12. Chapter Ten #2
Bennett might have welcomed it even a couple of days ago, but he didn’t now that he found his mate. Sage had a thing for Bennett and always had. They weren’t mates, so for that reason Bennett never entertained the shifter’s advances. He did find it flattering, though.
He grunted a noncommittal response and turned to Lucas instead. Lucas narrowed his eyes at the waiter. “I want orange juice. Thank you.” Lucas sounded as if he wanted to set Sage on fire or freeze him with his tone. It seemed either one of those things would work.
Bennett grinned until Lucas turned his irritated gaze onto him. Lucas turned back to Sage. “That will be all for now.”
Sage took a step closer to Ramsey, as if seeking his protection. Bennett’s eyes widened at the realization that Lucas was stronger than Sage. Sage sensed it, too.
Sage looked to Ramsey, who nodded.
“What is with that man? Someone really needs to tell him to keep his eyes in his damn head. If he spits or pees in my juice, I’ll have his head on a spike. Just wait and see.” Lucas took in their raised eyebrows. “What? ”
“Oh, nothing,” Bennett said at the same time Ramsey started laughing.
“And here I was worried about his safety. I think your mate has it all under control, Bennett,” Ramsey said when he calmed down enough.
“Well, a human I can handle. It’s the guys with big fangs I need help with.”
“He isn’t human, baby.” Bennett kissed him again.
“He isn’t?”
“Nope. Snake shifter. Of the harmless variety, though.”
“How can you tell?”
“His smell, for one. Like dirt.” Plus, Bennett had seen the man shift several times throughout the years at clan meetings.
“And do you like dirt?” Lucas asked and opened his menu.
“Not really, no.”
“Have you ever had a moment of weakness and decided to like dirt?”
Bennett smirked. “No, baby. I’ve never been with the waiter.”
“And you better never, either.” Didn’t Lucas know anything about mating?
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to, because we’re mates. You honestly don’t know a thing about mates, do you?”
“Only what you told me yesterday.”
“This isn’t the time to discuss it,” Ramsey’s tone didn’t leave room for arguing.
Sage brought their drinks, not meeting their gazes.
Lucas grabbed his hand when he sat the orange juice down on the table.
He held on long enough to find out if the man did anything to his drink.
At least that was what Bennett assumed was Lucas’ intent.
Lucas didn’t seem like the mean, vindictive type so Bennett didn’t think he was going for a full read on Sage.
Sage frowned and yanked his hand away. “That’s so fucking wrong, man.”
Lucas shrugged. Apparently, his drink was fine because he took a sip of it. “So is openly flirting with someone’s mate.” Lucas met Bennett’s gaze. “That has to be a thing, right?”
He nodded.
“Now, if you do something to my food, I’ll know without touching you, so don’t.” Lucas gave Sage his order, completely ignoring Sage’s surprise.
Sage turned to Bennett, keeping his tone business-like. “What can I get you?”
Bennett ordered, not saying another word about the situation. He barely heard Ramsey as he ordered, focusing on Lucas, who sat beside him with a possessive hand on Bennett’s thigh under the table. Sage might not have been able to see the hand, but it didn’t appear that Lucas cared very much.
Lucas was a sassy little thing, that was for sure. Bennett liked that about him, but he still couldn’t let him get away with grabbing someone’s hand like that and reading him as if he had a right to do so. Lucas knew he needed permission.
“That wasn’t okay, Lucas,” Bennett said when the waiter left.
Lucas shrugged. “He was a jerk.”
“He didn’t know I was mated, baby.”
Lucas shrugged, looking away. His orange juice suddenly fascinating. “I won’t do it again.”
“Lucas, you can’t do that to anyone, whether you like them or not.” Bennett’s tone sound harsh even to his own ears.
Hurt crossed his face. He never said another word after that. Even when Ramsey gave him instructions. When Sage brought their food, he apologized to Lucas for flirting with his mate, and still Lucas never said a word.
“He’s sorry too. He’ll come by your house and apologize later today,” Ramsey would make Lucas if it came down to it. That was clear in every word. When Lucas nodded, Ramsey turned back to Sage with a smile. “You’ll come by the lake soon, Sage?”
“Sure. Thanks, Alpha.”
Bennett leaned over and whispered in Lucas’ ear. “Are you going to eat, or look at your food?”
Lucas turned and glared at him.
“Eat. Now.”
Again, Lucas looked as if he wanted to stab Bennett with his fork through his forehead. How everything had gone so wrong so quickly, Bennett didn’t know. He knew one thing though. He learned more about his mate in the past few minutes than he had after hours of spending time with him yesterday.
Ramsey grinned at him, as if to say he had his hands full with that one.
“It’s wise for you to move in with Bennett,” Ramsey said suddenly. That seemed to open Lucas’ mouth.
“So the overbearing ass can boss me around all the time and talk to me like I’m a child. No, I don’t think so.” Lucas pushed his plate away.
“Lucas,” Bennett said in warning.
“What?” Lucas turned toward the window, looking out at the parking lot.
Bennett closed his eyes and sighed. “Please, eat.”
Lucas turned and glared, before drawing his plate to him once again. He ate without a word.
Bennett sighed.
Ramsey chuckled. “Looks like you have your hands full, Brother. ”
Lucas met Ramsey’s gaze and that was all it took to make the two friends. Ramsey winked and suddenly Bennett was the bad guy in the whole stupid thing. Lucas’ smile died when he turned to Bennett.
“You will apologize to Sage later today,” Ramsey clearly wanted to make sure his instructions were followed.
“I’ll do it before I leave here.”
“You also have two weeks to either move in with Bennett or our mother.” Ramsey held up two fingers.
“The choice is yours, but you will not live by yourself for longer than that. It won’t take the vampires long to figure out you’re here and once they do, you’ll be easy to catch without Bennett nearby. ”
“Yes, Alpha,” Lucas said.