Instead he'd waited patiently for Declan to finish his conversation. He didn't want to embarrass the other man by letting him know he'd been overheard.
Liam cleared his throat and rapped twice on the wall, hoping he would get Declan's attention. Declan started slightly and tried to cover it by sitting up, but Liam still saw it, he'd hoped to make enough noise that he wouldn't startle Declan.
"Dinner's ready," he announced casually.
"Thank you, I'll be right there." Declan's voice sounded barely more than a whisper.
"Take your time." Liam offered a friendly smile before turning and heading back into the kitchen.
Liam plated up the food and placed it on the table before going back for drinks and cutlery. Grabbing two beers from the fridge, he set them on the table and sat down. He only had to wait a moment before Declan slowly walked in and sat opposite him.
"Thank you," he said again quietly.
"You're welcome. Now eat up, you look dead on your feet." Liam cut into his steak.
Declan quietly chuckled. "I'm so tired I can barely lift my knife and fork, but I'll force myself because this smells amazing, and I'm starving."
"It's nothing special. I'll show you to the guest room as soon as we're done here."
Declan nodded in understanding but seemed too intent on his food at the moment to converse further. Liam took a long drink of his beer, trying to cool his awareness of the other wolf, before he turned back and concentrated on eating his food. Before he knew it they were both finished with dinner and Declan's eyes were drooping.
Liam picked up Declan's plate and his own and took them back into the kitchen and placed them in the sink. He'd worry about cleaning them after he settled his mate down for the night.
His mate!
Liam still found it a little hard to believe he had finally met the man fated to be his. Let alone the fact he had just rocked up on his doorstep completely naked. Liam shook his head to dislodge the thoughts and images. He would be hard as stone if his kept thinking about what Declan looked like under his clothes.
After several moments, willing his body not to betray him, Liam got himself under control and walked back into the dining area. Declan remained at the table, holding his half-finished beer. He looked so tired Liam thought he might fall asleep where he sat.
"Come on, Declan, let's get you tucked into bed. I don't think it's safe for you to try and stand in another shower at the moment, and I don't think either of us is ready for me to be getting in there with you to help. As much as I would love to see you all warm, wet, and naked, some other time maybe?"
Liam helped Declan stand, the smaller man turned into his side and seemed to snuggle in. Liam felt the soft laugh vibrate against his body.
"Yeah, definitely some other time," Declan said.
Liam held Declan close and they made their way down the hall to the guest room nearest Liam's bedroom.
Liam wouldn't sleep with his mate under the same roof, even if they were in separate rooms. If they couldn't share a bed yet, at least Declan would be as close as possible. Liam turned the light on when they entered the bedroom, and not too soon either. Declan's body had been getting heavier and heavier as they walked up the hall. Liam leant down and pulled the sheets back on the bed before manoeuvring Declan to sit down on the side.
Liam reached down and grabbed the hem Declan's shirt. "Up," he said quietly, not wanting to startle the nearly asleep man.
Declan's arms moved sluggishly upwards and Liam struggled a little to remove the much too large shirt. As sexy as he found his mate in his clothes, he didn't want the man to get tangled in his sleep.
The sweats on the other hand he would leave. Liam threw the shirt over the tallboy at the end of the bed.
Laying Declan down, he lifted his mate's legs and got them under the blankets. He then pulled the doona up until he completely covered his mate leaving nothing showing but his head on the pillow.
Liam tucked a stray lock of hair behind Declan's ear before he bent down and placed a quick gentle kiss on Declan's lips. "Sleep well, my mate."
Declan's hand shot out from under the blankets in a surprising show of alertness and he gripped Liam's mid-retreat. "Thank you," he whispered and squeezed Liam's fingers once before dropping back to the bed.
A little snore, not even ten seconds later, told Liam his mate had finally succumbed to his exhaustion. Liam couldn't help it, he stood and watched the other man sleeping for several minutes, still awed and amazed by his appearance in his life.
He couldn't stand watch over Declan like a predator stalking his prey all night. Liam headed back to the dining room and kitchen to clean up the dinner dishes. After the excitement of the day, Liam was too keyed up to be able to relax just yet, so he finished putting everything away, pulled another beer from the fridge and headed for the living room.
He sat on the couch where Declan had been lying earlier and pulled the rumpled blanket to his nose. The sweet scent of his mate still lingered in the fibres and Liam sighed in happiness. Something must have happened to Declan. Why else would he show up naked on Liam's doorstep? He would wait until the other man felt comfortable enough to confide in him. It might kill him in the meantime, but whatever Declan needed, Liam would try and provide.
Declan came back to consciousness slowly,
confused by the unfamiliar softness of the mattress underneath him. The sheets were wrong; a much higher quality than his own cheaply bought Kmart ones.
He blinked at the bright light shining through the curtains, becoming more alert. Declan had a brief moment of panic he'd be late for work, but calmed down when something niggled at the back of his brain telling him everything would be okay. He hadn't slept so late in years; he usually woke up well before the sun rose, even on his rare days off.
He looked around the room, positive he'd never stepped foot in it before. Fairly sparse and furnished with just the large queen sized bed, a set of bedside drawers with two lamps on top, and a tall boy against the wall opposite the bed.
It looked like a typical guest room for someone who didn't get a great deal of visitors. Declan sat up slowly, the sheets pooling around his waist. Surprised to be naked down to his waist, Declan quickly lifted the covers. He sighed in relief, glad to be wearing sweats. He honestly didn't remember getting to bed last night or getting undressed.
A knock on the bedroom door startled Declan. He breathed in deeply trying to get the scent of the person on the other side. The aroma seeped into his body, filling every pore and causing such a visceral reaction that memory came flooding back. Liam.
His mate.
Declan thumped his hand down on his hard cock, not wanting the bulge beneath the blankets to be obvious.
After attempting to talk and having no sound come out, he cleared his throat. "Come in." He really needed his morning coffee.
Declan watched as Liam opened the door and stepped inside the room. His eyes swept over every inch of Declan's naked skin before making their way to meet his eyes. Declan smiled shyly when their gazes connected.
Declan didn't know what to do with the undisguised heat that shone out of Liam's stunning eyes. No one had ever looked at him like that before.
"Morning," Liam said.
Declan didn't think it was his imagination that Liam's voice sounded deeper than it did last night.
"Good morning," Declan replied, silently begging his heart to stop trying to beat its way out of his chest.
His wolf sat up and took notice. The creature wanted to reach out and touch its mate, Declan held back, barely, from giving in to its wants.
"There's coffee, if you're interested," Liam said, his voice still low and sexy as hell.
"Oh, yeah!" Declan exclaimed and jumped out of bed.
Liam chuckled but Declan didn't care. His day didn't start right if it didn't begin with caffeine. Being a baker and having to get up at unimaginable hours of the morning, coffee had fast become a necessity in his life.
Declan headed out of the room, wearing nothing but his sweats. Pausing for a moment when he passed Liam, he raised up so he could lay a quick, gentle kiss on Liam's cheek. "Thank you," he said quietly, unable, after all, to pass his mate without touching.
"You're welcome," Liam smiled. "I don't know for what, but you're welcome anyway."
His sweet smile turned into a cheeky grin and Declan laughed.
Liam followed him through the house to the kitchen. Declan didn't stop, and even though the house didn't belong to him, he headed directly for the coffeemaker sitting on the bench. It took Declan looking in three cupboards before he found the coffee mugs. He didn't have to search for the coffee; the pods were hanging on the wall directly behind the coffee maker.
Declan had no worries working the De'Longhi Nespresso machine; he had one just like it at home. The milk had been topped up and Declan placed his cup under the spout then looked at the different varieties of coffee pods. Letting out a very unmanly squeal when he saw his favourite flavour, he quickly reached out and pulled the pod from its box and placed it in the machine. He closed the lid, pressed the buttons, and waited.
The machine whirred to life and Declan bounced on the balls of his feet impatient for the damn thing to finish.
The rich smell drove him crazy. He wished it would hurry up already, he wanted his coffee now! When the cappuccino finally finished, Declan grabbed the chocolate shaker sitting next to the machine and sprinkled a generous amount on top of the foamy milk.
Picking up the cup, Declan took his first sip and sighed. Heaven. God, he loved the first coffee of the day.
He took several more sips of his drink before the chuckling behind him registered. Declan turned around to find Liam leaning against the bench opposite him, his eyes filled with mirth and something Declan couldn't put a name to. The man looked drop dead sexy when he relaxed and laughed.
"So…" Liam said.
Declan waited but Liam didn't seem to want to follow on after that one word.
"So?" Declan asked finally not able to help himself.
"Like your coffee, do you?" Liam laughed again.
Declan blushed. He must look like a right idiot with the way he acted about a silly drink but Declan really did like his coffee. Not wanting to say anything, he simply lifted his cup and took another sip after nodding quickly.
Liam truly did have a beautiful smile. Declan hoped that smile would always be directed towards him. At the thought, he shook his head. On the one hand, he barely knew the man, on the other, they were mates. Declan had grown up in a loving family, his parents had been a fated pairing and he had been taught all about mates. He never imagined the bonding pull would be so strong after such little time.
Wanting to change the subject before he jumped the unsuspecting man, Declan blurted. "What day is it?"
Liam studied him for a moment before he answered.
"It's Monday morning." He looked down at his watch and winced. "If I don't leave right now I'm going to be late for work, and it never looks good when the boss is late." He smiled lightly.
Declan wondered what Liam did for a living. He had a feeling it included some sort of manual labour. The man looked magnificent in work-roughened, faded jeans that he thought were probably as soft as silk. Declan desperately wanted to touch and find out. The shirt Liam wore hugged his abdominals perfectly and made Declan's mouth fill with saliva at the thought of pushing it up and licking the tight muscles underneath.
An open flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled halfway up Liam's powerful arms and scuffed steel toed boots completed the outfit. Oh yeah, his mate definitely worked with his hands. Declan really wanted Liam to work him with his hands; he could just about imagine the rough, calloused fingers moving over his body, bringing nothing but pleasure. Declan closed his eyes as his mind wandered.
A small whimper escaped as he thought about Liam grasping his cock in his tight fist.
A strong hand in his hair gripping tightly and tilting his head back surprised him. He hadn't even heard Liam move. He blinked his eyes open, staring up at a silver gaze that radiated heat.
"Stop it!" Liam's voice had gone low and guttural as if he struggled to keep control.
"Huh?" Declan had no idea what Liam referred to, he hadn't done anything.
"Whatever it is you're thinking, stop it now, or I won't be going to work today. I'll be bending you over every surface in this house I can find."
Declan's cock jumped and pulsed at the idea, he tried to bite back another moan, he really did.
"Fuck, you're beautiful," Liam whispered before his lips descended in a punishing kiss that stole Declan's breath and made his heart rate elevate to dangerous levels.
Just when Declan thought he would pass out from lack of oxygen, Liam pulled back. He placed one last, gentler kiss against his lips before he stepped back.
"Hang around the house today. I'll be home at four this afternoon." Liam gently swiped his thumb over Declan's swollen bottom lip. "If you need me at all, my number is by the house phone. Feel free to call your brother again if you wish."
Declan opened his mouth, wanting to suck on Liam's thumb, but he removed his hand entirely.
"Tonight, I'll take you so you can talk with Ben, followed by poker with the guys." Liam slowly walked backwards towards the entrance to the kitchen as he spoke.
"Um, Ben? Poker?" Declan's brain still wasn't firing on all cylinders and he had a little trouble understanding why he would want to talk to this Ben person.
"Monday nights is poker night; it's the only night all the guys have off. And Ben is my Alpha; technically he's your Alpha as well, seeing as how he's the Panneath Alpha of all the packs in Australia," Liam answered.
"Holy shit," Declan whispered. How the hell had he been so lucky as to end up here?
Liam laughed and waggled his brows. "Be safe, my mate. I'll see you when I get home. Oh, and keep your hands to yourself today."