3. Chapter 3

Chapter three

K ing felt like he was doing a decent job of keeping it together on the outside. On the inside, however, he was completely losing his shit.

He had a mate! Not just any mate, either, but Storm fucking Black!

When Skye had assigned him to be Storm's assistant, it had literally been the best thing to ever happen to him. In his mind, nothing could top it, not even if he lived to be a hundred.

Then, only a few hours later, he'd been proven wrong in the best way possible.

He just wished he knew what had caused his luck to change so he could continue doing it. Nothing came to mind, though. As far as he could tell, his life had been as routine as ever until that morning.

Holy hell, Storm was even more gorgeous in person. Tall and muscular, with a dewy olive complexion and dazzling gray eyes, he captivated by doing nothing more than breathing. Even dressed in baggy jeans with a thin stocking cap covering his dark locks, he looked positively edible.

Despite his momentary display of possessiveness, he actually seemed like a nice guy, too. Although King had felt drawn to him from the moment their eyes had met, he'd chalked it up to being star struck.

He couldn't begin to fathom how intense their meeting must have been for Storm.

He hadn't been afraid, though, and despite Damien's concern, Storm hadn't hurt him. Yes, he'd been startled when the shifter had grabbed him, worried he'd done something wrong and screwed up his assignment already. Once he'd understood what was happening, he'd just felt confused.

At that point, he'd firmly believed that fate had made the mistake. It was the only thing that made sense because in no universe, alternate or otherwise, did someone like him end up with someone like Storm Black.

Finished confirming their reservation for later that evening, he took a deep breath, pasted on a bright smile, and went to rejoin his mate. Damn, that sounded weird.

"Okay, all set. Are you ready to see your room?"

Storm swept his arm out in a vague gesture. "After you."

He led the way to the elevators, wracking his brain for something to say. Nothing came to him. Instead, they rode up to the third floor in silence, and not a comfortable one, either. Every time a question would pop into his mind, he would dismiss it just as quickly, worried he would sound lame or ridiculous.

Desperate to fill the quiet, he even considered bringing up the weather. Thankfully, the elevator slowed to a stop with a quiet ding before he could form the words.

"Is this weird?" Storm asked as they exited the cab. "This feels weird. I have no idea what to say."

"Oh, thank god." He chuckled in relief as the tension melted out of his shoulders. "I was thinking the same thing."

Storm laughed along with him and reached over to ruffle his hair affectionately. It felt…nice.

"So, how long have you worked here?"

Small talk. He could do this. "About a year now."

"And do you live in town?"

"Yeah, in the new apartment building off the highway."

Okay, this was easy. He glanced over expectantly, eager for the next question. It didn't come. Instead, Storm was staring at him with his brow furrowed and a slight frown.

The anxiety he'd been feeling all morning bubbled over into full-blown panic. Turning the conversation over in his mind, he couldn't figure out what he'd said wrong, which did nothing to calm his racing pulse. Chewing the corner of his lower lip, he reached up and tugged at his earlobe, a nervous habit he'd developed in childhood.

"Are you originally from Echo Falls?"

The constriction in his chest eased, making it a little easier to draw in his next breath. He didn't release the grip he had on his ear, though.

"I grew up in Colorado Springs." It occurred to him then that he didn't need to wait for a question to supply more details. "My family still lives there."

"Oh, do you see them often?"

Well, hell. Maybe he shouldn't have volunteered information, after all. "Um, not really."

If Storm noticed anything amiss, he didn't mention it. "Yeah, I get it. I try to make it home as often as I can, but life always seems to get in the way."

That might be the case for him, but it definitely wasn't King's story. On the other hand, the shifter had just given him an out, and he'd be an idiot not to take it. Not wanting to outright lie, he simply nodded, letting Storm interpret the gesture however he wanted.

He sighed in relief when he realized the conversation had carried them to the end of the long corridor. Carefully removing the brass key from his pocket, he hoped his shaking hand would go unnoticed as he stepped forward to unlock the door.

"Here we are. Room 317."

Technically, it was a one-bedroom suite with a king-sized bed and a balcony that provided a gorgeous view of the forest behind the castle. The common area boasted a sofa and loveseat upholstered in a deep shade of brown, an enormous flatscreen television, and a small dining table in the back corner by the balcony doors.

He was a little surprised that neither of the principal actors had been offered one of the tower suites. Maybe Skye had reserved those for someone else. Director? Producers? It wasn't his business, and it really didn't matter, but since the towers were their nicest accommodations, he found it curious.

"Take a look around," he encouraged. "If you don't like it, we have other rooms available."

"This is fine," Storm responded without hesitation. "After today, I'll only be here to sleep anyway."

King winced. "Right. No offense, but your schedule is crazy."

To that, Storm shrugged. "It's not like that all the time. Just when I'm filming or promoting."

Or indulging fans. Shooting ad spots. Meeting with his manager, lawyers, or PR team. Sitting for interviews. Reading scripts, or any of the other gazillion obligations that consumed his life. No wonder he never had time to see his family.

Of course, he didn't say any of that. Maybe one day they would have the kind of relationship where he felt comfortable voicing his opinions, but right then, it wasn't his place.

"Your luggage should be in the bedroom." He pointed to a door to the side of the television. "I'll leave you to get settled in." It occurred to him that he was supposed to be available for the duration of filming. "Uh, we should probably exchange numbers."

"Good idea."

They swapped cell phones, each imputing their information.

"If you need anything, just call. Otherwise, I'll be here at six to pick you up for dinner."

Storm cocked his head to the side. "That's it?"

"Yes?" He didn't think he had neglected anything. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"I thought we were going to talk."

And they had. Sure, it had been a little awkward, but there had definitely been words involved. He really wanted the shifter to like him, though. Logically, he understood Storm would have to get to know him first, but that was also kind of the problem.

More than once, he'd been told he was something of an acquired taste, and most people became annoyed with him after the first ten minutes. He'd been in Storm's company for nearly twenty, and he didn't want to tempt fate.

"I figured you'd want to rest after your trip," he hedged as he continued to inch toward the door.

"Do you have to go back to work?"

He shook his head.

There were always things to be done in the castle, and it wouldn't be hard to find someone who needed help. But technically, his only job at the present was to assist Storm.

Taking his knit cap off, Storm dragged his fingers through his mussed hair. "Then stick around for a while. If it makes things easier, we can go over my schedule."

"You have interviews in the morning, then a fan meeting tomorrow evening," he recited dutifully before he realized the shifter had been teasing him. "Fine, I'll stay."

Storm sighed. "If you really don't want to, I'm not going to make you."

"It's not like that." Giving up on trying to be subtle, he laid all his cards on the proverbial table. "I'm just worried you won't like me."

Storm considered his words for a long time before speaking again. "What makes you think that?"

He appreciated that his mate didn't automatically try to placate him with cliched reassurances. Since they barely knew each other, he wouldn't have believed them anyway.

"People think I'm weird." Granted, Arlo was the only one who had ever said it to his face, and he'd done so jokingly, but he recognized the way people looked at him.

"Weird how?"

King shrugged. Where did he even start?

He had a bad habit of rambling when he was nervous—or mad, or excited, or because it was Tuesday. He was annoyingly indecisive, overthinking everything, right down to which pair of identical white socks to wear. He could be childish and temperamental, and there were days when his mood seemed to shift with the wind.

Realizing Storm was still waiting for an answer, he shrugged again. "I think I just get on their nerves."

"Well, you don't get on my nerves."

The unspoken "yet" in that statement was deafening, though neither of them acknowledged it. Still, he preferred that to flowery platitudes and meaningless promises.

Speaking of getting on people's nerves, he did have another concern. One that affected not just him, but Storm's entire career.

"What about your job?"

Storm bobbed his head in understanding as he crossed the room and flopped down on the sofa. "Come here." He patted the cushion next to him for emphasis, waiting until King joined him before continuing. "Now, what exactly are you concerned about? Is it the lack of privacy, or something else?"

"Well, that's part of it—"

"We don't have to make some big announcement or anything. How much we tell the public is completely up to us, but I'd rather not lie."

No, he didn't want to lie, either. Secrets had a way of coming out, and it would only bite them in the ass in the end. It would probably take a while to get used to being mated to a star and the changes that came with it, but other celebrity couples made it work all the time.

The problem was that many of Storm's admirers believed he was in a real relationship with Damien. They even went to great lengths and performed exhausting mental gymnastics to prove their theory correct. Somehow, he didn't think they would appreciate him crashing that particular party.

"How do you think your fans will take the news?"

"Ah, you mean the shippers?" He laughed when King nodded. "Some actors play up the fan service, and to each their own, but Damien and I never have. People are going to think what they want, and I learned early on, you can't please everyone."

King nodded again, but he still had doubts.

"It's also a little different for Otherlings than it is for other celebrities." Storm took his hand and laced their fingers together. "Many fans will find a fated pairing a lot more exciting than a ghost ship."

He didn't know why it surprised him that Storm knew the lingo of his own industry, but hearing it come from his lips sounded strange. Perhaps because the shifter just seemed so…normal. Nothing like how he expected a movie star to act or speak.

King hated to break it to the guy, but no matter how much he might want it to be true, his and Damien's association didn't fit the category of a "ghost ship." They were the real deal. Not some random pairing with only a few supporters.

Yet, he had a point.

It would be a lie to say that humans didn't have soulmates. He was proof of that. Compared to Otherlings, however, they had a poor time recognizing them. Maybe that was why many had become so obsessed with the idea of fated mates, equating them to the ultimate love story.

"If you think so." He still wasn't sold, though. "I mean, it's your career."

"But it's your life," Storm countered. "If we decide to go public, things will change. People will stop you on the street. Strangers will take pictures of you. Some might want to take pictures with you."

Talking about the sanctity of fated bonds in terms of practicality felt a little like sacrilege, but this wasn't a normal situation. He appreciated Storm's willingness to protect him, but if they intended to pursue a real, lasting relationship, they wouldn't be able to hide it forever.

He also recognized the unspoken question that lingered between them.

Was it worth it?

Yes, his life would change in many ways. Some could be beautiful and wondrous, while others might be inconvenient and even outright frightening.

Was he prepared? Was he willing to give up everything safe to walk the path of the unknown with someone he had just met?

Storm wasn't just someone , though. He was a piece of King. A part of him that had been lost, or at the very least, hidden. A fragment inaccessible to him until something bigger and more powerful than both of them had finally rejoined the broken splinters.

Which, of course, all sounded very magical and romantic.

He wouldn't deny that he sensed a certain connection to Storm, a longing both achingly familiar and excitingly novel, but not even fate could fabricate emotions. In the perfect scenario, the tendrils of love would unfurl and grow from their unique bond, but it wasn't guaranteed.

Fate only ignited the embers. It was up to them to stoke the fire and tend the flames.

If they didn't announce their relationship, they ran the risk of it leaking before they were ready. Things like that always did, and the fallout could be catastrophic. If they went public right away, however, there was no turning back.

So, was it worth it?

Staring at their linked hands, he concentrated on the warm, solid weight of the grasp. It felt natural, as if they had done it a thousand times before, and the simple contact filled him with a sense of comfort and belonging.

Next, he looked inward, examining the slow, steady thrum of his own pulse. Despite the worry and excitement of meeting his mate, he was completely at ease with Storm. It might not make sense to someone on the outside, but he trusted the shifter, maybe more than he'd ever trusted anyone.

Searching deeper, he recognized a spark right in the center of his chest, a glimmer of something that felt suspiciously like hope.

He had always felt like an outsider, both among his family and his peers, like an interloper in his own life without a definite place. With Storm, however, he just fit. For the first time in his life, he belonged.

"I get what you're saying, but I'm ready." He squeezed his mate's hand to emphasize his decision. "We should probably talk to your manager first, but hiding our relationship seems wrong somehow."

"I agree, but are you sure?" Storm didn't sound like he was trying to talk him out of it. More like he wanted to be sure King understood exactly what he was getting himself into. "It's a lot to ask of anyone."

"I know what I'm signing up for." Sure, it would be an adjustment, especially for someone who had spent most of his life being invisible. "I'm not suggesting it will be easy for either of us, but I'm not that great at deception."

Storm chuckled. "There's a selfish part of me that's glad to hear you say that, but I still worry it'll be too much." He placed his free hand against the side of King's neck and stared into his eyes. "I chose this life. You didn't."

King shook his head. Okay, maybe he hadn't specifically opted to be hounded by fans and have his entire world turned upside down. Still, he considered that more of a side-effect than a symptom.

"You're wrong." Placing his hand atop of Storms, he turned his head to press a gentle kiss against the inside of his wrist. "I chose you." Then he lifted his head to look directly into his mate's eyes. "I choose you, Storm Black."