Page 113 of Alaska Lights

I brush my fingers over my mating mark, and he gasps, the scar still sensitive after all of our…activities.

I lean in for a better look, loving the proof that he is mine, right there for the world to see.

Wrapping my arms around him, I pull him against my chest, needing him close. Water drips over the side of the tub and onto the floor, reminding me we definitely need a bigger tub.

I’ll be wanting more days like this and fewer days of me working the ranch. I’ve put in my time. I’ve put in two hundred fucking years. My mate is who I want to enjoy now. I deserve that.

There’s a question I want to ask him, but I’m too nervous. The words are on the tip of my tongue. All I have to do is move my lips.

He turns around and smiles at me, showing me that damn gap I love so fucking much. I smile in return, snagging his waist to tug him forward. He settles on my lap, water sloshing from our movements, and a decent-sized wave splashes onto the floor.

I don’t fucking care. This entire house could flood, and I’d still be right here, holding him.

“Hey, Beautiful,” I say to him, cupping the side of his neck.

He doesn’t stop smiling. If anything, he turns a little shy, casting his eyes down. He loves it, though. I can sense his happiness in the bond.

“I want to ask you something,” he starts.

“Anything. You can always ask me anything.”

“Would you…” He sighs. “And there is no pressure, I want to add.”

“I want to ask you something too,” I admit. “You go first.”

“Would you, maybe, want to, I don’t know,” he mumbles, swirling the hair on my chest with his fingers. “Takemylastname?” Helios says so fast, I almost can’t understand him.

Almost.

I hold my breath, replaying the words in my head that I just heard. “You’d want that? You’d want me to have your last name?”

He nods, lifting those beautiful eyes to meet mine again. “I’d love for you to. I’d want nothing more, actually.”

I swallow and turn my head away, looking out the window to the left. I need a minute to gather my emotions. I blink away the tears, doing my best not to let centuries of feeling like I don’t belong anywhere come to the surface.

“Hey,” Helios whispers, bending down to kiss the edge of my jaw. “Alaska, look at me.”

I can’t. I’ll break.

“Sunshine, look at me.” He grabs my face, forcing me to turn my head.

I could fight him if I wanted to, but I never want to fight him. Fighting is such a waste of time and energy. Why bother when love feels so much better?

The shimmering tears spill free as I blink, staring into the mossy nature of his eyes.

“It’s okay if you don’t want that. I know you’ve made an identity for yourself, and I don’t want to take that away. I just thought⁠—”

I silence him mid-sentence, pressing our lips together, hauling him so close to my chest; I wish he could slide under my skin. That’s how close I want him.

“That’s the question I wanted to ask you. I didn’t know how. I’ve never had a last name, Helios. There’s no identity to be made when someone doesn’t have a last name. It’s also made me feel like I’ve never belonged either. No one has wanted me enough to give me a place where I belong. I’ve carved out my own space here at Dead Man’s Ranch, sure, but I’ve never belonged.” My voice hitches, and my shoulders rise as I try to control my emotions.

“I want nothing more than to take your last name. I want to be Alaska Athanatos.”

“And you’ll belong to me. We will make it legal and everything.”

“Legal? Do you mean”—I blink at him and grin—“do you want to get married?”

“I know we’re mated, and that means so much more than a silly little human wedding, but I’m human and⁠—”