Caladon told how impressed he was, since Leroy didn’t even seem to limp.
Leroy chuckled softly. “I do, occasionally,” he admitted. “When I’ve been on my feet for twenty-four hours, it gets hard to hide.”
When Caladon watched Leroy yawn for the fifth time in under two minutes, he waved away his mate’s apology and smiled. “Time to take you home, sweet man. How about I drop you off, since you are so tired. I hate to think of you driving while drowsy.”
Nodding, Leroy rubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah, thanks. That, uh—” He yawned again. “Geez, sorry.”
Shaking his head, Caladon smiled at his obviously exhausted mate. “It is fine. Let me get you home, Leroy.” He reached across the table and squeezed Leroy’s hand for an instant. “I will pay, and we will go.”
Before Leroy could respond, Caladon released his mate’s hand and grabbed his cup of coffee. He downed the last couple of gulps, then stood, grabbed the ticket Tim had dropped off at their table a few minutes before, and headed to the front. The woman Leroy had said was Penelope—they’d talked about Leroy’s love of the café and several of the employees he considered friends—took his ticket and rang him up.
Penelope smiled widely at him and stated, “You better be taking good care of him, handsome man. Leroy deserves a bit of happiness.”
Caladon lifted a brow and cocked his head. He smirked. “Oh, I do intend to.”
Leroy appeared at his elbow. “Enough giving Caladon a hard time, Pen,” he mumbled.
Turning to look at Leroy, Caladon took in his mate’s sleepy smile and blood-shot eyes. “Gods, you are practically dead on your feet,” he murmured. He wrapped an arm around Leroy’s waist and pulled him against him. “Come on, Leroy. Let us get you home.”
“Good idea,” Leroy mumbled.
Twenty minutes later, Caladon pulled up in front of an average-sized home that appeared to have gone through a renovation that had turned it into a duplex. He followed Leroy’s instruction and parked in the left driveway.
Before getting out, Caladon’s borrowed cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and stared at the screen, reading Raymond’s name and number. Glancing over the options, he tried to remember how to answer it.
Leroy chuckled and leaned over. “Just swipe the screen with your finger,” he instructed.
“Right, thanks,” Caladon replied. He did as instructed, put the phone to his ear, and answered the call. “Caladon here.”
“Cal, uh, hey. It’s Raymond,” the gargoyle greeted, sounding tentative.
“Hello, Raymond. What can I do for you? Does Sapian need his car or something?”
“N-No, um—”
Caladon felt nerves skitter through him. “Is it my son? Has something happened?”
“Well, no, not with your son, no,” Raymond replied. “Uh, I’m not sure I should tell you over the phone.”
Shaking his head, Caladon glanced at Leroy. The human had his head against the back of the seat and his eyes were closed. He appeared ready to doze off right there. Wanting to get his sweet human into his home and resting, Caladon ordered, “Just spit it out, Raymond. What is wrong?”
“It’s about your wife,” Raymond said softly. “She’s, um, well, she passed away.”
Caladon swallowed hard. “Gloria is…is…?” He felt the blood drain from his face as his blood turned to ice in his veins. “H-How?”
Chapter Six
Leroy had just about dozed off when Caladon’s brokenly whispered words yanked him back to wakefulness. Blinking, he focused on the shifter, noting his stricken look and dilated eyes. He screamed traumatized.
While unable to hear Raymond’s words, whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good. Caladon let out an unmanly whimper. His eyelids slid closed and he panted a couple of breaths before murmuring, “Oh, Gloria.” Raymond must have said something else, for Caladon muttered, “And Taolma? Did you find anything on him, yet?” Another pause. “Look into Dewain Qadri.” He spelled the name, then said, “Yes, he was my best friend growing up. Another shifter. I found record of his death, but perhaps he just remade his identity. Maybe you could use the visual recognition stuff you told me about when first teaching me your computers?”
After another moment of listening, Caladon muttered, “Yes. Thank you. I—” He paused and glanced at Leroy. “No, I am at Leroy’s…dropping him off. I will be back—”
Leroy’s heart went out to Caladon, and unable to see the stricken sadness in the big man’s expression, he offered, “If you don’t have to be anywhere, you can come in and rest.”
Caladon’s expression transformed to one of abject relief and even a bit of gratitude. Into the phone, he stated, “I will be with him for a while. Call me if you find anything more.” After lowering the phone, Caladon smiled at him—although there was no mistaking how it didn’t reach his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Come inside,” Leroy urged. He gently took the phone from Caladon and hit the end call button. “I think we both could use some time to rest and relax.”
“Thank you,” Caladon said again. He smiled wanly as he took the phone back and shoved open the vehicle door.
Leroy nodded as he did the same. After sliding from the SUV, he hip-bumped the door closed and headed up the walk, pulling his keys free of his pocket as he walked. He nearly stumbled with fatigue as he climbed up the stairs.
Caladon’s long fingers wrapped around his upper arm, steadying him.
Peering over his shoulder, Leroy smiled at his date. “Thanks,” he whispered.
Caladon just nodded.
Leroy unlocked his door and led the way into his home. He could feel the heat of Caladon’s presence behind him and, turning, he closed the door behind them. “Do you want anything to drink?” he asked after turning the locks. Furrowing his brows, he took in Caladon’s lost expression as he glanced around the small home.
“No,” Caladon whispered. “I do not need anything.”
Sweeping his gaze over Caladon again, Leroy nodded slowly. The man looked to be at the end of his rope as well, but his fatigue seemed to be mental and perhaps emotional as opposed to physical. Heart-sick, Leroy realized. While Caladon had spoken of Gloria, saying they were not mates, he still cared deeply for her…that much was apparent.
Leroy took Caladon’s hand. “Come with me, Cal. Let’s rest.” He tugged lightly and headed toward the far hallway.
Caladon didn’t resist, following willingly behind him.
Heading down the hallway, Leroy pointed at the open door on his left. “I need to make a pit stop in the bathroom,” he told Caladon. Then, he pointed toward the second door on the right. “That’s my bedroom. Feel free to head in there and make yourself comfortable.”
Before Caladon released his hand, he squeezed Leroy’s fingers lightly. “Thank you,” he whispered again.
Leroy nodded. “Of course.”
As he released the shifter’s hand and watched Caladon disappear into his bedroom, Leroy wondered if the man realized how many times the shifter said it. His prick gave a twitch at the knowledge that the sexy man waited for him in his bedroom, distracting him from that thought. Shaking his head at himself, Leroy turned away and stepped into the bathroom. Even with the man waiting in his room, Leroy didn’t have any illusions about what would happen.
Caladon didn’t need sex. He needed comfort, companionship. Leroy could do that for him. No matter what his stupid cock wanted.
Leroy ignored his libido and willed away his untimely erection. Focusing on getting ready for sleep, he took a few minutes to get his cock soft enough to relieve his aching bladder. After washing up and brushing his teeth, he left the bathroom.
Walking into his bedroom, Leroy saw Caladon sitting on the side of the bed. The shifter had his hands clasped between his thighs and his head bowed. Caladon stared vacantly at the floor. Leroy stopped next to him and settled his hand lightly on the man’s shoulder.
Without a word
, Caladon opened his arms and wrapped them around Leroy’s waist. He slid his hands under the hem of his shirt and pushed it up. Leroy didn’t fight him, even helping and tugging the shirt over his head. As he tossed it aside, Caladon’s long arms crossed at the small of his back and his palms slid up his spine. The shifter spread his knees and tugged Leroy between them.
Leroy let out a long breath as Caladon pressed his face against the base of his chest where his ribs met his abs. Feeling the other man’s warm breath across the fine hairs of his skin caused his body to shudder. He wrapped his own arms around the man and held him, rubbing his shoulders and upper back.
They stayed that way for many long minutes, until Leroy felt himself sway. He opened his eyes, uncertain when he’d closed them. Sliding his hands up, he gently rubbed over Caladon’s bald head, finding it smooth and surprisingly soft. He cupped the man’s skull and urged him to tilt his head back so he could meet the shifter’s half-mast gaze.
Leroy smiled. “Come on, Stretch,” he murmured. “Let’s lie down.”
Caladon’s dark eyes blinked once, then he nodded. When Caladon’s arms slipped from around him, Leroy instantly felt their loss. With gentle prodding, he urged the man to slide farther onto the bed and swing his legs onto it. Next, he tugged Caladon’s loafers from his feet, followed by his socks.
After dropping them to the floor, Leroy peered up at the shifter. “Jeans on or off?”
In response, Caladon crunched up and tugged his shirt over his head. Then, he unfastened the button on his jeans and laid back down. He held out a hand. “Come here.”
Then, Leroy remembered. Shifters normally went commando. Jerking a nod, he kicked off his own shoes, then stripped his jeans and socks, leaving himself in his underwear.
Caladon groaned. “Fuck, Leroy.”
Leroy met his gaze as he straightened and spotted Caladon’s heated look before the shifter focused on Leroy’s face once more. “Come here,” he demanded, wiggling his fingers. “So fucking sexy.”
Glancing down, Leroy flushed. He’d completely forgotten he’d donned the form-fitting, ass-hugging, silk boy shorts. He loved how the sexy underwear felt against his cock, balls, and skin, but he’d had more than one lover sneer at the rather feminine undies. From the look of hunger that Caladon had on his face, it seemed that wouldn’t be a problem.
Easing onto the bed, Leroy allowed Caladon to maneuver him. The shifter tugged him up and forward, causing him to sprawl half on top of him, their chests pressed together. Leroy found his legs splayed, his left against the mattress and his right draped across Caladon’s waist with his ankle settled against his far hip. Caladon’s torso was just long enough so Leroy could settle his head fairly comfortably on the shifter’s shoulder.
Caladon’s arms wrapped around him and held him close. His fingertips stroked gently over his back and he exhaled a long sigh, ruffling Leroy’s hair. “I know I keep saying it, but thank you.”
Leroy smiled against Caladon’s collar bone. Good. The man wasn’t completely out of it. “And I’ll keep saying you’re welcome,” he whispered.
Humming, the sound more a rumbling sensation that vibrated through Leroy’s body, Caladon whispered, “I know you are tired. Let me hold you while you sleep.”
“I’d like that,” Leroy admitted. It had been ages since he’d slept with a lover, and even though technically he and Caladon weren’t lovers yet, he knew they would be.
Leroy felt Caladon press a kiss to his hair. “Sleep.”
He followed the order.
The first thing Leroy became aware of was the warmth all along his back. Next, he felt the soft breeze that fluttered his hair and the steel bands of a man’s arms around him. Peeling his eyes open, Leroy saw the black-skinned arms surrounding him.
Caladon.
The knowledge that the shifter still held him filled Leroy with far more pleasure than he thought he should feel. Hell, he’d only met him that day. Definitely the mate-pull, he decided.
Maybe I should have talked with Marty or Matthew before my date.
“How did you sleep?”
Leroy’s brows shot up. “Fine,” he replied. “More than fine.” Pressing back against the lean body behind him, he let out a sigh and allowed his eyelids to slide back closed. “How’d you know I was awake?” he mumbled.
Caladon chuckled, the warm sound going straight to Leroy’s balls. “Your heart rate changed,” he whispered. He adjusted his head and Leroy felt the press of firm lips against the sensitive skin behind his ear.
While tempted to turn around and claim Caladon’s firm lips, Leroy needed to know how the shifter was doing even more. He settled his hand on Caladon’s forearm, kneading the tendons lightly.
“How are you doing?”
Caladon’s entire body tensed behind him.
Leroy turned his head a bit and peered over his shoulder at him. The man had his jaw clenched, his eyes were closed, and the tendons in his neck stood out. Evidently, not so good. He wondered if the shifter had gotten any sleep at all.
Moving his hand lightly over the soft skin of Caladon’s arm, Leroy whispered, “I’d be happy to listen, if you want to talk. Sometimes, sometimes sharing, um—” While Leroy had no desire to hear about Caladon’s relationship with his wife, he’d do what he could to help the shifter. “Not my best quality,” he admitted. “But for you, I’ll listen.” He offered a cheeky smile.
Caladon held his gaze for a few seconds, then broke their stare and pressed his forehead against the back of his neck. He sighed. “No one wants to hear about their lover’s past conquests,” he whispered.
“She wasn’t a conquest,” Leroy reminded him gently, rubbing his arm. “She’s your son’s mother.”
“Was,” Caladon corrected.
Leroy hummed, then whispered, “She will always be Taolma’s mother.”
Caladon’s arms tightened. Leroy felt a bit of wetness on his neck, then the man softly asked, “Does it make me a horrible person that my first thought upon hearing that Gloria died of leukemia was not of the pain and discomfort of her passing, but of the fact that she left my son alone in the world?”
His heart clenching in his chest, Leroy hated the self-disgust he heard in Caladon’s whispered words. Once again rubbing Caladon’s arm, he murmured, “You said yourself, you weren’t in love with Gloria. I think it’s natural to think of those we love before those that we don’t, no matter how good a friend.”
Releasing a huff, Caladon muttered, “I suppose.” After a few seconds of silence, he continued, “I just wish I could find Toalma. Reconnect with him. Hell,” he added. “Reconnect with anyone from my pod. My parents passed away a century ago and I found a death certificate for Dewain, but I cannot find anything for Azacca or Talin.” A sound of anguish escaped Caladon’s lips and he tightened his hold nearly to the point of cutting off Leroy’s ability to breathe. “I feel so alone.”
“You’re not alone,” Leroy immediately responded. “I’m here. You have Raymond and Sapian and the other gargoyles. You’re not alone,” he repeated. Realizing he needed to reiterate the most important thing, he again said, “You have me, Caladon. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” Then, remembering the issues with his family, he told him, “I’ll be here however long you want me, Caladon.”
“You are my mate,” Caladon instantly murmured into his ear. “I will always want you.”
Leroy smiled. “Okay.” He lifted his hand from Caladon’s arm and reached back to grip the shifter’s jean-clad hip and rubbed that softly. “Will you let me know if there’s anything I can do for you?”
Caladon’s breathing hitched and his hips bucked. “You,” he growled. “I just need you.” That was when Leroy felt it, the shifter’s erection filling the crotch of his jeans. “Can I have you?” As he spoke, he rubbed his fingertips along the top of Leroy’s boy shorts, caressing the sensitive skin along his hip bone.
Shivering at the teasing touch, Leroy’s blood
flowed to his cock, causing his shaft, which never seemed to be less than half mast around the shifter, to thicken and press against the silky satin.
“I, mmm—” Leroy found it difficult to form a coherent thought.
“If you wish,” Caladon murmured, pressing his mouth to Leroy’s ear. “I will beg.” As he spoke, he lowered his hand even further and slid his fingers across the satiny fabric. He unerringly located Leroy’s erection and traced his shaft through the thin material, from balls to head, before massaging his cap.
Fluid oozed from Leroy, soaking the fabric surrounding his glans, super-sensitizing him. His balls tightened and he groaned at the pleasureable ache. Even as Leroy knew he shouldn’t allow his body’s reactions to call the shots, he couldn’t help himself. He wanted this man, to hold him and comfort him. Plus, more than anything, he longed to feel Caladon’s body moving inside him.
“Yes,” Leroy gasped out. “Oh, God, yes!”
Caladon growled right before he mouthed the sensitive skin behind Leroy’s ear, sucking lightly. He cupped Leroy’s cock and stroked slowly.
Leroy’s body flooded with tingling heat, the sensation radiating out from those points. Now that he’d made up his mind, he couldn’t stand any delays. He’d spent the last six months focusing on the gargoyles and it’d been far too long since he’d sought out a lover, even for just a night.
Groaning, Caladon wriggled the arm under Leroy’s head down his body until it was under his torso. With his long reach, the shifter easily palmed his stomach, using his pinky to toy just under the edges of his underwear. “Gods, I can smell your arousal.” He rubbed his thumb over Leroy’s leaking cap. “The scent of your pre-cum drives my snake wild.”
Shuddering, both in arousal and trepidation, Leroy bucked into his soon-to-be lover’s hold before rocking backward and grinding his ass against Caladon’s jean-trapped erection. “Please, Cal,” he hissed. “I don’t wanna wait anymore.”
Accepting Caladon’s Scales Page 5