Chapter Ten
Kivani watched Dakota push pasta around his plate, the fork making soft scraping sounds against ceramic.
Three weeks had passed since Bennett’s attack, and this was the first meal where Dakota had actually finished what was on his plate without Kivani having to coax him through every bite.
The improvement was small, barely noticeable to anyone who hadn't been watching with the kind of obsessive attention Kivani couldn’t help but pay, but it was there.
Dakota’s shoulders had lost some of their permanent tension.
The dark circles under his eyes had faded to something closer to normal.
He’d started sleeping through the night again.
Kivani knew because his mate had been doing it in Kivani’s bed, tucked against his side where the tiger could monitor every breath.
“That was really good,” Dakota said, setting his fork down with a small smile that made something in Kivani’s ribs loosen. “I didn’t know you could make carbonara.”
“YouTube tutorial,” Kivani admitted, collecting both their plates and carrying them to the sink. “Figured we’d been ordering out too much.”
The truth was Kivani had been searching for things that might tempt Dakota’s appetite back to life.
Had spent hours scrolling through recipes, trying to remember what his mate had enjoyed before Bennett had left him bleeding on his apartment floor.
The carbonara had been a gamble, rich and heavy, but Dakota had eaten every bite.
Small victories. Kivani was learning to celebrate them.
He washed the dishes while Dakota moved to the couch, his tiger rumbling contentment at the domestic scene.
His mate was here, safe, healing slowly but steadily.
Bennett was dead and rotting, his body disposed of where no one would ever find it.
Everything Kivani had wanted, except for the shadows that still lived in Dakota’s eyes sometimes when he thought Kivani wasn't looking.
If Kivani could have killed Bennett again, he would have.
Would have made it slower, more painful, would have drawn out every second to match the terror Dakota had experienced.
His tiger snarled at the memory, at the scent of Dakota’s blood and fear that had driven Kivani across the hall at a dead sprint.
But Bennett was gone. All Kivani could do now was help Dakota heal.
He dried his hands and joined Dakota on the couch, settling close enough that their thighs pressed together.
Dakota leaned into him immediately, the gesture automatic now after weeks of Kivani being his primary source of comfort.
His mate’s head found Kivani’s shoulder, hair tickling his jaw, and he wrapped an arm around those slim shoulders.
“Want to watch something?” He reached for the remote with his free hand. “There’s a new season of that baking show you like.”
“Sure.” Dakota’s fingers found Kivani’s shirt, twisting in the fabric. “But can we just sit here for a minute first?”
“As long as you want.” Kivani set the remote back down and let himself just hold his mate. He felt the steady rhythm of Dakota’s breathing, the warmth of his body, the way his mate fit against his side like he’d been designed for exactly that purpose.
“Kivani?” Dakota’s voice was soft, but there was steel underneath it. The strength that had been missing for weeks, returning piece by piece.
“Yeah?”
“I want to be your mate.” Dakota pulled back enough to meet Kivani’s eyes, his expression open and certain in a way that made Kivani’s tiger surge forward with approval. “Actually your mate. The bonded kind. Whatever that means for shifters, I want it.”
Kivani’s breath stopped in his throat. His hands tightened on Dakota’s shoulders, his brain trying to process words he’d been hoping to hear but hadn't dared push for. “You’re sure? You don’t have to decide that right now. There’s no timeline.”
“I’m sure.” Dakota’s hand came up to cup Kivani’s face, his thumb brushing across his jaw. “I’ve had three weeks to think about it. About what I want, what I need, what makes sense. And the answer is you. It’s always been you.”
The conviction in Dakota’s voice made something primal roar to life in Kivani’s hindbrain. His tiger pushed forward, demanding he act on what was being offered, claim his mate properly and permanently. But Kivani forced himself to stay still, to make sure Dakota understood what he was asking for.
“The bond is permanent,” he said, his voice rough. “Once it’s sealed, it can’t be undone. You’ll be tied to me for the rest of your life.”
“Good.” Dakota’s smile was small but genuine, the first real smile Kivani had seen since the attack. “I don’t want it undone. I want to be yours, and I want you to be mine. No more halfway. No more waiting for the right moment. This is the right moment.”
Kivani’s control shattered. He pulled Dakota into his lap, his mouth finding his mate’s in a kiss that was all hunger and need and three weeks of holding back. Dakota made a sound against his lips and opened immediately, his tongue sliding against Kivani’s, his mate’s hands fisting in his hair.
The kiss tasted like relief and promise and coming home. Kivani’s hands roamed over Dakota’s back, relearning the geography of his mate’s body, feeling the way he responded to touch. His tiger purred so loudly the vibration traveled through both their bodies, and Dakota gasped into Kivani’s mouth.
“I love when you do that,” his mate murmured, lips moving to Kivani’s jaw. “The purring thing. Makes me feel it everywhere.”
“You’ll feel a lot more than that.” Kivani’s hands found the hem of Dakota’s shirt and pulled it up, breaking the kiss just long enough to get the fabric over his mate’s head. Pale skin revealed itself inch by inch, and Kivani’s mouth went dry at the sight.
Beautiful. His mate was so fucking beautiful it hurt to look at him sometimes, slim and delicate and trusting Kivani with something precious.
Dakota’s hands went to Kivani’s shirt, tugging impatiently. “Off. I want to feel your skin.”
Kivani obliged, yanking his shirt over his head and tossing it somewhere behind the couch. Then Dakota’s hands were on him, palms sliding over muscle, fingers tracing the lines of his torso. The touch made heat pool low in Kivani’s stomach, his cock hardening in his jeans.
“Bedroom,” Kivani said, his hands gripping his mate’s hips. “I want you in my bed when I do this.”
Dakota’s eyes went dark, his pupils dilating. “Yes.”
They moved together, Kivani standing with Dakota in his arms. His mate wrapped his legs around Kivani’s waist automatically, trusting Kivani to carry him, and the gesture made Kivani’s tiger rumble approval. Mine, it growled. Ours to protect. Ours to claim.
The bedroom was dark except for the light filtering in from the living room.
Kivani laid Dakota down on the bed, following him down to press their bodies together.
The contact was electric, skin on skin, heat building between them.
Dakota’s hands roamed over Kivani’s back, his legs still wrapped around Kivani’s waist, pulling him closer.
“I need you,” Dakota said, his voice breaking slightly. “Need to feel you. Need this to be real.”
“It’s real.” His mouth found Dakota’s throat, kissing along the line where Bennett’s bite had healed. A reminder of what his mate had survived, what they’d both survived. “You’re real, and you’re mine, and I’m going to make sure you never doubt that.”
His hands moved to his mate’s jeans, popping the button and dragging the zipper down. Dakota lifted his hips to help, and Kivani pulled the denim down his legs along with his underwear. Then his mate was naked beneath him, flushed and wanting, his cock hard against his stomach.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” Dakota said, his hands tugging at Kivani’s jeans. “Not fair.”
Kivani stood long enough to strip off his remaining clothes, his erection jutting out as soon as the fabric was gone. Dakota’s eyes fixed on it, his tongue darting out to wet his lips, and Kivani had to force himself not to just take what he wanted right then.
“Lube's in the nightstand,” Kivani said, climbing back onto the bed. “Top drawer.”
Dakota stretched to reach it, his body arching in a way that made Kivani’s mouth water. He retrieved the bottle and handed it to Kivani then spread his legs in clear invitation. The trust in the gesture made Kivani’s throat tight, made his tiger roar with possessive satisfaction.
Kivani flipped the cap and coated his fingers, warming the lube between them. His other hand stroked along Dakota’s inner thigh, feeling the muscle tremble under his touch. “Relax for me.”
“I am relaxed.” Dakota’s voice was breathless, contradicting his words. “Just touch me already.”
Kivani’s fingers found Dakota’s entrance, circling slowly before pressing inside.
The resistance gave way gradually, Dakota’s body opening for him, and Kivani watched his mate’s face for any sign of discomfort.
But Dakota just made a sound that was pure want, his hips rolling to take Kivani’s fingers deeper.
“More,” Dakota said, his hands gripping the sheets. “I can take more.”
Kivani added another finger, working them both inside, stretching carefully.
His mate was tight and hot around him, his body responding to every movement.
Dakota’s cock leaked against his stomach, his breathing coming faster, and Kivani had to force himself to go slow when every instinct demanded he claim right now.
“You feel so good,” Kivani said, his voice coming out guttural. “So perfect for me.”
Dakota’s response was a whimper, his body pushing back against Kivani’s fingers. “Please. I’m ready. I need you to fuck me.”
“To seal the bond, I have to bite right here.” He ran his finger over Dakota’s soft skin where shoulder and neck met.
His mate glanced at him, fear evident in his eyes.