, passionate voice. His warm breath brushed across his temple and Aiden could feel the huge presence of Ronan looming over him. It was all so overwhelming and wonderful. Cradled in all this old pain and last night’s soul-searching, he’d found a seed of hope.
“That’s not what I was thinking at all.” He opened his eyes and tipped his head up to see Ronan’s surprised expression.
“Really? What were you—”
“Kiss me,” Aiden breathed. He wanted to try again. Even if the world fell down around him and he lost everything, at least he’d have been brave enough to try.
Aiden expected to be instantly devoured by Ronan, but he was pleasantly surprised that his old friend moved so very slowly, as if he were savoring this moment. They’d both waited more than a thousand years for this. Ronan’s breath hitched and Aiden’s eyes slid shut as Ronan cupped his cheek with one cool hand, rough fingers sliding along his face. Hot breath fanned his lips, causing them to tingle and then, finally, the lightest brush. The first kiss was so small, almost like Ronan was afraid Aiden would suddenly change his mind and push him away.
The second and third kisses came with more pressure, more need. Flesh caught and scraped, becoming damp. Ronan’s lips parted so slightly, capturing Aiden’s bottom lip. Oh God, the tiniest tug of teeth and Aiden was on fire. He opened his mouth on a desperate moan, welcoming Ronan’s tongue inside to explore and claim. He lost count of the kisses. There was only Ronan’s heat, his hand cradling his face, his hungry lips and skilled tongue.
How was this the man he’d known since boyhood? How had he waited so long to kiss him? Should have kissed him the first time he saw him at the party. Should have kissed him that night in the forest.
Didn’t matter.
He had him now. His lips belonged to Aiden. The needy, growling noises coming from his throat were Aiden’s now. But it wasn’t enough. He wanted more.
Without breaking their current lip-lock, Aiden braced one hand on the wall behind him and pushed up. He shifted until he was on his knees like Ronan, their bodies pressed flush. The hand cupping Aiden’s cheek slid up to twist in his hair while the other wrapped around his waist, fingers digging into the muscles in his back. Aiden cupped Ronan’s head, holding him in place while his free hand dug into Ronan’s ass, pressing him in so close their hard cocks rubbed against each other.
A long moan rattled up Ronan’s throat and he shifted his hips, seeking more delicious friction. “Aiden,” he pleaded.
Opening his eyes, he smiled to see Ronan’s face flushed, lips puffy and wet. He looked so happy and lost to their pleasure. “We should have done this so long ago.”
Ronan huffed out a strangled laugh and dove in for another hungry kiss but pulled back suddenly.
“What?” Aiden asked, struggling to get his brain working again beyond the problem of them wearing so many damn clothes.
“Your phone.”
It was only when Ronan pointed it out that Aiden realized that he could hear it vibrating on the floor where he’d left it. He swore softly and released Ronan to snatch up the phone. Sitting on his heels, he frowned at the text message that had rolled in.
“They’re here,” Aiden announced.
“Already?” Ronan demanded, his voice nearly a whine. He moved to where he’d been sitting against the wall and boldly adjusted himself. Aiden sat, fighting the urge to make the same adjustment.
“Apparently, it didn’t take nearly as long as Wyatt expected to convince Bel to remain behind. How do I look? Do I look like—”
“I’ve had my tongue down your throat?” Ronan smugly finished. Aiden tried to give him a repressive look, but it didn’t work. Ronan just smiled wider. “Yeah, you do.”
A bark of laughter erupted from Aiden, and he shook his head. “You don’t look any better.”
“Good.” He pointed at Aiden, his expression turning stern. “We are doing that again.”
Aiden shoved a trembling hand through his hair, trying to organize his thoughts. Had things changed? He didn’t know what any of this meant in the grand scheme of things. Where did they go from here? Not that he even knew if moving forward was possible.
Luckily, all those worries were stolen away by the sound of soft footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hall toward the apartment. Aiden and Ronan climbed to their feet at the same time, and Aiden nearly rolled his eyes as Ronan positioned himself in front of Aiden.
“Now I know why you were always so annoyed with me,” Aiden muttered.
Ronan glanced over his shoulder, his eyebrows raised in a kind of false innocence. “What? That you took up position to protect me? I was never annoyed. The arrangement always gave me a chance to stare at your ass.”
“At least I gave you a nice view.”
Ronan jerked halfway around, his mouth hanging open. “Are you saying my ass isn’t nice?”
Aiden snickered but didn’t have a chance to reply as the door was slowly pushed open. Wyatt poked his head inside, cautiously looking around before his eyes finally landed on them. The man was bundled up in a nice wool coat against the cold temperatures. Aiden had largely forgotten about the bite of the cold, thanks to Ronan.
“Are you okay?” Wyatt asked.
“We’re both fine, I swear,” Aiden replied.
Wyatt’s eyes lingered on Ronan for a moment, questioning. He nodded after a second and smiled, seeming to relax. River and Fox followed him into the room. The other wolf wore a navy coat while Fox was dressed in a puffy red coat and a matching red-and-white knit hat with a puff ball on the top.
“Fine? Then what’s with all the blood?” River demanded.