Chapter Fourteen

Taylin

Taylin jerked at the hand touching his arm and turned to see Lennon staring at him with deep, pinched lines between his brows.

"Is everything okay?" he whispered, barely loud enough for Taylin to catch, his gaze moving quickly around the table.

With the past clinging on with damn greedy fingers, his nod came out as an erratic head bob. Taylin reached for his wineglass and took a sip to help calm his bounding pulse. That fateful night had given Taylin an insight into Booker and revealed the bear Booker hardly ever let out, and for good reason.

A shudder ran through him at how Booker's bear, when in a tear, was a sight to behold. He was one scary motherfucker who took no prisoners. It was a lowering moment to remember his first encounter and being left sitting in his own piss. Taylin's official introduction to the Starling clan wasn't the most auspicious. Although that one act of bravery had changed Taylin's life for the better, despite how they'd all ended up getting patched up in the Emergency Room that night.

Taylin took another sip of wine at the painful memories of explaining the circumstances in which he'd found himself homeless, when they wanted to crowd back in. They worked to suck him to the dark places he'd long since tucked into the box labeled ‘do not open under any circumstances'. It wasn't often they were able to creep out and blindside him, but today, seeing those alphas must have poked at the cage that guarded his past and opened the damn latch, setting them free. They had no place in the present, none. He'd dealt with them and moved on.

He had!

It took more effort than he liked to return his attention to Frey, who gave a watery chortle and dropped the fork he held—Taylin noticed he continued to clutch at Booker's fingers—to swipe at the tears tracking down his pale skin with his now free hand.

"It's so hard to think they don't have any choices." He didn't look away from Booker. "Just make sure to let me know when you are going to do some head smashing. I'll want to watch." The light in the little fox's eyes suggested he wasn't joking and gave Taylin pause to consider what he'd missed from the conversation.

Frey was the flirty one. The one who liked people to laugh. Whatever this side of him was, it differed from what they'd all previously seen and, judging by the interest in Booker's gaze, he liked this side of the flirty fox.

Hollis groaned loudly, nudging Frey's shoulder with care. "How can you look so cute and love violence?" Hollis shook his head, his lips curling up at the edges in apparent bemusement.

Frey's sad expression disappeared and his usual flirty grin returned, albeit his eyes continued to glisten with unshed tears. "There's something hot about watching an alpha kick ass." Frey glanced at the other PAs. "Don't you think so?" His interest returned to Booker, appearing not at all bothered about getting a response. "Big and fierce is…" he licked at his plump lips, "hot."

Booker coughed hard enough that the table shook as he tugged his hand out of Frey's grip so fast, Frey's hand landed with a thud on the table. Booker didn't appear to notice because he was rubbing both hands over his rather flushed face, then into his hair to shove it back off his face. The attention he then gave his plate was comical.

Glad of the distraction, Taylin's gaze narrowed on his brother, watching him closely. Booker seldom gave a lot away, but right now, he was clearly struggling with something. Taylin sucked his lower lip between his teeth to keep a grin in check when Booker picked his cutlery back up and stared at it like he didn't know what to do with what he was holding.

The amusement was short-lived when Booker brought the conversation to the plans for the next day, giving Taylin a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach .

"What time are we planning to go to Brand Alliance's factory tomorrow? I considered suggesting we leave it, but as that would be disrespectful after they were good enough to adapt to our changing plans, twice, I think we should see what they can offer. They may be able to fulfill the brief while we work to purchase Design Detailing & Co. Both companies showed potential, and I don't want to discount one, despite the other company's products being of exceptional quality." Booker held up his hand when Frey's lips quivered. "Yes, I know how they obtained that standard of work! Threats and bullying, possibly more. Hopefully, those omegas, under our care, will flourish without threats. But that will take time with how I imagine those fuckers treated them, and we don't have leeway for that with the Spring collection right around the corner." He finished with a deep sigh, showing his displeasure at the awful situation.

Taylin didn't need to look at Hollis's expression to know he had tensed up. The white knuckled hold he had on his cutlery revealed he was not as relaxed as he had been before Booker mentioned the next day. Taylin didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure which part of the conversation could cause his worry.

"They are expecting you at ten am." Taylin lifted the glass of wine he'd continued to hold and took another sip for something to do while he put his thoughts in order and give himself the moment he needed. "Hollis and I won't be coming with you tomorrow. You can give us the feedback on what you find when we return to Hazardville late next week. "

"What? Hang on, what's next week got to do with anything? We'll be done tomorrow and flying home in the evening," Kodi stated in confusion. A light of interest appeared a second later when Taylin could literally see Kodi's mind working as he stared pointedly at Taylin. Then he shifted his attention to Hollis, who was now dabbing at his lips with the napkin, looking more flushed than earlier.

Feeling much like when he'd been a teenager and getting caught doing something he shouldn't, Taylin clenched his thighs together to resist shifting in his seat. "Something else has come up, so we won't be able to go with you. I'm sure y'all will manage without us."

They'd have to, there was no way on heaven and earth they'd be leaving their hotel room until Hollis was past his heat and the way he smelled to Taylin, they were already cutting it close to get some privacy.

Booker jabbed his finger across the table at Taylin. "Hey, this was your damn idea and after the last place, I'd be damned if you're not coming!" Booker bristled, anger pouring off him.

Taylin refused to be intimidated, even when Rue and Kodi grinned and relaxed back in their seats, looking as if they were preparing to watch a show.

He should have known better than to have this conversation in the busy hotel restaurant, and Taylin mentally kicked himself for his lapse in judgment. His brothers could be loud and obnoxious when they didn't get their own way. He suspected that Kodi and Rue would egg Booker on if he wasn't careful. "We can't come— "

"What he means is, it's impossible for us to attend because," Hollis's gaze moved to Taylin, "I'll be dealing with my heat."

His declaration had as much impact as a sudden earthquake, stunning everyone into immobility where they sat wearing mirrored, shocked expressions.

"You are?" Lennon squealed, the first to recover.

"Holy fuck," muttered a wide eyed Frey.

"What!" Booker barked.

"Well, I never. The quiet ones are always the ones to watch," laughed Kodi.

Taylin held up his hand to stop any more comments, seeing they were attracting unwanted attention by how the level of noise dropped on the tables closest to them. "I think it's time we took our leave. I'll message when I need the plane to return for us."

Up and moving quickly to prevent anyone from continuing the conversation, Taylin was guiding a more than willing Hollis towards the exit. Taylin made a mental note to contact room service and put in requests for meals to be delivered and left outside the room. From past experience, he knew they were both going to need all their strength.

Thinking along those lines got his animal's attention, and a restlessness came with the anticipation of what would happen when they returned to their hotel room.

They'd barely taken more than a few steps when Rue's voice carried to Taylin, "I hope you aren't gonna charge the company for the use of the hotel for these extra curricular activities. "

Rue's grin was wide and cheekier than Taylin had ever seen it when he pivoted on his heel and gave his brother a death stare. "Screw you," Taylin said politely, although his hard stare was anything but and threatened retribution when he got home.

Ignoring the small gasps of other patrons eating, Taylin placed a hand at the base of Hollis's rigid spine to escort a scarlet cheeked Hollis from the restaurant.

"Ignore him," he whispered in his ear, "he was just being a dick."

It was impossible to get a read on Hollis when Taylin witnessed the professional mask slip into place. He silently cursed his ass of a brother as they walked soundlessly through the busy hotel reception area to the bank of elevators, where several people waited.

They entered behind everyone else, but Hollis traveled towards the back of the elevator, turned and kept his gaze forward. Following, Taylin returned his hand to the base of Hollis's back, needing the contact like he needed air to breathe when the doors closed and he got a confined hit of Hollis's scent. Taylin did his best to stop the strangled groan from escaping while he worked to breathe through his mouth.

It was far too easy to distinguish Hollis's sweetness from everyone else. Over dinner, his normal aroma—one Taylin was very familiar with—had definitely become fruitier. In the small space, the change was very obvious, as was just how potent it was.

Intoxicating .

It was as if Hollis had gone for a swim in a pool of the sweetest, juiciest fruits. It made it impossible for Taylin to think logically over the lusty fog that it caused, even when he breathed through his mouth. Each passing second felt like an eternity as his body thrummed, his ability to think beyond the man he was touching becoming nonexistent.

Formidable need, the kind Taylin hadn't experienced before, adjusted his senses to home in solely on Hollis. The world ceased to exist outside of the captivating emotions streaming through him. His animal side paced, snarled, and clawed at his mind.

There had always been a separateness between him and his animal spirit. This was a first where they were in tune with each other on every level. It gave Taylin a unique perspective on the world. His field of vision increased beyond one-hundred-eighty degrees. His sense of smell became more sensitive, along with his hearing.

Acutely, he heard the fast strum of Hollis's heartbeat. Scented his… mate.

At the recognition, a sizzle of sharp desire jumped from cell to cell within him. Frantic anticipation came with the knowledge Taylin would taste, touch and explore every inch of the man—his mate—pressing closer to him. Consumed by thoughts of discovering how Hollis would sound, each whimper, moan, groan of desire, Taylin heard none of the conversations of those standing next to them.

His clothes felt restrictive and Taylin dropped a casual hand over his throbbing shaft, readjusting himself, getting little to no relief given how snug his trousers were .

Hollis's chin dropped and Taylin felt the weight of his gaze on the hand Taylin had pressed to his groin. Tension crackled in the surrounding air, lifting the tiny hairs on Taylin's skin when the doors opened and two women strolled out, laughing. When the doors shut, Hollis made a whining sound, then stepped back into Taylin's body. It dislodged his hand but Taylin didn't complain when Hollis's move brought his body flush against Taylins' when he widened his stance.

The height difference meant Hollis's ass pushed against the top of Taylin's thighs. To aid a closer connection, Taylin moved his hands under Hollis's suit jacket to place them on his hips, bringing the little omega closer. Next, Taylin effortlessly lifted him up off the ground so Hollis could rub his bountiful ass against Taylin's cock.

"Arghhh," Hollis gasped, flexing his hips in a rolling motion, sliding up and down the clothed cock behind him as best he could while dangling in mid-air. Hollis grabbed for Taylin, laying his hands over his and gripping hold. Silky hair brushed the side of Taylin's cheek as Hollis laid his head on his shoulder. Barely a beat passed before Hollis buried his face into Taylin's neck, his lips parting to suck at the spot right under his jawline, where his pulse beat.

Hot pants ghosted over Taylin's neck as two tongues emerged and ran over the fast beating pulse, adding to the sensory overload. The closeness Taylin had craved for so long morphed into a voracious monster. Taylin gasped right along with Hollis as the pygmy loris tongues moved in differing motions over his throat. One flicking over the skin while the other licked a path up to his earlobe .

Taylin's grip tightened, his biceps bulging with the effort to maintain their current position in the confined space. He worked hard to resist his baser instincts when a part of his brain tossed at him the reality that they had an audience mere inches away, apparently unaware they were putting on a show.

No sooner had the thought floated through his head than there was a loud gasp that didn't come from him or Hollis. Did he care… no.

The issue was, he'd been with other omegas in the past when they'd gone through their heat, and never felt an incomprehensible desire to rut. He'd heard other alphas explain the maniacal need. Being divergent, Taylin had believed that was the reason he'd never experienced that kind of driving passion.

It was a mind fuck to discover this in an elevator. He wasn't different, he'd just never met the one—until now—to bring out his full animal needs.

Mate.

Hyperventilating, his chest erratically rising and falling, he lowered a mewling Hollis to the floor, hating the loss of close contact. He worked hard to focus and breathe while getting his brain to figure out how much longer till they got out of the box. It was impossible to talk, to act like a civil human when Hollis gyrated his ass on Taylin's thigh. It became a battle. A war of resistance.

Keep it tofuckinggether.

Only four floors .

Hot and ridiculous smelling skin tantalized and provoked his animal.

Bollocks!

Fuckity fucking bollocks!

Stop pushing, we're in public, he demanded of his animal as his jaw ached. A feeling so deep-rooted to bite caused pain to ripple through Taylin at holding back his innate need to claim the man currently wriggling impatiently against him.

" Hollis," he snarled through the pain.

Sweat beaded on Taylin's skin as he fought himself and his animal. His shirt clung to his skin, and he prayed like a motherfucker they'd reach their floor before he did something utterly out of character. Ripping all of Hollis's clothes from his body and mounting him in front of an audience sure as hell would not go down well.

Come on!

Please, get us the fuck there already.

The doors opened once more and the last two people got out, giving Taylin a look of disgust. He didn't care when it gave him a moment of relief, right until the door went to shut. Instead of closing, a large hand shot through the gap, stopping it from shutting, and an inhuman growl followed. Taylin, fast as lightning, pushed Hollis behind him and matched the growl with one of his own when a huge alpha appeared.

Easily as big as Booker, Taylin didn't think twice and bared his teeth, snarling, "He's mine! "

Hollis pressed against his back, his hands tearing at Taylin's shirt. "Need you," he whimpered, appearing unaware of how serious the situation was.

The air became charged with alpha aggression. The posturing man wasn't going to listen to reason as he eyed up Taylin. How could he when then the sound's Hollis was making were as delicious as his potent pheromones.

"He's mine," Taylin reiterated, snarling, ready to fight to the death to keep the alpha from touching Hollis. Only Hollis was too busy trying to distract him with roving hands.

"My love…" Taylin untangled himself, "we got a situation…" and stepped away from Hollis.

"Don't leave me!"

"I'm not my love," he explained in exasperation, not once taking his eyes from the red faced, foaming alpha who was craning his neck to get a better look at Hollis.

"Get out of my way," the guy snarled, stretching to his full height.

Taylin didn't give the alpha the chance to do or say more and came up on the balls of his feet, both fists raising. He leapt forward and double punched the enormous chest, using all his strength to propel the guy into the hallway. He thanked Booker for teaching him how to do that when the guy landed with a thud that Taylin felt through the soles of his shoes. Back in the elevator and hitting the button to close the door, the man's screams got blocked when the elevator moved.

Taylin snarled in satisfaction, swinging around to check on Hollis. He grunted at the impact of a leaping Hollis hitting his chest. Taylin instinctively cupped Hollis's ass to hold on to him, while adjusting his stance to stop from toppling over. Hollis's legs encased his waist as arms slid around his neck before fingers dove into his curls and fisted tightly enough to make his eyes water.

With no time to take a breath, Hollis slammed his mouth against Taylin's.

"Kiss me!" Hollis demanded against his lips.