All conversation stopped when Liam entered the room, still holding Declan's hand. Nervousness rolled off Declan in waves. He really wished he could say or do something to calm his mate, but time would tell. These were a great bunch of guys. Loud and rowdy at times, but great nonetheless.
Liam pulled Declan against his side when everyone turned to look at the pair. "Declan, meet the guys. You know Ben. Going round the table on Ben's right is Kieran, then Brad, Sam, and Corey." Everyone nodded when Liam said their names.
Keeping his tone low key Liam said, "Guys, this is Declan Morgan. My mate." Liam didn't have to wait long for the expected reaction.
"Your what?" Sam asked.
"Since when? Man, I only saw you yesterday morning. You didn't mention anything about a mate," Brad said.
"Wow, he's hot," Corey said and whistled low and appreciatively.
Liam narrowed his eyes and growled, baring his teeth. Corey just laughed. Liam noticed Ben sitting to the side smiling along as well.
"Congratulation, Liam," Kieran said quietly after the others had finished.
Kieran got up from his seat and came round the table, hand out ready to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Declan. You couldn't have a better mate than Liam here. I hope you two will be very happy together."
Declan's cheeks were bright red when he shook hands with Kieran, before his friend headed back to his seat at the table.
Liam had a sudden thought. "Honey, do you know how to play poker?"
Declan's cheeks went even redder as he shook his head.
"That's okay, you can sit with me, and I'll teach you everything you need to know to win the game," Liam said as they headed to the two empty chairs at the head of the table.
"If he wants to win then he should be sitting with me," Brad commented.
"Bullshit." Corey fake-coughed.
"All right, all right, are we gonna play or not, gentleman?" Ben asked.
"Just waiting on the cards," Sam piped up.
"Hold your damn horses. God, don't get your knickers in a twist." Kieran huffed and started dealing the cards for Texas hold-em poker.
They settled down for a couple of rounds, Liam doing his best to explain the game in a way Declan could understand. He didn't know if it helped or not that every time he explained something one of the guys would add their own piece of advice into the mix.
A half hour later they put in a call for pizza delivery and went back to playing. Corey broke first and asked questions about where Declan had come from just as Liam expected.
"So, Declan how did the two of you meet?"
Declan waited for Corey to take a long swallow from his beer before he answered. "I turned up on his doorstep—naked—last night."
Liam burst out laughing when Corey choked and sprayed beer everywhere. Poor Ben, sitting opposite Corey at the table, got drenched in beer and spit as Corey continued to splutter, trying to get his breath back. The others all cracked up at seeing Corey completely lost for words and Ben covered in beer.
Ben growled, but Corey could only hold up a hand in apology, still unable to talk. Ben got up, and before stalking from the room, pointed to the mess on the table.
He directed his gaze towards Corey. "Clean this shit up, man."
Liam assumed he'd go wipe himself down and change his shirt.
"Man, that was fucking priceless," Brad said between gasping breaths.
Kieran chuckled quietly and got up, heading to the kitchen to grab something to wipe the table down with.
Liam glanced at his mate who sat with a satisfied look on his face. Liam pulled him to his side and wrapped his arm around Declan's shoulder.
"Beautiful timing,
honey."
"Thanks."
Ben entered the room a couple of minutes later and looked at Corey, raising a brow in question. "You all better now?" he asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"Yeah, man. Sorry 'bout that."
Ben huffed, crossing his arms over his chest when settled back in his chair.
"What the hell is taking you so long, Kieran?" Sam called out.
A muffled sound came from the direction of the kitchen and a moment later Kieran finally came back into the room, damp cloth and paper towels in hand. His face however, not quite as clean as it had been when he left.
"What the hell? It looks like you blew someone back there. Jesus is there a sale on naked men running around town or something that I don't know about?" Corey asked.
Kieran looked guilty as hell; his tongue flicked out and cleaned the white substance from the side of his mouth.
"It's cream, you idiot."
"Cream?" Poor Corey just sounded confused now.
"Yeah, I found a stash of desserts in Ben's fridge when I went looking for another beer." Kieran closed his eyes and moaned. "The caramel slice tasted unlike any I've ever had before, so good. And the éclairs. Don't even get me started. I think I might skip dinner altogether and go straight to the desserts."
"Since when do you stock desserts for poker night?"
Brad asked Ben.
"Since Declan is a pastry chef and brought them.
Though I haven't yet had a chance to taste them myself.
Unlike some, I have restraint."
All eyes turned once again to Declan and Liam.
Declan sat up straight and shrugged. Liam liked the fact his mate wouldn't be embarrassed about doing something he enjoyed. Liam felt a tiny bit jealous of Kieran. He had yet to try Declan's creations either.
"Man, you need to stick around and cook, they were sinfully delicious," Kieran said as he headed for the beer sprayed section of the table.
"Thanks, man. Glad you enjoyed," Declan replied.
"Now this, I have to try," Sam said as he pushed back his chair.
"Sit," Ben barked. "You can wait like the rest of us.
Don't worry, they're not going anywhere."
Kieran quickly cleaned the table and everyone settled back down again to play cards. The doorbell rang twenty minutes later, announcing the arrival of the pizza.
Everyone threw a ten on the pile and Liam got up with Brad to take delivery. Along with four large pizzas they had three garlic breads and two side serves of ribs.
Delivery paid for, they took the food back to the guys.
Setting the pizzas down, Liam headed to the kitchen, calling out on his way "Who wants another beer?"
Affirmative yells came at him left, right, and centre.
Declan followed him when it became apparent he would be getting everyone another drink. He was good but even he couldn't carry seven beers by himself.
"Enjoying yourself?" he asked Declan when they were in the kitchen, pulling the drinks from the fridge.
"Yeah, you were right. They're a great bunch of guys."
"Told you." Liam grabbed the last two beers and closed the fridge, before he could be tempted to steal one of the éclairs.
He turned around and quickly kissed Declan who stood directly behind him. "Come on, we better get back out there before all the food disappears."
They headed back, handed out the beers to
everyone, and settled down to eat some pizza and garlic bread. They usually paused the game when it came time to eat dinner. Corey had just finished his third slice and reached for a fourth when he threw a sideways glance in Declan's direction.
"So, he really rocked up on your doorstep naked?"
he asked.
"Yep, I was cooking dinner, turned around and there he stood, in all his naked glory, on my back porch."
"Ah man, some people have all the luck," Brad complained.
"Why can't naked men show up on my doorstop?"
Sam asked,
Liam laughed and kissed Declan on the side of his head before taking another bite of pizza.
They picked up the game again after finishing the food and the pile of chips in front of Liam grew to three times the size of any of the other guys. "You must be my lucky charm," Liam whispered in Declan's ear before he pecked him on the cheek and threw in three chips, raising the pot.
Kieran folded his hand and got up from the table, heading to the kitchen. Ben looked down at his cards one more time before seeing his bet. They were the last two in this pot.
"All right, old man, what have you got?" Liam asked.
"That's enough with the old man comments, thank you very much." Ben mock growled
Liam laughed.
Ben set his cards down on the table. "Full house, aces over threes."
Liam kept his expression neutral. "Two pair," he said.
Ben whooped and leant in to sweep the chips to his seat.
Liam placed his hand on Ben's arm. "Not so fast, old man." He smirked before turning his cards over.
Ben looked down at the pair of threes he'd had in his hand before glancing at the pair of threes in the centre of the table. "Asshole."
"Who's an asshole?" Kieran asked as he walked back into the room carrying Declan's desserts. "Sorry, couldn't wait any longer."
"Liam," Ben huffed.
"Well, we all know this, though Declan might not yet, but give him enough time, and I'm sure he'll agree,"
Corey added his two cents.
Liam swept the chips and Kieran made use of the empty space by placing down a tray filled with éclairs and another one with caramel slices.
Everyone reached in at exactly the same time, giving Liam the impression of starving animals that hadn't eaten in weeks. Liam grabbed for a caramel slice as sounds of appreciation filled the room.
"Oh, God, this is good." Corey moaned in pleasure.
"What the hell did you put in this cream?" Brad asked.
"That caramel is the best I've ever tasted," Ben commented.
Liam gazed at Declan. Happiness and pure pleasure radiated from him. Liam bit into a corner of his caramel slice and his groans of pleasure soon added to those of the rest of his friends.
The chocolate biscuit base, the thick layer of rich gooey caramel and the thin covering of chocolate all combined to make one of the best things Liam had ever had in his mouth, not including his mate of course.
"Jesus, you have got to try this caramel slice," he mumbled around another mouthful.
"Same goes for the éclairs," Kieran said and again reached into the centre of the table.
Once Liam had finished his piece of heaven he reached in for Declan's other creation. The desserts had gone quickly as there were only a couple left of each. Not wanting to miss out Liam grabbed two éclairs and another slice and put them reverently on the table in front of him.
Declan laughed. "You do realise if you miss out I can always make you some more?"
"Not the point." He grunted and picked up an éclair, biting it in half. Holy mother, they were just as good as the slice.
"Marry me?"
Liam shook his head. The question hadn't come from his mouth. He looked out over the table and saw Brad staring at his mate with a look he had no idea how to describe.
Liam slammed his hands on the table as he quickly stood and snarled. "Mine!" Fury like never before rolled through his body, someone attempted to take his mate away from him.
"Whoa, dude, calm down," Corey hastily said.
"Liam," Ben said calmly from his seat.
Liam didn't care though. None of his friends had mates. None of them understood the emotions raging through his body at that point in time. Just the thought of someone trying to take Declan from him caused him to lose his shit. Even if that man happened to be a good friend of his.
"Liam."
Declan's soft voice floated through his mind, calming him down to more a rumbling growl instead of downright snarling.
Declan's hands caressed his arm in an attempt to calm him further.
"Babe, you know it was a joke. Calm
down. I'm yours. You don't need to worry about that."
Brad stood behind both Corey and Sam, looking a little pale. Liam bared his teeth one last time and turned, pulling Declan into his arms before anyone could so much as blink.
He slammed his mouth down onto his mate's and demanded entrance. The need to prove Declan still belonged to him had him shaking so badly he thought he would fall apart. Declan opened immediately, their tongues tangling as Liam plundered Declan's willing mouth.
Declan's arms wrapped around his neck and Liam pulled him in tight. Their hard cocks rubbed against each other through the thick fabric of their jeans.
Declan whimpered. Liam knew just how he felt. He wanted his mate under him right now. Breaking the kiss reluctantly, Liam sucked in some much needed oxygen.
Declan tried to chase his lips and reinitiate the kiss.
"Let's go home mate, I want to feel you under me,"
Liam said
The needy little whine from Declan nearly did Liam in.
"I think you should apologise to Brad. He didn't
mean anything by his comment."
Liam didn't like it, but Declan spoke the truth. He had overreacted.
Liam looked at Brad. "Sorry, man. Instinct. It's still brand new. Can't control my reactions at the moment."
"No worries. I should have thought before I spoke. I really just wanted to tell Declan he's an amazing pastry chef."
"Thank you," Declan said.
"All right, gentlemen, we're out of here. You can split my chips. I have something more important requiring my attention at the moment." Liam really didn't care what they did with his winnings—Declan had all his focus at the minute.
"I'll walk you out," Ben said and stood up from the table.
After walking to the door, Ben put a hand on Declan's shoulder. "I'll need a couple of days to locate a new Alpha and Betas to take over. I'll let you know when we can head on down." Ben sighed heavily "Unfortunately I can't leave an entire pack with no one in charge. Declan, keep in contact with your brother. You let me know that minute he tells you something's wrong."
"Will do. Thank you, Ben."
Liam steered Declan out the front door. His hands never once still on his mate's body as they walked to the car.
Declan's entire being wanted to fly apart in a million different directions as they stood beside the car. First a kiss and now Mr Grabby. Liam's hands were driving him nuts.