This version has been rewritten and extended to triple the original short-story length.

Xander sniffed the air and spun around with a low growl. The sweet, musky scent of his mate’s arousal flooded the room and surrounded him. Ro was staring in the direction of Xander’s crotch, but it didn’t look like he was actually seeing anything. His eyes were glassy and clouded. Ro was unconsciously rubbing at the erection tenting his pants. The sight alone almost made Xander come, and he groaned.

He leaned back on the counter and grabbed the edge to keep himself from going over to Ro, stripping him bare, throwing him to the floor, and claiming him. Ro was injured and couldn’t know what he was doing. He didn’t understand the draw he had to Xander, and with everything happening, that draw, magnetic as it was, was not enough to make Xander act. He had to fight against the attraction or it could destroy them both.

Xander stood there, his body tense and aching to go to Ro, until Ro finally met his eyes with a mischievous smile. “Wanna give me a hand?”

Yes. “No. You’re hurt. You need to rest and get better.” Xander didn’t sound very convincing, even to himself.

Ro scoffed. “I’m fine. C’mere. I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”

Ro’s words were slurred and Xander noticed the pills were missing from the table. They were strong. They wouldn’t hurt Ro, but he would feel mighty happy in a few minutes. Although, he seemed pretty happy now.

The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the kitchen and dining area, and giving Ro a halo effect. The expression he was sporting showed he was no angel, though. He licked his lips, his tongue lingering on the bottom one for far longer than it should, and Xander had to stifle a groan. Living in such close quarters and keeping his hands to himself was going to kill him.

Ro yawned, and Xander decided they both needed sleep. Well, he needed to get away from Ro for a little while, but that was neither here nor there. They’d had a hectic couple of days, and Ro was still healing.

Xander walked over to Ro and helped him up. “Come on, let’s get you in bed.”

“Thas what I’m talkin’ ’bout,” Ro slurred, stumbling into Xander and bouncing off.

Xander caught him before he fell and chuckled. “That’s not what I meant. You’re in no condition to do anything but sleep. You can’t even stand.”

Ro looked at him with an idiotic grin splitting his face. “Donnee to sand. Works wif me on my back… or front, too.”

He must have found that hilarious, because he burst into laughter, his body lurching so hard that both of them almost went down. Xander grinned and shook his head. Fates help him. Ro was going to be a handful, he could tell already