Chapter Five

Levi

He was nervous. Stepping out of the little room where most of his family was gathered, Levi peered around the hall. Mason had texted before Levi had to turn in his phone that he was on the way. Levi's mate should be there any minute now.

Craig had helped Levi get Mason on the list for entry and Levi's mate would be inside a BDSM club.

To say he was uncomfortable was the greatest understatement ever. Levi was so different from most of the rest of his family. He didn't enjoy the attention of strangers. Wasn't experienced. Didn't even want to play with anyone at the club. He was also terrified that this would be the moment that Mason decided Levi was too boring for him.

At least Tristan had already found a partner for the night, so that was one less worry Levi had to deal with. While Levi considered Tristan a close friend, practically a brother, Tristan also hadn't lived in the human realm ever, and had come too close to revealing too much to Mason.

The entire family worked hard to keep what they were a secret from humans.

Tristan wasn't someone that Levi had any idea how to explain. There was so much between Levi and Mason at the moment and Levi was growing ever increasingly stressed with how to move forward in a relationship with his mate.

Levi wished that he could have avoided the club and the pressure this situation was causing but maybe it was better that Mason would see the real him this soon. Levi's heart was already entangled fully regarding Mason. They were mates. Not that Levi had any idea how to explain that to Mason.

He did know that he didn't want Mason to find out the same way that Bryce had. No, Levi would avoid that mess if he could.

Before Levi could form any real kind of plan, Mason turned the corner from the main club and into the small hall where Levi stood.

Their eyes met and Levi couldn't ignore the way his body hummed just looking at Mason. This feeling he'd been chasing all his life. It was the reason that he'd left his birth family behind. The rightness between the two of them.

Mason smiled.

Levi pushed off the wall to make his way quickly to his mate. "Thanks for coming."

"Of course." Mason reached for him, catching a piece of the thin top Levi wore.

Levi enjoyed the fact that Mason always seemed to want to touch him. That had to be a good sign that their mating had a chance, right?

"It's our first date," Mason said. "Do I look okay?" Stepping back, Mason lifted his arms to his side then whirled around.

Levi nearly swallowed his tongue. Mason's jeans were so tight that Levi could see the outline of his cock. The barely there mesh shirt ended above his belly button, showing off smooth tan skin. He hummed.

"Is that a good sound?" Mason questioned while grinning at him.

"Sexy," Levi growled out.

"Who me?" Mason winked. "Or you? Because let me tell you…you are looking lickable." Stepping up, Mason did lick Levi. He licked Levi's chin and up to his mouth.

Gripping Mason's ass, Levi held his mate close as he kissed Mason. Levi didn't feel like he was anything special. Not in his dark-washed jeans and a black tank. He knew he was attractive to most other people but for Levi there were so many more important aspects to someone than their appearances. Except he really loved that Mason was very happy at the moment.

Their cocks brushed and Levi tightened his grip on his mate as he drove his tongue inside Mason's mouth.

Damn! His mate tasted like heaven. He'd recently had something sweet and Levi sucked on Mason's tongue to steal all the flavor.

Mason rocked back on his heels as he pulled away. He brought his shaking fingers up to his mouth. "Wow."

Levi was breathing hard. All he could do was nod.

"I don't think that I'll ever get tired of kissing you," Mason told him. "Especially if you keep kissing me like that."

Levi had to force himself to release his hold on Mason. He really wanted to pull his mate close again, but they were in the middle of a busy club. And as much as he ached, Levi wasn't quite ready for more. He cleared his throat. "I…"

"It's okay." Mason patted Levi's chest. "I just couldn't help myself."

"Me either," Levi admitted.

Mason rewarded him with a quick kiss against his lips before he started to look around. "This club—"

Levi found his cheeks heating. "One of my friends, Craig, owns the place. I don't come often but I like to hang out with my friends when I'm here."

"So you don't—" Mason motioned to the back rooms. "Play around?"

"No," Levi answered quickly. "I don't…do that." Inside he cringed. That was a stupid thing to say. Why would Mason want him if Levi confessed his inexperience?

"This doesn't seem like a place you would frequent," Mason said.

Was that a bad thing? Levi just didn't know, so he said nothing.

"I can tell from the look on your face that you're thinking way too hard about this." Mason laced their fingers together.

"I don't want you to think that I can't…won't…that I'm not good at…"

"I don't think that at all." Once again Mason moved into Levi's personal space. "This attraction between us is undeniable. We're going to be just fine."

Levi relaxed slightly at the reassurance from his mate.

Laughter and giggles escaped from the room that Levi had exited earlier. Mason perked up. "What's going on in there?"

"My friends." How should Levi explain this. "Have you heard of age regression?"

"Yes!" Mason bounced on his toes. "Is that the playroom?"

Levi nodded. "Bryce, Nate, and Lawson are playing. Their…partners are with them, watching."

Mason smirked. "You can say their Daddies."

Okay, maybe Levi did need to relax. Mason was a grown man. He had to know something about the club if he'd agreed to come.

"Bryce and Lawson have a Daddy. Nate has a Daddy and Papa Bear."

"Cool. Can I meet them?"

Levi stared at his mate as he processed the question. "You want to meet my friends?"

"Sure." Mason shrugged. "I"ve met a couple of them already, but I can tell you're close to them. I'd like to meet the rest."

"They're more like family. I call them my family because I don't see my parents or siblings." Levi tried not to show the distress he always felt when thinking of his birth family.

"I'm sorry to hear that. The only family I still talk to is my twin."

"You have a twin?" Levi hadn't known that. Wow, there was another man out there like his mate?

Mason laughed. "We're complete opposites. Jason is an adrenaline junkie. He's currently traveling around the US on the back of his motorcycle just to see what kind of trouble he can find."

"So not that different. You are a little troublemaker yourself," Levi teased.

"Who me?" Mason batted his eyelashes.

The little brat. Levi grinned. "Yes, you."

"But…" Mason lifted onto his tiptoes. "Maybe you're looking for some trouble?"

Levi's dick definitely was. "Maybe I am." Levi wanted to steal Mason away just to get some more kisses. Before he did something he might regret later, he tilted his head toward the entrance of the playroom. "Want to meet my friends now?"

"I do," Mason exclaimed.

Their fingers were still linked so Levi tugged his mate toward the doorway. He knew that his family had probably heard most of their conversation. At least the non-humans had. There wasn't much he could hide from the others. Not that Levi liked keeping secrets. He'd tried to keep his mate a secret but that hadn't worked out. Levi had ended up miserable and dealing with his strong emotions alone.

"Come on," Levi said. "They've been dying to meet you."

When Levi had shared that he was taking Tristan to the club, his family had already made other plans. That was of course until they learned that Mason planned to meet Levi there as well. Suddenly, everyone was suddenly free to hang out at the club.

Levi was relieved knowing he would have backup, but he was also a little embarrassed that he needed his family.

There were two strong halves inside of Levi that were constantly battling. The gargoyle part of him was protective and wanted to claim his mate. The other half of Levi had been formed by being thrown out by his birth family and the feeling of failure. That was why Levi was taking his potential mating slowly. He wanted to get to know Mason before Levi introduced Mason to an entirely different existence, including other realms and non-human family.

* * * * *

Mason

Levi's friends, no family—they were his family—wanted to meet Mason? That wasn't too much pressure, was it? Nooooo, not too much pressure…okay even his mental sarcasm was a bit extreme.

Mason was just as interested in meeting the most important people in Levi's life. He was hiding a lot more. Even though this tight-knit group had their own secrets.

He'd been stalking the big house, so he had a good idea of the couples and throuples, and what kind of relationships they engaged in. Not that he could confess that knowledge. It was up to him to act like he had no idea what was going on. Mason wondered how long it would take for Levi to trust him enough to share about his paranormal side or if it would ever happen.

They entered the playroom and Mason found himself grinning. It was every little's dream. Not that Mason knew much about the lifestyle. He liked the aspect of a Daddy and boy relationship because he was sick and tired of having to make hard decisions. Of always being on his own. He wanted someone to finally put him first in their lives. His father had always had an agenda with him and Jason. His entire childhood had been about training. Having a Daddy of his own would release Mason to just live and be himself.

There were three large men on the couch. Two boys lying on their stomachs dressed in cute onesie outfits and another young man in what Mason knew was puppy gear.

The pup had his head buried in the dark-haired man's lap as the man ran his fingers through his pup's hair.

There was no doubt about what the pup was doing.

"Uh…" Levi shifted nervously on his feet as his fingers tightened around Mason's.

The dark-haired man raised his gaze.

"That's Drake and Lawson," Levi said.

Drake lifted a brow. "Problem?"

Mason shook his head. "Not for me. I'll say hello to Lawson when he's not…busy."

Giggling sounded behind him, so Mason turned.

"Lawson really likes playing with his Daddy."

The young man who spoke had a sparkle in his eyes.

"Good for him," Mason replied honestly. He had no problem with the couple engaging in a blow job. Mason himself loved to have his mouth full.

"Watch it, Nate, or they'll be no playing for you at all," the biggest man in the room scolded. Mason had seen him in the woods the night of the shooting.

"Yes, Daddy." Nate smirked.

Levi shook his head. "You all promised to behave."

"We're sorry."

That sweet voice came from the older gentleman dressed as a little. Not only was he older than the others in the room but he wouldn't be what anyone called small. He also had the kindest look on his face as he smiled shyly at Mason.

"Aren't you a cutie?" Mason told him. He meant the words with his whole heart. Mason could read people and this guy had a huge heart. Mason instantly wanted to be friends with him.

The little blushed adorably.

"That's Bryce. Our…Axel's partner," Levi said.

Mason didn't miss the slipup but did his best to ignore it. He greeted everyone as Levi finished introducing him to the group.

"Can I get you something to drink? Juice, water, soda?" Levi offered.

"Water, please," Mason replied.

"Okay." Levi looked around the room as if searching for something.

"If it's okay, I'll hang out with Bryce and Nate. I see dragons. Dragons are awesome."

"Yay!" Bryce clapped.

Nate winked at him.

"Cool." Levi brushed his lips against Mason's temple before strolling toward the door.

Drake gave a low groan but Mason kept his eyes on his new little friends. He didn't care about the sex happening, but he knew it made Levi uncomfortable. Mason was certain at this point that Levi had no experience. He might be asexual or demisexual, so they were going to need to talk soon. Not that it would change how Mason felt.

He dropped down on his butt between Bryce and Nate.

"Hi." Nate beamed at him.

"Hi," Mason repeated.

Bryce shoved a pacifier in his mouth before handing Mason two dragons. Nate had a handful of green army men in his hand.

"We're having a battle," Nate told him.

Bryce nodded.

Okay, so the two littles approached their regression differently. Nate was a little spicy just like Mason and Bryce was a sweetie pie. Mason could totally work with this group. Who knew, Mason might make friends for the first time in his life. He'd always had his twin and cousin, the other children raised in the group his father ran, but Mason hadn't just met and played with friends of his own.

The pup, Lawson, came and joined them while gulping down a bottle of water.

"Are you finally ready to play?" Nate teased him.

Lawson glared. "You're just mad I got a reward for being good while you almost got a spanking," he responded.

"Maybe the spanking would have been my reward," Nate said.

Mason laughed. These boys, they were going to be fun. He might not fit in right away—they were a close group—but Mason had hope for the future.

He'd taken a big chance to escape from his father and the group. For a while he and Jason had just hidden out but when they finally started to feel safe, they'd taken the chance to start their new lives.

It hurt more than he'd admit that Jason had chosen to stay with him. Mason wasn't a leader. He didn't like being in charge. Having Jason escape with him had been how Mason had survived being cold, in the dark, and hungry.

Now it was just him and Mason hated being alone.

He'd tried to fill the loneliness with anybody who showed him interest, but it hadn't helped. Mason had been missing a connection. He'd now found that spark with Levi but there were so many things that they were both hiding. Would Mason get close to Levi and these other men and come to regret it?

That was a high possibility.

Unless Mason was right in his thinking of why he and Levi were so attuned to each other.

Could Mason be Levi's mate?

Mason was unsure if he wanted an answer to that question.

If he was destined to be with Levi, did that change anything between them? How would his past affect his relationship with Levi or Levi's family? All those worries were too much to think about at that moment.

Bryce nudged his knee. "K?"

Mason nodded. "Totally." He tilted his head toward the castle in the middle of the playmat. "Let's fortify our defenses!"

"Fuck yeah!" Nate exclaimed.

"Language," Bo barked.

Mason would have immediately apologized, but Nate, that brat, winked at his Daddy. Mason liked being a little bratty, kind of a troublemaker, but deep down he also wanted to please his partner.

Levi returned to the room, carrying two bottles of water.

Mason accepted his as Levi sat on the floor behind him. Levi leaned against the couch, but his long legs bracketed Mason. Not only did Levi's position make Mason feel extremely safe but it also gave Mason an idea.

"Mountain!" he shouted, using Levi's leg as part of the castle"s defenses.

He might not be a little, but this was a blast!

Was there something older than a middle that still liked to play but didn't want diapers or bottles? Maybe he could ask Levi sometime. Right then it was all about the fortress!

His new friends were on board with his plan to use Levi's body as part of their play. That totally worked for Mason since that meant he could do all the touching that his heart desired.

He might have even accidentally brushed against Levi's erection a few times. Mason could giggle and wink while Levi watched him with amusement.

The connection between them had been instant but this was all about creating a deeper bond. With the way the men acted around him, they'd already accepted Mason into their small group.

Any time someone would come to check in with Axel, Levi would introduce Mason. Levi's delight was obvious. He was proud that Mason was there with him. Mason was wanted. Craved.

Mason was on top of the world at that moment.

All the concerns and worries melted away as he gave his safety over to another man. It left Mason feeling protected and cared for.

As the night went on, the lack of sleep and early morning caught up with him and Mason ended up leaning against Levi's side with his head on Levi's shoulder as he played with his new friends.