Chapter 15
Cody and Dylon left Logan’s studio and met Dakota in the hallway, wheeling his cart laden with food to the door they just exited.
Cody’s eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline as he took in many scents which included some he’d never smelled before.
“Hey bro, who’s that for?” Cody asked, pointing to the food.
“If you brought that for our meeting with Logan, you’re too late.
We’re heading down to feed the twins.” Reaching out to lift the cover off a particularly delicious smelling dish, Cody’s hand was promptly slapped by Dakota.
“What the fuck? I told you the meeting’s over so let me have a taste of what we missed. ”
“Dumbass, this isn’t for you. It’s for Logan and Kieran,” Dakota said. “It’s the first day on the job for Kieran and I thought he’d enjoy having Logan to himself at lunch today instead of dealing with a hungry mob. You know, so he can find out more about what Logan does.”
Narrowing his eyes, Cody stared at his brother. “Really? So, you did this for Theo and Norman on their first day, too?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dakota said, sidestepping the question. “Theo was with me all day yesterday in the kitchen. Now let me go…this food is best eaten while it’s hot.”
Dylon pulled Cody aside and whispered in his ear as Dakota moved to the door and knocked. Dylon smirked, “Glad to see you approve of Logan and Kieran.”
Ignoring them, Dakota entered and immediately took note of the fresh smell and how neat the studio was—a far cry from yesterday. The startled looks of Kieran and Logan greeted him as he pushed the cart over to the conference table.
Kieran sniffed, then smiled at Dakota. “Wow, I can’t believe you made cottage pie for us! And is that barmback I see peeking out? I haven’t had this since…”
As Kieran’s voice trailed off, Logan felt anger surge through him at the treatment Kieran had received by Arald.
Wanting to divert Kieran’s thoughts, Logan took over.
“How nice of you, bro, to bring us lunch…here, let me help you,” Logan said, removing items from the cart and placing plates, silverware and glasses on the table as Dakota set the uncovered food between them.
“When you’re finished, load up the cart, place it in the hall and I’ll send Theo to get it,” said Dakota. “Bon appétit!”
Now alone with Kieran, Logan gazed at the happiness reflected in his face as he sniffed deeply at the scents of the food in front of them. “I’m not familiar with some of these dishes, but knowing my brother, I bet those two are from where you grew up.”
“Uh huh.” Bending over to sniff the aroma coming from a big casserole dish, Kieran said, “This is cottage pie, a favorite of mine, made with beef, onions, peas, carrots and topped with mashed potatoes and grated cheese.” Then, pointing to a loaf of bread on a plate next to it, he continued, “And this is barmbrack, a sweet bread with raisons and sultanas baked in. I love it this way or toasted with butter while I have a cup of tea.”
Handing Kieran a plate loaded with cottage pie and a couple of slices of the bread, Logan basked in the radiance emanating from him as he dug into the food. He sat there, feeling like his world might start to turn vivid colors and his heart begin to thump again.
Savoring each bite of home, Kieran’s eyes fluttered closed as he ate slowly, licking his lips between each bite.
Small tiny moans slipped from his lips as each tasty morsel burst upon his tongue, igniting his taste buds, reminding him of everything he loved about Ireland.
When he finally finished his cottage pie, Kieran slowly opened his eyes and, still licking his lips, savored every last morsel of it.
That’s when he saw Logan’s stare and his untouched plate of food.
Never in his life had Logan seen such an erotic display.
Those plump lips, shiny and glossy, closed around each forkful of food Kieran had put in his mouth.
The sweet, tiny sounds he made while chewing each bite found their way to Logan’s cock making it hard and straining to be free.
The blood had left his head and his mind was filled with visions of Kieran bent over the table as Logan buried his cock deep in him.
At that moment, Logan knew he had to fuck Kieran.
He would never be satisfied until he did.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Kieran asked, afraid Logan didn’t like the Irish food.
Logan blinked. Oh shit! He hadn’t eaten anything while watching Kieran enjoy his food. Picking up his fork, Logan said, “Sorry, I was just thinking about something.”
“Oh yeah? I do that sometimes. My mind wanders off and I get lost in thought. I can’t believe Dakota made this for me, I mean, I know he made it for you too, but he didn’t know if you would like it as you never had it before, but I guess Theo must have told him it was my favorite meal.
Theo would know because when they were locked up, I brought them their meals and it was gruel…
just gruel. So, every day as I entered their cell, they would ask me what was for breakfast, lunch or dinner and it was always gruel.
But one day, I said, ‘cottage pie’ and then the next time, I would say something else.
Of course, they never had anything but gruel, but I told them if they used their imagination, their food would become whatever I said it was.
After a while I ran out of dishes I knew, so I started asking everyone what they wanted for lunch or dinner or breakfast.” Kieran looked down at his empty plate and whispered, “I would have given everything I had just to give Theo, Norman, and the other prisoners some decent food.”
Kieran looked up at Logan with tears in his eyes. “I will never let anything bad happen to my friends again, no matter what I have to do. They are my best friends.”
Logan’s fork paused mid-air as Kieran explained how he’d helped everyone survive Arald’s cruelty and watched as the pain of remembering the suffering of his friends appeared on Kieran’s face.
Without thinking, Logan set down his fork and reached out his hand, placing it on Kieran’s seeking to comfort him.
“I’m sorry you went through that. I can’t imagine what it was like to be subjected to it day after day. ”
Kieran nodded, then glanced down at Logan’s plate.
He hadn’t mean to talk about the silly food game he played back then but somehow it just tumbled from his lips.
Making a note to examine what caused him to do it later, Kieran slipped his hand out from underneath his mate’s and said, “Thanks, but I think you better eat or Dakota is going to take offense.”
Logan chuckled, “I think you’re right. The way Dakota has been lately, I don’t want to do anything that will provoke him to go on strike.”
Thinking Logan was serious, Kieran said, “Nope, cannot happen. Come on, eat! Chop! Chop!” as he clapped his hands to emphasize his instructions.
While Logan finished eating, Kieran leaned back in his chair and looked around the design studio.
Studying the drawings taped to one wall, Kieran recognized several of Cody’s home for boys.
Wanting to see them better, he rose and walked over to them. Oh no!
Scraping his dish clean, Logan watched Kieran walk over to the wall. Curious to see his reaction, Logan sat still, waiting for whatever would come out of that sweet, sassy mouth. But the only reaction was Kieran’s body as it grew rigid. Logan asked, “What do you think?”
Turning around quickly, Kieran just stood there, trying to figure out what nice things he could say.
Nice paper? Very detailed drawing? Oh, shit balls, I better say nothing otherwise I’ll hurt my mate’s feelings.
Kieran decided to say nothing but just smile instead.
Good plan! He’ll take it as a sign of approval.
Logan examined the fake smile Kieran had pasted on his face and was confused.
Did he like the drawings? Oh fuck, I hope not.
Not knowing what to do, Logan decided to go with the truth.
Leaving the table, he strolled over to the drawings and pointed.
“This is a perfect example of a bad design. It meets all of the requirements of the space, but it lacks life…the special touch that lifts a design from ordinary to extraordinary. I haven’t figured out what it is yet, but I will. ”
Kieran exhaled quietly. He hated the plan, but without any design experience how could he tell Logan it was bad? Thankfully, he wouldn’t have to. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. Don’t tell Cody, but I’m stumped.
I’ve been drawing different plans for this for two weeks and they all end up looking like this.
I’m missing something but for the life of me, I can’t figure it out.
” Logan gazed at the drawings, tilting his head one way and then the other, seeing nothing other than what he had already drawn hundreds of times.
Sighing, he wondered if Cody should find another designer for this project.
Maybe he had too much on his plate right now and that was keeping his mind from finding a solution.
But he dismissed that thought. He wasn’t even close to giving up, and faith in his ability kept him trying.
“It’s a dormitory so why should it be so hard?
” Logan said, more to himself than to Kieran.
“But it’s not a dormitory.”
Logan looked at the plan and then at Kieran. “What? Of course, it’s a dormitory. That’s what Cody’s home for boys will be…a place for unwanted boys to live together until they reach adulthood. Why would you say it wasn’t?”
“DUH! Of course, it’s a place for them to live but why are you making it like a consolation prize?
Why not like a fantastic lucky prize they won?
They’re going to feel bad enough just knowing their parents rejected them so make them feel special instead.
Why don’t you look at it as a fabulous new boutique hotel where the boys will feel pampered?
I mean, this,” Kieran said, pointing to the drawings, “just reeks of what you’d expect from a designer who has no idea how special we are. ”
Logan was looking at the drawings as Kieran spoke. Fuck! My pink-loving twink is right! Tearing the drawings off the wall, he rushed over to his drafting table, eager to get the ideas that suddenly blossomed in his head as Kieran’s words sunk in.
Seeing Logan lost in his work, Kieran cleared the table, putting the empty plates back on the cart and rolled it out into the hall.
Looking around the studio, he saw Logan’s sample books—paint chips, fabrics, and everything a designer works with in messy piles around the room.
Kieran started at one end, straightening up and organizing everything as he occasionally glanced at Logan reworking his design.
It was late in the afternoon before Kieran had finished, but as he stood there, he was pleased that the studio was now in order.
Not wanting to disturb Logan who was still working, Kieran retreated to the sofa and sat down.
Soon he was nodding off after the restless night of sleep he had, thinking about how to get claimed by his mate.
Falling over to one side, he woke briefly, tucked a throw pillow under his head, and then slept deeply.
~/~/~/~/~
Dylon popped his head inside the door of Jackson’s study later that afternoon. “Hey, you wanted to talk to me?”
“Yeah, come in,” said Jackson as he closed down his accounting program and faced Dylon sitting across from him. “As you know Josiah’s complaint referred to the pups born in this pack which begs the question how did he know?”
“Whoa, Jackson, I don’t like where you are going with this. I never said a word. I gave you my promise and I kept it.”
Holding up his hand to stop Dylon, Jackson said, “Sorry it came across that way but, believe me, I know you said nothing. But in a way that’s the point. If Josiah didn’t find out from you, then how did he know it?”
Mollified that he wasn’t under suspicion, Dylon thought about his time at Silver Point Pack. “I never met Josiah, and Rudy never discussed you and your brothers except if it related to the kill order…hmmm…but…shit, I forgot about that.”
“Forgot about what?”
“One time, I was out on patrol and it was near the end of my watch. I had just done my circuit, so I was lying down under some bushes, thinking of shifting back when I heard two hushed voices talking. One was the Silver Point Shaman, but I didn’t recognize the other, until later that night, as I thought over what I’d heard.
It must have been Josiah because of the orders he issued to the Shaman. ”
“What did you hear?”
“The Shaman warned of an Alpha who would give birth to a pup. Then Josiah asked how that could happen and the Shaman only said if it came to pass it would mean Josiah’s death.”
“What orders did Josiah give?”
“He told the Shaman to find out more and never to mention it to anyone or Josiah would tear him apart with his bare hands.”
“Anything else?”
Dylon thought for a moment, then shook his head. “That was all.”
Tilting his chair back, Jackson plugged that piece of information into the puzzle and that’s when everything fell into place.
Jackson had already been pregnant and Mystia had removed his anti-scent spell.
And that’s when Steel had met Josiah’s son, Kahn, in the supermarket they’d gone to.
Damn! Kahn would have recognized Jackson’s scent and would have known he was pregnant.
And my fucking cousin told his father! How fucking nice of him!
And the Shaman confirmed it. Fuck! At least I know how it happened and it appears my uncle was playing the odds when he included his demand for my pup.
Jackson sighed in relief. Glancing back at Dylon, he said, “Thanks for the information. By a set of unfortunate circumstances, my cousin discovered I was pregnant and told my uncle. I’m not sure how the Shaman is involved but I’m pretty sure Josiah is guessing about Daniel or Jake and Jessica.
Right now, I think he’s fishing to see if we bite and the ploy about the pups is the bait… bait we won’t be taking.”