They fell onto the bed together, and Billy couldn’t get close enough. He wanted to crawl inside Cord’s skin, wanted to fuse them together so nothing could ever separate them again.
“Slow down, baby,” Cord murmured, though his own hands were just as desperate. “We’ve got all night. Got forever.”
“Don’t want slow.” Billy arched against him. “Want you to claim me again. Want everyone to know - want that asshole who sent me the pictures to know…”
Cord’s eyes flashed, and a possessive growl rumbled from his chest. “He’ll never touch you. Never come near you. I promise you that.”
“I know.” Billy traced his fingers over Cord’s jaw. “My big, bad alpha, protecting me even from miles away.”
“Always.” Cord caught his hand, pressing kisses to each fingertip. “Even when some dickhead is blocking our calls. Even when they’re testing me with bullshit scenarios. Nothing matters more than you.”
The tears came then, hot and sudden. Billy tried to turn his face away, embarrassed, but Cord wouldn’t let him.
“Hey, none of that. You’re allowed to cry.”
“It’s just…” Billy’s voice cracked. “You know my parents threw me away, and for five years I thought that was all I deserved. Thought I’d always be alone. And now you’re here, and you came back, and you…”
“I’ll always come home to you,” Cord finished for him. “You’re stuck with me now, Billy. My gorgeous, brilliant, brave omega.”
“Yours,” Billy agreed, and felt the truth of it sing through his bones.
When Cord finally pressed inside him, Billy saw stars. Not from the physical pleasure - though that was incredible - but from the emotional weight of it. This was his mate. His alpha. His choice, and Cord’s choice, and no manipulative ex or shady organization could change that.
“Love you,” Billy gasped, needing to say the words, needing Cord to know. “Love you, love you…”
“Love you, too.” Cord’s voice broke on the words. “My Billy. My mate. Mine.”
They moved together in perfect sync, bodies remembering each other from Billy’s heat but minds fully present now. Every touch was a promise, every kiss a vow. When Cord’s teeth found the claim mark on Billy’s neck, Billy sobbed with the rightness of it.
“Please,” he begged, not even sure what he was asking for.
But Cord knew. His alpha’s bite renewed their bond, sending pleasure, love, and belonging flooding through Billy’s system. This time when Billy came apart, Cord was right there with him, holding him through it, whispering praise and promises against his skin.
Afterwards, they lay tangled together, neither willing to put even an inch of space between them. The chocolate packet sat forgotten on the nightstand, and Billy couldn’t stop running his fingers through Cord’s hair.
“Thank you for leaving the light on,” Cord murmured against his shoulder.
“Always will,” Billy promised. “However long you’re gone, the light stays on until you’re home.”
“Home,” Cord repeated, like he was tasting the word. “Fuck, that sounds good.”
“Welcome home,” Billy whispered, and felt Cord’s smile against his skin.
Chapter Nineteen
The next morning, Cord stirred awake, his arms still wrapped protectively around Billy’s slender form. He breathed in the sweet scent of his mate, savoring the moment before the reality of what he needed to do settled in his chest like a heavy weight.
He’d wrestled with it on the long trip home. As much as he’d wanted to believe Rapid wasn’t a part of his life anymore, his first mission after his mating had proved him wrong. What Rapid had done…Not in this bed.Thoughts like that had no place in the private space he shared with his mate.
Cord gently extricated himself from Billy, careful not to wake him. He padded to the kitchen, his bare feet silent on the cool floor. As he prepared coffee for himself and a hot chocolate for Billy, his mind raced with how to broach the subject of Rapid. The calculating beta had caused so much trouble when they were in a relationship - it had taken harsh talking from Bullet and other members of his team for Cord to realize what Rapid was doing. Cord knew he owed Billy a full explanation.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Cord heard soft footsteps and turned to see Billy shuffling into the kitchen, hair sticking up all over the place and glasses still wonky on his nose.
“Morning,” Billy mumbled, reaching for a mug.
Cord handed him a steaming cup, then leaned against the counter. “Billy, we need to talk about something.”
Billy’s brown eyes widened slightly behind his glasses. “Okay,” he said cautiously as he went and sat at his tiny table. “Most people at least say good morning first.”
