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Dante gave Ollie another squeeze. “You can trust your feelings. I promise magic isn’t the driving force.”

The brief flare of hope in Ollie’s eyes faded. “How can it not be when fate said I’m the one for you? Like it’s already done.”

“Nothing is already done?—”

“But we’re already mated,” Ollie said before Dante could finish.

“We are.” Dante tried to give Ollie a reassuring smile.

“But that’s only because I chose to save you.

Fate can’t tell us what to do. We still get to shape our bond.

We can let things progress however we want.

I don’t want you to think you have to do anything.

This is still a choice. If you aren’t ready, we can stay friends. Being mated doesn’t change that.”

“Okay, but I don’t know how to stay friends after admitting I like you. It’s not what I want.” Ollie glanced away sheepishly. “Is it possible to date as if we aren’t bonded?”

“Of course.” Dante couldn’t help smiling. “We’ll get to know each other and see how our lives fit together just like any other couple. Being bonded doesn’t negate any of that.”

“You’re sure? ”

“Yes.” If only Luc had never shown up on the beach, Ollie might not have been so afraid to follow his heart. He was already dealing with enough, given his past.

“Okay.” Ollie shifted closer, his hand still in Dante’s. “I want to try and figure this out. Despite everything, I want to date you.”

“I want to figure this out too, Ollie. More than anything. But we have to be open.”

Ollie’s smile fell.

Dante rubbed his thumb over the back of Ollie’s hand. “I don’t mean sharing emotions through the bond. I mean communicating.”

“Oh.” Ollie’s lips turned up nervously.

“Tell me if you’re uncomfortable or worried. I never want being with me to change who you are. Bonded or not, you’re still you. And if there’s anything you need, ask.”

“But I don’t know what I need to feel comfortable. That’s part of the problem.” Ollie’s face fell and he pulled his hand from Dante’s.

He didn’t need to have all the answers. Doing this together was the only way. “We’ll work it out,” Dante promised. “As long as we talk, we can address anything concerning you.”

Ollie gave a tiny nod. “And you’ll do the same? Tell me what you need?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here now. I couldn’t hide how I felt and didn’t want to.”

“I don’t want to hide things from you either.

” Ollie paused, frowning. “Actually, that’s not true.

I did before. But I feel so much better now.

It’s silly. I didn’t think I could tell you I wanted a relationship unless I overcame my fears first. But you’re saying you’ll help me figure this out, and that’s so relieving.

Everything feels safe with you, Dante, and as long as it’s real and not magic or fate dictating the outcome, then I want this. ”

Dante could understand Ollie being hung up on fate and wasn’t sure if anything other than time would show him that destined didn’t mean dictated.

“Everything between us is real, Ollie. Magic isn’t making you feel safe or making you want me. The magic of our bond is created between us by being together. It’s ours. It’s not a force that influences us. That would be an illusion, which is entirely different.”

Ollie took a breath. “Okay, good…because I don’t want to keep resisting you.”

Dante could have laughed with relief. “I thought I was the only one.”

Ollie’s dimples flashed. “Guess you’re onto something with this whole being open thing. We’d never have figured this out otherwise.”

Dante shrugged. “Maybe not, but it’s hard to be vulnerable. It’s normal to be scared to open up.”

Ollie’s smile seemed to grow. “It’s easier with you. I promise I’ll tell you when I’m freaking out.”

Dante’s chest swelled. “And I’ll do the same.”

Ollie shifted closer. “So, last night meant something to you?” A hint of teasing crept into his tone, even as his expression radiated nothing but tenderness.

Dante swallowed. “Last night meant a lot to me. I loved being close to you, feeling you, sharing pleasure with you. I haven’t had sex in a long time, but it was more than that. I was so excited to connect with you.”

Ollie’s cheeks bloomed with color, his blush tinging the tops of his ears. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, but unlike earlier, there was no hint of nervousness.

“I liked being close to you too. I missed you today.” Ollie’s eyes flashed like he hadn’t planned on saying that. He rushed on. “So, how long are we talking since you last got laid? Have you not been feeling it lately?”

Should Dante say he’d been waiting for Ollie? It might be too much too soon.

But he had to be open.

“It’s been about a hundred years since I’ve had any desire for sex without connection, and without my mate, sex would only ever be physical.”

“A hundred years?” Ollie ran a hand through his hair. “You’ve been waiting for me that long?”

“No.” Dante cupped Ollie’s cheeks. “I’ve been waiting for a lot longer. But back then, I believed I was close to finding you. I knew you’d be in this city. So I waited.”

A low whine slipped from Ollie. “You can’t say things like that.”

Dante’s stomach dropped. It was too much. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“No, it makes my heart explode. I want to kiss you so fucking much right now.”

Dante pressed their foreheads together. “I’m feeling something similar.”

Ollie rubbed his nose against Dante’s. “I’m still scared of wanting this. Part of me wants to resist the bond—I don’t trust it—but I also want to enjoy it.”

Dante pulled back. “You can trust your feelings, Ollie.”

Ollie dropped his head back, letting out a petulant sound. “You keep saying that, and I’m sorry I’m stuck on this. Maybe I should do what feels right, and then I’ll believe it.”

That was one way to go about it. “What feels right to you now?”

Ollie grabbed Dante by the shoulders and climbed onto his lap, straddling him. “This. I want to be close to you. Don’t let this consume me. Okay?”

“I won’t,” Dante promised.

Ollie clung to him. “Can I kiss you?”

Dante had never wanted anything more. His voice dropped to a low, raspy whine. “Yes. Please? ”

Ollie leaned in, hazel eyes sparking as his face softened with affection. “Don’t worry, I won’t make you wait any longer.”