Page 8 of Unsanctioned (Devilish #2)

Audor wasn’t sure why he still didn’t go to Waylon.

He was home. Audor felt his other half every second of the day.

He wasn’t upset any longer. Seeing Odin had definitely impressed upon him how much of a miracle this was, but every time he thought about going to Waylon, something inside him couldn’t do it.

He had always gone to Waylon. He didn’t want to this time.

Waylon had embarrassed him at Frost’s gathering.

He didn’t feel good when he thought of that night.

Audor had marked Waylon’s skin, claiming him in Waylon’s customs, but Waylon had never drunk Audor’s blood.

He hadn’t claimed Audor. Something about them just didn’t feel settled.

While Audor had no desire to put Waylon behind him, he needed more than a ‘well, this is our life now because Celeste says so.’ He wanted to be fucking wanted. For real.

A knock at the door pulled Audor from the rabbit hole he kept falling into. He felt him. Waylon was on the other side. Audor was on his feet with his hand wrapped around the doorknob before he could stop himself. He took a breath and pulled the door open.

Waylon looked like hell. He also looked unsure of his welcome. Audor’s chest hurt. Why couldn’t Waylon love him for real? Audor had given him everything. He waited for Waylon to speak.

“I thought about getting you flowers, but I didn’t think you’d care about that. But I remembered you like these salty caramel candies.” He held up the bag in his hand. “I had to get them delivered from two towns over since I couldn’t find them here and I can’t leave.”

Audor bit the inside of his cheek. He would bet good money Waylon had never done anything like this for anyone. “I don’t have anything against flowers. But I prefer the ones picked. Those come from the heart. Obviously, it’s a bad time of year for that.” Audor didn’t know why he rambled.

Waylon shifted from foot to foot when Audor didn’t invite him in. “I’m sorry. I’m not very good with words. The last thing I want to do is say something stupid and have you disappear before I can explain again. I don’t usually talk this much.”

He was adorable. Asshole. “You could’ve stopped at you’re sorry.”

Waylon nodded. “Okay. I’m sorry. Seriously. Before I well and truly ruined everything, I was trying—badly—to say I was happy I found you. You’ve made my life feel good.” He swiped his hand over his eyes and Audor bit back a smile. “I don’t know what words to use.”

“It’s okay. I can hear your thoughts.”

Waylon shifted from foot to foot again. “Oh. Okay.” He held out the bag to Audor. “I’ll leave you alone.”

Audor didn’t take the gift. He snagged Waylon’s shirt instead, slowly reeling him closer. “What if I don’t want to be left alone?”

The hope in Waylon’s eyes nearly broke Audor. Waylon was this huge alpha, but if anyone bothered to look, they’d see how vulnerable he was. He was sad and lonely. No one checked on him because he was the strong one. Sometimes Waylon was scarily close to giving up.

“I can’t read your thoughts the way you can mine.”

That confession sounded like it hurt Waylon’s chest. As an ancient vampire, very few people could see inside his head. As his mate, it was Waylon’s right and Audor was denying him. “Only one of us can remedy that.”

He watched something solidify inside Waylon.

His determination became like a physical thing.

The space between them disappeared. Waylon kept moving, forcing Audor inside.

He kicked the door closed behind him. The alpha had come out to play.

As soon as they were closed away from the world, Waylon’s mouth covered Audor’s.

There was no denying him. It felt like Waylon was everywhere.

This was his mate. Possessiveness roared to life inside Audor.

He couldn’t tell any longer if it was his or Waylon’s.

It didn’t matter. The bag of candy dropped.

His feet left the floor as Waylon lifted him, holding two handfuls of ass.

He marched toward Audor’s bedroom, kissing a path down Audor’s neck.

His fangs brushed Audor’s skin, making goosebumps cover his body.

Audor’s back hit the bed.

Waylon’s claws ripped through Audor’s clothes.

The knowledge he made Waylon lose control enough to be incapable of completely fighting off the change was empowering.

Audor saw every inch of Waylon’s mind. Not only had Waylon never lost control with anyone the way he always did with Audor, he also loved Audor.

He had for a long time. That was the real problem.

Waylon had been terrified of what would happen to his heart when Audor found his true mate.

He hadn’t thought he would survive it. Waylon just never knew how to say things like that.

He felt like saying things aloud made them real.

Maybe he would have set something in motion, ensuring Audor found a mate that would never be him.

But it was him, and Audor wouldn’t let him hurt ever again.

Audor flipped, rolling Waylon beneath him.

Waylon was bigger and Audor should let him keep the illusion of being stronger.

Right now, he needed everything. He sat back on his heels and then dove for the lube on his bedside table.

Waylon fought to get out of his clothes.

Audor snagged the material and easily tore it away—like his shirt and pants were made of cheap paper.

He kissed Waylon’s chest as he played with his own asshole, getting himself ready for the rough way Waylon would fuck him.

Audor made his way down Waylon’s body to his weeping cock.

He felt everything Waylon did. Audor needed to know what would happen when he put Waylon’s dick in his mouth.

A loud moan escaped him at first suck. That was as much as he got before Audor ended up on his back, legs in the air, and Waylon’s dick tearing him in two.

Audor dug his fingers into Waylon’s back, leaving bruises that would disappear as quickly as they appeared.

He moaned as Waylon rocked inside him, making Audor soar.

Audor wanted to beg Waylon to bite him. He needed Waylon to feel everything the way he did.

Waylon’s tongue swiped his neck, savoring the same spot over and over again.

“Please? Damn, baby. Please?”

Waylon struck. Air disappeared. It ceased to exist. All the mattered was the way his body danced with ecstasy.

He tried to scream, but no sound emerged.

Audor felt the second their souls became one.

It was the most mind blowing and beautiful moment of his life.

He wished he could do it a million times.

In the desperate throes of his orgasm mixed with Waylon’s, Audor missed the way Waylon had gone completely still.

His face stayed pressed against Audor’s chest. He smelled Waylon’s tears.

Audor snagged Waylon’s chin and yanked, forcing Waylon to look at him.

He was surprised he didn’t accidentally rip off Waylon’s head in his shock.

Waylon’s eyes were red. He looked completely lost and broken.

“Why didn’t you tell me you love me?” A stuttered and ragged-sounding breath escaped Waylon.

“I would’ve given anything for those words. ”

Goddess. He truly did love this dumb wolf.

“No. You would’ve decided you know what’s best for me and never spoken to me again.

You would’ve disappeared inside your head and convinced yourself cutting ties would be what’s best. It was better to have some of you than none.

” Audor swallowed the anger and hurt that wanted to rise to the surface.

He swallowed again when a lump rose in his throat.

“So I saved you from me. Every second was like being set on fire, but I couldn’t be how you wasted time any longer. ”

Waylon kissed his chest. “Can you still not see the lie in those words?”

“I’m sorry for disappearing. You deserved better from me. Odin came to see me.”

Waylon’s chin shot up. “What?”

Audor pulled the memory to the forefront of his brain so he could share it with Waylon.

He felt Waylon playing in his mind. It was nice.

He had been alone for a long time. While he could hear lesser beings’ thoughts, that hadn’t made him any less alone.

This was different. Waylon was there, completely sharing life with Audor.

“You’re a vampire of worth.”

Audor blinked. He had gotten lost in his head. “What?”

Waylon’s heart was in his eyes. “Odin said I was a wolf of worth and he wouldn’t have chosen you.

You’re a vampire of worth. I would choose you in every life.

” He didn’t give Audor time to get emotional.

“You didn’t feed enough the other night.

I can feel your hunger. You were just angry and proving a point.

You didn’t actually take the blood you need. ”

That was all true. Truthfully, Audor had been closer to tearing Waylon’s throat out than he was feeding.

“I would’ve preferred that if you didn’t plan to come back.”

Audor urged Waylon higher. “Staying away from you has never felt like a real option. Every second was hell.” He nuzzled Waylon’s neck.

Waylon took a shaky breath.

Audor went hard like he hadn’t just blown. He scraped his fangs across Waylon’s pulse point, dragging out the anticipation he felt growing inside Waylon.

Waylon shifted positions and grabbed their erections before holding them together.

Audor knew it was pointless to stroke. They were too connected in mind.

Biting was too personal. Too erotic. The instant he sank his fangs into Waylon’s neck, an orgasm tore through Waylon, pulling another from Audor.

They were one mind, sharing the ecstasy of Audor’s bite.

Audor sucked. Waylon’s body jerked in his hold.

Audor took what he needed before retracting his fangs and licking the wound closed.

“Fuck, I wish—” The words died on Waylon’s lips as he pulled away. His gaze locked on Audor’s neck in disbelief, as if seeing it for the first time.

“What?”

Waylon’s gaze moved to hold his stare. A smile exploded across his face. “Come on. I need to care for you anyhow.” He rolled and climbed from the bed before pulling Audor along. Inside the bathroom, he started the shower. When he turned back Audor’s way, he still wore a huge grin.

“What?” Even Audor heard the laughter in his voice. Waylon’s brain was sunshine and rainbows, but Audor couldn’t see what caused the sudden elation.

Waylon turned Audor toward the mirror. His arms wrapped around Audor from behind and pressed against his back. Audor’s gaze automatically went to Waylon’s reflection over his right shoulder, except that was not where his gaze landed. He stopped breathing. Everything stopped.

“I started to say I wish I could mark you for the world to see. It seems Celeste has me covered.”

Vampires didn’t scar. Yet there was Waylon’s mark.

He had been marked as Waylon’s mate. Audor couldn’t even blink.

Never would he have expected to find a scar beautiful, much less one to match the level of gorgeousness as the mark he had left on his mate.

But this was beyond beautiful. It was a miracle.

They kept getting handed those and Audor knew he wasn’t worthy.

Everyone will know you’re mine.

Audor’s throat swelled. They really would. He never dreamed he would have so much.