The room was quiet now. Not peaceful no, there was nothing peaceful about the mess they'd made but quiet in the way a storm leaves silence in its wake. The sheets were twisted, the air was thick with the scent of sex and blood, and Kai's body was still trembling with the ghost of what Adrian had done to him.
Adrian lay behind him, one arm draped over Kai's waist, his breath hot against the bite mark that bled faintly on Kai's shoulder.
"Fuck," Kai whispered, voice hoarse and raw.
Adrian chuckled softly. "Mm. You're welcome."
Kai groaned and smacked him weakly on the chest. "You bit me, asshole."
"You begged for it, omega." Adrian's voice dropped, husky and smug. "Don't act like you didn't want to be marked."
Kai rolled onto his back, wincing slightly at the sore ache between his thighs. "Yeah well… I also wanted dinner before being absolutely annihilated. But here we are."
Adrian sat up slowly, leaning on one elbow as he looked down at Kai, gaze sweeping over the bruises, scratches, and the claim mark still faintly glowing on his skin.
His smirk faded.
"You're really mine now," he murmured.
Kai blinked up at him. "You regret it?"
Adrian shook his head. "No. But I didn't expect it to feel like this."
"Like what?"
"Like… you're under my skin. In my fucking blood."
Kai didn't speak for a moment. Then he reached up, fingers brushing over Adrian's cheek. "That's because you are," he said quietly. "We're bonded now. It's more than just a bite. I can feel you inside me… not just physically, you idiot."
Adrian huffed a laugh. "Could've fooled me."
Kai glared at him, but it didn't last. His face softened. "So what now? We go back to hating each other in the office? Pretend like this didn't happen?"
Adrian's hand slid down Kai's stomach, fingers tracing lazy, possessive circles. "Oh no, sweetheart. You think I'm letting anyone else look at you after what we just did?" He leaned closer, voice dropping to a growl. "Let them try. I'll rip their throats out."
Kai's eyes widened, pulse skipping part fear, part thrill.
"Adrian…"
"What?" Adrian pressed a kiss to Kai's throat. "Don't tell me you don't like it."
"I hate how much I do," Kai whispered.
Adrian's fangs grazed his skin, teasing. "You're not getting away from me now, Kai."
And Kai didn't want to.
But beneath the sweat and heat, under the bond that pulsed between them like a living thing… there was still the truth they hadn't faced.
They were enemies.
Their companies were merging.
Their world didn't want a vampire and a werewolf to exist together let alone be mated.
And somewhere, far from this room, those who'd tear them apart were already watching.
Kai shifted beneath the tangled sheets, trying not to wince as every move reminded him of how thoroughly Adrian had ruined him. His legs ached. His neck throbbed. His soul? Well, that was a different ache altogether.
He turned his head, watching Adrian with sleepy, hazy eyes. "I feel like you rearranged my spine."
Adrian grinned, baring the tips of his fangs. "That's because I did. You're welcome."
Kai snorted, but it melted into a soft sound when Adrian reached over and brushed his fingers through Kai's sweat-matted hair. His touch was gentle now nothing like the animal that had pinned him an hour ago.
"I meant what I said," Adrian murmured. "You're mine now. And I don't care what that means. Vampire, werewolf, office politics, ancient blood feuds fuck it all."
Kai blinked up at him, stunned by the seriousness in Adrian's voice. "That's... kind of a big declaration after one night of bending me like a pretzel."
Adrian's eyes darkened. "It wasn't just sex. You felt it too, didn't you? The way the bond locked into place." His fingers traced over the faint glow still lingering on Kai's shoulder. "This isn't casual. This is cosmic."
Kai swallowed hard. He had felt it like something had rooted deep in his chest the moment Adrian bit down. Something that whispered mine and didn't care what kind of blood ran in their veins.
"Shit," Kai whispered. "We're so screwed."
Adrian laughed low in his throat, dragging his thumb down Kai's jaw. "Oh, baby… not screwed. Claimed."
Kai shivered. "You're such a bastard."
"Mm. But you're smiling when you say it."
"Shut up and hold me, bloodsucker."
Adrian wrapped his arms around Kai, pulling him close until their bodies fit together like puzzle pieces carved by fate. For now, the war outside didn't exist. There was only the warmth of tangled limbs, the gentle rise and fall of breath, and the pulse of a bond stronger than any ancient law.
Tomorrow, the world would come for them.
Tonight, they just held on.