by Lynn Hagen
Emilio tensed when Malik pressed kisses along his shoulder, terrified the man would break his promise. Malik reared his head back and cursed before he jerked away, his cock slipping from Emilio’s ass.
“I can’t do this.” Malik stumbled from the room but not before Emilio saw the full length of his canines exposed.
Malik had been seconds away from biting him, and a large part of Emilio wanted to tell Malik to do it, to claim him, to bind their souls together.
But Emilio said nothing as Malik left the room. Moments later, he heard the front door slam shut.
Malik was gone.
Emilio balled up on his bed, hugging his pillow as a sob escaped. His heartache was proof that he’d allowed Malik to penetrate the fortress around his heart.
* * * *
Malik sat on the steps just outside Emilio’s door, unable to make himself leave. His lion was still going apeshit to bite Emilio, but Malik had given his word, and he never went back on a promise.
His body still sang with tension and need as he sat there and scrubbed his face. He needed to get his beast under control if he was to go back inside.
Emilio probably wanted Malik to leave, but Malik…just…he just couldn’t. He didn’t know what darkness held his mate back, but he was determined to break those walls down, even if it was one brick at a time.
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, in the hallway in just his boxers, but Malik got up and let himself in, going to the kitchen to make some fresh coffee.
When he heard the air stir behind him, Malik looked over his shoulder to see Emilio standing there with a sheet pulled around him.
“I thought you left,” Emilio said in a small voice. Fuck. He appeared so vulnerable standing there, as if he’d shatter at any second.
Malik turned and let out a long breath then sucked in the smell of baby powder. “I’m not going anywhere, love. I just needed time to pull myself together.”
And to stop my lion from claiming you.
Emilio slipped into a chair at the table and curled his legs under him, keeping the sheet wrapped tightly around him like a shield.
His blueberry eyes were filled with confusion. “I-I honestly thought you walked out. I heard the door slam.”
Something clicked in Malik’s head. He put the pieces together as he gazed at his mate.
Emilio had an intense fear of being abandoned. That had to be it. Nothing else fit his actions. Malik wanted to find the person who’d instilled that in Emilio and choke the life out of him or her. But more importantly, Malik wanted to prove to his mate that that was never going to happen. Emilio was his to cherish and love, and he would never walk away.
Ever.
But Emilio wouldn’t trust spoken promises. He’d more than likely heard them time and again, only to have them broken. Malik would have to show his mate that what they shared was a precious gift, that Malik would never betray Emilio’s trust.
He filled two mugs and took them to the table. He sat and took a sip of his coffee. “I went into the hallway to compose myself.”
Emilio’s brows shot up. “In your underwear?”
Malik shrugged. “At least I wasn’t naked.”
He grinned, and the tension visibly drained from Emilio’s features. The side of his mate’s mouth curled into a slight smile. “Luckily the apartment across the hall is empty.”
Emilio shouldn’t have said that. Malik was crashing at his niece’s house until he found a place of his own. Living across the hall from Emilio would help keep him close while giving his mate the space he clearly needed.
He wanted to discuss that with Emilio, but his mate still looked shaken.
At least for tonight, Malik would shelf the subject. He grabbed Emilio’s hand and led him to the couch. Malik pulled his mate against him as he used the remote to find something to watch. He still wanted to fuck the man’s brains out, but for now, cuddling and making Emilio feel safe would do.
Come tomorrow, Malik would start his campaign for winning Emilio’s heart.
Chapter Five
“He sounds wonderful,” Lynda said as she smiled. “Why didn’t you bring him with you? I would love to meet him, Malik.”
The last thing Malik had wanted to do was let Emilio return to work, but fuck the guy was bullheaded. Thankfully Deputy Christopher had been off duty tonight and had agreed to keep an eye on Emilio until Malik could make it to the bar.
He owed Darren for the favor.
“I have an errand to run, and Emilio had to work.” He picked Jessica up and held the toddler in his arms. She babbled and wiggled in his arms as Lynda smiled. “She adores you.”
After kissing her on her forehead, he handed the baby off to his niece. “And I adore little mama.”
“What errand do you have to run?” she asked.
“There’s an empty unit across the hall from Emilio I’m checking out.” Malik looked at the time on his phone and saw that he needed to get moving. He’d only stopped by Lynda’s house to grab a change of clothes.
“You know you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want.” She put the toddler into the highchair next to her. “I’m in no rush for you to leave.”
Malik kissed Lynda’s cheek. “I know, and your hospitality is much appreciated. I gotta go, hon.”
He was meeting with the owner of the building, but Malik wasn’t going to commit to anything until he’d spoken with his mate. Just popping up as Emilio’s new neighbor without forewarning might come off as a bit creepy, but Malik hadn’t been kidding when he’d said keeping his mate safe was his top priority.
He drove across town and met with Derek Mitchell. They shook hands and introduced themselves before Derek unlocked the apartment door. “There have been a lot of renovations done, especially to this unit since it was unoccupied. The amenities have all been updated, and I even installed a garbage disposal and dishwasher, which the unit previously lacked.”
As Derek talked, Malik thought about Emilio. They’d had a decent night after the fiasco in the bedroom. And their day hadn’t gone so bad. But Malik felt as if there was a fissure between them, and he wanted to bridge that.
He just wasn’t sure how. Every time he’d tried to get close to Emilio, his mate had moved away from him. It was like two magnets with the same poles struggling to repel one another.
Only in their case it was Emilio who was doing the repelling, and if Malik didn’t have a healthy self-worth, he might’ve taken that as a blow to his ego. But he knew it wasn’t him specifically that Emilio was running from but his fears.
When he and Derek reached the bedroom—which had amazing wooden floors and Malik could still smell the fresh coat of paint on the walls—his phone chirped.
“Will you excuse me?” He stepped from the room and looked at his cell phone, surprised it was a text from Emilio. He knew how busy Tilted could be and hadn’t expected Emilio to have the time to contact him.
Or the desire.
Emilio: What’re you doing?
Malik: Stalking the savannah for prey.
Emilio: Seriously?
Malik: No. I’m checking out the apartment across the hall from you. I’m thinking about moving in. It has a nice view of a very sexy man I’m interested in.
Emilio: Why?
Malik: Why am I interested in the nice view?
Emilio: No, why do you want to move across the hall from me?
Malik: You don’t want me as your neighbor? I promise not to crash your parties.
Malik waited for Emilio’s reply. Texting hadn’t been the way he’d wanted to tell Emilio about his plans, but he thought maybe this would be a better way. At least he hoped so.
A lot of people spoke truthfully through text. Still, he didn’t like the pause Emilio gave him, as if he’d gone back to bartending while freaking out.
Emilio: I think that would be nice. I have to go. See you when you get here.
Malik: See you soon.
With a smile on his face, Malik tucked his
phone away and rejoined Derek. “Sorry, that was my mate.”
He hadn’t hidden the fact since he’d scented the guy was a Bengal tiger.
Derek grinned. “No problem. My mate texts me all the time, even when we’re in the same room.” He walked from the bedroom, and they settled in the living room. Malik loved the fact that there was a porch where he could sit out at night and people-watch. It was one of his favorite things to do. “So what do you think?”
Malik nodded. “The apartment is nice. I like the updates you put into it. The rent also seems pretty fair for this unit and the neighborhood it’s located in.”
“If you’re interested, I’ll need some documents from you, and of course, you’ll have to sign a lease.”
They talked a few more minutes, but Malik was anxious to get to Emilio. With Calvin still on the loose, his lion was getting cagey.
Derek handed him a business card. “Let me know soon. I’ve already had a few inquiries about this unit.”
With a nod and a thanks, Malik headed to Tilted. As he’d suspected, the parking lot was packed. He walked in and found not only Darren at a table but also his mate, Lenox, and Moose and Grayson.
Malik shouldn’t have been surprised to see a large plate of food in front of Moose. But instead of going to their table, he walked straight to the bar.
Emilio and Jericho were working behind it, hustling to get drinks to the customers. Malik looked his mate over and felt his cock stir to life at the flush on Emilio’s cheeks, the way his ass moved in those jeans as he hurried up and down the bar, and the smile on his face that lit up Malik’s heart.
When Emilio finally noticed him, his smile widened as his blueberry eyes sparkled. His mate’s excitement at seeing him had Malik’s cock fully hard now.
Too bad they hadn’t been alone because Malik wanted to throw Emilio over the nearest flat surface and fuck his brains out. He’d never wanted someone so badly in his life.
* * * *
Emilio’s nerves had been wrecked since the moment he’d stepped into the bar. He kept looking for Calvin to show, although he knew the cops were there to keep an eye on him.
It wasn’t until he spotted Malik that Emilio finally breathed easier. But it was more than that. Seeing Malik standing there, crowded between the customers, made Emilio’s heart race and his gut fill with butterflies.
His entire world lit up as he made his way down the bar. “Hey, handsome. What can I get you?”
Malik smirked. “How about your phone number?”
Emilio snickered. “Try again, Romeo.”
“Malik,” he corrected. “And you are?”
“Busy.” Emilio’s grin widened. “If you don’t want to order anything, I have other customers that need my attention.”
He really did. From the corner of his eye Emilio saw people waving at him for refills or to order their first drink, but he couldn’t seem to tear himself away from Malik.
He was still shocked the guy hadn’t walked away last night after their failed attempt at sex. Emilio had thought for sure Malik would leave him, but the guy hadn’t. He’d been standing in the kitchen, looking so good that Emilio nearly begged Malik to come back to bed.
But he’d been scared and had tiptoed around Malik, waiting for him to say cruel words or degrade Emilio for what had happened.
They’d cuddled and watched a movie instead, and Emilio was still trying to figure out why Malik was so damn sweet and patient. He was unlike anyone Emilio had ever dealt with before.
And in his heart, hope blossomed that Malik was the real deal, that he wouldn’t throw Emilio away like everyone else in his life had done to him.
“I’ll be over at the table with the fellas, but I’ll take a soda, handsome.” Malik leaned over the bar and kissed Emilio on his cheek.
Emilio flushed with embarrassment. “One virgin drink coming right up.”
With a chuckle, Malik took the glass when Emilio handed it to him and joined the others.
For the rest of the night Emilio kept stealing glances at Malik, and when he finally had a break, Malik joined him out back. The air felt ten degrees cooler outside, helping to cool Emilio off.
Until Malik grabbed Emilio and pressed his back into the building. Their lips joined, and Emilio moaned into the man’s mouth, lapping at his lips as he curled his legs around Malik’s waist. Malik reached between them and unfastened Emilio’s pants, fishing out his cock.
Emilio hissed and wiggled at the tight fist around his dick. “What’re you doing?” he asked against Malik’s mouth. “Someone might see us.”
“Fuck them,” Malik snarled as he stroked Emilio, sending waves of pleasure through his body. The brick at his back scraped Emilio’s skin as he thrust into Malik’s fist, desperate for release.
He slapped at Malik’s chest. It wasn’t fair that, once again, Malik was getting him off while the guy had yet to get his own release. They’d stopped last night before Malik had had an orgasm, but Emilio planned on rectifying that.
With furrowed brows, Malik let him go. Emilio dropped to his knees and was all fingers as he yanked at Malik’s pants, hungry for the man’s cock in his mouth.
Malik pressed his hands against the brick wall and looked down, a wild glimmer in his eyes as Emilio took his lover’s cock all the way down his throat.
“Shit,” Malik moaned. He thrust in short bursts, fucking Emilio’s mouth as Emilio created a suction to make the seal tighter. The smell of Malik’s masculine musk drove him insane as pre-cum leaked onto his tongue, and Emilio ate that taste up, licking and sucking, moaning as he tugged at Malik’s balls.
“Coming,” Malik warned through ragged breathing. “So fucking close.”
Emilio slid his index finger along the skin between Malik’s balls and hole, and his lover lost it, crying out Emilio’s name as he came, spurts of cum shooting down Emilio’s throat.
When Malik rested his head against the brick wall, Emilio eased back, licking his lips as he rose to his feet. “That was one hell of a break.”
“When’s your next one?” Malik grinned. He righted himself then stuffed his cock back into his pants.
Emilio yelped when the guy spun him and grabbed his still-exposed cock. “Malik,” Emilio said with an unsteady breath.
Malik nipped his ear. “Do you think I’m gonna let you go back inside horny with all those men around you?”
Emilio arched his back and rested his head against Malik’s chest as he once again fucked the man’s fist. Emilio’s hole ached to be filled, pulsed for Malik’s cock to be inside him.
God how he wanted to trust Malik, to make himself vulnerable and throw caution to the wind. Emilio wanted to tell his lover that he didn’t care about the biting just as long as Malik fucked him into a coma.
Emilio bit the words back as the pressure built. He slung his arms around Malik’s neck, holding on for dear life as Malik jacked him harder, faster, while kissing along Emilio’s neck, his goatee scraping Emilio’s skin.
“Malik!” Emilio shattered, his vision blurring as his body exploded and his cum shot from his dick. Malik kissed Emilio as Emilio’s balls emptied.
He collapsed against Malik, and Malik wrapped his arms around Emilio, holding him. “I hadn’t planned on doing this when we came out here.” He kissed Emilio’s neck.
“I like how you take breaks.” Emilio chuckled. “Now I’m too tired to go back inside.”
Emilio still had a few hours to work and hated that fact. All he wanted to do now was take a damn nap.
Malik adjusted Emilio, stuffing his soft cock back inside his pants. As soon as he slid the zipper up, Emilio heard something on the side of the bar.
Malik must’ve heard the noise, too, because he snarled and shoved Emilio behind him.
While holding his breath, Emilio waited to see who it was.
* * * *
“Go back inside,” Malik ordered Emilio. He didn’t want to see what the noise was while his mate was still outside. He wasn’t going to
leave him standing there, vulnerable to attack.
Emilio curled his fingers into Malik’s shirt. “I’m not leaving you out here alone.”
“Damn it, don’t argue with me,” Malik snapped.
Just then a family of raccoons made their way from behind a dumpster. Malik was so relieved that he let out a bark of laughter. Emilio chuckled from behind him.
“Thank you for trying to save me from them,” Emilio said. “My hero.”
“Shut up,” Malik teased. “Get your sexy ass back inside so you can finish your shift.”
Malik wanted to pick up where they’d left off when they got back to Emilio’s apartment. He wanted to claim Emilio tonight, to show his mate that he never had to worry about Malik ever leaving him.
When they turned to go back through the screen door, something hard struck the back of Malik’s head. He stumbled forward, shoving Emilio toward the door. “Run!”
Acting on instinct, Malik shifted into his lion form and spun, roaring at his attacker.
It was Calvin. What the fuck was this asshole’s problem? Why was he so fixated on Emilio?
Malik backed up, keeping between his mate and the demon. This time Calvin wasn’t drunk. He looked stone-cold sober as he took a step toward Malik, wearing a malicious smile.
“I can’t wait to suck Emilio’s soul out of him.” The demon’s eyes seemed to sparkle. “His smell alone is intoxicating.”
Fuck, Calvin was a soul-sucking demon. Malik had heard of his kind, and he’d also heard that if the guy succeeded, Emilio would be left an empty husk. Emilio wouldn’t die, but he would be brainless, left a vegetable for the rest of his life.
“You wanna do what?” Emilio shrieked from behind Malik.
Fuck, why hadn’t his mate run back inside? Why the hell was he still standing there, putting himself in harm’s way?