Thank You

Sneak Peek: Cupcake

Cupcake: Unlocked Mates Book 9

Logan

He was drawn to the colorful artistically painted front window of the bakery in town. Every morning Logan passed the bakery, and it was getting harder and harder to resist going inside again. Not only did the smells coming from the establishment lure him closer but so did the man that worked behind the counter.

Logan's father used to say that he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. His mama had told him nearly every day of his childhood that it was a good thing he was pretty and would give her beautiful grandbabies because he was dumber than a box of rocks. So, Logan might not be smart, but he knew that he needed to stay far away from the intriguing man that owned and ran the bakery. But it was so hard.

And they had cupcakes again.

The big pretty cupcakes with bright pink icing and sprinkles.

His mouth watered and he had to swallow. How embarrassing would it be if he started drooling? Logan was pretty sure that had already happened a time or two.

Logan ached on the inside. He wanted that cupcake. He wanted to hear the deep voice from the small man that welcomed customers inside. It confused him. Now that mates were being found within his family, Logan hoped that he'd find his own soon. The draw to the bakery had Logan rushing inside the first time he felt it. He thought…yeah, stupidly he'd thought that he'd been blessed, and his mate had been inside.

The only employee back then was the man that owned and operated the business and while Logan thought Dean was gorgeous, he didn't feel the pull described by the others when they'd scented his mate.

As much as Logan was interested in Dean, he knew it was better to stay far away. It would be just his luck to get into a relationship and then find his mate. Logan couldn't imagine ever hurting someone like that, so he stayed away from Dean. And the sweet-smelling treats.

But the cupcakes were so so sparkly!

At that moment Dean's head snapped up and he smiled at Logan where he was peering through the large front window. Logan quickly looked away from the man but his gaze fell to the cupcake on the big display case.

Logan licked his lips.

He was lucky that the bakery had quickly become one of the places that the others in the group had become obsessed with. The other boys loved their cookies and pastries. Sam and Ansley's bookstore was only a few blocks over and they often brought home special treats for the family.

No one had brought home one of the pretty cupcakes though.

"Hey, Logan."

He jumped at the soft, inviting voice. Looking to the side, he saw Dean standing at the open door, smiling at him. Logan had to swallow again. Oh no! He quickly stepped back.

"Sorry! I was just looking!" Logan blurted out.

"I noticed. Was there something that caught your eye?"

Well duh. Two somethings and one of those things was looking at Logan with amusement in his eyes. Was he silently laughing at Logan? Probably. He no doubt thought Logan was weird and dumb. Just like his birth pride had.

Logan quickly shook his head as he took several more steps back.

"Why don't you come inside?" Dean invited. "I'll give you your choice of anything in the display case. Free of charge."

Oh! Dean had never offered that before. In fact, he hadn't ever come outside and talked to him. Normally Logan was smart enough to run away if Dean started toward the door.

"I…" Logan shifted uneasily on his feet. The urge to run throbbing through his body.

"Come on," Dean urged. "I promise I don't bite."

Bite? Why would Dean bite him? Logan frowned as Dean smiled with perfect white teeth. He didn't even have sharp teeth. Logan had overheard Axel talking about Dean and how he was a mage. Didn't that make him nearly human? Just with a little magic.

"I…" Logan didn't know what to do.

Dean strode forward. He was several inches shorter than Logan, slimmer, but he seemed to radiate power and confidence. Logan wasn't confident at all.

"There has to be something you're craving," Dean said. "I noticed you like to look at the displays."

He nodded. It would be dumb to deny that. Not as often as he was busted staring inside the bakery.

"Come." Dean wrapped a hand around Logan's upper arm.

Logan moaned. The firm fingers wrapped around his flesh sent sparks of arousal down his spine. What would it be like to have Dean touch him all over? Logan shook the thought away. He couldn't think that way.

Why were his feet moving as Dean urged him inside?

Oh! He was inside the bakery.

It smelled even better the closer Dean led Logan toward the treats. He'd been a good boy for so long. He hadn't stalked the other man even though his lion was just as interested. Logan had tried to stay away.

"Do you have any allergies?" Dean's voice was deep, alluring, exciting.

"No…no," Logan mumbled.

"I know what your friends like but what is your favorite dessert? I made chocolate croissants this morning. They've been selling fast but I still have a few left."

He should just take the offered treat and run far away. They were now right in front of the middle case. Logan tried not to look at the cupcake. The pretty pretty cupcake.

"Donuts? Cookies?" Dean asked.

Logan was shaking his head before he even thought to answer.

Dean stepped closer. He released the hold on Logan's arm, which Logan regretted immediately, but then Dean's shoulder pressed against Logan's back. He shouldn't push back. He really really shouldn't… Logan pressed back.

Electricity ignited every nerve in Logan's body.

"Cupcake?"

Logan whimpered.

"I got you," Dean whispered. Then he was walking away.

Logan wanted to call him back. Missed the slight touch already. It had been like taking a long nap under his favorite tree with the sun shining down and warming his fur.

On the other side of the display case, Dean slid the door open. With long, slender fingers he reached for the prettiest cupcake at the front of the tray. Logan vibrated happily. That was the exact treat he'd been drooling over.

Dean pulled out the cupcake before sliding it into the small rectangular pink box. Even the box was pretty. Logan shuffled closer.

"This is my treat for you," Dean told him as he closed the top of the box.

Oh! He should pay. "I have money!" Logan made good money with his landscaping business. He had several crews that he managed and they did amazing work.

"I know," Dean said with a smile. "But this is from me." He held the box out to Logan.

Logan's fingers shook as he accepted the gift. He looked down and smiled. This pretty cupcake was all his. He didn't have to just stare at it from outside. It was his now. And—

"Your phone is ringing."

Dean's voice pulled him away from his thoughts.

"Oh." Logan dug his cell from his back pocket. Why was the Alpha calling him? "Axel?" he asked as he answered.

"We need you home," his Alpha said. "Something happened to Levi."

"On my way!" Logan quickly waved to Dean before tucking his treat against his chest and racing from the bakery. "What's going on?" he asked once he was outside and running to his truck.

"We don't know. He went to meet his mate and we think there was an attack of some kind. We found some blood. Hurry. I have to call the others.

Logan's stomach dropped as Axel disconnected the call. Not his sweet friend. Why would anyone attack Levi? Inside, his lion stretched and fought to come to the surface.

"Not yet," Logan mumbled to himself. "We have to get home." Then he'd let his animal out. His lion was fierce when he needed to be. Strong. Smart. Logan wished he was like his lion half. They needed to get home with his family and make sure Levi was alright.