Free Haven 3: Forgotten Sins by Gabrielle Evans Page A

wasn’t his mate. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Opening his eyes, Nicholas lifted his head away from Jonas’s hand and arched an eyebrow. “What would you have done?” He would have gone after Phillip. He doubted he would have tried to reason with him, either. “I’d have beat that idiot until he lifted the spell.”
    “You would have tried. He’s stronger than you, Jonas. I couldn’t risk losing you.”
    The pounding in his temples grew worse as he tried to sort through this new development. “We could have been together without you claiming me.”
    Nicholas smiled sadly and shook his head. “It would have never been enough for you. Besides, I couldn’t let anyone know about us.
    Phillip suspected you were my mate, and he tried to kill you with a gold dagger. I was too careless with you. That never should have happened.”
    “That’s why you killed him,” Jonas whispered. Torren had said as much, but Jonas had refused to believe it. “He knew you wouldn’t claim me, so he had to find another way to make sure you suffered.”
    “I knew what he was doing to our coven. I should have put a stop to it long before I did, but he was my brother. I didn’t want to hurt him.”
    Jonas dropped his chin to his chest and groaned. “Why didn’t you tell me after he was dead?”
    “The spell isn’t broken with a witch’s death. It’s absolute until they remove it. By that point, I’d lied for so long. What good would have come from me telling you? I still couldn’t claim you.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t have bargained with that bitch Natalie and got your ass cursed again, for one.” He still had so many damn questions, but he could barely stand, and his head felt like someone was playing the bass drum inside his skull. “I get that you think you were protecting me, but you still should have told me.”
    “Get some rest, Jonas. You’re about to fall over.”
    “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
    “Then come to bed with me.” Nicholas took his hands and led him toward one of the cots. “You can still hate me when you wake up, but right now, I just want to hold you. Come to bed with me, baby.” It wasn’t fair that a simple, softly murmured endearment could have him forgetting why he was trying so hard to resist the man.
    “Okay, but will you still respect me in the morning?” Nicholas smiled crookedly and kissed him full on the lips. “It’s well past morning, and I’ve always respected you. I don’t know how to make up for the things I’ve done, but I promise I’ll find a way.” Jonas eased down on the cot and scooted back to the wall to make room for Nicholas. He sighed when he felt his mate’s warm body press up against his chest. “You’re an asshole, but I love you.” Soft lips whispered down the side of his neck. “I know, and I love you, too. Give me a chance to prove it.”
    “I’ll think about it,” Jonas answered around a yawn before resting his head on Nicholas’s shoulder and falling asleep.

Chapter Eight

    It was the perfect dream. While he’d had the same fantasy a million times over the years, this one seemed much more real. He could feel strong hands kneading the muscles of his chest, the warmth of breath against his neck, and plump lips that ghosted up and down the column of his throat.
    “Want you, Nicky.”
    Nicholas’s eyes popped open, and he scrambled back until he fell off the narrow cot and right onto the concrete floor. “It’s not a dream.”
    Leaning over the edge of their makeshift bed, Jonas smirked down at him. “Come back up here.”
    The one time he’d been weak and let his desires overrule common sense, it had spelled tragedy for his mate. For so long he’d resisted the temptation that Jonas presented. Years of deprivation and clawing hunger for the gorgeous man had led him down a path that would seal Jonas’s fate.
    Making love to Jonas had been simultaneously the best night of his life and the stupidest decision he’d ever made.
    As