His need to touch too great, Taolma reached out to his mate. He rested his hand on Quinn’s back and rubbed gently. In his mind’s eye, he could see his mate listening to a toddler tell all about his adventures in egg collection.
“I’m sure you were a fantastic father,” Taolma whispered. “I’m sorry you lost that.”
“Me, too,” Quinn mumbled, glancing over his shoulder at him before returning his attention to Caspian. “I worked in Missoula as a welder. One day, I came home to find them both dead.” His tone grew flat. “My little boy was on the floor of his playroom. My wife was in the kitchen. Both had several fang marks on them... on their necks and arms. The police said it was from a two-pronged fork used to torture them, that they died from broken necks, but there was very little blood loss.”
“And how did you come up with vampires?” Caspian asked.
Taolma wondered the same thing.
“At first, I was a suspect,” Quinn growled, his voice filling with anger. “Typical, being the husband and all, but the medical examiner placed time of death mid-afternoon while I was at work.” Scoffing, he waved his hand as he grumbled, “So, I was cleared. Of course, they couldn’t find the person who did it. I fell apart. Started drinking heavily. Lost my job. Nearly lost my house, too, but my wife’s life insurance saved it. The neighbors bought the animals. I just stopped caring... about much of anything. Then a few months ago, I was approached by Roger and Bethany. They told me about vampires.” He shrugged, his tone flat, emotionless... or perhaps just tired of reliving it. “It fit and I joined their merry band hell-bent on the destruction of paranormals.”
For several minutes, everyone at the table remained silent. Then, Bobby cleared his throat and rose from his seat. He pecked a kiss to Maelgwn’s lips.
“I’m going to talk to Raymond and Vane about the best ways to monitor the news for unusual reports, deaths, sightings, and the like.” He shook his head as he commented, “Obviously that’s how the hunters are locating victims. There must be some paranormals out there who are not being as careful as they should be.”
“Add message boards to your list,” Quinn recommended. “I know Bethany tracks those.”
Bobby nodded. “Will do,” he responded. “Thank you, Quinn, and I’m very sorry for your loss.” Then, Bobby pursed his lips as he glanced at Taolma. “Um, and congrats?”
Taolma smiled and nodded. “Thanks.”
“I’ll join you with your errand,” Cornelius stated, rising from his seat. After he pecked a kiss to Einan’s lips, getting a grin and a pat on the ass in response, he turned to Quinn. “I do offer congratulations, too, as well as condolences. Taolma’s a good guy.” He winked. “Fun, friendly, sexy. I’m sure he’ll take good care of you.”
Einan growled softly, earning a wink, grin, and another kiss from Cornelius. Then, both Cornelius and Bobby headed out of the dining hall.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen such open demonstrations before,” Quinn whispered, his gaze roving over everyone with wide eyes. “I mean, I’ve known I was bisexual since I was sixteen, but I never thought I’d be kissed by a guy in front of others.” He slowly leaned back, once again resting his back against Taolma’s arm. “Know that I’m not against it. I’m just... not used to it.”
Taolma nodded, giving his mate an understanding smile. “I understand. I can be a patient guy if you can.”
“Patient for what?” Quinn responded. “What are we waiting for? We already had sex. You already bonded us.”
To Taolma’s relief, he didn’t hear accusation or anger in Quinn’s voice, just confusion. Sifting through his thoughts, he tried to clarify. “I’ve already told you I’m young and inexperienced. I like touching you, need it, really,” he told his mate, running his fingertips up Quinn’s neck. “I see no problem with doing it in front of those who know us... our clutch-mates. But when we’re out among humans who could be bigoted and rude, I’ll let you set the pace.”
“Set the pace?”
Taolma nodded. “Hand holding. Touching. Kissing.” He shrugged as he explained, “I want you comfortable, and if pulling you close and planting one on you in public would make you uncomfortable—” He paused and winked. “Then I’ll do my best to restrain myself.”
Quinn’s face flushed a little, turning a pale pink. “Uh, thanks,” he mumbled, meeting his gaze. “And I’m not mad about the touching or even the life thing.” He glanced toward Caspian, still clearly uneasy in his presence. “You’re helping me. I thank you for that.”
Discomfort slithered through Taolma, chilling him just a little. Was his mate giving himself to him because he felt indebted to him? That hadn’t been why he’d offered to connect him with someone who’d give him a chance at finding his wife and son’s killer.
Unfortunately, Taolma knew this was neither the time nor place to discuss it. Perhaps after their meal, he’d show Quinn the gardens, and a quiet place where they could talk.
Chapter Ten
Quinn stared out the SUV window at the mansion. If just the week before he’d been told he’d willingly walk into a home populated by vampires, he wouldn’t have believed it. He probably would have punched whoever told him, too.
Now, here I sit, willingly following a shifter, who is getting advice from gargoyles and vampires, and walking into a vampire coven.
“Are you okay?”
Sucking in a harsh breath, Quinn turned his focus to Taolma. He saw the concern on the young man’s face and once again, wondered at his astuteness. While Taolma claimed to have no experiences at relationships, he was doing a damn good job of being attentive.
Taolma even expressed his own fears and concerns, which Quinn knew he sucked at. He’d been shocked when, after that first meal with Caspian a couple of days before, Taolma had taken him out to the estate gardens. They’d sat together on a bench, and Taolma had pointedly asked Quinn if he was giving himself to Taolma as some kind of... payment for his help.
Quinn had opened his mouth, planning to quickly dispel the idea. Then, he’d snapped his jaw shut and actually thought about the question. He realized, at least in part, he was.
Faced with that realization, Quinn had admitted the truth. They’d sat quietly for several minutes after that, listening to the trickle of the fountain. Finally, Taolma had reached over and taken Quinn’s hand, threading their fingers together.
Taolma had smiled at him, the look a little sad. “Thank you for telling me,” he’d murmured. “I enjoyed the sex with you very much, but maybe we should wait until we have this situation with your deceased wife resolved before we do it again.” He’d huffed a soft sigh, then explained, “I don’t want you to think that I require such payment for assistance, so, uh... when you’re ready to come to me because you want me and not justice for your wife—” He paused and shrugged. “Well, I can wait.”
Quinn hadn’t known what to say, so he’d said nothing.
He regretted that now. Taolma hadn’t done more than touch his back or hold his hand since that talk. While he did a lot of it, too, it wasn’t the same as their shared time in the bedroom. He found he missed it.
That had been four days before, and now they were pulling up to a vampire coven near Butte, Montana.
And I’ve had blue balls for three of the four days. Taking in Taolma’s concerned expression and feeling his hand on his own, Quinn had a startling revelation. I need to get my head out of my ass and pounce on the man.
His blood heated as ideas flooded his mind.
“Quinn?”
Right. Not the time. Typical. I come to a decision and can’t act on it anytime soon.
“Uh, yeah,” Quinn responded. Then, he glanced up at the estate again. When had they parked? “No,” he admitted. “No, I’m definitely not okay.” Realizing he needed to be just as open and honest with his lover, Quinn refocused on the shifter. “I’m kinda having a mental freak out. That place is filled with vampires.”
Taolma nodded, his express
ion understanding. Bringing their joined hands up to his lips, he pressed a kiss to Quinn’s knuckles. “I’ll be with you every minute,” he promised. “You’re perfectly safe. If anyone looks at you the wrong way, I’ll happily shift and squeeze the life out of them.”
Letting out a harsh chuckle, Quinn smirked. “Yeah? Squish their insides to jelly, huh?” Turning in his seat to focus on Taolma, he saw the young shifter nod. Quinn rested his free hand on top of their combined ones. “I kinda like the sound of that. Even though it sounds possessive.”
Seeing Taolma’s pleased smile, Quinn moved his second hand from their threaded fingers to his lover’s jaw. “Come here,” he demanded, sliding his fingers around to the back of the man’s neck. He pulled lightly, so his request couldn’t be misinterpreted.
Taolma obeyed, leaning closer toward him.
Quinn met him in the middle, pressing their lips together. He pecked once, twice, then nipped at his lover’s bottom lip. Remembering the way he’d tasted a few days before, even just woken from sleep, he wanted to taste that again.
When Taolma opened to him, Quinn pushed his tongue in deep. He swept the appendage around the other man’s mouth, mapping his teeth and gums. As before, the male’s masculine flavor burst across Quinn’s taste buds in the most pleasant way.
The hair on his upper arms stood on end. His blood heated in his veins. Tipping his head, he deepened the kiss, pleased that his healing—now un-bandaged—face no longer twinged. He fed his lover a guttural moan when Taolma’s tongue slid along his own.
Just as his cock began to strain his fly, Quinn heard a loud rapping on the window. He jerked back, panting hard. “Holy shit,” he mumbled. “Kissing you is—” He paused and shook his head, having no words.
Taolma grinned widely at him, then licked his lips. “Yeah.”
“You guys about done?” Caspian asked through the glass, his tone teasing.
When Quinn released Taolma and turned to peer at the vampire, he saw the man grinned widely. For the first time, the sight of his fangs didn’t immediately instill fear in Quinn. He thought maybe that was because his body was too busy feeling arousal.
“Now are you okay?” Taolma asked huskily, redrawing Quinn’s attention.
Quinn took in Taolma’s gleaming lips and shining eyes. His chest rose and fell as he, too, struggled to catch his breath. Even the way he swept an almost feral gaze over Quinn betrayed his arousal.
Chuckling softly, Quinn admitted, “I have another problem now, but it’s much more welcome than what I was feeling before.” Squeezing the fingers he still held, he added, “Thanks.”
Taolma grinned back at him, looking immensely pleased. “Good. Let’s go in and talk to Master Dante, then.”
At least being reminded that he was about to face a vampire leader caused his blood to cool a little.
Nodding, Quinn released Taolma’s hand and turned back to the door. Caspian no longer stood directly outside, so he grabbed the handle and pushed it open. Sliding from the SUV, he spotted the vampire and his albino bunny shifter mate, Casey, standing next to Einan, who was in human form. The gargoyle enforcer was acting as representative for Maelgwn’s clutch, since the chieftain refused to travel while his mate was pregnant.
Quinn had never been so overjoyed when Taolma had reminded him that shifter males could not impregnate human males like gargoyles could.
That conversation had concluded with Taolma actually blushing, even through his dark skin. He’d rubbed his hands on his thighs, appearing sheepish as he’d muttered, “Uh, I’m still in college, Quinn. I’m not ready for kids.” He’d glanced at him, then lowered his gaze to the floor. “Maybe we can talk about using a surrogate should we get to that point in our, uh... relationship.”
Appreciating knowing where Taolma stood on the subject, Quinn had admitted that he wasn’t ready for another child any time soon, either.
“Ready?”
Quinn realized he’d been standing next to the SUV, the door open, for however long it took Taolma to round the hood. Clearing his throat to hide his discomfort, he closed the door, then nodded at the shifter.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” Quinn muttered.
Taolma rested his hand on the small of his back, then urged him to head toward the group. “Everything will be fine,” he reminded. “You’re safe.”
“I know,” Quinn responded, glancing toward him. “Knowing in my head is one thing. Getting my body to stop responding with nerves and tension... that’s something else.”
“And fear,” Taolma whispered. “I can smell it. I’m sure the others can, too.” When Quinn gaped at him, he leaned toward him and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, then explained, “They won’t be offended. If anything, it’ll cause them to be more accommodating until you grow comfortable with them. We are here with the diplomat of the Vampire Council, after all.”
As he nodded, Quinn and Taolma arrived at the group with the others. He forced a smile, which probably appeared a bit wan, for he earned a pat on the shoulder from Einan. That was probably the big man’s way of telling him he had his back.
Quinn kind of appreciated it. As he followed Caspian and a guy named Vince who’d met them there—a friend of Caspian’s and an enforcer for the Vampire Council—up the steps, he listened to Vince’s mate, Frankie, chat with Casey. Evidently, the pair were good pals. They spoke of mutual friends and about some problems with scientists and where they could be getting the shifters they experimented on.
That didn’t sound good.
Leaning close to Einan, Quinn whispered, “You ought to talk to Bethany about that.”
Einan lifted a dark brow. “What do you mean?”
“She’s the one who decides what to do with captured shifters,” Quinn told him. “Whether they’re sold to a carnival or killed or, um...” He winced. “God, that sounded so much better in my head.”
“I’ll pass the information on to Tobias,” Einan assured, nodding. “He’ll appreciate that, I’m sure. Thank you.”
Feeling his face heat with embarrassment over his thoughtless phrasing, Quinn nodded. “Sure.” He glanced Taolma’s way, worried at how his lover would take his comment. Instead of appearing upset, Taolma actually smiled.
As the group climbed the stairs to the expansive veranda, the front doors to the estate opened. Quinn watched as three men and one woman exited, meeting their party just outside the doors.
“Welcome Master Caspian,” the second tallest, a blond male greeted. “I am Dante Mannis, master of the Butte coven. This is my second, Kellan Harlon, and my head enforcer, Monte Hanover, and my beloved, Ruth.”
As Dante spoke, he indicated to each in turn.
“Thank you, Master Dante,” Caspian responded, inclining his head just a little in deference to the master vampire. “I thank you for opening your home to us.”
“I am always honored to help one from the council,” Dante responded. “Please, enter. Join us in my study and we will discuss these allegations against our kind.”
Caspian nodded. Dante wrapped his arm around Ruth, then led the way inside, flanked by his enforcer. Caspian fell into step beside the master, Vince flanking him. Casey and Frankie followed them, a few steps behind. Einan waved his hand, and with Taolma’s urgings, Quinn followed along. For some reason, with Einan at his back, some of the tension eased from his shoulders. Kellan brought up the rear.
Then, a number of others fell into step around them... as if to act as some kind of vanguard.
Quinn’s heart rate spiked. The hair on the back of his neck prickled. A film of sweat broke out on his upper lip and temples.
Taolma slid his arm around his waist, squeezing his hip lightly.
Unable to help himself, Quinn pressed into his lover’s hold.
When the group reached the study, the extra vampires peeled off, and only those they’d been introduced to followed everyone into the spacious room. There were several couches and love seats, a h
uge wood-burning fireplace, and a side hutch lined with everything from a tea service to brandy decanters.
Ruth immediately went to the side table and began asking everyone if they wanted anything. Dante settled on a small sofa, his second relaxing on an easy chair to his right. His enforcer stood behind Dante’s position, leaning against the wall.
Einan crooked a finger and Taolma guided Quinn behind the gargoyle. The enforcer sat on one end of a couch. Taolma sat at the other. Grabbing Quinn’s hand, Taolma tugged him down between them, urging him to settle close to his lover.
Quinn had just relaxed onto the cushion when Ruth appeared before them. “What can I get you to drink?” she asked, smiling down at them. “We have coffee, tea, or spirits, if you’d prefer.”
Before Quinn could come up with an answer, Taolma spoke up. “I’ll have green tea, if you have it, and how about a shot of whiskey for Quinn, then an Irish coffee.”
He rested his arm on the back of the sofa. Bending his arm at the elbow, he teased his fingertips along the back of Quinn’s neck as he beamed up at the woman. The stroking to his neck distracted Quinn from the odd drink request. Goose bumps broke out on his shoulders, sending tingles down to his nipples.
Ruth hummed and nodded. “I can do that,” she promised, then looked toward Einan. After the gargoyle requested a cup of coffee, black, the vampire’s mate nodded and headed away.
“Why did you order me a shot?” Quinn whispered. “I really don’t want to get drunk while here.”
Taolma winked at him. “I won’t let you get inebriated,” he assured. “You’re too tense. I’m just helping you relax a little, my mate.”
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