Page 77 of The Doctor's Wolf: Part Two

“I’m sure you still looked pretty.”

Gordon rolled his eyes.“Mate blindness.That’s what I’m calling it from here on out.Oh, regarding that thing you asked, regarding the ultimatum you gave me, the one I never kept…”

Adler grinned.“It’s fine.I made an appointment.”

Gordon’s jaw dropped.“Youwhat?”

Adler shrugged.“At the Forum.To make it official.They say spousal status makes filing taxes easier.That’s great right?”

“You…made an appointment?”

“Sure did.”

“To get officially married?”

“Yup.”

Gordon slapped Adler’s shoulder.“Without telling me!”

“I told you.Well, I asked you.Then I made the appointment.”

Gordon’s blue eyes were ablaze.“But—I made an appointment!I wanted to surprise you!”

“You did?”

“Fuck, detective.”

Adler rubbed his head, thinking,I thought you’d know, with your telepathy.Thought you’d run if you didn’t like it.

“Like I’d run from you, you dummy.And it doesn’t work like that.Not that I know how it works, but not like that.How could you just ruin my surprise, detective?”

“Uh, sorry sweetheart.”

In a rush, Gordon closed the folders they’d spread out on the table.“You better be.You’re rude.You’re always in a rush.Why didn’t they tell me there was already an appointment on the books?”

“I’m guessing privacy concerns, sweetheart.”Adler stroked his mate’s back, trying very hard not to think about how cute Gordon was being.

“Cute?!I’mupset.You know what, that’s it.You’re buying me the Breakfast Collection.”

“The Kawaii Demon Hunter one?”

“Like, what other collection even is there?”

Adler raised his hand to count on his fingers as Gordon pushed him to lie on his back on the floor.“The Pico Princess, Enchanted Echoes, Animal Flower Garden—”

“Okay, so there are a few.You’re also going to be my cosplay buddy, just saying, and I’ll learn how to cook.Nothing too fancy, but on weekends, I’ll do the cooking.Maybe breakfast too.That seems easy enough.”

Adler’s mouth fell open.“Sweetheart, you mean that?”

Gordon straddled him.“Yes, detective, I mean that.Now, we’re not going to do anything here where the wolfling might walk in on us, nothing other than kissing.”

“I love that plan.”

Gordon cupped Adler’s cheek.It was an odd reversal, and strangely, Adler liked it, at least this once.

“My mate,” Gordon said, his tone as serious as that of any alpha wolf.

“I’m yours.”Forever.Until we both turn to dust and memories.

“Until the bureaucracy of the Forum crumbles.”

Adler chuckled.“Don’t swear on the Forum.Maxim will chide you.”

Gordon placed his flat palm on Adler’s chest.“All right.Until your heart stops beating, Adler.And if there is a soul, I’ll find yours, after.”

Adler pulled Gordon into his arms.“That’s good enough.Hey, which appointment with the Forum should we keep?Yours or mine?”

Gordon chuckled.“Both,” he said before kissing Adler, soft and deep, sweetly.

They stayed like this for a long time, needing nothing more and nothing less than each other.Forever.