arm made Zana shiver with desire. Navid was stroking himself, his shame forgotten. He’d let go.
The last of his worry wiped out, Zana gave himself up to the moment. Humming with contentment, he suckled gently, then more intense, then tenderly again. He alternated sides, teasing more early milk out of Navid’s chest until Navid sighed with a peaceful completion. He rested with his eyes closed. Zana licked and kissed the reddened nipples and rubbed his lips over them. After a few minutes, Navid fell asleep. He mumbled something from his slumber that Zana didn’t understand, but he didn’t worry either, since Navid was smiling. “Seven…of hearts,” he said more distinctly. Probably only some random dream.
After folding the blanket over Navid’s naked form, Zana lay with his head tucked to Navid’s side, breathing in his scent and stroking his stomach. Every once in a while, a subtle movement underneath the stretched skin grazed his palm. He grinned with giddiness every time it happened.
Zana drifted in and out of sleep, guarding his beloved husband. A profound sense of satisfaction permeated his mind. Navid’s vulnerable state made Zana’s heart overflow with love, the emotion powerful and all-consuming. If he’d thought he’d loved Navid before, it was nothing compared to how he felt now. Just a look at Navid’s peaceful expression made his stomach warmer and chest lighter. His life had a distinct purpose, and he relished in it. He’d mold the entire world with his bare hands to keep Navid smiling in his sleep.
Navid slept deeply for more than ten hours. And almost exactly at noon, Caleb was born.
Bonus Chapter
23 years later
Navid has raised his only son the best he could, trying to protect him from the dangerous influences in Dalton City. He’s looking for a suitable son-in-law before Caleb’s second heat—he wants Caleb to be happy with a considerate man who’d love him just like Zana has always loved Navid.
Navid’s world shatters when Caleb elopes, defying his parents’ wishes for his future. Anxious for his son’s safety and fearing Zana’s anger, Navid sends the family’s security detail to find Caleb and bring him home.
In the erotic romance Devoted, these events are described from Caleb’s perspective. The bonus chapter below explains what happened between Zana and Navid after Caleb’s elopement.
Zana
“You’ve broken your vow.”
Navid’s legs gave out underneath him, and he crumbled to the carpet. With his head down, he shook all over. He didn’t say a word.
For a few heartbeats, a sense of righteous satisfaction brought Zana relief from his anger. Navid’s reaction felt appropriate. He should be sorry. He should suffer and atone. Zana would never have believed that Navid could betray him, and yet that was exactly what he’d done. The thankless audacity. The recklessness.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out? That you could make a fool out of me so easily? You sent our men to hunt down our own son. Behind my back. What did you think you could achieve? You only chased Caleb into hiding.”
A strangled sob escaped Navid.
“Worst of all, you betrayed my trust, Navid. I gave you independence, and in return, you deceived me.”
Zana stared at the small trembling body kneeling on the floor in front of him, and it hurt. The sight hurt so much the pain wiped out his anger in a flash. A distinct feeling of wrongness darkened his thoughts.
His beloved husband cowered in fear in front of him, and his conscience screamed at him that it was wrong.
Navid rocked back and forth, fists clutching at the short strands of the carpet. He wasn’t defending himself or apologizing. He did nothing.
“You’ve lied to me,” Zana said quietly, and the words felt like poison coming out of his mouth. Navid sank lower, curling into himself. His forehead brushed the carpet. He looked so small.
My sweet darling…
But no. Zana steeled himself. Navid should suffer. He deserved to be punished.
“I’m going to meet our son and don’t know when I’ll be back. Wait here. Don’t try to contact me or Caleb.”
With that, Zana turned away and left.
It had taken five hours by car to the Whitehall chalet in Fool’s Mountain National Park, then four hours and forty-five minutes back. Zana’s bodyguard and driver took turns behind the wheel, so neither of them drove more than a couple of hours at a time. Maybe Zana should have taken Nathaniel Bernal up on his offer and stay until tomorrow morning. It would have been prudent, but he couldn’t stand the thought of leaving Navid alone overnight.
What had he