He somehow managed to get his dick to stop jerking long enough to slide out of Bell. He maneuvered them around so he could spoon him from behind while they, once again, caught their breath. They lay a long time in silence, just listening to each other exist. It was as if the world slowly began to come back into focus. Nothing had mattered during that moment but them, but their love. Alek had almost forgotten he was even in another country.
The afternoon turned into evening, and the haze of his lust no longer clouded his vision. With his mate tucked safely in his arms, he realized a couple of things in his moment of clarity. That it was time for them to go home, and also he was freaking starving. Alek’s stomach growled loud enough to scare the shit out of both of them. Bell jumped in his arms, the sound ripping him awake, his eyes shooting open. Alek chuckled against the back of Bell’s head and muttered, “Sorry.” He’d been giving his mate around-the-clock blood transfusions… of course he was starving.
Bell held onto Alek’s hand as they descended the jet’s stairs behind the Lord Protector and the guards. He had to admit that it felt wonderful to be back in the states, back in Maine where the air was cold and clean. Bell had never thought he’d feel that way in a hundred years—that London was no longer his home—but home was where Alek was. It was late, after three in the morning, but Bell knew his best friend was inside one of those four black SUVs that were awaiting them just off the airstrip. There was no way Wick would send a transport for him. Bell could almost feel his king’s eyes on him from several feet away. The few guards loaded into the front three vehicles as the mercenaries hurried off in another direction, not bothering to say farewell. Their business with them concluded, they had no reason to stick around and since they weren’t even friends, parting pleasantries weren’t necessary.
Bell watched as two large shifters got out of the front seats to open the rear doors. Wick and Justice stepped out, looking relieved and concerned at the same time. Justice was happy his siblings had returned safe and sound, and Wick’s relief over seeing Belleron in one piece was palpable. Bell felt a tinge of moisture form in his eyes as he took in his best friend’s disheveled appearance. For the first time, King Chadwick Bentley looked his one-hundred-seventy-two years. Tired and worn, his black dress slacks were wrinkled and his ribbed, navy-blue turtleneck was stretched around the collar, as if he’d been tugging at it. Wick’s typically smooth skin was ghostly pale, not to mention it seemed as if he'd lost a few pounds. Had his best friend not been eating?
Bell let go of Alek’s hand just in time to catch Wick’s fierce hug as he flashed towards him and slammed into his chest. They held each other for a long moment while the guards and Alek’s family moved around them. He heard Justice congratulating his brother for a job well done, as he and Wick continued to hug like they never had before. Because for a moment in that cave, he had truly believed he’d never see his best friend again.
“Goddamn you, Belleron.” Wick squeezed him, burying his nose in his hair. “If you ever scare me like that again, I’ll behead you myself.”
Alek growled behind him at Wick’s idle threat, making them break apart with embarrassed laughter.
“I’m okay, Wick. I am.” Bell pulled back until they were face to face. Wick smoothed both hands over Bell’s long mane before touching his mouth to his forehead. “I never meant to scare you.”
“I know. But, you can’t do that, okay… you… you can’t leave me, Bell. I need you here with me… always,” Wick confessed. He wrapped his arms around Bell’s neck and gazed at him in fascination, “I’ve been going bloody mad and you come back here looking so strong… and beautiful.”
“Alek and I—”
“Oh, I know.” Wick huffed a laugh. “I can smell it.”
Bell frowned, “How do I smell now?”
“Don’t get me wrong. You smell as good as you always did… only better,” Wick said, leading Bell to their SUV. This time, Justice got behind the wheel and Wick sat in the passenger seat while Mac, Farica and the Lord Protector sat in the third row, with him and his mate in the second. When they were finally loaded up, Mac was the first to mention how fast the mercenaries had sped off in their own direction.
“I thought at the end there we’d made a few allies. Those are some fighting motherfuckers, for real. I was shocked. No wonder they’re in such high demand.” Mac pfft’d, staring out of the window. “But a high-five and a see ya later wouldn’t’ve hurt.”