Chapter Seven

Davey was at peace, which wasn’t a feeling he was used to. For so long, he’d been tortured by the fact that he’d abandoned his best friend and that Evan was being hurt, and there was nothing Davey could do to help him. He hadn’t even known where Evan was or if he was dead or alive, and while he’d kept hoping all these years, part of him had been convinced it was for nothing. The odds that Evan would be alive were so tiny that it didn’t actually feel possible.

But Evan was alive, and he was at the bakery right now. He’d always been a good baker, but it had been years since he’d last been in a kitchen. He and Orion had been working together at home, though, and Orion had been delighted to find out that Evan was actually good at baking. It had taken a bit of prodding on Davey’s side, but Evan had eventually agreed to help Orion at the bakery. That meant that Orion didn’t have to go to bed so late every night. He still woke up early, but he had time to rest during the afternoon because Evan was at the bakery then.

Which meant that Orion and Davey could spend more time together.

They had the house to themselves. They’d been watching a movie, but Orion had been sliding sideways almost since the first minute, and he’d snuggled against Davey’s side, his face tucked against Davey’s neck. He was breathing softly, and his entire body was relaxed, which told Davey everything he needed to know.

Orion trusted him enough to be with him like this. He trusted him enough to fall asleep next to him. It felt good, but then, Davey’s entire life felt good now.

The bakery was a success, and Orion had normal working hours. Evan was back, and he was living with Davey. They were getting used to being in each other’s spaces again, and while Evan was dealing with everything that had happened to him, he’d taken the first step. It would take time for him to get over it—if he ever could—and he might not ever be the Evan that Davey had known, but that was okay. Davey had never expected him to be. He’d just wanted his friend back, and he had him.

He looked down. He also had Orion, whose eyes were blinking open.

Orion rolled away and stretched, his big body catching Davey’s eye. Davey loved the way Orion looked, and he was attracted to his mate. Sometimes, it made things hard. Davey wanted sex with Orion, but he would never force Orion into something he was uncomfortable with. It was good that Orion didn’t seem to mind when he noticed how interested Davey’s body was, and he never teased. Davey truly didn’t need sex. He didn’t want it if Orion didn’t, either. He dealt with his cock when it was unruly, and that was that. It wasn’t a big thing between them or to Davey.

But there was something on Davey’s mind, and it was a big thing. He wasn’t quite sure how to broach the subject, though, so he continued watching Orion as he settled back on the couch next to him.

“What did I miss?” Orion asked, sounding sleepy.

“Almost the entire movie. It’s probably best if you watch it again when you don’t feel as tired.”

Orion snuggled close. Davey buried his fingers in the hair at the back of Orion’s neck and lightly scratched, smiling when Orion made a purr-like sound. Orion wasn’t a shifter, but if he were one, he’d definitely be a cat.

“We’ll try again tomorrow,” Orion said. “Unless you don’t want to watch it again since you didn’t fall asleep.”

“I can watch it again.” Davey would do pretty much anything for Orion, so watching a movie twice wasn’t a hardship.

He licked his lips. Davey wasn’t sure he could wait any longer. He was going to explode if he didn’t tell Orion what he was thinking.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” he said.

Orion sat up. “What is it? Did I do something you’re not happy with?”

That was Orion’s father speaking. The asshole had told Orion that he wasn’t good enough and that he was an idiot so many times that Orion had started to believe him. Davey was working on showing him that wasn’t the case, but it would take time for Orion to believe him. Davey had to fight against years of conditioning.

He was half tempted to go to the cells and strangle Mitchell. He doubted anyone would miss the guy, but Moore was still trying to get answers out of him, and Davey didn’t want to mess that up. He doubted Moore would get those answers, but it was worth a try.

“No,” Davey said before Orion could start freaking out too badly. “In fact, you’ve made me happy since the day we met.”

Orion wrinkled his nose. “I don’t think that’s true.”

“I’ll be the judge of that, won’t I?”

“What is it, then?”

“I was thinking about our bond. We haven’t really talked about it, but I wouldn’t be opposed to bonding with you.”

For a moment, Orion was perfectly still. He stared at Davey with wide eyes, and Davey stared back because how could he not?

“You want to bond with me?” Orion asked.

“Yes.”

“Even though we won’t do it during sex?”

Davey almost rolled his eyes, but he understood why this was so important to Orion. From the little he’d said, he’d been made fun of and had been rejected a few times because he was asexual. Davey didn’t understand why some people thought sex was so important in a relationship, but he didn’t have to understand. To him, it didn’t matter. What did matter was respect, love, and intimacy, and he and Orion had plenty of that. They didn’t need to fuck to be in love or for their relationship to be perfect.

It was perfect for them.

“I don’t care about that,” Davey said as he leaned forward to kiss Orion’s cheek. “And there’s nothing I want more than to be bonded to you. I know it might feel like it’s too fast, especially since you can’t feel the bond, but I’d like you to think about it.”

“Okay. I will.” Orion paused and grinned. “Done. I want to bond with you.”

Davey laughed. “Yeah?”

“I’ve been thinking about it, too. I was a bit hesitant, but I know that you don’t care about the sex thing. I need to stop listening to the voice at the back of my head, especially since it sounds like my father.”

Davey grimaced. “Please, never listen to whatever your father says.”

“I’m working on it.”

“That’s all you can do.” It would be enough, hopefully. Time away from his father would make everything easier for Orion.

“So how do we do this?” Orion asked.

Davey blinked. “You want to do it now?”

“No time like the present and all that, right?”

“I suppose.” Davey looked around the living room. He could suggest they go upstairs, but he suspected Orion wouldn’t be entirely comfortable with that. If the sex thing—as Orion had said—had been on his mind, being anywhere near a bed wouldn’t make him happy.

“We can do it here,” Davey offered. “Or anywhere you’re comfortable.”

“I’m comfortable here.”

He reached for Davey, making him squeak when he pulled him into his lap. Davey tilted his hips back because he didn’t want Orion to feel how much he wanted him, but Orion pulled him forward again.

“You can move away if you’re uncomfortable, but I don’t mind feeling how much you want me,” Orion murmured, cupping the back of Davey’s head with one of his big hands. “Don’t hide it from me. I might not want sex, but I do want to feel loved and desired.”

Davey slumped forward, wrapping his arms around Orion’s neck. He settled better in Orion’s lap, straddling his thighs so he could face him.

He hesitated, then pushed closer, smiling when Orion’s body relaxed. Davey did, too, because being wrapped around Orion like this felt like coming home.

Orion tilted his head to the side, and Davey pressed a kiss to the soft skin there. Orion smelled delicious and familiar, and being so close to him made Davey’s wolf stir. Davey grinned at the sensation and kissed Orion’s neck again. Orion squeezed his hips when Davey bit into his flesh.

Orion hugged Davey close, but he didn’t restrict him. That meant that it was easy for Davey to reach for the side of his neck and slice it open with one claw.

Orion made a wounded sound, almost as if he was alarmed by the fact that Davey was hurt. Davey didn’t stop sucking on the wound in Orion’s neck, but he gently pulled Orion’s face toward the cut he’d created. They needed to drink each other’s blood if they wanted the bond to be complete.

Thankfully, Davey didn’t have to explain what he wanted. Orion obeyed his silent order and sealed his lips over his neck. He sucked strongly, sending a shiver down Davey’s spine, but Davey ignored it and continued drinking.

Sometimes, he’d thought about how his bonding would go, and yes, he’d imagined it would happen during sex. This was perfect, though. In Orion’s arms, he felt protected and loved, and that was all he could ever want.

When the bond snapped into place, it was almost as if Orion cradled Davey’s being and tucked him around his heart to be cherished. Davey had never felt closer to anyone else, and he never would. He wouldn’t want to.

Orion had been Davey’s future before they’d even met, and now that they’d bonded, they would have decades together.

Davey couldn’t wait.