Accepting Caladon’s Scales

by Charlie Richards

  “You’re borrowing trouble, Leroy,” Sapian said, joining the conversation. He crossed his arms over his chest. “We have some pretty decent hackers that will warn us if your parents poke into Caladon’s life, and if they start trying to cause trouble with the law, we can get help from Detective DeSoto,” he pointed out. Smirking, he lifted a brow ridge and stated dryly, “If we can put a stop to Bud Wallice, what makes you think we can’t do the same to your family?”

  Leroy flushed at Sapian’s claim, his skin heating beneath Caladon’s palm. Grimacing, the human mumbled, “But this is my family, Sapian. I may not agree with their views, but I don’t want anything to happen to them.”

  “Admirable, your loyalty,” Caladon murmured. He brushed his thumb across the corner of Leroy’s upper lip, enjoying the feel of the soft flesh. “I hope you will one day feel that way for me.” Smiling, Caladon knew his own desire shown in his eyes. “In the meantime, will you allow me to kiss you, then take you on a date? I would like to get to know you.”

  Staring, his light brown eyes wide, Leroy gaped at him. His mouth closed, then opened again. He slid his tongue out, sweeping the tip over his bottom lip. The human clearly struggled with how to respond.

  Caladon decided to take advantage. He scooted to the edge of his chair, his long legs causing his knees to bump against Leroy’s before he moved them to bracket the human’s thighs. Closing the gap between them as he used his hold to tug Leroy forward, Caladon brushed his lips over his mate’s once, twice, before settling them firmly together.

  Leroy’s lips were soft and a little bit moist from when he’d licked them. Caladon sipped at them lightly for a few seconds before slipping his tongue out and licking along Leroy’s lower lip, tracing the path the human’s own tongue had so recently taken. Leroy opened instantly, and Caladon tilted his head, fitting their mouths together more firmly.

  Thrusting his tongue in deep, Caladon brushed against Leroy’s appendage, touching and tasting. His mate’s flavor burst across his taste-buds, making his senses tingle and sing. Caladon thrust deeper, wanting more. He slid one hand down Leroy’s shoulder to cup his waist, pulling the man’s chest flush against his own. Upon feeling Leroy’s arms wrap around him and cup his shoulder blades, coupled with the heat given off by his mate, a full body shudder worked through him.

  Suddenly, Caladon felt light headed, and the need for air surfaced. He brought the kiss to an end and stared into brown eyes that appeared as dazed as he felt.

  Leroy licked his lips, then the corners of his mouth twitched as if he fought a smile. “Normally the kiss happens after the date.”

  Caladon grinned, a happy chuckle bubbling up inside him. “We will try it after, too, and see how they compare. What do you say?”

  After just a brief second of hesitation, Leroy nodded once. “I think I like the sound of that.”

  Fighting every instinct he had, Caladon eased his hold and released Leroy. “How about I go find some real clothes and meet you in the front hall?” he offered, even though letting his newly found mate out of his sight was the last thing he wanted to do. With how skittish Leroy was proving to be, Caladon wondered how difficult it’d truly be to break down the cute human’s resistance.

  Leroy began to nod, then paused. His brows creased and he grimaced. “I’m sorry. I’m on duty for another couple of hours. I’m done at four so how about, um.” He suddenly lifted his hand to his mouth and yawned, then peered at his watch on his wrist. “Four thirty at the front? That way I can wash the hospital chemical stink off me?”

  Caladon found that, even with the lingering scents of antiseptic and other chemicals he couldn’t hope to name, he thought his mate smelled fantastic. “Did you come here straight from work?” he asked curiously, just then noting the slight shadows under his mate’s eyes.

  Leroy nodded. “Yeah.” He shrugged. “I had an overnight shift. Not a big deal.”

  Scowling, Caladon cocked his head. “Is that normal? Do you do that often?” He didn’t like the idea of his mate tired all the time.

  “It’s the way things are in the medical community,” Leroy claimed. “Long hours and shitty shifts to those just out of college. It’s only my second year at Gerard Memorial Hospital.”

  “How old are you?” Caladon asked, the question out of his mouth before he could think better of it.

  Leroy rose to his feet, grabbing the medical bag as he did so, and stepped away from him. As he headed toward the door, he called over his shoulder, “Younger than you, but old enough to handle whatever you can throw at me.”

  Caladon had no idea how to respond to that, but that was fine. As soon as Leroy turned away, Caladon’s gaze lowered to the human’s sexy bubble butt and his mouth went dry. He wanted to reach out and cup those bouncing globes as Leroy sashayed out of the room.

  Only when Leroy disappeared from sight did Caladon snap out of it. He blinked a couple of times, regaining his senses as he closed his jaw, uncertain when he’d even opened it. He lowered one hand and pressed the heel against the base of his dick. Hissing, he just managed to suppress his sudden need to come.

  “Holy shit,” Caladon mumbled. “The sexy fucker is going to be the death of me.”

  “Ah, but what a way to go,” Sapian stated, clapping him on the shoulder with one clawed hand. “Right?”

  Caladon nodded absently, struggling to regain his composure. Damn, if one kiss and watching the sway of his mate’s sexy ass had him this primed, what would actually touching the man do to him. Looking around the room, he searched for something to focus on other than the throbbing of his dick. Caladon’s gaze landed on the computer screen, which still showed a frozen snapshot of Taolma.

  Shit, I forgot about my son!

  That realization got Caladon’s erection under control really fast. Just as quickly, he realized that just because he’d momentarily forgotten about his son using his bank account, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t have remembered as soon as his lust passed. Hell, he’d just discovered his mate.

  I’ve been celibate for over seventeen years. What the hell do I expect?

  Now, with the distraction—and Caladon would never be sorry about being distracted by his mate—of Leroy out of the room, he returned his focus to Raymond. “Is there an address attached to the account?” He’d hate to have to head out of state right now. He wasn’t even sure if his snake would allow it. Just the thought had his boa coiling around itself and hissing with displeasure.

  Still, Caladon had to find some way to contact his son.

  Raymond slid back behind his computer and, seconds later, his fingers skipped across the keys. He nodded. “There’s an address in the Caribbean and one in Florida,” he told him.

  Taolma’s picture disappeared to be replaced by names and numbers. While he wanted the picture of his son back, the information was much more useful. “This Florida address was a vacation home of my wife’s family.”

  “Your wife?”

  Caladon looked away from the screen. Meeting Raymond’s gaze, surprise filled him upon seeing the gargoyle’s narrowed eyes and scowling expression. He opened his mouth, then snapped it closed just as quickly, biting back his knee-jerk reaction to ask what?

  “Yes,” Caladon replied carefully. “Gloria. She is Taolma’s mother.”

  Raymond’s expression didn’t soften. “Taolma?”

  “His son,” Sapian rumbled. Even the enforcer stared at him with concern, his arms crossed over his broad chest. The corner of Sapian’s lip curved up as he dryly told him, “You murmured it a number of times while telling me how great he looks.”

  Caladon jerked a nod. “That is right.” He struggled to figure out just what was going on here. Why were the gargoyles suddenly upset with him? His snake coiled in his mind, uneasy and watchful. “Gloria is a human. I met her long before being kidnapped,” he told them. “She wanted a child and, since she was a good friend of over twenty plus years, I agreed to father it.”

  “An
d the wife part? You married her?”

  At Raymond’s confused, incredulous tone, Caladon shrugged. “I had not met my mate. She knew about shifters and knew she was not mine, but her family was more traditional. I married her and together we had Taolma.” He smiled, memories taking him. “Gods, the day my son was born,” he whispered. “Best day of my life…until now,” he admitted.

  Sighing, Sapian patted him on the shoulder as he strode past his chair. “Under normal circumstances I’d tell you that past relationships shouldn’t be discussed on a first date.” He paused and smiled at Caladon. “This time, though, would be the exception.” Then, Sapian headed out the door. “Raymond!” he called. “Keep me in the loop!”

  “Sure, leave everything to me,” Raymond grumbled.

  Returning his focus to the smaller gargoyle, Caladon frowned. “What did he mean?”

  Raymond rolled his eyes, but at least he answered. “You’re married,” he hissed. “No one, man or woman, wants to find out the person they’re dating is married to someone else.”

  Chapter Four

  Leroy stood in the foyer, shifting nervously from foot to foot. This is a bad idea. He feared dating Caladon, as wonderful as it sounded to be mated to the sexy male, would turn out badly. Still, anytime he was near the man, what his friends claimed to be the mate-pull hit him hard and flooded him with urges.

  Listening to Caladon’s words earlier, Leroy had felt guilty at taking the man’s choice away from him. His parents were attempting to do the same to him, and he sure didn’t like it. It wasn’t fair that he take that decision away from Caladon.

  Except, what if I get attached and Caladon decides it’s too much effort or not worth the risk?

  A throat clearing caught Leroy’s attention, and he turned toward the sound. His heart felt as if it skipped a beat upon seeing Caladon standing there. The man wore a navy green t-shirt that fitted to his lean chest and abs like a second skin. The black jeans he wore were just as painted on, showing muscle definition that Leroy would love to lick and kiss.

  Blood flowed south so swiftly, Leroy suddenly felt light headed. “Oh,” he gasped as he lifted his right hand to his chest while placing his left on the end table to steady himself.

  Caladon’s brows lifted, then a pleased grin curved his thin lips. He prowled closer sensuously, appearing almost feline. “I am glad you approve of the clothes,” the shifter rumbled softly.

  Stopping before Leroy, Caladon reached out and touched his jaw lightly before lowering his hand back to his side. “You look at me like that and it is difficult to control my desire to touch you and hold you close,” he admitted. He leaned down the nearly foot and a half difference in their heights and kissed Leroy on the cheek.

  Leroy snapped out of his lust-induced stupor upon feeling the soft press of Caladon’s lips. He cleared his throat and stepped backward. “Right, um, date,” Leroy mumbled, fighting down a blush and knowing he lost.

  Caladon watched him, his dark eyes intense, as he nodded. He reached around Leroy and gripped the doorknob, half boxing him in. He smiled as he swept his gaze over Leroy’s comfortable blue jeans and faded purple t-shirt. Leroy would have felt embarrassed, since he really was underdressed compared to Caladon, but the appreciative light in his date’s eyes settled his nerves even more than the shifter’s comment of, “You look fantastic.”

  Then, Caladon opened the door and held it open for him. Moving through, Leroy smiled at not only the compliment, but the gentlemanly move. “Thanks,” he replied. “I’m, uh, glad it’ll do. I didn’t have much else to wear.” He shrugged and peered at Caladon through his lashes. “I wasn’t exactly planning on going on a date after the four hours I’d planned to work here.”

  “Like I said,” Caladon stated, striding slowly beside Leroy as he made his way across the deck and down the stairs. With his long legs, he easily took the stairs two at a time. “I think you look fantastic,” Caladon repeated. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs, he smirked at Leroy. “Besides, you should know that, as a shifter, it is more about a person’s scent than how they look.”

  Leroy nodded and Caladon started moving again. He figured the shifter shortened his stride quite a bit to stay at Leroy’s side, and he found that incredibly thoughtful of Caladon. He didn’t enjoy running to keep up with taller men, no matter how much he found their height sexy.

  Opening his mouth to respond to Caladon’s comment, Leroy suddenly remembered the look of adoration on the shifter’s face. He’d been peering at a candid picture, no smell involved. How had he forgotten that?

  When Caladon stopped next to the passenger side of an SUV and opened the door, Leroy paused instead of getting into the vehicle. “You were staring at a picture of a guy in the office,” Leroy mumbled, struggling to find the words to ask what he needed to know. “Were you, uh, involved with him?”

  Caladon’s eyes widened for just a second, then his mouth curved into a broad grin. He shook his head. “No. That was a picture of Taolma. He is my son. I had not seen him since he was two, but I am certain that is him.” He lifted his right hand and touched his chest. “I just knew here.”

  “Oh.” Oh! “Your son? So, you were involved with someone?”

  Nodding, Caladon motioned toward the vehicle. “Please, get in. There is much we need to discuss.”

  Leroy obeyed, the onslaught of nerves diminishing his arousal. That was good, he decided, sort of. At least, he should be able to think clearly now. Settling into the seat, he automatically tracked Caladon’s movement as he rounded the front of the vehicle and climbed in behind the wheel.

  “Do you remember how to drive?” Leroy blurted the question. Maybe he should have offered, although it’d been years since he’d driven anything this large. His own vehicle was a compact and Leroy didn’t think Caladon would be comfortable, but maybe he should offer. “Um, I could—”

  “It is fine,” Caladon assured. Winking, he added, “I had Sapian take me out for a refresher course.”

  “Ah,” Leroy responded, uncertain if he needed to ask what he really wanted to know again.

  Fortunately, instead of starting the vehicle after sliding the key into the ignition, Caladon turned in his seat and faced Leroy. He leaned toward him, settling his forearms on the center console. “Leroy, I am a shifter. You know this. I am one hundred thirty seven years old. To answer your question, yes, I have had relationships before, but none were what I hope to have with you. You are my mate.”

  “So, you left someone behind? Taolma’s mother?” Leroy asked, tentatively pressing for more information, even while not knowing if he really wanted to hear the answers. Would it just cement what he already thought? That they shouldn’t try to make a go of this mate thing between them?

  “I did not think this an appropriate conversation to have on a first date, but Raymond assured me that I needed to tell you upfront,” Caladon stated softly. “I was married. Still am, I suppose. Gloria was a very good friend for decades and when she wanted a child, she asked me to be the father.” Caladon smiled. “We married. We had a son together. When Taolma was two, I was kidnapped and caged.” He shrugged. “You know the rest.”

  Swallowing hard, Leroy tried to decide what to respond to first. He hated the stress lines etched across the man’s face and wanted to soothe him. Yet, this man wasn’t his to soothe. Caladon was married to another.

  Leroy wrapped his arms around his torso and sighed. “So, I’m your mate, but you’re married. How will that work? You think, um, you think I’m just supposed to be a piece on the side or something?” he asked, knowing irritation filled his voice as he spoke, because that idea just pissed him the hell off.

  “No, absolutely not,” Caladon immediately replied, no hesitation in his tone.

  While slightly mollified, Leroy had to ask, “How can you be sure? Your wife, Gloria,” just saying the woman’s name caused bile to fill his throat, “may have a different opinion. You’re married. Don’t you think she’ll be t
hrilled to have you back? Want to pick up where you left off?”

  Caladon slowly reached out and gripped Leroy’s hand. He couldn’t find it in himself to pull away, enjoying the calloused slide of the shifter’s touch too much. Lightly squeezing Leroy’s hand, Caladon smiled, perhaps in thanks.

  “Gloria knew she was not my mate. She knew the day may come when, if I did meet my mate, I would leave her,” Caladon told him. “I was upfront that I did not love her, not like that, but I am grateful to have Taolma and wish to have him in my life.” He shrugged one slim shoulder. “I know Gloria is grateful, too.”

  Leroy nodded slowly. “Okay, that’s, um, reassuring,” he murmured uncertainly. Caladon squeezed his hand and brought it to his lips. Shivering upon the sight and feel of Caladon sliding his warm, dry lips over his knuckles, Leroy wanted to feel that on his skin. Except, there was one problem. “We need to find her, so you can, um, get a divorce. I won’t be the man you’re cheating on her with.”

  Cocking his head, Caladon’s brows drew together. “Will you still spend time with me?”

  Leroy smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I want to spend time with you.” As he spoke the words, he realized how true they were. Besides, if this man was willing to brave the problems his own family would undoubtedly cause, shouldn’t he be willing to do the same? “How about I tell you how to get to the best diner in Durango?”

  Caladon smiled. “That sounds fantastic.”

  After squeezing Leroy’s hand once more, Caladon released him and straightened in his seat. He started the vehicle and soon they were on their way. Leroy gave Caladon directions, and within twenty minutes, he pointed to a sign for Goldy’s Burgers and Bites.

  Once Caladon had parked the SUV, Leroy opened the door, but before he could get out, Caladon rested his hand on Leroy’s shoulder. Turning back to look at the other man, Leroy lifted a brow in question.