Page 175 of Labor of Love

Kael had never been kissed this way before, and he shuddered with the need for more. “Anatoly,” he mumbled between kisses.

“Soon, my young mate. Soon, we’ll be together, and no one will be able to tear us apart. I’ll figure this out, Kael. Trust me like your wolf does.”

“I’m worried about my family.” He leaned back, his head falling to one side when Anatoly nuzzled him there. He wanted to feel his mate’s bite, feel his fangs pierce his skin. He growled, his wolf rushing forward, and Anatoly held him at arm’s length. “Sorry,” he murmured, ducking his head.

“Your wolf wants its mate, as do I.” Anatoly looked up. “It’s late. You should return home. Let me walk you back.”

“I don’t want to go. I don’t want to disappoint them.”

“Why would they be disappointed? You found your mate, so they should be happy for you, or is it because of what I am?”

“They don’t say much against vampires…”

“But the feelings are there. Understandable, but I’ll win them over.” Anatoly held out his hand, and Kael took it, then smiled up at his mate. “Lead the way.”

Kael nodded and tugged Anatoly’s hand, leading them through the trees toward his home. It was late, and his parents would be concerned. He should have been back by now; they’d be thinking the worst: Sylvester had let Nigel take him before the mating ceremony.

“Have you lived here all your life?”

Kael glanced at Anatoly and nodded. “Yes. It’s the only place I know. You must have seen many things over the years.”

“I have; some of it was wonderful, but some wasn’t. The weapons we have created could devastate the planet. That concerns me, but we’ve developed medicines that cure illnesses. When I was young, those illnesses killed. We have so much potential, but we can be so destructive at the same time.” Anatoly smiled at Kael. “There is no place like home.”

Kael nodded in agreement and continued to walk through the trees. He caught sight of the wolves as they trailed them, and knowing they were there helped to ease the last few niggles he had where Anatoly was concerned. This was his mate, and Kael could feel the need to be with Anatoly building inside. His body thrummed with arousal, and he knew Anatoly would be able to scent him, but then again, Kael could scent Anatoly’s desires, too, and it inflamed his own.

Releasing his hand, Kael slowed, then stopped. “Erm, you know. I can scent…” He licked his lips when Anatoly faced him, his eyes glowing briefly. It was the first time he’d seen it happen. “Your eyes.”

“The longer I’m with you, the harder it is to fight my need to claim you.”

“I feel it. Inside.” Kael rubbed his chest, then the next thing he knew, his lips were in a kiss that dominated his senses and had him moaning as he rubbed against Anatoly. Anatoly’s hands grabbed Kael’s ass, yanking him closer as their tongues tangled. Kael’s hands gripped Anatoly’s hair, pulling him closer as he moaned and gasped. His dick jerked in his jeans, and he rubbed it against Anatoly’s hips, needing the friction.

“Kael.” The way Anatoly whispered his name had Kael’s wolf howling in pleasure. Anatoly nipped Kael’s bottom lip, then licked over it before sucking it into his mouth. Kael growled low, his body arching. “I want you.”

“Yes,” Kael whimpered, his body rocketing toward something he desperately wanted. “Please. Touch me.”

“I can feel how much you want me.” Anatoly’s hand cupped Kael’s rock-hard dick, and Kael cried out, pushing up into Anatoly’s hand. “Yes. Take what you want, what you need.” Anatoly rubbed his dick, and Kael whimpered as his dick swelled. “I need to taste you.”

“Yes!” Kael shouted, then cried out when his jeans were yanked down and his dick encased in wet heat. He came seconds later, shooting into Anatoly’s mouth who kept sucking and licking until Kael staggered back, his back hitting a tree trunk. Panting, he watched Anatoly stand, the vampire’s eyes blazing, and he came over and kissed him. Kael groaned, his body slowly coming down from its ecstatic high.

“You taste magnificent.” Anatoly kissed him again. “When the time is right, we’ll be together.”

“I can…you know…for you.”

“No. I wanted to do that for you. To give you something and it gives me pleasure to see you this way.”

“Can we make this work?”

“Yes, we can.” Anatoly kissed Kael’s forehead. “Even if I must move you and your family to my childhood home, I’ll make sure we are together, and they are safe. I know it isn’t ideal. You don’t want to leave the pack you were born into, but if your alpha will not follow mating law, then we will have to go.”

“He’ll be thinking about all the money Nigel will bring to the pack.” Kael redressed, then sighed as he wrapped his arms around Anatoly’s waist. He’d only just met the vampire, but he didn’t want to leave him. He wanted to stay with him. “I don’t want to go.”

“I feel the same way, but we have to get you home, and you have to introduce me to your parents before I arrange to meet the alpha.”

“Can I hold off you meeting my parents? I want to talk to them first, so you walking in isn’t a huge surprise to them.”

“And you need to soften them up to having a vampire in their home.”

Kael felt his cheeks flushed. “Maybe.”

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