by Deja Black
Leaning down, he kissed a soft cheek and nuzzled satiny hair until bright blue-green eyes opened and warmed gently.
“I love you too, Daniel Tolliver.”
“Do you, now? So glad you figured it out.” Slapping Aiden on his very fine ass, Dan hopped out of the bed and searched for his clothes. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Laughing, Aiden asked, “Where are we going?” His pecs were so inviting against what must be a billion thread count sheets as the layers slid to his waist. Tempting, so tempting.
Dan turned away, heading to Aiden’s waiting bath. “Everywhere, sexy man. Let’s grab a shower”—because he would be a fool not to take the moment and enjoy washing all that gorgeous flesh, running his hands over slippery, wet skin—“and then we’re going everywhere. Zoo, dinner. Oh, and lots of hot, kinky sex. Turns out that I love to see my spunk dripping out of your luscious ass. Want a hell of a lot more of that.” Looking back, he sent a very saucy smile Aiden’s way and giggled—yes, giggled—as he was chased into the bathroom.
And they did. The zoo was fun. Aiden was a silly guy when he wasn’t trying to pretend to be a hardass. He did a great orangutan impression—complete with arms above his head and rotating that wonderful body side to side—until they both agreed that seeing the primates spooked them enough to make them think of Caesar from Planet of the Apes.
The giant bug exhibit was fun, almost as much fun as feeding each other those weird little balls of ice cream and watching the other try to catch the runaways with his tongue, which gave Dan ideas. When they went back to Aiden’s house that evening, Dan rejoiced in Aiden’s lack of a gag reflex with loud screams and impassioned cries, and his lover said Dan’s balls were so much better than the frosty dessert he’d had earlier. The licking, slurping, and eventually swallowing—as well as nearly blacking out from coming so hard—certainly had Dan agreeing.
For Dan’s part, he chose to think everything happened for a reason. The abuse he suffered from Keith eventually led him to Aiden. He would enjoy each and every day, a walk in the sunshine of hope and love.
CHAPTER 20
THE WEEKS passed rather quickly, and before Dan knew it, school was back in. But he was okay with that. He felt refreshed. Ready. He could do this. He wasn’t alone anymore, had realized that even when he was with Keith, he had always been alone. He didn’t feel that way with Aiden. It was true he could be an ass and didn’t believe in beating around the bush. He said exactly what was on his mind. But he was honest, fair. He loved his patients, loved being a healer.
When they met for lunch or dinner, Dan had had the opportunity to visit a few times while Aiden was working with a patient. The kindness he exuded, the way he opened himself as a conduit of safety and trust, was in every part of his frame as he talked. As he answered questions, as he held a wrinkled hand gently, explaining why a loved one would be passing on regardless of all the miracles that the medical world could procure, he nurtured. He protected. The nurses, orderlies, and other personnel respected him, trusted him. Aiden loved people, loved humans, and Dan knew his man needed to be loved, needed to be sheltered the way he sheltered others. That was his job as a keeper, and keep Aiden he would. Just seeing him as he strode confidently through the hospital made Dan want to drag him into the nearest room and plunge his cock in him and drink his fill. Each time they were together made them stronger, made their hunger for each other more ravenous.
“Hey, beautiful,” a too-bright voice sang as his best girl walked into the breakfast room. “Yummy! Crapes!”
“Shelly.” Mrs. Dunham sighed happily as she opened her arms to welcome Conner’s mate.
Dan didn’t know when it happened, but this was Shelly’s home now too. Her apartment had never been much, too small to contain the dynamic spirit that was his girl even with the many photographs of butterflies she had everywhere. Here she could spread her own joy and feistiness all over the compound, just as she was now, as glaring as the sun that nearly shone from her body while she set her rays on him. Tackled hard, all he could do was laugh.
“Well, Mr. Tolliver? Back into the swing of things?” A small kiss to his temple, and she moved to the other end of the table to dig into fresh blueberries, strawberries, and honey, the pastry so thin it melted against the tongue.
“Not quite yet.”
Shelly’s brows wrinkled as she looked Dan over.
Faced with her scrutiny, Dan sought the view through the windows instead.
“Dan, honey.”
Before she could start her gentle interrogation, Dan went on. “I’m ready, Shelly. I am. For the first time in years, I’m happy. This is just the next step to reclaiming my life. But….”
“But unfortunately there’s a little bump in the road that has to be pummeled down, then it’s smooth sailing, right?”
“Right.”
Shelly stood, her hair longer now, a fiery streak down her back as she charged to Dan’s side. “Move over.”
“One seat, babe.”
“Yeah, and? Move.” If the words weren’t enough, Shelly’s hip check was.
Dan scooted over to accommodate her petite frame as she wrapped two strong arms around him, her strawberry scent playing with his nose. He wondered what she was beyond the human appearance, but more importantly, she was his friend, his sister. It was obvious there was a secret beneath her skin, for how could she have adjusted so well to living with wolves—and even a vampire or two—if there wasn’t more to this already-immense powerhouse.
From what Conner said, his big reveal was met with a twinkle as she climbed onto his back for him to carry her to their home. If Conner knew what Shelly was, he wasn’t sharing. It was up to Dan to find out for himself. He watched her closely for signs, clues that would give her away. He thought about her love of butterflies, her spunkiness. Nothing. He was getting nothing.
“Dan, I’m here for you, baby. I always will be. No matter what-the-fuck-ever, I will be here. Sorry, Mrs. Dunham,” Shelly said as she smiled back at her impishly.
“No offense taken, young lady. It’s more important that he understand the sentiment of us all.” Another warm hand took his, strong and firm. “We’re all here for you, young prince.”
A throat was cleared. Dan looked up to see Kristoff standing in the opening. A warmth was present in the wolf’s face, in his movements, that Dan had never noticed before. Something else had been happening during his time with Aiden. A mate for his brother who just happened to be his best friend, and some type of polar vortex in the icy Kristoff? One would have to wonder.
“The Alpha requests your presence, Daniel.” Wasn’t it a little early for Kristoff? Dan squeezed Shelly tightly, kissed Mrs. Dunham’s warm cheek, and went to meet his father.
Jeremiah sat behind an oak desk in his office, a gentle light from a lamp casting shadows in the room. He looked warmly at his son and beckoned him forward. Taking his hand, Dan walked around his father’s desk, a desk that was a little more disarrayed than he had ever seen it before. In fact, the scent in the room was different somehow. Peppery? Before Dan could continue his line of thought, Jeremiah took both of his hands in his.
“You are ready, Dan.” There was no question, no allowance for any alternative other than he was ready to move on. His father stood and inhaled his scent. His smile was warm, happy. “You are mated. Good. Your mate meets my approval. And yes, before you say anything different, he must meet my approval before you would be allowed beyond pack lands again. In fact—” He turned to look for something. “—you may give him this.” Jeremiah placed an envelope in his hand. Whatever was inside was metal, the clink giving it away. “Keys. As your true mate, he is welcomed to our home. You may feel free to use his home as a getaway of sorts, some alone time, should you feel you need it, but you are pack. It was a mistake to allow you to make a home beyond pack lands without us. I will not make it again.”
“Now, Father—”
“Now, son,” Jeremiah continued. He was wearing his hunter-gr
een Henley today, his shoulders wide as he stretched out his arms for Dan to listen. “I understand your need for independence. I understand your mate’s need for independence. I have been learning a few lessons myself, lately.”
Kristoff cleared his throat, but when Dan looked back to him in question, his face was the icy slate it always was. His father, though… his brow was lifted, his dark eyes shining as he went on.
Catching himself, he turned back to Dan. “Still, this is our pack’s home, your home, and now it will be your mate’s home. Apparently we all need keepers.” He sighed. “You are his keeper. We are yours. Bring your mate home.” His word given, Jeremiah bent to kiss Dan’s cheek and hugged him, pulling him close.
Dan left, envelope clutched tightly in hand. He was fed, buttressed by his family, ordered to move his mate in, had a mystery to share with Conner, and returning to school after a long hiatus. Already this day had gotten off to an eventful start.
DAN’S FIRST day back was not as weird as he thought it would be. His room, while not perfect, was not destroyed. He was well-liked by his students, and a few had taken it upon themselves to act as the classroom guardians, thus his materials were intact. He still had a desk, and the pictures were on the wall and not underfoot. From what he could tell, his markers were not used as weapons, nor were there less than welcoming messages written on his whiteboards in permanent ink that he would have to scrub away. With the exception of whatever the hell it was that stank in his microwave when he opened it—which he decided he didn’t need all that much—all was good. The applause when his drama class entered was even better, and he was more than ready to get to work.
One thing Dan would have to get used to again was going to be that twenty-minute lunch and that he couldn’t just go to the restroom whenever he felt like it. He had actually considered deserting his students when no one could be found to watch his class and the hall monitors were playing hooky, once or twice. How some teachers found the opportunity to get a forbidden smoke break but he could find no one to spot him for about five minutes was beyond him.
As he was almost singing in the restroom about the pleasure of going, his phone buzzed with a text.
After washing his hands and then doing the water shake because there were no paper towels in the dispenser again, he checked the display.
How’s it going?
It was Aiden, and suddenly he was having the best day ever.
Pretty good. You?
Good. Busy. Had to walk through Billy’s nightmare again.
Billy was a patient of Aiden’s who had recently lost his parents in a car accident. The poor nine-year-old already had enough to battle. Both parents were the only children in their families, and only one set of grandparents lived. The grandparents were a long distance away, which would require Billy to leave everything he knew. Not only that, but his injuries were horrible enough that he would have to stay at the hospital until he could be moved to Michigan, where he would have to learn to walk again, hold a fork, perform simple tasks. It was too much for a little guy to handle. Because of that, Aiden had been staying late to ease Billy’s dreams, walking through them, remapping the collision with the drunken truck driver with happier images of his parents. It was draining on him, but it was what he had chosen to do.
You need to get away. You won’t be any good to anyone if you don’t take some time for yourself. Even you need time.
Yeah. You’re right.
Of course I am. See you tonight.
See you.
The rest of Dan’s day was good. He had enough work to take home and lots of time to make up, because even though the sub he had was a good one, it was still a sub. There were things he would have to review in order to be ready for core testing and the AP English test. Still, he was fine. He had made it through his first day without incident. And though Conner refused to let him drive without an escort until the problem with Keith was solved, it was still an excellent day.
THAT NIGHT, Dan was at a loss as to what to say to Aiden about moving into the compound. He wasn’t certain how Aiden would take it. Having lived centuries alone, how would he take being forced to live surrounded by others? On the list of what’s important, that was one of the last things on his mind as he sank into Aiden over and over again, his teeth anchoring his flesh as he swallowed, his arms wrapped around his chest. Pulling Aiden down and pushing his body up, his cock tightly enveloped by his gripping muscles, he chose to enjoy what Aiden had to offer, to revel in his cries as he came. Talk of moving could happen later.
Later didn’t happen as the two of them lay spent in each other’s arms, Aiden resting against pillows with his thigh between Dan’s own, their cum drying on their skin.
“Better?”
“Much better.”
“Let’s watch a movie.”
“Okay.”
Neither had time when, after the movie, Aiden drank from Dan, swallowed his essence hungrily, coating his insides. Or the next day, or even the next. And by the time it was the day for the scheduled practice at Keith’s theater, later had not occurred. Instead, Dan only focused on now. He concentrated on his students in the auditorium, on the lighting on the stage, on the presence of his family, including Shelly, in the back and along the walls, some hidden, some not. He focused on his mate at his side, granite strong and glimmering, his eyes spinning blue and green, his pupils nonexistent.
When Keith dramatically walked out onto the stage, the light somehow following his movements, his smile was twisted angrily.
Dan saw it, though most of the kids noticed nothing out of the ordinary, too happy to have Dan there. Although, a few looked between him and Keith questioningly. One or two whispered and nudged a chin in his direction as furtive glances observed his and Aiden’s closeness.
Still Keith smiled glistening daggers as he turned to face them. His smile was the same one that used to make Dan tremble, made him promise to do anything to stop what would happen next. Instead of fear, Dan felt Aiden’s presence, his energy licking over his skin, caressing him, warming him, loving him.
“Oh, Dan. What a surprise,” the dick said as he trotted soundlessly down the stairs at one end of the stage, moving toward him. “I am so happy to see you, to know that your family is well.” He glanced around, his watchful eyes challenging. “Have come with you in such a great number too.” He turned back to the students. “Michael, Sarah, Tommy, why don’t you give Dan’s family a tour? Show them the backrooms, the dressing rooms, trap room, the control booth. You are welcome to show them all you have learned since Mr. Tolliver has been away. I’m sure his family would love to see everything while I talk with him, bring him up to speed about all that you have done.”
They hopped up ready to do Keith’s bidding. One or two walked up to him, lambs to a sacrifice, and he wrapped his arms around them tightly, fingers appearing to hold them lovingly, but Dan could see them for the claws they were.
“I feel as if your children are mine, Dan. Like my very own family.” That fucked-up smile he wore spread across his face, his eyes watching Dan. No matter the Brooks Brothers shirt he wore or the Calvin Kleins that hugged his frame, he was still ugly underneath his veneer of beauty. “We’ve done so much together, haven’t we, kids?” Heads nodded, a few voices piped up happily. “Would be a shame to lose them.”
This time there was no mistaking the message conveyed as Keith’s eyes morphed into two empty pits with burning red coals at the center. He caressed the shoulders of his unknowing victims, bringing them closer to him as he sniffed them, his eyes on Dan’s. Gradually, discomfort started to play across their features, followed by worry.
Never slow on the uptake, Dan understood what he needed to do. It was more important to have his kids safe, with his family and away from Keith, who was both unpredictable in his anger and ready to strike out, ready to destroy Dan through the people he loved most. He didn’t need his victims to be the students he loved or want to explain to grief-stricken parents how he allowed someone
like Keith into their lives.
Dan nodded. “I think having the students give a tour of the auditorium is a great idea. We can all wait here while they’re gone.”
When Jeremiah would have protested, Kristoff stepped forward, placing himself between son and father. He nodded toward Dan, who thanked him silently.
The teenagers were all very eager to show off their new theater-hand knowledge. They grabbed an adult or two, totally ignorant of the rigidness in Dan’s family members. They bounded up stairs, blended into the wings, and escorted away their guests until all who remained were Dan, Aiden, and Keith. The quiet left behind was unnatural.
With everyone else gone, Keith turned to Dan and Aiden. “Are you that afraid of me, Daniel, that you have to bring, what? The entire pack?” That grimace had become more twisted, as if Keith was laughing at the absurdity of it all, those rubies in his eyes brighter.
Dan didn’t find anything funny. His family, his pack, his mate were all there to protect him, to show their love for him. He wouldn’t allow Keith to wrestle it into something different. Pride didn’t make you forget there were those who loved you. Pride made you realize that sometimes you needed more than yourself to remain strong.
“Shouldn’t the watcher be enough?” Keith stepped forward, edging into Dan’s personal space. He was so close, Dan could breathe in the burning traces of his acrid scent, a scent Keith often attempted to cover with expensive colognes, but no matter how expensive those bottles were, his poisonous bouquet found a way to rise above and burn Dan’s nasal passages.
Beside him, Aiden tensed. Dan could feel it, as they both operated on the same wavelength.
“And what of you, brother, deartháir? This human, whom you yourself denied before, clinging to your own holier-than-thou reasons, has now claimed you?” Heat radiated from Keith as he focused on Aiden, and Dan recognized it for what it was—rage. “Is his dick gold, his cum like nectar, to have changed you, made you somehow realize that you should be his?” Keith’s voice became a low growl as he continued. “He was mine first. I fucked him, watched his juices flow because I commanded it, made him swallow my cum, drink from my body, a body he worshipped and feared. I owned him, and you would attempt to rob me of what is mine?” His words were louder now, spittle flying as his spoke.
