“Well, I’m heading next door to pick up some stuff Maverick ordered for Cecil and Melonee. Catch you later.” Mark waved Loco off, returning to the garage.
“I need help.” Caden stuck his head out of the office.
Mark smiled, kissing his mate on his head as he stood behind him.
“What’s up?”
Caden covered the mouthpiece. “Mrs. Cross says her engines ticking like a bomb and wants to know if it’s safe to drive.”
“Sounds like she needs oil. Tell her to bring it on down now and I’ll take a look at it.”
Caden nodded, conveying the message. When he hung up, he told Mark she would be right in.
Mark’s Not Gay
69
As he stood behind his mate, Mark ran the pads of his thumbs over Caden’s neck. His mate moaned and leaned his head back against Mark’s stomach. “Sorry, pup, wasn’t trying to tease you.” He tilted Caden’s head back to kiss him then left his mate to grab the items he would need and sat them on the bench.
His first customer arrived ten minutes later, thanking him for seeing her. “I’m not really set up to work on anything yet, but I’ll have a look.”
“I would appreciate it. It’s all I have to get back and forth to work, I can’t have anything happening to it, and those city mechanics charge you an arm and a leg just to look.” The woman followed Mark around to the front of her car.
“Looking’s free, ma’am.” Mark popped the hood and started pulling dipsticks.
The older woman smiled. “You are a nice young man. Thank you.”
After topping off her fluids, Mark had to add three quarts of oil.
“There’s a reason to pay attention to the check engine light. I put a sticker on your windshield, tells when to come see me again. I didn’t get a chance to change the filter, but if you make an appointment, I can take care of that.”
“I’ll do that, thank you. How much do I owe you?” The older woman began to rummage through her purse.
“Nothing. I’m not officially opened, and you were just low on oil.
The bomb should stop ticking now.” He grinned.
“I’ll make you my famous fried chicken and bring you dinner when you open. Sound fair?”
“Make a dinner for two, and we’ll call it even.”
“Deal. Thank you…?”
“Mark.” Mark pointed to the sign above the garage that said Mark’s Garage.
“Okay, Mark. See you next week.”
70
Lynn Hagen
Mark heard her mumbling about what a nice boy he was as she got into her car.
“Looks like you made a friend,” Caden commented as he wrapped his arms around Mark’s waist.
“Guess I did. Now back to work, pup,” Mark teased as he walked Caden backwards, locking the office door and pulling the blinds closed.
Mark’s Not Gay
71
Chapter Six
Caden knocked on Maverick’s office door.
“Come on in, Caden.”
“I’m not trying to snitch on anyone.” Caden took a seat on the leather sofa, running his hands over his knees nervously.
Maverick sat back and sighed. “What’s my mate done now?” Caden shook his head. “Nothing…yet. They’re getting restless.” Maverick thought about the advice the mate, George, had given him a while back. If the mate’s wanted to get out, go with them. He ran his hands through his hair, trying to think of somewhere they could go and have some fun.
“Tell all the mated couples to be at the front door in twenty minutes. Hell, tell the single warriors they’re welcome to come as well.”
Caden stood. “Where are we going?”
Maverick grinned. “You’ll see.”
Pushing away from his desk, Maverick walked to the den to assure himself that the mates hadn’t taken off yet. Cecil sat by himself with his head resting back, counting something on the ceiling.
“Bored?”
“Out of my mind,” Cecil whined.
Maverick leaned over and kissed his mate. “Go get your shoes.
We’re heading out.”
Cecil didn’t need to be told twice. He ran down the hall to do as he was told.
Ten minutes later, the foyer was filled with warriors and mates as Maverick instructed everyone to follow him.
72
Lynn Hagen
They all climbed into assorted vehicles and followed the one Maverick was driving. After thirty minutes of “Where are we going” Maverick was ready to turn the SUV around and head home, forgetting about their plans.
The Alpha pulled into the lot and cut the motor, hearing the excited voices as everyone pilled out.
Drew and Johnny were jumping around the parking lot, high fiving each other. “Rollerblading!”
“Are you out of your mind?” Tank asked as he stared with an open mouth at the building.
“Would you rather go chasing them down?” Maverick listened to the other warriors grumble Tank’s complaint as they made their way in.
The place was loud and filled with a lot of young kids with music blaring from speakers, some younger generation’s pop music.
Maverick remembered the days before recorded music when everything was played live. God, he felt old.
Girls, scantily dressed, rolled by, hanging onto young men. It looked like they were the oldest men here, and it felt like they just entered a high school instead of a rink. Maverick had thought it would be fun to skate around considering he’d never done it before. He hoped he’d made the right decision. The people in the rink made it look pretty simple. How hard could it be?
“I’m going to put Melonee in the roller nest.” Tangee walked his little sister to the toddler room to play while the adults had their fun.
Gunnar appointed himself her guardian, standing watch by the door.
The other warriors cursed him for yelling shotgun on Melonee first.
As the mates went to the rental counter, Maverick pulled the Sentries aside. “Stop bitching. They’re always running out because they want to have some fun, so give your mate’s some fun.”
“Fine,” Hawk bit out as he went to find Johnny.
* * * *
Mark’s Not Gay
73
Mark sat on the bench, staring at the Rollerblade then down at his feet, shaking his head. “If god wanted me to have wheels, he would have attached them when I was born.”
“I thought you were hatched,” Caden teased as he secured his straps.
“Think you’re funny, do ya?”
“Come in. It’ll be fun.” Caden got to his knees, unlacing his mate’s boots and pulling them off. He tucked them under the bench as he held his hand out for the skate.
“I think we’ll all need that damn wolf physician by the time we leave.” Mark pushed his feet back and forth, feeling the rollers move under his feet. “You are aware I’ve never done this before?”
“Just follow my lead.” Caden hadn’t either, but it didn’t look too hard.
Johnny rolled by Caden and Mark, him and Drew competing around the rink like pros. Caden looked up when he heard someone yell. Maverick was lying flat on his back.
“That’s what he gets.” Mark laughed. “Make us put these damn things on.”
They clung to the wall until Caden felt he had the hang of it.
“Shit!” Caden went down when Mark pulled him as he fell.
Micah rolled by. “Baby losers.” He chuckled as he kept going.
“Show off,” Caden yelled after him. “Get up, Mark. We can’t let them best us.”
“Tell my sore ass that.” Mark turned to his knees pushing himself up, grabbing onto Caden then pulling them back down.
“Mark!” Caden cried.
“I’m trying, pup.” Once again, he pulled himself up, grabbing the ledge this time. He growled when an elderly couple rolled on by.
“Okay, baby steps.” Caden coached him away from the wall.
Mark threw his hands out but thankfully stayed upright. After a few near falls, he started to get the hang of it, as Caden knew he would.
74
Lynn Hagen
George and his mate, Tank, were hugging each other, trying not to fall as skaters whizzed by them.
“Got it?” Caden asked as Mark began to move his feet further away from each other.
“I think so,” Mark said. “You’re skating like you know what you’re doing.” Holding his hand, Caden pulled his mate further into the crowd.
“Damn it!” Maverick yelled when once again as he landed on his backside.
Oliver twirled by them, spinning in a circle as he jammed to the pop music. Micah was right behind him, skating like an expert. Caden was glad he had said something. The mates seemed to be having a lot of fun. It was the warriors—except for Micah and Remi, who seemed to know what they were doing—that stayed on the floor more than on their blades.
Remi and Drew rolled by, dancing like they were in a disco club with all the moves from that era. They squatted, kicking one foot out, then stood and spun around. Keata and Johnny held onto each other as they spun in a circle, making a couple people fall when they were too late to avoid the pair.
“Ready to go?” Mark taunted Maverick, who was pushing himself from the floor as Mark and Caden rolled by. Mark was skating steadier now.
The Alpha just growled as he held onto his mate for dear life.
Poor Cecil looked like he was about to collapse under the weight.
After a few hours, the group as a whole was skating better. All except for Maverick, who swore his blades were possessed and out to kill him.
* * * *
“Watch me.” Caden let Mark’s hand go, kicking his leg out and doing some funky moves. Mark chuckled as his mate got his groove
Mark’s Not Gay
75
on. He liked seeing Caden so carefree. His mouth dropped open when Hawk passed them with Johnny on his shoulders, yelling for Hawk to put him down. The man was going to get a nosebleed that high up.
Blair and Kota were doing something close to the funky chicken as they skated by looking as though they were having the time of their lives.
Finally, they extracted Melonee from the nest, her little hands rubbing at her eyes as she yawned. She had made friends with all the small tykes. They were all waving goodbye to her as Loco carried her out.
Piling back into the vehicles, they headed home.
Caden was curled up in Mark’s lap as Remi drove. “I’m exhausted.”
“Did you have fun, pup?” Mark asked as he rubbed his hands over Caden’s legs.
“Lots. Thank you for not giving up.”
“Not a problem.” Mark didn’t think he would, but he had enjoyed himself. He was thankful none of his bones were broken.
As he headed to his bedroom, Maverick grumbled that he would rather chase the mates than be possessed again.
“I guess I’ll go run his bathwater…and maybe put some Epson salt in it.” Cecil snickered as he went after his mate.
* * * *
Mark sat on the sofa the next evening watching Caden and Cody shoot pool. Keata sat at the juice bar reading one of his comic books.
He thought about the things he had waiting upstairs for his submissive mate once he was done playing pool. The image of those leather restraints danced in his head as he watched Caden’s ass twitch back and forth while taking his shot. If his mate kept presenting such a tempting sight, the game wouldn’t be finished.
76
Lynn Hagen
“You know that was a scratch.” Cody laughed as he cuffed Caden on the back of his head.
Mark was across the room in a flash. Their chests collided as Mark knocked Cody into the wall and his fist connected with the shifter’s jaw.
Cody shook it off and growled, his canines extending as he pushed off of the wall and got in a gut shot before Mark could swing around and avoid it.
“Stop!” Caden and Keata were screaming, but it fell on deaf ears.
Mark swung his right arm up, catching Cody under his jaw, and the warrior grunted before connecting a right jab to Mark’s ear.
Buzzing rang through his head as Mark kicked his booted foot out, catching Cody in his kneecap. The shifter stumbled back, momentarily stunned. Mark took the opening to land a blow to his solar plexus before Cody recovered and slammed a kidney shot into his side with a well-placed fist.
The warriors swarmed into the den, pulling the fighting pair apart.
“What the hell is going on here?” Maverick shouted.
“Touch my mate again, and I’ll kill you!” Mark threatened loudly.
Maverick’s head snapped to Cody. “You hit his mate?” Cody had the decency to look shamed. “I cuffed him like we always do.”
Mark growled, lunging forward and knocking Cody on his jaw before the Sentries could stop him.
Cody tried to retaliate, but Tank and Gunnar held onto him.
“Caden is no longer just one of the guys.” Maverick pinched the bridge of his nose, his head shaking back and forth before looking back at Cody. “He’s mated. I wouldn’t have done a thing to Mark if he’d killed you.”
Cody snorted. “He’s human. What could he have done? The only reason he got a few off is because I stayed in human form.”
“You think because I’m human I won’t wipe your sorry ass across the floor?” Mark snapped angrily. He lunged again, but Kota and
Mark’s Not Gay
77
Hawk stopped him. Mark was immobilized with the two holding him back. “Let me cuff Keata on the back of the head and see how well you take it,” he shouted.
Cody shifted, fighting to get at Mark.
Mark stood his ground, not letting the fact that Cody just changed into a wolf right in front of him affect his anger. Sure, he’d seen Caden in his wolf form, but to actually see the change take place was some wicked looking shit. He wasn’t frightened. Fascinated would be a better description.
Mark shouted for the two to release him when Caden shifted and took a stance in front of him. There was no way he was allowing his mate to fight Cody. That was his job, whatever form Cody was in, he was going to beat Cody to a bloody pulp for touching his pup.
“Damn it!” Maverick barked out angrily as he shifted as well.
Okay, now Mark was a bit intimidated. The wolf was the size of a fricken’ horse. What the hell was going on here? Where wolves supposed to be that damn huge?
Cody snapped and growled but backed away. Mark gave him points for common sense. He still didn’t like him, though.