Chapter 17
“What the fuck happened in here! Where’s Oracle?
” Dakota demanded, staring at the disaster in his kitchen as he stood in the doorway with Slate behind him.
Four pairs of guilty eyes stared back at him, their owners frozen in place while Daniel played in the spilled rice puffs on the floor, crushing them and laughing as each was pulverized into powder.
Dakota’s gaze swept the room, taking it all in—broken eggs on the countertop, their yolks slowly spreading into yellow circles of goo, burnt pieces of toast discarded carelessly, spilled syrup, pancake batter dripping onto the floor, and the acrid smell of burning bacon permeating everything.
“Jackson, where is Oracle?” Dakota asked.
“She had to leave this morning but said she would be back for lunch. What are you doing here?” asked Jackson.
Ignoring the question, Dakota said, “So what…you all decided to come in here and destroy my kitchen?”
“No, Kota, no way! Jackson was trying to make us something to eat, but he wasn’t moving fast enough so we came in to help him,” Zane explained.
Walking slowly into his kitchen and standing in the middle, Dakota said, “How is it none of you know how to scramble an egg or fry bacon without burning it? And without making my kitchen into a pigsty?”
“Why should we? You do the cooking and, may I add, very well,” Carson said.
“Yes, well I think that will change in the future. For now…out!” Dakota said, scooping up Daniel and giving him to Jackson. Then looking at Cody holding a baby bottle, as the formula for Jake and Jessica dripped onto the floor, he asked, “What are you trying to do?”
“I can’t figure out how to stop it from leaking. When I gave Jake his bottle, I didn’t realize it was leaking and now he needs a bath. So I’m trying to fix this bottle while Dylon is trying to comfort Jessica who’s angry and crying because her bottle is late.”
Taking the bottle from his brother, Dakota quickly fixed the problem, then handed it back, “It’s good now, go take care of my niece.
” Then he looked at his other brothers. “Go—no, don’t bother cleaning up anything.
I’ll take care of it. Just in case you haven’t guessed, breakfast will be a little late.
” Shooing his brothers out of his kitchen, Dakota got to work, throwing out all the ruined food and wiping up spills while Slate grabbed a broom to sweep the floor.
Once order prevailed again, Dakota turned to Slate.
“I’m sorry about this and it appears my brothers are going to be my first students.
” Shaking his head. “I can’t believe they don’t know how to make a simple breakfast.” Setting the ingredients he needed on the counter he glanced over at Slate who was putting the broom away.
“Thanks for doing that. Would you like to help me? I could use a good sous chef this morning…Theo usually helps me…but since he isn’t here and you are…
” Dakota stopped whisking the eggs, walked over to Slate and pulled his head down to kiss him.
“Besides, you being hot as fuck, I love you.”
Placing his hands on his mate’s hips, Slate thrust his own forward, their cocks now rubbing each other as he continued to slowly grind.
Aroused by his mate’s soft moans and needy whimpers filling the air, Dakota’s cock responded.
Slate was eager to get his mate in bed for a proper claiming fuck.
Reluctantly, stepping back, he asked, “Can I have a raincheck to continue this later?” Getting a nod from Dakota, he added, “I would love to be your sous chef this morning.”
Looking at the passion in Slate’s eyes that reflected his own, Dakota knew the results would be explosive when they resumed.
Heading back to the counter, Dakota said, “Since breakfast will be late, I’m just doing the basics this morning.
You fry the bacon and I’ll finish making the eggs and toast. The griddle is in the bottom drawer to the left of the stove. ”
Slate found it, and set about frying up a ton of bacon, knowing that without steaks and pancakes on the menu, there’d be a huge demand for it.
Once he figured out a system, he was able to fry the bacon while watching his mate move around the kitchen.
Impressed with how fast Dakota brought everything under control—while making it seem effortless—he smiled at his sexy mate and said “You are amazing, babe!”
Smiling mischievously back at Slate, Dakota replied, “Amazing body, amazing chef, or amazing lover?”
Laughing, his mate answered, “All three, but right now I was noticing how efficient your movements are when cooking. My style is more puttering but shit, you would make one helluva short order cook.”
Chuckling, Dakota said, “I learned this out of self-preservation. When I began cooking for the pack full-time, I was so slow it took me all morning to get lunch made and my afternoon was spent doing dinner. Breakfast was a nightmare because if I didn’t get up at four in the morning, it wasn’t ready on time.
Over the years, I either learned or devised short-cuts so I could prepare a meal reasonably fast. Now, with all the new members in the pack, I don’t panic when another mouth to feed comes along. ”
“Did you experiment with recipes?”
Putting the cooked, scrambled eggs in the warming drawer, Dakota proceeded to start another batch.
“Yeah, I did. When we were camping while building our first pack house, my brothers were expending so much energy I had to make steak for every meal. At the time, I only had a grill, a campfire, and a smoker. My mother’s recipes weren’t working out very well until I tweaked them, so they needed only a cast iron frying pan to make.
After I got the hang of it, every steak I made was perfect. ”
“Would you show me how to do it?”
“Sure, I’ve taught it to Lizzie and Theo already.”
Tasting a forkful of the scramble eggs Dakota was spooning onto a platter, Slate moaned. “Holy shit! Those are so good…what did you add to them?”
Batting away his mate’s hand, Dakota replied, “A blend of pepper and seasonings. How’re you doing on the bacon? If we don’t get this food out there soon, my brothers will be back in here…hey, go get Zane and Carson, tell them to set the table.”
“Will do,” Slate said. “I just have one more batch of bacon to cook and then I’m finished. Be right back.” Slate left the kitchen, and found everyone in the great room. “Food’s almost ready. Dakota sent me to ask Zane and Carson to set the table.”
Snorting, Zane replied, “Finally! I’m starved and if setting the table means I get to eat sooner, no problem. C’mon Carson.”
Slate laughed. “So food is the key for you. Good to know. I better return, I’m Dakota’s sous chef today,” he said, heading back to the kitchen with Zane and Carson trailing behind him.
After the bacon was fried, Slate plated it and set it on the island, along with his mate’s mountain of scrambled eggs, toast, jam, and four pitchers of juice. Dakota hustled in, grabbing a couple of platters and said, “Babe, can you get the rest?”
Everything was on the table when Slate sat down next to his mate, realizing he was now truly part of this unique pack and that his brother’s mate was his Alpha.
He had seen how Dakota deferred to Jackson and this was something he needed to learn.
Slate had been on his own for so long, even staying with his parents during his brief visits was always an exercise in restraint.
But he meant it when he told Dakota yesterday, his traveling days were over. Oh shit, my Alpha is speaking.
“Welcome to the Blackwood Pack, Slate. You’ve already met Cody, Dylon, Colton and Ian, and this is Zane and Carson.
My twin, Logan is in Scotland with his mate Kieran, along with Theo, Norman and Lizzie, Dylon’s mom.
Fionn’s there too; he’s a young dragon Logan and Kieran rescued and was made a ward of Cody and Dylon by the High Council.
He’ll be living here until his future is decided.
The other pack news I have to share with you is Logan and Kieran are having a pup. ”
“Which one is pregnant?” asked Dakota.
“Kieran.”
Shocked, Slate asked, “Kieran is pregnant? Are you sure?” When he saw Jackson’s frown, he added, “No offense, but I was there when Kieran was rescued…the way he behaved…I was sure he was an Alpha.”
“I don’t know the whole story yet, but Logan promises me he’ll explain everything when he gets home.”
“When you speak with Logan, can you send him my congratulations, Jackson?” asked Dakota.
“I’ll pass it along when I speak to him later this morning. Thanks for coming to the rescue this morning and…sorry about the mess.”
“Hey brother of mine, how come you didn’t offer to cook breakfast?” asked Slate.
“Because my mate lost a bet, so he had to make breakfast,” Steel said, smirking.
Chuckling, Slate said, “Then you owe Dakota for making breakfast this morning otherwise you’d be eating raw eggs, burnt bacon and black toast.”
“He’s got you there, babe,” Jackson said. “Hey Slate, what do you think my mate should do to pay his debt to Dakota?”
“Make us dinner and serve it in our room tonight,” Slate responded, after a whispered consultation with Dakota who was now giggling. “We want steaks, rare please, baked potatoes with bacon crumbles on top, sour cream on the side, Caesar salad and red wine. You don’t have to worry about dessert.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I haven’t even made that for my mate!” exclaimed Steel.
“So make it for me tonight, also, and I’ll forgive you for never making a romantic dinner for me until now,” Jackson smiled, innocently.
Maximus roared, his laughter filling the room, “Son, just nod. You just lost this one.”
“I agree with you, Dad, and while I’m enjoying a romantic dinner with Jackson, Daniel would love to be with his grandpa,” Steel grinned, thinking it was sounding better and better.
When the laughter died down, Jackson said, “Dakota and Slate, I’d like to see you after breakfast.”
“Okay,” Dakota answered. “Do you know when Oracle will be back? We want to speak to her as soon as possible.”
“She said ‘lunch’, so it should be soon,” Jackson said.
Nodding, Dakota could feel his brother’s worry about his mating and the gift he would get, but one thing Dakota was sure of—he wanted to be with Slate forever.
And while he knew it wouldn’t be easy having a Dire Wolf pup, his love and trust in Slate would help him through it.
Dakota was also sure Jackson would want to question him without Slate present but he wouldn’t agree to that.
He’d spent his life keeping his curse secret and now that his mate knew about it, there would be no future secrets between them.
The relief and freedom he felt yesterday after he told Slate everything, made him realize how heavy his burden had been.
But no more would that be part of his life.
Slate was watching Dakota as his mate looked down and frowned. Not pleased with it, he reached out for his mate’s hand, relieved when he felt Dakota take it. He wasn’t sure what emotion Dakota felt, but he knew just the thing to make his mate smile.
Suddenly, Dakota felt his mate’s overwhelming love relaxing him and he was grateful for it.
Looking at Slate, Dakota smiled, grateful his mate was protecting him from his curse.
Wanting more, he turned to Jackson and, while keeping his eyes on his mate, said, “I have something to do in the kitchen before the meeting. How about we see you in your study in fifteen minutes?”
“Sure, see you then,” Jackson said, as he watched Dakota get up, pulling Slate with him.
Keeping his eyes on them, he was pleased with what he saw—the closeness, the heat in their eyes, and their private bubble keeping them unaware of anyone else.
Smirking, he could guess what ‘thing’ Dakota had to do and fifteen minutes sounded about right.
Slate was bemused as his mate pulled him through the kitchen and into a small hallway, stopping in front of a door.
When Dakota opened it, Slate saw a small bathroom that had just enough room for the two of them.
Once inside, Dakota locked the door, flipped on the light, then got down on his knees.
Looking up at Slate, he said, “I wanted to do this the very first time I saw you naked in your bed.” Unsnapping his mate’s jeans, Dakota pulled them down, moaning as the object he was seeking bounced out, already hard and leaking.
Grasping Slate’s cock at the base, Dakota whimpered, then leaned forward as his tongue flicked the tip before wrapping his lips around it and sucking it in.
Holy shit! Looking down at his cock disappearing into his mate’s mouth was the sexiest thing Slate ever saw.
Weaving his hands through Dakota’s soft curly hair, Slate used it to steady his suddenly very weak legs as the pleasure from his mate’s mouth and tongue washed through him.
Trying to keep his hips still, Slate let Dakota keep control while he let his need build towards what he knew would be a fantastic orgasm.
His decision not to thrust his cock down Dakota’s throat had the effect of keeping him on the edge, prolonging his anticipation and making his cock harder.
He was now the one whimpering and moaning as his need rose slowly, until he couldn’t take it anymore and begged Dakota to finish him off.
His mate was ready and Dakota lowered one hand to Slate’s balls, enjoying how heavy they were as he gently fondled them.
While listening to more begging, Dakota’s other hand landed on Slate’s ass, kneading the beautiful globes before sliding his fingers down the crack until he found his mate’s hole.
Using one finger to press against the bundle of nerves guarding it, Dakota used another to press against Slate’s taint, putting pressure on his prostate.
In seconds, Dakota was swallowing his mate’s cum while listening to Slate shout his name.
His heart pounding, his lungs gasping for air, Slate was in danger of collapsing and he grabbed the sink behind his mate in an effort to remain standing.
Holy fuck! Nobody ever gave me a blow job like that!
His glazed eyes stared down at his mate who was busy licking his cock clean.
Needing his mate, Slate took Dakota by the arm, pulled him up, then leaned down until his lips nearly touched his mate’s.
Then, slowly extending his tongue, Slate licked them, moaning as he tasted himself, before kissing the lips that coddled his cock.