His Saving Grace

by Lynn Hagen

  When Noah closed the door, he leaned against the wood and sighed.

  Chapter Four

  “Are you ready?” Justin stood outside Noah’s door, resting an arm on the frame. It had been a long day, but all he’d thought about was six o’clock and seeing his mate. Now that he was there, Justin just wanted to sweep Noah into his arms.

  His mate was so damn beautiful, so sweet, and Justin knew he had to be cautious, because Noah was human, had been traumatized, but was slowly coming out of the shell he’d encased himself in after the attack.

  It had been two weeks since he’d met Noah. Since then they’d done something every evening—except for the days Justin had been stuck working long hours—and damn if he wasn’t proud of his mate’s progression. Noah was stronger than he led himself to believe. The pixie was an amazing guy, and every chance he had, Justin let Noah know that the world hadn’t turned into a monstrous place to live.

  That was why he’d picked the park for their next outing. He hadn’t told Noah where they were going, and fuck, his mate had simply nodded, putting his trust in Justin’s hands.

  “Are you serious?” Noah looked around when Justin pulled into the parking lot at the local playground. “What’re we doing here?”

  “Getting back to the basics.” Justin took Noah’s hand and guided him to the set of swings. “I figured if you can’t unlock the child in you, the world is doomed.”

  Noah gave him a skeptical look. “I’m twenty-six years old. I put my toys away a long time ago.”

  “Fine.” Justin let go of Noah’s hand and sat on one of the swings. He kicked off, taking himself higher and higher as he smiled at Noah. “There’s something freeing about racing toward the sky.”

  “But you’re still on the ground.” Noah tucked strands of hair behind his ear as he sat next to Justin, though he just sat there, watching Justin.

  “Where’s your sense of adventure?” Fuck. Justin was getting dizzy. He was trying to prove a point to his mate, but he might end up throwing up in the process. If Noah didn’t give in, and soon, Justin might fall off. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been on a swing, and now he knew why he steered clear of them.

  But this wasn’t about him. This was about seeing Noah smile, hearing him laugh, and making his mate realize that life was still full of wonder and joy.

  He put his feet down and brought his swing to a stop, jumped up, and got behind Noah.

  “Don’t you dare.” Noah narrowed his eyes as he looked over his shoulder.

  “One small push.” Justin arched a brow. “Tell me you’re afraid of a little rocking motion.”

  Justin’s cock perked to life when Noah blushed. The guy’s mind was in the gutter. It was the same for Justin. No matter how many times he’d told himself that he was taking this slow, that he had to help his mate first, his body and brain had a mind of their own.

  He couldn’t count how many times he’d jacked off at night just to relieve the buildup. He was going to end up giving his dick friction burns before Noah was ready.

  “One push.” Noah turned his head back around. “And not high, either. I don’t want to end up in the emergency room for falling off a damn swing.”

  Justin leaned down and pressed his lips to the shell of Noah’s ear, inhaling his sweet scent as he spoke. “I’ll always catch you before you fall.”

  He heard Noah’s breath hitch as he straightened and pulled the chains back and then letting Noah go. His mate swung at a leisurely pace, swinging his slim legs back and forth.

  “You’re full of surprises, Detective Grace.” Noah leaned back, picking up momentum.

  The guy had no idea. He’d yet to drop the biggest surprise, which was telling Noah that he was a wolf and they were mates. No, Justin didn’t have concrete proof, not until they slept together. But he did have his gut, and it was screaming that Noah was his.

  “I manage,” Justin said. “Are you having fun yet?”

  Noah looked over his shoulder, giving Justin a devilish grin. He kicked his feet on the ground, taking himself even higher.

  Then Noah squealed in delight, the sound filling the park as he gripped the chains, leaned back, and laughed.

  It was the most beautiful sound Justin had ever heard, and Justin couldn’t help but smile. As Noah swung, Justin thought about his earlier conversation with his ex-wife. Another thing he had to talk to Noah about.

  “The boys are asking about you,” she’d said.

  Justin had been at his desk at work, filling out a report when she’d called. Justin had been so busy spending time with Justin that he’d neglected other aspects of his life, which he felt terrible about. “I know, Trish. I promise to be by soon to see them.”

  He had married her when he was still in denial. Trish had been the one to help him come to terms with who he truly was. Justin had grown up in an ultra-masculine environment, and although he’d had his suspicions, announcing he was gay would’ve had dire consequences. So he’d tried to live a “normal” life, playing by everyone else’s rules.

  But Justin was done lying to himself. He had been done with it and, for a good year, had slept with any guy who batted eyelashes at him. Fortunately Justin had gotten that out of his system and was ready to settle down.

  His ex-wife hadn’t harbored any ill feelings toward him. They’d had three healthy, beautiful cubs, and they were now best friends. She’d even found her mate, and John had had a hard time with their dynamics at first, but now they were one big happy unusual family.

  John even called Justin often when an important event came up for the boys so Justin could be a part of it. He was forever grateful for that. Not that Justin would’ve stopped being a part of his kids’ lives, but things went a hell of a lot better when there wasn’t any animosity involved.

  “I met someone.” Justin had leaned back in his chair, his partner gone for lunch so he could talk freely.

  “Oh, honey. Is he nice? He isn’t like Viktor, is he?” Trish had tried to play matchmaker when she divorced him, but her choices left a bad taste in Justin’s mouth. He wondered where she had met these guys. One had been a mortician who only liked to talk about his job, which had been downright creepy. Another had seemed nice at first, until they’d decided the time was right to sleep together. Justin had gotten out of there when Bert had walked from his bedroom wearing a leather bondage outfit and holding a whip in one hand.

  Another had brought his mom along on the date. Timothy had asked her permission for everything. Justin ended that quickly before the guy asked his mom’s permission to let Justin fuck him.

  Where in the hell had Trish dug those guys up?

  After those disastrous ordeals, Justin had finally told her that he would pick his dates until, hopefully, one day he found his mate.

  “He’s nothing like Viktor, Trish. I’m almost positive he’s my mate.”

  “Holy shit, Justin! You have to bring him by.” He’d heard her jumping up and down on the other end, telling John about the good news, which had made Justin smile from ear to ear.

  John had grabbed the phone and said, “When do we get to meet him?”

  “It’s a little more complicated than that.” Justin explained how he’d found his mate, what had happened, and how he was slowly bringing Nah back into the world outside his apartment door.

  “I want to help look for that son of a bitch. I’ll kill him.” John growled loud enough to echo from Justin’s cell phone and make someone passing by Justin’s desk look his way.

  “I just might take you up on that. I haven’t gotten any leads, and I don’t think Noah will be able to put this fully behind him until the guy is caught.”

  John’s offer wasn’t taken lightly since he was the alpha of their pack. He was the one who had dared anyone to humiliate Justin for being gay, though Justin hadn’t given a rat’s ass once he’d come to terms with walking out of the closet.

  But it was still nice to have such powerful backing.

  “Why don’t yo
u bring Noah by tonight? The boys want to see you, and Trish looks as if she’s about to burst.” John had chuckled. “I think she’s dying to meet him, and that’ll give you and me an opportunity to talk.”

  “Earth to Justin.”

  Justin was pulled from his thoughts as he smiled down at Noah.

  “You looked bored.” Noah stopped the swing and stood. “Are you ready to go?”

  Justin tried to hold back, tried to tell himself that his current thoughts were a bad idea. He stepped around the swing and touched his hand to Noah’s face. “I want to kiss you so badly.”

  Noah took a step back as he inhaled swiftly. Justin tried to grab him too late. His mate stumbled and landed on his ass then fell to his back and started to laugh.

  Justin didn’t think kissing his mate was that damn funny. He held his hand out to help Noah to his feet, but his mate yanked him down. Since Justin hadn’t expected that move, he stumbled down and stopped himself at the last second from crushing the guy.

  “What’s so funny?” He was hovering over Noah, his palms on either side of the guy’s head. Their chests were touching, and Noah had instinctively spread his legs to allow Justin to settle between them.

  Noah bit his bottom lip. “Kiss me.”

  Justin knew Noah wasn’t ready for this. They’d gotten caught up in the moment and riding their adrenaline high. What he feared was that, if he gave in to Noah’s request, his mate would regret what they’d done come morning.

  “You’re a closet rebel, aren’t you?” Justin chuckled as he helped Noah to his feet. He saw the disappointment in Noah’s eyes, but Justin would rather see that than regret.

  “I don’t think I would ever categorize myself as a rebel.”

  Justin brushed strands of hair from Noah’s face and gave him a warm smile. He couldn’t stop himself from touching Noah in some kind of way. “I have a feeling there’s an adventurous side to you that you keep bottled up.”

  Noah tilted his head, his long, dark hair creating a veil that covered half of his face. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  The smile Noah was trying to hide told Justin everything. His mate was holding back, maybe even from before the attack. Noah just needed a nudge in the right direction in order to let himself blossom.

  Justin took his mate’s hand and led him back to the car. Not kissing Noah was killing him. He could just imagine how those plump, perfect lips would taste. Even his wolf was whining to find out.

  “Listen, Noah—”

  “Don’t.” Noah held up his hand. “I’ve already embarrassed myself. Please don’t stand there giving me excuses for why you didn’t take me up on my offer. That’s on me for reading into something that wasn’t there.”

  Wasn’t there something there? Was Noah out of his mind? All Justin thought about was kissing his mate. It was on his brain more than anything else. He couldn’t allow Noah to think that he didn’t want him. The look of rejection was too much for Justin to bear.

  He turned Noah until they were facing each other, cupped his face, and brushed his lips over Noah’s. Justin bit back the groan that tightened his throat, telling himself not to take this too far. All Noah had asked for was a kiss, nothing more.

  Though Justin would be lying to himself if he said he didn’t want more. So much more. The guy’s skin was as soft as silk, and fuck, he smelled amazing. The small noises coming from Noah were enough to drive Justin insane.

  He deepened the kiss, running his tongue over Noah’s lips until his mate opened and Justin plunged his tongue deep. What started out as trying to reassure Noah that he truly was wanted turned into fireworks. Justin’s body hardened as he backed Noah against the car, slanting his head to kiss his mate with as much passion as he felt.

  What they finally broke apart, they were both panting. Noah looked up at him, his blue eyes sparkling under the fading sun. “That was…wow.”

  Noah touched his fingers against his lips.

  Justin smiled. “That really was pretty amazing. Now do you believe that I want you?”

  He didn’t wait for Noah to answer him. Justin opened the passenger door, waiting for Noah to slide in while he forced his body back under control.

  Once he closed the passenger door, Justin took a moment to breathe, to calm his raging heart and pulsing cock as he walked around the back of the car to give himself more time. When he got into the driver’s seat, he was still trying to tame his chaotic hormones.

  “I had fun.” Noah buckled his seat belt. “Thanks for bringing me here.”

  Justin cleared his throat and nodded. “You’re very welcome.”

  The rest of the ride was in silence until they reached Noah’s apartment building. Justin pulled to the curb, and normally he would have walked a guy to the door, but the temptation was just too great, and if he got out, he just might… He took a deep breath.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” Noah arched a dark brow. “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

  Fuck. Noah was going to make it damn near impossible to make a clean break tonight.

  “I think I should go.” Justin nodded toward the building. “I don’t think you’re ready for what I truly want, Noah.”

  “And what would that be?” Noah brushed his hand through his hair as he looked at Justin with knowledge in his eyes. The guy knew exactly what he was doing.

  “To take you to bed.” Justin pointed at the door handle. “You really should go.”

  “And if I don’t want you to leave?” Noah slid closer and looked up at Justin. “What if I want you to come inside?”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying.” Noah was making it harder and harder for Justin to walk away with his altruistic intentions intact. He’d never met anyone who tempted him the way Noah did.

  “Just for some coffee?” Noah reached over and turned the car off then pulled the keys from the ignition. He smiled at Justin. “Now you have no choice but to come inside.”

  The guy kept talking about “coming inside,” and Justin’s thoughts were in the gutter. It wasn’t as if Justin needed that big of a push. “Just coffee.”

  With a grin, Noah got out and walked toward the building door. Justin knew for a damn fact that things were about to get sticky. But he did need his car keys to get home, so he followed Noah inside.

  And he was glad he had. As soon as they walked inside Noah’s apartment, Justin shoved his mate behind him and stared at the destruction. Someone had broken in and trashed the place.

  Chapter Five

  Noah gasped as he looked at his ruined apartment. Someone had broken in and…fuck. Cushions had been thrown from his couch, pictures on the wall knocked to the floor. The books on his shelf were lying in a pile, the table lamp knocked over.

  He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

  “I’m going to make sure the perp isn’t still here, and then I’m going to call this in. Stay by the door, Noah. Don’t touch anything.”

  Noah grabbed Justin’s arm. He didn’t want to be left alone, even if Justin wasn’t going anywhere but down the hallway. Who would do such a thing? Noah’s attacker had been some stranger. He was sure the guy didn’t know where he lived.

  Noah pressed his hand over his mouth, trying his best not to cry as he surveyed the damage. Thank goodness his laptop was still on his desk and looked unharmed.

  “I promise. I’m not going far.” Justin pried Noah’s hand off him and then hurried down the hallway.

  What if Noah had been home when the person had broken in?

  The thought chilled him to his bones. He felt violated all over again, and Noah was dying to jump right in and clean up the mess. But he stayed by the door, curling his arms around his midsection while he waited for Justin to return.

  Noah noticed a weird smell. What the hell was that? If he wasn’t mistaken, it smelled like pine cleaner. Had the person broken in, cleaned Noah’s apartment, and then trashed it? That didn’t make any sense.

  When Justin came back, he had his phone pr
essed against his ear. Noah heard Justin giving someone his address. “I want everything dusted for prints,” he said.

  He hung up and looked at Noah. “I’m sorry I have to ask, but are you sure you didn’t know the guy who assaulted you?”

  Noah quickly shook his head. “I have no idea who he was.”

  “What about the friend who threw the party? Do you think he would tell anyone where you lived?”

  “He isn’t technically a friend,” Noah said. “We went to high school together, and I ran into him on the street. He invited me, and being the rebel that I am, I went.”

  He wasn’t sure why he was being terse with Justin. None of this was his fault, but Noah was sick and tired of feeling as if his life was out of control. He just wanted things to go back to normal, to forget what had happened to him, and put all that behind him.

  It didn’t look as though that would happen. The universe wasn’t going to allow him to slink back into his recluse ways. He should have never gone to that party. Never.

  “Come here.” Justin tucked Noah into his strong arms. “I know you’re scared and angry. I get that. So if you want to take it out on me, I won’t be offended.”

  “That’s not what I want.” Noah brushed the heel of his hand over his eyes to stop the flow of tears. God, he needed to stop falling apart so easily.

  “Why don’t you come stay the night with me?” Justin leaned back and tucked his knuckle under Noah’s jaw. “You can’t stay here while your place is being dusted for prints. This is part of an ongoing investigation, and I want you out of the way.”

  Noah knew what Justin was saying made sense. Did he really want to stay the night knowing someone had broken in? Noah wanted to find the culprit and beat the brakes off of him.

  “And before you return, we’re getting sturdier locks for your door,” Justin said.

  “I’m taking my laptop.” Noah crossed the room, careful of where he stepped so he wouldn’t disturb anything. He still couldn’t believe this had happened to him. Then again, it wasn’t as if Noah lived in the safest neighborhood. Break-ins were more common than Noah wanted to admit, and in the back of his head, he’d known, sooner or later, he might become a victim of that crime, but to see it firsthand devastated him.