by Joyee Flynn
“You definitely deserve to see the toy box now,” Ant purred and leaned into me. The doorbell rang again, and we burst out laughing. When we calmed down enough to breathe, I grabbed my jeans and yanked them back on. I picked my shirt off the floor and tugged it on as I headed to the door.
Sure enough, it was the movers. I was glad we planned ahead and had already moved Ant’s car onto the street so the garage was open. He came out and helped me direct traffic when I said something could go straight into my office. Then we had them move Ant’s bed out and mine into our bedroom, since mine was bigger.
It honestly went fairly quickly since it was a local move and they had a crew of three. Plus, most everything was going into the garage for now. When Cheryl pulled up, I was ready for another friendly face after the stress of the day. She and Ant hit it off as well as him and Gigi had. But then again, my mate was really a sweet guy and very likable.
They went inside and discussed Brad and us hiring him while I finished up with the movers, signed more paperwork than I had for my old apartment, and gave them a nice tip. I went to join them and walked in on the ending of their conversation about the next steps, the contract she already had set up, and an offer letter.
“I would like to make a suggestion that deviates from crazy man’s original idea,” she said when they were done. “I think you should have a party with the pride and Ant’s mischief when you figure out what stuff you aren’t keeping. It would be a way for the groups to interact, since you’re mated to him but going to lead the pride. Also, we could set it up as charity event, selling your items for ten dollars or whatever, so you still get the tax write-off.”
“Oh, I like her.” Ant chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist.
“You get what you pay for,” I replied, giving Cheryl a wink.
“What’s that mean?”
“He pays me some outrageous salary that no executive assistant makes and treats me like one of his vice presidents,” she answered with a laugh.
“Hey, you’re more than worth it,” I quipped and reached into the fridge to get a bottle of water.
We had a quick laugh before finishing up, and then Cheryl left, promising she’d get some tables rented and set up the party for Saturday. I thought it was fast, but then again, we didn’t want all those valuable items just sitting in the garage for someone to try and steal.
Ant and I ate some lunch and then went back into the garage. We worked well together, I realized after about an hour. Neither of us was very demanding about our stuff… it was just stuff, after all. Though there were a few things I was honest about not wanting to lose. For instance, the china cabinet was a family heirloom, and I had my grandparents’ wedding china.
He said it was too gorgeous to part with, and he wasn’t a fan of the sideboard he had in the dining room anyway. We also decided to keep my leather sectional for the living room since his was pretty much in tatters after the scuffle with Marv. And while we traded out his bed, his dressers and nightstands were a better fit than mine. I kept my office furniture, of course, since the third bedroom was empty, and he was fine with the workout equipment they’d moved into his basement.
We sat there in the garage on my sectional and discussed some other details, coming up with a game plan on unpacking my things and setting up my new office. I stared into his eyes and it hit me - I loved him. Ant was everything I could ever have dreamed of in a partner and mate, and then some. He was the perfect man for me, and I loved him.
Now how the hell did I tell him? And was it too soon?
* * * *
It was the next morning the next time the doorbell rang. We were setting up my office during a break from working, and I jogged downstairs to go get it. I rolled my eyes when I sniffed who it was and yanked the door open.
“You’re fired, Marv, deal with it,” I said and went to close the door again. He stuck his hand out to stop it, and as much as I wanted to force it and break his hand, I refrained.
“Why?” he shouted and took a step closer. He wasn’t a small man, but not as tall and nowhere near as filled out as I was. So if he thought I’d back up, he was sorely mistaken.
“Try attacking my husband,” I drawled as I ticked off my fingers with attitude. “Lying to me; crazy, obsessive tendencies for me; when you babbled that you loved me and took better care of me when you were in the hospital. We’re not a couple, Marv. We never were. You were my employee, but I terminated your employment, and just be grateful we’re not pressing charges.”
“I said what?” he gasped, his eyes going wide.
“Oh, you don’t remember what you admitted to when you were on the pain meds in the hospital?” I sneered and narrowed my eyes at him. “You told me you loved me, that you took better care of me than he ever could, and that I needed to get rid of him. I figured I could have gotten much more out of you, but I wanted to sever ties before you realized what you’d copped to.”
“I-I—” Marc stuttered, but I cut him off.
“You’re fired. Leave now and don’t come back, or we will press charges. And if I ever see you near Anthony or you contact him, I will gut you like a fish. Have a nice life.”
I closed the door in his stunned face before he could reply and went back to my mate.
“Gut him like a fish, huh?” Ant snickered as I sat down on the floor by him. I shrugged my shoulders and opened the next box.
“It just came to me. What can I say? I’m a creative guy.” I chuckled as I pulled out some of my personal files and hung them in the filing cabinet.
“So am I,” he purred and kissed my cheek. “You should see how creative I have to be just to sit here and not come. It’s hard with the large plug I have in my ass.”
“Let me see,” I growled and reached for him. He squeaked and leapt to his feet outside arm’s length distance. “I think we need to christen this office.”
“You have kinky desk fantasies?” Ant started slowly lifting his shirt up so I could see his lean stomach.
“Naw, the desk is so overdone,” I drawled. “But I do have a one for the filing cabinet, if your game.”
“Bring it on, baby,” he challenged, and yanked his shirt off. We shucked out clothes in record time, and then I showed him exactly what I could bring. And my fantasy of him on the two-drawer cabinet with his legs spread wide as I held his ankles and pounded into his sweet ass was finally fulfilled. It was so much more fun working from home now that I was mated than it ever was when I was single.
Chapter 8
Two days later on Thursday morning I was moving stuff in the garage that we were going to have out for people to “buy” at the party Saturday to the back wall. I figured if I got it out of the way, it would help make everything look less overwhelming with what was left to do.
Brad had started the day before, and the man was a godsend! He was twice the PA Marv ever was already, and he was brand-spanking new. In one day he’d restocked the fridge, set up all the bills for auto-pay, set up the maid service, and showed them the house. Not only that, but he met with Cheryl on his own to get an employee handbook for my company and taken over typing up Ant’s notes.
He had dropped off over a week’s worth of them first thing that morning. Ant had stood there with his mouth hanging open in shock before hugging Brad. At the moment, they were in the play room where my mate was showing Brad how to format the notes so they could go directly into his findings reports.
I smiled as I thought about how great things had been with Ant and me now. Our sex life was off-the-charts great, and we’d transitioned into a loving couple. While I’d still not told him that I loved him, I was planning a special dinner that night to do it. I figured he deserved some romance with my declaration after the rocky start our mating had.
The sound of a car pulling up quickly and slamming on the brakes pulled me out of my thoughts. Spinning around to see who it was, I stood there stunned when Gigi and our friend James leapt from the still-running car.
“What’s wro
ng?” I called out as I quickly moved to meet them in the driveway.
“Your dad’s been arrested by UPAC,” she blurted out, and jumped into my arms. I hugged her back as I stared at James with wide eyes. He smiled and nodded at me to confirm the news.
“How? When? How? Why?” I rambled as my brain tried desperately to process this new development.
“My mate talked to his elder while we collected a bunch of sworn affidavits regarding your dad’s treatment of you and the pride. I wrote one about how he lied and what happened to Ant and his plans to trick you into taking over. They flipped out, and next thing I know, I get a call this morning saying they sent guards they had from Chicago to take him into custody until his trial.”
“Holy shit,” I gasped as she pulled back. Part of me wanted to smile like my friends were, but the other part of me that realized I was now the leader of our pride took over. “Ant, get Ant.”
“Gavin, what’s wrong?” Gigi screeched as I dropped to my knees as I gasped for air. I couldn’t seem to get enough into my lungs as my heart beat so loudly and fast I thought it would jump out of my chest. She didn’t wait for an answer. “James, go inside and get his mate.”
“On it,” he replied and ran to the door connecting to the garage.
“You gotta calm down, Gavin. Ant’s coming, okay? Just breathe.”
I nodded as I tried my damnedest to do as she said, but I couldn’t. Spots appeared in my vision, and I realized I was going to pass out. I heard quick footsteps before Ant’s scent filled my nose. He knelt down in front of me and put my hand over his heart as he’d done before.
“Focus on my steady heartbeat, baby,” he whispered as he cupped my cheek with his other hand. “You are fine, Gavin. We are just fine, okay? I need you to breathe deeply for me and relax or no sex for you tonight. If you behave, I’ll give you a nice blow job after everyone leaves.”
That cut through my panic enough where I could finally get enough air as I tried not to laugh at his crazy style of calming me down. After a few good ones and my heart calming down to a rapid but not scary pace, I smiled at him.
“You are nuts, my mate.” I snickered and took another deep breath.
“Totally. But it worked, didn’t it?” He gave me a quick wink and kissed my cheek before sitting his butt down on the driveway. Ant pulled my arm, so I did the same and gestured for everyone else to join us. “Now that I’m not scared my mate is going to pass out—what the hell did you say to freak him out?”
Gigi explained quickly explained as Ant held on to my hands. When she was done, he moved my arms out and turned to plop down in my lap. While that would have freaked me out worse than I was now when we first met, I was used to his affectionate ways. Hell, I was grateful for the comfort and support.
“Are you okay?” he whispered as he nuzzled his face in my neck.
“I will be. It’s just such a shock,” I answered as I hugged him tightly to me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Ant chuckled. “I wanted you before I knew you were next in line for the pride, Gavin. I’m with you no matter what you want or how you handle this.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, and kissed him. It was soft and sweet since we had company, but I poured everything I was feeling for him into it. “So what now?”
“Now your party Saturday turns into the change of leadership ceremony,” James answered with a wide smile. “You’re the boss now, man.”
“Fuuuuck,” I groaned and molded my body around Ant’s as much as I could. Right then I would have crawled under his skin with him to try and absorb his strength. We all sat there a few moments as they patiently gave me time to get my head on straight. “Is it official with UPAC that I’m now in charge of the pride?”
“Yes, they’re sending a representative to witness the ceremony.” Gigi looked hesitant as she relayed the information, as if she was ready for me to freak out again.
“Gigi, I need you to get Ant and Brad a copy of the ceremony rites. While you’re my lioness, he’s my mate and will have role in it. Brad because he just needs to be there as my PA so everyone can learn who he is and work with the members of the pride on what questions or issues get directed to whom. We need to figure that out as well.
“James, set up a meeting with my dad’s second. I want us to sit down with him and see if he’ll be friend or foe with this transition. And I’d like you to work with Cheryl on the arrangements since this is no longer a meet and greet party. It’s a mandatory event, and I want everyone in the pride to know the specifics so there are no excuses for anyone’s absence.”
“Guess you’ll need to hire the movers right back,” Gigi snickered as she pulled out her phone and started taking down notes. I gaped at her a moment before the meaning of what she said sank in. I moved Ant off my lap and slowly stood up. Without a word, I walked into the garage, threw back my head, and let out a roar.
Before anyone could even react, I turned and kicked an innocent bookshelf, watching as it crumbled. But I wasn’t done just yet. I picked up a metal folding chair and beat what was left of the bookshelf with it. When I was done, there was nothing left of it but splinters. I stood there staring at the destruction as my chest heaved.
“Talk to me, Gavin,” Ant said softly, and it registered that he was standing a few feet away with everyone else. I’d been so caught up in my rage I’d not even seen them move.
“I fucking hate that house,” I ground out between clenched teeth. “I have so many horrible memories of that place I swore to myself that I’d never live there again. Hell, I skip the pride gatherings that are there instead of the running grounds. We agreed to live here when we mated, not that evil place. You didn’t sign up for this, Ant. I didn’t sign up for this, and it’s just another reason I don’t want it!”
“We can do this,” he said calmly as he moved forward and took the bent chair from me. Man, I’d done some damage to it, too. Probably to the concrete of Ant’s poor garage as well. “I know a woman in our mischief who’s into new age stuff. She cleanses auras that she can see and does the same for houses. I think she’s half-witch or something. I can call her and arrange it with Gigi to have the house purified.”
“That won’t fix all of this,” I sighed as my eyes started to burn. “That was the house where my mom abandoned me, Ant. Where my father beat me and almost killed me the night of my first shift. I have nothing but nightmares associated with that place.”
“Then we’ll change them. We can gut the fucking house and make it our own.”
“How can you be so calm about this when I agreed to live here with you when we mated?” I was floored by how accepting he was being of all of this when I was freaking out.
“Because I love you, Gavin,” he answered firmly, and took my face in his hands after he dropped the chair. “I love you so much that I would do anything for you, to be with you. So what? We have to move. That’s no biggie, baby. But if this isn’t what you want, just say the word. If you don’t want to lead your pride, then we’ll figure out another way. You can name James or Gigi the leader and we’ll stay here. Whatever you want, I’m with you all the way.”
I glanced up from his face to my friends. I saw the worry and concern in their expressions. But I knew in my heart if I said no, that I wouldn’t rule the pride, they’d step in and do they best they could.
I just couldn’t do that to them. Gigi had been right a few days ago. Without the next in line, the heir to the pride taking over, anarchy would ensue. It would tear apart my pride and then myself for allowing it to happen. I looked back at Ant and saw the love and trust in his eyes. He believed in me that I could do this. And him most of all I wouldn’t let down.
“I’ll figure out a way to deal,” I said as I leaned down to brush my lips over his. “With you at my side, we can do anything, because I love you, too, Anthony Marino.”
“Awww,” Gigi cooed. We turned to her, and I saw the tears in her eyes before she wiped them away. “You guys are so perfect together. I
’m so thrilled you found him, Gavin. You deserve to be happy.”
“Yeah, man,” James agreed, clearing his throat. “You’ve been thrown too much shit in your life. You should have a mate who supports you like Ant’s doing.”
“I’m so fucking lost it’s not even funny,” Brad said and threw his hands up in the air. “I have no idea how lion prides work or how to help, but just tell me what to do and I will.”
“Then we won’t make you a snack, little mouse.” James snickered and clapped Brad on the back. Unfortunately, James was about a foot taller than Brad, and his strength almost sent the man sprawled on the garage floor. He quickly grabbed his shoulder and righted the smaller man as we all pretended nothing was going on.
“Gigi, call Cheryl and tell her she’s been promoted to president of the company,” I said after a few moments thought.
“You’re promoting your assistant to president?” James asked as he raised an eyebrow at me.
“Yeah, the woman has a MBA from Yale for fuck’s sake,” I snickered. “She never wanted to deal with the sales side of things, and she’s not a programmer. Plus, she likes having her hands in all the different departments. She’s so qualified for it she does my job most of the time, while I’m playing the role of developer. That’s why I pay her two hundred and fifty thousand a year. She makes more than my vice-presidents do.”
“Oh,” James replied as his eyes went wide. “Good to know.”
“Also, tell her we need those movers again for Monday, and pay whatever they want. I liked them,” I continued, as I rubbed my cheek over Ant’s soft hair.
“Is there someone who can box up all your father’s shit and get it out of there?”
“Yes, Marla, the housekeeper. James, you talk with her and set up with Ant’s lady to cleanse the house and grounds before Saturday.” I made a list of more things for each of them to do, we broke up, and Ant and I went back into the house. I immediately shot off an email to everyone in my company announcing Cheryl’s promotion and instructing anyone to direct questions to Brad.
