Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Aidan
My concern about Alistair’s slightly weird behavior when he got back from the grocery store disappears the next morning.
He’s his usual chipper self, cooking bacon and eggs while eating a bowl of cereal.
It’s criminal that he looks so good in an old T-shirt and boxer shorts, his hair standing on end.
“Good morning,” he declares. “Want some?”
“Yes, thanks.” I find a bowl and reach for the cereal box. “Can I help?”
“Only if you’re good at making pancakes,” he replies. “Mine are usually garbage.”
I shake my head. “Sorry. I only tried a couple of times, and they were so rubbery I gave up.”
He gives a long, mournful sigh. “That’s okay. We still have plenty to eat. Maybe when I shop for tomorrow’s breakfast, I’ll get some frozen waffles.”
“Good plan.” Now that he’s brought it up, I could really go for some pancakes. Isn’t that always the way? “I thought we’d drop in on Jun first, see if we can’t get any more information about Beker County.”
“Sounds good. Hopefully we can talk to quite a few people right here in the city before the others call with whatever information Percy manages to get. That should help to shape our plans. I also want to drive around with the windows down and see if I can catch the scent of the elves.”
I wince, because even though my sense of smell isn’t as acute as a hellhound’s, that does not sound like fun. “Are you sure? That’s going to be a bombardment of scent.”
He turns off the burner and begins portioning the food onto plates. “Yeah. I’m not looking forward to it, but we don’t have time for me to walk the whole city—especially since it’s unlikely they’re here anyway.” Joining me at the counter, he passes over a plate and cutlery.
“Thank you. Well, if you think that’s the best option, we’ll go with it.”
Nodding, he chews his giant mouthful of food as I dig in. It smells incredible, and I’m starving.
“I really don’t think we’ll find them here.
I woke up early this morning and had a look at some of the research David and Noah have been doing, and even though we’re still not sure what’s myth and what might be based in fact, all of it points to elves avoiding centers of population.
There’s a chance they were here for a short time for a specific purpose, which is why I’m going to do the drive around, but it would be an outrageous coincidence if we happen to stumble across them. ”
That sounds logical. “Is there any chance I can see that research?” Not that I have all that much spare time in which to read it, but who knows?
He shrugs. “I don’t see why not. I’ll ask Noah to set up access for you.”
We eat in silence for a few minutes.
“So,” he says finally, scraping up the last of his egg with some toast, “I’ll jump in the shower, then clean up here and be ready to go in about twenty minutes. Does that work for you?”
“Absolutely.” I showered last night, so I just need to brush my teeth and get dressed.
“Great. We’ll go to Jun’s first, talk to him and any of his pack who are available, then maybe Riona and her clan—depends on how we’re doing for time at that point. Oh, and at some time today, we should talk about having sex.”
I choke on my bacon.
“What?” I wheeze. I must have misheard him. He probably said we should talk about having… something completely innocent that I can’t think of right now.
“We should talk about having sex,” he repeats blithely, getting up to put his plate in the sink. “I’m going to put on some more bacon and eggs to make sandwiches with. Can you keep an eye on them while they cook?”
“Y-Yes. Um… did you say we needed to talk about sex?” I was sure I heard him right that time, but I couldn’t have… right? Unless he means sex in general… but that’s still weird. Or maybe he’s thought of some connection between sex and what the CCA is doing?
Although I literally cannot imagine what that could be.
“Yeah. You’re not seeing anyone at the moment, right? I feel like that’s something we would all know if you were.”
“No, I’m not,” I reply slowly, trying to give myself time to think. Is this what it sounds like? Is Alistair hitting on me?
Feck yeah.
“Great! So I’m going up to shower, but have a think about it and let me know if you’re good.”
A smile curves my mouth. “I’ve never had any complaints before. Are you saying we should fuck, Alistair?” I have reservations, but I’m not dumb enough to say no.
Well… not right away, anyway.
He stops halfway to the stairs and turns.
“We’re both single. We’re both hot. And I really want you naked and on your knees.
So yeah, we should fuck. A lot.” He turns back and heads upstairs while the image of me on my knees sucking him off burns itself into my brain and I’m still trying to work out what to say next.
This is not how I expected the morning to go.
The bacon spits in the pan, and I push aside thoughts of sex with Alistair and go to check on it. It’s not like we have time to fuck right now.
Although… he is in the shower. All wet… and soapy.
No. No time. Maybe later.
The car ride over to Jun’s place is weird, probably because we’re both thinking about having sex. With each other.
Well, that’s what I’m thinking about, anyway. Despite my resolution not to think about it until later, it’s the only thought in my head. Which, considering that I’m the one driving, is not good.
Honestly, Alistair might not be thinking about it at all.
I’m the one who’s being awkward and silent.
He handed me a bacon and egg sandwich as soon as we got in the car, insisting I eat it despite my assurance that Jun would feed us, and now he’s chattering away in his usual random manner, telling me about the updates Sam sent him this morning.
There’s nothing particularly relevant just yet, but given the difference in time zones, it’s possible that they’ll have something new soon.
We hope.
By the time I park the car in the forecourt of Jun’s gated mansion, I’m a mess of confused arousal.
I remember feeling that way a lot when I was an adolescent, but not so much since I became an adult.
I don’t particularly like it. Worse, Alistair has to be aware—his hellhound sense of smell would have picked it up like a beacon.
And I’m about to walk into a house with more hellhounds. Fun, hey?
I’d be laughing if it was happening to someone else. I’m the species leader of all shifters, and with one sentence, a hellhound has managed to turn me into a seething mass of hormones.
I suck in a deep breath, which has the unfortunate side effect of delivering a direct hit of Alistair’s scent.
He smells delicious.
He also smells aroused.
I guess it’s not just me who’s suffering from hormone overload.
This does create a problem, though. If we both go in smelling turned on, Jun will assume we’re fucking. Which we might (will probably) end up doing, but it’s not helpful or professional for us to…
Oh, feck it.
“Let’s go.” I get out of the car and slam the door.
I’m not willing to waste half the morning driving around thinking of maggot-laden meat and waiting for the scent of my arousal to fade just so someone doesn’t think I’m having sex with a…
whatever Alistair is to me. Colleague? Associate?
Nobody expects me to be celibate. They don’t even expect me to keep my sexual exploits outside the species.
There’s a long precedent of species leaders meeting, dating, and even marrying while they were invested by the magic.
The only expectation is that I not be obnoxious and careless in my sex life.
Alistair joins me at the front of the car. “This is a nice house.” He turns in a full circle, looking out over the grounds. “Acreage?”
“About fifty, mostly wooded. Enough to have pack gatherings here, but not enough for any real exercise.” Jun gave me a rundown the first time I visited.
Alistair sighs. “It’s been way too long since I got any real exercise,” he says, and I know he’s talking about a run in his hellhound form, but my brain instantly conjures images of other forms of exercise, and my cock takes interest. From the way his lips quirk, Alistair notices the shift in scent.
Ignoring it, I say, “Maybe we can arrange time for a run while we’re out here. We’re planning to visit some pretty rural areas.” Before he can respond, I start toward the house.
The door opens before I’ve taken more than a few steps. I’m not surprised—even though the gate was open, there’s no way a hellhound wouldn’t have heard us arrive and then stand around chatting. Jun stands in the doorway waiting for us.
“Aidan, welcome back,” he says warmly. He’s about six inches taller than me but a little stockier, his hair still completely black and face unlined even though he’s nearly six hundred years old. Some genes are just better than others.
“Good morning, Jun.” I hold out my hand. “I promise not to take too much of your time.”
He laughs and shakes my hand. “It’s an honor to have you here. And you said that you’d like to meet some of our younger pack members this time?”
“Yes, if that’s okay with you—and them.”
“We’re all thrilled. My assistant has been making calls, and I expect people to start turning up soon.” His gaze flits over my shoulder, and I half turn, gesturing to Alistair.
“This is Alistair Smythe from CSG. The lucifer has asked me to assist him with meeting your pack.”
From the way Jun blinks, I know he recognizes Alistair’s name and is now wondering if there’s more to this than just a few young hellhounds getting mixed up with the “wrong crowd.” There is, of course, but we can’t tell him that. Not yet anyway.
“Great to meet you,” Alistair says, offering his hand. “You’ve got a nice property here.”
Jun recovers enough to shake hands with him. “Thank you. We keep it open for all pack members, so even those who live in high-density housing can get some fresh air every once in a while. Come in, please.” He steps back from the doorway and beckons us in.