CHAPTER THREE
E amon was at a total loss as to what was happening. How had their gentle and tentative first meeting turned into such a harsh and painful misunderstanding? At what point did things go wrong? He opened the door and stepped in, looking back to make sure Troy was following him. He kept his head down and looked completely closed off.
He could feel his heart tightening with apprehension and filled with a desire to work this out as soon as possible. Eamon went into the living room but then decided perhaps the sitting room he used for his morning and evening coffee would be a better environment. He didn’t want anyone to walk in and the living room was open to drop ins.
“Are you hungry or thirsty, can I get you anything?” He asked and Troy shook his head. He was glancing around the room but refused to look at Eamon. “Please sit.” He urged and Troy sat on the sofa and Eamon took a seat on the coffee table directly in front of the sofa. Troy moved back trying to put as much space between them as possible, but Eamon leaned forward with the intent of getting as close as possible.
“I don’t know why you’re acting so distant and angry.” He began not sure if it was the course to take. “I recognized you as my mate when I got close to the cell. I know that you recognized me as well. There was no slight or rejection.”
Troy nailed him with those dark eyes, and his contempt was thick. It bore through him like a laser. Troy seemed to be under the impression that Eamon did not want this and that he was denying him.
“That was your Beta with you and the cops all answer to you and yet you kept our connection secret. What were you afraid of?” Troy’s accusation was clear.
"I wasn't afraid of anything." Eamon shot back. "I don't share all my personal thoughts and feelings. I just found you, and announcing it to the room isn't my style."
"Yeah, I'm afraid you're mistaking me for someone na?ve as to the ways of the world. I've worked all over the world for the past ten years, and believe me, I know a bullshitter when I see one. Try your excuses on someone else because they won't work with me." Troy was about to get up, but Eamon placed his hand on Troy's thigh, holding him in place.
“I wanted to speak with you alone first. I wanted for us to get to know each to talk and make plans before making announcements.” Eamon struggled to say the right thing because he did not know where he stood at the moment.
"I'll call my brother, and believe me, he will be here within the hour to get me. I'll be out of your hair, and we can just forget this ever happened. No announcements necessary." Troy went to reach for his phone, but Eamon stopped him.
"Are you denying me?" Eamon asked, fearing the worst.
"If you weren't embarrassed by me, then you would not have had a problem stating my importance to you. You would have told them who I was, and I would have reciprocated. The bond was clear to me the moment I saw you and scented your clean, fresh lavender scent. Your hesitance and silence left me feeling less than suitable.” Troy tried again to move away from Eamon, but he wasn’t letting go.
"I never meant for you to feel anything but acknowledged and valued. I'm sorry that my silence offended you." Eamon pleaded for understanding. Troy was still holding back and giving nothing but a cold distance. "In my mind, I wanted to get you away from there, away from those who had hurt you. I wanted you to be here in my home with me, just the two of us. You are my mate, and I will do whatever it takes to prove to you that I am committed."
Troy looked away toward the door and the thought of losing him washed over Eamon. Could it all be over could everything end because of a stupid mistake? His thoughts were racing with ideas, plans, hopes anything to convince this gorgeous man that Eamon Coles would do anything for him.
“Troy Florin you are my mate, and I will not lose you.” He stated loud and clear. “If you think that I don’t want you, you are wrong. I want you more than anything in this world. Nothing will come before you in my life.” Eamon just kept pushing his feelings to the surface not used to sharing such emotions but trusting his mate to keep them safe.
Troy finally looked engaged his eyes took in every expression, every shift and shadow. He studied him and slowly Troy began to let go. His face softened as did the hard look in his eyes. He was seeing him probably for the first time. He slowly moved his hand over to cover Eamon’s a move that brought relief and hope.
“You recognized me but did not claim me in front of your men. I don’t know you, so I took that as a denial and everything after that as preparation for a final dismissal.” Troy explained and Eamon moved to sit next to him on the sofa needing the contact and the close proximity of his mate. The real fear of almost losing him was still pumping through his system and his wolf was poised to mark and claim immediately.
"I wanted you safe, and my wolf was not satisfied. His fear was escalated by the fact that an officer had already assaulted you. We needed to have you here in our home and under our protection. I'm sorry if I didn't take into consideration what my behavior might look like to you. I should have handled it better, but in my defense, I've never found my Fated mate before, and it was rather shocking and amazing and heart-stopping." Eamon ended with a pleading smile that Troy reciprocated, but wariness was still present.
He was trying to understand and that was all Eamon could ask for at this point. He decided to change the subject and do what he came there to do and that was to get to know his mate. “Your brother is the Coven Second, but you chose not to enter into leadership or defense. What drew you to a job so completely outside of your Coven?”
Troy had stated that he was a working fashion model and had worked the world over, so he was clearly successful but why with such connections within the Coven did he strike off on his own. Eamon was simply curious.
“I’m not a soldier or a guard or on the fast track to leadership so naturally my life and choices are suspect to you.” Troy snapped and pulled back slightly. This caught Eamon completely by surprise.
“What are you talking about?” He burst not ready to fall back inside the same hole he’d just climbed out of. “I was just asking about your life I wasn’t making a judgment. Your life choices are your own I wasn’t calling anything into question I just want to know you.” Eamon felt his emotions rising and the craziness of this conversation was wearing him down. Was his every word to be taken and analyzed and deemed a slight from now until forever.
Troy realized that his initial hurt was taking over his every thought and reaction and it wasn’t attractive. Eamon was trying to make amends, and Troy was making it impossible. “I’m sorry.” He said finally and gave Eamon his full attention.
"I'm in a bad place mentally and emotionally right now, and I'm seeing everyone as my enemy, even you, my dearest beloved, and I am sorry." Troy dropped his gaze to where their hands were connected. "My car let me down, I was interrogated and beaten by a couple of asshole cops, I was dragged into the station where the two assholes were joined by a legion of assholes, and then my beloved ignored me. It has been a long night." He glanced up at Eamon through his lashes and hoped he would understand, and he did much more than understand.
Eamon wrapped his arms around Troy and pulled him into his lap. Troy was not a tiny person, although not as large or as broad as Eamon. Still, Eamon handled him like he weighed nothing and cradled on his lap, burying his face in Troy's hair. It was unexpected and exactly what he needed.
“It has been a long night.” Eamon repeated his words on a whisper. “And the best night of my life so far.” Troy couldn’t help himself and pressed into Eamon’s embrace. Being in the arms of his beloved was a feeling that defied description. Nothing and no one had ever felt this right and this good.
"I'm sorry, Eamon."
“I’m sorry too baby.” The endearment went right o Troy’s heart and melted it leaving him needy and wanting. “Let’s start over.” Eamon said and then lifted his head and spoke to the empty room. “This is Troy Florin, and he is my Fated mate.” It made Troy smile. “I will never deny you my love, never.”
"Sean knows," Eamon interjected.
“How?”
"He saw it in my face, and my actions and that's why he sent us on our way and offered to take care of everything at the station." Troy was impressed by the connection between the two men.
"You have a close bond with your Beta," Troy stated.
“We can read one another.”
“I want to be able to read you and fully understand who you are and what you’re feeling.” Troy could feel some of Eamon’s emotions.
“It will come soon. The bond grows every second that we are together. Misunderstandings like those we suffered will not plague us in the future.” Eamon assured.
“I’m sure we will find new ways to irritate one another.” Troy offered with a chuckle.
“I want to claim you Troy I don’t want to wait, and my wolf cannot wait.” Eamon took a deep breath with his face pressed to Troy’s neck. “You are enchanting, and you are mine baby.”
“I need you Eamon. We need to talk but that’s something we can do tomorrow.” Troy turned and placed a kiss just above Eamon’s ear. “Maybe you could show me your bedroom.” That was all Troy needed to say, and Eamon was on his feet with Troy still cradled in his arms and he was racing through the grand structure to a back portion that led to a huge bedroom.
Troy was carried into the room, and then Eamon closed the door and sat Troy down on a cushioned bench at the end of the large, intricately carved bed. It was a piece of art with branches and leaves carved into the thick wood. This thing was definitely a statement piece, and Troy loved it. The bench was an extension of the bed made of the same thick, dark wood with similar branches and leaves carved into the base and the legs.
The bench was soft and lush, and it was a beautiful golden brocade that matched the spread and complemented the colors in the rug and the curtains. The room was pleasant, warm and welcoming. Troy closed his eyes and took a deep breath of the lavender that permeated the room. It caused a tight frisson of desire to skitter across his flesh.
Eamon immediately pulled off his shirt a dark gray henley and tossed it aside while never letting his eyes leave Troy. His body was all perfectly sculpted hard muscle, and Troy felt the saliva begin to pool in his mouth. The jeans he was wearing were form fitting and hugged all the right places, but Troy was excited to get a look at what lay beneath.
"You're a handsome man, Eamon Coles." Troy could not resist the compliment. Eamon smiled seductively and ran his tongue along his bottom lip. He then undid his belt and unbuttoned the top of his jeans. Troy felt his heart rate increase, and his hands trembled with the desire to reach out and touch.
Then the boots came off, and the socks all planned to make Troy sweat as he waited for the prize. He never expected Eamon to be such a tease, but he was quite accomplished.
"Don't make me wait, baby." Troy let the words fall out smooth and lazy. "Show me what you got." Eamon lowered the zipper of his jeans agonizingly slow and kept that half smile on his lips the entire time. His eyes flashed with excitement and need, and Troy recognized the wolf beneath the fire.
Slowly, inch by inch, the zipper moved to reveal a man who did not wear briefs or boxers. Eamon was commando, and it made Troy's heart skip a beat. This man was the wild, untamed lover he'd always dreamed of. His eyes ate him up. This strip was the most erotic temptation he'd endured in a very long time and maybe ever. The jeans were pulled down just a little, just below his hips, and then he stopped. Troy could see the outline of something very impressive, and he wanted to see more.
“Don’t stop, don’t stop.” He chanted eagerly for more.
"Your turn, baby, show me what you got." Eamon rolled his hips and caressed that massive bulge while staring at Troy. "Don't keep me waiting."
Troy tore off his jacket and wildly pulled his cashmere sweater off over his head. Usually, he was very careful with his clothing he liked nice things, and he took care of what he owned but he needed this man more than he needed anything in this world and the clothes had to go quickly.
He stood and kicked off his shoes and grabbed the waistband of his designer pants and pulled them down and off and tossed them onto the floor with his shoes. Unlike Eamon he wore briefs tight red briefs that left nothing to the imagination. The look of appreciation he saw on Eamon’s face made it clear that he did not disappoint.
Silently, Eamon dropped his jeans and kicked them off, taking a step toward Troy. He was hard and pulsing, and Troy wanted a taste so badly. He hesitated for just a moment and then dropped to his knees before Eamon. "Let me taste you." He moaned and reached up to wrap his fist around Eamons thick cock.
Eamon widened his stance and ran his fingers through Troy's hair, raising some titillating goose bumps in his wake. Troy did not waste time and took the prize between his lips, savoring the warmth, flavor, and sensations that rocketed through his system. He held it with one hand and used the other to stroke his own cock, which was straining against the thin fabric of his briefs.
The moment became charged and filled with the sounds of desperate cravings. The need he felt for this man, this wolf, was reaching down into his soul and back to the beginnings of his existence. He took him down his throat, working the firm muscles and stroking the velvety hardness.
The taste was beyond compare. Troy was not inexperienced, and yet he'd never experienced anything so right and so compelling. This man was his beloved, and all the legends and lore surrounding such a union were true, all true, and all amazing. Troy took him down to the base over and over again and was rewarded with the finest moans and groans ever uttered. Eamon trembled and ran his fingers through Troy's hair again before abruptly pulling back.
Troy released him and licked his lips while looking up at him and again he felt the full body tremble pass through Eamon. “You taste so good Eamon.” He said and moved take Eamon once again into his mouth, but Eamon took him with a hand under each arm and lifted him up. He quickly deposited him onto the bed and grabbed something from the small table beside them. Troy assumed it was lubricant, and he wasn’t wrong.
“I want to claim you Troy are you ready? This is a forever commitment, and you must understand that I will never let you go. You are mine and my wolf and I take this very seriously. Wolves mate forever Troy with no one interfering. If anyone touches you I will kill them so answer carefully.” Eamon stood over Troy where he lay on the bed and appeared to be holding his breath.
"I fully understand the commitment, my love. Vampires bond forever, and there will be no one but you and me in this union. Anyone who tries to interfere will turn up missing. I take this extremely seriously, and I'm ready. Are you ready, Eamon, to become the beloved of the vampire?" Troy watched as Eamon got onto the bed, straddling him where he lay with a knee on either side. He bent over very closely, eating him up with his eyes and making Troy's heart race.
“I’m ready Troy I’ve been ready since the moment I saw you.” He said this with firm sincerity and then took Troy’s mouth in a kiss that was fierce and demanding.