by Faith Gibson
“Mmm,” he moaned, licking his finger. Trevor opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue. Jasper swiped his finger through the mixture again, this time letting his mate have a taste.
“We taste good,” Trevor said.
“We sure do,” he agreed. “Come on, let’s get cleaned up. I’ll start the coffee while you start the shower.”
Jasper hovered at the door so he could admire Trevor’s fantastic ass as he walked into the bathroom. After he set the coffee pot, he joined his mate in the shower where they cleaned each other off only to take turns on their knees first. By the time they were out of the bathroom, they had just enough time to get to Trevor’s and let him change clothes before they would be late for breakfast.
When they arrived at the manor, several others were just getting there. Jasper was glad Matthew was still outside. He came over to the Jeep and waited on Trevor to get out. The teen grabbed Trevor in a man hug and said, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too,” Trevor replied, and by the smile on his face, he meant it. Jasper and Matthew walked on either side of Trevor until they got to the door. Once inside, the noise level rose to that of a small rock concert. Jasper grinned as Trevor took it all in. He laughed when Priscilla grabbed Trevor and kissed him on the cheek.
“There you are, Trevor. It’s about time you came to visit.” She placed her hand on the side of his face and gave him that smile every one of the Gargoyles had been privileged to. She was the surrogate mother they all needed from time to time.
The smile Trevor returned was so bright, Jasper knew his mate felt Priscilla’s special brand of love. If he had been worried about Trevor fitting in, that feeling passed as Trevor was swallowed up with the people he’d come to mean so much to in the past few weeks. Abbi pulled Trevor to her and gave him a quick hug, whispering something in his ear. Trevor nodded, and Abbi smiled. Jasper wasn’t jealous of Abbi. He knew she had no designs on his man, but Frey on the other hand was quickly by her side making sure Trevor’s hands stayed where they should. Jasper laughed at the big Gargoyle. Abbi had been through hell and back. Frey was her savior and, in a way, Trevor was Matthew’s. For that, he knew Abbi would be forever grateful.
Kaya let out a whistle getting everyone’s attention. Rafael grinned at his mate and said, “Please take your seats.”
Chapter Thirteen
Trevor now understood why everyone wanted Priscilla’s cooking. It was the best thing ever. No, waking up in bed next to Jasper was the best thing ever. Priscilla’s food came in a close second. He hadn’t been nervous about being in the presence of the Gargoyles. Most of them he’d already met. They treated him like they did everyone else. They joked around with him while including him in their conversations. He wasn’t the goofy assistant most of the cops tended to avoid. He had been nervous about seeing Kaya Kane, former police chief turned Queen of the badasses. He could totally see it. She was a badass herself.
Any previous interaction he’d had with the beautiful woman had been less than stellar. His shy side came across as foolish when she’d ask him questions. He had avoided her ever since he walked into her home. Luckily, his and Jasper’s seats had been at the opposite end of the table. Trevor had never been in a situation where a family sat down for a meal together and talked all the while they were eating. Laughing, joking, having fun. Growing up, talking at the table hadn’t been allowed unless it was to ask for someone to pass a bowl or plate.
Once everyone’s bellies were full, Rafael directed them to the game room. Jasper had quickly shown Trevor around earlier, and he had seen the pool table covered with presents. He knew they didn’t have kids yet, so it surprised him there were so many gifts. Trevor stood next to Jasper as everyone made their way into the room. While they were waiting, Trevor asked Jasper, “Who’s the older man?” He hadn’t seen him earlier.
“That’s Jonathan, Priscilla’s brother. While she takes care of the cooking, washing, and cleaning, he takes care of everything else.”
“Aren’t they human?” Trevor understood Gargoyles stopped aging.
“Yes. There are certain families that have dedicated their lives to serving the Gargoyles while keeping their secrets. A lot of the Goyles have human housekeepers.”
“Do you have one?” Trevor had never seen anyone at Jasper’s house, but then again, he’d only been there a few times.
“No. I’ve taken care of myself for so long, I don’t see the need.”
Trevor noted that Jonathan didn’t appear to feel well. If he was human, it made sense he could be sick. He returned his attention to the others. Connor and Amelia sat on the floor together in front of Rafael while the adults spread out. Rafael kissed Kaya softly before placing her in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her stomach. Kaya was carrying the heir to the Gargoyle throne, and everyone was excited about the prospect of a baby.
Rafael looked around the room smiling. “I want to thank you all for coming today. I know we do this every week, but today’s a special day. First off, I want to let you all know that Kaya and I will be getting married on New Year’s Day. We finally have everyone back in the country, so we’re going to hurry up and get married before someone else has to fly off to save a mate.” Everyone laughed, but the worry was evident on some of their faces. “Since it will be cold and the weather can be unpredictable, Frey and Abbi have offered the use of the dance studio at their home. I hope you all will be there.” Rafael looked at Trevor and smiled. He felt Jasper’s hand on his back briefly.
“Now, for the fun stuff. Kaya and I are so thankful for every one of you, so we got you each a little gift. It’s our way of saying we are grateful you’re part of our family.” Rafael picked up the closest package and said, “Deacon.” He continued handing out presents to everyone in attendance. When he called Trevor’s name, Trevor was shocked to say the least. He felt his cheeks turning red as he stepped up to the King. Kaya kissed him on the cheek and said, “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Thank you,” he whispered. He took the present from Rafael who added, “That goes for both of us.” He clapped Trevor on the shoulder before reaching out to pick up the next present. Trevor returned to where he’d been standing and stared at the package in his hand.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Jasper asked. He’d already ripped into his present and was holding a video game that had yet to be released.
Trevor carefully tore the paper open and sucked in a breath. When he looked up from the extremely rare book he’d wanted forever, Rafael winked at him. “How did…” He was speechless. He glanced up at Jasper who was grinning. “Did you do this?”
“How would I know what books you want?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders.
Trevor handed Priscilla the scrap paper as she brought a trash bag around. He ran his fingers over the vintage hardback. The one thing he’d asked for, other than Legos, for as long as he could remember, was this book. His parents refused to even look for it, because it cost too much. Yet Rafael and Kaya, people he barely knew, went out of their way to find it for him. Trevor was slowly coming to understand what it truly meant to be part of a family. “But we didn’t get them anything,” Trevor whispered to Jasper.
“Look at them. They have everything they could ever want in each other as well as a baby on the way.”
Trevor didn’t miss the longing in Jasper’s voice. While he was admiring the inside of his book, Connor came around handing out drawings. Trevor had seen the boy’s work firsthand, and now it seemed he would have something of his own. “Here you go, Trevor,” Connor said as he handed the artwork to him.
Trevor could only stare in awe at the perfect replica of himself with Travis and Molly.
“Thank you Connor. This is excellent.”
“You’re welcome. Jasper, here is yours.”
Jasper studied his picture. He cocked his head to the side and smiled. “Thank you, Connor. It’s perfect.” The boy walked around the room, handing out drawings he’d made fo
r everyone. The picture he’d given Jasper was of him wearing a kilt, his sword held at his side. Everyone took turns passing around the artwork, each as stunning as the other.
Trevor excused himself to find the bathroom. He’d drunk way too much coffee. As he rounded the corner, he noticed Dante and Connor speaking quietly. Dante asked, “Connor, why did you draw a past picture for Trevor?”
“Because his future is unclear, Da.” Dante accepted his son’s reason and nodded. Trevor skirted around the other way so he wouldn’t be caught eavesdropping. As he stood over the toilet, he thought about what the boy had said. He had seen some of the drawings Connor drew of the future. Of course, everyone’s future was uncertain. Anything could happen to anyone at any time, but he specifically didn’t draw Trevor’s future. Was it because he was unsure about mating with Jasper? He needed more time to decide if it was the right thing to do. They hadn’t known each other very long, and they had only spent one night together.
He washed his hands and returned to the family room. A game of pool had started with Tessa and Gregor on one team and Deacon and Julian on the other.
“My money’s on Tessa,” Jasper said as he caught up with him. “Here, why don’t you and Matthew break this in?” He was holding out his video game.
“Don’t you want to play?”
“I’ll let you practice so that when we get home and I kick your ass, I won’t feel bad.”
Trevor barked out a laugh then quickly looked around. Nobody was looking at him sideways for being loud. As a matter of fact, the noise level was already loud where Tessa was running the table. He grabbed the game from Jasper and said, “You’re on.” He didn’t have to search far for Matthew. He was already setting up the gaming system.
“I can’t believe Jas got this game. It’s not out for three more months!” Matthew exclaimed as he put the disk in the machine. “You are so frickin’ lucky, man.”
Looking around at all the people, Trevor had to admit he was feeling pretty lucky. For the next couple of hours, Trevor was oblivious to his surroundings other than the game in front of him. Jasper checked on him every so often and, at one point, said he was running down to the station. When Trevor looked back up, Jasper was back. He had a tendency to get engrossed in video games, especially when he was getting his ass whipped. Matthew was ferocious, and Trevor was going to win one game before he left the manor.
Eventually, the crowd thinned out, and Jasper asked if he was ready to go. He was, only because he finally won a game. He said goodbye to anyone who was lingering, hoping to catch sight of Priscilla’s cookies. He thanked both Kaya and Rafael for their hospitality, as well as the book, and walked with Jasper to the Jeep. As they were riding down the road, Trevor couldn’t keep his excitement to himself. “Is every Sunday like that? That was insane. And where did Tessa learn to shoot pool? Man, she kicked everyone’s ass. Did you see Julian frowning, trying to calculate the angles before each shot, then she’d waltz right up to the table, barely aiming, and sink ball after ball. And what about those drawings?”
Jasper laughing at him ceased his rambling. He tended to talk a lot when he was excited. Another habit his mother hated. He looked out the side window until Jasper grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together. “No, every Sunday isn’t that way. There are fewer in attendance, but Rafe was adamant about everyone clearing their schedules so they could be there for Christmas. Tessa is something. I’m glad Gregor got her for a mate. If a warden can’t keep her under control, nobody can. As for the drawings, yeah, Connor’s beyond talented. I’m going to have mine framed and hang it on the wall.”
“I have to tell you, I was nervous about going, but it felt good being around everyone. Thank you for taking me.”
“Thank you for going.” Jasper pulled their hands to his lips and kissed Trevor’s knuckles. It might seem silly, but he loved when Jasper did it. He also loved when he kissed him on the temple. It was tender and caring. When they pulled down the driveway, Trevor saw a light coming from the front window. If he wasn’t mistaken, it looked like the outline of a Christmas tree. He had to be seeing things. Instead of going in the side door, Jasper took him around front. He opened the door and said, “After you.”
Trevor walked into the living room and froze. It was a Christmas tree. All lit up with presents underneath. “What the hell?” he asked Jasper who was standing with his hands in his pockets, grinning like he’d seen Santa put the presents there himself. “Jas…”
“Trev…” Jasper closed the distance and put his finger over Trevor’s mouth. “Merry Christmas.”
“When did you have time to do this? Wait… you said you were going to the station. You big fibber.”
“I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Mason helped, so it didn’t take long”
“But I didn’t get you anything.” Trevor wouldn’t know what to get him anyway.
“You’re here. That’s the best present in the world. There is one thing I want, though.”
“Yeah, what’s that?”
“This.” Jasper pulled Trevor close and pressed their lips together. When Jasper teased Trevor’s mouth with his tongue, Trevor opened for him. It started off slow and easy, but the longer they stood there, the more intense it became. Jasper broke the kiss and said, “Wait. I want you to open your presents.”
Trevor groaned, adjusting his cock in his jeans. Jasper laughed and pushed his own erection away from his zipper.
Jasper said, “We have all night for that. Here.” He handed him a flat, flimsy present. While Trevor was ripping the paper off, Jasper relit the fire.
Trevor didn’t say anything. How could Jasper possibly know he had been searching for this particular comic book since he was fourteen. Unless he called Travis. “You’ve been talking to my brother, haven’t you? That’s how Rafael and Kaya knew about the book.”
“Maybe,” Jasper admitted somewhat.
“It’s perfect. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like it. But there’s more. Here you go.”
Trevor laughed when he opened a small set of Legos, his dimples showing for the first time in too long. “This is great!” Jasper handed him another package, and inside was a larger set of Legos. “I see a pattern here,” he said, grinning. When Jasper picked up an even larger package, Trevor joked, “Let me guess…” When he ripped the paper open, it was, indeed, the large set of Legos he’d been looking at in the toy store. Smiling from ear to ear he said, “This is too much. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Come on, let’s clear off the table and get started.” Jasper wanted to keep those cheeks dimpled and his green eyes sparkling.
“You want to build these with me?” Trevor figured Jasper would want him to take them to his apartment so they wouldn’t get all over his home.
“Why do you think I got the big set? Of course I want to do this together.”
Jasper cleared off the large cedar chest he used as a coffee table, and they opened all three boxes. By the light of both the fire and the Christmas tree, they worked together building a couple of Darth Vader’s TIE fighters as well as an Imperial Star Destroyer. The fact they both liked the dark side wasn’t lost on Trevor.
Chapter Fourteen
Jasper was awakened by moans coming from the other side of the bed. He looked over to where Trevor had rolled, taking the sheet with him. His mate was having a bad dream, and he wanted it to stop. He knew all too well how a dream could ruin your mood upon waking. He untangled the sheet from around Trevor’s waist and pulled him closer. “Trev, Baby, wake up. You’re having a bad dream.”
Trevor continued murmuring and thrashing his head. “Trevor, wake up,” he said a little louder. Instead of shaking him, he held him closer and kissed his cheek. “Trev, you’re safe,” he whispered in his ear.
Trevor finally stilled. He opened his eyes, blinking in confusion. “Jasper?”
“I’m right here. You were having a nightmare.”
“Sorry.” Trevor tried to turn away, but Jaspe
r wasn’t having it.
“Nothing to be sorry about. I have them all the time.”
“You do?” Trevor rubbed at his eyes with his knuckles.
“Yep. Do you wanna talk about it?”
“I was back on the bridge. Quinn was shooting at you, only you didn’t have wings.”
“Can I ask you a question?” Jasper had been curious about something ever since that day.
“I guess.”
“Where did you learn to shoot? I mean one bullet, and…”
“I have no life, remember? All I do is play video games in my spare time.”
“Had you ever fired a real gun before that day?” Jasper was a perfect aim with his service pistol, but he practiced.
Trevor didn’t answer immediately. He finally turned his eyes to Jasper and said, “Yes. When I was younger my father took Travis and me to a firing range several times. He thought since he had a gun in the house we should know the basics. On the bridge, Dane was just standing there. I don’t know why I did it, but when I saw Quinn shooting at you, I lost it.”
Jasper hugged him a little tighter. “Thank you. It’s good to know you have my back.”
“You had your own back. Those wings are something else.”
Jasper knew Trevor wanted to see them. Touch them. Hopefully someday.
“Merry Christmas, Trev. I hate that I have to work today, but Harris has kids, so I told him I’d take his shift. If I’d known you were going to be here, I wouldn’t have volunteered.”
“It’s okay. I need to go home anyway.”
“Oh.” Jasper was hoping he would stay.
“I don’t have any clean clothes. Besides, Dante must have known you had to work because he invited me to spend the day with them. Abbi also asked that I visit them, plus I want to go to the morgue and check out the latest victim. I know Dante is the best, but I still like to document each body that comes in. My day is full.”