The manor was quiet, its ancient walls holding back centuries of secrets. But in the privacy of Liam's chamber, none of that mattered. The only sound that mattered was Alex's uneven breath, the only heat that mattered was Liam's body against his.
Alex pressed his forehead to Liam's chest, listening to the thunderous rhythm of his heartbeat — faster than usual, almost human. "You scare me," Alex whispered, his voice tight with both fear and love. "You keep throwing yourself into danger for me. What if one day you don't come back?"
Liam tilted his chin, forcing Alex to look at him. His green eyes burned with fierce devotion. "Then you'll know I died protecting the only thing in this world that ever mattered." His thumb brushed Alex's cheek, gentle, reverent. "But I'm not going anywhere tonight. Tonight, you're mine."
