He paused and turned, frowning at the dark-haired guy who was now standing there.
“Taylor?”
The guy pointed a thumb toward the table. “My boyfriend.”
“How did your boyfriend know?”
Dark-haired Guy looked surprised. “I thought... never mind. So, you want to find Nysys?”
“Morin, actually. I’m a friend of his, and I came all the way from New York to find him.”
“Have you tried calling him?”
Hamilton stared. “You think I’d be asking coffee shop girls if he’d answered his damn phone?”
“He’s probably busy. Come on, come sit with us. You can follow us back to the house later. I’m Wes.”
Hamilton shook the hand Wes offered him. “Hamilton.”
* * * *
“So as you can see, it’s fairly easy, and like I said before, you can call if you need help,” Jared said as he walked Dallas toward the entrance.
“I should be fine.”
“Yes, well, we all hope so, of course. I’ll call you if I need help, though, so don’t hesitate. There aren’t a lot of us around, not as many as I’d like.”
Dallas wondered if Jared meant a lot of shifters or a lot of shifter doctors. There were few of both, which was why shifters often didn’t go have their wounds treated. Most shifter groups had their own healer, but there was only so much a healer could do. Things were slowly changing since the council had built its own hospital, but it was slow. A lot of shifters didn’t trust the council just yet. They’d have to, especially now that humans knew about them, but Dallas was ready to bet a lot of them would rather die than ask for help.
“I’ll be sure to call if I need you,” he told Jared, because the man was obviously waiting for an answer.
Jared nodded and opened the front door. “You’re sure you don’t want to stay for lunch?”
“No, thanks. I need to drive back.”
“We could ask one of the Nix to shimmer you back home.”
“Can they shimmer my car along with me?”
Jared chuckled. “I’m pretty sure Nysys would try, but I’m not sure he could.”
“Then thank you, but no.”
“I’ll ask Isaiah to let you out, although it looks like you might not need it if you hurry.”
Dallas looked at the gate, and sure enough, it was opening. Two cars waited on the outside of it, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to get there in time unless he ran, and that was the last thing he wanted to do in the snow.
“Please ask him. The last thing I need is to slip on the snow and break something,” Dallas told Jared.
Jared grinned. “Noem would fix that in seconds.”
“I’d still feel it.”
“True. Take your time.”
Dallas nodded and shook Jared’s hand. “Thank you for your help.”
He was careful as he walked back to his car. The other two passed the gate and came closer, but they parked further down the small parking lot, so Dallas didn’t have to worry about them. He heard doors opening and voices, then footsteps, but he kept his eyes on his own feet. He was inclined to fall down or bump into things on the best of days, and he’d learned to be careful when the weather was inclement. He just wasn’t used to snow, even though he’d lived in the States for more than three years if he included the time he’d spent in the lab.
Someone passed next to him, and he looked up. He didn’t recognize the blond man next to him, nor the dark-haired one just behind him, but they nodded and smiled, so he did the same.
It was enough to distract him.
He stepped on what was probably the only patch of ice in the parking lot and felt his legs slip out from under his body. It wasn’t the first time he slipped on ice, and he knew nothing would help. If anything, he’d probably hurt himself even worse if he tried to resist gravity, so he let himself go and prepared himself to soon having an aching ass.
Before he could hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around his waist and hauled him up again. His foot was still on the ice patch, and he wasn’t able to regain his balance. He fell forward, and the owner of the arm around him chuckled. The man was able to keep Dallas upright as if it was nothing, moving just slightly, enough that Dallas landed against his chest.
Dallas’ first instinct was to put his hands forward, and they pressed against a strong chest. That was just enough for him to avoid crashing against his savior, but he still stumbled forward, his nose stopping just short of hitting the man’s chest.
The closeness was enough to shock Dallas, and he froze, blinking at his savior’s chest.
“Oh my God, are you all right?” a voice asked.
Dallas slowly turned to look at whoever had spoken. The dark-haired man who’d just passed him had come closer and looked worried. The blond was behind him, waiting, and all three men were looking at Dallas.
He felt himself blush, because while he didn’t care about being in the spotlight while he was working, he hated it in the rest of his life. He tried to move away, but the man holding him up hadn’t moved, and his arm was still around Dallas.
Dallas cleared his throat and nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? You should come inside, maybe have Jared check you out.”
“I’m fine, really.”
“You can still come inside,” the man holding Dallas up said, his voice rough. Dallas thought he was probably human, but he seemed to feel the bond between them anyway, and Dallas wasn’t sure whether it was a good thing or not. He couldn’t seem to be able to think at the moment, not while still wrapped in his mate’s arms for the first time.
He swallowed. “All right. I’ll come inside.” It wasn’t like he was in a rush. He’d rather avoid driving with the snow, but there wasn’t much he could do about that anyway, and there were still enough hours before dark. He could make it back to Gillham in time even if he stayed for lunch.
Dallas’ mate didn’t move, though, not even after Dallas had agreed. He stayed still, wrapped around Dallas and looking down at him. His eyes were serious, and he looked like he was trying to read Dallas. It made Dallas uncomfortable, and he looked down, realizing only now that his hands were still pressed against his mate’s chest.
He pushed gently to avoid falling on his ass, and it was enough to make his mate move. He didn’t go far, and he kept his arm around Dallas’ waist, so Dallas looked at him in question.
His mate grinned. “This way I’m sure you won’t end up on the ground.”
“Or I could fall and take you with me.”
“Nah. I’m used to walking on snow and ice. I know what I’m doing.”
“I hope so, because I don’t.”
“You’re not from here, huh?”
“No.”
Dallas’ mate nodded. “I’m Hamilton.”
“Dallas.”
Hamilton grinned. “Two weird names. I like it.”
Dallas frowned. “My name isn’t weird.”
“Are you from Texas?”
“No, I’m Brazilian.”
Hamilton’s grin widened. “That makes your name even weirder.”
Dallas shook his head. “My mother was from Texas.”
“Okay, you lose some weirdness points.”
Dallas’ foot hit the gravel in front of the front door. He wasn’t sure why the alpha hadn’t graveled the entire lot, but who was he to tell the man how to deal with his pride? It would have saved him from a possible fall, though. Of course, it also probably would have meant he wouldn’t have realized Hamilton was his mate.
“So, are you one of them?” Hamilton asked.
“One of whom?”
“You’ve seen the news recently, right?”
“You want to know if I’m a shifter.”
Hamilton shrugged. “That’s how you call yourself?”
Dallas pushed away from Hamilton, knowing he wouldn’t fall again. “Why are you here if you don’
t even know that?”
“I’m looking for a friend. He’s not answering his cell phone, and I know he lives here. Well, in Whitedell, but everyone seems to know his boyfriend, so I was able to find out they both live here.”
Dallas had so many questions, but he chose only one. “You didn’t know your friend was a shifter?”
“Eh. I’m not sure he is, to be honest. Morin never did anything weird, and I’ve known him since college. His boyfriend is definitely one of you guys, though. Too weird to be human.”
Dallas took a deep breath because he didn’t want to fight with Hamilton. “Are you saying shifters are weird?”
“Yeah, of course, they are. I mean, you’re probably one, and don’t think I didn’t realize you haven’t answered my question, so it’s normal to you, but try to put yourself in my shoes, yeah? I thought shifters were the stuff of movies and books, not that I actually knew one.”
“Nysys isn’t a shifter,” the dark-haired guy said as they entered the mansion. “He’s a Nix.”
“And I have no idea what that is,” Hamilton answered.
“Well, you’re about to find out.” The guy grinned and turned toward the stairs. “Nysys!” he yelled. “There’s someone here to see you!”
* * * *
Hamilton wanted to take Dallas in his arms again. He wasn’t sure if it was because he enjoyed having the other man’s body pressed against his or if he just wanted a shield between him and Nysys, but either way, he didn’t think Dallas would agree.
Hamilton thought he’d probably fucked up when he’d said shifters were weird, but he really thought that. He also thought there was nothing wrong with being weird, but he hadn’t had the time to tell Dallas that.
“What do you want, Wes?” someone yelled from upstairs, and Hamilton took a step backward when he recognized Nysys’ voice.
“There’s someone here for you. Name’s Hamilton.”
There was a pause, then something that sounded like a herd of wild horses running toward them, or at least that was what Hamilton imagined. He’d never been close to a herd of wild horses, so he couldn’t be sure.
Nysys appeared on top of the stairs, pink hair everywhere. It was shorter than Hamilton had ever seen it, and the pink was bright enough to hurt his eyes. As if that wasn’t enough, Nysys was wearing a red-footed pajama onesie with monkeys printed on it and a hood.
He bounced down the stairs, and Hamilton steeled himself. He didn’t know Nysys that well, but the few times they’d met, Nysys had been enthusiastic about him, and Hamilton didn’t expect that to have changed.
Sure enough, Nysys didn’t even slow down when he came closer. He barreled right into Hamilton’s arms, jumping as he did, and wrapped his legs and arms around Hamilton as if he were one of the monkeys on his pajamas. Hamilton just had the time to reach up and grab him, and of course, his hands ended up on Nysys’ skinny ass.
They both froze for a few seconds, then someone growled. Hamilton would have thought it was an animal, maybe a dog, but he knew better now.
“What?” Nysys asked without climbing down, and Hamilton wished he would. He might be Morin’s best friend, but he didn’t think Morin would take it too well if he walked in on Hamilton with his hands on Nysys’ ass.
Nysys looked at Taylor, but he shook his head, and the growling started again. Hamilton knew Wes was human, so the only person who could be growling was Dallas.
Nysys squeezed his legs around Hamilton’s waist as Hamilton turned. Sure enough, Dallas looked pissed, and Hamilton had no idea why.
“Oh, it’s him,” Nysys said. “Wait, who are you?”
“I’m Dallas, and I suggest you climb down.”
“What? Why? Hamilton’s my friend! I can climb him like a tree if I want to. I haven’t seen him in so long!”
“Because I don’t care who you are—if you don’t get your hands off my mate, I’m going to take care of it for you, and it won’t be pleasant. Well, it won’t be for you, but it will for me.”
Nysys squeaked and slithered down, earning himself another growl. Dallas relaxed only once Nysys was far enough away that he couldn’t touch Hamilton without having to step forward.
“Okay, can someone tell me what’s happening?” Hamilton asked because his day had started weird and was becoming weirder as the time passed.
“Apparently, you’re Dallas’ mate, and he didn’t take Nysys jumping you too well,” Wes said.
“What does that mean? Is it like in the books?”
Wes arched a brow. “You read a lot of soul mates books?”
Hamilton shrugged. “Yeah, so? I like reading romance books.”
Wes’ brows rose on his forehead. “You do?”
“Yeah. I don’t particularly care for the girly bits in them, but they’re okay, and there’s gay romance too, so there’s that.”
“So you’re gay?”
“Yes. Are mates what the books say they are?”
“Depends on what they say.”
“Soul mates, perfect for each other, it’s forever, there’s bites involved and hot sex. Can’t forget the hot sex.”
Wes cocked his head. “Uh. I guess my life is a romance novel, then.”
“So it’s accurate?”
“Yeah.”
“Including the bite thing?”
“Yeah.”
Hamilton winced. “Are you mated? I mean, you said Taylor was your boyfriend, but that was before you blurted out he was a lion shifter.”
“Oh, yeah, he is. Claimed me while drunk, actually. He didn’t mean to do it, but now he’s stuck with me.”
Taylor groaned. “Babe, you know it wasn’t like that.”
“Whatever.”
“So does it hurt?” Hamilton intervened.
“It’s not exactly pleasant, but they usually do it during sex, so you have other stuff to think about.”
“Right. Sex.”
Dallas moved quickly, faster than Hamilton would have thought him able to. He pressed his chest against Hamilton’s and hooked a hand on the back of Hamilton’s neck, pulling him down. “You won’t be having sex with anyone but me,” he snarled before kissing Hamilton.
Hamilton stayed frozen for all of two seconds, both confused and suddenly aroused, before wrapping his arms around Dallas and pulling him closer, so close he could smell Dallas’ scent and Dallas’ hair tickled his cheeks.
Dallas pushed his tongue against Hamilton’s lips, and Hamilton opened up without resistance. He wanted this. He wanted Dallas to kiss him, and fuck, he even wanted Dallas’ hard dick in his ass instead of pressed against his thigh. Maybe his life really was a romance novel, because he felt like he was about to swoon.
When Dallas moved away, Hamilton was breathless, and still confused as fuck. Dallas looked good, even better than he had before. His lips were reddened and shining with their shared spit. His eyes were huge, and the feral expression he’d sported before was gone.
“So, uh, I guess you two are mates,” Nysys said. “Sorry. I wouldn’t have jumped on Hamilton like that if I’d known. Oh, and by the way, you gave me a boner and Morin isn’t even here to help me with it.”
Hamilton shook himself. There was a reason why he was here. He turned to look at Nysys, but Dallas growled again. It was a softer sound this time, and it didn’t sound as angry. Hamilton looked at him, and Dallas blushed.
“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know I’d react so strongly to another guy jumping my mate.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t think Nysys would jump me, but don’t worry, we’re nothing. I mean, we’re not even really friends. He’s just my best friend’s boyfriend, or mate, or whatever.”
“Hey! I’m hurt,” Nysys protested.
Hamilton rolled his eyes. “Please. We’ve talked, like, four times.”
“And you gave me two new tattoos.”
“Doesn’t make us best friends.”
“You’re an asshole.”
&nbs
p; “I know.”
“And what the fuck are you doing here?”
“Looking for Morin.”
“In Wyoming?”
“He won’t answer his phone. What was I supposed to do?”
Nysys looked at Hamilton like he was crazy. “Try calling again maybe?”
“I’ve been calling for months!”
“And he hasn’t been answering?”
“Well, no, he usually does, but not this time.”
“And why was this time so important that you had to come all the way to Wyoming?”
“Stop bullshitting me, Nysys. You know what it is. I know you’re not a shifter, and neither is Morin, but you could have told me. I had to learn this from the news, and let me tell you, the stuff they have to say about you guys isn’t nice. At all.”
Nysys grimaced. “Yeah, I know. And honestly, I didn’t know Morin hadn’t talked to you ever since it came out. But it’s recent, really.”
“Where is he?”
“New York.”
Hamilton sighed. “Of course, he is. So now I have to go back.”
“Yeah, no. You’re not going anywhere. In fact, I think you’re going to move to Wyoming.”
Hamilton frowned. “Move to Wyoming? Why? You know my shop is in New York.”
“Yeah, and your mate is here.”
Chapter Two
Hamilton was silent long enough to make Dallas uneasy. He hadn’t expected Hamilton to pack his bags and move to Gillham right away. He hadn’t even thought about it. It was so soon. They’d met only minutes before.
Still, even though Hamilton was human and had found out about shifters only when the video of Kameron and Tom fighting had hit the news a few days earlier, his off-hand rejection hurt. Dallas tried to hide it as well as he could, but of course, Nysys noticed it. He noticed everything.
Nysys slapped Hamilton’s arm. “You’re an asshole. Your mate is right here, and you make it sound like you don’t want him.”
Hamilton’s eyes widened. “That’s not what I was saying.” He turned to Dallas. “Look, it’s not what I meant, okay? I hadn’t even thought I might need to move here. I’ve been living in New York since college, so yeah, it’s not the first thing I thought of. Sorry.”
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