Page 82 of Alastair

“Of course.” He nodded, then stepped toward the patio door. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

“You can stay,” I said. “There’s enough food and tea for the three of us. I’m sure he’d like to see you too.”

Michael’s face brightened. “I appreciate the generous offer, but I’m meeting Penemuel and Tatsuya for coffee and bagels.” The corner of his mouth hitched up. “Besides, it’s a special morning for Lazarus, and I don’t want to impose.”

“Special how?”

“It’s the first one where he’s had you waiting for him when he woke.” Michael continued toward the door and shut it behind him. Once on the deck, he peered at me through the glass and winked before spreading his large white wings and shooting up into the sky.

Mulling over his words, I filled two bowls with oatmeal, sliced an apple and arranged it on a plate, and poured two cups of tea before situating it all neatly on a tray and leaving the kitchen. When I entered the bedroom, Lazarus was still asleep. He must’ve been exhausted. Nutting in someone for the first time would do that too. A pleasing thought.

I was his first.And hopefully his only.

His eyelids cracked open as I placed the tray on the nightstand. “Is that an apple from the celestial realm?” he asked in a voice gruff from sleep.

The eagerness in his gold-flecked blue eyes tugged on my heartstrings, especially after what Michael said about him denying himself, even when it was something as small as a favorite snack.

“Maybe.” I sat on the bed and bent forward to glide my nose along his cheek. “Why don’t you sit up and taste it?”

Lazarus tugged me down to him, meeting me for a short kiss. “I’d rather taste you.”

“Oh yeah?” I grabbed a slice of the apple and pressed it to his lips. “So you don’t want this? I heard it’s a perfect balance of tart and sweet. Delectable.”

With his eyes on me, he nibbled off a piece from the end and emitted a raspy little groan. He then kissed me again. “You still taste better.”

“That’s high praise,” I said, unable to stop smiling. “Michael told me how much you love them.”

“Michael is a thorn in my backside, but since he brought me a present, I suppose he can live another day.” Lazarus sat up and took another bite of the apple—eating directly from my hand. He hummed in the back of his throat before angling his head and kissing me for a third time.

Sleepy, just-woke-up Lazarus was unbelievably cute. His icy barriers had been torn down. I got the sense that this sweet, apple-loving side was the real him—the part of himself he hid from the world.

“But he’s showing it to us,”Pride said.

Vibrations traveled through my chest. My sin was purring. My brothers had mentioned how their sins did the same thing once finding their mates, but experiencing it for myself was a bit of a shock. Especially since Pride had always been snooty and detached from my other relationships—Joseph included. And there he was now, purring like a goddamn kitten.

“We should get dressed,” Lazarus murmured between soft kisses. “The others will be expecting us soon.”

“Let them wait.” I rolled on top of him, straddling his waist. His cock hardened beneath my ass. “I’m not done kissing you yet.”

A special morning for Lazarus, Michael had said. As our mouths slid together, the taste of apple on his tongue as it swirled with mine, I knew it was special for me too.

Our light kisses turned rougher, and those kisses transitioned to heavy petting and grinding. The craving for a mate was a formidable force nearly impossible to resist. Good thing I didn’twantto resist. Not anymore. We came together beneath the thin sheet, me riding him just like I had the night before.

Both of us thrived on being in control, but in bed, Lazarus allowed me to take the lead. A submissive top—just the way I wanted him. Though, a small part of me wondered what it would be like for him to take charge, for him to shove me down and fuck me silly. I filed the thought away for another time.

By the time we pulled apart, breaths uneven and sweat coating our sated bodies, our breakfast was ice-cold. I fed him another apple slice as we lay in the crumpled sheets, basking in the afterglow. He stole more kisses between bites, which I eagerly accepted with a soft laugh.

“I didn’t expect you to be so affectionate,” I said. “You can’t keep your hands off me.”

“Does that please you, Pride?” Lazarus nuzzled my neck. “Knowing how much I desire you?”

Pride was definitely pleased but was too proud to let me admit it. However, the purrs rumbling in my chest grew in frequency, loud enough to where I was sure he heard them.

After taking a quick shower, I remembered the only clothes I had were my pajamas. With a towel wrapped around my hips, I glowered at him. “See? This is why you should’ve let me change first before going all caveman last night and bringing me here. Now I have to go to Baxter’s in either pj pants or this towel.”

Lazarus released a gruff sound as his arms came around me. “No one will see you likethisexcept for me.” He bit at my shoulder.

“Is that possessiveness I hear?” The idea thrilled me.