by Milly Taiden
“Wait. A few hours?”
NINETEEN
Kasen paced his living room, Spike on the sofa with his feet resting on the coffee table, beer in one hand, TV remote in the other. “Kasen, sit down, man. You’re making me seasick with your back and forth.”
He stopped and stared at him. “Thanks for your help. Wait ‘til you meet your mate and can’t figure out one goddamn thing. I’ll be there with my beer and remote.”
Spike sighed. “You’re making such a big deal out of this. Just take her on a sunset picnic where you’ll have privacy and can do the wild thing again.” The beta pumped his hips up and down on the sofa, humming the apropos song.
Kasen growled. Spike gave him an incredulous look, a silly grin on his face. “I’m not the one who was hot doggin’ his mate within seconds of stepping into her office. You barely got the damn door closed in time.”
“You are so full of shit, Spike.” He made his way to the kitchen, Spike following. “I had the door fully closed.” A tingle ran up his spine thinking about their hot little jaunt. Fuck, that had been amazing. He opened the fridge and rummaged. “Damn, you’ll have to go to the grocery store again.”
Spike slapped a hand on his chest. “Me? We’ve already been through this. I always do the shopping.”
“And I need you to do it one more time. I have to get everything else ready.”
The closing of the front door was the only warning he got. “Everything else ready for what, Kasen?”
“Thanks for knocking and respecting my privacy, Mom.” He hoped his sarcasm wasn’t lost on her.
She dramatically sighed. “Kasen, you always were one for dramatics.” His mouth fell open. Spike coughed loudly to make sure he closed it without saying anything.
Spike smiled innocently at her. Kasen frowned at him. Dick. “Hello, Mrs. Steel. Good to see you again.”
“Yes, same to you, Spike. What are you two up to?” Spike turned away. Great. He wasn’t about to put his own foot in his mouth to chew off. That left Kasen with the dirty deed.
“Mom, I’m doing what I have been doing for the past week. Trying to find the mate I want.” He kept his tone neutral or else she’d know there was more going on.
“I’m so proud of you, Kasen. Finally coming to your senses.” She stepped into the kitchen and laid a hand on his arm. Wow, another touch from her. He hadn’t received this much motherly love since he was an infant.
“Now, make sure she is docile, bends to our commands, and spits out grandpups right away.” Spike choked on his beer and coughed. Kasen envisioned himself throttling him, forget the fact they were best friends.
“Mom, there’s more to a relationship than having pups and cleaning the house.”
His mother sniffed and lifted her nose. “Of course there is. Just make sure she stays at home with the children while you’re taking care of the pack.”
After the front door closed with her departure, Spike laughed uncontrollably. “Man, you are so screwed.” He slapped his thigh and almost fell off the kitchen counter stool.
“Yak it up, fuzzball. Get your ass in the truck and pick up some picnic food. And a bottle of wine. Do you think she drinks wine?” He stopped and his blood turned cold when he realized he had no idea where to take her on this date. “Oh shit. Where should we go?”
“Go up the river along this side. There’s that nice nook with shade trees that’s perfect for sun watching. Or whatever.” Spike smiled. Kasen threw a towel at him.
“Careful, that’s my mate you’re talking about.” His voice was growly, but also lighthearted. Spike grabbed the keys from the counter.
“Yeah, but it’s you. The ‘whatever’ is a no brainer. Especially after your escapades at her place.” Good thing the beta hurried out the door before he found a knife to throw at him.
TWENTY
Kasen texted the address of his home to Andi two hours ago. Hopefully, she wouldn’t recognize it as residential. She’d figure it out once she got there, but then it’d be too late. He’d have her in his arms as soon as she pulled into the drive.
He told her to dress comfy causal. She texted back asking where they were going, but he just said she’d love it. Now as the time grew closer, he grew more anxious, worried she decided to blow him off. He needed this to work. Needed her to see how they were meant for each other. He knew she felt the pull, just didn’t get why she fought it so hard.
Was he really that bad of a guy? Plenty of other women wanted him. Why not her? Maybe the sex was clouding her mind. He was damn good. His cock was big and felt so snug in her pussy. His pants tightened in the crotch, making them uncomfortable. Fuck. He shook his leg to the side, hoping to find a better fit. Didn’t work.
He made a decision. No sex on this date. He would prove to her he wanted more than just her body. That he was serious about this working out, about talking it out. Shit. His pants were not cooperating. Neither was his dick. No sex meant it needed to stay small. Well, not that he was small. Maybe limp. Well, he was never limp, per se. He could always get it up. Maybe—dammit, he knew what he meant. Fuck, was he nervous or what?
No, he wasn’t nervous. He was the fucking alpha of Steel Claw. Steel men were never nervous, except when they were. And he wasn’t. Shit. Since there was to be no sex, maybe he should take the edge off before she got there. Shouldn’t take long. Not that he couldn’t last long, he could. He meant—fuck, he was doing it again.
What the fuck was his problem? It wasn’t like this was his first date. As long as a date didn’t consist of more than shoveling food down his throat then getting busy shoving his dick down hers. But that’s all the female wanted, too. And he always made sure she left just as satisfied as him.
He heard the gravel crunch indicating someone was pulling into the drive. He hurried out front to meet her. He felt kind of silly not waiting for her to come to the door, but he didn’t want to give her the chance to change her mind and back out and leave. She could and would, if she wanted.
When she put her car in park, he opened her door with a bow. “Milady, I am your humble servant here to escort you to the royal living room.”
Andi snorted. “Humble, my ass.” But she put a hand on his proffered elbow and climbed from her car.
As she leaned over to pull out her purse, he couldn’t help but admire her backside. “And such a lovely ass, it is, milady.” She tagged him in the chest with her purse when she straightened.
“Stop that. I just got here.” He laughed and closed the car door. “And I wasn’t expecting the address to be your home. I almost backed out to leave.”
He raised a finger. “I never said we’d go to a restaurant. And you do still have your car.”
“Yes,” she sighed with an eye roll, “you’re right. And I do have my car, so you’d better be a gentleman.”
He paused to shake his leg again. “Yes, I already decided that.” He walked her up the front porch steps to the front door. When he turned the doorknob, it didn’t turn. Oh, fuck. The door was set to open on the inside, but lock on the outside when it closed. And his keys were inside on the counter. Fuck!
He fought to keep his face from flushing. Steel men didn’t embarrass. They always meant what they did and said. Except when they didn’t.
She looked at him. “Is anything wrong?”
“No, no,” he lied like she couldn’t smell it, “nothing wrong. I have a surprise for milady.” He sat her on the porch swing. “Wait here one minute and I’ll be right back.” Kasen hurried around the back of the house for the hidden spare key. He’d never had to use it before. He hoped it was where he remembered.
TWENTY-ONE
Kasen skirted the pool and hot tub to the far side. Lifting the fake half barrel with flowers his mother had the landscapers put along the back, he felt around the damp ground. Not finding anything, he tipped a couple garden gnomes to the side and looked under those. Still nothing, but his shoes were now covered in mud and mulch. For fuck’s sake!
He wiped
his hands on his pants and pulled his phone from his back pocket. Thank god he had that. Pushing the speed dial for his beta, he sighed.
“Ed's Taxidermy, you snuff 'em, we stuff 'em!”
What? “Spike?”
“Oh, hey, alphaman. How’s your date? Wait, why are you calling me?”
He growled. “I locked us outside the damn front door. And the spare key isn’t under the barrel where it used to be. Do you know where it is?”
“Hmmm,” came across the line. “Did you look under the gnomes?”
Kasen huffed a snarl and almost destroyed the phone in his hand. “Yes. Got my damn shoes all muddy.”
“Did you check behind the screen on the porch window?”
“No.” At the window, he saw something that looked like gray metal wedged toward the bottom. “Hold on. I see something.” He pried the corner of the screen back and pushed his hand through. The frame for the window cover was quite rigid and didn’t take to bending that well. His forearm scraped along pointy extrusions.
More than halfway to the key, his arm refused to move forward. With a hard shove, he heard the sleeve of his shirt rip, and continue ripping with every inch toward the goal. When his fingers finally reached the target, they pulled up a deformed nail.
“Spike, it’s a fucking nail,” he barked.
“Is it twisted?” Spike’s tone was curious.
He frowned. “Yes, how do you know?”
“Ah, I wondered where I’d put that. Sometimes the shed door jams. You need a nail to pry it open.” There. He heard the humor in Spike’s voice and once again wanted to slap him upside the head.
“Dammit, Spike.”
“Hey, don’t yell at me. I’m trying to help.” Yes, he knew that. It was the situation he was pissed about.
“Where else would it be?” Quiet carried over the line while he rolled up his sleeves to hide the six-inch tear up the forearm.
“Try the outdoor kitchen. Look on the lower shelf under the grill.” The space where the grill sat was small and jammed into a corner. The shelf was dark in the shadows, but he felt around. Squatted on his heels, he found a metal scrub brush, oven glove, several dead roaches, and a shed snake’s skin.
Disgusted, he yanked his hand out and leaned to the side against the wall to stand. On his way up, the back pocket of his pants caught on something and tore half off.
“Oh,” Spike started, “careful when you stand, there’s a water spigot sticking out of the wall.”
Pissed beyond belief, Kasen yanked on the pocket, tearing the hole more, letting his boxers peek out the side. “Thanks for the warning. Couldn’t you have said it earlier?”
“I can only do so much not being there. I can come by and open the front door if you want with my key.”
His first instinct was mine. Nobody was going to see or touch his mate. “No, I got it.”
“It won’t take much, really. I’m out and about.” He could hear Spike’s grin over the line.
Kasen realized how stupid he’d look with his beta showing up to let them in. There was no way to save face then. She’d laugh at him then go home. That couldn’t happen.
“I’m good, man. Thanks. I’ll call you later.” He pushed the end call button and looked around. Fuck. He glanced up at the second story. If he could climb to the guestroom window, he could get in. On the upper floor, she’d never see the broken glass that indicated he had to break into his own house.
The climb should be easy. He just needed to get onto the porch roof, shimmy up the drain pipe a couple feet, then reach over and grab the sill. Plus, a garden trellis was attached to the house with colorful flowers growing all over it. He’d try the trellis first, but it wasn’t nearly strong enough to hold his weight.
With his wolf’s help, he should make the porch roof easily. He would get a short running start, then leap. All was fine until his last step. His muddy shoe slipped in the grass, so his push to leap was only half-assed. But he did go up, partially.
His upper body slammed onto the roof while his legs dangled. His fingers scratched at the shingles, digging for a hold. Stabilized enough, he hiked up a leg to throw it onto the top. When swinging up, his knee banged against the gutter clip, tearing a big rip from his thigh to his calf. No problems with the second leg. Fuck a duck. He’d have to change before he opened the front door. His shoes and shirt, too.
A voice carried to his super sharp ears. “Kasen? Is everything okay.” Oh, shit. She couldn’t come around to the back now.
“Everything is fine, sweetheart. I’ll be back around in a second. Sit tight.” Damn, he needed to hurry up. Instead of shimmying up the drain pipe and leaning to the side, he’d just jump off the side of the roof for the sill, after he wiped his shoes off. He was a quick learner. No mistake twice in a row.
Then he realized shingles didn’t do a great job of wiping away sticky shit. He’d have to wipe it on his shirt or pants. Or he could just take off the shoe on his jumping foot. He was getting a new pair anyway when he changed.
Shoe and sock sitting to the side, he took two steps back to launch himself up. The jump was smooth, distance was perfect. His fingers gripped onto the windowsill just as he intended. What he didn’t take into consideration was momentum.
After he latched onto the sill, his body hit the wall harder than he expected. That included his face and nose. Instantly, blood splattered everywhere. First thing that happens when hitting your nose is your eyes watering. The second is your hands flying up to cover the gushing pain. Kasen knew he couldn’t do that with both hands, so in the nanosecond he had to think, he loosed only one hand.
He kept in his scream of pain, otherwise Andi would come running. His shirt was now soaked in blood. His fingers started to slip from the sill. He snapped his other hand up, but covered in blood, it did nothing but slide off the smooth surface.
In his panic, he had no choice except to grab onto the trellis to break his fall into the flower bed. The trellis was made of two pieces nailed to vertical studs. He could easily replace the top half. Not a problem.
Not being wood and snapping quickly, the framework was made of a stronger plastic. Instead of breaking where he grabbed, the entire top piece leaned back, bending and popping pins as it went. Again, not a problem. When it got low enough, he’d just jump off to the ground.
Looking over his shoulder, he realized the length was longer than he first thought. Instead of dropping him onto the ground, it dumped him into the pool.
After dragging his drenched body out of the water, he decided he’d had enough. He’d man up and admit he locked them out. This would be something he would one day look back on and laugh. No one else. No. They would never know. Just him because Andi was probably long gone by now.
He schlepped around the side of the house to see Spike coming out the front door. “Kasen.” Spike paused, squinting at him. He was sure he looked rough. Blood soaked, drenched shirt, torn sleeve; dripping boxers hanging out one side of his mud-smeared pants; one shoe and sock, shoe squishing out water with each step; face and hands bloody.
“Alpha,” Spike started again, “were you in a fight? Holy shit, why didn’t you call me?” He started to strip to shift.
“No, Spike. No fight. Unless you call stupidity a fight, then yes, I was fighting.” He passed his beta staring at him, mouth gaping. “Tell my mate I’ll be ready in a minute.” He dragged his ass to his bedroom, bypassing the living room. If this was how this date would be, he might as well send her home now.
TWENTY-TWO
Andi sat on Kasen’s sofa, wondering what happened to him. Should she go home? Something weird was going on. Her shifter smell picked up chlorine, mud, and blood.
Kasen appeared in the doorway to the living room. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He held out a glass of wine. “Here, this is good.” He sat next to her. She realized something was different about him.
“You changed your clothes?” Why would he have done that? Just because she tried on and threw off six different
outfits before settling on the sundress with cardigan-type sweater…God, if that wasn’t the hardest decision she’d had to make in a month. Business was easy. Love, she wanted to run screaming from.
“Yes. I have to admit that the door locked when I came out to get you. I went around back to get the extra key and had…issues. I got a little mud on my pants, so I changed.”
She wondered if the chlorine was from a pool, and the blood—part of the “issue.” But he admitted, actually admitted, that he’d done something silly by accidentally locking them out. Would he really be a man to admit all the idiotic things men do? That warmed her insides. Or was it the wine?
His smell was divine. Just sitting next to him got her hormones riled. Her heat was almost here. God, what she would do just to sit on his face for an hour.
Kasen cleared his throat and abruptly stood. “C’mon, sweetheart. Let’s go to the kitchen. You’re smelling way too good not to eat. And you’re off the menu.”
What did he mean off the menu? Did that mean no sex? She shouldn’t be having sex with him anyway. That’d be leading him on, and she didn’t want to do that. Then why the hell was she here? She gave a mental sigh. She was so tired of debating with herself. Her head said one thing and her heart said another. Which should she listen to?
“Hey, babe, help me load the basket?”
“What basket?” She looked around and saw the red and white checkered picnic blanket and woven carrier. How wonderful. Something personal, yet not too intimate. She loved it. The sun would set in a little while and they could watch it together. The romantic in her peeked out. All the romance books she’d read over the years could be reality. As it was, Kasen reminded her of the heroes she read about in Bianca Sommerland’s romance books. That almost made her giddy. Almost.
She grabbed the basket and stood next to Kasen and the fridge. He loaded in various small trays with cheese and veggies. Who would eat that stuff? A rabbit. She’d eat the rabbit, then. She was a carnivorous cat. Next came potato salad, pea salad, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese—holy shit. How much did he think she’d eat? Then came red meat. Filet mignon cut into shish kebab-sized bites. T-bone strips, and a small roast?
