Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hollis

Unable to move, Hollis clung to Taylin's shoulder with one hand and rested his head on the other. He dragged in the sex-scented air of their shocking antics and though his cock had done exactly what Taylin had wanted, it remained hard inside him.

Was that because Hollis remained in shock that first, he'd asked for this and second, Taylin had allowed it? Was it because he could feel where Taylin had bitten him?

All were a possibility in his dazed state.

Taylin's ass clenched and Hollis lifted his head to look at the sweaty, cum-covered man with a heavy-lidded gaze. "Want me to move?"

The position had to be uncomfortable now that Hollis could think beyond what they'd been doing .

He wasn't sure what had come over him—

Taylin came all over you, his animal said in a smug tone.

Hollis ignored his animal, watching Taylin closely to see if he'd start regretting what they'd done. He was aware alphas' didn't bottom, or so he'd always been led to believe. Not that he'd ever thought about it before today. He couldn't quite believe his own behavior when he'd got the need to push Taylin to see just how far the man would go for him. Thoughts of babies would do that to a mate, it would seem. He'd had lots of time to think about it while Taylin had fallen asleep before his head had hit the pillow.

Hollis suspected Taylin's drinking too much the night before was all about what his mother had said, and the conversation earlier suggested he was right. Only Hollis had ensured that the conversation got shelved for the time being.

"What's going on in your head?" Taylin asked instead as he stroked a hand over his cheek, making him realize his glasses were missing.

Hollis didn't move to search the bed, not when furrows appeared between Taylin's brows. "I disrupted the conversation you were trying to have," Hollis decided to confess.

Taylin's frown lines deepened. "Why did you do that?"

This was one of the things he loved about Taylin, he never shied away from hard conversations. "I'm not ready to think about the consequences that we're both responsible for."

Taylin's lips parted to suggest he was about to argue, but Hollis shook his head, desperate to finish now he'd started. "Don't say it's your responsibility alone. I didn't bring condoms with me, despite knowing how things could end up." He'd concluded that at 2am before he'd shifted and moved to sleep on Taylin, exhausted but also resigned that it was an actual conscious decision he'd taken. The why… that was still debatable.

Everything inside Taylin lit up. He glowed brighter than the sun, and Hollis's heart swelled at how fucking lucky he was to have someone who would not condone his actions when they clearly could. "You want my babies?"

A chuckle bubbled up and before he could stop it, it escaped, followed by another, causing his cock to move inside Taylin.

The hand at his waist squeezed. "That's enough of that," Taylin said, squirming and shifting his ass back. "You might not be long, but I feel like I've ridden a damn pole. I'll be feeling you for days," he groused good-naturedly. "I suspect I'll be walking like one of Silas's cowboys."

Hollis's chuckles turned into full-blown gales of laughter at the backhanded compliment.

Seconds later, he lay sprawled on the mattress with an amused looking Taylin caging him in. "It's not funny." He attempted a scowl, then ruined it when his lips twitched.

"Absolutely," Hollis agreed, keeping the smirk off his face for all of a second.

Taylin growled and kissed him hard, leaving him wanting and panting when he rolled off the bed.

"Where are you going?" Hollis asked, suddenly not feeling quite as amused.

Taylin picked up his boxers and eyed them before he sighed at the torn seam, rendering them useless. "Well, I was going to get us something to eat." He twirled the piece of material around his finger. "Only these aren't fit for anything other than the trash can." He gave Hollis what appeared to be a speculative once over, his gaze lingering on his lower body. "Your underwear will not fit me and I only have slacks with me… so…"

Hollis sat up on the rumpled covers, shrugging nonchalantly. "Could be you need to bring some of your things"— all your things— "here?" He kept that thought to himself, waiting and watching the man still twirling his underwear around his finger.

"Are you asking me to move in with you?"

Hollis narrowed his eyes, squinting when his short-sightedness hindered him. Giving up, he glanced about the messy bed, looking for a slither of red. He'd never confess how many times he lost his glasses and part of the reason he chose red was because it was such an excellent color to spot.

There, tucked into the corner of the sheet. He reached over and grabbed them, slipping them on and returning his attention to Taylin.

"Your glasses… they're such a fucking turn on," Taylin said, like he was talking to himself rather than Hollis.

"I hate them, but I can't see anything beyond the end of my nose, so they're a necessary evil."

An unholy, devilish gleam appeared in Taylin's eyes. "At some point, I want to be the one to put your glasses on when I slip my cock inside you so I can see that sexy look you get become magnified."

Hollis fanned himself, sure he had suddenly stepped into a hot sauna. His cock twitched while his ass clenched at the idea. "Yes… erm… right… what were we talking about?"

Taylin let him off the hook and waved about his torn boxers. "You asking me to move in."

"We were?" Hollis questioned, still working to get his head to play catch up after the sexy movie his head was playing for him.

Deep chuckles accompanied the nod Taylin gave him. "You did and I'm saying yes." His nose wrinkled as he glanced down at his come and slick crusted skin. "But first I need to shower…" Hollis's stomach chose then to make a loud gurgling noise, "and feed you. Then I'll take you to introduce you formally to my parents."

"What… why? I know them," Hollis squeaked in alarm, not sure he was quite ready to face either Lane or Derick after yesterday.

"I met your parents officially. Now it's my turn." His tone suggested refusal was futile. Then he spoiled it by adding, "Please?"

Swallowing back a sigh of frustration at just how that request melted his heart, Hollis rolled off the bed. He pointed a finger at Taylin. "I want pastries for breakfast, lots and lots of pastries…" he sailed past Taylin, "and I'm having the first shower."

A grin formed at the complaints that followed him into the bathroom to switch on the shower. He waited Taylin out as the shower warmed up. His animal side fed him playful ideas, all of which meant Hollis would get little choice in saying no. Playing along, Hollis cocked out a hip, recalling just how Wilder did it to get his own way countless times, and fluttered his eyelashes at Taylin. "You could shower with us?"

Taylin stepped forward, then paused. "Us?"

A second later, Hollis was in his animal form at Taylin's feet, then he climbed slowly up his leg, his tongues licking at the hairs as he acquainted himself with the taste of Taylin. When he reached Taylin's upper chest, the remaining cognizant part of him witnessed the alarmed expression.

About to shift back, his animal kept control. Don't you dare, I want some time too.

In the shower… it's a step too far. Even as he said it, Taylin's expression softened, and he cupped a hand under his furry bottom, holding him carefully as he got into the shower. "So, do you like soap or shower gel?"

Hollis's morning euphoria disappeared the second he pulled into the driveway of Lane and Derick's home. He regretted the last pastry he'd eaten as the door opened and Hollis got the impression that Taylin had texted Lane to let them know they were coming .

Dressed more casually than Hollis had ever seen his boss, Lane hustled to the car door before Hollis could throw an accusing look at Taylin.

The door opened and Lane's preferred aftershave greeted him, and he didn't have time to move before Lane hugged him hard enough that Hollis worried for his ribs. "Hollis, you don't know how happy you've finally made me," he whispered in his ear.

Huh?

Finally?

What did that mean?

He didn't get time to think about it when Lane eagerly pulled him from the car. "Let's get inside, it's warm but not warm enough to stay out here." Lane also gave him no chance to reply as he continued. "I've let Bessie know you'll be joining us for dinner. She's cooking up a storm in her excitement at one of her boys bringing home a mate."

Giving Taylin a bemused ‘help me' glance, Hollis didn't get the opportunity to see his reaction as he got ushered into the divine smelling house.

"Popi, give him room to breathe," Jupiter said, sauntering towards them, wearing black sweats and a T-shirt that was full of rips. "You'll frighten him with your over eagerness."

"Don't be silly. Hollis knows me by now and as he's the first boy that Taylin has brought home to meet us. I'm going to treasure the moment."

An eye roll that was better suited to a teenager got aimed at Lane's back when he faced Hollis, radiating happiness. "My boys don't get how monumental this is for me. Taylin hasn't dated for over five years, and I've waited for him to see what was right in front of him."

Huh?

Five years…

Alarm came and went and matched the look that Jupiter now wore as he narrowed his gaze on Lane. "Popi, were you playing matchmaker all this time?"

Taylin's loud "fuck," caused them all to look toward the doorway. "What… what are we talking about here?"

Boisterous laughter burst from Jupiter as he pointed at Taylin. "You've been played," he said with difficulty through the raucous noise he was making.

Hollis glanced between the men, his gaze lingering on a very flushed looking Lane as he scowled at his son.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what brought Booker down the stairs or Silas from a room off the hallway.

"What did we miss?" Silas questioned, coming to a halt next to Jupiter.

"Popi played matchmaker for Taylin and Hollis."

"I did no such thing," Lane replied indignantly, his cheeks glowing. "If I had, they wouldn't have taken five years to figure themselves out, now would they?"

Hollis wasn't sure that was a valid argument when he couldn't decide if Lane looked guilty or not. He definitely wasn't acting himself, that was for sure. He was fidgeting, something Hollis had never seen him do before.

"What's all the laughter about?" Derick asked when he came down the hallway after Silas and Booker joined in with the laughter .

Taylin, dressed in the rumpled suit he'd worn the day before, slung his arm around Hollis's shoulder, casting a look at his family Hollis couldn't read.

"Dad, these assholes believe Popi was playing matchmaker."

Having turned his attention to Derick, Hollis caught a flash of something that to him appeared to be amusement before it was gone. "Popi wants you all mated, he's made no bones about it. Did you pick Hollis on your terms?"

It was Hollis's turn to blush at who made the first move as he tensed, waiting for Taylin's answer.

"Absolutely, and I'd pick him every time."

"Gawd… you're such a sap," Booker muttered under his breath.

Silas slapped Booker's shoulder. "You got that right."

Derick's blue eyes were icy when they shifted to his two sons. "You know karma never misses…" His grin was one Hollis was pleased wasn't aimed in his direction when he shivered at the intensity, "and neither does Fate."

On that, Derick walked to them and held out his hand to Hollis. The warmth he displayed was wholly different than that of moments ago. Hollis blinked owlishly.

"Welcome to the family, Hollis. I'm so happy for you and Taylin's…" The bridge of his nose wrinkled, and a smile transformed his entire face. Hollis got a little star struck. "True mating."

Freezing up and forgetting himself for a second, Taylin had to give him a hip bump to get Hollis reaching for Derick's hand .

"Thank you." What else was there to say?

"Shall we move into the sunroom? Silas, can you get a bottle of champagne to celebrate. Oh, and some of that chocolate cake Bessie made? Also, grab your brothers so we can all celebrate together."

"Cake and wine?" Silas asked, sounding anything but convinced the two went together.

Booker made a noise at the back of his throat that sounded decidedly like a groan.

"Cake goes with everything," Hollis answered, while Derick released his hand to take a step back.

At the same time Lane said, "Cake goes with everything, you silly boy."

Laughing, Lane tucked his arm through Hollis's, tugging him artfully away from Taylin.

"Alphas." He rolled his eyes heavenward. "They know nothing when it comes to cake. Now let's get comfy and you can tell me what plans you have for the wedding."

There were groans, only Hollis couldn't tell if one came from Taylin as he was already being encouraged to go with Lane.

"Better you than us, Taylin." Jupiter's voice carried to them, along with his chuckles.

Terrified, Hollis didn't hear Taylin's reply and went meekly with the force of nature that was Lane, unsure if running and hiding in some out of the way place was possible.

Wedding… who said anything about a wedding?