Sei

by Catherine Lievens

  “Well, damn. Did they tell you anything else?”

  The corner of Dallas’ lips twitched. “Mmm, you mean about your mate?”

  Sei groaned. “Goddamn it.”

  “So that’s why you’re so happy today,” Russell said. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks. And yes, that’s why.”

  “Why aren’t you with him right now?”

  Sei rolled his eyes and gently started pulling up Russell’s T-shirt. “Because I need to heal you.”

  “You could have done that tomorrow. I remember when I realized Lynn was my mate. She was in another pack back then, but I took her home right away, and we were mated a couple of hours later.”

  Sei groaned. “Please, I don’t want to hear about old people sex.”

  Russell laughed. He winced and pressed his hand against his stomach. “Don’t make me laugh. And it wasn’t old people sex, not at the time. You’re twenty-nine, right?”

  “Yep.”

  “I was twenty-six when we met. See? No old people sex.”

  “Whatever. I still can’t help but imagine you as you are now when you talk about that.”

  “Even so, I’m not that old.”

  “You have three kids!”

  “So? I’m younger than Kameron. And Dallas, now that I think about it.”

  “Yeah, okay, but Dallas isn’t a dad. You are, and that makes you older. Now let me check those wounds of yours.”

  “Want to go back to your mate, huh?”

  “You can bet your lily-white ass I do.”

  Dallas was shaking his head, but by now, he was used to Sei. Sei didn’t talk like that to every patient. He was usually very professional, but Russell had been with them for nearly a month, and they’d become friends. Sei knew he wouldn’t get offended by what he said, and that he gave as much as he got.

  Sei unwrapped the wounds on Russell’s torso and went to work. Russell hummed and wiggled. He hated being still, and Sei knew it. He wished he could heal Russell faster, but the wounds had been pretty deep, and it took a lot out of Sei to heal them, even though he’d been trained to do just that. Clea had offered to help, but both Sei and Dallas had refused his offer. He meant well, but he’d never wanted to be a healer, and while he could do it in a pinch if there was an emergency, this wasn’t one. Sei would rather be sure everything was healed right than have to redo it because he’d been lazy enough to let his cousin help.

  “Who is it, then?” Russell asked after a while.

  “You shouldn’t talk to Sei while he’s healing you,” Dallas answered. For some reason, he always wanted to be there for the healing session. Sei didn’t think it was because Dallas didn’t trust him, but rather because he was curious about the process.

  Sei had tried to explain what he did to his boss, but it was hard to put into words that actually made sense. His healing was more of a sensitive power, something he felt rather than knew.

  “I want to know, though. And I’m bored.”

  Dallas sighed. “You know Donovan?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “The government man who liaises with the pack.”

  “Oh. Yeah, I know him. Well, I know about him, but I’ve never met him. How on earth did Sei meet him in the first place? I thought the guy lived in Washington or something.”

  Sei wanted to snort, because he had no doubt Dallas knew exactly what had happened and how he’d met Donovan. He’d be disappointed if Dallas didn’t.

  “He helped two teenagers get here, went into town to pick some things up for them, and saved Sei from the crowd of reporters assaulting him.”

  “Aww. That’s romantic. Sei will be able to tell his grandkids about it.”

  Sei did snort this time. He let his hands fall and poked at one of the wounds. “Grandkids? Shouldn’t you be the one to think about those? I’d have to have kids first.”

  Russell batted Sei’s hands away. “My kids are still too young to have children, and I’m way too young to become a grandpa.”

  Sei grinned. “Isn’t Haley thirty-three?”

  Russell narrowed his eyes. “Yes, and she’d not dating.”

  “Oh, Daddy’s little girl can’t date until she’s fifty?”

  “You got that right.”

  Dallas cleared his throat. “If you two are done bantering, I need to check on your wounds, Russell.”

  Russell opened his arms. “I’m all yours, doc, but don’t let Lynn know I said that.”

  “I’m sure she’d be delighted to hand you over to Dallas,” Sei said before dancing out of reach, just in case. Russell might be injured, but he was getting better, and he could move fast if he needed to.

  “Sei, go home,” Dallas said without looking at him.

  “Why? I’m scheduled to work for the rest of the day.”

  “Because the infirmary is empty and you’ve already healed Russell today. I don’t need you to stay with me, especially not the day you met your mate. Go to him.”

  Sei crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you take the day off when you met Hamilton?”

  Dallas looked up from Russell’s stomach, smiling. “Actually, I wasn’t even in Gillham, when I met him. It was in Whitedell, so yes, I guess I was off work.”

  “That’s because it was before the infirmary was even built,” Russell pointed out.

  Dallas narrowed his eyes at him. “Do you really want Sei to stay here until tonight? With you?”

  Russell raised his hands. “I didn’t say anything.”

  “Good man.”

  Sei huffed, but Dallas just stared at him until he caved. “Fine, I’m going. You have my number if you need anything, right?”

  Dallas rolled his eyes. “Since I’m the one who bought you that cell phone, yes, I have your number.”

  “Just making sure.”

  “Now go.”

  Sei didn’t even bother changing again. He bounced toward the door, opening it. He just had the time to hear Russell yell, “And no sex before you’re fifty!” before he shimmered back to Kameron’s house.

  * * * *

  Donovan was still pissed at Daniel for dumping the info about Sei’s arranged marriage on him and leaving right after doing so. Now the only thing Donovan could think about was that, and he didn’t know who to ask for more information.

  Why hadn’t Sei told him about it? Well, it wasn’t exactly a conversation to have with his just-met mate, especially not when one was late for work. It wasn’t like he could have come up to Donovan and said hi, I’m Sei and I’m your mate, oh, and I’m also supposed to bond to a woman my parents chose for me.

  Donovan tightened his hands into fists.

  That was the past. Surely Sei wouldn’t go on with that arranged marriage, not now they’d met. Donovan was going to make sure he didn’t.

  “So, uh, Kameron told me to come here to meet you, introduce myself.”

  Donovan turned toward the voice. A man stood by the living room door, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but there. His gaze never rested on Donovan, instead moving from him to the couch, then to the fireplace and back to Donovan, before starting again.

  “Meet me?” Donovan asked, fully turning toward the man and crossing his arms over his chest. The other man was tall and built like a brick house, and his behavior was at odds with his appearance.

  “Yeah. I’m William. You know, the guy from the phone call?”

  Donovan nodded and strode toward William, his hand raised. William looked at him like he might attack him, but he shook his hand, letting it go almost immediately. Donovan thought he might be resisting the urge to clean his hand on his jeans. It sure looked like he was.

  “So you’re the man behind the phone?” Donovan asked just to say something, since the silence between them was getting uncomfortable.

  “Yep. That’s me.”

  And that was all William said. Donovan usually didn’t mind silence, and he didn’t mind carrying
a conversation on his own, but damn. “Why did Kameron want you to introduce yourself?” he asked.

  William shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess so you could have an idea of who I am.”

  Donovan wasn’t sure it made sense. It was nice to know what William looked like, but it wasn’t like he was going to have to work with the man. Why would Kameron care if Donovan knew William, then?

  “I’m going to go back to my room,” William said, pointing his thumb toward the hallway.

  Donovan hadn’t realized William lived under Kameron’s roof, and by the time he nodded, William was already gone. Donovan shook his head, bemused. He’d met some awkward people in his life, but William had to be the most awkward one of the bunch. Donovan hadn’t expected that when he’d first noticed him by the door. He’d thought William was part of pack security. He certainly looked like he could be. Instead, he’d been uncomfortable. Weird.

  “You look like you’re trying to solve world hunger,” Sei said, and Donovan twirled around.

  What the fuck was it with people creeping up on him today? He really was out of it.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked. Sei was still wearing scrubs, and he looked adorable. Donovan wanted to pull him into his arms, but would Sei want that?

  Sei shrugged. “Dallas told me to come back to you. I already went through my healing session with our only patient today, so he can take care of whatever else is thrown at him. And if he needs me, he can call. So here I am.” Sei opened his arms

  This time, Donovan didn’t resist. He walked closer to his mate and pulled Sei close. Sei chuckled and came willingly, and when Donovan looked down at him, he grinned.

  Donovan smiled back and pressed their lips together.

  He hadn’t exactly intended to jump Sei, not yet, but Sei went pliant in his arms and opened his mouth. How could Donovan back off when his mate’s tongue slipped into his mouth? He didn’t even try to keep the kiss light. He stroked the inside of Sei’s mouth with his tongue, enjoying the small whimpers and moans coming from his mate.

  “We should probably stop,” he whispered against Sei’s lips after what felt like hours.

  “Mmm, why?” Sei asked without even opening his eyes.

  “Because we’re in Kameron’s living room. Anyone could walk in on us, including kids.”

  Sei blinked. “It’s not like we’re doing anything bad or that they haven’t already seen. We were kissing, not having sex on the couch.”

  That image made Donovan want to do just that, but they had things to talk about first. “Come on, let’s sit down. We need to talk.”

  Sei cocked his head. “You’re already breaking up with me?”

  “Breaking up? What are you talking about?”

  “Isn’t that what people who’re about to break up say? We need to talk. That never ends well.”

  Donovan shook his head. “No one is breaking up with anyone. Come on.”

  Sei finally followed Donovan. He flopped onto the couch, way too close for Donovan to be able to calmly think about what he was supposed to say. Then he remembered the arranged marriage thing, and he sobered. “Daniel told me your parents found you a bride,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

  Sei looked at him and burst out laughing.

  “That’s... not the reaction I expected,” Donovan told him, but he wasn’t sure Sei had heard him. How could he, over the sound of his own laughter?

  Donovan waited not so patiently until Sei finally stopped laughing, his arms crossed over his chest and one of his brows arched.

  Sei waved at him. “Sorry. I just... how could Daniel say that to you? He knows what the situation is like. I didn’t think he’d enjoy torturing you that way.”

  “Care to explain?”

  Sei nodded and cleared his throat. “Right. See, it’s like this—both my parents and my mother’s sister and her husband are in arranged marriages. Their parents were the ones who arranged them, of course, and it was tradition back then. It still is, actually, at least in our tribe, but it’s not enforced as it would have been even fifty years ago. Anyway, both my parents and my aunt and uncle are happy. They were lucky my grandparents chose well, and they want us kids to be happy too. They tried to get my cousin to accept this girl they chose for him, but he met his mate before he could actually go through it.”

  “I don’t see what it has to do with you.”

  “Well, since my aunt had already talked with this girl’s family, once Clea met Christian, she decided to have Nadhia bond with me.”

  “And?”

  “And I talked to her this morning and told her there was no way I was bonding with someone I didn’t love. She agreed to back off, although I have no doubts she’ll try again. Of course, now I have you, so there’s nothing she can do about it.”

  Okay, so the situation made sense. “How is your family going to react to you meeting me? Are they going to kick you out?”

  Sei frowned. “Why would they do that?”

  “Because it means you won’t be able to bond with Nadhia.”

  “I wasn’t going to anyway.”

  “They’ll be happy for you?” Donovan knew things were different from when he’d been as young as Sei was right now, but it still surprised him that some families were so accepting of same-sex couples. “We’re both men.”

  “So? Clea and Christian are both men, too. Doesn’t stop my aunt from asking them when they’re finally going to start popping out babies.”

  All right, so Sei’s cousin was a guy. Good to know.

  “Is this all you wanted to talk about? Because there’s something I want to talk about too.” Sei asked.

  Donovan gestured at Sei. “Go ahead.” Now that he knew he wasn’t going to have to save Sei from an unwanted marriage, he was more relaxed. Damn Daniel and his big mouth. Donovan was going to strangle him.

  “Do you want to wait?”

  “For what?”

  “To mate. I mean, it seems like everyone I know waits for at least a bit before mating, like, a month or something. To get to know each other better.”

  “And is that something you want?” Donovan already knew his own answer to that, but he wouldn’t say anything until he heard Sei’s.

  Sei bit his lower lip, and for the first time since Donovan had first seen him on Main Street, he looked hesitant, almost shy. That didn’t stop him from answering, though. “No. Why wait? We already know we’re perfect for each other, right? We can get to know each other once mated. Unless you want to wait. I’m sure you have to tell your family or something, maybe your boss. What do you think?”

  Chapter Three

  Sei didn’t know how Donovan was going to answer, and it made him nervous. That was the downside of not knowing his mate yet, and it made him doubt. Was he rushing too much? They didn’t know each other. The only things Sei knew about Donovan were that he was a bear shifter, that he worked for the government, and that he’d grown up with Bran.

  “Don’t you want to talk with your family first?” Donovan asked. “Explain why you’re not going to marry that woman?”

  “Nope. I already did that, and it had nothing to do with you. Well, almost nothing. I wasn’t going to marry her because I didn’t love her. I don’t love you, not yet, but you’re my mate, and that’s as good as loving you. Telling my parents can wait.”

  The corners of Donovan’s lips curled into a small smile. “But mating with me can’t?”

  “Oh, yeah, it can, if that’s what you want.”

  “Aren’t you afraid we’ll end up not being good for each other? Or maybe that I have some big secret in my past that you won’t be able to get over?”

  Sei cocked his head. “Do you?”

  “Not that I can think of, but you can’t be sure of that.”

  Sei scoffed. “It’s not like I could ever be sure of that, even if we’d been together for years. People always have something to hide. Are you married, or running from the law
?”

  “I work for the government. How could I be running from the law?”

  “Okay, so you’re not. What about being married? Or having a boyfriend? Do you?”

  “I’m single right now.”

  “You mean you were.”

  Donovan laughed. The sound made Sei’s stomach flip over in his belly, an odd sensation he wasn’t used to. He’d had boyfriends, had even fallen in love with some of them, but it hadn’t been nearly this strong with them. Donovan was special, and Sei wasn’t sure if it was because they were mates or because he was Donovan. Not that it mattered—the two were linked together.

  “Yes, I was. I’m not anymore. But Sei, I’m eighty-five. I haven’t been single for all those years.”

  “I never expected you to be.”

  “I was married, Sei.”

  Okay, Sei hadn’t exactly expected that, but it was fine. “You’re not married anymore, right?” Please, say no.

  “No, I’m not. I haven’t been for a while, actually.” Sei let himself relax. That was good. Very good. At least until Donovan added, “But I have children. Three of them, all older than you.”

  Sei definitely hadn’t expected that. It made sense now that he thought about it, though. Donovan was so much older than him. It made sense that he’d had a life before Sei, even a wife and kids. It would have been the normal thing to do back then rather than wait for a mate that might never come.

  So Sei swallowed the jealousy and the images he didn’t want to see and nodded. “All right.”

  “All right? That’s all you have to say about it?”

  Sei threw his hands in the air and walked away from Donovan. He needed some space to be able to really think about it. Damn, when he’d left the infirmary he’d thought he’d been about to have hot, sweaty sex with Donovan and mate with him, not that they’d end up talking about Donovan’s kids.

  Talk about putting a damper on Sei’s libido.

  “What do you want me to say about it?” he asked Donovan. “I can’t exactly do anything, can I? You have kids, so what? You had them before I was even born, and you’re not with their mother anymore. What do you want me to do about it? Ask you to choose between them and me? Tell you that you can’t see them ever again? I’m not going to do either of those things. What I’m going to do is smile and tell you I’d like to meet them even though just the thought makes me feel sick. That’s it.”