Read Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9 for Free Online

leaving his team to finish the job, but he just couldn't bring himself to care.
    He was taking Sin home.
    At first Sin was elated, but his exhilaration and longing soon gave way to exhaustion. The last few months had been horrendous and taken a heavy mental and physical toll. His body and his mind had endured unspeakable acts, and now it was over, Sin needed to rest, to decompress.
    From the pilot's seat, Rhys watched as Sin started to wane. He turned to him and said, "You're safe now. You're going home. Why don't you get some sleep?"
    So Sin simply climbed into Rhys' lap, laid his head on his shoulder and closed his eyes. Not exactly what Rhys had in mind, but it was lovely nonetheless.
    Rhys marveled at the creature he held. So placid, so gentle, yet so very lethal.
    Leaning over the controls, Rhys logged in the coordinates for Auhin, Sin's home planet, and set the craft on auto-pilot, picked Sin up and took him to bed.
    The craft was fast and comfortable, but it was small, only big enough for two. The sleeping quarters only had two single cots, not that Rhys minded. He considered putting Sin in one bed while he napped in the other, but instead lay down with Sin on the one bed, pulled him against him, wrapped his arms tight around him, and slept.
    ****
    Rhys woke up knowing he was being watched, and when he opened his eyes, Sin's face was barely an inch from his. Rhys blinked, and Sin smiled.
    Rhys bought his hand up to touch Sin's face. "Are you okay? Did you sleep okay? You know you're safe now?"
    Sin nodded. "You saved me."
    Rhys looked deep into Sin's eyes, and told him, "And you saved me." Sin smiled, and Rhys frowned. "I'm sorry I didn't get you out sooner. It killed me to watch what he did to you."
    Sin smiled at Rhys. "Please don't apologize. If it weren't for you, I'd still be there."
    "I can't believe you're here with me," Rhys said. "Like this. After watching you, wanting to touch you, hold you, save you for so long. Von was a cruel, cruel man."
    Rhys remembered how Von had touched him, what he was just about to do to Sin, how he intended to make him his. So he cupped Sin's face, and told him seriously, "I wouldn't have let him… violate you like that."
    Sin nodded. "I knew you'd stop him." Sin slid his hand over Rhys' and gave it a squeeze. "You're a lion shifter?"
    Rhys swallowed thickly and nodded. And then he told him everything. He told him how as an agent with TradeCap, he'd been all over the universes, seen places he only dreamed of, but, he'd also seen the worst of the worst when it came to illegal traders and traffickers. Rhys told Sin how he'd been so busy working, he'd never sought a lover. He'd heard other shifters talk of mates and destined partners, but never dreamed he'd find his one .
    The one.
    "But I did," Rhys whispered, with his hand still on Sin's face. "I found you. From the minute I saw you, I knew I had to save you. But when I touched you, that first time, and looked into your eyes…"
    Sin nodded. "I know."
    "You felt it too?"
    "Of course," Sin said with a shy smile. "I don't remember much… of the beginning…" Sin's voice trailed off, as his mind drifted back to when he was first captured. He shook his head, as if to clear the visions from his mind. "But I remember you. I remember your scent. Thinking it was… familiar."
    "Familiar?"
    Sin smiled. "I think my body knew. I think somewhere in my mind knew."
    "Knew what?"
    "Knew I could trust you. Knew you would help me, save me," Sin answered. Then he added softly, "I think my body knew you were my mate before I did."
    Rhys grinned and laughed happily at this acknowledgment, and Sin smiled beautifully, shyly. Sin took Rhys' hand and softly kissed the soft skin in the palm. "I've never known attraction or love," he said. "I spent years looking in my city, on my planet. My brothers all found their mates, and friends…" Sin looked at Rhys and smiled. "But not me."
    "Until now," Rhys amended with a smile.
    Sin nodded. "Until now."
    Rhys