Twin Flames by Lexi Ander Read Free Book Online Page A

I was getting hard looking at my friend.
    I had to be careful because I couldn't afford to love Ushna more than I did. He'd soon leave me. I'd make sure of it because I wanted him happy. I was grateful to Ushna. I knew I loved him. I loved him for coming with me. I loved him for staying with me. I loved him for taking care of me. There were so many reasons why I loved him, but I was only his friend. I wasn't destined for him.
    So, with my calloused hands, I finished cleaning his legs. I tentatively washed his groin before I stood up to push him back under the water so I could attend his blueblack hair.
    I stepped into the spray, gently pushing him to the side so I could quickly clean myself. The pounding of the hot liquid on the back of my head was wonderful. I closed my eyes for a moment, to let the water erase my anxiety and tension.
    Ushna's fingertips brushed my bruised and blackened ribs. I knew in a few days the bruising would be gone, but at that moment it looked awful and felt worse.
"You're hurt." Ushna's voice was low and gravelly.
    I shivered at the tone. His hand traveled up my torso, past my pecs, and around the back of my neck. Gently, he squeezed. Goddess, it felt so good.
    I looked at him, looked into his beautiful green eyes that normally were so unreadable. I saw the worry in them and I gave him my best crooked smile. "I'm fine, you should see the other guy."
    Ushna didn't laugh or smile but continued to look at me with… I couldn't describe it. I'd never seen that look on him. I'd been lost in myself for so long, I wasn't sure about a lot of things, especially after what had happened in the alley.
    I would've chalked the experience up to stress, but I could still feel the coil of contained power that I couldn't explain away. I didn't have time to figure out what it was. Ushna needed me. He was my priority right now. If I was having a breakdown, it must wait until later.
    "Come on, let's go to bed." I said as I pushed him out of the shower. The look Ushna gave me was causing things down below to wake up. I really didn't want to be sporting anything I'd have to explain.
    After making sure Ushna was alert enough to take care of himself, I quickly dried off and put on a clean pair of boxers. The motel room was old and slightly rundown with a faint musty odor. The mattresses were lumpy but the sheets were clean enough. I lay down on the double bed I'd claimed as mine when we'd checked in two days ago. Ushna walked over and looked from his bed to mine with such yearning in his eyes that without thought I scooted over and raised the covers in silent invitation. Ushna didn't hesitate to crawl into bed with me and turned off the lamp.
    Full beds really weren't designed for two grown men of our size to share. I gave up trying to find my own space and leaned into Ushna's back, throwing my arm around his waist. The touch of his back to my chest felt incredibly good. It was as if I'd been breathing shallow for so long and then taken a deep invigorating breath that filled my lungs to capacity.
    Touch starved.
Lycans had always been creatures of touch. Not just the usual brushes or pats, but full body casual touching humans would view as sexual. That was why Lycans lived close together in tribes.
    When we'd left Georgia after the Breaking, we had transferred to another tribe but within days of our arrival, Ushna petitioned the Council for permission to leave. The short while we were there, the other members felt my pain and tried to console me. The physical agony of their touch had been unbearable. I locked myself in my room, allowing only Ushna to come in. I knew they didn't mean to hurt me but that knowledge didn't keep me from flinching from their helping hands.
    For the last several years, we hadn't lived in a tribe. This gave us control over when and if I was touched. But just because I was surviving without touch didn't mean Ushna was. I was afraid the emergence of the Lupe was my fault. Ushna had suffered from the