Page 34 of Tides of Love

Sinking into Lucky was like coming home. He was so soft and warm as Antonio pressed inside, limbs pliant and muscles lax. Long arms wrapped around his shoulders, cradling him. He rested against Lucky, only propped up enough on his forearms not to crush the omega. They were both sticky with sweat now, skin clinging to each other. The space between their mouths grew hot with moans.

“You are everything, cariño.” He pressed their foreheads together.

Antonio took his time. Each languid roll of his hips dragged shuddering whines from Lucky’s lips. They had nowhere to be, nothing to worry about, no one to think of. It was just them and the stars.

They were like the tide, rolling across the shore with a steady, endless push. And when the end came, it was the crash of a wave. A last shock, limbs seizing, muscles clenching, and then the sweet release as Lucky spilled between them and Antonio’s knot caught deep within him.

He buried his face in Lucky’s shoulder, shuddering through the orgasm. But it was gentle. It was lazy in a way that made him think of pancakes and sundrenched beaches.

“You are love.” He whispered. Not simply in love. The essence of the emotion itself. He isn’t certain he ever felt it before, not really, not when he pulls back to look in Lucky’s eyes and sees it reflected in those ocean depths.

A moment of silence stretched, placid and sweet as Lucky swallowed. “I want this. No matter what else happens, this… this I want.” Fingers dug into his sides, holding him closer.

“I’m yours. Through this, forever… yeah.” He finished haphazardly, unworried by the weight of the words because if they weren’t forever, he wasn’t convinced there was such a thing. “Whatever comes next, I’m here.”

“Next…” Lucky smiled, lifting his head to press a kiss to Antonio’s sweaty shoulder. “Now that you’ve cleared the cobwebs from my head, I have an idea what comes next.”

“I’ll look forward to it.” Antonio pressed a kiss to Lucky’s nose as his fingers teased sensitive ribs. The laugh he coaxed out was a joyful end to the night. It was everything they needed. Tomorrow, they’d face in the sunlight. Until then, the night was theirs.

19

Lucky

Lucky woke up in Antonio’s bed feeling stiff but finally well rested. For the first time in days, his head felt clear of the constant fog. A plan brewed in his head. There was a list of things forming, but for now he was happy to luxuriate in his own happiness.

Pressing his hands to his cheeks, he let out a little squeal. Antonio loved him. Loved him.

He wriggled a bit and stretched, starfishing across the bed that Antonio was nowhere to be found in. That mystery was solved by the sound of a shower. He needed one too. He needed one even before he arrived, the bath only helped so much… And now, he was sticky in ways that made his cheeks burn.

Rolling his way out of bed, Lucky didn’t bother looking for clothes. He slipped into the steamy bathroom. Antonio stood under the spray in the fancy disconnected shower stall. His hands were braced on the wall, head fully under the spray.

Antonio jumped when he tapped on the glass, “Mind if I join you?”

Stepping out of the spray and running a hand over his face, Lucky was certain he caught a soft “Dios mío,” before Antonio slid the shower door open, “As if I would ever say no, but next time don’t scare me half to death, yes?”

“The big, intimidating captain of SAR is startled by a tap on the glass?” Lucky teased, stepping into the warm shower. He laughed as Antonio wrapped him up in a hug, arms curling around his middle. The alpha buried his face in his shoulder, growling playfully.

“Sneaking up on someone in the shower is just terrifying.” Antonio squeezed him tight.

“I’ll keep that in mind for when I really want to give you a fright.” He was pushed under the spray, the warm water chasing away the chill. Antonio reached over his head to adjust the showerhead, pulling it over both of them on the extender until it felt like standing in a downpour.

They didn’t need words. Antonio grabbed a cloth and some body wash, taking his time rubbing him down while Lucky focused on washing his own hair. Lucky thought he might be awkward after the confessions the night before. But, in Antonio’s hands, he felt safe and adored. There was nothing to worry about.

After the shower, they dressed quietly. Lucky wore one of Antonio’s shirts and no underwear just to torture the alpha. Antonio wore a pair of sleep pants and nothing else.

Breakfast was fruit and yogurt and some frozen waffles Antonio put in the toaster. Somewhere between bickering about the best waffle topping and sitting down at the kitchen table like he belonged there, Lucky settled on a plan.

“I’m going to start a petition.” Lucky announced around a mouthful of breakfast.

Antonio swallowed first, taking a sip of hot coffee. “A signature campaign could be quite effective. Do you know how much time remains before the official sale?”

“No, but there is a town hall coming up.” Lucky furrowed his brow, “Two weeks, maybe a little less, it’ll be tight, but I can get it done. I’ve got friends to call.”

“Let me know what I can do to help.” Antonio reached across the table, catching Lucky’s hand. Lucky flipped his hand over, so they were palm to palm.

“Well…” Lucky looked around, “What would you say if I asked to borrow your living room?”

Antonio smiled, taking another long sip of coffee. “I’d say, what’s mine is yours, mi amor.”