“Possibly, unless I can find a reason or ask Seth to lie and say he wants to go.”
Sleep began to tug on Vince. “Then don’t do it. You’re more important.”
I smiled at his assertion. The problem was I wanted to go. “Would you like to see Inogga?”
He shrugged. “It might be fun.”
“Then I will find a way.”
Vince sat up, frowning, and I had no idea why. Annoyance flared in his thoughts, and I tried to pull back, but he wouldn’t let me. “What doyouwant?”
“What?”
“Donny, you always do what I want. You’re doing what your brothers want. What do you want?”
You, I thought, but didn’t, couldn’t, say.
“Be selfish,” he said when I didn’t respond. “Be completely selfish. I have been, many times with you, so don’t filter what you want. Just tell me.” Vince lifted my hand to his face, and I knew what he wanted. He wanted to feel my honesty, and I was terrified. I didn’t want to scare him away.
“Trust me,” Vince whispered, kissing my palm. “Just trust me, Sweetheart.”
I made the connection, shaking. “I want to go. I want to bathe in the hot springs with you.” The image of me kissing his pale back as the water lapped around his firm butt rose from the depths.
“What else?”
I swallowed, fear building.
Vince kissed me. “Trust me. Please.”
“You,” I forced out. “I want you.”
He blinked. “You have me.”
“I don’t want you to go back to Earth. I want you to stay with me. Forever.” I forced down the words about him already being my mate because I didn’t want to scare him.
His thoughts were frozen for several moments before he thought over my words. Vince released a long breath before sliding onto my chest and kissing me. “Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for being selfish with me. I need to hear what you want, Don, and I think you need to say it even more.”
“And?”
“I can’t decide this now,” Vince replied. “I’ve been wavering because I care about you, more than I ever thought possible. I want to stay with you and Seth and Teddy and everyone else, but this is a choice I have to make for me.”
My eyes dropped, and I pulled my hand away, though not quick enough. Vince kissed my neck, rubbing his cheek on the side near my scent glands, but it didn’t soothe me as usual.
“I shouldn’t have said anything. My apologies,” I said.
He grabbed my cheeks, his grip a tad harder than he usually used on me. Vince growled, and my cock twitched. He said, “Don’t. I want to know, and you’re allowed to feel and want what you do. I’m just not going to lie to you. I can’t say yes right now, but that doesn’t mean I’m mad or want you to keep it to yourself.
“I care about you, and I want you to talk to me. Please don’t stop or pull away. I need to know this isn’t all about me or what I want.” Vince turned my face so he could kiss my cheek. “You are very important to me, and you are the main reason I want to stay. But I’m still scared and I hate remembering what happened. I need to think about it.”
I could feel his sincerity like sunlight warming my scales. Vince wasn’t upset. If anything, he was happy, flattered even, that I wanted him. Though shock underlay everything. It was like he couldn’t believe how much I craved him, which was ridiculous. He was perfect for me.
Trailing my fingers over his back, I said, “Thank you.”
“No, thank you.”
Unable to help myself, I said, “I’m yours, Vince.”
He paused. “What do you mean by that?”
