Page 28 of Unrestrained

River felt moved to point out the obvious. “Tam kept you glued to the floor.”

Bodhi snorted so hard, it had to hurt. “I wasn’t stuck. That was just an excuse to get Tam to leave and for me to keep you feeling safe enough to talk to me for hours.”

While Bodhi’s confession meant he had pulled another dang trick on River, River still melted. “Really?”

Bodhi rolled his eyes. He grabbed River’s ass, lifting him off the floor. The move left River with no other choice but to wrap his legs around Bodhi’s waist. Bodhi headed for the bed and crawled onto the mattress. He held River so that he couldn’t get away even if River wanted to do so.

“Dive into my head and root around. I get that you’re a good person who doesn’t do things like that because it’s rude. Whatever. Blah. Blah. This is an order.”

“An order?” River wasn’t truly offended. He just couldn’t stop himself from challenging Bodhi

“Yes. Did I say something that confused you?”

River huffed and did as Bodhi requested.

Bodhi chuckled.

River tentatively touched Bodhi’s mind. He was blasted by powerful magic. Things he had never seen. River was so fascinated that he dove deeper. Bodhi had seen so many things. A planet more beautiful than River could dream of. But underneath it all, there was a dark rage. There was so much despair behind countless years and lives. Loving people and watching them die weighed so heavily, River had trouble drawing a breath. Tears rolled from his eyes and into his hair. Then a bright light shone in the distance. River moved toward it as if incapable of stopping himself. He felt everything Bodhi did as he drew closer. There was something in the center. River had to know what it was. He didn’t know what he would find there, but he knew whatever the light held was the answer to everything. It was the object that would finally set Bodhi free. The air lightened. It became easier to breathe again. A delicious scent of fruit mixed with the salt of the sea filled his nostrils. His mouth filled with saliva. He swore he could already feel himself rocking on a boat in the middle of the ocean, eating extravagant and exotic fruits. The light blinded him for a second before his eyes adjusted. Then there the object was, the one thing that Bodhi desired most. It was him. River stared at himself. He watched himself handing Bodhi flowers. River reached for them just as Bodhi had. It was as if he lived the moment through Bodhi’s eyes. The cosmos were something he had tried to get for centuries without luck. They were the missing key to his plan to kill Lucifer and get back his nephew. But Bodhi didn’t care about them any longer. His eyes wouldn’t budge from River. He watched himself blush and felt Bodhi’s sudden realization. He had known. In this very moment, over that cauldron, Bodhi met his mate. River couldn’t wade through the shock. He had known giving his blood to River would bind him. Bodhi had purposely sucked the blood from River’s cut tongue. At the moment River had fallen, Bodhi had too.

A dangerous thought struck. He could do this. River didn’t have to be brave or strong to take on a mate most would shun. Bodhi had always been meant to be his.

River blinked. He stared into his mate's eyes. Bodhi stared back, waiting for River’s reaction. He felt the way Bodhi braced for River to respond the way Bodhi thought he should. Bodhi fully expected River would search for any and every excuse to reject him. That was not what River felt at all.

“I love you.” And River knew nothing Bodhi could do would ever change that.

“That’s good to hear.”

River didn’t fall for Bodhi’s deadpan response. “And you…”

“Are grateful,” Bodhi supplied.

“I’m sure, but you also…”

Bodhi didn’t take that bait.

River exploded into action. He pinched Bodhi’s nipple and twisted as hard as he could.

“Ow. Fuck. Ow. Okay. Goddamn. I love you too.”

Everything else fell away. River melted and knew Bodhi could see it in his expression. “Awww! You just said you love me. I can’t believe it.”

Bodhi huffed. “You have to be fucking kidding me.” While Bodhi was grumpy and grumbly, River saw the truth. Bodhi loved him, and he also loved it when River was mean to him. There was no way River could have seen this man coming.

“Would you like to?”

A laugh that sounded as happy as he was escaped River. “As a matter of fact, I would love to.”

Yeah, this was his man. Forever.

Chapter Eleven

Steam rose from the water as Taurus dipped under, submerging himself. The bathing pool heated by a good twenty degrees just from his presence. Stellar sat between Stygian’s thighs on the built-in bench, relaxing against his chest. His gaze never left Taurus as Taurus closed the distance between them. There was no love more powerful than the adoration for mates. His chest felt full. The king of Americas had sent word, letting Stellar know they had the issue with Bodhi under control. With the Hellish clan handling that fiasco and also assuring River’s safety, Stellar chose his mates. These men deserved his undivided attention.

Taurus reemerged. His striking yellow eyes glowed with fiery emotion. He kissed Stellar, plundering his mouth until Stygian released a moan that sounded exactly like he played with himself. Taurus switched partners, making Stellar’s heart swell at the vision they created for him. He had been blessed. Truly. It was rare and showed true admiration if Celeste gave anyone two mates. She had done that for him. Her generosity blew him away.

Taurus’ hand slid down Stellar’s chest while he continued kissing Stygian. Stellar’s hips rose when that hand found his cock. Even after all this time, the heat of Stygian’s touch still caught him off guard sometimes. It was as if he forgot how hot Taurus ran when they weren’t touching. Even as he chased Taurus’ hand, he made room for Taurus to do the same with Stygian. When Stygian gripped Taurus’ dick, the combination of their pooled pleasure nearly made him lose sight for a moment. They were unbelievably insatiable together. There was no hiding how well-fed they were. If they consumed food the way they did sex, they would all be fifty pounds heavier already. No matter how often they fucked, they still couldn’t last long with their mind connection. It was almost embarrassing for someone of his age. In no time, they were panting and sprinting toward the edge. When they blew together, Stellar had to admit they should have chosen a better place for this. Not only were they swimming in cum but also Stellar almost drowned when he lost control of his body.

“My lords, everyone is waiting.”