Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Elijah almost never indulged in alcohol.
It was too much of a risk, and he didn’t want to accidentally do anything stupid to make people fear him more.
But Isaac was insistent that it’d be fine, and everyone joining them knew what to expect.
Which included Ozen and Avery apparently, because they arrived a few minutes later with more alcohol and a small cake to share for dessert.
Shooting a wary look at Alistair, he asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Eli. We’re sure. Everyone here knows you, and we trust you. Let go a little and have a drink if you want. It’ll be okay.”
With nods from everyone in the group and encouraging smiles from Avery and Isaac, Elijah relented with a nod. “Okay. Just one, to start. It’s been so long, I’m not sure how I’ll react to it.”
He said that, but he’d forgotten just how much he enjoyed the taste of wine. And the bottles his companions had brought weren’t cheap. Elijah found himself indulging a lot more than he’d intended just because it tasted so good.
“See, I don’t think that matters,” Isaac argued with a frown. “They’re your readers. They aren’t going to care if you stick to the same series or start something new. In fact, I think they’ll be overjoyed for a new storyline to follow.”
Avery made a face, leaning a little against his mate.
Elijah wasn’t the only one who’d overindulged.
From the looks on Avery’s and Isaac’s faces, they both were tipsy as well.
“But they’re always so excited for a new book in the series!
What if I pull focus and they hate it? Then I just wasted all that time and effort when I could have been working on a new book in the established series. ”
“I think you’re overthinking,” Maverick said blandly.
Avery blinked at him, raising his eyebrows when Maverick didn’t add anything else. “That’s it?”
Maverick shrugged, tightening his arm around Isaac’s shoulders when the mage slid a little lower in his seat.
Alistair was giving Elijah the same treatment, keeping him tucked into his side. He’d kept pace with Elijah while drinking, but he seemed to be handling it better. At least he could sit up without toppling. Elijah wasn’t sure he could pull that off.
Alistair’s lips twitched like he heard something funny, and Elijah’s head cocked curiously.
They were still talking about Avery’s books.
Nothing funny as far as he knew. Then again, he wasn’t entirely listening.
It was hard to pay attention with a handsome man holding him.
It should be criminal to be that handsome.
Ozen coughed, his shoulders shaking like he was fighting a laugh. Seriously, what was so funny?
He looked around to the others to see if they knew, but they weren’t paying attention.
Avery was refilling his glass, and when he offered to refill everyone else’s, Elijah leaned forward to accept another glass.
It was just so good. He needed to keep this at home.
As long as he was home alone, he shouldn’t bother anyone, right? It was so tasty.
“I feel like we should keep Taron from finding out about this,” Maverick said to Ozen, nodding his head politely when Avery filled his glass. “He’ll be jealous and the whining will never stop.”
Ozen smirked. “I agree.”
“Know about what?” Avery demanded.
That’s what Elijah wanted to know. He thought Taron was nice. Maybe a little overly friendly sometimes, but it was better than avoiding Elijah completely.
Avery’s gaze was a little off as he glanced at Elijah. He tipped his head with a frown. “Does he make you uncomfortable? You just have to tell him, and he’ll stop. He doesn’t get offended. He’s just being nice.”
“That’s not true,” Isaac argued. “He still hangs on me even though he knows Maverick doesn’t like it. I swear he’s got a death wish.”
A death wish? Would Maverick actually go that far just because someone touched his mate?
“Yes,” Maverick said into his glass, taking another sip. “The only reason I haven’t is because he does it in the office. I’m not looking to lose my job just because he’s an idiot.”
“If he keeps making Elijah uncomfortable, I’ll help,” Alistair volunteered.
“Oh gods. Don’t encourage him, Alistair,” Ozen chided. “I’m going to need to hire Taron security soon.”
Alistair and Maverick shared a speaking look. If Elijah were to guess based on the emotions coming off of them, they didn’t see security as being an issue. No doubt, between the elite ex-military member and the probably several thousand year old dragon, they could get past security.
Elijah sighed at the thought of Alistair in all black, sneaking around security to get to his target.
Those muscles bulging as he pulled himself over a wall, deep brown eyes sharp as he searched for anyone who stood in his way.
Maybe instead of an enemy, he could search for Elijah.
He’d find Elijah tied up and maybe take advantage–
“Woah, okay. TMI,” Isaac squawked, waving his hands.
Elijah blinked rapidly, looking around with a frown. He’d lost track of the conversation, too busy daydreaming about Alistair.
Avery’s face was flushed bright red, and he kept shooting glances at an amused Ozen. Meanwhile, Isaac threw back the rest of his wine, his face screwed up like he was grossed out about something. Elijah had no clue as to what. The wine hadn’t gone bad, had it?
He reached for it, intent to take another sip to be sure, but Ozen stopped him with a hand over the glass. “I think perhaps you should switch to water.”
Elijah stuck out his lip in a pout. “Already?”
Ozen still looked like he was fighting back a laugh, which was a little rude, honestly.
If he wasn’t going to share the joke with the group, then he shouldn’t act so amused.
Was he always this rude? He hadn’t heard any rumors, but then again, who would talk about the CEO like that in the office?
They weren’t in the office now, though, so maybe he should say something.
He studied the incubus with a frown. No…
he was in enough trouble as it was. Better not.
“I think I understand now what he meant when he said his magic goes hinky when he indulges,” Isaac commented with a smirk. “Hey, Eli. Feeling okay?”
“I’m great,” he answered with a smile. He’d be better with more wine, but Ozen was being a butthead and wouldn’t let him. Next time, he would reconsider sharing with the incubus. Maybe then he would feel bad and learn his lesson.
Maverick barked out a laugh that he poorly tried to cover with a cough and Avery clapped his hands over his mouth, his shoulders shaking. Everyone was acting strange. Did the wine make different supes act strange? Was something wrong with him that he felt fine?
Alistair’s grip tightened, and the handsome man pressed a kiss against his temple, projecting steady reassurance.
Elijah knew he was projecting it, because Alistair had been doing that kind of thing ever since their visit with Alistair’s family.
He was so sweet. Elijah just wanted to smother him with kisses.
And maybe do more wicked things as a reward for his sweetness.
He never actually got a chance to reciprocate that delightful blowjob. He really wanted to try it.
“I think it might be time for us to go,” Avery squeaked.
Ozen nodded, pushing away from the table. “I agree. Maverick, do you need a place to stay for the night or do you feel comfortable flying?”
Maverick waved away his concern. “I burn through alcohol faster than you do, you know that. We’ll be fine. I assume Alistair is staying here?”
Oh goddess, he hoped so. The alcohol had the unintended side effect of making Elijah insanely horny. He wanted Alistair naked.
“I’m good here,” Alistair rumbled, his attention more on Elijah than on the group getting up to leave. He nuzzled Elijah’s ear, his hot breath on his neck making Elijah shiver.
“Okay, yep. Time to go,” Avery rushed out, practically scrambling over Isaac as they both hurried to get out of the small kitchen.
Their mates followed with smirks on their faces, and it took Elijah a little self-coaching to get himself to stand up long enough to walk them out. That was the polite thing to do.
Alistair made a grumbly sound that said he wasn’t happy about Elijah leaving, and he followed behind him, keeping himself pressed up against Elijah’s back as he waved goodbye to the couples and locked the front door.
The steady heat of the man behind him made Elijah want to sink into Alistair’s arms. The only reason he didn’t was because Alistair nipped at his earlobe, whispering the one word that could get Elijah moving. “Bedroom.”
Elijah nodded rapidly. “Uh huh. Yep. Let’s go.”
He nearly tripped over his own feet in his excitement to get upstairs. It didn't help that Alistair kept pinching and palming his ass every time he stumbled or slowed even a little. Elijah was laughing by the time he made it up the stairs, dashing into his room with Alistair hot on his heels.
He spun around as they entered the room, letting out a squawk of surprise when Alistair didn't slow down. He tackled Elijah to the bed, grinning as he laced their fingers together and drew Elijah’s hands above his head.
“Was this what you were thinking about?” he asked in a low growl that sent shivers down Elijah’s spine. The tone was seductive enough, he almost missed the fact that he never said the words out loud.
Did he?
He had no time to question it before Alistair’s mouth was on his, tongue twisting with Elijah’s in a sensual caress that scattered all of Elijah’s thoughts instantly.
Every inch of his attention was on the man currently pinning him to the bed.
He was absolutely perfect. Thickly muscled without being too bulky, bits of that silver hair falling carelessly into his eyes, making him look devious with that wicked grin.
Elijah moaned as Alistair’s mouth moved to his neck, sucking hard enough Elijah was sure he’d leave a bruise.
He didn’t care. He wanted to be marked by Alistair.
He wanted the whole world to know they were together and that he was claimed by the sexy man.
Maybe he could do the same to Alistair. Would he like that? Did he want to be claimed like that?
Alistair lifted his head, smoldering brown eyes making Elijah melt a little more. “Yes, Eli. I’d love for you to claim me.”