Adrian had to travel to Europe for a Congress meeting—three days away from Kieran for the first time in months.
By the third day, he was climbing the walls with need. The blood bond ached with separation, demanding they reconnect.
"I'm coming home early," Adrian told Kieran over the phone.
"Problems?"
"Yes. The problem is you're in Shanghai and I'm in Paris and I need you so badly I can't function."
"Get on a plane. Now."
Adrian did. The flight took twelve hours—twelve hours of increasingly desperate need. By the time he walked into their penthouse, he was practically vibrating.
Kieran was waiting. One look at each other and they collided like forces of nature.
Clothes were destroyed in their haste. They didn't make it past the entryway before Kieran had Adrian against the wall, entering him with minimal preparation.
"Missed you," Kieran growled. "Three days too long."
"Way too long," Adrian agreed breathlessly. "Never again."
They moved together frantically, desperate for connection after days apart. When they came, it was explosive, both of them shouting each other's names.
But it wasn't enough. The bond needed more.
They made love four more times that night—in the entryway, on the couch, in the shower, finally in bed. Each time was intense, desperate, reconnecting.
By morning, they were exhausted but satisfied, the bond finally settled.
"No more separations," Adrian declared.
"Agreed. Where you go, I go."
"Even to boring Congress meetings?"
"Especially to those. Can't have you gone for days again. Nearly drove me insane."
From that point forward, they traveled together always. The bond couldn't handle separation—not yet, anyway. Maybe centuries from now they'd be able to spend time apart without the desperate need to reconnect. But for now, they were inseparable.
And neither of them minded.