Chapter Six
Butch
Leonidis was overwhelmed, it was easy to see that. I tucked him against me as we drank, not talking, just watching the chaos of the kitchen. He slumped against me as if the touch comforted him. I didn’t intend to stay long, but I needed his body against mine.
There wasn’t room to breathe in the kitchen as everyone skirted around each other. How did they live like this?
Because we need each other.
That wasn’t Leonidis. Who said that? I looked up to see Maximus’s gaze fixed on me.
You can’t take Leo away from us. Even through the link, I heard the threat.
I don’t want to, I protested.
You do. I can feel your need to pick him up and run away with him.
I did want to do that, it was true. If possible, I wanted to run far away with my mate so the monster Amell would never find him.
Maximus shook his head. He will find you. He has contacts everywhere.
We kill him. That was Leonidis.
I was law enforcement. They couldn’t take the law into their own hands. Thirteen pairs of hard eyes told me differently. They’d all been listening to this conversation.
“He tangled me in barbed wire,” Randy said. “I still have the scars.” He shivered, slumping against Tartie, who enfolded him in his arms.
“He nearly abducted my mate twice,” Gordon barked. “I’ll kill him if he steps near my mate.”
“He did stalknap my mate,” Apollo snarled. “They were going to c-r-u-m-b-l-e him.”
We all shivered.
Glass enfolded him in his arms. “Hush, you don’t need to get upset. It’s not good for the babies.”
“Shifter law allows us to exact justice for wrongs against us,” Maximus pointed out, his eyes burning with anger. “He bullied or hurt every animal in the pride. He stole from me, from them. You know what he did to your mate. We demand justice for all of it and we will get it.”
I turned as the llama coughed and spat something at my feet. What the Great Rhu? Was that a love heart?
Leonidis picked it up and grinned. I peered at the writing.
“What does it say?” Tim asked, all giddy stalk.
“Rumble of the Crumble,” I replied. “What the hell does that mean?”
“Okay, you know, sometimes the gods can get a bit cryptic,” Gordon said, “but they come clear in the end.”
“Gods?” I asked, confused.
“The messages on the love hearts are from the gods,” Drew explained. “I’m just the one to deliver them.” His nose wrinkled. “I hope they give me a break now. The smell makes me want to gag.” He shrugged at my wide-eyed stare. “I know. I know. But every fated pair I know gets a message from the gods.”
I frowned at him, puzzled. “Rumble of the Crumble. That sounds like a war cry.”
Leonidis snorted. “I can live with this one.”
“We could have a song to sing as we go into battle,” Tim suggested, grinning as everyone groaned. He didn’t seem the least bit fazed. “I’ll write one. Tartie could knit us pink sweaters from Randy’s fleece.”
“I’m not facing Amell in a pink sweater,” Maximus growled.
I thought they were all crazy, but maybe they were right. Running away would achieve nothing. It was time to face this monster and deal with him once and for all.
I left soon after that revelation. Leonidis walked me out via the kitchen door. I turned to face him as we rounded the house, and we stared awkwardly at each other for a moment. Then I cupped his neck and drew him close to me.
“One good-night kiss.”
His hum of approval was swallowed up as I brushed my mouth over his full lips. I pulled back. “Good night.”
He took a moment to focus on me. “That’s not a kiss,” he protested.
“Why don’t you show me?” I suggested, feeling him gather his courage.
He growled, then pressed his lips to mine in a chaste but fervent kiss. When he pulled back, we were both panting.
“I think we ought to try that again,” I murmured softly, not wanting to break the mood.
“Practice makes perfect,” he agreed.
I cupped his head and captured his mouth, wrapping my free arm around his back so that we were flush together and our erections brushed against each other. Everything narrowed down to this one moment. To this perfect man—lion who was mine.
I ran my tongue against the seam of his mouth, seeking entrance. His lips parted and our tongues danced together, a spicy yet sweet tango of need.
Now that’s a kiss.
I heard him say it, although I wasn’t sure if Leonidis was saying it to himself or to me. Either way, I agreed with him. The kiss went on until my lungs were burning and I had to pull back, then I rested my forehead against his, breathing in the scent of his arousal. It was heady.
“I think I’m ready to go now,” I murmured.
He gazed into my eyes. “I must be mad letting you leave.”
“There’s always tomorrow.” I kissed his mouth one more time, then I pulled away. “Sleep well, my beautiful mate.”
I drove away before I caved and dragged him into bed. Slow and sure would win my lion.
Not too slow.
I grinned at his plea. Our link was wide open now. “Not too slow,” I murmured back, giving him my sweet promise.