Chapter 31
Jamie, happily ensconced in the little spoon position, smiled to himself at the sound of his mate’s soft snores. Aiden had passed out within minutes of Jamie telling him it was time for a nap. His anxiety had ebbed, knowing Aiden was safe and relaxed—at least for the moment. He tightened his hands on Aiden’s, bringing one up to his mouth and placing a chaste kiss on it.
He should have told Aiden how he felt about him years ago, but it had never been the right time to bring it up. He’d never got the sense that Aiden felt any kind of attraction toward him. Jamie, on the other hand, had been in love with Aiden forever. He just didn’t want to lose the best friend he ever had on what he considered a long shot.
“You wasted so much time,” his wolf nagged. “We could have been cuddling with mate for years. Now all our lives are in danger.”
“I know, I know,” Jamie repeated.
He shuddered thinking about how close he’d been to being killed by Aiden’s father. As if reading his mind, Aiden mumbled in his sleep and tightened his arms around him. Jamie sighed and let the warmth from Aiden’s skin soothe him. If he had died in that hellhole facility, no one would have missed him but Aiden. He would have lost out on this new life. He would never have known how it felt to kiss Aiden, to lie next to him.
His insides heated thinking of how responsive his mate had been. Aiden had been out of sorts at Jamie’s mercy, but it was the only way he could think of to keep the phoenix from overwhelming Aiden’s human side. In the future, he’d let Aiden take a more dominant role in their bedroom activities. From how enthusiastic Aiden had been, Jamie guessed their next time would be very soon.
“Hope so,” his wolf whispered.
“Me, too,” Jamie replied. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep, thinking of his mate.
Jamie was hot. Too hot. He attempted to kick the blankets off but found he couldn’t move. It took a second to realize he was still snug in Aiden’s arms. Neither of them had budged during the night. They hadn’t even woken up to eat dinner. He was glad Aiden had slept so well. He needed to recharge so he could shift soon for more training.
Jamie blinked the sleep from his eyes. The room was still dark. The bedside digital clock read three-thirty. Why was he so hot? It was as if someone turned up the thermostat to ninety.
His grumpy wolf intruded into his thoughts. “Mate is a phoenix, remember?”
He reached for Aiden’s hand. Shit, burning up.
“Wake him up,” the wolf insisted.
Jamie tried to roll over to face Aiden, but his strong arms were unyielding. “Aiden, wake up.”
Aiden murmured something unintelligible, but otherwise did not move.
“Aiden! Time to get up!” Jamie raised his voice.
Aiden grumbled and snuggled his face into Jamie’s neck.
“Maybe we should just let him sleep,” Jamie told his wolf. “His heat won’t hurt me, remember?”
“When you’re hot, you can’t sleep. When you can’t sleep, I get testy. Besides, maybe he’s having a nightmare. You don’t want his beast forcing a shift. If you won’t wake him up, I will.”
Grrrrrr!!!!!!!
Aiden immediately released Jamie and vaulted from the bed. He stood at the bedside, facing the open bedroom door. He twisted to look at Jamie, eyes wide and bright orange.
“What—what’s wrong?” Aiden babbled. His gaze darted around the room before landing back on Jamie when his eyes turned back to their usual blue.
“Come back to bed.” Jamie held out his arm. “There’s nothing wrong. We’re safe.”
Aiden’s shoulders relaxed, his eyelids drooped, and he shuffled back toward Jamie. “Then what’s was the growling all about?” he mumbled. He climbed into the bed and pulled Jamie back into his arms, his back to Aiden’s chest. He nuzzled the back of Jamie’s neck, breathing him in deeply.
“Are you sniffing me?” Jamie asked, barely keeping the laugh from his voice.
“Mmmmm,” Aiden murmured.
“Why are you sniffing me?”
“I like how you smell.” He sniffed again. “Wait, stop distracting me. Why’d you growl at me?”
“It was my wolf. He wanted you up. I wanted to let you sleep.”
“OK, why’d the wolf want me up?”
Jamie stilled. He didn’t want Aiden to freak out. “Well, you started to get hot, like physically hot, in your sleep.”
Aiden released Jamie and sat bolt upright facing him. “Did I hurt—?”
Jamie shook his head and gave Aiden a gentle smile. “No, no, no. I was fine. I am fine. I told you the heat doesn’t hurt me like it would a human or another shifter. I was just sweating. It woke me up. I think my wolf just wanted his beauty sleep.”
Aiden frowned then leaned closer and ran his hands over Jamie’s chest and arms, examining him. He then rolled Jamie over and continued his scan. “Are you making sure I’m not burned?”
“Yes,” Aiden gritted out.
“I told you I’m fine.” Jamie tried to sound as unaffected as possible. Aiden’s hands were trembling as they ran over his skin. Jamie didn’t want him upset. He wanted him calm and relaxed.
“I just need to see for myself.”
“OK, OK, fine. Just wait a sec. Let me make this easier for you.” Jamie lay back on the bed and lowered the comforter so his nude body was completely on display. “Here, now it should be easy for you to conduct your examination.”
Aiden frowned as he loomed over Jamie, but he ran his hands over Jamie’s neck, down his chest and abdomen, and then over his pelvic region. Jamie fought to remain silent, especially as Aiden ran his hands over his now stiff cock.
“Roll over. Let me check your back,” Aiden barked.
Jamie held up his hand, palms out. “No, I promise I’m fine. Let’s go back to sleep, OK?”
Aiden rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand. “I don’t think I can. It’s almost time to get up for work. I wish we could close the bakery for a few days.”
“What? Why?”
“There’s just so much other stuff going on, you know. It’s hard to just go about our business knowing what my father’s trying to do.”
“It would be too suspicious. Besides, we need to keep a routine. I think the Lakers feel safer knowing we’re there, like knowing you’re there, keeping watch. At least the ones who know you can shift into a phoenix.”
“Is this you guessing or did you use your powers?” Aiden asked. He pointed to Jamie’s head with a finger.
“Call it an educated guess,” Jamie said. He lay back down and patted the spot next to him. “Lie back down. We still have some time before we need to get ready. Keep me company, please.”
Aiden complied and then pulled Jamie into his arms, facing him.
“You do know I don’t go around town reading minds like some super villain,” Jamie said. “I only do it when it’s really needed. I don’t like doing it.”
Aiden grinned at him. “I know. I think that’s why you were gifted with that power.”
Jamie frowned. “What?”
“You were given that power because you’re a good person. Can you imagine if someone truly evil got their hands on that kind of knowledge? Like my dad?” Aiden froze. Jamie watched as the realization dawned on Aiden’s face. “Wait, is that why he took you? He wanted to use you?” He bolted upright, eyes glowing brilliant orange.
“Calm him down,” the wolf snapped.
His wolf was right. Aiden appeared near ballistic. Jamie did the only thing he could think of doing. He threw himself at Aiden. He wrapped his arms around Aiden’s neck, his legs around his waist. He tucked his head in the crook of his neck. Aiden’s pulse raced, and he was panting as if he’d just been running, but he was slowly returning to normal. Jamie held on tight and remained still on Aiden’s lap.
After a few moments, Aiden ran a hand down the back of Jamie’s head and spoke in hushed tones. “What’re you doing?”
“I’m trying to calm you down. Is it working?”
Aiden huffed out a bitter laugh. “A little.” He pried Jamie’s arms away from his neck and held both in one iron-tight grip. He used his other hand to hold his chin, forcing Jamie to look him in the eye. He blinked and then blew out a breath. “I need to know. Did my father want to use your powers?”
“Yes.”
“What did he ask you to do?”
Jamie swallowed heavily. “Didn’t you ever wonder why he brought me in to his high-level meetings?” Jamie asked. “You and I were the only two junior employees ever present.”
“No, you deserved to be there. You’re smart.”
Jamie snorted. “Well, I don’t know about that. Your father had known I was a telepath since we were teenagers. I barely knew what it meant. I never told anyone but you about it.”
“I didn’t tell him,” Aiden blurted out. “I wouldn’t do that.”
“I know. He told me he just knew. It was one of his talents. Over the years, it became clear that he wanted me to scan minds for him. Pull information that could help him get what he wanted.” He tried to lower his gaze, but Aiden held him still.
“Did you?”
“I didn’t want to. I don’t like doing it. It’s not like I just get into someone’s head and go right to the information that I want. I have to sift through thoughts and memories. Sometimes, there’s some really eff’ed up stuff in peoples’ heads that I can’t unsee. Sometimes, really sad things. It felt so wrong. It still feels wrong.”
“So, did you do it?”
Jamie sighed. “Yeah, eventually.”
“Why?”
“Tell him,” the wolf pushed.
Jamie felt the tears on his face. “He threatened you. It’s also why I didn’t tell you. He wouldn’t let me.”
“What? When?”
“It doesn’t matter now. It was a long time ago.”
“I need—”
Jamie shook his head. “Please, not now.”
Aiden’s mouth was in a firm line, but he nodded. “OK, not now.” He rubbed Jamie’s cheek with his thumb in a soothing gesture. “What if we need you to do it again to help with our plans? Can you do it to help Grey Lake?”
Jamie nodded. “Yes. I said I didn’t like doing it, but I can do it. I’ve gotten better at getting in fast and pulling out what we need. If you need me to do it, I will.”
“Have you ever?”
“What?”
“Gone into my mind without me knowing?”
Jamie felt his eyes widen. “No, never. I’d never betray you like that.”
“What if I wanted you to?”
Jamie blinked slowly. “What? Why?”
Aiden shrugged. He released his hold on Jamie’s arms, wrapping both arms around Jamie’s back. He readjusted him on his lap until he seemed comfortable and nuzzled the top of his head. “I don’t know. It’s just that… when I tell you I know you’re my mate and I’ll never let you go, you don’t really believe me. It’s like you keep expecting me to leave.” Aiden inhaled deeply and then let out a shuddering breath. “I also need you to know that if you go missing again, I’ll find you. I’ll know you were taken from me, and I will burn the rest of the planet until I find you. If you could see into my mind, you’d know I’m telling the truth.”
Jamie sniffed. “I don’t need to see into your mind. I believe you,” he said in a small voice.
Aiden lowered his head so his lips brushed against Jamie’s ear. “Do you?” he whispered.
Beep, beep, beep!
Aiden kissed Jamie’s cheek then gave him a squeeze before releasing him. “Saved by the alarm. We’ve got to get ready.”
“I’m going to jump in the shower,” Jamie said. He climbed from the bed and staggered into the adjacent bathroom, leaving the door so it was slightly ajar.
“Ask mate to come in here,” the wolf growled.
“He’ll come if he wants to.” He didn’t want to admit to his inner beast that he very much hoped Aiden joined him. “I don’t want to force him.”
“Hmpf, force him!”
Knock, knock, knock!
“Yeah?” Jamie yelled out as the water ran over his head.
Aiden pulled the curtain aside just enough to stick his head in the shower, avoiding the spray of water. “Do you mind if I join you?”
Jamie reached out a hand, grabbed Aiden, and yanked him into his arms.