Chapter Ten
“We should just do a runner and get out of here,” Rocky whispered in the dim light.
Mal shook his head. After the shower, Rocky had demolished two-thirds of the wings and one of Mrs. Hooper’s dinners. They’d also had a fun FaceTime chat with Ra, Seth and the rest of their friends, including the kiddies flitting in and out of view. It was a bittersweet call for Mal.
There was something so comforting about seeing how life was going on as normal for their friends, even when the world had completely changed for him and Rocky. They’d greeted the news that Rocky and Mal were mates with huge congratulations. Mal didn’t even have to say anything because it was obvious seeing as Rocky still hadn’t put a shirt on. “I like showing off my scar,” Rocky had said when Mal asked him about it. “Our scar.”
But now they were curled up on the bed, in human form this time. Rocky had curled up behind him, creating an almost cocoon with his body around Mal’s. But of course, Rocky wasn’t going to let him sleep.
“I can tell one of those guards outside the door is almost asleep,” he continued whispering. “Did you notice the change in their breathing patterns?”
“Rocky,” Mal said keeping his voice low, too. “Don’t you want to be sure this curse business is over? Isn’t that worth one more day?”
“I want to be alone with you.” Rocky moaned into his hair, his hands warm against Mal’s shirt. “When we go home, you’ll insist we be responsible, and I understand, I do. It’s just we’ll have to go to work, and the kids will want to play with us, and all our friends, and everyone else in town will be side-eying me waiting for me to go near a cake. If we disappeared tonight, we could at least have almost twelve hours together until people expect us home.”
Rocky wasn’t wrong with what he’d said about their friends. Everyone had been seriously worried about Rocky. But Mal still believed that they had committed to an action – working with Doctor Nelson – and that they should follow his advice.
“What if,” Mal said slowly. “What if we stay here tonight, talk to the doctor in the morning and then… then… Cyrus, Nessie’s new mate has offered us the use of his apartment here in New York. What if Doctor Nelson wanted to check you over in a few days’ time, you know, just making sure there’s no chance this curse business could come back…” He trailed off. It wasn’t as though he could see Rocky’s face or his reaction.
“You’d put off going home for a few days just for me?”
Mal tried twisting his head around, but nope Rocky’s head was above him. “When have I ever said no to you about anything? I’m not saying we have to go home immediately. I know our friends want to see us, but… but…” An idea hit him.
“We’re entitled to mating leave and I agree, it’s not like we’ll get any privacy back at the house in Arrowtown, so yes, why not make use of the apartment Cyrus offered us? It’s not likely to be what we’re used to, but Nessie’s plane is ready to take us back to Arrowtown anytime we’re ready. Cyrus offered a car and driver along with the apartment…”
“Who the heck is this Cyrus? How did he get all his money?”
Mal started to chuckle. It wasn’t easy keeping that quiet. “Cyrus is Blade’s father. You know, Hal’s mate.”
“He’s the gangster.” Rocky shot up into the sitting position. “And he’s living in Arrowtown with Nessie? Do we have to get back to keep the town safe?”
“You idiot. Lie back down.” Mal shook his head. “Deputy Joe has it on good authority, namely Doc and Mrs. Hooper, that Cyrus has promised to keep all of his gangster activities out of town. Mrs. Hooper approves of him. I believe a wooden spoon punishment was mentioned, but he’s good people.” Mal patted Rocky’s arm that was back around his waist. “He didn’t even know us, he’s not met us yet, and he still offered his apartment and car for as long as we needed.”
“You’re usually a better judge of things like that than I am, so I guess it’s okay.” Rocky’s breath skated across Mal’s hair. “You still smell really good. I really like the way you smell.”
“I can tell.” The sweatpants Rocky was wearing had no hope of containing the alpha’s erection.
The pressure from Rocky’s hips on Mal’s back lessened slightly. “Does that bother you?”
“No.” Mal sighed. “I’m feeling things, new things I haven’t felt with another person before.” He laughed. “Gods, could this be any more awkward? Before anything else, you are my best friend. I know you’re horny. I’m fairly sure I’m horny, too, but it’s a new sensation going from having a hard dick which is just a biological urge to having feelings attached to that erection and wondering what to do about it…with another person.”
“You know I’d never rush you.”
“I know,” Mal cut in quickly. “I’m not the only one who has to put aside the events that led to our meeting. That was decades ago. We have so much positive history in our lives – face it, having sex, fucking, or whatever you want to call it is about the only thing we’ve never done together. It shouldn’t be that hard, should it?”
Rocky was silent from a moment, and then he whispered in Mal’s ear, “From memory, it does help if it is hard, you know, otherwise a dick’s not going to get very far… If it’s all soft and limp, it’s only fit for peeing out of and even then you have to hold it.”
“Really, Rocky?” Mal burst out laughing, not caring if the guards outside could hear. “Have you any idea how much I love you?”
“About as much as I love you, I imagine.” Rocky’s hips were back to being pressed against Mal’s butt. “Even before I knew we were mates, my dick was always hard around you. So ignore this now, lord knows I have enough times. We can work out what to do with mine, and yours, tomorrow.”
“You’re happy about the idea of staying in a New York apartment for a few days?”
“I don’t really care about the apartment – but I’m guessing this Cyrus is a big shifter which means he’ll have a decent bed. It’s got to be better than this one. Hey, and we get the use of a car and a driver. We can play tourist.”
“That could be fun.” Mal closed his eyes, smiling at the idea of Rocky acting like a tourist in a huge city.
“Maybe Cyrus has a limousine. Oh, my goodness Mal, wouldn’t that be crazy? One of those ones with a sunroof – you know, like you see in the movies where people stick their heads out of them and wave at people on the street.”
“Let’s try not to get arrested. I’ll do an internet search in the morning and see if it’s legal to do that, and then if Cyrus just has a regular car and driver, we can always hire a limo for the day if you want to. Go to sleep, Rocky.”
“You’d let me do it, even if it wasn’t legal.” Rocky chuckled.
“Go to sleep, Rocky.” Mal smiled in the dim light. His mate wasn’t wrong.