by Lynn Hagen
Oh. Dillon wasn’t sure he liked that. Sure, being cuddled with Rainerio was great, but he did need his space to socialize and have a bit of fun. He liked working at Jake’s, and the idea of giving that up didn’t set well with him.
But he would if it meant giving his mate peace of mind. “What happened last time? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Rainerio rubbed his chin back and forth, his fingers making small circles on Dillon’s skin. “Serenity City used to be anything but serene.
Thousands of years ago, dark creatures roamed the streets, terrorizing the inhabitants. It took the combined forces of the demon warriors to hunt them down and lock them up. There was one who almost defeated us, and I’m afraid he may be one of the creatures released.”
This didn’t sound good at all. Dillon didn’t want to know but was too curious not to ask. “Who?”
“Crypt. He’s nothing like any of us has seen before. He’s evil incarnate and has a nasty ass temper to boot. The man is pretty damn powerful. This is why we’ve been hunting Marino down relentlessly. If he got free, this realm would become hell.”
Yeah, he really wasn’t liking this bit of news. Not only would his freedom be taken, but Rainerio would be in danger. For the first time in Dillon’s life, he was happy, and he didn’t want to lose that. “Isn’t there anything you can do besides sit around and wait?”
Dillon could feel Rainerio’s head shake back and forth. “I’m afraid not, love. For some reason, we can’t get down to the cells.”
Dillon’s heart sunk to his toes the more his mate told him about what was happening. It seemed like an impossible situation. How were they going to fight against odds such as those Rainerio described to him?
He began to fear for Rainerio’s very life. What if this Crypt person got out and killed his mate? It was more than Dillon could handle. Hot tears slid down his cheeks. He didn’t want to be in a world without Rainerio. The man was his everything.
“Don’t cry, love. It isn’t over until we’ve won. And I don’t plan on losing.” Rainerio held him close as Dillon listened to the strong heartbeat behind Rainerio’s chest. “I still have those condoms.”
Dillon smiled through his tears. “Really?”
“Yep, I kept them as a reminder of a hot little human who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Dillon twisted his lips as he stared up at his mate. “Like you didn’t want me, too.”
“I did, very much. But I was afraid you would be used against us. It seems my worries came true.”
Dillon glanced up at his mate when he felt Rainerio’s erection pressing into his hip. He wiggled around until the tip of his mate’s cock was resting at his entrance. Dillon moaned when he felt the hot little spurts of lubricant wet his hole.
“That is such an advantage.” He panted as Rainerio wrapped his hand around Dillon’s cock. He was going to get as much loving from his mate as he could before things got to crazy around here.
Dillon wanted his mate to know just how much he loved him. He knew from the moment he had laid eyes on Rainerio that he was the one. His head tilted back as Rainerio lifted his chin, capturing his lips in a blazing kiss that stole Dillon’s breath.
“Have I ever told you how much I love your body?” his mate asked as their lips parted and his thumb rubbed over the head of Dillon’s cock.
Dillon shook his head, feasting his eyes on Rainerio’s kiss-swollen lips. He wanted to taste them again.
His tongue shot out, licking his bottom lip as he leaned up, grabbing Rainerio’s hair and pulling him back down so he could taste a bit of heaven.
Rainerio jerked his cock slowly, and then moved his hand lower to push inside of Dillon. Oh hell, it always felt so good when his mate filled him. Rainerio was large, taking up every inch in Dillon’s ass.
He sat sideways on Rainerio’s lap, his body enjoying the feeling of Rainerio’s hand on his cock and his shaft in Dillon’s ass. There was nothing in the world like it.
Dillon tried to wiggle around, to fuck his mate back, but in this position, it was almost impossible.
“I’ll do all the work. I want you to lay back and take pleasure from it.”
Oh, Dillon planned to. He reached up and hooked his hands around Rainerio’s neck, kissing his mate as Rainerio thrust his hips.
Dillon’s ball sac was pulled and tugged on by Rainerio’s hand, making his cock harden even more.
Rainerio’s large hand was making his chest rise and fall rapidly.
He was close. Oh god, he was so damn close.
His mate slid his hands into Dillon’s hair, tugging it back as he latched on to Dillon’s neck, sucking up a bruise and nipping at his flesh. His head fell back as Rainerio feasted on his skin.
The large hand around his cock was stroking him faster as Rainerio fucked him harder. Dillon cried out as his seed spurted out.
His body jerked as Rainerio’s hips snapped in frenzy.
Rainerio roared, his head falling back as he held onto Dillon, pounding into him. Dillon collapsed against his mate’s chest, pulling in ragged gulps of air.
His mate nuzzled his neck as Dillon dozed off.
Rainerio got up slowly, carrying his mate to bed. Once he had Dillon settled, he walked to the bathroom, wetting a cloth and bringing it back to clean his mate. When he was done, he tucked Dillon in, tossing the wet towel at the hamper before grabbing a pair of pajama bottoms and quietly closing the bedroom door.
Rainerio took a deep breath, wondering how he was going to keep his mate safe. He didn’t care how optimistic a few were. He knew the worst was yet to come.
The only thing he could do was wait and enjoy the time he had with Dillon. He slid the pants on, walking over to the bar on the other side of his living room. Rainerio grabbed a tumbler and filled it with scotch, taking his glass over to the window as he watched the city below him.
He prayed chaos wouldn’t break out. The citizens were happy, for the most part, and it was a great place to live.
The images came back to him.
A city so long ago with boarded up windows and different species leaving the city left and right. No one wanted to live in a realm of chaos back then, and he couldn’t blame them.
He took a sip of his scotch. Rainerio wouldn’t have stayed either if he hadn’t been a warrior. It was brutal times back then.
He turned his head when someone knocked at his door. That was unusual. Most of the warriors had no respect for privacy and just barged in by one of the many shadows that decorated his apartment.
Rainerio crossed the room, looking back to make sure the bedroom door was shut tight before opening his front door. Takeo stood there, looking as proud as ever.
“May I come in?”
Rainerio nodded, walking away from the door as he sat down on the couch. Takeo came in, closing the door behind him as he joined him.
“Does it bother you what is happening?”
“Of course it does.”
Takeo glanced at the closed bedroom door before speaking. “I want to bring someone here to the demon realm, but now it may have to wait.”
Rainerio looked up at the warrior. It wasn’t like Takeo to openly express his feelings. It felt weird.
“Who?”
Takeo sat back and draped his arm over the back of the couch. “A human friend of mine.”
“Your mate?”
Takeo shook his head, sadness filling his eyes. “No, I don’t think so. I don’t know.”
Rainerio sat the glass down on his coffee table as he rested his arms on his thighs. “Then I wouldn’t suggest bringing him here right now, Takeo. It’s too dangerous.”
“I am aware of this, but it’s dangerous where he is as well. Not as much as here, but I would feel better if he were with me.”
This wasn’t at all like Takeo. He normally stuck to his own self.
In the whole time Rainerio had known him, he’d never even seen Takeo with another person.
“It�
�s a tough choice.”
Takeo nodded. “I know. But it is a choice I will have to make soon.”
Chapter Ten
“I feel your cock sexually harassing mine.”
Dillon slipped from the bed and ran to the bathroom door. He turned to his mate with a wicked smile on his face. “No nooky right now. I’ll be late for work.”
Rainerio was up and across the room within seconds, his massive form looming over Dillon. “You’re not going.”
“Oh really?” Dillon flashed him a smile and then turned toward the bathroom. “Wanna bet?” He slammed the door as he cut the shower on. Once he showered, he walked back out into the bedroom to see Rainerio standing in front of the closet, his arms crossed over his chest, telling Dillon with his body that he wasn’t budging.
“I’ll go to work naked if you don’t move.” The smug smile dropped from Rainerio’s face.
“Be reasonable, babe. It isn’t safe for you.”
“You said it yourself, nothing happened. Now move before I’m late.”
“But Dillon.”
“I’m not remonstrating with you right now,” Dillon sang as he walked out of the room naked. At least he could walk out of the apartment building. Getting back in was going to be tricky if Rainerio stayed upset with him.
Where was he going to put his phone if he didn’t have any pockets? Oh well, he’d have to ask Chris to call Hondo so he could get back in.
Rainerio snarled darkly behind him. “If you try to walk out of here naked, I’ll spank your ass.”
Oh, now that sounded promising. Too bad he didn’t have time to try out Rainerio’s threat. It could be fun. “The only thing you’re gonna do with my ass right now is watch it walk right out the door.”
Dillon squealed and shot to the door when Rainerio gave chase. As fun as this was, he didn’t have time.
He grabbed the door handle, ignoring Rainerio’s protests. Dillon didn’t get far. Rainerio had him off his feet before the handle was turned. “Fine, get dressed.”
“Oh, but it would have been such an interesting day if I had gone to work naked. Think of the tips I would have made,” he teased.
“Think of how many people would have lost their eyesight when I gouged their eyes out,” Rainerio countered the tease.
“Fine, put me down. I’m gonna be late.” Dillon cut him a wide berth once Rainerio let him go. He could see his pajama pants tenting.
This must be turning him on just as much. What a waste of a perfectly good erection.
Dillon had to hurry up and get some pants on. It wasn’t like he wasn’t affected by all this play either. He was sporting a woody big time. He loved the sexy growl Rainerio gave when he was turned on.
It made being responsible very hard. And his cock, too, for that matter.
Rainerio reached into his waistband, palming his cock and pulling it free, wiggling it at Dillon in an enticing manner.
Fuck. That was hot. Lord, the man was pulling out all the guns this morning. If Dillon didn’t get out of here soon, he was gonna drop to his knees and pay homage to that fat-ass cock.
He gulped and pulled his shirt over his head when he saw the pre-cum gathering at the head of Rainerio’s cock. So not fair!
Dillon shoved his feet in his shoes and practically ran to the door.
“If you still have that out when I get home, I’ll suck you until the fat lady sings.” Dillon winked and shut the door behind him.
God, that was close. Another thirty seconds and he would have been flat on his back with his legs raised high in the air, begging his mate to fuck him senseless.
Now he had to go to work with a raging hard-on. Thanks, love.
“Wait,” Peter shouted from a few feet away. “I’ll walk you to work.”
“Not you, too. I swear, I feel like I’m back in grade school with my mom shadowing behind me. She didn’t think I knew, but I did.”
Dillon pouted as he walked to work. He knew Rainerio was close behind. It was who his mate was, and he wouldn’t expect anything less of the man.
“Whatever that means.” Peter laughed as he caught up with Dillon.
“Are you babysitting me, too?” Dillon added with a lift of his brow. He heaved a sigh when Peter had the nerve to blush. “So you are.”
“You’re my friend, and I’m worried about you. There’s talk around here that the prisoners are going to escape from the cells.”
“How—” Dillon let it go. How the hell did Peter know about the detention cells? And how did he know what was going on? Nothing happened yesterday, according to Rainerio, so how did people know about the swollen river? What the hell was going on around here?
They entered Jake’s, Dillon taking a look around. It looked normal. He wasn’t going to worry about it until he had a reason to. He didn’t like worrying. It never got him anything but a big, massive migraine.
Not something he wanted today. He smiled at Chris behind the counter, seeing that Hondo had let him out. “Did you have to argue to get here?” he asked as he tied the apron around his waist and clocked in.
“You have no idea.” Chris rolled his eyes as he set up for the day.
“I thought I was going to have to knock Hondo out and hide the body.”
“Same here. I threatened to come in naked if Rainerio didn’t move away from the closet and let me get dressed.”
Chris laughed as he set up the special treats in the display case.
“That would have been interesting.”
“My thoughts exactly. I guess Rainerio didn’t want everyone to see my ass because he moved away from the closet. Although he did try to bribe me with sex.”
Peals of laughter rang out as Chris laughed. “Hondo did, too.”
“Men.” Dillon snorted as the first customer entered the shop. “I was thinking about catching a movie. You and Hondo want to double date?”
“Sure, they have a horror showing that I’ve been dying to see.”
“Great. But if I pee my pants, don’t blame me. I don’t do horror very well.”
The rest of the day went by in a blur of serving drinks and joking around with Chris. Snooke stopped in at lunch, Kane guarding the door. He didn’t feel so bad now. It seemed all the mated warriors were being cautious. Rainerio had stopped in the shop five times during the morning.
“I’m gonna go back and shower. We’ll meet you at your place,” Dillon said with a joyous smile when Hondo and Rainerio showed up at quitting time right on the dot.
He made it home without incident and took a quick shower.
Dillon was actually excited about going out and was surprised that Rainerio had so readily agreed. He must be feeling the tension around here as well.
They all needed a break.
Rainerio watched his mate get ready for their double date. It worried him that they were going out. What if something happened while they were out on their date?
All sorts of scenarios ran through his mind, but he wasn’t going to disappoint his mate. Dillon had looked too excited, jumping around like a puppy as he told him about the movies.
How could he argue with that?
Fear still tightened his chest, made him feel edgy. Rainerio would do anything to keep his little mate safe.
“I’m almost ready,” Dillon called out from the bedroom.
Rainerio had an urge to lock the bedroom door and not let Dillon out until this whole mess was settled. He knew he couldn’t do that, but it was tempting.
His breath caught in his throat as Dillon strutted out of their bedroom, looking good enough to eat. Rainerio’s eyes followed his every move, looking from his tight, waist-hugging jeans, to his midriff top.
He’d never seen his mate dressed up before, and his cock sat up and took notice. Rainerio had to press the palm of his hand into his erection, which didn’t help. “Damn, baby.”
Dillon pirouetted around. “You like?”
“Hell yeah.” He circled his mate, wanting desperately to strip those clothes away an
d fuck him into the next millennium. How had he gotten so damn lucky?
“Okay now, drool master. Let’s go before I have to peel your eyeballs from my ass.” Dillon headed for the door, a hot and horny Rainerio close behind. Boy, the wicked thoughts tumbling through his mind right now.
He was going to have lots of fun unwrapping his mate tonight.
Maybe if he was really good, he could get a strip tease.
Rainerio groaned. This was going to be a long evening. They met Chris and Hondo in the hallway, Chris looking just as spectacular as Dillon. They were just going to the movies, right? Rainerio felt underdressed in his jeans and T-shirt.
He stared down at his combat boots, noticing the scuffmarks and a couple spots of splattered mud. Rainerio noticed Hondo doing the same.
His eyebrow rose at the other warrior, but Hondo just shrugged.
They followed their dates down the stairs, knowing how much Dillon hated using the shadows.
Rainerio, along with Hondo, wanted to use the shadows to get there, but the two men walking in front of them had insisted on a nice leisurely walk.
His eyes scanned the entire street as he walked beside his mate.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t relax.
Dillon tugged at his hand, a scowl on his face. “Relax. This is our time out. No warrior stuff.”
He caught Hondo snickering and glared at him. It wasn’t like he was being Mr. Perfect. His eyes were darting around as quickly as Rainerio’s were. The fucker just hadn’t been busted yet.
They made it to the movie theater, enjoyed the screams and blood, Dillon cringing next to him the whole time. Rainerio wrapped a protective arm around him while fighting not to laugh. The movie was B-rated at best. How did Chris watch these damn things and become frightened? Hondo had told him that his mate was a horror film junkie.
Too bad it wasn’t something decent.
Rainerio and Hondo waited for their mates outside of the men’s room. “That sucked.”
Hondo chuckled. “That’s what Chris loves to watch. I stopped questioning it a long time ago.”
