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He ran his fingers over the back of Caden’s head and through his soft hair. He ignored the fact that he still had blood all over him and just did his best to try and soothe his mate.
Finally, Caden’s breathing slowed, and he lifted his head to meet Quinten’s gaze. “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
Caden nodded and looked down at himself. His nose wrinkled. “We both smell like Tiho though.”
“Well, that’s disgusting,” Quinten said with a soft smile. “How do you feel about a shower?”
Caden nodded quickly and led the way into the bathroom.
Quinten kept his eyes on him as he stripped and got the water ready. As soon as Caden dropped his pants, his heart leapt into his throat.
“You’re bleeding,” he cried, shooting forward faster than he was used to and nearly taking them both out. Dropping to the tiled floor, he examined the hole from the bullet.
“Oh. Yeah, it’s nothing.”
“Nothing? He fucking shot you.” He started to get up. “Dare!”
Caden snorted a laugh, but Quinten didn’t see what was so damn funny. “Dare, we don’t need you!” Caden called out, and then it was his turn to clasp Quinten’s face in his hands and hold him steady. “I’m fine. I’d be fully healed by the time we even got to the parking garage.”
Quinten’s brows furrowed. He knew that. Why was he panicking so much?
He looked down at the wound and started to get riled up all over again, even though he could tell that it was visibly smaller and had stopped bleeding.
He took a couple of deep breaths and climbed to his feet. “You’re sure you’re okay? Is the bullet still in there?”
“No,” Caden said. “I felt it come out a little while ago.”
“You shifters and your healing. It’s amazing, but it’s also gross.”
Caden gasped, pretending to be offended, and shoved lightly at his chest, but Quinten grabbed a hold of his forearms and hauled him close. The water had heated up and was beginning to fill the bathroom with steam.
“We should get clean,” Quinten said, but he didn’t make a move, just stared into Caden’s eyes.
“In a second.”
Quentin nodded and waited.
“You called me your mate.”
He smiled gently. “You were right about a lot of things, including me being a coward.”
Caden shook his head quickly. “No, that was out of line.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Quinten said firmly. He rested his hands low on Caden’s hips. “I was scared. You scare me.”
Caden sucked in a breath, but he didn’t interrupt, watching Quinten with wide, hopeful eyes.
“The things I feel for you are scary to me. You make me vulnerable in a way I’ve refused to allow myself to be for a long time. But the idea of continuing to walk this earth without you by my side terrifies me even more. If you can forgive me—”
Caden was smiling and leaning in, pressing a kiss to his mouth before he could even finish.
He grinned against his mate’s soft mouth. After getting a thorough taste, he pulled back. “Denying the facts because of my hang-ups won’t change them,” he said softly, slipping his hands down over the curve of Caden’s ass.
“Facts plural?” Caden asked breathlessly.
“Yeah, kitten. Because not only are we fated for one another, but that ragtag group out there pretending like they aren’t listening to us is my pack.”
