doubted there was a problem. Unless Sean complained of horrible cramping, it was unlikely anything
bad had happened to the egg.
Sean stretched out his legs, yawned, then rolled over so he was facing Avi. With a contented
smile, Avi trailed a finger along Sean’s brow then down his cheek, where he followed the line of his
jaw.
“Mmm. That’s nice.”
“I’m sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to wake you.” Avi dipped his head to press a light kiss to
Sean’s lips.
“That’s okay.” Sean’s eyes fluttered open. The glow of the bedside lamp reflected from his soft
brown irises. “I’m thirsty.”
Sean made as if to rise from the bed, but Avi laid a hand on his arm. “Stay here. I’ll get it for
you. What would you like?”
He was greeted with a frown. “You’ve been waiting on me all day. Things were rough for you
too, and you even got hurt.”
Avi held in a chuckle. “Scratches, nothing more. They weren’t even very deep ones. That was
one wimpy swan.”
Sean ran his palm up and down the arm Avi was supporting himself with, stopping now and
then to play in the hairs. “I was so scared. I was afraid something bad would happen to you.”
“I’m here, aren’t I?” Avi winked. “He barely plucked any of my feathers. Let’s forget about that
useless excuse for a bird and get back to more significant issues. What can I get you to drink?”
Sean grinned. “I love you, Avi.”
Avi’s emotions were running high after what they’d been through that day, but he didn’t want
Sean to pick up on his anxiety. “I love you too, honey. Drink?”
“You’re so bossy.” Sean started to make a pouty face but ended up laughing instead.
Avi let out a long exhale of relief. He had to quit thinking of Sean as some sort of delicate
creature who couldn’t handle any adversity without crumbling to bits. His mate was strong, stable and
loving.
And a swan.
Eagles might be raptors that could tear the flesh from another creature with a vice-like beak and
sharp talons, but no one could stand up to the fury of an enraged swan.