know who they were. I saw men with my mate and flew into a rage.”
“Why…oh gods, I can’t believe I’m going to ask this question…why didn’t it stink to me? I thought Jake and Zak were going to pass out, but after the second time it started to smell good.”
“You’re my mate,” Sev replied, like that answered everything.
“I don’t know that I understand that logic.”
“A skunk sprays to ward off enemies. I had no wish to drive you away. I wanted you to be closer. My scent is supposed to be pleasurable to you.”
“It was like lying in a field of wildflowers.” Casey laughed. “I think I’ll call you Flower.”
Sev cocked his head. “I don’t understand.”
“We need to bring movies here. You people don’t know what you’re missing,” Casey grumbled.
Locking an arm around Casey’s waist, Sev kissed his shoulder. “I’m missing you . Sleep for now. I will hold you.”
Thoughts about pulling away or refusing to sleep in the same bed went out of Casey’s head as quickly as they came in. They weren’t doing anything. He and Jake had slept in the same bed before. Admittedly they had been nine, but the concept was the same. He snuggled in close to Sev and closed his eyes. Sleep came moments later.
***
His mate’s breathing was music to Sev’s ears. The kiss they shared was beyond anything Sev had ever experienced. The fact that Casey trusted him to lead made Sev’s heart sing. He had appeared needy before, but only because he assumed he was broken. With Casey, everything fell into place. Sev still wasn’t comfortable with the fact his mate was male, but as he held the man in his arms, that detail seemed less and less important.
What difference does gender make ? Does the fact that Casey is a man change the meaning of love? Or does it simply encompass the truth of the word?
Sev found he no longer cared.
When he was growing up, his parents tried to explain the concept of love to him. He thought there was only one kind of love, but he was wrong. He loved his parents and brothers, a familial bond. He loved his friends, a shared bond. The way his heart soared while his stomach plummeted when he thought of Casey went beyond those.
Sev closed his eyes and an entire lifetime with Casey unfolded. They would see his brothers marry their own mates and raise strong children. He and Casey would tend the earth together, tilling the soil, creating gifts of wonder for the enclave. There would be a young boy, lost in the wilderness. Casey and Sev would take him in and adopt him as their own. They would raise him to be a good man, a strong shaman, and upon their death at a ripe old age, he would continue to fill the role.
The dream was lovely. He’d never had such a perfect dream of his life, but now with the shaman at his side, perhaps they could make their fantasies into a reality.
***
A rainstorm heralded the dawn. Winds blew in from the mountains, bringing a sharp chill. The wards around the town could only offset the temperature so much, so beyond them it must have been frigid indeed. Sev wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with Casey and be lazy for the entire day. As lovely as the thought was, Mikhail would be coming over at some point, and though he loved his brother, he didn’t want him to find Sev and the shaman in bed together.
Grudgingly, Sev got to his feet. Even fully dressed and with his natural shifter warmth, the house was chilly. He went to the hearth, wanting to build a fire to warm his beloved, but could find no kindling. As he searched the cabinets, he sensed Casey stir. A moment later, flames flickered in the fireplace, and he turned to find Casey with a smug smile.
“Shaman. Don’t need wood when magic works so much better.”
“I can see that having an advantage.”
“Come back to bed. It’s cold.”
“Shifter. We don’t feel the cold like you do.”
“Touché.”
“Still, I wouldn’t say no to cuddling.”
Sev was surprised when Casey drew back the
“Why…oh gods, I can’t believe I’m going to ask this question…why didn’t it stink to me? I thought Jake and Zak were going to pass out, but after the second time it started to smell good.”
“You’re my mate,” Sev replied, like that answered everything.
“I don’t know that I understand that logic.”
“A skunk sprays to ward off enemies. I had no wish to drive you away. I wanted you to be closer. My scent is supposed to be pleasurable to you.”
“It was like lying in a field of wildflowers.” Casey laughed. “I think I’ll call you Flower.”
Sev cocked his head. “I don’t understand.”
“We need to bring movies here. You people don’t know what you’re missing,” Casey grumbled.
Locking an arm around Casey’s waist, Sev kissed his shoulder. “I’m missing you . Sleep for now. I will hold you.”
Thoughts about pulling away or refusing to sleep in the same bed went out of Casey’s head as quickly as they came in. They weren’t doing anything. He and Jake had slept in the same bed before. Admittedly they had been nine, but the concept was the same. He snuggled in close to Sev and closed his eyes. Sleep came moments later.
***
His mate’s breathing was music to Sev’s ears. The kiss they shared was beyond anything Sev had ever experienced. The fact that Casey trusted him to lead made Sev’s heart sing. He had appeared needy before, but only because he assumed he was broken. With Casey, everything fell into place. Sev still wasn’t comfortable with the fact his mate was male, but as he held the man in his arms, that detail seemed less and less important.
What difference does gender make ? Does the fact that Casey is a man change the meaning of love? Or does it simply encompass the truth of the word?
Sev found he no longer cared.
When he was growing up, his parents tried to explain the concept of love to him. He thought there was only one kind of love, but he was wrong. He loved his parents and brothers, a familial bond. He loved his friends, a shared bond. The way his heart soared while his stomach plummeted when he thought of Casey went beyond those.
Sev closed his eyes and an entire lifetime with Casey unfolded. They would see his brothers marry their own mates and raise strong children. He and Casey would tend the earth together, tilling the soil, creating gifts of wonder for the enclave. There would be a young boy, lost in the wilderness. Casey and Sev would take him in and adopt him as their own. They would raise him to be a good man, a strong shaman, and upon their death at a ripe old age, he would continue to fill the role.
The dream was lovely. He’d never had such a perfect dream of his life, but now with the shaman at his side, perhaps they could make their fantasies into a reality.
***
A rainstorm heralded the dawn. Winds blew in from the mountains, bringing a sharp chill. The wards around the town could only offset the temperature so much, so beyond them it must have been frigid indeed. Sev wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with Casey and be lazy for the entire day. As lovely as the thought was, Mikhail would be coming over at some point, and though he loved his brother, he didn’t want him to find Sev and the shaman in bed together.
Grudgingly, Sev got to his feet. Even fully dressed and with his natural shifter warmth, the house was chilly. He went to the hearth, wanting to build a fire to warm his beloved, but could find no kindling. As he searched the cabinets, he sensed Casey stir. A moment later, flames flickered in the fireplace, and he turned to find Casey with a smug smile.
“Shaman. Don’t need wood when magic works so much better.”
“I can see that having an advantage.”
“Come back to bed. It’s cold.”
“Shifter. We don’t feel the cold like you do.”
“Touché.”
“Still, I wouldn’t say no to cuddling.”
Sev was surprised when Casey drew back the
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