Four-Letter Words by Evans, Gabrielle (top 10 books of all time .txt) 📗

That had been the last time he’d spoken to Thane. After their argument, they’d gone to bed, made love, and when Zasha had awoken in the morning, his lover had been gone. Even with the enlistment of Daniel’s help, it had taken him nearly three months to find Thane in a crude, underground cell.

Unfortunately, he’d been as much of a warrior back then as he was now, and he’d ended up with a dagger in his back before he’d been able to rescue his mate. Since he didn’t remember hitting the ground, he had to assume he’d already been dead by the time he’d fallen into that pit. If he followed the logical path of that thought to its conclusion, he realized Thane must have perished quickly thereafter.

While the memories were flooding back, it was a single feeling that was clearest of all. It was overpowering, all-consuming, and his body vibrated as the emotion grew stronger. Apparently, in his former life, he hadn’t harbored the same ideals about the world as he did now, because he distinctly remembered how he’d felt about Thane, how he’d have gladly given his own life to secure Thane’s happiness and well-being.

He’d certainly believed in love in those days. He’d more than believed. Gods, he’d loved Thane with every cell in his body. The emotion was intense, echoing similar feelings he presently held for his mate, but that had been centuries ago, and he’d been a lot more naïve back then.

Zasha finally understood what Thane had meant about him being a different person. Even though he recalled how it felt to be in love with surprising clarity, he didn’t buy into the notion that what he currently felt was more than the mating bond and physical attraction.

However, it did create a new problem for him. Now that his recollections had returned, he almost wished he was still oblivious. He couldn’t forget the way he’d loved Thane, but it also didn’t change anything this time around.

Zasha didn’t know what it meant for the future of his relationship, and worse, he had no idea how to begin reconciling the past with the present.

Chapter Ten

“Your heart is fluttering like a hummingbird’s,” Thane mumbled as his hand slid down Zasha’s sternum. “Bad dream?”

“Something like that.”

A deep ache settled in Zasha’s chest, and the corners of his eyes stung with suppressed tears. He didn’t hold back his emotions because he feared they’d make him look weak, though. He might share most things with Thane, but this was personal—private on a deeper level than he could adequately articulate.

More than just his memories had been recovered, and he felt raw, ripped open and exposed like a bleeding wound. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips while he experienced the joy and contentment. Then his eyes would mist again when he remembered the arguments, the hurt, and the fear that had clutched him when he’d realized his mate had gone missing.

His muscles tensed, and his body seized, making his stomach cramp violently as he experienced the gut-wrenching despair that had haunted him during the three months he’d tried and failed to locate Thane.

“Shh, shh.” Thane’s lips brushed over the nape of his neck, and the corded muscles in his forearms constricted as he pulled Zasha tighter to his bare chest. “It’s okay, lieveling. It’s all over now.”

It wasn’t over by any stretch of the imagination, but Zasha rolled to face his lover, burying his face against Thane’s neck and soaking up the offered comfort. “I remember.”

“I know.” Thane rubbed his cheek over the top of Zasha’s head and caressed his back. “I can feel the difference. Do you want to talk about it?”

Lifting his head, Zasha stared out through the back window into the inky night beyond. “Yes and no.” He focused on Thane, giving the witch an easy smile. “We’re definitely going to talk about it, but I don’t think this is the best time.” Dipping his head, he pressed their lips together in a slow, lingering kiss. “I remember,” he whispered. “Let that be enough for now.”

Rolling to his side, Thane pushed himself into a sitting position and pulled Zasha into his lap. “The pup went on a perimeter check with his brothers. It’s just you and me.” There was a devilish light in Thane’s eyes, and the coy grin was devastatingly sexy. “What should we do to pass the time?”

Two well-lubed fingers pressed between his cheeks to prod against his entrance before he could even process the question, let alone offer an answer. “Where did you—” His sentence died on a sultry groan as electrical currents raced along his spine.

“Magic,” Thane answered distractedly before nibbling open-mouth kisses up the column of his throat.

Zasha’s head fell back on his shoulders, giving his lover more room to explore. A small voice in his head argued that Jericho could return at any time. The others were probably waiting on him and Thane. They had a long night ahead of them and didn’t have time for such carnal delights.

A thousand arguments as to why it was a bad idea chased one another through his mind, but Zasha didn’t care. Selfishly, he wanted this one moment for himself. Until he’d met Thane, he hadn’t even taken a personal day away from his duties in over fifty years. He always did what was expected of him. He always did the right thing.

This time, however, he was going to do what he wanted, and there was nothing he wanted more than the man in his arms.

Rocking his hips, he rubbed his aching cock along the smooth expanse of Thane’s abs, seeking the delicious friction as he impaled himself on his lover’s fingers. The slight burn felt like heaven, and the corresponding tingles that spread across his skin enflamed him with desire.

Capturing Thane’s face in both hands, he pulled the witch into a kiss he hoped expressed all the words he