Page 52 of Free Me

By ten-thirty, their guests had departed, and Linus couldn’t stop yawning. Tarius had been in his room since eight, and Dad had already gone to bed an hour ago. Papa had stayed up with him and Miko to watch the evening news. Nothing too exciting was happening around the province for a change, so it was a lot of human interest stories, versus breaking news. It also had Linus nodding off where he was cuddled up with Miko on one end of the couch.

Linus startled awake when Papa turned off the TV.

“You boys should go to bed,” Papa said. “Miko, you’re welcome to stay over if you don’t feel like taking the bus home.” Before Linus or Miko could clarify, Papa smiled. “You can sleep with Linus, as long as you both promise to behave. I know you’re adults, but you’re my youngest, Linus.”

“It’s okay, Papa,” Linus replied, smiling. “I’m way too tired to do more than kiss Miko goodnight. Thank you, though, for letting us spend the night together.” Miko going home last night had been torture, and when Papa helped him rise for a hug, he felt Papa’s understanding in the force of his embrace. Papaknew Linus was bothered by something, but he respected Linus enough not to ask.

Yet.

“I love you,” Papa whispered. “Get some rest.”

“Love you, too.” Linus used the arm of the couch to maintain his balance while Papa hugged Miko goodnight. Papa headed down the hall. Miko pulled the walker over from its spot by the wall, and Linus situated himself behind it. “I wasn’t kidding. I’m exhausted.”

“So am I, it’s okay,” Miko replied with an indulgent smile. “As much as I want to be near you and make you feel good, I can be patient with how physical we get with each other. The last thing I want is for you to fall asleep in the middle of a blow job.”

The blunt comment painted a delicious mental image in Linus’s brain and sent a surge of pleasant warmth into his belly. But fatigue kept the positive feelings from developing further. “I definitely don’t want that happening, either. So how about we table any sexy stuff for when we’re both better rested?”

“Deal.”

It had been years since Linus and Miko had a one-on-one sleepover, thanks to their genders, but nothing about getting ready for bed was awkward. They took turns in the bathroom, Linus found boxers and a t-shirt for Miko to wear, and they moved around each other like they did this routine every night. Linus allowed Miko to help him remove his prosthetic, and Miko watched while Linus applied the lotion his PT had recommended for his stump.

Sleeping positions took a minute to sort out. They were both used to being directly in the center, but since it was Linus’s bed and it was easier for him to get up on the right, Miko slid under the covers on the left. Instead of curling up together or one of them spooning the other, they both stretched out on their backswith their shoulders touching. Linus clasped Miko’s hand under the covers and squeezed.

“It’ll be a while before we have this every night,” Linus whispered. “But I’m so happy to have this with you now.”

“Me too.” Miko’s dark eyes seemed to glow in the dim room. “Alpha.”

“My omega.”

They shared a chaste kiss but Linus couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer. He drifted and woke to the wonderful heat of Miko plastered against his side, one arm draped across Linus’s chest. His head was on his own pillow but Linus still felt the soft whispers of his breaths. Fast asleep and seemingly at peace.

So beautiful.

So fucking fragile. But Linus didn’t want to think about how much worse the car accident could have been. If they’d been sitting on opposite sides in the backseat and Miko had taken the brunt of the impact. If Miko had lost his leg or, worse, his life because of their speeding driver. The thought was inconceivable, and Linus hated what-ifs anyway.

Miko let out a funny little snort and jerked awake. He blinked sleepy eyes at Linus while a slow smile crept across his face. “Morning,” Miko said.

“Morning yourself.” Linus leaned in and rubbed his nose against Miko’s. “I love this. Waking up with you.”

“Me too.”

“You love waking up with you, too? You get to do that every morning.”

Miko snorted laughter. “You’re such a dork.”

“I know. Can I kiss you good morning?”

“As long as you don’t mind a little morning breath.”

“If you don’t mind, I don’t mind.” Linus rolled to his side and slid his arm across Miko’s waist, completing their embrace. Miko gazed at him with so much affection in his eyes that Linuswanted to cry. He’d never imagined anyone looking at him like that, with his heart in his eyes and his soul in his smile. He nuzzled Miko’s nose, then captured his mouth in a long, leisurely kiss. He didn’t deepen it, because he’d promised Papa he’d behave if Miko slept over, but it left him wanting more.

Wanting everything.

But they both had to be ready and, unless Miko was keeping a big secret from him, they were both still virgins. Sure, Linus had fooled around some. He was a university soccer star who loved being the center of attention at parties, but he’d wanted to save intercourse for his bondmate, the same way Layne had. The way their omegin hadn’t been able to because abusive men had stolen that choice away.

He shoved those dark thoughts down, pressed another soft kiss on his bondmate’s mouth, and pulled back. Miko’s cheeks were flushed and he definitely looked like someone who wanted more. Linus didn’t dare glance down to check if Miko had morning wood, because he’d want to do something about it.

Miko helped by releasing a wide yawn, and then rubbing his eyes. “Time is it? Feels early.”

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