CHAPTER SEVEN

Lowell's apartment was small and sparce, but he made the most of what he had. The kitchen was in one corner, the bath was to the left and the living room and bedroom were one and the same. But with that said it was clean and organized. A few pictures on the walls and a nice rug on the floor made it feel somewhat warm and cozy.

"It"s small, but the price is right, and I prefer not to have to deal with roommates." Lowell instantly fell into explanations.

"I like it." He stated. "Easy to clean and maintain with all the comforts you need." Lowell seemed pleased by the support. It didn't matter anyway because if things went Sean's way, Lowell would be moving to Maine with him in the next few days. That was another discussion they needed to have but he'd wait till after the claiming.

"There are drinks in the fridge and cookies in the cupboard, so help yourself. I"m going to clean up." With that, he disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door. Sean wasn"t thirsty, but he wanted to check out the cookies, so he went to the corner of the room, which was the kitchen, and opened the cupboard.

It became instantly clear that his mate enjoyed cookies. There were probably twenty packages of different kinds of cookies filling the cupboard, and every package had been opened. He would have to remember that and keep plenty on hand. He went through the offerings and ended with one peanut butter and one chocolate chip.

It wasn't long before Lowell came out of the bathroom shirtless and drying his hair. The image of his perfect body and that wet hair struck Sean as infinitely sexy, and he was hard in seconds. His body reacted, and his mind went into overdrive. How could he have him and have him immediately? The driving need was so intense he felt his heart practically beating out of his chest, and most of all, he was speechless.

He popped the last of his cookie into his mouth and stared as Lowell towel dried his hair and his upper body. This was too much for anyone to endure. He walked over to Lowell and took the towel from his hands.

"What's the matter?" Lowell looked surprised at first.

"Let me help you," Sean whispered against his bare shoulder and then trailed a few kisses up his throat to his cheek. Lowell laughed softly and began to sway with Sean"s movements. He was definitely not against the idea. Sean unsnapped Lowell"s jeans and loosened them while slipping his hand inside to cup one firm round cheek and squeezing it tightly. "Oh, yes, a perfect handful."

Lowell responded by unfastening Sean"s jeans and, with breathless determination, pushed them down to his thighs. It was clear that his desire was matching Sean"s, so he helped him by kicking off his boots and then his jeans and quickly pulling his shirt off and tossing it aside. He stood naked in front of Lowell, and the effect was magnificent.

"Oh my God you're gorgeous." Lowell groaned. And reached out to run his hands down Sean's front stopping just above the waist. "I dreamed about this before I ever met you. I knew you when I saw you yesterday you were my dream man."

"Fate was preparing you." Sean wasn"t surprised by the dream, considering Lowell"s ability. Fate had used it to feed their connection.

"You're just as amazing as you were in my dream." Sean chuckled

"Let"s get you out of these jeans," Sean told him and then grabbed the waistband and pulled them to his ankles in one. Lowell kicked them off. He was now wearing only a pair of thin blue briefs. Sean cupped Lowell"s growing bulge through the thin fabric and massaged it vigorously. It hardened in a heartbeat, and Lowell moaned, sudden sensations rushing through him. Sean quickly removed Lowell"s briefs, leaving him naked and wanting there before him. It was a gorgeous sight.

Sean tossed Lowell backward, and he fell onto the bed, sprawling his arms and legs. "Stay just like that baby." He said while retrieving the tube of lube from his pants pocket. He then dropped onto one knee on the bed strategically between Lowell"s thighs. He then bent and took his lips in a deep, voracious kiss. He couldn"t get enough of him, and he wanted Lowell to get every inch of him.

Lowell was panting loudly, and it fed Sean"s own need for more and faster. He lifted Lowell"s legs up and held them while searching out his tantalizing hole. "Yes, there you are." He teased the area and then abruptly thrust two lubed fingers inside, causing Lowell to rear off the bed and then slowly settle himself back down.

"That was explosive," Lowell mumbled as words started to get difficult, and his body began to tremble. Sean took the opportunity to move forward, dropping Lowell"s legs to the side and using his other hand to gently begin to stroke that hard, leaking cock. He stroked himself a couple of times, covering his cock in plenty of lubricant, and then back to Lowell while stretching and teasing his tight hole. Lowell kept reaching for him mindlessly, begging for more. He was becoming lost in the throes of desire.

"Soon, baby, soon," He crooned. Lowell jutted his hips, trying to get Sean"s fingers to go deeper, so Sean thrust hard and fast, pumping in and out, sensitizing the area and bringing Lowell to sexy moans and gasps. "I love the way you react to my touch. So responsive, so beautiful."

Lowell closed his eyes and opened his mouth on a sharp intake. "I need you so badly, Sean." He stated and Sean noticed a fine sweat forming on his brow and upper lip. The room was heating up. He was a vision and Sean would not deny him.

"I need you too." Sean was serious, and his body was about to burst into flames. The power of Fate was staggering, and when she put two people together, she wasn"t kidding around because this was mighty intoxicating. He rained kisses across Lowell"s lips along his jaw and down his neck, stopping to whisper in his ear. "I"m going to claim you, Lowell. You are the wolf"s mate, and you will wear his mark and feel the bond. Are you ready?"

"I"m ready, Sean. I want to be your mate, and I want to be yours." Lowell began to stroke his own cock and continued to thrust, taking Sean"s finger deep in his channel. "I"m ready." He repeated wantonly.

Sean removed his fingers, and after just a moment"s hesitation, he plunged his hard cock deep inside Lowell. He felt the tightness gripping him and the warmth enticing him as he buried himself to the hilt. The sensitive flesh burned with a rush of sensations, and he held himself still for just a moment while Lowell adjusted to the invasion.

Lowell had cried out tight and sharp and then fell into a salacious moan that signaled his pleasure and satisfaction. Sean pulled out and then slammed in once again, bracing his elbows on the bed and hovering over Lowell, watching his face, gauging his delight and approval.

He steadily picked up speed, hammering his lover"s hole mercilessly, stretching and filling him full. Lowell was panting and gripping Sean"s arms and digging in his nails. The slight bit of pain put Sean instantly on the edge of release.

"I'm going to claim you, my love," Sean stated again in order to prepare his little lover for what was to come. Lowell"s cock was rock hard, red, and throbbing. It wouldn"t take much. Sean continued a steady rhythm of rapid thrusts, stretching Lowell"s tight hole and pushing them both even closer to the edge.

"Yes, Sean, yes." Lowell"s words were clipped and tight, but they said everything Sean needed to hear. Sean thrust his cock hard, going deep, and held his breath as his climax overtook him. It was a thunderous release coming in powerful streams, filling his little lover full of his hot seed, claiming him as his own. Sean wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight, and sunk his teeth into Lowell"s shoulder. He bit him marking his lover, his mate, for all time.

He felt the moment Lowell came; he stiffened and jerked, and a tangy warmth spread between them. The scents filling the room were mind-blowing. The air was thick with love and promise. His future flashed before his eyes, and it was wonderful. Their hearts and mind connected, and their souls touched the bond was complete and their lives would forever be one.

Sean licked the wound until it was healed and left a small but noticeable scar. It would tell everyone that Lowell was the wolf"s mate. He slowly pulled out and rolled to lie next to Lowell, pulling him close and dropping warm, wet kisses on his face and chest.

"You taste incredible. I love kissing you, and I love making love to you. Your body was made for me, baby." Sean rambled, and Lowell moved close, tucking his face into the crook of Sean"s neck. He took several deep breaths and announced how sweet he smelled.

"Your scent makes me tremble like an aphrodisiac," Lowell stated and kissed Sean"s shoulder. "That bite was painful at first, and then it exploded into the most titillating experience I"ve ever had. It made my entire body sizzle with a sexual sensation. It was fantastic."

Lowell's hands were everywhere, and Sean was loving every minute of this easy, unrestrained and loving interaction. "I feel you in my mind so clearly now. Your emotions and moods are coming through, and I feel as if you can read me too."

"I can, but not specifics. Fate would not allow us to read each other"s minds. She puts limits on intrusive behavior between mates, but she allows us to know one another, and in time, we will be able to transmit feelings and thoughts to one another. It"s a process and grows as time goes on." Sean pulled him tighter to his side and pushed his dark hair back from his face.

"Your beauty takes my breath away, Lowell." He said and then added. "Fate was too generous you are more than I ever expected or earned, but I am so glad that you're mine."

"You say such sweet thing." Lowell demurred and Sean thought it was charming. "I'm still not sure about everything but I'm sure about you and I'm sure I never want to lose you and that's all I need right now."

"Your beauty is only exceeded by your kindness and intelligence. I love every inch of you." Sean placed another kiss on those kiss-swollen lips, drinking in the flavor and essence that was his Fated mate.

"I have so many feelings running through me right now," Lowell confessed. "What does it mean?"

"Our bond is complete, and we are now one in our hearts and minds." Sean began his explanation, covering the points he had not touched on earlier. "Werewolves and other paranormal beings have longer than average life spans, and that is one of the reasons Fate gifts us with mates. Now that we are bonded, your life span will extend to match mine. Also, your healing abilities will improve, and you will experience little or no sickness." He paused, and Lowell turned to look up at him.

"Those are some serious perks." He said and then added. "How old are you?"

"I"m one hundred and twelve years old."

"One-hundred and twelve," Lowell repeated, a little shocked, and Sean nodded.

"Shifters live very long lives. I'm considered a young shifter."

"How long?"

"My Alpha is over five hundred years old, and he is still strong and vital."

"That's astounding."

"You"ll get used to it all. I"m sure I"m forgetting some things, but we have a lifetime to figure it all out and to get it right." Sean smiled and rolled on top of Lowell. "You look lovely, all naked, wearing nothing but my claiming mark." He nuzzled his nose into the crook of Lowell"s neck, bathing the sensitive flesh with this warm breath.

They lay holding each other for several minutes and relax. Sean had promised Lowell lunch, but he would so much rather stay where they were and make love the rest of the afternoon. He was just about to suggest such when his phone rang. He reached over the edge of the bed and retrieved his phone and saw that it was Eamon.

"Hello," he answered, "What did you find?" But it wasn"t Eamon on the line. It was Noah using Eamon"s phone.

"Eamon is missing." He got right to the point.

"What?"

"We were investigating the area and split up, but now he"s gone."

"Are you sure?" That was stupid, but Sean needed to say it. Noah was a skilled tracker, so yes, he would be sure before he called.

"There is a sign of a scuffle but no scent, just the bear scent again, like with Murphy." That had Sean"s heart surging into his throat.

"Stay where you are; I"ll be right there." Sean closed the call and turned to Lowell.

"I"m sorry, sweetheart, but I have to leave you." He sat up and quickly got dressed.

"I heard," Lowell told him. "Go, I hope he is okay." Lowell"s kind heart was always on display.

"It pains me to leave you." He said, bent to take Lowell"s lips in another heart-stopping kiss. The man was so pure and lovely and the sexiest thing alive.

"Go, hurry." Lowell insisted.

Lowell could see the anger and concern clouding his lovers' eyes. He could not place demands or complain. He needed to go to his friend and Lowell completely understood. With that said he started missing him the minute he walked out the door.

He looked down at himself and decided a shower was probably the first order of business and then he"d go find some lunch. He wasn"t in the mood for fast food so he would probably go to the café across the street. He was trying to keep his mind off whatever was happening with Eamon and the pack and how it was going to affect Sean. Fear of something happening to the man started to take root along with the fear of losing him.

This bonding situation really heightened his feelings of love, commitment, and worth. This relationship was becoming the forceful center of his life as his heart and mind wrapped around that beautiful wolf shifter, Sean Brendon.

He would have to tell John and Patrick about Sean all at some point and he hoped that they accepted him since they all work together. He couldn't imagine not liking someone as wonderful as Sean, so he put the concern aside.

It was then he remembered Sean saying he lived in a small town in Maine and was a member of a pack there. This relationship was solid, he knew that right down to his bones. He had no doubts about him and Sean and the together forever chant that Sean had whispered, so one of them would be expected to move. He grabbed his towel and headed for the bathroom. They had a few things to discuss but that was just details for the heart of the matter was already secured.

He was all showered and dressed and sitting on the edge of his bed, tying his tennis shoes, when he heard someone at his door. They didn"t knock, but this was an old building, and he could feel the movement on the floorboards when someone walked by his door. Whoever they were, they were standing there, shifting from one foot to the other but not bothering to knock.

There was no peephole, so he got up and walked carefully and quietly closer to the door to see if he could hear anything. The second he got too close to the door, it burst open, cracking him on the skull and knocking him backward onto the floor. It was a setup.

Two men rushed inside and grabbed him, holding him between them, and hurried him out of the building and into a waiting vehicle. Lowell tried to resist, but he was half unconscious from the blow to his head. They threw him into the back seat and sped off.

"Who are you?" He managed to verbalize a few words.

"Shut the fuck up, or we"ll kill you right here." The one driving shouted. The other one leaned closer to the driver and spoke.

"Too bad you hadn"t kicked that door a little harder. That door would have killed him, and we wouldn"t have to be dealing with him now." The driver nodded.

"That would have made things easier, but Jaron wants the human alive, so he wouldn"t have been happy."

"He would have gotten over it, but as long as we start the war, he won"t care how we got there." The guy snickered.

"You do make a lot of sense." The driver was seriously considering offing him right now. Lowell decided to stay still and quiet until he could think of a way out of this mess.