Chapter Six
Saturday morning finally arrived. Elouan studied his wardrobe. T-shirt one? Coffee stains. Second choice? Too many rips. Speaking of rips, should he wear torn jeans or new ones?
He didn’t accept your offer for your clothes, he reminded himself.
Okay, faded but intact jeans and a T-shirt advertising the local Harley shop.
The wall clock stopped him three different times from dashing out the door too early.
Finally, a reasonable time arrived, and he donned his leather jacket, hopped on his Harley, and made his way to Coffee, Tea, and More.
His heartbeat kicked up a notch when he spotted Jules outside the coffee shop, and a smile bloomed to life before he realized it. Sunrise had nothing on Jules.
Fallen leaves littered the sidewalk, and most patrons wore jackets.
The scent of pumpkin spice escaped every time the coffee shop door opened.
Small centerpieces graced each table, made up of some form of pumpkin decorated with fake leaves and flowers, bringing back memories of first encountering Halloween three years ago.
Curtis was a huge fan. Elouan had eaten three pumpkins before Curtis finally explained they were only for decoration. Good. The shells were hard, and they didn’t taste very good.
His dragon thought hams might work better than pumpkins. They’d be tastier, too.
Elouan sat down across from Jules, two cups and Danishes already on the table. He took a sip of the coffee. Ah, just the way he liked. Jules remembered. Elouan always swore Curtis made the best coffee. The coffee shop came close.
“Your aunt let you out of the house, I see.”
Jules winced, face scrunching adorably. “She might be strict, but I believe she and Uncle Ray really do have my best interests at heart.”
“Are they your only family?”
“I have an older brother, Don. Much older.”
Don. Don Carter. He must be someone important if he took such drastic measures to keep his brother safe. Since Jules didn’t mention his parents, Elouan wouldn’t either. “What’s your brother like?”
Jules let out a long sigh. “I don’t actually know.
I don’t remember him. He’s been gone a long time.
Busy, gone. Not gone, gone,” he clarified.
“My aunt and uncle are great people; they just need to relax and understand I can look out for myself.” Jules cast his eyes downward. “Well, except for the other night.”
“Accepting help doesn’t mean you can’t or didn’t take care of yourself.
You made some good decisions.” Although Elouan still shuddered to think of what might have happened if he’d not stumbled upon the scene when he did.
But on second thought, what would have happened if Elouan had waited a few more seconds before making his presence known?
Jules wouldn’t have gone down without a fight, of that he was sure.
And while the human attackers had only been the equivalent of betas, they didn’t seem to understand their place in the world.
Betas were warriors by nature but were supposed to use their skills for the good of the court, not to harm others.
Especially not an omega, the lifeblood of the court. Elouan also tried not to think too hard about the compulsion that drove him to the alley in the first place.
“Maybe,” Jules said, something undefinable twinkling in his eyes.
What? Oh! Allowing Elouan to walk him home. A comment for Elouan to mull over later. “Where is this brother of yours? Don’t you ever see him?”
“No.” Jules paused for a moment, looking right and left. Passersby kept on going, not paying any attention to Jules and Elouan. He focused his blue-eyed gaze on Elouan. “Ready for more drama than any reality show, and to know too much about me?”
“All families bring drama, and you could never tell me too much about you.”
Jules gave a part grimace, part grin. “Remember, you asked for it. Anyway, my parents were involved in some…things, so my brother sent me here to live with Aunt Moira and Uncle Ray. My parents died, but I don’t really know how.
Some kind of accident, I think. The last time she heard from him, Moira told me that someone had murdered Don’s wife, whom I never met, and Don struggled with her death.
They didn’t have any kids. He was supposed to come back for me but hasn’t yet, and I’ve no way to get in touch with him. ”
The circumstances sounded familiar. A tingling in his brain made Elouan send out his senses, probing Jules’s aura and mind. Nothing readable as a dragon, though not readable as a human either. Strange. Come back for me. What an odd choice of words. The same ones Elouan had for Sakaris.
What could Elouan say? “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“What’s so strange is I didn’t know them, so I’m kinda conflicted about losing them, you know?”
Actually, Elouan didn’t know. He’d lost people very dear to him, who’d left giant holes in his life with their absence.
They switched to lighter topics, like funny occurrences on the job and at school. Elouan introduced the joys of funny cat videos since Jules didn’t have a cellphone.
“I’ve always wanted a cat,” Jules said somewhat wistfully. “Or any pet, really.” He wrinkled his nose. “For some reason, cats don’t seem to like me.”
“From what I’ve heard, cats don’t like many people.” Especially those viewed as predators, like dragons. Elouan still bore scars on his hand from his first encounter with a cat he’d tried to feed at a construction site.
They finished their breakfast, and Elouan pushed back from their table. “Those pastries are outstanding. I think I could get used to this coffee shop.”
Jules brightened. “Didn’t I tell you? They’re the best, though they tried to get me to order pumpkin spice.” He wrinkled his nose.
Elouan would revisit this place for more than simply meeting Jules—though meeting with Jules now ranked high on the list of how to spend a Saturday. Elouan might have even stomached pumpkin spice for the honor.
“What do you want to do now?” Jules returned from taking away the trash with a hopeful look.
Elouan wanted to protest, even though it seemed like Jules wanted to take care of him. Look how easily he’d allowed Jules to clean up his mess. His brothers were right. Elouan really could be an alpha asshole.
Still, he and Jules might make the perfect alpha-omega couple if Jules were a dragon.
Where had that thought come from? Elouan rose from the table, brushing off his close encounter with fantasies he’d best not entertain.
“My bike’s parked around the corner. I thought we could go riding.
” Jules had mentioned feeling the wind on his face.
Jules nearly bounced with excitement. “Can we really? Oh, that would be so awesome!”
For being kept isolated, Jules certainly talked like any other human his age. Curtis’s unkind words came back about Jules not being acquainted with modern culture. How could he be when he’d been so sheltered? He seemed to be doing all right now.
They strolled to the bike, and Elouan handed Jules a spare helmet from the tour pack on the back of his Harley.
Elouan had fitted both helmets with half shields over the face to let him feel the wind while still protecting his eyes.
Thank goodness Jules wore a warm jacket today.
The sun promised additional warmth later, but October in Asheville could have cool days, especially mornings.
“Where are we going?” Jules managed the helmet straps with no help from Elouan.
Which disappointed Elouan somehow. “I just thought we’d ride, stop if we see anyplace interesting. What time do you have to be home?”
“Sometime this afternoon.”
Sounded good to Elouan. He hiked a leg over the seat, then held the bike steady for Jules to climb into what many referred to as an armchair, complete with backrest and padded arms. “One thing to remember. If we go into a curve, lean with me, not against me.” Jules’s thighs pressed against Elouan felt better than they should.
“Like banking?”
“What?” Elouan’s starting the engine garbled Jules’s words.
Jules paused momentarily, then said, “I believe I know what you mean.”
Elouan shouted to be heard over the noise.
He really should have given instructions before starting the bike.
Harleys weren’t known for being quiet. “Hold on if you need to, but you’re pretty safe back there.
If you need to stop, tap twice on my back.
” On second thought, Elouan should have insisted on Jules holding tight, just to feel those slender arms around him.
Elouan eased away from the curb, the Harley rumbling as they traveled through town.
He couldn’t wait to get on the open road.
After starting and stopping numerous times for red lights, he finally turned onto a secondary road, trading scents from a dozen different types of cuisine for open air and grass, with a hint of the ubiquitous gas fumes he’d always associated with Terra.
A faint tang of wood smoke added to the mix.
Jules initially put his arms around Elouan, then finally relaxed onto the seat. By the time they’d reached the outskirts of the city, Jules wore a smile each time Elouan glanced into the side mirror.
Elouan had reacted much the same way upon discovering motorcycles on a previous visit to the human world.
He’d come here a few times with Teron, via one of Sakaris’s portals, and had understood much of the language and customs, which he could only surmise resulted from a combination of one of Sakaris’ spells and similarities between Terra and Adrakus.
How much could a spell affect the human world? Could Daire and Anrai possibly be here, but somehow hidden from Elouan’s view? No, what would be the purpose? He’d have to trust Sakaris to look after all three Thorne brothers. Fate left no other choice.
For now. Goddess, he hated this helpless feeling. Jules chose then to hold Elouan closer. Jules, the man he’d protected. Well, maybe not completely helpless.