by Kasey Belle
Mal raised his hand to knock then hesitated. He took a few minutes to calm his wolf. Do not fuck this up. Do not fuck this up. Don’t attack him and fuck him against the first available hard surface when he opens the door. Be the gentleman your parents expect you to be.
Technically, everything should go smoothly. His mate was also a shifter. However, Nick had been through a traumatic experience and may not be receptive to a mating right now. Mal tried to rub away the pain that suddenly took up residence in his chest at the mere thought of Nick’s rejection. No. Not going to happen, Malcolm. The Fates were never wrong. His mate would want him. They would claim each other, but there was no time frame for when that had to happen. Mal would wait if he had to. He would be patient even after his balls turned blue because walking away from his mate was not an option.
Mal knocked and waited. A shadow passed over the peep hole from the other side. He heard a shocked gasp before the locks disengaged. The door flew open and Mal stood face to face with the most beautiful man he’d ever seen. His mate. Mine!
Nick Speer was a tiny thing. He wasn’t more than five-seven and about a hundred and forty pounds soaking wet. He was slender, but his toned body held a quiet strength. He had delicate almost femme features. Mal was sure Nick’s platinum blond hair was natural, well except for the blue running through his bangs. Smudged black guyliner ringed his lids. If Mal thought day old liner was sexy, freshly applied would probably set his boxers on fire. Nick’s weary, cerulean blue eyes studied him with a mixture of sorrow, awe, and hope.
“They are like gleaming crystal blue orbs. Blue.” Mal’s wolf sighed the word. “Our favorite color.”
Mal made sure his stance was non-threatening. He held out his hand, offered his mate a boxer-melting smile, then he introduced himself to the man that would be his for eternity. “Hello, my mate. My name is Malcolm Creed, but everyone calls me Mal.”
****
Sunlight peaked through the gap in the curtains. His enforcer escort should be there soon. Nick laid on the bed and closed his eyes. He doubted he’d sleep, but at least he could rest his burning eyes for a few minutes. It seemed he’d just closed his lids when they popped back open. His wolf sense picked up the faint sound of footsteps coming down the hallway. He froze―not even bothering to breathe―as they drew closer to his door. He jumped from the bed, his fight or flight instinct kicking in. Unfortunately, the only way out of the room was the door. The same door Mr. Footsteps was now knocking on.
Nick took a second to gather his wits. If Mr. Footsteps came to kill him, he wouldn’t use his manners and knock. Right? He glanced at the clock, judging by the time, it was probably Mal Creed. He checked on Leo who was still sleeping soundly. Nick rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans then grabbed his cellphone off the table as a precaution and pulled up Dalton’s number. Please let this be Mal Creed. Please. He held his thumb over the call button and stepped quietly to the door. He looked through the peephole and sucked in a breath when he saw the gorgeous man standing outside his door. The scents of dark chocolate and cinnamon seeped under the door and wafted to his nose hitting him square in the groin. Mate!
Nick couldn’t get the door open fast enough. The man standing before him was beautiful. Tall, muscular, and wearing a playful, sexy as fuck grin. He ticked all of Nick’s spank bank boxes. The shifter―wolf judging from his scent―seemed to work hard at making himself appear non-threatening. He held out his hand to Nick and introduced himself, “Hello, my mate. My name is Malcolm Creed, but everyone calls me Mal.”
The sound of Mal’s voice flowed like honey over Nick’s battered soul and broke apart the wall he built to keep his emotions at bay. Nick’s mind only registered a few words. Mate. Malcolm Creed. He couldn’t fight the sob that worked its way out from deep inside his chest. He didn’t know what kind of man Malcolm Creed was, but the Fates had chosen him for Nick. So hopefully he wasn’t an asshole.
Nick didn’t even stop to consider his actions. He literally threw himself at his mate, wrapped his arms around Mal’s body and held on for dear life. When Mal picked him up and cradled Nick to his chest, he knew this man truly was his soulmate. He immediately felt safe and protected within Mal’s arms. Mal’s scent calmed and soothed him like nothing ever had.
****
“Mate.” Nick barely got the word out before a sob tore through him. The sound ripped at Mal’s heart. Nick threw himself into Mal’s arms and cried. He did the only thing he could think to do. He lifted his mate in his arms and cradled Nick tightly against his chest. He closed the door with his foot, careful not slam it so he wouldn’t startle the baby. Mal made his way over to the bed and sat with Nick in his lap. He rocked his mate and rubbed his back. Nick buried his nose in Mal’s neck. He knew Nick was instinctively soothing himself with Mal’s scent. “Let it out, baby. I’ve got you.”
He didn’t say anything else, he just let Nick cry. A noise caught Mal’s attention, and he glanced around the room. His eyes landed on a crib Dalton must have provided for his guests. Inside was a cub approximately six months old with chubby cheeks and fuzzy blond hair. Nick’s nephew Leo was laying on his stomach and pushed up onto his hands lifting his torso from the mattress. He looked at Mal with innocent blue eyes a shade or two lighter than his uncle’s. Leo sent him a toothless grin and Mal returned it with a smile of his own. His heart melted in his chest right before the cub stole it and made it his own.
They belonged to him and they were being hunted. He had to assume Speer meant to do his new mate and cub harm. Mal protected what was his. Nobody was allowed to hurt Mal’s family. Not on his watch. He sent up a silent prayer to the Fates asking them to help him keep his vow.
Chapter 4
Nick tried not to feel embarrassed about the fact that he had totally soaked the front of Mal’s t-shirt. His mate didn’t seem to mind or notice for that matter. Since that was the case, he saw no harm in reveling in the sensation of being held for a while longer. Nick loved to snuggle, probably because he hadn’t had much of it in his life after his parents died. Both his mom and dad had been demonstrative and showered Nick and Summer with affection. Even his alpha father never shied away from PDA’s. Nick missed their hugs. His sister tried, but as they got older, it became a little too weird for both of them to cling to each other for more than a second or two.
Nick rubbed his cheek against Mal’s shirt. “You’re my mate,” he whispered before he could stop himself. Nothing like stating the obvious.
“I am,” Mal replied. His deep voice rumbled in Nick’s ear. He wanted to start weeping all over again when Mal held him a little tighter. “My Nico.”
Nick pulled back so he could look at Mal’s face, confusion wrinkled his brow. “Nico?”
“Do you not like it? It just came out. I-I…”
A wide grin split Nick’s face. “I like it. A lot. It’s just nobody has ever called me Nico before.”
“It’s special then.” Mal caressed his back. “You are mine. My mate. My Nico. Don’t worry, baby. I can wait.”
Well that didn’t make sense. “Wait?”
“For us to mate, of course.” Mal brushed the hair from Nick’s forehead. The feel of Mal’s calloused fingers on his skin made him shiver. Work roughened hands caused by manual labor. Another box checked.
“Why would you wait?” Did Mal not want him as a mate?
Mal’s eyes softened as if he could read Nick’s mind. “Never doubt that I want you. That’s not a banana in my pocket.” Nick blushed when Mal shot him a lascivious wink. “However, I won’t take what is not freely given, my mate. You’ve had a horrible and emotional twenty-four hours. You need time to process what has happened, which I hope you will tell me all about exactly what that was when you are up to it. Right now all you need to know is that you are safe and I will protect you and Leo with my life.”
Nick wanted to swoon like a Scarlett O’Hara. Could this man be any more perfect? No. No, he could not. He kept the dramatics to a minimum and sighed instead. “
Okay. Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. Besides, I can’t do anything with the cub watching us. It would be too weird.” Mal tapped his nose.
“Agreed.” Nick glanced over his shoulder. Leo gave him a big gummy smile. Nick grinned. “He’d probably critique our performance. Don’t let the cuteness lull you into a false sense of security. Leo’s kind of judgmental for a baby,” he teased.
“I don’t think my ego could take that,” Mal said dryly. He ran the tips of his fingers over Nick’s cheek. “May I at least kiss you mate?”
“I’d like that.”
“I hope you more than like it when I’m done,” Mal replied. A cocky grin tilting one side of his mouth.
Damn. It was a fantastic mouth too. Nick couldn’t wait to feel it against his own.
Mal held his gaze. Slowly leaning in as if give Nick the chance to change his mind. As if. The first tentative touch of Mal’s lips sent his senses spinning. Mal brushed his lips back and forth over Nick’s mouth. He swore sparks flew when they touched. Goosebumps sprouted on his arms and the sensations sent shivers of delight racing through Nick’s body. Then Mal covered his lips and kissed him. The tenderness of Mal’s kiss melted Nick’s heart. Mal Creed had a big, muscular, hard body. Visually he did not invoke words like tender, soft, sweet, but if the last few minutes were any indication, that’s exactly what Mal was. He was a big lovable teddy bear. A woobie of epic proportions and Nick’s ideal.
He closed his eyes and lost himself in the kiss. Mal ran his tongue along Nick’s lower lip. Nick, feeling bold, sucked it into his mouth making Mal moan. His mate returned the favor then the kiss grew hotter. By the Fates the man tasted delicious. Mal buried his fingers in Nick’s hair then tightened his grip. The little bite of pain threatened to send him into orbit. Nothing said bad first impression like premature ejaculation. There was no way Nick wanted to embarrass himself by coming in his pants like some kid and remove all doubt where his lack of experience was concerned.
Mal kissed like a dream. Teeth clacked together as their shared passion ignited. Nick was two seconds away from begging Mal to claim him.
Leo let out a squeal startling them. He and Mal jerked apart so suddenly that he almost fell of Mal’s lap. Only his mate’s shifter reflexes prevented it from happening. Both of them burst into laughter.
“I guess he told us,” Mal said with a snicker. “Do you think he’s intimating that one of us was doing it wrong?”
Nick cracked up again. He kissed Mal’s cheek. “See? Told you. Judgmental. BTW. I more than liked it,” he whispered against his mate’s stubble. Which, oh my god, was deliciously sexy. Nick loved the feel of it pricking against his kiss sensitive lips.
Mal patted his hip. “Me too, baby.” He used his thumb to wipe away some of Nick’s smudge eyeliner. “You’ve run a little.”
Nick buried his face in his hands. He hadn’t even given his liner a second thought. “Oh, my goddess. I must look like a raccoon.”
He pulled Nick’s hands away. “A sexy raccoon.” He wagged his eyebrows.
“I’m not sure that’s any better.” Leo squealed again and started babbling and fussing. “He’s probably wet and hungry.” Nick reluctantly climbed from Mal’s lap taking a moment to adjust his hard cock to a more comfortable position. He arched an eyebrow when Mal growled. Mal’s eyes moved to Nick’s crotch then back to his face. Nick shrugged. “What? Kissing you was hot.” He went over to the crib and picked Leo up cuddling him to his chest.
Mal joined him. A sweet smile played at Mal’s lips when he ran a hand over the baby’s head. “Can I help?”
“You don’t have to.”
Mal made a face at Leo making him smile. “I’d like to help. Please.”
Leo leaned toward Mal. Nick knew what that was a universal sign for. “He wants you to hold him.”
The elated smile that brightened Mal’s face made Nick’s heart skip a beat. “Come here, little man.” He wrapped his large hands around the baby’s middle and took him from Nick’s arms. Mal held Leo against his chest. His nephew rubbed his pudgy hand against Mal’s jaw. Nick watched in awe as Mal took the little hand in his and blew a raspberry against Leo’s palm making him giggle. And, because baby laughter was contagious Nick and Mal joined him.
“Why don’t you fix his bottle and I’ll change his diaper,” Mal suggested without looking away from Leo’s face.
“You’re sure?”
“I have an extremely large extended family. I’ve changed plenty of diapers and some of them were pretty gross.” Mal grabbed the baby bag off the table and laid Leo on the mattress. Leo kicked and babbled as Mal laid out the supplies he’d need. He unsnapped Leo’s onesie and began changing the baby like a seasoned pro. Content that his nephew was in good hands, Nick went about his appointed task. “How old is Leo?”
“Six months.”
“He’s a big boy. Aren’t you?” Mal asked in that sing song voice reserved for pets and babies. “Yes you are.”
Nick shook the bottle to mix the powdered formula and bottled water together. He held the bottle out to Mal. “Would you like to feed him?”
“Can I?” Nick nodded. Mal snapped Leo’s onesie closed then cradled him in his arm. He took the bottle from Nick and placed the rubber nipple against Leo’s lips. His nephew didn’t hesitate to take it in his mouth and suck greedily. “Holy crap. He must have been hungry.”
“He’s always hungry.”
Mal walked around the bed and sat on the mattress with his back against the headboard then patted the space beside him. “Sit with me.”
Nick climbed in next to Mal. They sat shoulder to shoulder and hip to hip. Nick took a chance that his first impression that Mal was a cuddler was correct and laid his head against Mal’s shoulder. “What happens now?”
Mal rubbed his cheek against Nick’s hair then kissed the top of his head before answering. Nick smiled. He was right. Major cuddler “Leo fills his belly the we pack up and head home.”
“Home?”
“Copper Creek. You do want to go home with me, right?”
Was that actual concern he heard in Mal’s voice? Nick tilted his head back so he could see his mate’s face. “Of course I do. Can I stay with you?”
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.”
“Will Alpha Creed allow it? A gay mating, I mean.”
“We’re mates. There is no allowing it. We just are.” Mal expression said that should have been glaringly obvious to Nick. Unfortunately, he didn’t have much experience with acceptance.
“You do realize the type of pack I came from right?”
Mal growled. “Your uncle’s reputation proceeds him and not in a good way. Yes, there are a few assholes out there. However, most preternatural groups view matings as sacred regardless of the species, sexual orientation, or number involved. There is no discrimination in our pack. The Fate’s chose us for each other and it’s as it should be. We trust the Fates know what they’re doing and they have yet to be wrong.”
“Now that being said, I feel I should mention, my brothers will adopt you and give you a hard time, but that’s just how we do things. There’s no malice in it. Giving each other shit is our love language you could say. Creed brothers invade each other’s space without permission or apology. Fair warning.”
That sounded overwhelming but kind of nice. “How many brothers do you have?”
“I had two, Paul and Kell. Now I have three. We adopted Gunnar. He’s Kell’s mating partner and a hybrid.”
“Wow. I’ve heard of hybrids. Never met one though. What species?”
“Wolf. Leopard. British.” Mal quipped. “We love giving him shit. I mean, how could we not? He can hump your leg, cough up a fur ball, and enjoy a spot of tea all in the same day.” Mal snickered. “Paul, Kell, and Gunnar will protect you and Leo with their lives. Our motto: Nobody fucks with a Creed brother but a Creed brother.”
“Sounds… wonderful, actually.”
“It is.” Mal made sure L
eo had a good hold on the bottle before letting it go. He took Nick’s hand and brought it to his lips. “I know we don’t know each other yet, but I am your mate. I would never take you into a situation I thought posed any type of threat to you either emotional or physical.”
“I know. I’m not used to the idea that same sex matings are allowed.”
“Your uncle has no right deciding who mates with who. That’s council law,” Mal snarled in a low voice.
“He couldn’t care less about council law. He doesn’t allow any matings he finds unacceptable. Like ours or my sister’s. Daniel wasn’t my uncle’s choice.”
Mal turned his head and met Nick’s eyes. “Everyone in my pack knows I’m gay. I’ve been out and proud since I was five. They all know my mate will be―is―a man. They’ll be happy for us.”
“Okay. Daniel and Summer―” Nick’s voice hitched as he fought his sorrow “―thought a lot of your alpha. They said Alpha Creed was a good man. I know they trusted him completely. If they didn’t Copper Creek wouldn’t have been our chosen safe haven in the bug out plan.”
“He is a good man. Declan is also my cousin. Our fathers were brothers.”
“Then I’ll try trusting him, too.” Nick sighed and snuggled into Mal’s side. Only time would tell if his trust was misplaced.
“You’re exhausted aren’t you?” Nick nodded. “When Leo finishes his bottle, I’ll load up my truck. I don’t want you driving. It’s not safe. I’ll contact Kell and have him send a couple of enforcers to pick up your vehicle. We’ll leave the keys with Dalton.”
Nick should protest Mal making decisions without consulting him. He should tell Mal he would drive so he wouldn’t be without a car if things with the pack didn’t turn out like Mal said they would. Like Summer and Daniel thought they would. But, he was so damned tired from lack of sleep and fear. If he were being completely honest, he loved how Mal was already protective of him and Leo. He liked the idea of leaning on his mate for support. Nick’s gut instinct told him he could trust his mate. His wolf whole-heartedly agreed. His instinct and his wolf were never wrong. “Alright. If you don’t think Dalton will mind.”
