Chapter 7

Answering the knock on their bedroom door, Alex flung the door open, grinning at Smokey. “Do you know I have a hoard?”

“Nope…good to see you, Delicious Surprise.”

“Buttercup, I told you to wait for me,” Glenn growled, coming up behind his mate. Then seeing who was at their door, he grumbled, “Oh, it’s you.”

Shoving his elbow into Glenn’s gut, Alex scolded, “Is that any way to greet Smokey?”

“Yeah,” Smokey said, smirking. “How about a little respect?”

“Fuck off, asshole.”

Covering his swollen belly with his hands, Alex exclaimed, “Snow White! You know he can hear you!”

Rolling his eyes, Glenn muttered under his breath, then said, “Sorry.”

Rising up to his toes, Alex kissed Glenn’s cheek, then said, “That’s okay…luckily, my dragon covered our little one’s ears so he couldn’t hear you.”

“Is that Mac?” Sawyer asked, walking out of the bathroom.

“No, it’s Smokey,” Alex replied. Then turning to the bear, he asked, “Would you like to see the mating gift my brother gave us?”

“I don’t think…” Glenn started.

“I’d love to.” Brushing past a frowning Glenn, Smokey followed Alex into a sitting room, then stopped short when his eyes landed on…“Are they, uh…having sex? ”

“Yup,” Glenn muttered behind him.

“No, they’re not,” Alex said.

“Ah…I think they are,” Smokey replied, his eyes tracing the bulging muscles of each man.

“They’re making love,” Alex clarified. “It’s Apollo and his two lovers.”

“It’s…it’s so real,” Smokey murmured, slowly drawn forward until he was mere inches away. Unable to stop himself, he ran his hand over the ass of the man plunging his dick into another. Holy shit! He could feel the man’s muscles flex with each thrust of his cock, and swore he could hear his grunts and moans. Pulling his hand back, he circled the statue until he was standing next to the third man whose cock was jutting into the air. Unable to resist, he wrapped his long fingers around the gold penis and squeezed. Within a moment, he felt it pulse as cum shot out and covered his fist. Mesmerized, he slowly let go, brought his hand up to his mouth and licked his finger, but it was dry.

“Smokey? What the fuck are you doing?” Glenn asked, pulling his friend’s hand away from his mouth.

“Snow White!” admonished Alex, at Glenn’s language.

“See what you made me do, asshole!” Glenn scowled at Smokey.

Whacking the back of his mate’s head, Sawyer growled, “Stop upsetting Alex.” Then glancing over at Smokey, he asked, “Did you ever see anything like that?”

Staring down at the hand he had used to… What? Jerk off a fucking statue? Smokey blinked as the room came back into focus. Shifting his gaze to Alex, he asked, “Are you sure there aren’t real men inside? ”

Giggling, Alex shook his head. “It came from my brother’s hoard, so who knows?”

“Holy shit,” Glenn muttered quietly, so Alex couldn’t hear. Then he asked Smokey, “Why are you here?”

“Dylon sent me to get you.”

“Oh boy, a secret mission!” Alex exclaimed. “Just give me a minute…”

After Alex left the room, Smokey said, “Dylon didn’t say he wanted to see him.”

“I know…” Glenn looked at Sawyer. “Would you…”

Shaking his head, Sawyer said, “No fucking way. If you want to break your promise to our mate, be a man and do it yourself.”

“What the hell is he talkin’ about?” Smokey asked his friend.

Before Glenn could answer, Sawyer said, “He promised Alex he could go on the next mission.”

“But he’s pregnant!”

“That’s exactly what I said! But did he listen to me?” Sawyer snapped.

“I didn’t promise that and you know it,” Glenn growled.

“Yeah, but you led Alex to believe it and did nothing to clarify what you meant.”

Sighing, Glenn had to admit Sawyer was right, but maybe there’d still be a way out of the corner he was backed into. “What does Dylon want?”

“To figure out a plan to catch the humans,” Smokey said .

“Good…Alex can come with us,” Glenn said, pleased with his solution.

“You’re fucking crazy if you think I’m gonna let our pregnant mate go after the humans.”

“Not go after…just help with the planning,” Glenn replied. “And besides, wasn’t it you who insisted I stop keeping secrets from my mates, especially if it has to do with the men who are after Alex.”

“Fucking asshole,” Sawyer muttered, knowing Glenn was right.

Smokey looked at them. “I think you’re both crazy if you think Alex is gonna be satisfied with that.”

“I’m not,” Alex announced, joining them. “But good try, anyway. A promise is a promise and you promised me I could go on the next secret mission. C’mon Smokey…let’s go…Dylon is waiting.”

“Buttercup, that’s not what…”

Jabbing his mate in the ribs, Sawyer muttered, “Shut up…you’re just digging a deeper hole for us to climb out of.”

Chuckling, Smokey walked past Glenn and whispered, “I can’t wait to hear how you explain this to Dylon.”

~/~/~/~/~

Reaching into the shower, Tristan turned on the water and then reluctantly looked around. It’d been a long time since he’d been totally naked with another man; fast hookups in gay bars didn’t lend themselves to it. But this was different. Heath was his mate and, from the quick research he’d done previously at the High Council website, he was now bound to him forever. And he also knew Heath was waiting for a bite from him—which also contributed to his sudden onset of uneasiness.

Entering the bathroom, Heath said, “I put my bag in the closet, okay?”

Staring at his mate, Tristan murmured, “You’re naked.”

Looking down at his body, Heath chuckled. “I prefer that to getting my clothes wet.”

“Yeah…but…but…” Tristan’s eyes trailed down his mate’s body, stopping at the thick, veiny cock jutting out at him. Licking his lips, he remembered its taste and wanted more.

“Tris? Are you planning on undressing, or is this how you wash your clothes?” Heath asked, grinning. He knew where his mate’s attention was and decided to tease him. Grabbing his cock, Heath jerked his hips forward, groaning as it slid through the tightness of his clenched fist. His eyes traveled over the mounds and dips of Tristan’s naked chest, lingering on his nipples before descending to his six-pack abs. He couldn’t wait to lick every part of that visual feast but first he wanted to see what was still hidden. “The pants…take them off now.”

His mate’s raspy voice stoked the embers smoldering within him, turning them into it a raging firestorm. Unzipping his dress pants, Tristan slowly slid them down, keeping his eyes on Heath’s hand pumping his cock. The image of him on his knees worshiping that cock had his own growing harder than ever before.

Heath held his breath as his mate revealed the rest of his stunning body. When his mate’s pants were finally pooled at his feet, Heath’s eyes resumed their examination of what the Fates had given him. Fucking hell! Tristan is gorgeous! That was an understatement if there ever was one, because standing before him had to be a god—he was sure of it. No one on earth could ever possess such a perfect body if they weren’t one.

Dropping his hand down to relieve the ache in his cock, Tristan grasped it and slowly began stroking, never taking his gaze off of his stunning mate. Just an inch or so shorter than he, Heath made up for it with a body built for dominance. Muscle upon muscle cascaded down his arms and legs; he couldn’t wait to see them flex when his mate fucked him again—but this time it would be skin against skin.

Moving close to his mate, Tristan sank to his knees and opened his mouth. Sticking out his tongue, a shiny bead of Heath’s pre-come dripped upon it, forcing a moan from deep within his chest. It was too much and yet, not enough.

Reaching down, Heath pulled Tristan to his feet. “Shower…now, amore mio. ”

Nodding, Tristan held onto his mate’s hips and walked backward until he reached one of the shower’s tiled walls. Smiling broadly, he stepped under the water and guided Heath in beside him. Grabbing a bar of soap from a shelf, he knelt and began running it over his mate’s leg muscles, feeling their hardness under his fingers. Moving from one leg to the other, he avoided Heath’s twitching hard-on as he continued his journey of exploration.

Circling around to his mate’s back, Tristan crouched down, taking in the site which was as exciting as Heath’s full frontal view. Biting his lower pouty lip, his need to fuck was becoming overwhelming; he could barely keep it under control. Pre-cum dripped from his eager cock onto the shower floor, swirling down the drain on rivers of water. Yet, he was determined to satisfy another desire, first.

Sliding his soap-slicked hands over Heath’s ass cheeks and then down his legs, he smiled at his mate’s shiver. Reversing direction, he slowly caressed his mate’s body, finishing at where he’d begun, wiggling a finger up its crack until he got to the base of his mate’s tailbone.

Holy fucking shit balls! He’s trying to kill me! By now Heath’s legs were trembling and he doubted he could stand much longer. Closing his eyes, he fought back his orgasm, refusing to end the delicious torment.

Pulling his mate’s cheeks apart, Tristan moaned when he saw what awaited him. With a smug smile, he pressed a fingertip against Heath’s pucker, feeling the muscle tightening at his touch. Snaking his other hand between his mate’s legs, Tristan grasped his mate’s balls, gently rolling them while pressing his fingertip into Heath.

“Fuck!” Letting go of his cock, Heath’s hands slapped against the tile, bracing himself for what was to come.

Pushing his finger past the muscles guarding Heath’s hole, Tristan marveled at the tightness he found. Just like everything else about his mate, it was perfect. But as much as he craved to bury his raging cock in his mate’s tunnel of love, he was eager to try something else first. Removing his finger, he thrust it in again, wiggling it as he searched for the magic spot that would make his mate crazy with the need to come. Finding it, he pressed his finger firmly against it.

Shouting Tristan’s name, pleasure coursed through Heath, forcing his cock to spurt its creamy cum at the shower tiles. After his last spasm, Heath’s head fell forward. Panting from the force of his orgasm, he tried to keep himself upright, but doubted he had any strength left to do so.

Tristan looked down and grinned at the white streams of his mate’s cum slowly sliding down the tiles until, reaching the shower floor, they merged with rivulets of water, sweeping them down the drain. Gently removing his finger, he stood up, wrapping his arms around Heath, tugging him back until his mate was leaning against him. Lowering his mouth, Tristan licked the spot that would bear his mark on his mate’s shoulder, smiling with satisfaction as Heath began to shiver with anticipation.

~/~/~/~/~

Quin threw open the door to Logan’s studio, looking wildly around until his eyes landed on Jackson’s twin. “You gotta come quick! I think Ki is thinking of lifting a bed and I think he’ll hurt himself!”

Without letting Quin say another word, Logan jumped up from his drafting chair and headed for the door, stopping when he realized he didn’t know where Kieran was. “Where is he?” he asked frantically.

“Follow me!” Quin shouted, running down the hall. “He’s in Theo’s room.”

Logan wasted no time, passing Quin as he sprinted to his mate. A million things were going through his mind; the first was the need for a doctor. “Quin, go get Mac and have him meet me there.”

Changing directions, Quin ran down the stairs to get his brother, praying to the gods that his friend wouldn’t harm himself until Logan got there .

Skidding to a stop outside Theo’s room, Logan looked through the open door, his heart in his throat. Expecting to find his mate in pain, he was stunned to see Kieran sitting on the bed chatting with Theo. Slowly walking over to his mate, Logan stopped, trying to make sense of Quin’s message. Kneeling down in front of him, he placed a hand on his mate’s swollen belly. Sighing in relief when Squirt kicked, he asked, “Why did Quin tell me you hurt yourself?”

Carrying his medical bag, Mac burst into Theo’s bedroom. “Logan…let me see Kieran.”

Growling, Logan gathered Kieran into his arms. “He’s fine.”

“You aren’t a doctor…now let me check him over!”

Bearing his fangs, Logan growled louder, warning Mac to back off.

Just then, Jackson rushed in with Quin at his heels. Taking in the situation, he knew his brother’s wolf was trying to take charge—which could be dangerous both for Kieran and Mac. Doubtful that Logan would regain control in time, Jackson flooded the room with his Alpha Power, effectively putting an end to the standoff.

Once all eyes were on him, Jackson said quietly, “Logan, please let Mac check Kieran and the pup over to make sure they’re okay.”

Shaking his head, Logan’s eyes glowed, his wolf still close to the surface. “He’s fine. Quin told me Kieran hurt himself lifting a bed, but he was wrong.”

“I didn’t say that,” Quin protested.

“Yes you did,” Logan snarled .

Jackson could smell Quin’s fear. Stepping between his cousin and his brother, he commanded, “Logan, stop scaring him.”

“ Macushla, set me down, please,” Kieran whispered, caressing the side of Logan’s face. “If you’re gonna be mad at anyone, it should be me. I sent Quin to get you …”

“He said you were hurt,” Logan replied.

“No I didn’t,” Quin whispered. “I said I thought Ki would hurt himself if he lifted the bed.”

“See, macushla …a simple misunderstanding,” Kieran smiled, “which, if you had checked with our spirit, you would’ve known both Squirt and I were fine.”

“Logan, please let Mac examine Kieran…just to make sure,” Jackson said.

“Macushla,” Ki implored, “I’d really appreciate if you’d agree to it, cuz Theo and me…we’re running out of time to set up a dreamy and romantic place in the woods.”

After setting Kieran back on his feet, Logan asked, “Does that have anything to do with you lifting a bed?”

“Of course,” Kieran said, grinning. “It’s gonna be so pretty with a bed and pink sheets along with a pile of soft fuzzy blankets, you know in case it gets chilly, which will be just perfect for snuggling after Smokey says ‘yes’ and then it will be hanky-panky time, so that’s why Theo needs the bed cuz it’s no fun lying on the ground when doing hanky-panky…although we did it and it wasn’t bad at all but then we were on grass and Theo, Norm, and Smokey will be in the forest and Dakota has helped and all we need now is to get the bed ou tside…and I knew we couldn’t do it ourselves, so that’s why I sent Quin to ask you to help move the bed.”

“You want to take this bed outside and put it in the forest?” Logan asked, now confused.

“Yes…” Kieran nodded, clasping his hands to his chest. “Can’t you just see it…the moon lighting the bed along with a gazillion candles we’re gonna hang in the trees…it’s so romantic.”

Shaking his head, Jackson muttered, “The Love Queens strike again.”

“Babe…” Logan started hesitantly, then stopped when he saw Kieran and Theo’s hopeful expressions. Looking at his brother, he muttered. “Remy.”

Nodding in agreement, Jackson said, “I’ll be right back.”