Lost & Found

by Lynn Hagen

  Derek wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but Seth entered, and Steven pulled away. His arms felt empty without his mate in them. Derek wanted to curl Steven back in them, but his mate walked out, smiling up at Seth before he disappeared.

  Seth tapped his nose. “I remember Tristan’s scent from your parents’ house. I can’t be sure it was him. Whoever it was had on too much cologne, like they were trying to disguise themselves.”

  Tristan knew Derek was a shifter. He’d stopped by one day unannounced and had caught Derek coming back in from a run. He was still waiting for Tristan to blackmail him to keep quiet, but so far, Tristan hadn’t.

  Derek was starting to suspect Tristan’s motives weren’t about money. He’d seen the pain in the human’s eyes when he’d shown up in Wyoming.

  Had Tristan really fallen in love with him? It no longer mattered. Derek’s heart belonged to Steven. He no longer cared why Tristan was doing this. He just wanted the man to leave him alone.

  Derek dropped behind his desk and let his canines descend. “I want you to stick to Steven.”

  Derek could handle himself. It was Steven who needed the protection. He should have never left his mate’s side, even though Katie and Matilda were capable enough to protect Steven. But it was times like this that reminded Derek just how precious Steven was to him and how devastated he would be if anything happened to his mate.

  “You got it.” Seth sat on the couch. “You know this isn’t your fault, right? You didn’t ask for some mentally unbalanced person to stalk you.”

  “He came to the family reunion,” Derek snarled. “Who does that kind of shit?”

  Seth shrugged. “I’m not going to pretend to know his motives, but I’ve seen it a hundred times before. That’s why people like me are needed. To protect people from the insanity.”

  Derek glanced at Seth. “I should just kill him and be done with this.”

  “I would use that as my last resort. We’re powerful creatures, Derek. And fuck, it sounds like the biggest cliché, but with that power comes responsibility. Tristan is human. If he weren’t, I’d say go for it because he knows better than to interfere in a mating. But what Tristan has done so far isn’t worth a death sentence, and the Ultionem would say the same.”

  Derek missed the times before the leaders had taken over and set down all their laws. True, things had been chaotic before then, but at least Derek could have snapped Tristan’s neck and there wouldn’t have been any consequences.

  There wouldn’t be if Steven’s life was in immediate danger. But Tristan hadn’t gone anywhere near Derek’s mate. So Derek had to ride the fence and wait for his ex to do something life-threatening.

  He felt frustrated as fuck.

  “We’ll get the cameras and install them,” Seth said. “I’ve already talked with Sheriff Copache and let him know what’s going on, so we have a record of what Tristan is doing.”

  “When did you talk to the sheriff?”

  “When I was out back with Katie,” Seth said. There was a strange look in Seth’s eyes when he’d said Katie’s name, but Derek ignored it as Seth kept talking. “The sheriff needs to know, Derek. That way if Tristan does something again, and we catch him, his offenses will already be on record. He said you need to come down and file a formal complaint.”

  Derek rubbed his hands over his face. “The only proof I have is that he’s sent me flowers and showed up at my folks’ house. I can tell the sheriff the threats he made there, but we both know that is flimsy at best.”

  “Grayson also told me his mate used to work black ops. He’s gonna talk with Moose and see if maybe he can’t help out, too. And one of his deputies used to work for the same company. Not that I need the help, but having extra eyes couldn’t hurt.”

  Katie stepped into the office, and Derek noticed the way Seth’s eyes sparkled as he looked at her.

  Hmm. Very interesting.

  “I had the surveillance equipment expedited. It’ll be here this evening.” She glanced at Seth then quickly looked away, but she couldn’t hide her blush. “Steven and I are about to watch a movie, unless there was something else you needed.”

  “Not at the moment,” Derek said.

  She glanced at Seth one more time before hurrying from the office. Derek looked at the bear shifter and grinned. Was something going on between the two, or was it just mutual attraction?

  He’d never thought to ask if Seth was gay. That wasn’t any of Derek’s business. But clearly the answer was no, because the guy had a gleam in his eye that only lust could explain. But there was also a tenderness there, too.

  Just as long as Seth didn’t hurt Katie in any way, Derek would keep his nose out of it.

  “Steven and I were invited to the movies this evening by his brother and his mate.”

  Seth tore his gaze away from the door. “What time?”

  “I have no idea. I need to call them and ask. But I don’t think we’ll need you there. Russell is a cheetah shifter. I think between the two of us we can keep—”

  “Sorry, but no.” Seth shook his head. “I don’t care if you had a team of shifters following you inside the theater. You hired me to keep you and Steven safe, and that’s what I’m gonna do.”

  To be honest, with Seth there, Derek wouldn’t have to look over his shoulder. He would be able to give his full attention to his kitten. Derek had no idea what they were going to see and prayed it wasn’t a Disney movie. He would indulge Steven at home, but Derek was ready for an action flick, with lots of things blowing up, death, guts, and everything that constituted a testosterone-filled movie.

  “I’ll make the call,” Derek said.

  Seth got up and said, “Just let me know what time.”

  Derek planned on taking everyone to The Canteen afterward. His treat, of course.

  He dialed the diner and asked to speak to Kenny. When his brother-in-law came on the line, Derek asked, “What time is the movie?”

  “Four,” Kenny said. “And don’t worry, we’re seeing a guy flick. Lots of killing and blood.” He chuckled. “I know Steven, which means he’s been making you suffer through his type of movies. I thought I’d treat you to something with tons of action.”

  Derek breathed in relief. “Thanks.”

  Even so, Derek would never tell Kenny that he did enjoy his mate’s selections. Not that Derek wanted to watch them all the time, but…

  “I figured we could go to the diner afterward,” Kenny said. “It’s the cheapest place in town, although Russell is arguing for The Canteen.”

  “The guy read my mind,” Derek said. “Since I own the joint, dinner is on me.”

  “Are you serious?” Kenny sounded excited. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted to go there? I could never afford it.”

  Derek didn’t think the prices were that outrageous. “Then I’ll make sure it’s a dinner you won’t soon forget.”

  When he hung up with Kenny, Derek called the restaurant, letting his chef, Henry, know that he was bringing special guests and to make sure everything went off without a hitch.

  “Business associates?” Henry asked.

  “No.” Derek grinned to himself. “My mate and his family.” He was grinning because he knew Henry would be shocked that Derek was mated. He’d taken Steven there once already, but he hadn’t said anything to the wolf shifter.

  “Ah! I will make sure everything is perfect!” Henry laughed. “Congratulations, sir.”

  Derek rolled his eyes when he felt himself blush. “Thank you, Henry.”

  He heard Henry barking orders as he hung up the phone.

  Matilda stuck her head into Derek’s office. “I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but does that mean I should put the chicken paella away for tomorrow evening?”

  Crap. Derek had completely forgotten about her serving dinner. “I’m sorry you went through all that trouble.”

  He wasn’t sure how he’d forgotten when the house smelled amazing. Katie had been a gem recommendin
g her aunt. Matilda had the house sparkling and smelling like lemons when she cleaned, and she would be saving Derek from serving Steven soup and sandwiches every night for dinner.

  Too bad Henry was already Derek’s chef or he would have hired her to work at The Canteen. Her dishes were creative and delicious.

  With everything set, Derek left his office to join Katie and Steven in the living room.

  Chapter Nine

  If anyone had asked Steven what the movie had been about, he wouldn’t have a clue. He’s spent most of the time curled on Derek’s lap, kissing and touching. Action movies weren’t Steven’s favorite, so he hadn’t cared about missing it.

  And Derek hadn’t seemed to mind, either. If Kenny and Russell hadn’t had seats right next to them, Steven would’ve sucked Derek off to the sounds of loud explosions and machine guns going off every few minutes.

  The theater had been way too noisy for him. Steven had been glad when the credits rolled. He felt as though he could finally hear again.

  The inside of the theater had been cold from the air conditioning, so when Steven stepped outside, he welcomed the heat to chase away his goose bumps.

  “Did you have a good time?” Derek winked at him.

  Steven grinned like an idiot and whispered, “Too bad we didn’t have the place to ourselves.”

  “I can hear you,” Russell said with a chuckle as he tapped his ear. “Keep all that kissy stuff to yourself, sport.”

  Seth grinned as he slid behind the wheel. Derek had used his SUV this evening so everyone could ride together. Steven couldn’t put any moves on his mate since Kenny was in the backseat with them.

  So Steven resorted to hand gestures. He pointed at his chest, then his mouth, and then nodded toward Derek’s cock.

  “You’re killing me, sweetheart,” Derek whispered into his ear, his breath tickling Steven’s lobe. “Just wait 'til I get you home.”

  “Come on,” Kenny complained. “I don’t want to think about my brother having sex.”

  Steven turned to face Kenny and stuck his tongue out. “You’re just jealous.”

  “Of what?” Kenny looked bug-eyed at him. “I have a mate. I get all the sex I need.”

  Steven laughed as they drove to the restaurant. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had this much fun. He’d enjoyed himself in Wyoming, mostly, but tonight seemed…he wasn’t sure…magical? Everyone he cared about was in the SUV.

  Well, except for Cyril.

  And Jeremy.

  And Moose.

  And Katie.

  And Matilda.

  Okay, so maybe not everyone. Still, he didn’t want their evening to end. His brother poked at his side, making Steven snicker as he batted Kenny’s hand away. Derek had his arm around Steven, using his thumb to caress Steven’s shoulder, and Russell was in the passenger seat talking with Seth about some deck he’d built.

  Seth seemed interested, making comments as he drove. Steven smiled when he looked at Seth. Katie had confessed to Steven that Seth was her mate, but she’d sworn Steven to secrecy, telling him that they had to keep things a secret since Seth was working for Derek and Seth had a duty to perform.

  Steven didn’t understand why she wanted to keep things secret, but he was happy for her because he was starting to look at Katie like the sister he never had. She was fun, very pretty, and had a great sense of humor.

  And he still liked the way her heels clicked against the floor.

  When Seth parked, everyone got out. Derek held Steven’s hand as they walked inside. The table in the middle of the restaurant had been set up for them.

  Seth started to walk to the kitchen, but Derek insisted the guy have dinner with them.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I need to check everything out,” Seth said.

  “Then I’ll make sure Henry sends you home with something to eat,” Derek said.

  Seth nodded before he walked away.

  The tables had white cloths on them, and there was a vase with colorful flowers in the middle. Their plates were already on the table but empty, as were the wine glasses.

  Steven wasn’t used to fancy. The closest he’d ever come was drinking his soda from a glass rather than a can. But Derek was opening his eyes to a whole new world, and instead of being afraid of it, Steven loved trying all kinds of new things.

  When Steven sat, Derek scooted his chair in for him before taking a seat. What a gentleman. His mate kissed his neck, and lust swept through Steven. He was glad the tablecloth hid his instant boner.

  An African American guy came out and smiled at them, a bottle of wine in an ice bucket in his hands. “It’s good to see you, sir.”

  “Henry.” Derek smiled. “I hope you whipped up something good for us.”

  “Do you expect anything less?” Henry winked. He set the bucket on the table. “For starters, I’ve prepared beef Carpaccio. It is raw beef sliced thin, drizzled with lemon juice and olive oil, and finished with onions and capers.”

  Steven had no idea what Henry just said. All he’d heard was raw beef, which made him not want to try it. “What are capers?” Steven whispered to Derek.

  “They’re a plant that kind of look like green walnuts,” Derek whispered back. “Trust me, you’ll love them.”

  Yuck. Vegetables. Steven wasn’t trying them, and Derek couldn’t make him. He stuck his tongue out and made a noise like he was gagging.

  “Good luck getting him to eat them,” Kenny said. “I’ve been trying to get Steven to eat his veggies his whole life.”

  Derek pressed his lips to Steven’s ear and said in a really low voice, “Eat them and I’ll suck your cock when we get home.”

  Steven’s cock throbbed at the request. A grin blossomed on his face as he nodded. “Sure, I’ll try them,” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

  “How’d you manage that?” Kenny looked wide-eyed at them, and then he rolled his eyes. “Never mind. I don’t wanna know. The bribe probably consists of sexual favors.”

  Steven burst out laughing. Derek nipped his earlobe. Russell chuckled as he poured himself a glass of wine and then poured some in Kenny’s glass. “You’re probably right, hon.”

  When Henry brought the dish out, Derek had been right. Steven loved them, nearly eating them all.

  The dinner was served, and they talked and laughed. Derek kept rubbing Steven’s thigh under the table, and Steven had the best evening of his life.

  When their dinner was over, Steven leaned his head on Derek’s shoulder. “I love you.”

  Derek caressed Steven’s face. “Love you, too, kitten.”

  Steven would never tire of hearing Derek say those words.

  * * * *

  After dropping Russell and Kenny off, Derek noticed Seth glancing into the rearview mirror every few seconds as though he was checking the road behind them.

  “Something wrong?” Derek asked.

  Steven was curled against him, fast asleep. Tiny snores erupted from him as Derek held his mate tighter. He looked over his shoulder, but all he saw was light traffic.

  “That black sedan has been following us for a few blocks,” Seth said. “It might be nothing, but I’d rather be cautious, so I’m taking a different route back to your house.”

  Derek gently extracted Steven from him and coaxed his sleeping mate to lie on the seat to keep him down low. “Can you see the driver?”

  Seth shook his head. “The person is three cars behind us, and the windows are tinted. The equipment should’ve arrived by now, so as soon as we get back, I’ll install the cameras.”

  That wouldn’t do them any good now. “Pull over and see if the car passes us.”

  Again, Seth shook his head. “That would make us a target, and I’m not willing to take that chance.”

  And that was why he was glad he’d hired Seth. Derek wouldn’t have thought of that. He would have pulled over and gotten out to confront whoever it was, leaving Steven vulnerable.

  Then again, Derek probably wouldn’t ha
ve noticed anyone following him in the first place. He would have been too busy concentrating on the road and stealing glances at his mate.

  Seth made a left instead of a right when they reached the intersection.

  “Still following us?”

  “Yep.” Seth glanced in the rearview. “He’s still staying behind other cars, though.”

  Derek’s tiger snarled. It wanted loose so it could kill what threatened them. He fought to keep his claws and canines from making an appearance and to tell Seth to pull over so he could kill the person.

  The bear shifter could keep an eye on Steven while Derek handled the situation.

  “Not gonna do it,” Seth said. “I can see that look in your eyes. What if the guy has a weapon? You can’t come back from a bullet to your head.”

  Fuck. Seth was right, and Derek hated that he was right. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted the car Seth was talking about. Derek squinted, but he couldn’t make out who was behind the wheel.

  Steven roused on the seat, blinking his eyes open. “Did I fall asleep?”

  Derek pressed his hand against Steven’s hip. “Stay down, kitten.”

  He wanted to pull his mate into his arms, to reassure Steven that everything would be fine, but Derek couldn’t make that promise. He wouldn’t risk Steven’s life by allowing him to get up, although Derek’s arms ached to hold him.

  There was confusion in Steven’s blue eyes, but there was also a wealth of trust. “Why do I have to stay down here?”

  Not wanting his mate to worry, Derek winked as he slid his hand under Steven’s shirt and tweaked his nipple. “Because you look damn good with your head in my lap.”

  A blush stole over Steven’s face, sending waves of warmth through Derek’s chest. “Seth is in the car,” he whispered.

  “And his eyes are on the road.” Derek knew how shy Steven was when it came to making out with others around. Derek wouldn’t take things that far. Although he couldn’t wait to get home so he could strip Steven naked, he wasn’t going to allow anyone else to see his mate’s gorgeous body or hear the sex noises he made.