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He bucked into her harder, slamming into hers like a wild man.

“Sev,” she yelled, lifting herself to meet his thrusts.

“Fuck yeah, Thana. Give it to me.”

As he felt her body’s rhythmic squeeze and release, he finally let himself follow her. His cock pulsed with torrents of pleasure that tore from him as he filled her with his release, which seemed to pulse on and on with more intensity than ever before.

Thana’s legs gripped him around the waist while he collapsed on top of her. He gritted out a groan and rolled them to the side as their releases slowly faded.

He stroked her back with one hand, holding her against him as they lay together in the stillness. They didn’t speak. No words were needed. And then, a long time later, she sighed and eased back, looking into his eyes.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Are you happy here?” Thana bit her lip.

Severin pulled her head back to his chest. “I’m happy wherever you are.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He let out a breath. “I know what you asked. Thana, I love you. Wherever that takes me, I’ll be happy.”

Thana pushed at his chest and got up from the bed. “I’m serious, Severin. I love you, and I know you love me. But...how is this going to work? You and Savage are on the same level, and you and your brother, Scepter, have a history you still haven't fully explained. Other than the fact that you and he hated each other enough to separate by entire continents for hundreds of years. So, can we cut the bullshit, and you be honest with me?”

“It’s not that I haven’t been honest with you.” He flashed to where she stood, hating the distance she placed between them.

“You can’t protect me from everything, nor is it your job to do so. I’m not a child, and you sure as fuck aren’t my daddy, Sev.”

“Thank fuck for that. I’m not into the whole incest thing, mo ghaol. Although, when it comes to you, I’d be tempted.”

She slapped his bare chest and growled. “Don’t fucking joke right now, asshole.”

A smile split his lips, and she pressed her forehead against his chest. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Please, just be honest with me. I trust you with my life, my body, my heart. Trust me with your truth.”

Chapter 20

Severin wrapped his arms around Thana, wanting to shield her from his ugly past and the truth, as she wanted. How the fuck do you tell the woman you love that your wife, or ex-wife, killed herself and you nearly lost your soul?

“Are you thirsty, hungry?” He nodded toward the kitchen area. The fridge was stocked with orange juice, milk, water, grade-A blood, and a variety of snacks. If she didn’t like anything in there, he’d conjure up whatever she wanted.

Hell, he’d go to the ends of the Earth for his female. Severin knew he was stalling, but dammit, he didn’t like to think about the disappointment he’d see in her beautiful face once she heard the truth.

“Come and sit with me, Sev.” She gestured toward the U-shaped sectional behind them.

He lifted her with one arm around her back and the other under her knees. “Okay, mo ghaol. Promise you’ll listen to me before you say or do anything.”

“I can’t promise to keep from wanting to throat punch you.” Thana softened the words with a gentle smile.

“Fair enough.” He settled in the center of the sectional, the one they called the cuddler. He kept her on his lap, holding her close like the most precious thing he’d ever held. She was.

“No more stalling, mo ghaol.” Thana shifted slightly, wrapping one arm around the back of his neck. She placed the palm of her right hand over his heart.

Severin wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. “You know I was bonded, correct?”

Thana nodded.

“Scepter and I were born three minutes apart, with me being the younger brother. Such a silly thing, birth order. Growing up, there were things expected of me that Scepter didn’t have to endure because of those one hundred and eighty seconds.” He inhaled a deep breath, remembering the first time he’d hated being the spare brother. Why the fuck did a five-year-old have to sit in on Clan business and expect to discern what the Hell they’d negotiated? So while his brother got to learn business, he had to learn to fight.