27. Chapter Twenty-Five
Lucas woke in stages. He wasn’t sure where he was at first, but he smelled Bennett, so he knew he was safe. He sighed and snuggled in, running his hands up Bennett’s arms until he got to his shoulders.
Warmth and comfort enveloped him, and he wanted nothing more than to fall under again. His mind wouldn’t let him, though. Still, he laid there, taking in everything. The sounds of someone moving around in another part of the house.
Were they at home? Somehow, he didn’t think so.
The wetness under his cheek was the grossness that got him moving. He lifted and swiped his hand over the drool, trying to get rid of the evidence before Bennett woke.
Then Bennett chuckled, shattering his illusion that he could potentially get away with drooling without dying of embarrassment. He wiped the side of his face off and then made circular patterns on Bennett’s chest. “Um, sorry. ”
“After the last few days, I’m just glad you’re alive. Drool all over me if it makes you happy.” Bennett kissed the top of his head.
His words brought the last few hours…wait, did Bennett just say days? “Days?”
“Yeah, you’ve been asleep for the better part of a day and a half.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
Bennett’s jaw ticked.
“Are you mad at me?” Lucas whispered, making those circular patterns on Bennett’s skin.
Bennett shook his head. “No, baby. I’m just…I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you.”
Lucas heard him sniffle as if he had a cold and noticed the tears. Lucas reached up and ran his thumb across Bennett’s cheek.
“I’m sorry for scaring you. For making you worry.”
“I need you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“Do you promise?”
“Yes. I need you too. Always.” Lucas kissed him.
He was finally kissing his dragon, finally feeling Bennett’s body against him, his warm arms surrounding him, making him feel safe.
He wouldn’t leave Bennett ever again, not for any reason.
Lucas cupped the nape of Bennett’s neck, trying to draw him in, not that he could really get any closer.
Lucas moaned, pushing Bennett over, so that he lay on his back. Lucas climbed onto Bennett, straddling his waist. He could feel Bennett’s cock harden as it lay next to his own hard length. He moved his hips forward, rubbing himself against Bennett.
Bennett’s hands came up to frame Lucas’ face. Bennett drew him away. “We’re at my mom’s house.”
Lucas grinned. “I know. I feel so naughty.”
Bennett chuckled. “You know everyone will know what we’re doing, right? We’re in a house full of shifters. It’s an inevitable fact.”
“Even more naughty now.” Lucas wriggled his eyebrows and then he thought about what Bennett just said. “Why is everyone here?”
“Worried about you, Gabriel, and Ramsey.”
“Where’s Gabriel and Ramsey?”
“Getting your human friend out of that place.”
Shit. Lucas sat up. “You make me forget.”
Bennett grinned. “My hotness made you forget the past few days?”
“Yes. And that is the most big-headed thing you’ve ever said.”
“But it’s true.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“How are Sage and Jules?”
Bennett sobered at the question. “Physically, they’re both fine.”
“I guess that’s as good as it’s going to get at the moment, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll stick close to them, right? The whole family, I mean.”
“Yeah, baby. Jules’ already moved in with Mom. And Sage is getting ready to move in with us.”
“Sage?”
“Yeah, I insisted on it. I figured you’d want him close. Vaughan and Ladon helped move him in to our house yesterday. And stop teasing me, baby.”
“What?” Lucas realized then what he was doing. “Oh.” Lucas grinned as he moved his hips again. He leaned down and kissed Bennett, letting him take over. Bennett’s arms came around Lucas’ waist and Bennett turned them so that he was on top.
Bennett pulled away, breaking the kiss. “You need to behave.”
“Maybe I need a spanking,” Lucas said with a grin .
Bennett chuckled. “Yep, you’re feeling a lot better.” Someone knocked on the door and Bennett sighed. He got off Lucas and pulled the blankets around them. “Come in.”
Ladon came in with a flourish that only a little brother could do. “Sage was too shy to actually knock on the door. He wants to see you, Lucas.”
“Just let us get dressed, we’ll be right out,” Lucas said and waited for Ladon to leave the room.
Ladon gave Lucas an evil, annoying little brother smile and said, “He said to go right in.”
Lucas’ mouth fell open. “What the hell, man?”
“We’re shifters. We see each other naked like once a week while shifting. Don’t be such a prude.” Ladon opened the door for Sage, who came in, wringing his hands and looking at the floor.
Lucas flipped Ladon off as he left the room. “Your brother’s annoying,” he said to Bennett and then turned to Sage. “Hi Sage.”
“Hey. Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I can go.” Sage turned and started out of the door.
“Naw, that’s okay. Ladon does have a point.” Lucas sat up and patted the bed beside him.
Sage shook his head. “I’m not getting in bed with you two. That’s weird, even for shifters.”
Bennett started laughing. “Only because we’re mated.”
Lucas had to think about that for a second. “Wait. Did you just imply that shifters fuck in groups?”
“Not all of them,” Bennett said. He had an arm around Lucas’ waist.
Lucas narrowed his eyes at Bennett. “Did you…do that…in a group?”
“Lucas. ”
“Oh my God, you did? I can tell by the look on your face. I feel so…repressed. I think I might have to catch up to you now. Come here, Sage.”
“Oh, hell no,” Sage said, turning to leave the room. Lucas started laughing when he practically ran out of the door.
Lucas let out a squeal when Bennett pulled him down, growling at him.
“No one touches you, but me.”
Lucas chuckled at Bennett’s serious face. “Benny, I know. I was just kidding.”
Bennett kissed him. Just a press of the lips. Bennett searched his face. What he was looking for, Lucas didn’t know. Then he said, “You know I love you, right?”
“I do know that. I love you too.” Lucas wrapped his arms around Bennett. “Are you going to make love to me now?”
Bennett grinned and rocked his hard length against Lucas. And then someone knocked on the door again. Bennett sighed and put his forehead against Lucas. “We should probably just get up. The family isn’t going to leave us alone until they know for sure that you’re okay.”
“What do you think is happening on that star?” Lucas pointed to it.
Kristin lay back in the lounger next to the one Bennett and Lucas occupied. She shared the space with Owen, her twin.
Lucas was in front of Bennett, lying between his legs. Bennett wrapped his arms around his waist.
Everyone sat outside on the patio, even Jules. Gabriel and Ramsey were the only ones absent, not having made it back yet.
“I think on that star, a family is sitting around a deck, wondering what’s happening down here.” Lucas reached out a hand to Sage, who sat in a chair beside him. He smiled at Sage and laced their fingers together.
“I think they’re tall green people who come down here and abduct humans to use in their sexual experiments. Only the humans like it,” Kristin said, without batting an eye.
“Wow, I had no idea you had such a pornographic imagination,” Lucas said, his eyes still wide.
“I read a book about it once,” Kristin said with a shrug.
“Really?” Lucas had no idea they made books about that sort of thing. Hmm. He might have to borrow that from her.
“Don’t get her started on her perverted mind, Lucas. She’ll start asking you questions about your sex life if she does,” Owen said.
“I’m just curious. Sue me. Sheesh.”
“Curious about what?”
“By the gods, Lucas. Why did you ask?”
“Men fuck—” Kristin started to say, but Owen covered her mouth with his hand, stopping her.
“Change the subject,” Bennett said from behind him. His chest rumbled against Lucas’ back. That just made him sigh with contentment.
“Why don’t you sing for us Lucas,” Vaughan said, winking at him.
“Um, okay. I guess I could,” Lucas said, looking at Ladon. “Can I borrow your guitar again?”
Ladon nodded and stood.
“You sing?” Sage asked.
Sage hadn’t been very far from him all day and Lucas wondered if he wouldn’t be from now on. Lucas didn’t mind. He and Sage had a connection that would last a lifetime, and he was glad he had made a friend out of such a shitty situation .
He was concerned about Sage’s mental health.
His clinginess suggested there was a lot of emotional damage.
Physical trauma Lucas could fix, but the emotional issue was another thing.
He might be able to wipe Sage’s memory. Maybe.
But even if he tried that Lucas didn’t think it would be a long-term solution to Sage’s problem.
“A little bit, yeah.”
“Don’t let him fool you, Sage. He’s amazing,” Kristin said.
He felt completely helpless when it came to Sage.
Some wounds only heal over time, baby, Bennett said through their bond.
Lucas looked at Bennett, tilting his head up at an odd angle. Bennett’s hand came up to palm the front of his neck and they kissed. He really wanted to roll onto his stomach and kiss his mate until they forgot about everything and everybody around them, but he restrained himself.
Bennett ended the kiss and winked at him. Lucas smiled.
Ladon brought out the guitar and Lucas sat up, taking it in his hand.
He spent a few minutes tuning it and then started singing a song that had been on the radio for the last few months.
They played it enough that Lucas didn’t have too much of a problem memorizing the notes.
It was really simple, as was the band’s writing style.
The song reflected his relationship with Bennett.
He sang about holding him and about the fact that Bennett kept his heart from getting broken.
That last part would probably be truer the more their relationship progressed.
He went right into another song about leaving everything for his mate.
It had a faster beat, but Lucas slowed it down a little.
I’d leave it all for you too, baby, Bennett said through their bond.
Bennett sat up and kissed him on the cheek when Lucas ended the song .
Kristin stiffened as she sniffed the air.
Forrest shifted and stepped onto the grass, Vaughan following his lead.
Lucas squealed as Bennett lifted him onto his feet. “Stay behind me, baby.”
Lucas nodded even though it was pointless since Bennett had his back turned already. He gripped his T-shirt in one hand and the guitar in the other as he peeked around Bennett’s broad back.
Ramsey came around the side of the house, carrying someone Lucas didn’t recognize. He had blood all over his face and clothes, and he limped as he walked over. Ramsey collapsed in the yard, letting the big guy in his arms fall to the ground.
Forrest and Vaughan both shifted and ran to Ramsey since they were closer. Mother Estelle followed.
Lucas let go of Bennett’s shirt and leaned the guitar against the house. It looked as if Ramsey might need his help.
“Garridan.” Bennett held the stranger's hand.
Ramsey called for Lucas.
Lucas touched Bennett’s shoulder.
“Can you help him?” Ramsey asked.
Lucas nodded. “I need to know what’s wrong with him first.” Lucas got down on his knees beside Bennett then and took Garridan’s hand.
He saw Garridan pick up a little dark-haired boy. He then saw the same scene from the little boy’s perspective and knew instantly the scene was Bennett’s memory. He pushed it aside for now, not wanting to invade the man’s privacy any more than necessary.
“Let go of him, Bennett. Just for a second.” Lucas smiled. “I’m sorry. I’m having a hard time focusing. I’m worried about you.”
“Don’t fix him if it’s going to drain your energy, Lucas. I won’t have you hurt. Not even for Garridan,” Bennett said .
“I’m just going to poke around. See if I can fix each thing with a tiny bit of energy instead of a lot all at once.”
Bennett nodded and let Garridan’s hand go.
Lucas concentrated. He found the biggest problem after a few seconds of poking around. He brought the light to his chest and then directed it into Garridan’s body where he wanted it to go. He brought another ball of energy up and fixed the bones that were broken.
Lucas took a big breath and poked around, making sure he got the stuff that would be life-threatening or take a long time to heal. He went back into Garridan’s mind, then, making sure he hadn’t left anything there.
Lucas saw the dragon, who was pissed off. The dragon sniffed his hand and started to purr. Lucas looked up at Sage then and smiled, winking at him.
Lucas released Garridan and immediately took Bennett in his arms. “I fixed all the major stuff. He’s still knocked out from a concussion. I didn’t fix it because I think he’ll recover just fine without my help. But I’ll stick close to him just in case I’m needed.”
Ramsey nodded and got to his feet. “Good, now I need a shower and a bed.”
“Do you need any wound repair, Ramsey? And where’s Gabriel?” Mother Estelle was clearly worried about her sons.
“This isn’t my blood. I’m just tired, Mom. And Gabriel’s still working with the vampire to get Shawn out. Garridan is very malnourished. Someone had to get him help quickly.”
“I fixed that,” Lucas said. He laid his head on Bennett’s shoulder. I want to call my parents, he said to Bennett through his link. Bennett reconnecting with the man, who saved his life and became like a parent to him, made Lucas miss his own parents.
Of course, baby .
Is Garridan going to live with us?
That’s up to him.
Lucas could tell Bennett had missed the man, more than he would ever let show to anyone, but Lucas. Bennett needed Garridan and Lucas was going to make sure the two had a chance to make up for lost time.
Sage’s eyes hadn’t changed but Lucas could tell he knew Garridan was his mate. He wrung his hands together and took a step in Garridan’s direction. He still couldn’t bring himself to touch him, though.
Well, well. Fate meant for Sage to have a dragon of his own. Lucas had seen enough of Garridan’s thoughts to know he would be a good fit.
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