Page 174 of Labor of Love

Anatoly pulled Kael back against his body and held him tight, feeling him tremble. “We can. My parents are still alive. I grew up in a little village deep within Russia. All three species live there as well. It always surprises me when I leave and realize how much animosity there is between us all.”

“Do you know why?”

“Something happened many years ago. Centuries ago, but I don’t think anyone remembers what it is now. You would be more than welcome in the village of my birth. We’re a welcoming group.”

Kael’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of his coat and stared at the screen. “It’s the alpha.”

“Answer it.”

Kael bit his bottom lip, then nodded. “Sir.”

“The ceremony will be on Wednesday, so you have four nights to prepare. Make sure you perform well. I want Nigel to be pleased with you. I don’t want him complaining to me after the mating ceremony. You will do as he demands. Understand, Kael?”

“What if I meet my mate before then, sir?”

Sylvester burst out laughing, and Anatoly wanted to grab him by the neck and shake him. “You don’t have a mate, Kael. You’re an omega. You’re only good enough to fuck and have pups. Omegas are born to do as they are told. You will mate Nigel. You will let him have your ass as many times as he wants, and you will give him all the pups he wants as well. He’s paying a lot of money for you. Don’t disappoint me.”

Sylvester hung up, and Anatoly muttered, “I think I might want to hurt him.”

“You heard him. I’m not worth it.”

Anatoly faced Kael and made sure his mate was looking at him when he spoke. “You are my mate. I have waited decades, if not centuries, for you. I won’t let him mate you off to a shifter who will use and abuse you. Mates trumps everything.”

“Promise me?” Kael’s lips shook, and Anatoly kissed him softly, causing Kael to gasp in surprise.

“I promise. It’s us now, Kael. Me and you and we’ll mate when you’re ready. I won’t force you into it, unlike some in your life. This is your body, and only you get to say who touches it.” And Anatoly would do everything in his power to make sure that happened.

4

Kael wanted another kiss. From this stranger. This vampire. His mate. He could scent who Anatoly was to him, and it made his wolf want to roll around in Anatoly’s scent and cover himself in it, but he had to hold back. He’d been bought by an alpha, like the piece of meat he was. To be fucked and have pups, then fucked again.

Only here was his mate, and he didn’t want to let him go. He wanted another kiss, a longer one this time, to wipe away the sour taste Nigel had left behind. He clenched his ass, remembering what else Nigel had tried to do to him. Nigel would have touched him had Sylvester not stopped him.

His eyes burned again, and Kael held back his tears. He didn’t want to cry anymore, because now he might have a chance… No, he didn’t. It would come back on his family, and he didn’t want them to suffer because he was being selfish. He had to put them first, so he would mate Nigel and try to forget his actual mate.

Pushing away from Anatoly, Kael stood and brushed the dirt from his jeans. “I’m glad I got to meet you.”

Anatoly rose to his feet and stood a good few inches above Kael’s own five feet eight. Not surprising, as most stood taller than him. “Are you ready to return home?”

“I think I should. I don’t want my family to worry. We have a lot to prepare for.”

Anatoly stepped closer, and Kael raised his head so he could look into his eyes, not that he could really see them in the darkness. A hand touched his face, and Kael turned his face so he could kiss the palm, and that move forced him to take a step back. He couldn’t give in to his deep need to touch Anatoly, even when he wanted to kiss the vampire who made his body hum. “Kael.”

“Please, don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t make this harder than it already is.”

“You have to know I won’t willingly walk away.” Anatoly framed Kael’s face with his hands. “I can’t now that I’ve finally found you.”

“I have so much going on in my head.” Kael closed his eyes, his breath shuddering as he trembled in Anatoly’s hands. “I knew what was going to happen to me, and now you’re here.”

“Shh. I’ll protect you and your family.”

“I’m scared.”

“I will protect you.” Kael opened his eyes and didn’t fight the need to kiss Anatoly. Standing on tiptoe, he reached up and pressed his lips against Anatoly’s, then moved back. “Again,” Anatoly whispered.

Licking his lips, Kael reached up and kissed him again, then pressed another one to the vampire’s lips. They felt colder than his, but soft, and Kael didn’t resist the urge to press another kiss to them. When Anatoly licked Kael’s lips, he gasped softly but didn’t move away. He wanted Anatoly to kiss him, to wipe away the memory of what Nigel had done to him. Another soft lick and Kael parted his lips, letting the tip of his tongue touch Anatoly’s.

Anatoly held Kael’s arms, holding him close, and Kael leaned into his taller, broader body, knowing Anatoly would support him. Their tongues touched, caressed, and Anatoly swept inside, licking the roof of his mouth before his tongue danced with Kael’s. Kael whimpered, his body trembling, his cock hard, and he arched into Anatoly when the vampire sucked Kael’s tongue into his mouth.

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