“It’s a go. Sam said he could swing it. All he needs is a time you want to pick the stuff up.”
I was still sprawled out, shirt hiked up, jeans undone, and cock hanging out. He’d blown my mind and my dick. Fuck, how corny was that? “You, my mate, are pure evil.”
Lawson buffed his nails on his shirt, a smug smirk on his face and one hip cocked. “Aw, you know you love it.”
I nodded my head, serious as a heart attack, as I pulled my underwear back over my cock and redid my jeans, then pushed my shirt down. He was playing around, but I couldn’t, not about this. “I do.”
Lawson faltered, and something—an emotion I couldn’t place—wiped the playful look off his face.
He opened his mouth, but I cut him off. “I do love it. Love how you take me over. Love how you take me out of myself. Love how you care for me. Love… you. I love you. I know it’s fast. Boy is it fast, but I don’t need you to say it back. Not yet. I know you care, and that’s good enough for now.”
Lawson crawled back onto my lap. “Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you? I do care for you. Obviously I do, or I wouldn’t have mated you, wouldn’t have moved in with you, wouldn’t have joined your life with mine. But love? I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone, not like what you’re talking about. I’m not sure—”
“I’m not asking you to say it. It is soon, and I know that. But I had to say what I felt.”
“I know. I do know what I feel for you is unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. But is
that
love? I don’t know.”
“You will. One day you will.
That
I know.” I pulled him closer. “So Sam can do it, huh? That means we need to set a time for Sam to have the food ready and call everyone.”
“Changing the subject?”
“Fat lot of good it does if you point it out.”
Lawson snickered. “Point taken. How about six o’clock Thursday? Tell Sam to have the stuff ready by five. We can pick it up, get back here, and have plenty of time to get ready. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Heller said. “Why don’t you call Janelle and Marshell, and I’ll call everyone else.”
“Okay. I’m going to the kitchen to make my calls.” I helped Lawson up and stood. I made my way to the kitchen, fixed myself a drink, and got ready to have some interesting conversations.
Lawson
I RELEASED
the deep breath I wasn’t aware I’d been holding as Heller walked into the kitchen. Oh my God, he’d said he loved me.
Loved
me. It both thrilled and scared the crap out of me. I’d loved my parents; I loved Marshell and Janelle, but I’d never been
in
love.
What I felt for Heller was different—it was more. I worried about him, wanted to take care of him… wanted him on his knees with his lips wrapped around my cock. He made me laugh, made me want to strangle him at times, and made me want to beat anyone who made him feel like he was less.
He was the last thing I wanted to see at night and the first thing in the morning. I wanted
him
—all of him—the good, the bad, and the ugly. But was that love? Shaking my head, I unlocked my cell. I’d worry that subject to death some other time.
I sat down, called Janelle, and told her what Heller had planned. Since Sam was the one doing the food, she already knew everything but the time. She went on and on about how sorry she was about forgetting, but I nipped that in the bud. Hell, I’d forgotten too. With all that had been going on in both of our lives, it was no wonder.
I hung up with her and called Marshell. He answered and I explained our plans to him.
“Thanksgiving? Oh man, I forgot all about it. Jeez, I’m an idiot. And no comments from the peanut gallery either.”
“Well, damn, take all the fun out of it, why don’t you? Fine, no comment about knowing you’re an idiot.” Snickering at the grunt I heard on the other end of the line, I continued. “Seriously, though, Janelle forgot it too. It’s no biggie. I’d have been perfectly happy to skip it this year, but Heller threw something together at the last minute for Thursday evening.”
“You do realize the man all but declared his love for you, right? Paranormals don’t usually celebrate human holidays, as you know. He did this to make his mate happy.”
“Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to wrap my head around you being pro-Heller now?” My heart fluttered at the mention of love, though. “And yes, I do know that. In fact he came out and told me.”
“Wait. He told you he loves you?”
“Yup.” I curled my feet under me. “He did.”
“You’re on the phone with me… why?”
“Don’t worry, I plan to take care of that tonight.” Did I ever. I didn’t come after I sucked Heller off earlier.
Marshell laughed but then grew silent. Finally he spoke again. “I want you to know I’m glad it worked out between you two. You deserve all the happiness I hear in your voice.”
The soft, sweet side of Marshell always got to me, especially since the man kept that part of him locked down. “Well, it didn’t start out all hearts and flowers, but we’re getting there. He makes me happy, Marshell, even if he’s….”
“High-maintenance? A diva? A handful?”
Too bad he couldn’t see the leer I was sporting. “Oh, he’s more than a handful, trust me on that.”
“I walked into that one.”
“So you did.” I snuggled down in the chair. I’d missed talking to Marshell. “He’s work, yes, but he’s so worth it. Anyway this Thursday night at six is Thanksgiving. Please be there.”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good. It’s short notice, and I wasn’t sure if you had a hot date already.”
“No hot date. There are some other things I’ve recently been made aware of, but I’m not sure about them… and I’m not ready to talk about it either.”
“That’s about as clear as mud.”
“Yeah, I know. Sorry. I promise as soon as I can, we’ll talk. But for now who’s going to be there, and what time?”
“Six. We’re inviting our Alpha and his mate, Dolf and his mates, the betas, you, Janelle, and Sam. I’m not sure yet if all of those people will be there. Heller’s talking to them now.”
“Cool. Well, count me in, then. I don’t mind spending the evening with the kitties.”
“Good grief. Marshell, I’d highly discourage calling them that.”
“No problem. I’ll just say it around Heller. I know how much he enjoys it.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and made plans to seat Marshell at the other end of the table. We talked for a few more moments and then hung up. Not long after, Heller joined me.
“Alpha Armonty and his mate, June, can’t come.” Heller sat on the couch. “They already had plans with another Alpha couple in the next county.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I’d like to meet his mate.”
“Yeah, he mentioned that.” Heller wiggled around until his back was against the arm of the couch and his legs stretched out in front of him. “Brier’s a no-go too. He had plans already. So we have you, me, Dolf, Tal, Kirk, Remi, Aidric, Sam, Janelle, and Marshell coming. That’s ten people. Still think we need enough to feed twenty?”
“The way shifters eat? Yeah, just to be safe. I’d rather have too much than not enough. I think we’re good to go now.”
Heller patted the empty place between his legs. “Good. Why don’t you come over here? We can watch a movie or something before bed.”
The “or something” caught my attention. I kicked off my shoes and joined Heller on the couch, sitting between his legs. I settled in as he wrapped his arms around me, and the heat from his body soaked into my back.
“If I remember correctly, you didn’t come earlier.” Heller nuzzled my neck.
“Yup. Are you going to help me out with that?”
“Oh yeah.” Heller unsnapped my jeans and pushed them down as far as he could. “Damn. I need you to…. Can you lift up for me?”
Well, I wasn’t expecting that. I figured he’d just take me out and stroke me off. I lifted my hips and we both pushed my jeans down enough so I could open my legs. Heller wrapped one hand around my cock, and his other hand slipped under my shirt.
His fingers trailed up my chest. Heller’s soft pants echoed in my ear. I shuddered. Heller’s scent teased my nose, and I could feel him purring too. This wasn’t going to take long. Heller didn’t waste time once he found a hard nub and pinched it lightly.
He stroked my cock hard. The rough sound of skin on skin made me moan. I wished we had lube, but at least I was leaking precome. That helped some. Heller panted heavily, and his breath was hot and moist against my neck.
I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the rich, sweet musk of Heller’s scent. Heller nipped the tendon at the back of my neck and then ran his tongue along the abused skin, soothing the small ache.
I jerked in his arms as he sped his hand up on my shaft. I curled my toes and dropped my head back on his shoulder. My body felt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces. I grasped Heller’s thigh, squeezing hard. I needed some way to anchor myself. Tingling started at the base of my spine and spread out.
“Oh yes. Yes! I’m going to come.” I strained against Heller, my body rigid.
“Do it. Come for me.”
I panted hotly against Heller’s cheek as I came. My body shook, and I tightened my hand on Heller’s thigh. “Fuck!”
My eyes rolled back as I painted my chest.
“Oh yeah, that’s hot,” Heller whispered.
When my balls finally emptied, I lay against Heller, exhausted and satisfied. “Wow.”
“You must have been really wound up. You managed to hit your chin. Hold on.” Heller slipped out from behind me. “Let me up and I’ll go get a washcloth for you.”
“Thank God. I don’t think my legs would hold me right now.”
Snickering, Heller went to get the wet washcloth. After he cleaned me up, we lay back down and watched TV for a while. Today was the last day the shop was open until Friday. Marshell worked so I could have the day off. A couple of hours later, we went to bed.
THE NEXT
morning we picked up around the house, not that there was much to do. After showering, we ran into town. We needed drinks, napkins, and some other odds and ends. I was also dealing with cravings for brownies.
The stores were packed, of course, with people doing last-minute shopping, but I found what I needed. We ran into several clowder members and stopped to talk to them. We finished our shopping and left. We arrived home, parked, and carried in what little groceries we bought. I noticed Heller locked the door too. It made me feel better even though I knew a shifter could get in if they wanted to bad enough. I’d just started the brownies when Heller’s cell rang.
He joined me in the kitchen, his hand over his cell. “It’s Dolf. He, Tal, and Kirk are out running errands, and they’re bored. They want to stop by for a little while and visit. You okay with that?”
“Sure.” I placed the pan of brownie mix into the stove and checked the clock. It was lunchtime. “Ask them if they’re hungry.”
Heller repeated the question and nodded at me.
“How about we order a couple of pizzas and have brownies for dessert?”
“That sounds good. Hold on and I’ll ask.” Heller repeated the offer of pizza and brownies. Grinning, he nodded his head at me. “Oh, and Kirk wants to know if they’re the kind with nuts in them.”
“Yeah,” I said.
Heller rolled his eyes at me. “Damn, Dolf, I can hear Kirk moaning from here. Please tell me he’s moaning about the chocolate and not because one of you…. What? Yes, I know your mate has a thing for chocolate. I’m just saying I don’t need to hear any other kind of moaning, and….” Heller wandered back to the living area still talking to Dolf.
Laughing softly, I set the timer and cleaned up the kitchen. Poor Heller looked like he might need a beer at the end of that conversation.
I joined Heller in the living area just as he hung up. “Since when do you have something against moaning?” I sat on the chair arm.
“The only damn moaning I want to hear is from you.” Heller shoved his hair off his face. “Good goddess, the man sounded like he was about to come. That’s just… disturbing.”
I ran my hand through his hair, tugged his head back, and gave him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you order the pizzas? That’ll give you something else to think about.”
“Good idea. It’s that or brain bleach.”
“Sorry, all out of that, but I will have brownies shortly.”
“I can work with that.” Heller unlocked his cell again. “They want meat lovers. What about you? You have a preference?”
“Yeah, get one with pepperoni and extra cheese. Thanks.” I stood and went back to check on the brownies.
As I flittered around in the kitchen, I listened to Heller order. How very normal it all was—just me and my man having some friends over for lunch. We’d eat, maybe have a beer or two, talk… something people did all the time.
Except most of these guys could shift into cats, and Kirk and I were no longer human. Outside of that, we were like everyone else. Nothing odd about us at all. Speaking of oddballs, I wondered what Marshell was doing. I’d never tell him because he’d just roll his eyes, but I worried about him now.
Janelle and I had both moved out. That left Marshell living by himself. He was certainly more than capable of living alone, but he hadn’t for so long. I was so happy, and so was Janelle. I wanted the same thing for Marshell.
I was tempted to talk to Heller about trying to fix up Marshell with some of the clowder members, but I had a feeling they’d both yell over that. I entertained the thought, enjoying the reactions of both, but let it go eventually. He’d also hinted earlier there was something going on with him, and that had me worried too.
A short time later, I heard voices in the living area, and I knew the threesome had arrived. The brownies were about done, so I didn’t go out to greet them. Since I didn’t know them very well, I was still a bit uncomfortable. That was normal, I guessed. But regardless I was glad they were here.
Heller needed to reform the ties he once had with his buddies, and I needed to get to know them—one day my mate would be guarding their mate. The idea of Heller giving his life to protect his Alpha scared me shitless, but that was a breakdown for another day.