Chapter 8
Lowering his face until his lips were a hair’s breadth away from David’s, Zane’s tongue darted out for a brief taste of his mate.
Groaning, he could wait no longer, pressing his lips softly, at first, against David’s, then more firmly as his mate responded.
When his mate’s lips parted, Zane’s tongue sought entry, wanting more than the brief taste he’d savored.
David’s body filled with need as his lips met his mate’s for the first time—his body melting against his mate’s hard muscles, seeking to be one with Zane.
The connection was intensified by tiny sparks of energy he felt wherever he touched his mate—a never ending tantalizing feeling that was driving him wild with on-the-edge lust. The pleasure found by rubbing his tongue against Zane’s was something he’d never experienced before, and he quickly became addicted to it.
So overwhelmed was he in this new ecstasy, he never heard someone knocking on the break room door.
Zane heard it, though, and as the door opened, he gentled his kiss before pulling back amid his mate’s whimpers at the loss of contact.
Gazing down at David’s closed eyes, he smiled at the sight of his puffy, rosy lips, attesting to a well-kissed mate.
Turning his head, he saw Morgan standing in the doorway.
“Uhmm, sorry to interrupt,” Morgan said, “but Logan said David was going to your hotel tonight.”
“Yes, he is. Did my brother give you the address and phone number where we’ll be?” asked Zane.
“Uh-huh. Is David coming back here tomorrow?” asked Morgan.
“We haven’t talked about tomorrow. How about David calls you in the morning?” asked Zane.
“Sure, but can I hear that from him?” asked Morgan.
Softly rubbing David’s back, Zane murmured, “Babe?”
Peeking over Zane’s shoulder, David saw Morgan frowning, refusing to leave. “Err, Morgan? I promise I’ll call you in the morning. Okay?”
“I’d appreciate that, David, but you know you can call me any time you want for any reason,” Morgan said.
David smiled at the man who rescued him when he arrived in Scotland, before saying, “I’ll be all right because the Shaman also promised he’d protect me.”
Sighing, Morgan gave a short nod. “Good. When you two are ready, everyone upstairs is waiting to order dessert.”
Zane murmured, “Ready babe?”
Grinning at his mate, David said, “Yes, I can’t wait to see what you pick.”
“Let’s go, then,” said Zane and, taking his mate’s hand, he led David around Morgan and up to the private dining room.
~/~/~/~/~
Scrolling through photos he’d taken of everyone while they were eating dessert, Logan found the one he was looking for and sent it off to Jackson.
Punching in his brother’s number on his new bug-proof phone Groose and Dylon insisted he use, it was a perfect time to talk while Kieran was making sure David and Zane had everything they needed in their hotel suite.
“Hey, bro, thanks for the pic. Interesting tattoos.”
“Hi yourself. Yeah, they are, but so is David.”
“Whatcha mean?”
“Hmmm…how to describe this? Well, you know he can disappear but something I’ve never read about happened when David and Zane shook hands.
Starting at their clasped hands, a beam of lightening…
or so it seemed…shot out and snaked itself up each arm, then over each shoulder and disappeared into each of their chests, near the heart. ”
“What happened to the beam?”
“Uhm, it stayed there until it kinda faded into them.”
“Did you notice anything different about Zane afterwards?”
“No, he seemed fine.”
“What did David do when it happened?”
“Nothing. I think he was surprised. Do you think it has to do with Zane’s gift from the Fates?”
“Could be. Oracle will be there tomorrow. Listen, Logan, I want you to sit in on her meeting with Zane.”
“Did you tell Oracle that?”
“Yes, but she said it’s up to Zane.”
“Makes sense. I’ll be glad to do it, unless Zane refuses.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
“Ahh, one other thing. After dinner, David misunderstood something I did to Kieran and became upset. So, he disappeared again but this time he took Zane with him. Now, don’t worry, Kieran straightened everything out with David, but let me tell you, it shocked the shit outta me to discover Zane could also go ‘poof’. ”
“Fuck!”
“I haven’t had a chance to bring it up with Zane yet, but maybe tomorrow Oracle will explain how David can do that.”
“Yeah. By the way, Slate and Dakota won’t be returning tomorrow. I’m giving them another week’s vacation.”
“Because of Zane finding his mate, huh?”
Jackson chuckled. “That and the fact Zane thinks David is in trouble. I figure it won’t hurt to have some extra support until you guys get home.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“Not at all, but you have to admit it’s freaky how David can just vanish, plus no one knows who he is or where he came from.”
“True, but I get the impression he’s a lost soul.”
“I’ll be interested to hear his story. Change of subject.
Do you have a problem if Steel uses one of DE’s construction crews to demo and then rough in the two nurseries and bath in the suite I’ve allocated for the twins and Colton’s pup?
The goal is to finish that part before you come home so the design part can start right away. ”
“Cody’s getting antsy?”
“No…more like sex starved.”
Laughing, Logan said, “No, go ahead. Oh, gotta go, my mate just came in. Talk tomorrow. Bye.” Logan ended the call, then smiled at Kieran. “Hi babe, everyone okay?”
“Oui,” Kieran said, straddling Logan’s lap. “Here I am…eager, hard and needy…just as ordered.”
“Good. I like an obedient mate!” Logan growled, grabbing Kieran’s ass as he rose, letting his mate wrap his legs around him, before giving him a swat on his behind.
“Macushla,” Kieran cried, “have I been naughty?”
“Who ate most of my dessert?” Logan growled, striding to the bedroom, while squeezing the perfect pink ass eager for his hand.
“Me! Are you going to punish me?” Kieran grinned, his eyes sparkling with delight as another one of his sexual desires was about to come true. “Macushla, I love you so much!” Kieran crooned in Logan’s ear before licking his mate’s claiming scar.
~/~/~/~/~
Staring at the picture on his phone that Jackson had forwarded to him Maximus could hardly believe his eyes; after all the years he and Mystia had searched for David, he’d suddenly fallen into their hands.
Maximus then read Jackson’s email with the additional information Logan had filled in about David.
Smiling grimly, he quickly forwarded everything to Mystia, knowing she’d appear momentarily.
~/~/~/~/~
Slowly walking through their suite, David was rendered speechless at the luxurious furnishings.
He was fascinated with the fabrics and had to touch each one, memorizing their texture and feel.
It was a far cry from what he grew up with—bare windows and crudely made wooden furniture that’d give him splinters—and he remembered his joy when Morgan showed him the bedroom for rent above the pub and how he thought it was the most beautiful place he’d ever seen.
But that bedroom couldn’t come near the bedroom he was now standing in with its thick plush carpet into which he wanted to bury his toes, a bed so big, he was sure at least ten shifters could sleep in, and the soft pure white sheets that made him sigh when he first touched them—so very different from what he’d slept on most of his life.
Finally, Zane, who’d been following him, took his hand and led him into the bathroom and for the first time in his life, David knew what nirvana looked like.
Gleaming marble on the floor, a large walk-in shower so big he couldn’t touch the sides if he stood in the middle of it and a gleaming white tub, big enough for him and Zane—and probably several others—to bathe in.
David turned, looking at his mate, wondering if Zane was so rich, he could afford this—even for one night.
Then a horrible thought hit him. What if he can’t and is doing this just to impress me?
Or trying to convince me I should allow him to claim me?
Is Zane the kind of shifter I’ve always been warned about?
Oh shit, I should have stayed at Morgan’s.
This time Zane spotted the moment David’s face reflected his worry and, after noticing how his mate had scrutinized everything in their suite, he was betting he knew what caused it. “Babe, what do you think? Do you like the room?”
Unsure how to answer until he remembered Kieran’s advice about honesty, he said, “I’m overwhelmed. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Can you afford this? I mean, I don’t know how much it costs but it has to be a lot.”
“I’m not paying for the room. My Alpha and Alpha Mate are.”
“Wow! Why?”
“Because I found you,” Zane said. “I came to Scotland on a one-week vacation and was going to use Dakota and Slate’s suite because they’re leaving tomorrow, but then I found you.
My wolf told me you were in trouble, so Logan reserved a suite for us tonight, so we could get to know one another without anyone overhearing us.
I have lots of stuff to tell you about my brothers and what happens when we claim our Fated Mates but what if we save that for tomorrow.
Tonight…how about we just get some rest and pick up on everything tomorrow?
That is, unless you want to talk tonight? ”
David blinked several times, trying to process what his mate said, realizing if he agreed, it would delay having to tell Zane who he really was.
It would be an easy way out for him tonight and besides, he needed time to gather his thoughts to figure out how to explain it all to Zane. “Rest is fine with me,” David replied.
“Good,” Zane said, lifting his mate’s backpack onto the bed. “Do you mind if we sleep together? I promise I won’t claim you, or do anything else, until we are in agreement about mating.”
Remembering how good it felt in his mate’s arms back in the break room, David wanted more of it and, since he wasn’t sure what would happen after Zane knew everything about him, he wanted to seize the opportunity to be held again. “I would like that,” David said shyly.
“Me too.” Zane grinned. “You can have the bathroom first. I’ll be in the living room so give me a shout when you’re finished.”
“Okay,” David said, opening up his backpack and removing his kit bag and pajama pants. He hoped Zane didn’t mind if he slept topless, but he was dying to feel the sheets against his skin.
Pouring himself a glass of sparkling water, Zane wandered around the room, sipping it until he reached the large windows where he finished it off.
Leaning against the glass and looking down at the rain-soaked pavement, Zane spotted a man standing in a doorway across the street, only half visible.
A helluva night to be out so late. Wonder what he’s up to.
Then, his eyes flicked up into the darkness of the nighttime sky.
He’d bet anything his mate was hiding something—he could see the wariness in David’s eyes every time he brought up talking about themselves.
Whatever David was afraid of telling him, it wouldn’t matter; he’d already made up his mind he wanted to claim his mate.
Doubts he may have had were erased by one kiss, when his lips touched David’s.
Zane knew he’d never get enough of him. But what would his mate think about the gifts his brothers received and the one he’d get?
He couldn’t put it off any longer. Oracle would be here tomorrow, and all hell might break loose if David found out from her instead of him.
Sighing, he set his empty glass on the table and headed into the bedroom after hearing David call to him.
Zane found David in bed, covered up, looking nervous, but smiling at him.
He grinned at his mate then, grabbing his suitcase, Zane plopped it on a chair, opened it, and pulled out what he needed for tonight.
Deciding to take a quick shower once he was in the bathroom, he stripped, turned on the water and jumped in.
Wasting no time, he soaped up his body before rinsing off, making it one of the shortest—if not the shortest—showers he’d ever taken.
Toweling himself dry, he brushed his teeth and, stepping into his pink unicorn print pajama pants, flipped off the light and headed to the bedroom.
David’s eyes grew round as he watched Zane approach the bed. Giggling, he said, “I love your unicorns.”
“Thanks. Ki gave them to me as a gift for helping him set up a virtual dance club to show Theo and Norman what to expect at a real one.”
“He likes pink.”
“Ahh, yup, lots of pink and in all different shades. When Cody brought him home after rescuing him, Ki showed up wearing a bright pink t-shirt along with a sassy I’m-always-right attitude. I knew right then and there he and I would be great friends.”
“He’s my friend too.”
“I’m not surprised. He’s so much fun, you just naturally want to be around him.
And what he did for Logan’s psyche after they mated, is nothing short of a miracle,” Zane said, getting under the covers.
“Do you mind if we spoon? I meant what I said…I won’t do anything, but my wolf is going crazy with you over there. ”
Smiling shyly, David moved over to Zane, rolled onto his side, then wiggled until he was against Zane’s body.
A low moan escaped as he felt his mate’s naked chest against his back; the skin-to skin contact was making his cock hard and his nipples erect.
Embarrassed, he asked Zane to turn out the lamp next to the bed to hide his response.
He felt one of Zane’s arms sliding under his head, the other landing over his body, pulling him tight to his mate.
Not sure if he was ever going to sleep with all the sparks flying through his body, he said, “Good night, Zane.”
“Sleep tight, babe,” Zane said sleepily, his eyes already closing in contentment.
“You too,” David whispered, knowing it would be a long time before he reached that state.