Storm’s eyes flashed around and he turned his head turned toward where Cutter and Uli had disappeared. Storm hauled himself away from Alex. He tried to stand on his own but Alex needed to put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. Dazed amber eyes shifted to Alex, as if Storm tried to piece together what had happened. “I, um, I got to go.”
Without another word, he hurried toward the front exit of the club, banging into several men on his way out.
Alex scrutinized him as he rushed away. Storm had only been gone two seconds and Alex missed him already. If only there were an easier way…
Thankfully, his excited need abated as he trudged back to his room. He had almost been tempted to stop at the Extraction room. He definitely wanted to make a donation, but he wanted to wait for Uli to return. He had a feeling Uli was going to need him. He sat on their loveseat and tried not to think about the evening.
His eyes fell onto a copy of The Mating Book. Maybe he would find some answers in the book? But before he opened it he heard a key in the door, alerting him of Uli’s return. The door slammed opened and pushed shut with excessive negative energy.
“Well, he’s my mate. I was right.” Uli sounded pissed off. He threw himself onto the red suede loveseat next to Alex.
Alex turned to him and tried to smile as if he shared Uli’s happiness about this discovery. “It’s what you wanted, right?” He glanced over at the clock. 11:40. He stifled a yawn. Remaining upright became a challenge.
“Shouldn’t I be complete? Why do I still have a hole in my heart? A big fucking hole in my heart!” Ulrich turned away but his sad sniffing filled the room. Dammit. “And don’t say he’s not my mate. I tasted him. He is…”
Alex had to offer comfort. He dragged the distraught man into a tight hug, “Shhhhh, it’s okay.” Uli felt perfect in his arms. How could Ulrich not know they were fated to be four? “Maybe he’s not your only mate?”
“What?” Uli twisted away to wipe a sleeve over his face.
“Maybe you should talk to Jackson and Corey.”
Uli yawned and shook his head. “Corey’s a slut.”
“Don’t say that.” He put a finger over Ulrich’s lips to quiet his words. He barely restrained a moan when Uli tongued his finger like it was a lollypop.
“He’s always hitting on any man within a ten-mile radius.” Ulrich didn’t seem to realize what he was doing or he simply enjoyed the taste of Alex’s finger.
Alex’s mouth went dry as his finger slipped between Ulrich’s lips. “He’s not. They’re just searching for their mate.” His beautiful mate started sucking on his index finger like it was stick of candy. Each draw went straight to Alex’s penis like a line of fire. Ulrich’s mouth was hot. The very same mouth that bought Cutter to satisfaction was on him.
Uli pushed up against Alex and whimpered as if he were in pain. The lower half of his body rubbed across the front of Alex’s jeans. Alex shut his eyes and savored the passionate attention.
“I don’t understand.” Uli’s eyes misted over as he urgently shifted their positions, which increased their contract. “Want you bad. Not supposed to want you.” He kept sucking Alex’s finger with his wet mouth in between his disgruntled words.
Alex’s jeans grew tighter as Uli rubbed back and forth against him in a maddening rhythm. Alex was already aroused from the birthday tradition and then Storm turning to him for comfort and release. This slow rub with the focused suction on his finger became too much to bear.
“Oh, Uli.” Alex opened his eyes as he tried to stop, only to enjoy Uli’s face twist up as his mate found release.
Alex was helpless to resist his oncoming orgasm. Ulrich continued to tug on his finger in long, sucking pulls, drawing Alex’s finger deeper into his mouth. Release was immediate. His body pulsed out his relief in pleasured spasms, echoing Uli’s.
The blond’s lower half moved in time with the throbbing of their shared climaxes. Again and again, Uli humped and rutted against Alex, providing and receiving satisfaction.
An exhaustion fell over Alex just like Lafayette said it would. A quick glance at the clock told Alex that he needed to get to bed. Uli stumbled off Alex.
“This shouldn’t have happened.” Uli didn’t meet Alex’s eyes as he backed away. Before Alex could respond, Uli’s bedroom door slammed shut.
Alex wanted to help Uli but needed to collapse. He stood and lost his balance, grabbing onto the counter to stabilize himself. He held the wall to stumble into his bedroom. For the first time ever, he locked his bedroom door before crashing down into a deep sleep.
Chapter Ten
Pounding on Alex’s door started to hurt Uli’s fist. He’d never locked the door before. “Wake up, sleepyhead.” As he continued to bang he started to feel clingy and a bit insane, but he knew if he could see Alex he’d be happy again.
A grumbled growl floated through the door. “Exhausted. Need sleep.”
Alex was never a late sleeper. Irrational fear sliced through Ulrich. “Are you hurt? Should I call the doctor?”
“No!” was followed by a groan of agony.
What the hell? “Open the door.”
“Uli, I’m fine.” Ulrich pressed his ear against the door so he heard a muffled moan. “I need sleep.”
“But…”
His plea was cut off by a very dominant request. “Later.” Before he could object, Alex softened the demand. “I know we need to talk. I promise, give me until after lunch.”
“Okay.” Uli tried not to sound pouty. Alex must be exhausted from his party.
He didn’t feel like studying, so he went for a walk around the grounds. The acres of rolling green hills around the house and Club Zombie reminded him of the parks and meadows his mom used to take him to for hiking. He was only four or five, but he’d loved those long walks with her. He’d hold her hand and they would walk for hours, listening to the woods and each other.
Uli stopped for a moment to hear the breeze rustle the leaves and feel the warm sunshine on his face. He missed Alex, Cutter, and Storm. What the fuck was wrong with him? He’d just seen them a few hours ago. He plopped down by the pond’s edge and tried to figure out when he’d become completely codependent.
Immediately, the ducks came over, looking for a handout. “Sorry, guys. I don’t have anything but a pack of gum.” He held up the gum. Most of the ducks quacked and swam away, disgruntled. A few eyed the shiny gum packet and appeared to be considering cleaning their breath. “Not for you. Sorry.”
He pulled out his phone to check his messages. Nothing. Cutter hadn’t responded to his ‘good morning’ message. Maybe he was mad about the awkwardness afterward. He’d gotten really uncomfortable to the point he was pretty sure he chased Cutter away.
They made out like crazy until they relieved each other with the sweetest oral sex Uli ever imagined. Afterward, he got really intense and clingy, which forced Cutter to all but run away.
Dammit.
He needed to talk to Cutter about the whole “mated forever” thing.
Geez, one blowjob exchanged and the poor guy would be stuck with him for life. An eternal life…unless, of course, Cutter refused. Then what? What if he didn’t accept the mating bond?
“Hey, Uli.” His cousin’s voice made him jump. “You okay?”
He glanced up at Kai and his mate on horseback. “Yeah. Hey, Kai. Jaz.”
“Hi.” Jasper suggested, “Why don’t I take your horse back to the stable? You have a couple hours before your class.” Damn, the guy was like a mindreader. Jaz could always tell when Uli needed to speak to his cousin alone.
“You sure?” Kai tilted his head to the side as he leaned in to kiss Jasper. Ah, that completeness was all Uli longed for; why couldn’t he have it?
“Of course. I can even drive you in. I have some errands to do in town.”
“Cool.” Kai leaned in for another kiss before sliding off the saddle and handing the reins back up to Jasper. “Love you. See you in a bit.”
“Love you too.” Jasper nodded to Uli and said, “Catch you later.”
Kai meandered over and sat. He watched Jasper go all the way back to the stables.
“I see you’re still goo-goo eyes for him,” Uli said.
Shrugging, Kai smirked at something Uli refused to guess at. “Yeah.” When he turned his attention back to Uli, the grin left his face. “So what’s up with you?”
Uli thought about denying he was a mess, but his cousin wasn’t stupid and he needed to talk. “Cut’s my mate.”
“So you’ve said.” Kai never said much about the revelation except the first time. He expressed his shock over Alex not being his mate. Apparently, everyone believed there was something between the two of them. Kai adored Alex and had mentioned more than once that he’d wished Ulrich and Alex had been mates.
If wishes came true Uli would have been mated to his apartment-mate as soon as they met. Alex took Uli’s breath away on every level possible, and he was the best friend anyone could ask for. A slash of guilt cut across Uli like a physical wound. He needed to put his crush for Alex on permanent ice.
“Are you sure?” Kai frowned in disappointment that was echoed in his tone.
“Well, as of last night…I’m positive.” Uli’s words died in his mouth. He didn’t want to go into specifics with his cousin.
“Oh.” Kai nodded his head but stared at the pond. Several ducks made attempts at enticing Kai to throw nonexistent food to them. “Does Alex know?”
“Is that really your first concern? Alex?” Being mad at Kai was safe and easy. Arguing with his cousin was like slipping on a bit of the past when things seemed simpler and he felt like he knew which end was up.
“Isn’t it yours?” his cousin countered.
“Yes. No. I mean… I have a mate. Cutter is my mate.” Maybe if he said it enough he could erase what happened with Alex last night. No wonder Alex didn’t want to speak to him this morning. He’d verified Cutter was his mate and he’d rubbed off on Alex like a dog in heat. Who did that?
“Why are you upset?” Kai’s even voice made him pissed.
He inhaled and when he blew out the air he sounded like he was deflating. The only anger left was directed at himself.
“You’re going to tell me sooner or later.” Kai jerked his head around. “Did Cutter or that thundercloud kid hurt you? I swear to God I’ll…”
“No. No, nothing like that.”
Kai seemed annoyed he didn’t have a reason to take Storm or Cutter apart. “Then what?”
“How did you feel when you figured out Jaz was your mate?”
“Um…” Kai blushed. He coughed. He stared out at the pond. “Overwhelmed. Thrilled. Connected. At peace. And a whole lot of other things we don’t need to discuss.” After a pause his cousin slowly turned toward him. The examination felt a little too close for comfort. “Why? How do you feel?”
“I feel…” A million emotions and thoughts ran through him, but one floated to the top. “Incomplete.” He ignored Kai’s bugged-eyed openmouthed expression. “Shouldn’t I be whole?”
“You haven’t done the blood exchange yet, right?”
“Right.” But he knew it wasn’t normal to be in love with Alex and totally drawn to Storm at the same time while he was falling in love with Cutter. Nothing made sense.
“Does Cutter know about the whole zombie mate thing?”
“Nope.” He’d bet anything the exchange wasn’t the issue.
“Maybe you’re just worried about that.” Oh, now Kai was grasping at straws.
“Yeah, I guess.” All Uli wanted right now was to go to Alex.
No!
He had to get away from here. He stood up, effectively ending the discussion. “You have class.”
Checking his phone for the time, Kai replied, “You’re right. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be fine.” His lie rolled out so easily.
“Okay. Oh, make sure you see Cutter soon. Usually until the exchange you need the
medicine
more often.”
Uli cracked up. He might the worse mate ever in the history of mates. His world crumbled all around him. But Kai still referring to male essence as
medicine
was beyond ridiculous.
“No laughing.” Kai chuckled. “Just see Cutter soon.”
“Okay.” Uli accepted a warm hug, and for a moment wished they were back in Germany in the vineyard. His thoughts tripped to his father and he decided being here was better for both of them.
He almost sat back down but opted instead to trudge across the manicured lawn to a wooded area. The shade lowered the temperature enough to be comfortable. When lethargy struck he found a big tree and sat. He was exhausted, barely able to hold up his head. He’d rest for a bit.
Uli didn’t know when the day had gotten dark. The shadows were no longer cast by the sun but by the moon. He should get up but he didn’t have the energy. Maybe if he rested a little longer. He’d put his head against the tree and close his eyes…just for a minute or so.
“Uli! Uli!” Something shook him, and his pocket buzzed.
He groaned. “Stop.” He tried to push away whatever the thing was disturbing him but failed. He inhaled to gather strength and he went hard from the delicious scent. “Mm mm,” he whimpered. Hoping for mercy, he scrambled toward the familiar warmth.
“Uli, it’s me.” Alex’s voice sounded deeper than usual, but his arms felt as good as ever wrapped around Uli.
“It is you.” He opened his eyes to see his stunning best friend. Uli felt drunk. “So pretty. You look like the King of the Fae. When we first met I didn’t think anyone real could look like you.” Uli couldn’t stop himself from pushing his face into the longish reddish hair and inhaling.
“Red? Wrong color, but I like it.” He yawned, so exhausted. “You mad at me?” But Alex’s smell ignited an internal drive.
“No, Uli.” Alex’s voice was deeper than usual but so sexy.
He squirmed around in the strong arms cradling him until he was face first in Alex’s lap. Heaven. He forced his heavy arms to move his hands. His fingers shook with effort as they eased down Alex’s zipper. Those metal teeth were what separated him from what he craved. Needed. It wasn’t a want but a necessity.
Alex moaned as his cock came popping out of his jeans. He might have been talking; Uli didn’t mind even if he couldn’t understand the words. Alex could talk. Uli would suck. This seemed to be a logical compromise in his lust-addled mind. He reached out and took Alex in his hand.