Page 9 of Honey Heat (Sin & Steel #9)

Ethan’s lips still tingled from Lucio’s kiss. His bear rumbled contentedly inside him, confirming what he’d feared on the phone with Stewart. His animal had chosen this wolf as his mate. The realization should have terrified him, but sitting here in Lucio’s arms, all Ethan felt was right.

“That was...” He struggled to find words that wouldn’t make him sound like a complete novice.

“ Tu beso fue mejor de lo que esperaba, carino,” his mate said, and then he ran his thumb over Ethan’s bottom lip.

“I have no idea what you just said, but it sounded sexy as hell,” Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucio smiled. “I said your kiss was better than I had hoped for, sweetheart.”

“You weren’t bad yourself,” Ethan teased.

Lucio chuckled. “Then I guess next time I’ll have to do better.”

Ethan wasn’t sure how his mate could do better.

That kiss had knocked him off his feet and left him breathless.

He’d never been the object of such focused desire before.

The men in his clan either saw him as Boone’s untouchable son or treated him like a kid brother.

But Lucio looked at him like he was something precious and desirable all at once.

Before Ethan could respond, the clinic door swung open, and Dr. Martinez stepped out, arms crossed.

“Ten minutes is up,” he announced, eyebrows raised as he took in their intimate position on the motorcycle. “Though I see you’re feeling much better, Ethan.”

Lucio chuckled, helping Ethan stand. “Just getting some fresh air, Doc.”

“Hmm-hmm.” Martinez’s knowing smile made Ethan want to crawl under the nearest rock.

“Five more minutes?” Ethan pleaded. “I feel better out here than I have in days.”

“Five more minutes?” Lucio matched his mate’s pout, directing it at Martinez.

The doctor rolled his eyes. “I’ll give you ten if you two never double-pout again.” He went back inside, the door closing behind him.

“Yes.” Ethan pumped his arm, accidently hitting his mate’s chest with his elbow.

“Sorry!” He petted the spot he’d struck to soothe whatever pain he might’ve caused, but…

sweet mercy. He couldn’t stop rubbing Lucio’s pecs.

He poked the hard muscle then gave it a little squeeze. At best he could with his wrapped hand.

When he looked up, one of Lucio’s brows was arched, but it was the intense desire in his eyes that made Ethan pull his hand away.

“Never feel embarrassed about touching me, hermoso .” A low, seductive growl emanated from Lucio’s chest. He placed Ethan’s hand back on his pec. “Explore any part of my body that you want.”

Ethan’s gaze lowered to Lucio’s lips. “And if I want you to kiss me again?”

Lucio’s hand slid up to cradle the back of Ethan’s neck as their lips met. He kissed like he wanted to get inside Ethan’s skin, like Lucio was trying to tell him something he didn’t know how to say out loud.

Ethan let Lucio guide the pace while he melted into the guy, giving Lucio every soft sound Ethan didn’t mean to make.

Then Ethan pulled back slowly, breath ghosting against Lucio’s lips, and watched his mate chase the space between them. Lucio’s eyes were half-lidded, lips still parted like he couldn’t quite let go of Ethan.

“My bear chose you,” Ethan blurted out, unable to stop the words from spilling free. He braced himself, unsure how Lucio would react. When his mate didn’t respond, Ethan cracked an eye open to look up at him.

The reverence in that single stare threatened Ethan’s balance on the motorcycle. “My wolf has done the same, mi elegido .”

“Me what?”

Lucio chuckled. “It means my chosen one.”

“Are you sure?” He wasn’t sure why he asked Lucio. Of course the guy knew, but Ethan wanted to make sure for some reason.

Lucio ran his hand over his low-trimmed beard, gazing past Ethan. “Hmm. Am I sure?”

“Don’t joke about it!” He poked Lucio in his pec then did it again, wishing his mate’s shirt wasn't in the way.

With a soft chuckle, Lucio dipped his head and kissed Ethan again just as a truck pulled into the driveway. Ethan had heard it but couldn’t seem to pull away from Lucio’s sensual lips. A door slammed, making Ethan finally pull away.

“Is this what you call protecting my son?”

Ethan closed his eyes. This could not be happening. His first kiss and he was busted straddling a motorcycle, in a gown, ass hanging out, clinging to a wolf shifter.

“No, sir.” Lucio kept circling his fingers on Ethan’s hips like his dad wasn’t standing right there. “This is what I call kissing my mate.”

Shit! Ethan shoved away from Lucio, desperate to get off the bike, because he knew his dad was about to pounce. But his leg got caught, and he fell sideways, trying to grab Lucio’s pantleg with his bandaged hand.

He heard boots pounding the pavement, no doubt his dad trying to catch him, but Lucio caught him, gently pulling Ethan upright.

“Dad, don’t you dare,” Ethan said, slowly working his way off the motorcycle. Jesus. How hard was it to get one leg over and dismount? Finally, his feet touched pavement, then he turned, glaring up at his father.

“ Mate ?” Boone glared at the wolf shifter like he was five seconds away from killing Lucio. “You said you’d protect him, not mate my fucking cub!”

“I’m not a cub!” Ethan shot back, totally mortified. This was the worst possible way his father could’ve found out. “I’m an adult, Dad.”

Boone’s nostrils flared as he stared murderously at Lucio. “Son, we’re going home. If you’re well enough to make out on a motorcycle, you’re well enough to travel.”

“You want me to leave my mate?” He knew his father was overprotective, but he never thought he was cruel.

Ethan shot a glance at Lucio, who stared Boone down, jaw set and dark eyes hard.

Thank god he’d chosen to keep his mouth shut.

When Ethan’s father was this pissed, even logic wouldn’t reach him.

A breeze fluttered the hem of Ethan’s gown, hiking it up to expose more of his ass. Lucio reached over and tied the strings together, never once removing his gaze from Boone.

“Dad?” He looked up at the man he loved and respected, desperate for approval but unwilling to walk away from his mate. Ethan’s bear paced restlessly, ready to challenge Boone if his father tried to separate them.

Boone let out a long sigh through his nose and stepped away, dragging a hand over his short hair. The sunlight picked out gray strands mixed in with the black.

Ethan looked at Lucio, pleading with his eyes for his mate to keep quiet while Boone calmed down. His mate gave a single nod, then his gaze slid back the bear alpha.

Time slowed to a crawl while Ethan waited, his legs starting to ache from lying in bed so long. If he didn’t want to go back inside—which he absolutely didn’t—the only option was to climb onto Lucio’s bike again, this time with his back pressed to Lucio’s chest.

His dad’s gaze shot toward him, nostrils flaring.

Lucio’s arms snaked around Ethan, pulling him closer, like he was daring Boone to make a comment about it.

Fantastic. Just what Ethan needed. Two stubborn males locked in some kind of silent, testosterone-fueled standoff.

“You know it’s not up to me,” Ethan reminded his dad, voice gentle. “My bear chose him. His wolf chose me. Why is that so hard to accept?”

He didn’t even need to ask. Ethan already knew. Boone had always seen him as a kid, no matter how old he got. Sure, his dad treated him like an adult in plenty of ways, but deep down? Ethan would never be anything but a cub.

It had been that way since his mom died. Boone had clung tighter, almost like if he let Ethan go, even a little bit, he’d lose him, too.

“I need a moment.” Boone walked to his truck and pulled out a backpack. He returned, handing it to Ethan. “I’ll be back.”

Ethan’s heart broke as he watched his dad pull away, not once meeting his eyes.

* * * *

Boone pulled off to the shoulder as soon as he crossed the border into bear territory. He hadn’t handled that very well. He could admit that much. But there was an internal war waging inside of him.

He loved Ethan, loved him with everything he had, the way any father should.

But seeing Ethan with Lucio felt like he was losing his cub.

After Camella died, Boone’s need to protect Ethan had warped into something closer to a stranglehold.

Over the years, as Ethan got older, that instinct hadn’t faded. It had only gotten tighter, until now.

Honestly, it was a miracle Ethan was even alive. The rescue team had found Camella’s car, washed up on a muddy bank. His wife was gone, drowned. But his cub had survived. Ethan in the back seat, arms around his mother, sobbing so hard his little body shook.

Boone slammed his fist against the steering wheel.

He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing the memory back where it belonged.

He couldn’t abandon Ethan. He wouldn’t. Not when his son still needed him.

So he’d do it. He’d step back, give Ethan space, let him bond with Lucio. Maybe that was what Ethan needed.

But if that wolf hurt Ethan in any way, failed to protect the only person on earth that mattered to Boone, he’d tear the wolf’s spine right out of him.