The wolves leaving the ranch had weakened them.They had no one with good building skills now, and no one who could get hold of materials.On the other hand, they had no one who challenged his every decision, so it was calmer.Less friction.
"This is...eh...nice."
Thano looked around the room.What didn't he like?"What would you have wanted to be different?"
Eli turned to look at him."Nothing.It's light and airy, neat and...eh...I can sleep on the couch downstairs."
Thano stared.He didn't want to sleep next to Thano?An invisible hand closed around his heart."What's wrong with the bed?"
"Nothing."Eli looked at the ceiling, then at the mirrors on the closet doors.
In one swift motion, Thano placed his palm between Eli's shoulder blades and pushed.He took a stumbling step forward, and Thano pushed again.When Eli dropped the bags on the floor, Thano shoved him toward the bed.He was careful not to hurt him, but Eli's strength was nothing compared to his.
When Eli hit the mattress face first, Thano climbed over him and straddled his back."Don't you want to be with me?"
Eli turned his head to the side, a stunned expression on his face, but he didn't struggle.
"Are you afraid I'll bite you again?I didn't mean to, I...I was hungry, and you were so beautiful."
Eli blinked as if he wasn't sure he'd heard Thano right.
"I won't do it again."His stomach flipped as he spoke the words.He wanted to do it again.Over and over again.He wanted to rip Eli's clothes off and find the best spot, find all the spots he could sink his fangs into.He wanted him to moan and shiver in pleasure as he swallowed him down.
He forced his thoughts away from the taste of Eli's blood."Did you bring any food?"
"Flour, eggs, and some rolled oats.I didn't have much else.I never got the butter and milk from the store.Perhaps I should have when I got the chickens."
Thano partly slid off him so he was resting most of his weight on the mattress, his nose only inches from Eli's."You brought the chickens from the shop?"
"No, I gave them to Elijah Lucas."
"Who?"
"He has the hotel."
"Ah, yes, the one with the phone.Conal worries about him."
Eli nodded."Yeah.He has no one, and I..."He pressed his lips together.
"You what?"
"Think he's like Romeo and me."
There was no resemblance between Romeo and Eli.Eli was tall and broad-shouldered, Romeo was not.Romeo was dark-haired, dark-eyed, and clean-shaven.Eli was not like him."You're not like Romeo."
"Elijah doesn't have a wife or a family, and I don't think he'll ever want a wife.Not wanting a wife can be dangerous in a place like Last Hope."
"He wants you for his mate?"Thano couldn't explain the emotion filling his chest, but it made his fangs throb.
Eli snorted."It would surprise me a great deal if he did.If he did, I'd assume it was because I was the only option."Eli's eyes grew distant."I don't think he's attracted to me, but I worry about him."He blew out a breath."Elijah is book-smart--"
"He likes books?He should visit Romeo then."Yes, it was better if he visited Romeo than Eli.
"I think he'd love books if he ever got to see them.My mother was a teacher, and she always said Elijah would've been something special if he'd been born in another time."Eli sighed."But Last Hope is not a place where a pretty, fine-limbed man, with hands moving a bit too much when he talks is safe.He's never told me he's queer, I've only always assumed.I hope for his sake no one else does."
Thano wanted to snarl.This again.Romeo always talked about how Ciar wasn't allowed to touch him when they went into Last Hope.
"I'll feed you."
