Page 137 of Enchanted

When he was done, I silently took the scrunch and did the same for him. He had to duck to make it work, but he did so without question. I paid special attention to his wings, checking that every drop of ash and blood was removed. “Your feathers…they healed themselves?”

He nodded. “They regenerate like the rest of me.”

“Was that why you blocked the blast from me? Because you knew the damage wouldn’t last?”

“No, Ethan. I did that because I love you. Even if I was human, I would’ve reacted in the exact same way. I’d sacrifice myself to save you from pain. Every. Single. Time.”

“You are utterly perfect.” I reached up to cup his face. “I can’t wait to spend my days trying to make you happy.”

“We’ll make each other happy,” he said, his fingers lightly trailing down my spine. “Why don’t we start right now?”

I grinned at him. “A shower isn’t a bed. Mind you, I might reconsider that rule if we’ve truly got eternity together.”

“We have.” He hesitated for a beat. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Yes.” I didn’t need to think about it. “I know it’s fast, but it feels right. Being with you feels right. But it was always meant to, wasn’t it? We were fated to be together.”

“I don’t want that to be the only reason you’re with me, Eth.” He sighed, stroking my arms. “Selfishly, I want you to choose me.”

“Hey.” I nudged his chin until he lifted it. The quiet sadness in his eyes had my heart aching. “I did choose you, Rami. I chose you the day I got into your car and told you to take me away. I haven’t stopped choosing you since then. All the bond has done is cement that.”

The relief was clear in his eyes. “Good. For what it’s worth, I would’ve chosen you even if you weren’t fated to be mine.”

I felt the truth of it in the bond. “I love you, Rami.”

“I love you too,” he said, kissing me lightly. “Forever.”

We stood like that awhile, the hot water rinsing away everything we’d been through. Gradually, our kisses increased in intensity, hands beginning to roam and grope. Before long, Rami lifted me without breaking our kiss, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist. With my back against the tiles, I was completely at his mercy.

I’d never felt safer.

I broke away from his lips breathlessly. “Please tell me you have lube in here. I already know you don’t have conditioner.”

“Cheeky. Guess I’ll have to start buying conditioner for when you stay here.”

I paused, suddenly uncertain. “Are you not expecting me to move in right away?”

“Nope.” He reached for the lube. “Not until you’re ready. You’ve had so much upheaval recently, and I know you’re enjoying living with Quill and the others. We’re mates, but we can still go at whatever pace you like. I’ll be here, ready whenever you are.”

I wound my arms around his neck. “You truly are the sweetest, Rami.”

“What I’m about to do to you isn’t sweet,” he murmured as slick fingers circled my hole. “Far from it. I’m going to have you screaming my name before this is through.”

“The speed at which you can slip from sweet to dirty should be studied.”

He pressed a finger into me, making me gasp.

“It’s you, Ethan. You bring it out of me.”

I tried to reply, but all I managed was a moan as he found my prostate. If you’d told me a few months ago that a literal angel would be holding my entire body weight with one hand and fingering me open with the other, there’s no way I would’ve believed it.

Just being alive would’ve been a stretch.

I was so fucking grateful fate had other plans for me.

Rami’s teeth scraped against my collarbone as he added another finger. “God, I want to mark you up all over. Make sure everyone knows you’re mine.”

I managed to pant back a response as my back arched. “I’m all here for it.”