Alex chuckled as Teal laughed. “They were pointing at his dick, and one was like it’s been a while since I’ve seen one that big!”
Alex laughed outright. “Poor Cyan.”
“Poor Cyan! Poor me. He fucking beat me up when he caught up with me.”
A man came over with their food, and Alex groaned at the smell. “Thanks, Pad,” he said to the waiter.
“Okay, Alex, dig in, and I’ll tell you about the time we went skinny dipping.”
Alex smiled and did just that.
Chapter Eleven
Cyan stood in the remains of what had once been a lab. Dust covered every surface, making his nose itch. He stood naked, having entered in his cat form, and caught the bag, Vir threw at him.
“Get dressed, Cy. Did your nose pick up anything extra?”
“No. They’ve been gone a long time. Six maybe eight weeks?” Cyan shrugged. “No records. They cleaned this place out before they left.”
“Yeah, I got the same outside. I was hoping there might be something.”
“Me, too.” Cyan sighed and stared at the empty room. “Just wanted some small hint that she’d been here.”
“At least we can cross this place off the list. I don’t think they’ll be back, but we can keep an eye on this place, just in case. It’s time to move onto the next location.”
Cyan threw his bag back to Viridian. “I need to run.”
He let the change flow over him, fur covering his skin, his organs and bones realigning themselves into his beautiful sleek cat form. It took seconds to complete, and the world around him altered as his eyesight changed.
There was no pain, just the opportunity to become his other half, leaving his human form behind, which Cyan welcomed. More and more recently, he’d found himself in his cat form, enabling him to leave the world behind, helping him to run from his pain and escape the endless loneliness.
He was still aware, still cognizant in this form. Changing forms didn’t mean he was less human and more cat. He was both. He didn’t have extra special senses in one form. He was a shifter; he had the same sense, speed, strength in both forms. It was just that in cat form, he could avoid contact with others and give himself the solitude he craved. It was too hard to be around people these days.
He shook his head as he ran away from the lab. No matter how fast or how far he ran though, he still thought about Alex.
Yo, Cyan! Teal spoke telepathically to him. It was a unique feature shared by mates and, for some strange reason, the Dubois family.
If anyone could see him, they’d be gawking at a Siberian tiger rolling its eyes. Teal.
Had an interesting time with your mate. Nice man.
You’ve been talking to Alex?
Duh! Of course, I have. I liked him once he relaxed. Had a meal at Rick’s. Told him lots of stories about you. Had him laughing. You can thank me later.
Why?
I’m getting him warmed up to having you as a mate, that’s why. Now get back here; I want to know what you found.
Nothing, Teal. We found fuck all. The place had been wiped.
Shit. So, we hit another target.
Yeah, we do.
He felt Teal as his presence left, and Viridian’s cat ran up alongside him. They ran for a few minutes until Vir indicated to stop. Cyan slowed down and shifted forms. Leaning up against a tree, he waited for Vir to speak.
“Alex.”
“It’s been four weeks, Vir. He doesn’t want me.” Cyan furrowed his brow. “No, it’s not that. He’s scared of me or too scared to want me. Too damaged by what happened to him. I understand his reason why, but it hurts. I miss him. I want to cuddle up next to him. I sometimes wake up purring, because I’ve dreamed of us together.”
“I’m sorry. I wish I could do more to help.”
“Big brother syndrome. Anyway, Teal’s been with him. That’s why he bailed.”
“Huh. Can’t feel too angry at him now. Did it help?”
“He seems to think so.” Cyan shrugged. “Who knows?”
“We need to head home. We’re working tomorrow, and I want to go over everything we found or didn’t in this case. The place was thoroughly cleaned.”
“Like they knew we were coming.”
Viridian nodded. “Yes.” Vir rubbed a hand over his face. “We need to do something; they always seem to be one step ahead.”
“Because of the mole or moles.”
“Did you find anything while I was... not around?” Cyan asked, avoiding looking at Viridian.
“No, nothing. We need to find those fuckers and put them down.” Cyan agreed wholeheartedly. Whoever they were, they needed to be found before any others suffered the same fate their sister had. How many had died at their hands as they tried to figure out how shifters worked? Their words. Worked?
They were alive, sentient, but were treated like animals. The scientists couldn’t see beyond the fact they could shift forms and wanted to utilize them in any way they could, even if it meant killing them to find out the answers they sought.
God, he hoped Sky was alive. It didn’t feel like she was gone, but the fact none of them could reach her meant something was going on. Did they have her drugged? Was that why they couldn’t reach her mind?
He nodded at Vir and transformed into his cat form for the run home. He knew Vir would collect his things and return them at some point. He needed to be at home in his room, he needed to think about what he was going to do with his life. Fuck everyone and everything else.
He couldn’t wait for his mate. He couldn’t let his life pass him by on the hope that one day Alex might want him.
He took the long way home, and by the time he got there, his bag was waiting on the back porch. He picked it up and walked in, finding Teal in the kitchen, reading a magazine.
“So, nothing,” he said.
“Yeah, Vir filled me in. We definitely have a mole. I hate admitting it, but what else could it be?”
“I know. It sickens me to think one of our own is selling us out.”
He shook his head and jogged up the stairs. In his bedroom he dumped his bag on the floor and rummaged around until he found his cell phone. Switching it on, he was surprised to see he had a message.
His breath caught when he read it.
Want to meet? Alex.
He ran downstairs and hauled Teal out of his chair, hugging him tight. Teal pushed him away, grimacing and waving a hand at his dick.
“Cover up!”
“Look!” He showed Teal the message.
“All right! Knew I’d get through to him.”
He hugged him again, laughing joyously. “Thank you.”
Teal laughed and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek, which caused Cyan to grimace. “Eww.”
“The balls in your court now, Cy.”
“It is. It really is.”
❊❊❊
He paced outside Sam’s Coffee Shop waiting for Cyan to arrive. Weeks of constantly thinking about the shifter, and talking to Teal, had cause Alex to rethink his decision not to see Cyan.
He missed him, even though he didn’t really know him. For some strange reason, he’d felt safe around him. Nervous, yes, but safe. So, he’d reached out to him, texted him to ask if Cyan wanted to meet up, and here he was now, waiting for him to arrive.
Alex bit his thumbnail, his eyes darting everywhere. People greeted him as they walked past, smiling or saying hello, which he returned. It was like the community had accepted him, like they had made him one of their own.
He knew some of the former slaves had left already, but a fair few had remained and integrated themselves into the town. They had been welcomed with open arms and had found their place here among these people.
Alex wasn’t sure if this was ever going to be the life for him. Ever since he’d left home, he’d drifted from one place to the next, seemingly unable to settle anywhere for too long. Maybe it was because none of them had felt like home. Did that mean Salutem did?
Strange name for a town, but he now knew it meant safety in Latin. A safe place for shifters to live and raise a family. He’d never thought of having a family of his own. Never felt the need. But here, he could feel something growing inside him, and it scared him and made him feel safe too.
He heard footsteps approaching and turned to watch Cyan as he came closer. Even from where he stood, he could see the difference in him. He’d lost weight, his skin was paler than normal, and he had dark circles under his eyes. Was it because of him? Had he done this?
Cyan smiled when he reached Alex, but Alex noticed the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Drink?” he asked, pointing at the door to Sam’s.
“Sure, and thanks for inviting me.”
Alex nodded and pushed the door open, holding it for Cyan, before heading straight to the counter. Tonight, Sam was serving, and he gave Alex a frosty glare.
“Sam,” Cyan muttered from behind Alex.
Sam cleared his throat. “What’ll it be?”
“A latte, please. Cyan?”
“The usual please, Sam.”
Cyan paid and glanced around the place, noticing everyone watching them. As soon as his eyes landed on someone, they looked away. He bit his lip and looked at Cyan though his eyelashes.
“It’s okay. Go and sit down, Alex.”
Alex nodded and found a vacant table at the back of the shop, away from prying eyes and ears. He knew how good shifter hearing was, and he wanted to speak to Cyan without people listening in.
Cyan sat opposite and started playing with the sugar bowl. “I’m glad you reached out.”
Alex nodded and coughed at the sudden lump in his throat. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. You did what you had to do.”
“Did you find anything? At the lab?”
“No,” Cyan muttered, running his fingers through his hair. “Nothing. The place had been cleaned out long before we got there.”
“Nothing at all?”
“I’m worried we won’t find her in time.”
“You’ll find her,” Sam said as he placed their drinks on the table. “I’ve never known a Dubois to fail at anything once they’ve set their mind to it.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
He put two slices of chocolate cake in front of them. “On the house,” he said before leaving.
Alex watched Sam head back to the counter then looked at Cyan. Cyan was watching him with a small smile on his face, and Alex had the sudden need to comfort him. He had so much going on in his life, and Alex was an added complication.
“No, you’re not.”
“What?” Alex felt his cheeks flush. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“You did, but you’re not a complication. I understand why you stayed away. What you did hurt, but it was something you needed to do, and I had to trust that one day you would come back to me. I had to give you your space. Give you time.”
“But it hurt you. I hurt you.”
“That’s life, isn’t it? We have happy times and sad times.”
“I’ve been thinking. I want to try this, but can we go slow?”
“Glacially slow if it helps you.”
“Maybe not that slow.” Alex smiled.
“Good, because I ain’t gettin’ any younger.”
Alex chuckled. “How old are you?”
“I’m thirty-four, and you’re twenty-two.”
“Does it bother you that I’m younger?”
“No. I think you’ve experienced a lot in your life. Some people can live to an old age and not really experience life, you know, and others can experience so much in a short time. You’ve had a lot to deal with.”
“And you haven’t? Hunted by mad scientists, your sister taken from you? You’ve had a lot to deal with too.”
Cyan nodded. “It’s in the past, yeah. Let’s move on. Eat your cake, Alex; you need to put some weight on.”
“So do you.”
“Kinda lost my appetite for a while, but I think it might be coming back.”
Alex watched him eat and felt the first stirrings of arousal when Cyan’s tongue darted out to lick some chocolate off his fork. He swallowed and glanced away, blinking several times, to try and clear the image from his mind. When he looked back, Cyan was smiling.
Alex dropped his head, blushing when he realized Cyan could probably smell that he was turned on, even if it was only a little bit.
“It’s good; it’s how it should be between mates. Don’t be embarrassed by it.”
“Do you feel the same way?” Alex asked in a rush.
Cyan’s eyes glowed blue, and he stared intently at Alex. “Yeah, I do, but you’re not ready for that yet. We are going slow, remember?”
Alex nodded and let Cyan talk. It was... nice. Cyan made no sudden moves; he just made Alex laugh and made him feel safe. When it was time to go, Cyan walked next to him on the sidewalk. The moon was out, shining full and bright in the night sky, and the air was still and warm. It was a wonderful evening.
Alex knew he would need more evenings like this, but for now, this was exactly what he needed, and Cyan had done everything Alex had wanted.
When they reached his apartment building, Cyan shoved his hand in his pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet. ”I’ll see you again?”
Alex nodded. “When you can. I know there’s a lot going on.” Cyan took several steps back. “You can come in for a drink, if you want?”
“No, I don’t think I should.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to kiss you, and you’re not ready for that.”
“What if I wanted one? A kiss. Just one.”
Cyan’s eyebrows shot up. “A kiss?”
“Just one.”
Cyan stared at him then closed the gap between them. “I can do just one, Alex.”
Alex’s heart thundered in his chest, but he knew he wanted this. He tilted his head, closed his eyes, and gasped when he felt Cyan’s lips brush his.
“Another. Please.”
“Yeah, another,” Cyan whispered against his lips.
Chapter Twelve
Alex moaned breathily as Cyan’s lips brushed gently across his. Alex never usually kissed. Alex usually wanted to get down to the act. Cyan was so gentle. The only part of him that touched Alex was his lips.
He didn’t tell him to stop, not when it felt this good. A simple kiss that he felt all the way down to his toes. And he wanted more.
Cyan stepped back, but Alex reached out to him. “More?”
Cyan smile, his eyes crinkling at the sides. “Yeah?”
Alex nodded, and Cyan leaned in to kiss him again. Still, those gentle touches made Alex want more, want something deeper, but he was still a little afraid to ask.
He reached out and hesitantly touched Cyan’s waist. Cyan moved into his touch, letting Alex know that his touch was welcome. Alex put his other hand on Cyan, but Cyan didn’t return the gesture. He stepped closer but was clearly letting Alex lead the way.
They stood like that as Cyan touched him gently, and Alex realized this was exactly what he needed. Slow, soft, gentle. There was nothing to fear in Cyan’s touch.
“Hold me,” he whispered softly.
Cyan’s hands moved to hold him at the waist. Again, the touch was soft. Cyan didn’t grip him, but just let his hands rest on Alex’s waist. The hold didn’t make Alex freeze up, because he knew Cyan wouldn’t do anything unless Alex asked him to.
It was a strange sensation knowing he could trust this man, this shifter, but he’d heard so much about mates over the past several days and knew how much they cared and loved each other. Cyan was his mate; he felt the connection deep in him bones, the need to be close, and he was tired of fighting it.
Now that he knew just how much Cyan would care for him, maybe even love him, Alex wanted to take the first few tentative steps toward becoming mates. He knew he’d have setbacks; he’d talked it through with his therapist, and even with Anna on occasi
on.
With Anna he was more guarded. She was Cyan’s mom, and he didn’t want to give her false hope, but she was so kind and loving to him, and he hadn’t had that in years.
Cyan stepped back. “Are you okay?”
Alex nodded. “Yeah, I am. Can we carry on?”
“Yeah, we can.”
Cyan kissed him again, and Alex leaned into it, wanting more. The kisses changed from soft gentle brushes of their lips to longer, slightly harder caresses but still soft enough that Alex didn’t panic. When he felt the tip of Cyan’s tongue touch his lip, he moaned low in his throat.
Cyan did it again, just the tip of his tongue, tracing along the edge of Alex’s bottom lip. Alex stepped back and slowly rubbed his fingers over the area, his eyes wide as he stared at Cyan.
“Too much?” Cyan asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.
Alex shook his head and reached out to touch Cyan’s lips. “I like it. It’s been so long.”
Cyan kissed him again. “We can continue, if you want?”
“I do. I want more.”
“Tell me to stop if I go too far.”
Alex lifted his face, encouraging Cyan to kiss him once more. Cyan didn’t disappoint, and Alex moaned when his lips touched his again. Cyan’s tongue slid along Alex’s lips, and Alex slipped the tip of his out, letting them touch briefly.
Cyan moaned low and deep, and the sound had Alex repeating the move. As they kissed, their tongues touched more often, and soon, Alex realized they weren’t trading simple pecks anymore; they were kissing fully.
Cyan’s hands briefly tightened on his hips as their tongues tangled, and Alex moaned again. He tilted his head, so the kiss could deepen further. He trusted Cyan to step back the second he asked him to, and that gave Alex more freedom to see how far he was capable of going.
He enjoyed their kisses, their tongues sliding against each other, being able to explore Cyan’s mouth. Cyan never pushed for more, never tried to dominate. He let Alex lead the way, dictate the pace, let him grow more confident.
What He Needs (Salutem Book 1) Page 7