All the gods. Wrath placed his hand over top of Bell’s and did something he’d never done before. An honor he’d never granted anyone else. He’d lived an eternity and it was the first time he’d let another being inside or had permitted someone to get close to his heart. Allowing another in to see his good side was also a way for them to learn his weaknesses. But, he trusted the man before him—a fated love.
Wrath’s grandfather had had to trick his wife Persephone into staying with him, forcing her into a bond she despised. Wrath didn’t have to do that. Who knew it’d be a vampire who would earn his loyalty? The powerful Belleron Liatos. Wrath was beginning to feel he did have the Mother’s blessing, and she hadn’t cursed him after all. Now, he needed to make Bell understand that he was fine—for Alek’s sake—that he was at peace. Wrath had lived forever, so the few years that Alek and Wolf had been against him, felt like a mere moment in time.
He wanted their mate to see his true feelings for Wolf and his alpha, Alek. He felt no malice, not even an ounce of hatred. Bell’s eyes widened and Wrath knew he’d felt it the moment he dropped all his shields and Bell could see into him. He was completely inside his mind. “Oh, Ira.” Bell gasped, his beautiful eyes falling shut as he explored Wrath’s extensive life. “You’ve seen so much.”
“Yes. But, never anything as mesmerizing as you,” Wrath answered. Bell’s presence in his mind, in his soul, was such soothing and welcoming company. Wrath felt no deceit. Just the sweetest, most delicate touch in the world. He wanted to return those touches, but he didn’t know how. He couldn’t ask Alek for advice on this, his and Bell’s relationship had to be separate and exclusive to them. The alpha had explained that to him quite well.
So, Wrath couldn’t’ve been happier when Bell noted his indecision and wrapped one cool palm behind his neck and with the other he cupped his jaw, using it to pull him forward. He started to pant when he realized Bell was going to try to kiss him. He didn’t know how to kiss! The opportunity had never arisen. How did all the other demigods make loving look so easy? They could be persuasive, smooth and sexy when they wanted to be, luring both mortals and gods alike to their beds. Wrath knew how to give good vengeance… nothing more. He felt so far out of his element, he began to panic. If he withdrew again, Bell might grow weary of the back-and-forth. Besides, he really wanted to be a good mate.
“Just relax. I’m only going to touch you,” Bell whispered, his lips dancing along the side of his mouth and Wrath felt an eye-rolling throbbing start between his legs. “You feel so warm, so very good. I’m not angry anymore.”
Wrath felt a pleasantly scorching liquid leak from the tip of his hard cock. What in the hot-hell? Bell didn’t continue on a path to his mouth, instead he leaned closer and rubbed his creamy cheek against Wrath’s stern jaw. He couldn’t resist turning his face inward, seeking out more of Bell’s alluring scent. Bell dragged his nose down his throat, and Wrath thought he’d lose consciousness from the lack of oxygen as he tried to breathe.
“I smell you, Ira. I smell your godly blood,” Bell moaned.
Wrath almost toppled over when he felt one of Bell’s fangs graze over his raging pulse.
“Do whatever feels natural, Ira. Whatever you want.” Bell stroked his cheek, all while keeping up the confident, masculine touch on the back of his neck. “That’s it,” Bell rasped, when his head began to fall back. He didn’t even know it was happening until Bell hummed against the veins protruding from his throat. “Yessss.”
If Wrath hadn’t been so turned-on and excited by Belleron from the moment they’d met, he would have sworn he was using some kind of charm-lure on him. Wrath felt pressure on his chest as Bell guided him to lay back. Those piercing gray eyes had him following Bell’s lead without thought. Whatever Bell was going to do to him, it couldn’t be bad when it all felt so damn good. If anything, it’d probably give him some relief from the yearning.
Bell moved in close, and Wrath wasn’t sure what to do with his hands, so he kept them at his sides, clutching the branches for dear life. He needed the ache to stop. He closed his eyes when he felt copious amounts of liquid run down his shaft and over his tight sac. Wrath didn’t know why he groaned the way he did, but it didn’t stop it from happening a second time.
Bell ground himself against Wrath’s hip, proving to him he was in the same situation. He didn’t have to doubt how much Bell wanted him; he could smell it. The scent of his arousal reminded him of the goddess Anthea’s rose garden, fragrant and sweet. He could hear every frantic beat of Bell’s heart. Yet, still he lay motionless. Terrified that if he moved and acted on the images that popped into his head, he might do something wrong, and Bell would stop touching him altogether. He couldn’t allow that.