Two months later

“Are you sure those donuts were absolutely necessary?” Wyatt asked as they walked up to their apartment door, the keys jangling in Raph’s hand. “You know I can make them myself.”

Raph chuckled, reaching behind to squeeze Wyatt’s ass. “‘Course they were necessary. Gets you out of the house. You need exercise.”

“I hope that isn’t you saying I’m fat, Raph,” Wyatt muttered, elbowing him in the gut. Raph grunted, but he hadn’t stopped smiling.

“Have I even said you’re fat? I’ve said I love your belly.” Raph caught him in front of the door, pulling him into a slow, sweet kiss. His palms slipped down to Wyatt’s abdomen, and Wyatt held Raph’s hands, guiding his touch over their baby.

They hadn’t been able to hug properly for months, now, unless Raph was spooning Wyatt from behind. Most nights, they slept that way—Wyatt curled up in bed, and Raph holding his swollen belly from behind.

If there was one thing Wyatt was thankful for, it was that he’d found Raph again, that all of this had worked out.

Since Grandma’s death, Raph had given his 30-day notice at work, and left his job in Highton. Grandma hadn’t had time to change her will—the mansion had gone to their parents, and Raph had inherited a sum of money—enough to pay off his debt. The rest of the cash, he’d put into the shared savings account he’d started with Wyatt.

He’d also moved into Wyatt’s apartment. Wyatt, Hazel, and Penny had driven down to Highton one day to help him pack, and by the following weekend, Raph’s things were unpacked, tucked into Wyatt’s closet, and around the living room.

For the past month, Raph had been helping Wyatt nest for the baby. He’d rearranged the storage room, moved furniture in, built a dresser for the baby’s clothes. They were supposed to paint a mural this weekend. Which was why Wyatt had frowned when Raph coaxed him out to grab some donuts.

He broke the kiss, glancing around them. But there were no neighbors in sight, only the crisp January stillness of the morning, and some birds chirping.

“We’ll move this inside,” Wyatt said, tugging on Raph’s hand.

“Yeah.” And Raph smiled that boyish smile again, the one that he’d been trying to hide for a week. It was another secret. But Raph looked excited about it, and Wyatt had relaxed, trusting that Raph was hiding something good. He could do with a pleasant surprise.

Raph unlocked the door, nodding for Wyatt to head in first.

The moment he crossed the threshold of their home, streamers exploded through the room, and balloons popped. Hazel leaped up over the couch. Sam stepped out from behind the door and hugged him. Penny blew on a party horn, a jaunty paper hat on her head.

“Surprise!” they said, beaming.

Wyatt laughed, staring at all of them. “What’s this for? It’s not even my birthday!”

“It’s your baby shower,” Raph said, hugging Wyatt from behind; Sam still hadn’t released him yet.

“A baby shower?” Wyatt wrapped his arms around Hazel when she wriggled into the group hug, looking around the apartment.

There were balloons strung up in every corner, satiny streamers dangling from them. A large paper banner hung across the wall, big colored-in letters reading Baby #2. A cheerful cake sat on the coffee table, and wrapped gifts lined the side of the couch, glittering in the sunlight.

Wyatt’s throat grew tight. Years ago, when he’d been carrying Hazel, he hadn’t the time or energy to consider a baby shower. So he hadn’t expected anything for this pregnancy, either—Raph was busy dealing with paperwork from Grandma’s death, and Penny and Sam each had their own lives to see to.

“It was Raph’s idea,” Sam said, grinning. “He said you’d love to have a baby shower. So we all got together and planned for today.”

“You needn’t have,” Wyatt choked, looking at Hazel’s grin, Penny’s smile, and Sam’s warm eyes. Then he met Raph’s gaze, and Raph slipped his hand up along Wyatt’s neck, his fingers catching in Wyatt’s hair.

“You’re doing great,” Raph said, brushing his thumb down Wyatt’s throat. “Thought you might like a small celebration.”

Wyatt blinked hard, his eyes prickling. “Gods, Raph. You’re not supposed to make me cry.”

Raph’s smile slipped. “You don’t like this?”

“I do!” Wyatt smiled through his tears, fumbling around until he caught Raph’s hand. “I just... I wasn’t expecting this.”

“You have family and friends,” Raph said, looking around at all of them. “I just wanted to remind you of that. So if you ever feel like you’re alone, or if you feel terrible about yourself, remember that you have people who love you.”

Wyatt’s lips trembled. Hazel frowned at Raph. “You’re making Dad cry again.”

“It’s happy tears, hon,” Wyatt said, his chest bursting with warmth. “It’s okay to cry happy tears.”

Hazel studied him dubiously, before leaning into Raph. “Okay.”

Penny joined the group hug, flinging her arms around Sam and Raph. “We also want you to know that we’ll be around for the next baby,” she said. “Call me anytime.”

“You haven’t found an alpha yet, Pen?” Raph asked, grinning.

“I’m married to my work,” Penny said, winking. “But I can always spare time for Aunt Penny visits!”

“Gods, I love all of you,” Wyatt said, hugging them tight. “I don’t know what I’d do without you guys.”

“Don’t even think about it,” Raph said, pressing a kiss to Wyatt’s neck. “C’mon, let’s go open your presents.”

“I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me,” Wyatt said, when they released him so he could walk. “And Hazel, too? Hon, you’ve been keeping secrets from me?”

“Dad said it’s okay,” Hazel said, glancing at Raph. “Because it’s a surprise for you.”

Raph grinned, his cheeks turning dark. He still hadn’t gotten over being Hazel’s dad, yet. Two months ago, they’d filed the paperwork for him to become Hazel’s legal guardian. Until now, Raph still wore a huge smile whenever he looked at their daughter. That, in itself, was amazing.

Wyatt followed them to the couch, sitting on Raph’s lap. Hazel knelt by the presents. Penny and Sam hung back behind her, matching smiles on their faces.

“This one’s from Aunt Penny,” Hazel said, handing a lumpy package to Wyatt.

Wyatt turned it over in his hands. “It’s soft.”

“Two hundred percent sure you’ll like it,” Penny said. “I got recommendations from Dr. Kinney.”

He tore the package open, feeling the press of Raph’s solid chest as Raph leaned in, looking over his shoulder. Penny’s gift was a light knitted blanket, all pale blue and gray and white, with a cow’s face for a hoodie. It would be perfect for the baby.

“It’s adorable,” Wyatt said, squeezing the soft fabric. “Thank you.”

Sam’s gift was a framed watercolor painting—of Wyatt, Raph, Hazel, and a newborn in Wyatt’s arms. Wyatt’s heart skipped a beat.

“My brother’s omega paints,” Sam said, grinning. “I commissioned it.”

Wyatt didn’t want to ask how much it had cost Sam—probably a lot. And it was precious, too, looking at the likeness of their faces in his hands. In the corner of the portrait, he found a signature by Felix Brentwood. “It’ll go up on the wall once I finish unwrapping everything. I can’t thank you enough for this, Sam.”

Sam laughed. “You’ll owe me, then!”

Wyatt grinned. “You’ll be seeing a lot of me in the future, when I pay my dues!”

The third gift was a car seat. “From Dad,” Penny said. “He’s all about the road safety.”

Wyatt laughed, and Raph kissed his neck.

The fourth gift was a stack of hand-drawn notes, in Mom’s handwriting. Wyatt flipped through them. This coupon entitles the holder to one free day of babysitting. There had to be sixty of the same coupon in the stack. Wyatt looked up, raising his eyebrows.

Penny laughed. “You can tell Mom really wants to babysit, too.”

Raph chuckled, slipping his arms around Wyatt’s belly. “Yeah, I’m not surprised.”

Wyatt blushed, swearing to himself that he’d visit with his parents more often.

When Hazel handed the fifth gift over, she wriggled, grinning widely. “This one is from Dad and me,” she said. “We spent a long time picking it out.”

Wyatt’s pulse quickened. He looked over his shoulder at Raph, who smiled. “Go on, open it.”

Past the wrapping paper, he found stacks of folded baby clothes—mittens, socks, onesies—all in different sizes, for when the baby grew. Most of them had cow prints on them, and at the bottom of the pile, there were four identical cow plushies.

“One for each of us,” Hazel said, hopping over to grab a cow in the middle. “That one’s mine.”

Wyatt laughed, hugging the remaining three to himself. “I’ve never seen you with plushies, Raph. I might steal yours.”

Raph snorted, grinning. “Go ahead. But I’ve got one last gift.”

He leaned forward, reaching into his back pocket. Wyatt squirmed off his lap, his arms full of cows. A gift that wasn’t wrapped with the rest? “That’s a small gift.”

“Doesn’t make it less important,” Raph said. Penny, Sam and Hazel had fallen silent, watching them intently.

Something glimmered between Raph’s fingers when he pulled it out. Wyatt’s heart stopped.

And Raph slid onto the floor, kneeling at Wyatt’s feet. Wyatt remembered the day Raph had returned to him, kneeling, kissing down his belly. His throat tightened.

Raph caught Wyatt’s hand, stroked his fingers. “Marry me?”

Wyatt’s heart kicked back to life. Raph’s smile had fallen away from his face, his eyes solemn, hopeful.

They were bondmates—they’d already agreed on that. Marriage was a little—a lot—different. They’d have to register it somewhere. Make it public.

With any other bonded pair, marriage was just a more visible layer of commitment. With Wyatt and Raph, it could be risky. But if they registered their marriage elsewhere... the townsfolk of Meadowfall might not even know.

Raph stroked the backs of Wyatt’s fingers. “You don’t have to decide now,” he said. “You could even tell me a year from now, or whenever.”

And that was something else that he loved about Raph. Raph’s patience. His kindness. The way he gave Wyatt space to breathe.

His heart full, Wyatt leaned forward, cupping Raph’s face in his hands. “I don’t know if now would be the best time to get married,” he said, watching as Raph’s gaze grew uncertain. “But yes. At some point in our lives, I want to marry you, Raph. You’ll always be my alpha.”

Raph blinked hard, his mouth curving into a tentative smile. “Can I...?”

Wyatt gave Raph his hand. Raph slid the ring onto Wyatt’s ring finger, and the silver band fitted snugly, like it was always meant to be there.

Wyatt broke into a smile, pressing their foreheads together. Raph kissed him, soft and sweet, tracing his wrist down over Wyatt’s belly. “Mine,” Raph whispered, his eyes warm. “Thank you for being mine.”

“Always,” Wyatt whispered back.

Sam, Penny and Hazel cheered, and Wyatt felt the safest he’d ever been with his family.

* * *

An hour later, after the baby shower was over, Wyatt watched as Raph installed the new crib. Raph lowered the side of the crib, then raised it, before locking it in place. The crib fitted in the nursery, with the cartoon cow stickers on its edges, and the row of cow plushies sitting on the dresser.

Later today, when Sam and Penny brought Hazel back, they’d all paint a rainbow mural on the wall.

“Feels sturdy to me.” Raph stood, testing the joints of the cot again. Then he stepped away, setting the screwdriver on a dresser. “What do I do next?”

Wyatt chuckled, his heart swelling with warmth. The ring sat heavy on his finger, and he couldn’t stop spinning it.

He was Raph’s. He’d marry Raph, someday. It seemed so unbelievable right now. “I wish you’d let me do some of this. It’s not like I don’t have the strength to.”

Raph turned, his dark eyes coasting down Wyatt, from his hair to his chest to his swollen belly, down his thighs, then his feet. “You should rest.”

“You’ve been telling me to rest for weeks, Raph. The baby isn’t due until next month! I can still move!”

Raph snorted. “Sure you can.”

“I’ll show you ‘move’,” Wyatt muttered, stepping close, slipping his fingers down the waistband of Raph’s jeans. “That’ll shut you up.”

“You’re sure it’ll shut me up.” Raph grinned. “How are you guys doing?”

“Great.” Wyatt leaned against him, the bulk of his belly pressing into Raph’s abs. Then he dragged his nose along Raph’s neck, breathing in his teak scent, and the hint of fresh sweat. “Gods, you smell good.”

“You always say that.” Raph combed his fingers through Wyatt’s hair, then slipped his palm down, cupping Wyatt’s belly. “Can’t wait to meet the baby.”

“Ben,” Wyatt said. “I’ve decided on a name.”

“Ben.” Raph’s lips curved up. “I like it.”

Raph smoothed his palms over Wyatt’s belly, his eyes intent. Then he lifted Wyatt’s sweater, exposing Wyatt’s pale abdomen. It had grown huge, Wyatt’s skin tauter than it was months before. Their baby had been kicking lately, and sometimes, Raph whispered little things against Wyatt’s belly, kissing it all over.

“You’re so beautiful,” Raph whispered, dragging his fingertips over Wyatt’s skin. “Can’t believe how big you are now.”

Wyatt grinned. “Should I be offended?”

“Nah.” Raph flattened his hands on either side of Wyatt’s belly and held him, the heat of his palms soaking into Wyatt’s skin. He leaned forward, pressed a soft kiss to Wyatt’s forehead. “Gods, I look at the baby clothes, and they all seem so tiny.”

“You’ll get to put clothes on Ben in a month,” Wyatt said, snuggling into his alpha. “And deal with spit-up, and baby poop, and all the good stuff.”

Raph laughed. “You’ll be there with me, right?”

“Sometimes. We’ll probably be taking turns sleeping.”

Raph’s breath puffed into his hair, warm. Then he pressed a trail of damp kisses to Wyatt’s ear, and down his neck. “We probably won’t have time for this when he arrives, huh?”

“Probably not,” Wyatt said, then gasped when Raph’s teeth scraped over his scent gland. His blood thrummed, swooping between his legs.

“We should move this to our room,” Raph whispered. He slipped his hands down Wyatt’s belly, his calluses catching on Wyatt’s skin. Then he dipped his fingers past Wyatt’s waistband, scooping Wyatt’s cock and balls into his warm palm. “Get you all nice and wet.”

‘Nice and wet’ usually followed with a good, hard fucking. Wyatt’s mouth went dry. “We do have an hour.”

“Fuck you until you scream.” Raph’s breath puffed over Wyatt’s ear, and he stroked Wyatt’s cock, firm fingers on sensitive flesh. “That’s still okay?”

“You heard the doctor.” Wyatt rolled his hips, pushing back against Raph, molding his fingers against the bulge of Raph’s pants. “Just nothing too rough.”

Raph growled, slipping his other hand down Wyatt’s back, pushing against the seam of his pants. He probed between Wyatt’s cheeks, pushed smooth fabric up against his hole. Wyatt moaned, pressing back against him, his nerves alight.

With his fingers stroking around Wyatt’s tip, Raph shuffled them to the next room, where they’d made the bed just a few hours ago. Wyatt climbed onto it now, his pulse throbbing between his legs, his ass pushed up in the air.

An age ago, he would’ve felt like a shameless person, offering himself up for Raph like that. But Raph loved watching him, loved when Wyatt begged to be fucked.

Raph cupped his cheeks, and squeezed. Then he peeled Wyatt’s pants off, dragging his warm palm down Wyatt’s skin, deft thumbs spreading him open. Wyatt groaned. Warm slick trickled out of his hole, down his thigh. Raph growled. They both smelled like musk, now.

Raph pressed slow kisses down Wyatt’s cheeks, then his thighs, reaching between his legs. His fingertips brushed under Wyatt’s balls, a brief, electric touch. Then he dragged his fingers up Wyatt’s cock, ground Wyatt’s foreskin into his tip. Pleasure shot down Wyatt’s spine; he arched, trying to push into Raph’s hand.

“Are you gonna stay still for me?” Raph whispered.

“You know I can’t.” Wyatt rocked his hips, chasing the friction of Raph’s fingers.

“Get in front of the mirror.” And there was a smirk in Raph’s voice, now. Wyatt shivered, crawling further onto the bed, pausing when he’d placed himself square in the reflection of the wall mirror. Raph climbed onto the bed behind him, his eyes dark, his hands catching the hem of Wyatt’s sweater, pulling it up. “Lift your arms.”

The sweater fell onto the floor with a rustle. Raph pushed Wyatt’s pants down, slipping them past one knee, then the other. When Wyatt knelt naked before him, Raph stripped, too. Wyatt admired the hard lines of his body, his pecs and biceps and abs, and the thick cock that strained between his legs.

Raph settled behind Wyatt, his thighs pressing up against Wyatt’s own, the damp tip of his cock dragging down Wyatt’s back.

“Present yourself for me,” Raph whispered, meeting Wyatt’s eyes through the mirror.

Wyatt’s body throbbed. He raised himself off his heels, reaching behind to spread his ass.

Raph pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Very nice. Now hold your position.”

Wyatt’s belly was heavy; Raph knew that. He slipped his arm around Wyatt’s chest to support him, his tanned skin a contrast against Wyatt’s pale body.

In the mirror, they looked so different—Wyatt with his thin, long limbs, and Raph with the heft of his muscles. But most obvious of all was Wyatt’s belly, swollen, with the silvery scar across it, thin but telling. The next birth held a risk.

Wyatt shoved that whisper of worry away.

“Never seen anyone more beautiful,” Raph whispered, cradling Wyatt’s belly, his hands large on Wyatt’s skin.

“Even when I’m naked?” Wyatt grinned.

“Especially when you’re naked.” Raph slid his hand down Wyatt’s abdomen, and then further, to circle his cock. Then he squeezed.

Pleasure hissed up Wyatt’s nerves; he gasped, rocking into Raph’s hand, watching as the flushed tip of his cock pushed out from between Raph’s fingers.

“Love you,” Raph said, rolling his hips. His cock slid between Wyatt’s cheeks, a thick, hard line. In the mirror, his eyes raked over Wyatt’s body. He released Wyatt’s cock, stroking his wrist down Wyatt’s throat, then his clavicles, and his chest, marking Wyatt with his scent.

“Love you too.” Wyatt gasped when Raph rolled a sensitive nipple. He was torn, between letting Raph drag this out for as long as they could, and fucking hard and fast, and riding that white-hot wave of pleasure.

Raph trailed his wrist down Wyatt’s belly. Then he dipped further down, and dragged his wrist over Wyatt’s cock. “This is mine,” Raph whispered, his breath hot on Wyatt’s skin. “You’re not gonna come until I say you can.”

Wyatt groaned, rutting at Raph’s wrist. His cock throbbed. “I want to come.”

“Nope.” Raph caught his cock, squeezed it from base to tip, until a clear bead of precome gathered, glistening in the filtered sunlight. He gathered it on his fingertip, reached up, and sucked it into his mouth, tasting Wyatt.

Wyatt trembled, grinding up against Raph’s cock, hoping to tease him closer.

“You know I’ll still not let you come,” Raph murmured; he’d read Wyatt’s plans. Raph nipped at his shoulder, the sharp points of his teeth skimming over Wyatt’s skin. “But it’ll be worse if you have me inside.”

It really would be. And Wyatt didn’t know if he wanted that torment more.

Raph made the decision for him, sliding his cock heavily against Wyatt’s hole, exposed now that Wyatt held himself open. His cock dragged hot and thick, sliding up, then down, until its blunt tip caught on Wyatt’s entrance, pressing lightly on it.

Then he sank inside, just the tip, and Wyatt felt himself stretch around his alpha, his body thrumming with the penetration. Raph growled, his arm trembling against Wyatt’s chest. It felt good for him, too, being inside.

“Fuck,” Raph hissed, snagging Wyatt’s cock again. “You feel so damn good.”

“Good enough to put another baby inside?” Wyatt’s hole squeezed; he wanted to be filled with come, wanted Raph’s seed inside him. He wanted to be mated, and fucked, and thoroughly claimed.

Raph pulled out. Then pushed in again, with just his slippery tip. “How many more do you want? I’ll give them to you.”

“All of them.” Wyatt groaned, and pushed himself down, taking half of Raph’s cock inside. Raph swore, his fingers digging into Wyatt’s cock, so his cock pulsed. Wyatt arched, gasping for breath. “Fuck me, Raph.”

“Promise not to come if I fuck harder.” Raph slid his cock back out, and Wyatt whined.

“I promise.”

And Raph thrust back in, shoving right against Wyatt’s prostate. Wyatt shuddered, leaking onto Raph’s fingers. Raph was inside him. Raph’s cock pushed all the way in, and Wyatt fell forward, onto all fours, unable to focus on anything but Raph inside him, big and thick and hot.

“Gods,” Raph hissed, snapping his hips. He ground against Wyatt’s prostate again, and Wyatt cried out, his body heavy with pleasure, his cock aching, needing release.

“Touch me,” Wyatt said, pushing back onto him, riding Raph’s cock, his body squeezing tight around his alpha. “I need your come.”

Raph growled. He pumped Wyatt’s cock, his cock surging inside, his fingertips dipping beneath Wyatt’s foreskin, sliding around his head. And that was beyond intimate, too. “You’ll hold back? Not come even when I do?”

Wyatt nodded desperately, his body heavy with need, his balls tight, aching with come. Raph smeared Wyatt’s precome over his cock, and caught him again. And this time, his hand was slippery, and it felt like bliss, just sliding against Raph’s fingers. Wyatt whimpered, shaking, reaching back with one hand to spread himself again. “Raph, please. Fill me up.”

“Fuck.” Raph had built a rhythm, sliding into Wyatt, grinding against his sensitive flesh. When Wyatt sank down on him, Raph’s thrusts stuttered. Then he fucked harder into Wyatt, shoving right against Wyatt’s prostate, and Wyatt clenched his jaw, trying hard not to come.

“I’m s-so close, Raph,” he gasped, rocking into Raph’s palm, the throbbing in his cock like a second heartbeat. “I need—need...”

“Gonna take all my come?” Raph fucked into him deep, his cock swelling, stretching Wyatt further.

“Yes!”

Raph’s cock dragged against Wyatt’s prostate, and Wyatt cried out, scrabbling against the sheets, his body taut with pleasure.

“I—I c-can’t—”

Then Raph thrust a final time into him, and Wyatt felt the pressure of Raph’s come inside his body, hot spurts that filled him up inside, seed for a new baby. Wyatt gasped, trying to breathe, his cock hungry and dark red in the mirror. “Raph, p-please.”

Raph’s knot swelled, stretching him, wide and potent. It forced Wyatt over the edge, sent pleasure crashing through his body. Wyatt arched, his toes curling, his spine arching as wave after wave of bliss rocked through him, blinded him to everything but Raph’s arms around him, and Raph’s knot filling him up.

He shuddered, gasped for breath. And after a long while, Wyatt came down from his climax, his body squeezing around Raph’s knot. Raph growled, pressing kisses to Wyatt’s shoulder. He stroked down Wyatt’s arms, touched the unmarked scent gland at Wyatt’s wrist.

“We’re really getting married,” Raph said, rubbing his thumb over Wyatt’s wrist.

“Do you think we shouldn’t?”

“No, it just seems... incredible. That’s all.”

Raph’s knot was heavy inside him. Wyatt groaned when Raph pulled him against his chest, his knot shifting, a blissful, thick weight Wyatt couldn’t ignore. “You’re incredible,” Wyatt said. “I still can’t believe we’re here now, doing this.”

Through the mirror, Raph smirked. “You mean, knotting?”

Wyatt laughed. “That, too. But just... all of this. The baby. Hazel. You being the manager at Wy’s Drive-In.”

Raph chuckled, slipping his hand between them. Then he stroked the tattoo on the small of Wyatt’s back, where the scroll unraveled and said Drive In. “Did you know, this tattoo started it all?”

“Really? No, that seems insane. Most times, I don’t even remember it’s there.”

“It did.” Raph smiled, one arm wrapped around Wyatt’s belly, his hand pressed against the tattoo. “You were at the pool when I saw this tat. And I wanted to know how many other alphas had seen it.”

“You thought I wanted them to drive in?” Wyatt smiled, leaning back into Raph’s shoulder. “It certainly got you inside. I remember that.”

Raph’s cheeks darkened. “Still can’t believe we’re brothers.”

“Stepbrothers.”

Raph laughed, nipping at Wyatt’s shoulder. “I’m just glad that we’ve got as far with Mom and Dad as we have.”

“Hazel, too.”

“Yeah.”

Raph tangled their fingers together. Wyatt brought Raph’s wrist to his lips, pressed his nose against Raph’s scent gland. Raph’s other wrist was marked; this one wasn’t. So Wyatt licked where it smelled strongest of teak. “Mind if I bite here?”

Raph sucked in a sharp breath. His heart pounded against Wyatt’s back. “You can mark me anywhere, Wy.”

Wyatt licked his wrist again. Then he bit down, hard, and Raph swore against him, his knot jerking inside Wyatt’s body. Wyatt groaned. When he pulled away, the skin on Raph’s scent gland had broken, tiny beads of blood welling up along it.

“I want to bite you, too,” Raph whispered. “The first time... I didn’t intend it.”

Wyatt’s heart skipped. He had appreciated that first bite anyway, a mark from an alpha he trusted. He reached behind with his hand, the position a little awkward. Raph’s fingers circled his wrist, and his breath feathered hot over Wyatt’s skin.

“You’re sure about this,” Raph said.

“I’m giving you my hand, aren’t I?” Wyatt grinned. “I want to be your bondmate.”

Raph grinned back. He sniffed out Wyatt’s scent gland, kissed it. The edges of his teeth pressed against Wyatt’s skin, a light touch. Then he bit down, and pain and pleasure jolted through Wyatt’s nerves, made him arch.

Through the mirror, he saw he was hard again. All it had taken was one bite.

“Mine,” Raph whispered, kissing the wound.

“Yours,” Wyatt said, turning. And Raph pressed a kiss to his lips, soft and intimate, a promise of protection.