Chapter Seven

Colt stood in the kitchen, his head lowered and his eyes closed. When he'd grabbed Milo's hand last night and his mate had cried out, he knew something was wrong, even though the guy had tried to lie about it.

After lifting Milo's shirt last night, Colt had caught a glimpse of the bruises. Enough to know his mate hadn't sustained those injuries at work. But seeing the true extent of damage in the bright bathroom had violently yanked Colt back in time to his childhood.

Breathing out slowly, he tried to calm the storm raging inside of him—tried to bottle those memories and put them back on the shelf. Colt could almost hear the crack of that belt as it connected with his flesh, could hear his mother verbally ripping him apart as she beat him or stood to the side as she forced Kellen to do her dirty work.

The pain was raw and fresh, as if it had only happened yesterday. His wolf whimpered, wanting the reins so Colt could hide inside himself. Over the centuries, he'd allowed his wolf do just that. But that came with a risk. Letting one's beast remain in control for long stretches of time damn near guaranteed the chance of going feral. If that happened, a shifter lost their humanity and capability to return to human form.

They would remain in their animal form for the rest of their unnaturally long life. Until recently, the temptation had been appealing, but something had always pulled Colt back to his senses and he'd shifted before it had been too late. But it wasn't just him anymore. He had something to live for.

A hard, burning lump formed in his throat knowing someone as small and beautiful as Milo had been viciously abused and Colt hadn't been there to protect him.

Worse, his mate refused to tell him who had done it. That, Colt couldn't understand. He'd grown up in an era where it was common for parents to physically punish their children. What happened behind closed doors wasn't anyone's business, and it was rare for neighbors to get involved.

But that wasn't the case with Milo. In this era, people went to jail for assault and battery. And that was what this was. His mate had been assaulted and beaten.

"Colt?"

Atlas's voice penetrated the fog in Colt's head, bringing him partially back. He had nothing but respect for the human, because Atlas had been the first person who'd treated Colt like he mattered. Someone who hadn't hurt him or tried to use him. Although Colt knew that Kellen loved him, that love was also tainted with memories of pain.

"I want to apologize for yesterday," Colt said. "I took my anger out on you, and that was wrong of me. You didn't deserve it."

"We all have our bad days, Colt." When Atlas touched his arm, Colt opened his eyes and gazed at him. "Water under the bridge."

Colt nodded and cleared his throat as his past began to slowly fade back into the darkness. "I wanted to ask you if I can borrow some of your clothes."

"Sure, but I don't think you'll fit in them," Atlas said with a serious expression.

A smile pulled at the side of Colt's mouth. "For Milo."

"Oh yeah, sure! I'll grab some jogging pants and a T-shirt for him." His gaze swept over Colt's face. "Milo didn't reject you. I saw you two sleeping on the couch this morning. So why do you look like the weight of the world is crushing your shoulders?"

Colt shook his head. "I really don't want to talk about it."

If Colt hadn't shared his own pain with anyone, not even Kellen, he sure as hell wasn't going to share Milo's. His mate trusted him, and Colt wasn't going to do anything to splinter that trust.

"Then I'll go get those for you."

While Colt deeply appreciated the way Atlas cared about him, the only person he wanted to talk to right now was Milo.

A few minutes later Atlas returned, handing over a pair of gray pants and a blue T-shirt. "I have to work this afternoon, but if you need to talk, Mason won't mind me taking a call."

"Thanks, Dad." Colt chuckled, even though his heart felt heavy.

Atlas narrowed his eyes. "Just because you found your mate doesn't mean I'll stopped fussing over you, asshole. Keep it up and I'll make you put those shoes back on."

"Not a chance." Colt strode away. "Thanks for the clothes, but if you come near me with those shoes, I'm burying them in the backyard."

"Like a dog with a bone?"

Colt stopped and looked over his shoulder, an eyebrow arched. "Because I was a dickhead to you yesterday, I'll let you have that shot at me. Besides, I walked right into it."

He truly cherished his friendship with Atlas. The human had come to mean a lot to him and not just because he was Kellen's mate. It was also hilarious to act like a brat around Atlas and see him become flustered, as if he was dealing with an irate child. It entertained Colt and allowed Atlas to flex his need to nurture.

The guy was a natural-born caregiver. Those people were like unicorns in Colt's life, rare as fuck.

"Whoa!" Colt shot forward when he saw that Milo was trying to get out of the tub. "What're you doing?"

"The water cooled off, and I was tired of sitting in the bathroom by myself."

Colt suppressed a growl at the sight of Milo's naked, flared backside and his exposed cock. This was not the time to lust over him, but it was a reaction Colt couldn't control. Not when his need to claim his mate was this damn strong.

Making Milo sit on the step, Colt grabbed a soft, fluffy towel from the cabinet then returned. "You could have fallen, shorty. What if you'd slipped and hurt yourself?"

"I'm sore, not ninety years old and frail." Milo switched his voice to an old man's. "Go get me my joint cream, sonny. I think my arthritis is acting up again. Damn glaucoma."

Colt chuckled as he helped Milo to his feet and slid the towel over his mate's body to dry him off, careful of his bruises. He was still enraged over them but kept his anger under tight control. "You're mighty sexy for an old man. Your wrinkles bring out the hazel in your eyes."

As he crouched and slid the towel over Milo's legs, his mate's cock started to harden. Colt deserved sainthood for not leaning forward and sliding Milo's length into his mouth. His body immediately responded, his own dick growing thick as he brushed the towel over Milo's ass then between his cheeks.

"You're very thorough." Milo's voice was breathy.

"Wet skin can chafe." Colt clenched his jaw, fighting to stop his canines from lengthening. His sainthood would be snatched away if he toweled off his mate's erection. It was a fierce battle waging inside of him, his wolf snarling as the need to claim the human grew even stronger.

"Colt?"

He realized he was just kneeling there, his hands motionless, his gaze locked onto Milo's beautiful cock. "I'm…" Colt's ripped his eyes away from his mate's shaft and cleared his throat. Then he rose to his full height and grabbed the clothes he'd tossed onto the counter. "I borrowed these from Atlas."

His torture wasn't over yet. Colt had to help Milo into the soft pants. His mate curled his fingers around Colt's biceps, his now-hard cock bobbing as he lifted each leg. Milo glanced away, his fingers tightening, a fine blush blossoming over his pale skin.

It was the most exquisite display of desire Colt had ever seen.

When his mate shivered, Colt lifted the shirt and carefully put it on Milo. "You can go back to the couch, if you want, while I make you some breakfast."

His mate's long lashes fluttered several times, as if slowly emerging from the trance that had encircled them both. "If it's okay, I'd rather be in the kitchen with you so I'm not sitting alone in the living room."

A smile spread across Colt's lips, pleased that his mate wanted to be near him. "Are you going to critique how I cook?"

Milo gaze snapped to his. "I wouldn't do that."

"How disappointing." Colt's grin widened.

"I'm not sure if you're messing with me or if you're serious."

Colt grazed his lips over the delicate curve of Milo's ear, his body hardening further when his mate quivered. "It can't think of anything more arousing than my shorty bossing me around."

A soft whimper escaped Milo.

If they didn't get out of the bathroom, he wasn't sure how much longer he could resist his mate. Colt had to because he refused to claim Milo when the guy could barely move around.

"Let's go eat." After leading Milo out of the bathroom, Colt scooped him up. Milo circled his arms around Colt's neck as Colt carried his mate through the bedroom. "After breakfast I'll clean this up so you don't get any glass in your bare feet."

"I can help," Milo offered. "I'm not just a cashier. I'm a certified professional in vacuuming."

Colt grinned. "You can be a certified professional seat warmer until you're no longer a ninety-year-old."

"We're not in the bedroom anymore." Milo tapped his shoulder. "You can put me down."

"What if I like having you in my arms?" Colt turned right and headed into the kitchen.

"Then carry me to your heart's content," Milo replied.

Unfortunately, it was impossible to cook with his arms full of handsomeness. "I'll remember you said that, but right now, I need you to show off your skills and warm this seat."

"I'll pour some coffee for us while you dazzle me with your culinary talents. I'm desperate for some caffeine."

Colt couldn't force his mate to sit his cute butt still, so he didn't even try. He placed Milo on his feet and starting grabbing what he needed to make pancakes and eggs.

"How do you like your coffee?" Milo asked.

"Just a touch of cream." Colt grabbed the box of pancake mix from the pantry and then the eggs from the fridge.

"You can cook, Colt?" Atlas asked when he walked in. "You're just full of surprises." He grabbed the large bag of mini bagels from the counter then the cream cheese and a carton of juice from the refrigerator. Then he took a knife from the drawer. "Give me a second to get out of your hair."

Milo appeared uncomfortable as he stood completely still, the small container of cream in his hand while watched Atlas. Colt wanted to try and snap Milo out of his uneasiness, so he asked his mate, "Were you two formally introduced at the reception?"

Milo still hadn't moved.

With his arms full, Atlas smiled. "No, but we briefly spoke. I'd shake your hand, but mine are busy holding my breakfast. I'll give you an elbow shake instead."

Milo looked at Colt before he slowly shook the offered elbow.

"I didn't mean to intrude," Atlas said, as if he picked up on Milo's discomfort. "I would have waited until you guys were done in here, but I'm starving, and my stomach forced me downstairs."

"It's your house," Milo replied. "You can go into any room that you want."

"That's sweet of you, but it's Colt's house, too. I don't want to interrupt your morning together." Atlas headed away. The cream cheese slipped to the floor, and he bent to retrieve it but struggled to pick it up while holding the bag of bagels, knife, and carton of juice.

Colt didn't offer to help. He wanted to see if his mate would.

Milo hurried over and grabbed it off the floor, but Colt noticed the wince. "Here you go." He tucked the cream cheese snuggly in Atlas's arms.

"You're a sweetheart, Milo." Atlas exited the kitchen.

Forcing himself not to nag Milo about taking it easy, Colt turned toward the counter and prepared the pancake mix as his mate finally handed him his coffee. Colt took a sip and groaned. "You make the best coffee, shorty."

"The pot was already made. I just poured cream into your cup." He placed the container back into the refrigerator.

Colt didn't like how tense Milo still seemed and wanted to take his mate's mind off of whatever was bothering him. "I'm thinking we need some kind of meat. How good are you at cooking sausage?"

"I'm pretty good at it. Are they in the freezer?"

"Yep." His plan to have Milo chill in a chair was out the window.

As Colt made the light, fluffy pancakes on the six-burner stove, Milo filled a skillet with some water and dropped the frozen patties into it. Soon the water was bubbling, the sausage turning from pink to gray. Then his mate poured the remaining water in the sink, returned to the stove, and dropped a pat of butter into the hot pan.

"I've never seen sausage cooked that way," he commented.

"Are you talking about the water or the butter?" Milo held the tongs in his hand as he looked up.

"Both."

"The water helps cook the frozen patties faster," Milo explained. "The butter browns them and gives them an incredible flavor."

Colt scrambled the eggs in a bowl when he was done making the pancakes. He grabbed another pan, sprayed it with cooking oil, and then placed it on the burner.

"Since you want me to boss you around, butter makes the eggs taste so much better than the nonstick spray." Milo handed Colt the stick he'd used.

For decades Colt had been cooking for himself. He was self-taught but pretty decent in the kitchen. Even so, he liked his mate showing him a different way of making things.

He wiped the spray from the pan with a paper towel before putting it back on the stove. "How much should I use?"

"You want enough so the eggs don't stick too much, but you don't want to overpower them with the taste of butter." Milo took the stick from Colt and showed him.

Doing something as domestic as cooking together filled Colt with a sense of peace, calming his mind like nothing else had. Milo's presence quieted the self-loathing inside of Colt that had plagued him his entire life.

"I'd say we're an amazing team." Milo grinned as he cooked the sausages. "We managed not to burn down the kitchen."

"Miracles do exist." Colt winked with a grin. "Now to taste our creations."

They worked together to grab plates, glasses, and silverware. Side by side, they divvied up the portions then sat at the table next to each other. Colt tasted the sausage, and Milo ate a forkful of pancakes.

They groaned in unison.

"Your meat tastes delicious." Colt licked his lips, chasing the flavor with his tongue. Milo had been right. The butter made it so much better.

"I never knew breakfast sausage could be so obscene," Milo teased with a sparkle of humor in his hazel eyes. "I'm at a loss of how to make your mouth-watering pancakes sound just as dirty."

Colt speared a few pieces with his fork. "Let me slip my delicacy inside your mouth."

"Oh, that's good." Milo slid his lips over the tines, groaning as he chewed then swallowed. "What about the eggs?"

Were they eating breakfast, or trying to make each other orgasm? Colt was down for either. "You got me there. I'd say taste my fluffiness, but that doesn't sound filthy. It just makes me think of bunnies."

Milo burst out laughing, the incredible sound causing Colt to grin like an idiot. His mate might have been the one who'd seemed under a spell when they'd met, but it was Colt who was hopelessly enchanted with Milo.

"We'll have to brainstorm on that one," his mate said when his laughter died down.

The rest of their meal was filled with humor and smiling. When they finished eating, Milo insisted on helping to clean up.

It was the best morning Colt had ever had.