by April Kelley
Hacen immediately wrapped his arms around Thomas' waist and drew him closer. Hacen buried his face in the crook of his neck. "We haven't been apart since bonding."
"I know. It's not easy for me either. Not with my relationship with Jules so rocky and then there's the fact that we can’t talk to each other internally yet. Not without mating with Jules.” Thomas sighed. “I grew up in that coven. Most are good warlocks. They don't deserve death because their leader is a narcissistic bastard."
"You're just going to leave me here alone? With Jules. His smart mouth will be the death of me, and it will be your fault." Thomas could feel Hacen's lips turn up into a smile against his skin. Just that one act made him shiver with pleasure.
Thomas smiled. "Maybe you can put his mouth to better use. Shut him up."
"We can hear every single thing you two say." For a human, Jules had ears like a cat.
"I can't hear them." Penny lay on the bed next to Jules, carefully avoiding his bad leg.
Jules ignored Penny and glared at Thomas.
Thomas smiled at him and winked. "I'll miss you. Feisty, little human."
Jules' eyes narrowed even further, but the corners of his mouth turned up. "You can't sweet-talk me."
"Really? Are you sure?" Thomas pulled out of Hacen's arms but kept a hold of his hand, pulling him to the bed. "Penny. Go outside and talk to Ramsey and Fane for a while."
"Why? I want to be with Jules." Penny moved closer.
Jules reached over and ran his hand down Penny's hair. "When you come back, I'll teach Hacen how to braid your hair." Jules gave her a shy smile. The shyness wasn't something Thomas had seen in quite a while, and Thomas wondered at its appearance. "Hacen will make a good braider. Don't let his scowl and big hands fool you."
Penny's gaze scanned over Hacen, assessing his capability. "You'll braid my hair?"
Thomas turned to Hacen, who winced but nodded. "I guess."
Jules blushed. "If you do, then maybe I'll put my smart mouth to better use."
Thomas snorted out a laugh. Yep, Jules had heard every word alright.
Penny's lips screwed up in disgust, and she scooted to the end of the bed. "Eww. And also, yuck. I'll go find Fane."
Thomas snorted out a laugh. "Stay close to Fane and Ramsey. I don’t trust Ekalis and his goons."
Penny made it to the door and had her hand on the knob before she turned and met Jules’ gaze again. "And I have to tell you about this boy at school."
Jules gave her a shy smile again. "Boy talk is my favorite."
Penny giggled and left the cabin. As she was stepping onto the porch, Thomas heard her say, "Fane, will you help me pick flowers for Jules?”
“No leaving the porch, Penny,” Thomas yelled and then met Jules’ gaze again. "You have a best friend there, don't you?"
Jules shrugged. "Penny's special."
Thomas sat on the side of the bed. "As special as you."
"If you don't return in three days, I'm sending Hacen and my family after you." Jules gave him a no-nonsense look.
"That's fair." Thomas turned to Hacen. "Something will be wrong if I don’t make it back in that amount of time."
Hacen cursed under his breath. "I fucking hate this." Hacen headed for the door.
"Glaring at the warlocks outside will make him feel better." Jules chuckled. The sound of it was as gentle as his shyness. There was a contrast between all that gentleness and the way he bossed them around.
“My parents died, and it wasn’t even a full month after that the leader of my old coven kicked us out. He used Penny as an excuse. She didn’t have magic, and that was a good enough reason for some. Others fought for us to stay but Ballard had a good backing. He had just taken over leadership, and I was coming into my own as a warlock. It didn't take much for him to discover my magic was stronger than his."
Jules took Thomas' hand and laced their fingers together.
"The only time I've ever felt comfortable leaving her is with the Somersets."
"So you're going there to kill this Ballard guy? Because he's an idiot, who sided with Nicolono?"
Thomas smiled. "Pretty much. Yes."
"Can I ask you to do something for me?"
Thomas nodded. "I'd do anything for you." He brought there joined hands up to his lips and kissed.
Jules looked at Thomas from beneath his lashes. It was such a provocative look, Thomas almost changed his mind about leaving. He'd much rather fuck Jules into the mattress and then cuddle until they were ready to go again.
“Don’t trust anyone. You’ll die if you do.”
Thomas leaned in, letting go of Jules' hand long enough to draw him into a hug. He kept it brief. "Premonitions. It’s what you’re trying to tell me, right. That you have them, I mean.”
Jules shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve had dreams my whole life, and some of them come true. My grandma died. Mr. Evil took me. Now, you might get hurt. Things happening to Hacen. And myself.”
“There’s a spell on the property. You’ll be safe here. Hacen too.”
Jules cupped his cheek. “What about you?”
“Now that you’ve warned me I’ll put a spell on myself that will prevent anyone from causing me serious injury.” Thomas smiled and decided to lighten the mood. “Now, I have a favor to ask."
"What?"
Thomas pulled back just enough to dig his phone out of his pocket. He handed it to Jules. "Record Hacen attempting to braid Penny's hair."
Jules snorted out a laugh. "He's gonna be great at it. You just wait. He's good at all that domestic crap. I would never have suspected that but it's true."
Jules didn't take the phone, so Thomas laid it in his lap.
"I want you to be able to call for help if you need it."
Jules shook his head. "It's the only phone we have between the three of us.”
“I'll stop somewhere and get one of those pay as you go phones. I'll call you as soon as I do, so you'll have the number."
Jules nodded. "Call right away. And call twice every day after that."
"I will, baby. I promise." Thomas leaned in for a kiss, pressing their lips together.
Jules locked an arm around Thomas' neck and held on as if he were afraid Thomas would disappear. Jules deepened the kiss, working Thomas' lips open until he felt Jules' tongue get a taste of him, moving along the seam of his lips.
That was all it took for Thomas to forget about everything else but Jules. He moved until he straddled Jules' lap. The blankets covering him made it impossible to feel anything the way Thomas longed too, so he lifted just enough to remove the barrier without breaking the kiss.
Thomas moaned when he felt Jules' thighs against his ass. He stayed away from Jules’ bandage.
Jules gripped his hair in his fist and angled his head, demanding things Thomas never expected. A part of Thomas wanted to stop, knowing Jules may freak again.
Thomas lifted the hem of Jules' shirt, needing to touch his skin. The heat from Jules' body radiated through his hands. Thomas explored with his fingertips, moving from Jules' flat stomach to his chest. He ran his fingers through the few hairs in the center of his chest, needing to memorize everything about Jules by just touching.
Jules moaned when Thomas touched his nipples. He arched his chest, wanting more, which Thomas gladly gave him. He lifted the shirt all the way to Jules' neck and broke the kiss.
It was as he moved down to lick Jules' nipples that he heard yelling coming from outside.
He pressed his forehead against Jules and sighed. "That's Hacen."
Jules' breath moved across his face as he panted. "We should go see what's happening."
"Yeah." Thomas moved his hands down Jules’ body, feeling his smooth skin. "I'm hard for you, baby."
"Me too." Jules let go of Thomas' hair, running his fingers through it. “I think I might want to bond.”
Oh yeah. That’s what Thomas wanted to hear. Thomas kissed Jules again. He was just getting ready to deepen the kiss when Hacen yell
ed again. "Get back. There's no way you're going near my mates."
Thomas moved off Jules then, instantly alert. "That's his pissed off voice."
"He has a different way of speaking?"
Thomas leaned in and kissed Jules on the forehead before straightening, standing and walking to the door. "Good point. That's his more pissed off voice."
Thomas pulled open the door and met Hacen's back. Hacen folded his arms over his chest, and Thomas saw the muscles jump in his jaw. "Get away from the cabin before I kick your ass."
Ekalis stood only feet away, just on the edge of the barrier Thomas had created. He met Thomas' gaze over Hacen's shoulder. "You got a protective mate here. Can't get past him."
Thomas ran his hand down Hacen's back, needing the physical contact. "He has good reason," he explained, thinking of Jules inside and all Stavros had put them through.
"I just wanted to ask how much longer you'd be. I'd like to get underway." Ekalis made it sound like a demand, which put Thomas' on edge. "When you're ready, of course."
"Of course." Thomas looped his finger in one of Hacen's belt buckles and tugged just enough to get Hacen's attention. "I'll be just a couple minutes more."
Ekalis nodded and turned away.
Hacen walked back into the cabin behind Thomas, shutting the door behind him. "I don't like that guy."
"Do you like anyone at all?" Jules' big brown eyes sparkled with mischief.
Thomas turned to see Hacen's reaction. The corners of Hacen's mouth turned up in a surprising, but barely there smile. "I like you." Hacen met Thomas' gaze. "And you."
Thomas took the step to get to him, wrapping his arms around Hacen's waist. "I have a protective barrier in place. Ekalis knows it. He was just baiting you.”
“Yeah, well. It worked and he’s an asshole.”
Chapter Fourteen
"Tell me if I hurt you." Hacen had spoken those words a thousand times already.
Penny waved her hand, dismissing his statement once again. "I know. You said that already. Just braid."
Hacen scowled at the back of her head and then looked over at Jules when he snorted out a laugh from his perch on the side of the bed. "Bossy. You've been hanging around Jules too much."
"I can never have enough Jules time." Penny sat in the kitchen chair with her head tilted down, so she didn't see the smile light up Jules' eyes.
Hacen saw it, though, and met Jules' gaze. "Me either."
The pink flush to Jules' cheeks had to be the prettiest thing Hacen had ever seen. Thomas’ sex face right before he came rivaled it but that was all that did.
Jules stood, wincing. He took slow steps across the room. Hacen watched him for any sign that he may fall or that his pain was too much, but Jules made it over to them.
Hacen pulled a chair next to him and urged Jules to sit down. Jules leaned against his side, his head on Hacen's hip.
Hacen started the braid the way Jules had shown him yesterday, trying to get the hair wound together. When the hair felt loose, he cursed under his breath.
"No cussing." Penny and Jules both spoke at the same time.
Hacen deliberately deepened his scowl. "I can say what I want."
"I'm an impressionable child." When Penny spoke, her head moved, making his task difficult.
"Yesterday you knew what Jules was talking about when he said he'd put his mouth to good use, so don't give me that." Hacen took out the braid and started over, pulling the first sections of hair as tightly as he could without hurting her.
"I go to a public school."
"It's a clan school. And hold still. I'm not good enough at this yet for you to be wiggling around."
"Whatever. It's still middle school. Hormones are all over the place."
Hacen looked down at Jules. Those big brown eyes had Hacen giving into him every single time. They were his curse and, at the same time, he longed to see them every second of every day.
Jules winked at him. "I don't remember talking about sex in middle school."
"Me either." Hacen wouldn't tell her that when he was in school every child within a few miles radius learned together in one room regardless of their age or learning level. "Do I need to put the fear of the gods into every boy in your school?"
"Gabriel already does that. None of them even want to talk to me because I'm basically Mr. Somerset's kid. 'He's the scariest teacher in Saint Lakes.' Yeah, that's a direct quote from the boy I like. He's super cute and brave enough to ask me to the movies, but Gabe won't let me go."
"Good. This boy sounds stupid. You should steer clear of him anyway."
Even though Hacen was perfectly serious, Jules laughed. An arm came around Hacen's leg and held on as if afraid the laugh would carry him away.
Hacen smiled. Whatever tickled Jules, Hacen would gladly do it over and over again.
When Jules calmed enough for Penny's voice to carry above the noise, she asked, "So what's the difference between brave and stupid then?"
"That boy is the difference."
Jules started up again, and this time Penny plowed right on through. "No, he's not. Gabe could kill him, but he still asked me out."
"That's precisely the thing that makes him stupid. And not just Gabe either. Tommy would send the kid to the middle of the African desert where the lion prides live with just one chant. Hell, he wouldn't even have to chant above a whisper, and the kid would be lion dinner."
Hacen stilled his hands when Penny cocked her head to the side. "That's a good point."
Well, wasn't that a backhanded compliment. "Glad I could impress you."
Penny giggled and moved into place again. Hacen continued his task.
A comfortable silence settled over the cabin. If Tommy were with them, things would be perfect.
Hacen took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He looked at the cell phone that Jules carried around. "When did he say he'd call?"
"Tonight."
Hacen grunted in response. He wanted to ask if Jules missed Tommy as much as he did but wasn't sure how to quantify the longing in his heart. He just knew every hour that ticked made the dull ache in his chest just a little sharper.
It was uncomfortable, and he didn't like it.
He'd go and drag Tommy back if he thought he wouldn't feel the same way when he left Jules here.
"I miss him too. I shouldn't. I've been without you both more than I've been with you. I think I'm developing Stockholm Syndrome."
Penny giggled. "That’s when the hostage likes the guys with the guns, right?"
"Sort of. Only not all captors need guns. And I'm starting to like mine. I'm messed up in the head." Despite Jules' words, he gave Hacen a small smile.
Hacen would have spoken if not for the knock vibrating around the room.
Jules stood up and walked to the door. He had been a bit more mobile since Tommy left and Hacen strongly suspected it had something to do with the three-day rule they had going. Tommy had a day and a half before Hacen left and Jules intended to go with him.
It wouldn't happen. It wouldn't matter how many times Jules batted those long lashes at him or how pissed he became.
Hacen watched Jules, his hands stilling with chunks of Penny's hair between his fingers. The sweatpants Jules had on were Tommy's, and they hung on his hips. The t-shirt rode up on one side, exposing his slender waist.
Hacen longed to run his fingers across that warm flesh. Maybe he could even slide up behind Jules and work his hands up under his shirt so that he could get a good feel.
Hacen's fantasy ended when Jules pulled open the door, and he saw the male witch along with his dragon shifter mate standing on their porch. He scowled and tried to keep the growl from rumbling out. He focused on his task and began braiding again.
"Wow." Lucas stared at him as if he were an exotic circus animal doing tricks. "Never in a million years would I have bet on that happening."
Hacen let the growl escape and thought for sure he'd either have Jules telling him to knock it off or t
he big dragon shifter in his face, threatening his life.
Neither happened.
Instead, Jules waved his hand in Hacen's general direction. "Ignore him."
Jules moved and let the witch and shifter inside.
Hacen gritted his teeth and sped up the process of braiding just to get it done. He had tolerated Ladon being in the cabin yesterday because he didn't have a choice. Ladon was a strong shifter and could do some damage if he wanted. His strength made him capable of leading well, and with Ramsey's guidance, he'd excel. Hacen also tolerated him because Magnus was a close friend.
Bennett might treat his mate with respect, but Hacen didn't know him well enough to expect the same.
Jules hugged the witch before embracing the shifter. Hacen growled again. “Come here. Now, Jules.”
Penny held up a thread-covered rubber band, and Hacen took it, wrapping it around the end of her hair several times before he was satisfied the braid was secure. He patted her on the shoulder, letting her know he finished. She took off for the bathroom and the mirror above the sink at the same time Hacen closed the distance between himself and Jules.
He wrapped his arm around Jules' waist and pulled him into his side.
"Stop growling at Bennett. And stop bossing me around.” The narrow-eyed glare Jules gave him said he'd pay at some point.
"But it's okay when you do it to me." Hacen deepened his scowl, but his body betrayed him when his eyes glowed blue, and his fangs descended.
"That's different. You need me to. You act like a Neanderthal around most of my family." Jules looked from Lucas to Bennett. "He's normally not like this. It's only because of his past."
Shit. "Jules."
"Well, it is."
"It's also my business. And private." Hacen kept an eye on the witch, knowing full well he would be able to read his mind if he wanted too.
"Why would that be a secret? I mean, it’s obvious you have issues. My whole family knows it." When Jules leaned into him, Hacen pulled him closer.
Hacen’s anger deflated. "Just apologize for telling people my private business and stop arguing with me."
