the tunnels so they could swim us to the surface. Hiro was practically vibrating for the entire swim, so I kept placing kisses to his back and rubbing his chest. I was so happy and relieved that I didn’t bother to open my eyes under water, I kept them closed and simply concentrated on Hiro as I held him tight.
Chapter Twenty-One
Basil
By the time we made it to shore, Rasha was having trouble keeping her eyes open. As soon as Rebe shifted and covered themself, Rasha gave them a huge hug and thanked them, and the two rested foreheads together. Then Hiro gave Rebe yet another hug and a million more thanks before resting his forehead to Rebe’s—and yeah, I totally got why he’d reacted that way earlier because I did not like seeing that—then Hiro scooped his daughter into his arms and walked a few steps away.
When I stood in front of Rebe, I said, “Thank you, Rebe. You have no idea how much this means to me. I could never repay you for this, but—”
“Seeing how happy Rasha and Hiro are is payment enough,” Rebe said, cutting me off.
“No, I—”
“No, Bas. You don’t owe me a thing. I’m glad I could help. Maybe the next time you’re in Faela we could have dinner. The three of you and my partner and me.”
“I’d like that.”
They smiled, then leaned down to rest their forehead to mine and whispered, “It’s nice seeing you happy, Bas. Stay safe, my friend.”
“Stay safe, Rebe. May the stars watch over you,” I whispered.
“And the moon over you.” They smiled before stepping back into the water.
I lifted my hand in a wave a moment before they jumped into the air and shimmered into their horse-like form before landing in the water and disappearing below. When I turned back, Hiro was watching me with a sleeping Rasha in his arms, so I asked, “Is she okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah. She’s tired from healing, I think.”
I nodded, picked up our discarded clothes, and stepped up to him, and we began the walk back to the house. We were quiet along the way, but Hiro knocked my arm with his elbow a few times, making me smile every time. Once we made it inside the house, we headed straight up to Rasha’s room where Hiro lay her in bed and covered her up after I used magic to get her jammies on so she wasn’t sleeping in her wet bathing suit.
As soon as she was set, Hiro grabbed my wrist and dragged me into our room, shutting the door behind us. Before I could ask if he was hungry or anything, his mouth was on mine and his arms were wrapping around me. I groaned into his kiss and draped my arms around his neck, going up on my toes to better reach him. Hiro’s hands ran down my back to my ass, and I felt his intention before he lifted me into his arms. Wrapping my legs around his waist, I moaned because I loved how easily he took control and manhandled me.
“Basil,” he breathed into my mouth before reclaiming it and groaning deeply.
When he pressed my back against the wall, I expected him to be aggressive and demanding, but instead, he slowed down and kissed me softly while one hand lightly trailed over my skin. His mouth was gentle but heartfelt, and it warmed my chest more and more the longer he kissed me like that. He kissed me so long and so soft and passionately that I was trembling with need and overwhelmed with emotions.
He started kissing his way down my jaw and neck and sucked a bruise onto my skin just under my collarbone. I loved that he liked marking me that way. Even though he was conscious of not putting the marks where others could easily see them, I still loved knowing they were there, that he’d marked me as his.
He leaned back to meet my eyes. “You are mine, Basil; and I’m yours.” He kissed me before I could respond, and I moaned into his mouth. He truly was claiming me in the way I’d wanted since I realized he was my viramore.
Wrapping me tighter in his arms, he pulled us away from the wall and carried me to the bed, laying me down before kissing his way down my chest. As his fingers hooked under my waistband, his mouth covered my nipple and his tongue flicked out, causing me to moan as he pulled