Chapter Six
Not exactly how Colton wanted to reveal his cat. Damn thing was so content around their mate, it had forgotten to hide its presence.
Now he wondered how Zack would react when he found out about mates.
He still appeared flush, eyes too wide to be calm.
But Colton didn’t want to hide anything else from his human.
Preternatural were given only one mate, and Colton had waited nearly three centuries to find his.
He refused to screw this up. “There’s something else. ”
“You’re married,” Zack whispered. “Oh, god. How could you cheat on your husband? Wife?”
Colton stared incredulously at his mate then shook his head. “Not married, and I’m very loyal.”
“Like a dog,” Zack mumbled.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Zack waved a dismissive hand. “I fainted. Possibly cracked my head on the floor. Brain scrambled. By the way, thanks for catching me. Real valiant of you.” He rubbed the back of his head. “Thank god no goose egg. My head is already lumpy enough.”
The things his mate said. Colton fought a smile, pretty sure Zack wouldn’t appreciate it at the moment.
“So what else is there?” Zack lowered his hand. “As you witnessed, I’m not built for shock and awe. I have delicate sensibilities. Blood pressure bottoms out and I drop faster than a baby twink on his first drinking binge. Helpless and hopeless.” He rubbed his temples. “Worst night of my life.”
“How many drinks took you out?”
His mate held up three fingers. “Banana margaritas. Watered down. My shame is scandalous.”
Laughter bubbled up before Colton could suppress it. Zack sounded so rueful, as if passing out after downing some froufrou drinks was somehow worse than finding out about the preternatural world.
Zack shot him a glare. “Even you think it’s disgraceful.”
“I never said that,” Colton argued. “Don’t put words in my mouth, Blue.” His lips twitched. “Just wondering how many glasses of lemonades it takes before you’re sprawled on the floor.”
His arm instinctively shot up to shield himself as Zack pounced like a kitten with claws.
That only made Colton buckle with laughter. “Attacking a jungle cat might get you spanked, sweetheart.”
“Insulting me might get you the same.” Zack frowned. “As soon as I figure out how to roll your big ass over. Seriously, how much do you weigh and is it all muscle? Are those muscles even real?” He poked Colton’s bicep. “Sweet hell. It’s like poking a concrete wall,” he said in wonder.
Colton flexed.
Zack sucked in a sharp breath, jerking his finger back.
“For a second, I seriously thought they were about to go off like grenades.” A burst of laughter bubbled out of him, face softening with pure joy.
Colton had never witnessed a more breathtaking sight.
It was forever burned into his memory. It was also in that exact moment that Colton knew he was screwed.
He’d kill anyone who stole that look from Zack.
Step over their dead bodies to keep his Blue safe.
“Only if I squeeze them hard enough.” Colton flexed again. Didn’t care he was preening for his mate. Zack didn’t seem to mind. His opinion was the only one that mattered.
“Careful you don’t detonate. Might damage your face.
” Zack rested his chin on folded hands, right over Colton’s gut.
“I’ve grown fond of it.” He yawned. “So, what’s the other thing?
No hubby or wifey. Can’t turn me furry, which thrills my cockles immensely, no offense.
If you make me keep guessing, my assumptions will only get weirder and darker until I’m convinced you want to throw me into an active volcano like some virgin sacrifice. ”
The corner of Zack’s lip twitched first, then the rest followed, face softening all at once. “Sorry to inform you that train choo-chooed from the station already.”
“Shame.” Colton brushed aside strands of hair from Zack’s forehead. “Guess my virgin-throwing days are over.”
“Finished.” Slim finger traced a slow pattern along Colton’s side. “I’ve only had one boyfriend. Maybe your god’ll accept a ‘gently used’ offering instead.”
“Rather keep you for myself. I’m greedy and possessive that way.” Not many things made Colton hesitate, but hell if he could get the words “you’re my mate” out of his damn mouth. Like they were jammed there.
Fathomless blue eyes gazed up at him. “Is it really that bad? See, you’re making me think the worst things, Colton. Stop making me spiral or I’ll grab another magazine.”
“So much violence stuffed into a tiny body.” An exaggerated purr rumbled in Colton’s chest. “Turns me on.”
“You…are so weird.”
The banter was just another stall. He needed to come clean before Zack accused him of being an alien sent to probe the guy. Wait. Zack might actually enjoy it. Nix that entire thought.
“Colton?” Zack eased slightly away, eyes wary.
“We’re mates.” Fuck it. Ripping off the bandage wasn’t Colton’s usual way of handling things. But this case qualified as an emergency, so he was breaking the goddamn glass.
“Like animals in the wild. Not buddies. Because you’re a cat, black panther, so of course it means the animal kind of mate and not chummy pals.”
“Slow your breathing, Blue.” He cupped his mate’s face, forcing the focus to remain squarely on him. “In through your nose. Hold it in, beautiful. Now a slow, controlled release through your mouth. Feel the anxiety draining away?”
“Not yet.” Zack drew another deep breath through his nose, eyes locked on Colton like he was an anchor.
Soft touches also helped to ground his mate.
Silky skin under his fingertips. A few more controlled breaths.
The tension visibly bled from Zack’s shoulders.
His breathing evened out as the harsh lines smoothed in his face.
“Told you. Delicate sensibilities. Blood pressure obliterated.”
“At least you stayed conscious this time.” He tapped Zack’s nose. “Baby steps.”
“Honey, my ass is still learning to crawl.” Zack curled onto his side, facing the back of the couch. “Really need a moment right now.”
“You want me to leave?” The offer was a knee-jerk response. Colton would leave if asked, even if he wanted the opposite.
“I should say yes.” Zack pushed himself up until he was leaning on one arm.
“My mind needs room to think, but—” their eyes met— “every cell in my body is screaming for you to stay. Why? Why do I feel so attached to you in such a ridiculously short amount of time? Why does my stomach hurt at the thought of you leaving?” His eyes turned to slits.
“It’s the mate thing, isn’t it? Am I going to wither away if you stray too far? ”
“It’s called the pull, Blue.” He softly tapped Zack’s chest. “Fate’s nudge in the right direction.
Our life strands were weaved together eons ago.
We were meant to find each other.” The trick was finding your mate while they were still alive.
As unnaturally long as preternatural lived, there was still a chance your mate no longer existed or had yet to exist.
Finding Zack was like hitting the cosmic lottery. Colton no longer had to worry he’d missed his chance at true happiness.
Not when his very existence was draped over him, teeth worrying his bottom lip. “That still doesn’t answer the question of needing last rites if you trip and windmill your ass into another room. I’m not shriveling up because you can’t look where you’re going, klutz.”
Colton laughed so hard he started wheezing. Zack’s mind was so goddamn beautiful. Amazing and lightweight terrifying. “Why’d you put that image in my head?” he asked before bouts of laughter seized him again. Must’ve been contagious since Zack was doubled over, trying hard to catch his breath.
Someone pounded against the door hard enough to make the frame rattle. Son of a bitch knocked like they were pissed and raring to spread their misery.
“Stay here.” He gently set Zack aside then stood. His pants were still unzipped. Didn’t care. Maybe it would give the right impression to the wrong person.
Before he yanked the door off its hinge, Colton stopped and took a deep breath. Ending someone just for being asshole-level annoying wasn’t gonna wash with the Ultionem. And since Colton would rather not spend time in the underworld being tortured, he slowly exhaled. Didn’t help.
“Wait.”
Colton stuck out his palm, signaling for his mate to stay put. Because if this was the bastard who’d bruised Zack’s delicate skin, he wanted Zack as far away as possible.
Twisting the doorknob, Colton yanked open the door. His gaze lowered until he reached a set of glaring eyes. The way the guy had rattled the door, Colton was expecting someone much taller and possibly built. Instead, the stranger’s forehead struggled to reach his collarbone.
“Can I help you?” Relaxing against the frame blocked Zack from prying eyes.
The stranger scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Zackary home?”
“You are?”