Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“I will always find you. No matter what. You are never getting away from me.” Adrian’s voice started as a growl, almost making the words into a threat, but they crumbled at the end.
“Forgive me. I…I don’t know what happened. The explosion. I couldn’t find you.” His arms tightened on Adrian’s muscular frame until Haru worried about snapping bones, but Adrian didn’t make a single sound of discomfort. He held on to Haru, a fine trembling coursing through his body.
“Don’t.”
“But I lost control. People…I think people were hurt. I don’t know. There’s so much I don’t remember. Nothing makes sense. What happened?”
Adrian finally gave him a push, putting enough distance between them so he could look Haru in the eye, but not so much that they weren’t touching any longer. “The explosion appears to have been created by people from the Federation of Order.” Adrian sat up and rested on a mound of pillows. With a smirk, he patted his chest, and Haru was more than happy to rest his head there while holding on to Adrian’s waist. “From what I overheard, I think they were trying to get you but couldn’t find you in all the rubble. They found me instead.”
Haru’s head popped up. He planted a hand under the pillow behind Adrian and lifted him into a half sitting position in the bed. “Did they hurt you?”
Adrian shook his head and winced. He lifted his left hand and gestured toward his face. “This was all from the explosion. They just chucked me in a room, unsure of what to do with me.”
“I lost control. After the explosion, I couldn’t find you. I—” His voice broke as he relived that agonizing memory of not being sure whether Adrian was alive or dead. Unsure if he’d failed in managing this new god power he was protecting and hurt his mate.
Yet before he could crumble into sobs, a soft smile on Adrian’s lips stopped him. “I’m a horrible person for saying this, but in a way, I’m glad you did.”
“What?”
Adrian huffed a sardonic laugh that seemed to be directed at himself. He cupped Haru’s cheek with his rough, battle-worn hand, touching him as if Haru were the most precious thing in all his world. “When I looked out the window and saw the nightmare landscape, I knew you were still alive. I didn’t want you to be in pain or suffering because of me, but as long as the city was falling apart in a nightmare, you were alive and I could save you. It was the thought that kept me going.”
One corner of Haru’s mouth hitched higher, and a lump formed in his throat. “You wanted to save me?”
Adrian opened his mouth, lines instantly digging into his brow as if he were going to curse Haru and deny everything, but he closed his mouth and his face smoothed. A softness grew in his gray eyes. “It was the only thing I wanted. After I woke up in that crappy room and realized what happened, saving you became all that mattered to me. To hell with Erya and Caelan. To hell with Shey, Tyche, and the rest of the world. None of it mattered.” A tear slipped down Adrian’s cheek, and he let out a rattling breath. “I just had to get back to you.”
Haru couldn’t take it any longer. He zoomed close, crushing his mouth against Adrian’s in a bruising kiss that took everything he had. The relief of kissing Adrian, tasting him, feeling the shudder that ran through him was more than Haru’s brain could process. So, he shut it off and ran on pure instinct.
He pushed Adrian into the pillows as he stole kiss after hungry kiss until Adrian was moaning softly. Haru climbed over Adrian, positioning a knee on either side of his lover while shoving his hands into Adrian’s hair, holding the man completely captive to his every wish. Adrian was his mate. He always would be. Nothing would separate them ever again. Haru refused to allow it. He would destroy gods if he had to.
A gentle hand pressed on his chest, and another gripped his hip, but Adrian didn’t push him away. His fingers twisted in Haru’s shirt, pulling it tight across his shoulders.
Wait.
Shirt?
Haru broke off the kiss to gaze at himself and Adrian. They were dressed in silky pajamas made of silver and blue. He did not own clothes like these. His head popped up, and he peered at the exquisite room. Everything was decorated in shades of creamy white and the same blue that was in his sleepwear.
“Where are we?” he inquired as his eyes skimmed the distant dresser, cushioned white chair, silver-gilded mirror, and colorful bouquet. This was certainly nicer than any hotel he’d stayed in. Even better than that last one in Bellcairn.