Evans, Gabrielle - From This Moment [The Moonlight Breed 7] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic Ma by Gabrielle Evans (best desktop ebook reader txt) 📕

His cheeks heated even as his cock twitched at all the incredibly naughty ways they’d come together in the dark. Unfortunately, that thought led him to the present, and the present wasn’t quite as welcoming. Sure, Cian was still sleeping beside him, but how would he feel when he woke up?

Everything had happened so quickly after the brief meeting in the kitchen. Had Cian been reacting on pure instinct? Had he meant the things he’d said under the influence of their connection? Most importantly, would he feel the same way in the light of day?

The sun shone brightly through the window, illuminating the room with his golden rays and warming Zavion’s face. Secrets lived and bred in darkness but somehow always found their way to the light. When Cian awoke, what exactly would Zavion find in his eyes?  Surprise, he could possibly handle. Regret, however, would crush him.

From This Moment                       33

“Do ya always think so loudly in the mornin’?” Cian mumbled as  he constricted his arms, pulling Zavion closer to his chest as he  nuzzled the side of his neck.

“Just hoping you’re happy to see me,” he answered, trying to  make light of his concerns.

“I can’t see anything with the bloomin’ sun in my eyes, but I’m  happy to hold ya.” He squeezed Zavion around the midsection and  kissed his shoulder. “You’ll not escape me so easily.”

Relief flooded him, and  Zavion laughed as the nervousness began  to ebb. “Don’t worry, handsome. As you can see, I’m in no hurry to  move.” His stomach grumbled loudly at the smell of bacon in the air.  After the strenuous workout Cian had given him, he was starving, but  it still wasn’t enough to get him out of bed just yet.

He’d never been held like this. Sure, his friends and brother had

hugged him, maybe even put an arm around his shoulders when he  was scared or upset, but no one had just held him. Maybe his mother  had sometime during his infancy, but he couldn’t remember it, so it

didn’t count.

In fact, he had no recollections of his parents. In his mind, they were wonderful people who’d been horribly wronged. They were loving and kind with sweet smiles and had loved him and Zuriel with all their hearts. When he thought about his beginnings, Zavion imagined that he and his brother had been kidnapped right from their beds, and their parents had been searching for them ever since.

It was probably a million miles from the truth, but it gave him a small bit of comfort to think that his parents hadn’t willingly placed him in the hands of The Hive. Really, what kind of people would do that  to  their own offspring?

A knock sounded at the door, interrupting his thoughts, and  Zavion sat up in bed with a groan. “What?”

“If either of you are alive,” Zuriel called, the smile evident in his voice, “breakfast is almost ready.” His giggle of amusement faded away as he retreated back down the hallway.

34                        Gabrielle Evans

Zavion chuckled as well, remembering that he’d had the same thought about Oscar and Demitrius the night before. “I guess we have been summoned.”

“Your friends are just pervy. They’re wantin’ all the dirty details.”

Cian tossed a wink in his direction as he rolled off the mattress and

reached for his jeans. “What will ya tell ’em?”

“Nothing,” Zavion answered as he padded over to his closet. “I’m

not the kiss-and-tell sort.”

“I’d wager we did a bit more than kissin’.”

Yeah, he’d “wager” the same, but that didn’t mean that his nosey  friends needed the full  scoop.

Dressed and presentable, they exited the room and made their way  to the sound of all the commotion. Pots and pans clanged together,  bacon and eggs sizzled, and conversation rang throughout the kitchen.  Everyone stopped talking at once when they noticed him, however,  and all eyes turned in his direction with an expectant glimmer.

“Good morning,” Oscar said brightly. “How was your night?”

The innuendo wasn’t lost on Zavion, but he just grinned as he slid  into one of the chairs at the table. “Pleasant.” He wiggled his  eyebrows at his friend. “And yours? I’m surprised you can even walk  this morning.”

“Bit of the pot calling the kettle black,” Demitrius said with a

snort as he began transferring the food to plates. “I thought I was

going to have to call an ambulance at one point.”

“Or a vet,” Zuriel added. “It sounded like someone was

slaughtering a turkey.”

“Hardy har. You guys are just a barrel of laughs.”

Cian just chuckled as he passed by, pausing to kiss Zavion on the  top of his head and ruffle his hair before sauntering over to the  counter for a cup of coffee. “What’s on the agenda for the day?” he  asked, but not as though he really cared.

From This Moment                       35

“We’re meeting with Blaise and Cole again at noon, and then  Stavion wants a powwow after sundown.”  Demitrius sighed in what  Zavion assumed was frustration.

He could  definitively sympathize with the big guy. It had been

just  over  a week ago that three Drones from The Hive had infiltrated  Haven and tried to kidnap Oscar. In that time, he and his friends had  been put through a slew of different tests by a variety of doctors to see  if there was a way to remove the microchips from the back of their  necks.

Zavion didn’t really see what the big damn deal was.  Yes, the microchips were actually a  kind of tracking device, but  The Hive already knew where they were. Everyone had decided—without asking his opinion, he might add—that it would be better to stay put than try to run. The Enforcers didn’t want any of the coven members

to get hurt, but  they  still felt it would be best if they met this threat on

their own  terms.

There was no doubt in his mind that more Drones would come for

them when the other three failed to return. It was rather surprising that  no one else from The Hive had shown up yet. Still, Zavion didn’t  know if staying put and just hoping for the best was the  smartest  way