Page 31 of Relentless Touch

Kevin let out a weak laugh. “Don’t forget the van. White, creepy, smelled like Axe body spray and onions. Real classy operation.”

They sipped their coffee in silence. The muscles in Kevin’s arms were finally unclenching.

Rio went to the fridge and rummaged one-handed through the shelves until he found a cold compress. He laid it into Kevin’s hand.

Kevin swallowed. The ice made his fingers ache, but it dulled the throbbing in his cheek.

He got tired of the silence and broke it first. “How did you find me so fast, anyway?”

Rio shrugged, looking just as exhausted as Kevin felt. “Tracked the van. Zeppelin’s pack handled the rest.”

A wave of something like relief washed over Kevin, calming the mayhem of his thoughts. “So that’s a real person? Zeppelin? He sounds like a Led Zeppelin cover band.”

Rio’s mouth curved upward in a tired smile. “He’s the local alpha. Runs things. Keeps the idiots in line.”

“Gotta love small-town organization.” Kevin pressed the ice to his face. “Izan has to be furious. He gets his loser friend to drag me off, who gets his ass handed to him in the forest, and then you guys just…bring me back like nothing happened tonight.”

Kenai whistled low. “That’s gonna piss the guy off. Guys like him hate getting shown up.”

Kevin picked at the label on his coffee cup. He wasn’t sure what to say. He’d been “shown up” before, usually by men with hands like Izan’s or worse. It felt nice to finally have sone show up for him.

Kenai watched him, curiosity clear in his eyes. “Was it as bad for you as me, in there? They separated us, and I was worried for you.”

Kevin shrugged, leaning into his mate when Rio slid an arm around him. “I’m fine.” He checked his wrists, inspecting for blood or burns. “You?”

“Fine.”

Rio pulled him closer. Kevin burrowed into his mate, never wanting to leave his side.”

Silence settled between them. The tension in Kevin’s entire body slowly unwound. His mind kept circling back to the last hour, the way fear threatened to suffocate him, how hope had ignited when Rio’s voice broke through the chaos. He’d never felt more like prey in his life. He’d also never felt more…wanted.

He didn’t know how to process that.

After a while, Kenai stood, wincing as he stretched. “If you two are gonna make moon eyes, I’m heading home. I’m taking the next few days off.”

He headed for the door. Kevin watched him leave then glanced at Rio.

His mate was watching him. “Ready to head home?”

Home. That word had never felt sweeter than it did tonight.

His hand on Kevin’s lower back, Rio steered him toward the door, the touch a solid anchor Kevin desperately needed.

The ride home was quiet. Kevin watched the town slide away behind them. Most windows were dark, but a few glowed with that soft yellow warmth he loved.

His mind wouldn’t stop replaying everything. The slam of the van’s door. The reek of wolf. That moment of real panic, when Kenai disappeared, rough hands locked on his arms. He’d felt powerless, a thing to be moved and bound and used.

The feeling made him want to vomit.

Home coming was a relief. Kevin hesitated on the threshold. Rio just guided him in, letting him sink into the warmth.

Rio made him sit at the island then set about making real food. Steak reheated, buttered toast, greens with enough vinegar to wake the dead. He moved calmly, never rushing, never looking away for long.

Kevin watched Rio’s hands. He found he couldn’t look away from his mate’s steady, capable hands.

When the food was placed on the island in front of him, Kevin’s stomach rumbled. “Smells amazing.”

Rio smiled. “Thanks.”