Page 84 of His Eternal Temptation

Lane grabbed Rowan’s hand. “I’m sorry, what?”

Rowan rushed into an explanation of binding souls and how vampire transformation was similar to mating, but mating removed all the pitfalls. Mating was equal and couldn’t be forced. Once Lane understood, it sounded perfect. Like this was made for them.

Could mates be chosen, not just fated to Eternal beings?

“Would you be willing to try?” Rowan asked in a dazzling rush. “It may fail, but if it works, you’ll be my witch forever. A fellow immortal. We’ll have a bond, shared emotion, but no power held over the other.”

“Shared emotion?”

Some of Rowan’s excitement dimmed. “It’s not mind-reading, but we’d sense each other’s feelings through our bond. That’s how it works for fated mates, and there’s no reason to think it wouldn’t be similar for us.”

“You’d be all right sharing your unfiltered emotions with me?”

“More than all right. Even when I have trouble showing it, I’m not afraid of you seeing what lies beneath my mask.”

“Then yes.” Lane grabbed Rowan’s cheeks and kissed him, frantic and sloppy. “Yes, I want to be your mate. I choose you, Rowan. I’ll look after each piece of you.”

Rowan’s grip tightened. “Do you want to do it now or do you need⁠—”

“I don’t need more time. I was ready to become a vampire, to trust someone else to sire me for you. To have no bond beyond our relationship, if that’s what you needed to feel safe in keeping me forever. This is worlds better. I can’t believe you’ve found another way. For me.”

Rowan’s eyes flared bright. “I’d do anything for you, Lane.”

“Then be a good boy and make me your mate.”

Rowan melted under the command. “Yes, Lane. I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will, sweetheart. This isn’t guaranteed, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It works, or it doesn’t, there’s no failure, but honestly, I can’t think of anyone better to do the impossible with than you.”

Rowan’s lips parted. “Or with you, Lane.”

They kissed until Lane was lightheaded. “Make me yours, Rowan. Be my mate. I choose you.”

His fangs lengthened. “I’ve been practicing the spell in my head since I learned it.”

“Of course you have, you perfect man.”

Rowan tried so damn hard, and knowing others had criticized him for his earnestness fractured Lane’s heart. He’d treasure what others had cast aside. The loss was theirs.

Strange, melodic words fell from Rowan’s lips, like no language Lane had ever heard. It was lyrical and gorgeous, more like a song than a spell. The air came alive with it, Lane’s skin tingling with electric heat.

He pressed his forehead to Rowan’s, drinking it all in, rolling his hips, their hard cocks trapped between them. Lane felt so close to Rowan then. Naked in his body and soul, with Rowan an open book beneath him.

When the musical words faded, the charge in the air intensified. Damnation, this might actually work.

“My mate,” Rowan murmured, rolling them so he was on top, and kissed Lane’s neck. “I want nothing more than to be bound to you.”

“Yes,” Lane moaned, arching into him.

Rowan’s fangs pierced his flesh, and Rowan sucked. The spot seemed to explode with pleasure. Ecstasy shot through Lane’s blood, throbbing to the beat of his thundering pulse. It zipped down his spine and landed deep in his core. His cock pulsed, and he came on a cry, spilling between them as he clutched Rowan for dear life.

“Lane,” Rowan growled, hunger deepening his voice.

He bit Lane again. Pleasure spiked, then ebbed, and Lane went nearly boneless.

Something prickled at the edge of his senses. As Rowan licked the wounds closed, Lane was overcome with an urge for closeness so powerful he couldn’t breathe. It was foreign and familiar, not quite his.

“R-Rowan,” he stammered. “I think I feel you.”