Chapter 5

Kaine shutthe bathroom door and drew in a breath. Had it really been that long that he was desperate to get Quentin out of his clothes and into bed?

Heat flowed through his veins, and his cock throbbed.

For several more seconds, he stood by the door, half tempted to renege on his promise to give Quentin time alone. He wanted to be in there, peeling the clothes off him. But if he did, then Quentin would take off his, and he needed to disarm before he freaked out his lover for the night.

He forced himself away from the door and took off the holster. For a heartbeat, he was torn between putting the weapon in the safe and putting it in the bedside drawer where it was more easily accessible. He might be in a hotel room, about to be naked with someone, but that didn’t mean he trusted him.

Aside from his brothers, he wasn’t sure who he trusted. Perhaps no one anymore. He did not want to live the way Dalmon had been, consumed by work, cold, and aloof.

But it had a hold of him and was pulling him under. Wearing him out.

He needed this night off, and he hadn’t noticed how much he wanted the distraction until Quentin had suggested it. He put the pistol and holster in the bedside table drawer and pulled out the sealed packet of condoms and lube, ripping off the plastic so they would be more accessible. There is no point in being subtle.

When was the last time he’d gone on a date?

Met someone with the intention of getting to know them, not just fuck them?

Before he turned thirty.

A few of his liaisons had developed into something that lasted more than a night, though he wouldn’t call it a relationship. Nor would he say they were friends with benefits. That would imply friendship, and he didn’t know them well enough for that.

He sat on the edge of the bed and unlaced his boots, pulling them off and tucking them to the side, where the knife was grabbable if he was in bed.

The shower still wasn’t running.

He was about to call out and ask if Quentin needed help. He paused, mouth open, as he realized what Quentin would be doing. He’d be on his phone looking him up, now that he had a first and last name.

Fuck. He didn’t care if people knew who he was, but it added a weight, a strain that a fling or an affair couldn’t deal with. Shouldn’t have to deal with. There was a very big difference between sleeping with someone who worked in security and someone who ran national security. He scrubbed his hand over his face.

Fuck it. He wanted to get laid. Which meant he needed to take over before Quentin freaked out, and he could guarantee that the younger man would, given his earlier reactions. Kaine unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it over the chair along with his leather jacket, then did the same with his jeans and briefs before tucking his socks near his boots.

He stood, his hard dick leading the way. Ever since Quentin had smiled at him, that part of him had known what it wanted. He stood, walked over, and knocked on the bathroom door as a shower turned on.

Quentin muttered a curse, then called out, “Has it been seven minutes already?”

Kaine had no idea how long it had been, only that he was done with waiting. “Yes, did you find everything you needed about me?”

Another muttered curse.

Kaine cracked open the bathroom door. Quentin was pulling off his clothes in a hurry, as if he didn’t want to admit that he had been on his phone doing research. His jeans were unbuttoned, his jacket was on the floor, and his black shirt was in his hand.

At least he had his shoes and socks off.

“Are you pissed with me?” His gaze jumped from Kaine’s face to his dick, which liked the attention rather too much.

“No. I did that back at the bar.” He stepped in and shut the door behind him.

Quentin opened his mouth as if surprised but then nodded. “Figures, given who you are. Did you find anything interesting?”

“Nothing, you?” He took another step forward, giving Quentin the chance to change his mind. To say, it was too difficult.

“Aside from the fact you left out that you are the Chief of Security?” His voice went up with each word.

“I didn’t lie.”

“You lied by omission.”

Kaine laughed. “That’s very common in my line of work. It’s a hard habit to break. That and my job tends to scare people off. I won’t be offended if you want to run.”

He hoped Quentin was not a runner, but it was hard to tell. Some people thought they liked the idea of dating someone powerful, only to realize it was more complicated than it seemed. However, he preferred those people to the ones who wanted to date someone powerful for the simple reason that they often wanted power themselves, and anyone who wanted power he didn’t trust. That Quentin thought he was a liar was another point in his favor, as Kaine valued honesty.

Something Kaine could never be with a human.

Yeah, well, it was only one night. They weren’t going to be dating or anything like that. It was a thought that shouldn’t bother him, and yet he wanted to push it away and deny that’s all this was. That he was already craving more meant that he was spending far too much time at work or thinking about work, and he really needed to take more time for himself.

Once they shut down the Shadow Board, he’d take some leave.

He was sure it had been over a year since he’d taken leave. And given that he often ended up working on weekends…

Oh, my God, he’d already turned into Dalmon or Gerrit…but both of them had been saved from a life of loneliness.

And while he doubted very much that Quentin was that miracle worker, he would take what he could get for as long as he could because he wasn’t a fucking idiot.

“I didn’t say I’d seen anything that made me want to run.” He gave Kaine’s now very hard dick another glance. “But I can definitely see something that makes me want to stay.”

“At least you no longer think I’m a serial killer.”

Quentin laughed, and his dimples appeared. Then he shoved his jeans over his hips, dragging his briefs down with them. “I think the water is hot now if I turned it on correctly. Do you want to check?”

That was the invitation Kaine needed. He checked the setup and turned on the rain shower head because he loved them, and he was sure Quentin had never experienced one. Then he turned to his now naked lover.

Quentin groaned. “I was trying not to get my hair wet.”

“Why?” Kaine walked over and cupped his jaw, taking a kiss, before reaching around to the back of Quentin’s head and pulling the elastic free. “I have wanted to do that all night.”

Quentin’s hair sprung free as if it had a life of its own. The curls bounced over his shoulders. “Because Mr. Straight-hair, who never has to worry about rain or humidity, it will become a frizzy mess.”

Kaine ran his fingers through the honey-dark curls. “If it’s so troublesome, why keep it long?”

“Because I’m vain. And I like it when guys run their fingers through it.”

“Only run their fingers through it?” He tightened his hold. “Or grip it?”

From the quickening of Quentin’s pulse, the answer was both. He didn’t give him time to answer, just kissed him. Hungrier this time, giving into the need burning in his veins. He didn’t remember it ever being this intense. But Quentin matched his need. His hands swept over Kaine’s ribs, over his back, and then down to his ass.

The kiss melted away as they both needed to breathe.

“We should have that shower before we become too distracted…and I can smell the stale beer.” His fingers slid free of Quentin’s curls.

“Occupational hazard. Better than being required to take a bullet for the king, right? Or should I not make jokes about that?” Quentin glanced away. “Sorry, I don’t quite know…”

“I don’t expect you to know anything about what I do. We live in different worlds. But yes, I would take a bullet for him should we be together and the need arose.”

“How do you…” Quentin frowned and shook his head. “I never understood how Dad could pick up a gun and fight, either.”

Kaine shrugged. “I think you’re either wired that way or you’re not.”

Quentin glanced up and lifted an eyebrow. Always the same one as if the other never wanted to join in. “Is that a polite way to say I’m a coward?”

“No, I’m not known to be polite.” Patient, yes.

“Oh.” His eyes widened, and his lips parted, but a sentence never formed.

“I spend my days giving orders. Some of them need to be obeyed instantly. I don’t have time to coddle people’s feelings and make them feel good.” Not even his own. He lowered his voice. “So, unless you have an objection, I’m going to drag you into the shower and kiss you some more before taking you to bed and fucking you, wet hair and all.”

Quentin’s teeth raked over his lower lip. “When you speak like that, I want to obey.”

Kaine’s dick jumped, and his heart lurched with excitement. He took his lover’s hand and pulled him into the shower. As soon as Kaine was in, he tipped his head to the rain and closed his eyes, letting the warm water patter on his skin, hoping it would soothe away all of his worries.

He should put one in his ensuite. But that meant having tradesmen in his house.

It was the caress of a tongue on the head of his cock that made him open his eyes. He glanced down and drew in a breath, watching as Quentin licked and sucked.

That was not part of the plan or one of his instructions.

But he wasn’t strong enough to make him stop.

And Quentin didn’t seem to be in a rush to make him come. The licks and strokes were more exploratory than anything else, a deliberate tease, which only caused his blood to heat further.

When he realized he was being watched, Quentin stopped and stood up. “Couldn’t resist,” he said with a smile that made his dimples form.

Kaine grabbed him and licked the shower water from each one before kissing him on the lips. He wished he’d brought the condoms and lube into the bathroom…though not for the shower. Quentin took a step forward, and Kaine let himself be backed against the tile, hoping the cold would cool his blood, but given the way Quentin was kissing and touching every piece of bare skin he could reach, that was unlikely.

His curly hair was now wet ringlets and water trickled over his face. Kaine licked the hollow of Quentin’s throat, learning the taste of his skin, the way he moved with each touch.

Quentin nipped Kaine’s ear and whispered, “I wish you’d brought the stuff in here.”

“Stuff?”

“You know…” Quentin blushed.

Oh, he knew exactly what Quentin meant.

“How can you have your hand on my cock and be unable to say lube?” But it was good to know they had the same thoughts.

He glanced away as he blushed. “It seems so…practical. Premeditated…”

“You have done this before, right?” He did not want to be breaking in a virgin.

“Yes! But if I’m going out, I’m prepared. It’s different.” He gave a one-shouldered shrug.

“Because I thought ahead instead of leaving the evening to things not involving your ass?” He gave the ass in question a squeeze.

“I’m not used to it.”

“To what?”

“Someone thinking ahead about what I might want.”

“Oh no, it was all about me. I want to take everything I can out of tonight.” He trailed his fingers along Quentin’s dick, enjoying the way it jumped and the way he sucked in a breath.

Kaine brushed Quentin’s hand out of the way and wrapped his around both of their cocks and stroked. Quentin leaned closer, resting his hand on the tiles by Kaine’s head. His hips rocked, his breath quickened, and his eyes closed. Kaine stole another kiss, unable to resist, and Quentin moaned into his mouth. Pre-cum slipped from the slit of Quentin’s cock with each stroke, and Kaine wanted to lick his fingers and taste him.

“Don’t stop.” Quentin’s other hand joined Kaine’s, his fingers sweeping over the heads made slick with the water and pre-cum.

He hadn’t planned on stopping, but he didn’t want to come yet. No matter how tempting. Quentin fucked their hands. His breath was hot on Kaine’s lips.

Quentin’s body jerked, and he groaned, his cum spilling over their fingers. Kaine bit his lip, but he couldn’t hold back as Quentin’s climax dragged him to the edge and then pulled him over.

“Fuck.” Kaine tipped his head back against the tiles, panting as if he’d run up ten flights of stairs. Desire still tumbled through his blood…along with something else that he didn’t recognize. He kept his eyes closed, trying to steady himself when a small part of him wanted to shift and fly and swoop.

What the fuck?

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve ever come so hard it made me dizzy.” Quentin rested his forehead on Kaine’s shoulder.

Kaine grunted, unable to pull his thoughts together even as he wrapped his arm around Quentin to hold him close. They hadn’t even made it to the bedroom.

That wasn’t like him. He usually had much more control.

His phoenix fluttered within him, and he was sure if he wasn’t careful, flames would form on his skin.

Quentin lifted his head and looked at Kaine. “We didn’t even make it to the bedroom.”

Kaine frowned. “What did you say?”

“That this wasn’t supposed to happen in the shower, not that I’m complaining, I just really wanted?—”

“That wasn’t what you said.” And he was complaining, because Kaine knew without any doubt that Quentin had been hoping to be railed into next week. His stomach tightened, not liking where his thoughts were going. His pulse quickened, and he hoped he was wrong.

He had to be wrong. Quentin was human.

“What’s wrong? Did I do something wrong? Why are you looking at me like I’ve sprouted horns and a tail?”

He wished Quentin had horns and a tail that might be better. He grabbed the younger man’s jaw, and peered into his green eyes as if he’d be able to see the magic lurking in there.

Quentin tried to pull back, but Kaine didn’t let him. Fear flared in Quentin’s eyes. “What are you doing?”

“What am I?” He tamped down the panic and the ridiculous joy that was tangling within him. How could he be both thrilled and terrified?

“A fucking weirdo at the moment.” Quentin pushed against him, and while Quentin might have an inch on him in height, Kaine was far stronger.

“Try again.”

“I don’t know.” Quentin closed his eyes.

And Kaine let his shifting heat rise to the surface until flames bloomed on his skin, only to be doused by the shower.

“Please let me go. I’ll never speak of this to anyone.”

Oh, he wouldn’t be speaking of it to anyone. Kaine would make sure of that. “What do you sense, Quentin?”

He squeezed his eyes closed tighter as Kaine’s fingers pressed harder against his jaw until white bloomed on his skin. “Fire, okay? I’m not sure why, as I’m standing in the shower.”

Kaine snarled, a sound that was barely human. But then he wasn’t. And nor was Quentin. Why hadn’t he sensed he was a witch?

This should’ve been safe.

Quentin opened his eyes. “What are you so scared of?”

Kaine narrowed his eyes. “How do you know I’m scared?”

He swallowed. “Because you’re acting weird?”

“Because we’re fated mates,” Kaine snapped.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but now you’re scaring me.”

“Good, you should be scared.” He released Quentin and stalked out of the shower, snatching up a towel and cursing himself for the weakness. All he’d had to do was say no and go home alone.

The shower turned off.

Kaine snatched up another towel and tossed it to Quentin. Who now looked like he was ready to run. That wasn’t going to happen.

He wasn’t going to let his fated mate take off. No, he was going to stick Quentin in protective custody until the Shadow Board problem was resolved and having a mate wasn’t a liability.

“What are fated mates?”

Quentin’s fear thrummed through Kaine.

The same way his desire had.

It was why he’d been so irresistible. Why Quentin had propositioned him in the first place, and why he’d lacked the strength to say no. The Fates had brought them together, and they had stumbled into the trap, blinded by lust and hungry for connection.

Fuck. Like he didn’t have enough problems at the moment.

He needed to know what he was dealing with. “What’s your magic, witch?”