Page 92 of Soren

Gabe did know. But still…

“If it makes you feel better, tell yourself I belong toyou. I don’t mind that.”

He watched in delight as the tips of Soren’s ears reddened. “I guess we can both belong to each other,” Soren said eventually, mumbling the words into Gabe’s chest again.

Gabe could definitely live with that.

He rubbed his nose into Soren’s soft hair, breathing him in. And then, because he could, he said, “I love you, brat.”

“Ditto.”

“Did you justGhostme?”

Soren giggled. “Such a good movie.”

Much later in the night, a whispered “I love you too” came from Gabe’s chest region.

Yeah, happiness was definitely not a foreign concept anymore.

Epilogue

Soren

Sorenleanedagainsttheparked car, face turned to the sun, his eyes shut behind his sunglasses. They were well into autumn, and the days were starting to cool down again—not that anyone in his social circle was bothered by cold weather—but there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

An excess of sunny days was one point he could award Hyde Park.

The Kingman family was another.

He wondered if anyone watching him would be fooled into thinking he was as chill as he looked. Really, what Soren wanted more than anything was to bite at his nails right now, but he was trying to force himself into a relaxed state, to keep any of his worry from seeping across the bond.

It was Gabe’s first time using his own compulsion to visit his mother, and he’d told Soren he wanted to be alone for it. It wasn’t that Soren didn’t believe he could handle it, just…

Soren sighed to himself. He supposed he’d gotten used to being in each other’s pockets all the time.

Truly tragic, how dependent he’d become. It was hard to mind it, though, when life was so very sweet. Overall, Soren was surprised how easily Gabe had adjusted to being a vampire these past six months.

His mate was much more adaptable than he gave himself credit for.

Soren opened his eyes at the sound of Gabe’s steps as he exited the front of the care home, turning his head to watch him approach. And what a lovely sight to see.

So fucking handsome, his mate.

Gabe had let his curls grow a little longer than before, almost down to his chin, and he was holding them back with one of those soccer-player headbands Soren was getting a real kink for.

Soren grinned at him, the picture of easy unconcern. “Hello, handsome.”

Gabe gave a snort as he walked over. “I could feel your worry through the bond, brat. You can’t fool me.”

Soren shrugged. Super chill—that was him. “All the more reason to tell me. How did it go?” He had a general sense, given he hadn’t felt any negative emotions from Gabe’s side of the bond, but he still wanted the verbal reassurance his mate was okay.

Gabe’s answer was to wrap his arms around Soren the moment he was in reach. He rubbed his chin over the top of Soren’s head, breathing him in with deep inhales. Needy mate.

Soren struggled half-heartedly against his grip. “Hey! I did my hair today.”

“I like it better messy anyway.” Soren could hear the grin in Gabe’s voice.

“You just like it when I have sex hair,” Soren protested.

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