by Maggie Walsh
“Kiss?” he asked. Bastian chuckled. “Anything you want, cutie.” Bastian wrapped an arm around Noah’s waist and pulled their bodies together. As he raised Noah up to his tiptoes, supporting him with his arm around his waist, he raised his other hand and placed it on the back of Noah’s neck and drew their lips together. His lips touched Noah’s softly, then again, and again. Bastian nibbled on Noah’s bottom lip and Noah moaned. So Bastian did it again. Noah reached up and wrapped his arms around Bastian’s neck as his body melted against Bastian’s. His mate was so strong. Noah wasn’t even standing on the floor anymore. He parted his lips and Bastian swept his tongue into Noah’s warm, wet mouth. Bastian’s head spun at the taste of his little mate. He tasted sweet, delicious, like chocolate with a hint of strawberries. Bastian glided his wet tongue against Noah’s, trying to get more of that taste. His hand moved into Noah’s silky hair, and he pulled their lips tighter together. It wasn’t enough, he needed more, but he controlled himself. He didn’t want to hurt or scare his little mate. Noah matched his every thrust, as his small hands grabbed Bastian’s hair and his body gyrated against Bastian’s. Bastian slowed the kiss down and slowly pulled back. He opened his eyes and looked at Noah. He had the same look of bliss on his face as he did when Storm had kissed him. Bastian put his forehead to Noah’s and breathed in his incredible scent. He smelled of chocolate and strawberries.
Noah felt dizzy. He was afraid he would fall to the floor after that kiss. Storm’s kiss was strong and controlled. He took over Noah’s mouth like he possessed him. Noah loved it. But Bastian’s kiss started off gentle and then was all consuming. Like Bastian couldn’t get enough, like he couldn’t get close enough and he wanted to crawl inside Noah. Noah loved Bastian’s kiss, too. It was mind blowing how differently his mates kissed, but at the same time, both were incredible. He loved both kisses and wanted more. He wanted to spend the rest of his life just kissing his mates.
But then he thought about where kisses led to and he started to get nervous, scared. His face must have shown his fear because suddenly he was wrapped in his mates’ arms, sandwiched between them. Bastian was at his front and Storm was wrapped around him from behind, and he felt safe. It hurt a little when Storm told Bastian that he loved him, but didn’t tell Noah, but then he thought about it for a minute as he watched them kiss. They didn’t know him yet. He couldn’t expect them to declare their undying love. Just like he wished they didn’t expect him to just fall into bed with them and let them take him. How would that even work between three of them? He saw some of the guards take one of the slaves sometimes and they shared the slave. But they had never done that to Noah. No, Noah was supposed to be for the Master only. Master would have been very unhappy if he knew that the doctor and Christoph had taken Noah, too. Noah shivered at the thoughts running through his head.
“Hey, sweetheart, it’s okay,” Bastian said softly as he ran a hand down Noah’s side in comfort. Noah pulled back slightly to look into Bastian’s eyes, and all he saw was concern. He relaxed a little. “What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why do you look so afraid? Did I push too far? I’m so sorry Noah, I didn’t mean…” But Noah cut him off by placing a finger over Bastian’s lips.
Noah shook his head. “Master,” he whispered in fear.
“Master will never touch you again, Noah. I promise,” Storm said from behind him and kissed his head.
“I think we need to give you some time to wash up and then get some rest. It’s been a long day for everyone and it isn’t even lunch yet. So how about you take care of what you need to in here, and Storm and I will get you something to wear and we’ll wait for you in the bedroom. But not for anything but to tuck you in. If you want us to stay with you so you feel safe, we will. But only for you to sleep. Nothing more,” Bastian said. Noah smiled at him and nodded his head. “Then, if it’s okay with you, when you wake up, maybe we can go find Taylor and he can help us communicate, so there are no misunderstandings,” Bastian added.
Noah liked that idea. He smiled at Bastian and then hugged him and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
* * * *
After Noah took a long bath and then a shower to try out all the wonderful gadgets, he stepped out of the shower to find a T-shirt and sleep pants in his size waiting for him. He put them on and opened the door to find his mates sitting in chairs next to the bed. They must have pulled them over because Noah was sure they weren’t there when he came in earlier. He suddenly felt very shy and slowly approached the bed. Bastian stood up and pulled the blankets back for him. He crawled into the big bed and lay down. It was so soft and luxurious. Noah had never felt something so comfortable in his life. He sunk into the soft mattress and Bastian pulled the blankets over him. He felt so comfortable and safe that his eyelids started to get heavy. “Don’t fight it, sweetheart, sleep, you’re safe now,” Bastian whispered and kissed his forehead. Bastian pulled back and sat down. Storm stepped over and kissed his cheek, then turned off the light next to the bed. He stepped back and sat in a chair next to Bastian’s.
“We’ll watch over you, baby, and we’ll be here when you wake up,” Storm said.
Noah’s eyes couldn’t stay open another minute, he was suddenly more tired than he could ever remember being in his one thousand years. He was safe. He was with his mates. And they were being so kind and gentle with him. He let sleep take him.
* * * *
Noah felt like he was floating. He was so comfortable. He took a deep breath and stretched his body. He could smell something irresistible. It smelled wild and fresh. Like he was running through a field. But then there was another scent just as wonderful as the first. It smelled like the moon flowers back on his plane, that he loved so much. They smelled so sweet. But this smell also had a muskiness to it. Like man. He loved the smell of man. Noah blinked his eyes open and then rubbed them with his small fists, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He turned his head when he heard a small snore. Bastian was there. He was still sitting in the chair that he was in when Noah had fallen asleep. But Bastian was asleep. He was slightly slumped down in the chair with his head dropped down to his chest and he had a sword in his hand. Noah raised his brow at the sword and wondered where his mate got that from, and why he was holding it. He looked to the other chair to see if Storm, too, was sleeping, but the chair was empty. Noah looked around the room for his other mate, but he couldn’t find him. His eyebrows dipped in confusion. Where was his mate? Storm said they would be here when he woke up. Noah felt a sadness take over him. They said they would keep him safe and protect him. That they would stay with him, but they didn’t. Okay, Bastian stayed with him, but he was asleep. How was he supposed to protect Noah if he was asleep? Noah trusted his mates, but now he wasn’t so sure.
“You think too loud.” Noah jumped at Bastian’s voice. He looked at his mate with wide eyes, and he found Bastian looking back at him. “I can hear your thoughts, baby,” Bastian said and then sat up and placed the sword on the floor next to him. Noah sat up and looked at him in confusion. Bastian smiled. “We don’t really need Taylor to help us communicate. I can hear your thoughts, feel what you feel, and I can also see what you have seen, if I want to. I don’t like to use my power unless I really have to. I can turn it on and off when I want to, and right now I’m trying not to use it. That vineyard screwed with my gift and I have been seeing things that aren’t true. But you are broadcasting your thoughts pretty loudly.” Bastian moved so he could sit on the edge of the bed. He gently took Noah’s hand in his and kissed the palm and lowered it, but didn’t release it. Bastian looked into Noah’s eyes. “Storm didn’t want to go, but unfortunately there was another rogue attack on his lands. He is the leader here, so he had to go. He only left about an hour ago. You slept all through the day yesterday and all through the night. The sun should be up soon.” Noah’s eyes opened wide in shock. “While Storm was here we took shift’s sleeping and watching over you, but when he had to go, I got my sword, just in case. I could feel my eyes getting heavy and
I wanted to make sure I was prepared in case I needed to attack. I am an enforcer, so I have been trained to sleep lightly, but when we are awakened by something, it takes a moment for us to shift. So I wanted to be covered.”
Noah nodded and relaxed. Then he looked at Bastian in confusion. If he can read my thoughts then why did he say we needed Taylor? Noah thought. Bastian’s lip raised in a smirk. “I could tell you liked Taylor and felt comfortable with him. I thought you might feel better having him with you. But I can use my gift and have it be just the three of us if that’s what you want?” Noah thought about it. He tilted his head and started to bite his bottom lip. His eyes got a far-off look like he was concentrating. Bastian smiled at the look. His little mate was just so damn cute. His long light-blue hair, that stopped just at his shoulder blades, was a mess from sleep, but it hung down around his face, framing it. He had sleep lines on his cheek and his eyes were still slightly heavy. Bastian could feel himself growing hard as he watched Noah chew on his plump lip. Noah’s eyes snapped to his and widened as he blushed a beautiful shade of pink. “Sorry, sweetheart. I can’t help it. You’re just so beautiful and sweet, and when you bite your lip like that, it makes me want to lick it.”
Noah’s eyes got even wider and his blush deeper before his looked down at his lap. My mate thinks I’m beautiful. Noah thought, and then shyly looked up at Bastian through his long lashes. Bastian moaned and Noah’s eyes opened wide again. He wasn’t trying to arouse his mate, but it seemed that whatever he did, it turned Bastian on.
“Yes it does.” Bastian smiled at him with lust in his eyes. “But I promise you, nothing will happen until you are ready. You have all the control here, Noah. You tell us when you’re ready and how far we can go. Storm and I would never hurt you,” Bastian said and softly ran his fingertips along Noah’s cheek.
Noah looked at Bastian with serious eyes, but there was also pain and fear there. “Want,” he said, then took in a breath. “Nervous,” Noah added.
“You want to be with me and Storm, but because what they did to you, you’re scared?” Bastian asked. Noah nodded his head. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We know they hurt you, and it makes me furious to think about how they hurt you. I just want to hunt down everyone who ever touched you and rip them apart. But I hope you know, that what they did to you was wrong on so many levels, but Storm and I would never abuse you. The difference is love.” Noah gasped at Bastian’s words. “I know we don’t know each other yet, and to speak about loving each other may seem too soon, but I do care very deeply about you, Noah. And I know that I am falling for you fast. And I know Storm feels the same way. I hope that someday you will be able to trust us enough to want to share yourself with us. All of yourself, not just your body. That’s one of the differences between those monsters and us. We care about you, about your heart. If one day you trust us enough to give us your heart, we will treasure it. We only want to make you happy. To bring you joy and pleasure, not use you,” Bastian explained gently as he caressed Noah’s cheek with his thumb.
Noah was so overcome with emotions from Bastian’s sweet words. He pushed the blankets aside and sat up more. He climbed onto Bastian’s lap. Straddling his mate, he wrapped his arms around Bastian’s neck and hugged him tight. He felt Bastian wrap his arms and around him. He loved the feeling of being in his mate’s arms. Both of them. It was so warm and comfortable in their arms. It was safe. “I’m so glad you think that, Noah. Because you are safe here in my arms,” Bastian said and kissed his head.
Bastian ran a hand up and down Noah’s back. “Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Bastian asked and Noah nodded his head. He was famished. Bastian laughed at his thoughts. “Okay, cutie, let’s go get some breakfast,” Bastian patted his hip. Noah held on tighter. Bastian laughed again. Noah really liked that sound. “Okay, you little cutie, carry you it is,” Bastian said and wrapped his arms around Noah tighter as he stood up. Noah wrapped his legs around Bastian’s waist and held onto his mate tight. Bastian chuckled and walked them out of the room.
* * * *
Bastian stepped into the dining room with Noah still wrapped around his front, holding on. The small puffs of Noah’s hot breath against his neck were making Bastian’s breath increase and his dick swell. His little mate’s cute little ass was rubbing against his groin, causing shivers of desire to course through Bastian. Gods, what would it feel like slide into this beautiful ass. Bastian thought to himself. He stopped short when he heard and amused chuckle. He was so lost in the feel of Noah and the things Noah was doing to his body, he hadn’t realized that Jesse and Taylor were there at the table, eating breakfast. He looked at Taylor shyly as a light pink blush came to his cheeks.
“Good morning, sunshine. And what do you have there? I’m sorry to tell you this Bass, but you have developed a really cute growth on the front of you overnight,” Taylor snickered.
“It looks good on you though. I think you should keep it there,” Jesse added with a small laugh.
“Bastian,” Noah said softly as he turned his head to look at the two. Boy he liked looking at Jesse. Taylor was hot, but there was something about Jesse that made him just want to stare at him all day.
“Your pretty hot yourself there, cutie,” Taylor winked at him and Noah laughed and looked down, turning and tucking his head under Bastian’s chin.
“You don’t have to be shy with us, Noah. We’re family. We will always be here for you and always do our best to keep you safe. You can tell us anything you want and it will always be safe with us. No judgments,” Jesse said comfortingly.
Noah looked back at Jesse and smiled. Bastian walked them over to the table and tried to sit Noah down on a chair, but the little cutie held on. Bastian laughed. “I only want to put you into a chair so we can eat, sweetheart.”
“Like,” Noah said with a shrug and kissed Bastian’s cheek.
“Okay, my lap it is then. Twist my arm why don’t you.” Bastian laughed and sat down. Noah started to squirm on Bastian’s lap so that he could sit facing the table. His cute, tight, little ass rubbed against Bastian’s growing cock. Which caused Bastian to groan. He grabbed onto Noah’s hip to help him and to relieve the stress on his shaft that Noah was causing.
Taylor smirked at Bastian and lifted a brow. “Problem?”
“Smart ass.” Bastian smirked back.
Taylor and Jesse chuckled at Bastian’s predicament. “So, how is Storm’s mating heat today? Mine and Gabriel’s are starting, but I think we should be good for a little while longer. But not much. He better hurry his sweet little ass before I go in there and jump him in front of everyone. Ooh, that could be fun,” Taylor said with mischief in his eyes.
“What mating heat? It’s not the full moon,” Bastian asked.
“Oh, sweetie. The full moon in tomorrow night. And with Storm meeting his other mate at the same time. You remember what happened when the two of you met. It must be excruciating for him,” Jesse said with concern.
“Oh fuck,” Bastian huffed between clenched teeth. “I thought the full moon was still a week away. And I didn’t even think about the heat with Storm meeting Noah. Damn it.”
Noah looked at Bastian in confusion. His eyes showed the question he wanted to ask, but couldn’t. He turned his head and looked at Taylor for answers. Taylor gave him a small smile.
“Storm’s a cat shifter,” Taylor started. But Bastian finished. “Storm has two mates because when cat shifters go into heat, they need so much sex, that only one mate isn’t enough to cool the heat.” Noah’s eyes opened wide and his brows went into his hairline. “That’s not all. The mating heat hits every full moon, for three days. When a cat shifter meets their mate for the first time, their body goes into that same heat. Whether it’s the full moon or not,” Bastian explained gently. Noah’s eyes filled with worry and fear.
“He’s worried about Storm, about what he’s going through right now, but he’s scared of what that means for him,” Taylor explained as he motioned toward Noah.
Bastian turned Noah enough for him to look into his eyes. “Don’t you worry about that, sweetheart. You don’t have to do anything you aren’t ready for. I’ll take care of our mate. Just relax, sweetheart,” Bastian said as he ran his hand up Noah’s back in comfort.
Noah looked at Bastian in confusion, and then turned that look on Taylor. Taylor stared at him for a moment and then chuckled. “I know it’s all confusing,” Taylor said to him with a smile. “He’s confused, because you could hear him when you were alone, but now it seems like you can’t. He wants to know why.”
“I don’t really know, sweetheart. Like I said, I can turn it on and off, but if I try now, I still can’t get a read on you,” Bastian answered in confusion.
“I think I know,” Jesse said. Everyone turned their attention to him. “Micah said he believes Taylor is a syphon, that he can take others powers. Maybe it’s Taylor’s presence that’s blocking yours, Bass.”
“Bastian,” Noah said softly. Bastian and Taylor both laughed.