Chapter Six #4
“You haven’t lost him. He’s alive, and he’s safe.
That’s what matters right now.” Reed wanted to reach out to touch Franklin, but he wasn’t sure if it would be welcome.
“You need rest, Franklin. You’ve been running on fumes for days.
” Longer if Reed counted from when Franklin had started looking for his siblings.
Franklin was quiet for a long moment, and Reed thought he would refuse. But to his surprise, Franklin nodded. “Yeah. Okay. You’re right.”
Reed felt a flutter of relief in his chest. “Good. I’ll walk you home.”
“No.” Franklin’s hand shot out, catching Reed’s wrist. The touch sent a jolt through Reed’s body, and he tensed, but he wasn’t sure why. “I mean, yes,” Franklin continued. “But stay with me. Please.”
Reed stared at him. “Stay with you?”
“I don’t want to be alone right now.” Franklin’s grip tightened. “And I don’t want you to be alone either.”
Reed sucked in a breath. He’d expected Franklin to want space after the rescue so he could have time to process everything that had happened.
Reed had been prepared to go back to his room in Moore and Jolyn’s house and spend the night staring at the ceiling and wondering how Franklin was doing and if he was sleeping.
He hadn’t expected this.
“Are you sure?” Reed asked. “Franklin, what you’ve just been through—”
“I’m sure.” Franklin interrupted. His voice was strong, even though he was visibly exhausted. “Unless you don’t want to.”
“No, I do.” Reed swallowed hard. “I want to. I just didn’t think you’d want me with you.” Not after the day he’d had.
“I do.” Franklin’s thumb brushed against the inside of Reed’s wrist, making Reed shiver. “Come home with me.”
Reed couldn’t have said no even if he’d wanted to. “Okay.”
They walked through the quiet village in silence. It was late, and most people were either asleep or still at the facility helping with the cleanup and rescue. It felt like another world to Reed now, but he’d never forget that place.
Franklin’s hands were shaking when he tried to open his door.
Reed gently pushed him away and opened it himself, then followed Franklin inside.
The cottage looked smaller at night, but also more intimate.
Reed had been here several times over the past couple of weeks, planning the infiltration and checking in with Franklin, but always during the day. Work had always stood between them.
Not anymore.
Franklin moved toward the kitchen. “Do you want something to drink? I have water, or coffee, although it might be a little late for that.”
“Franklin.” Reed caught his arm. “You don’t have to play host. We’re both exhausted.”
Franklin stopped. His shoulders slumped, and for a moment, Reed thought he might break down, but instead, he turned and stepped into Reed’s space. Before Reed could process what was happening, Franklin’s mouth was on his.
The kiss was desperate and hungry. Franklin’s hands came up to grip Reed’s shirt, pulling him closer. Reed froze for half a second before his body responded. He kissed Franklin back, his hands finding Franklin’s waist. If this was his only chance to kiss Franklin, he wasn’t going to waste it.
The kiss wasn’t gentle or sweet. It was need and relief, and it felt like something Franklin desperately needed. Reed was more than happy to give it to him. He’d give Franklin whatever he wanted.
Franklin backed them toward the couch, still kissing Reed. They fell onto it, tangled together, with Franklin’s weight pressing Reed into the cushions. Reed gasped against Franklin’s mouth and slid his hands under Franklin’s shirt to feel his skin.
Franklin groaned, the sound going straight through Reed. Franklin’s presence was overwhelming Reed’s senses in the best possible way. Franklin’s hands were in his hair, gripping tight, and Reed couldn’t help the whimper that escaped him.
“Is this okay?” Franklin pulled back just enough to ask. His pupils were blown wide, and his lips were already swollen from kissing.
“Yes,” Reed whispered. “God, yes.”
Franklin kissed him again, slower this time. Reed let himself get lost in the slide of Franklin’s tongue against his, in the weight of his body, in the desperate way they were clinging to each other.
They didn’t talk about what this meant. They didn’t discuss the bond or the future or what would happen tomorrow morning. Right now, they were just two people who’d survived something terrible and needed each other’s comfort.
Franklin’s hands felt like they were everywhere, mapping Reed’s body like he was trying to memorize it.
Reed did the same, learning the shape of his mate, the spots that made him gasp, and the places that made him shudder.
He was terrified he’d only have one chance at this, and if he did, he wasn’t going to waste it.
When Franklin pulled Reed’s shirt over his head, Reed didn’t protest. Franklin’s mouth found his neck, kissing and biting, and Reed arched into it, his hands scrambling for Franklin’s belt.
They shed their clothes between kisses and desperate touches, until they were skin to skin on the couch. Reed had never felt anything like this, but then, he’d never had a mate bond with anyone else.
“Reed,” Franklin breathed against his ear.
Reed shivered at the sound of his name. “I’m here,” Reed managed. “I’m right here.”
They moved together with increasing urgency, exploring every inch of skin they could reach with their hands and mouths.
Reed had imagined this before, late at night when he couldn’t sleep, when the guilt became too much and he needed something else to focus on.
His imagination hadn’t come close to the reality of having Franklin’s hands on him.
Franklin’s body against his and his voice in his ear was everything Reed could’ve hoped for.
When Franklin’s hand wrapped around his cock, Reed nearly came apart. He buried his face against Franklin’s shoulder, trying to muffle the sounds he was making, but Franklin wouldn’t let him hide.
“I want to hear you,” Franklin rumbled. “I want to know I’m making you feel good.”
Reed couldn’t stay quiet. Every touch, every stroke pulled sounds from him he didn’t know he could make. He returned the favor, wrapping his hand around Franklin and matching his rhythm, watching his mate’s face as pleasure erased the exhaustion and pain, at least temporarily.
They came almost together, Reed just a few seconds ahead of Franklin, with Franklin’s name on his lips.
They collapsed together on the couch, breathing hard, sticky, and more relaxed than Reed had felt in years.
Franklin’s body was more relaxed, too, although Reed suspected it wouldn’t last for long.
Franklin moved, making room for Reed to fit more comfortably against him, one arm wrapped around Reed’s waist. Reed let himself be held, listening to his mate’s heartbeat gradually slowing to normal.
“Stay,” Franklin murmured into Reed’s hair. “Tonight. Stay with me.”
Reed’s throat was too tight to speak, so he just nodded against Franklin’s chest.
They should probably move to the bedroom, and they should definitely clean up, but neither of them seemed willing to break the moment.
Reed felt Franklin’s breathing even out and the tension drain from his mate’s body as sleep started to claim him.
He was surprised that Franklin was falling asleep, but it was good. Franklin needed the rest.
For the first time since the accident that had changed his life, Reed felt like he might actually deserve this. Maybe he could have something good that wasn’t tainted by his past.
It wouldn’t last. Tomorrow would come, and with it, all the complications they’d avoided talking about tonight—Garrett’s recovery, Leah still missing, and the question of what this meant for their bond.
But for now, curled up on Franklin’s couch with his mate’s arms around him, Reed let himself have this and believe that maybe, just maybe, he could be happy.
Franklin’s breathing had deepened into sleep, but his arm stayed tight around Reed, even unconscious. Reed pressed a soft kiss to Franklin’s collarbone and let his own eyes close.
Tomorrow, they’d face the world. Tonight, they had this, and for Reed, that was more than enough.