by Lynn Hagen
Before he could ask, Kade started the car and pulled out of the drive that led to the back of the shop. His fingers curled around his seat belt and Keaton sent up a prayer as Kade took the corner too sharply, the tire running over the curb.
“Sorry about that,” Kade said as he settled back in his seat. “I’m a little rusty. But I have it now.”
Keaton sure as shit hoped so. He was more concerned with bodily injury than Kade putting a dent in the car. It already had enough dents. A few more weren’t going to matter. “Do you know the way?”
Kade gave him a droll stare. “I grew up in this town. I could navigate these back roads in my sleep.”
“Let’s hurry up and get to Kevin’s before it’s too late.” Anxiety balled up in Keaton’s stomach. He really liked Kevin and Keaton knew that the young man was already confused about his gift. He had seen things around town, and nothing had been explained to him. Keaton wouldn’t be surprised if the young man thought he was losing his mind.
But after what he had seen today, watching Maverick shift, Kevin would now know that he wasn’t crazy. Keaton was just afraid that if the vampire had wiped the young man’s mind already, Kevin would think he was crazy all over again.
Plus, the vampire’s touch just might screw up Kevin’s gift—and Keaton viewed it as a gift. He wasn’t sure what it was for, but no one should tamper with it.
“Shit.”
That did not sound good. “Why are you shitting?” Keaton asked.
Kade cut a glance at him and Keaton knew right away. “We’re lost, aren’t we?”
“No,” Kade said as he gripped the wheel tighter. “We are just momentarily misplaced.”
“Momentarily—” Keaton gave a strangled laugh of disbelief. “I thought you said you knew these roads.”
“It’s been a while,” Kade defended. “Just give me a minute and it’ll all come back to me.”
“We might not have a minute. The vampires are sweeping through this town at a rapid rate. Minutes may be the difference between helping Kevin or letting his gift be taken from him.”
Kade reached over and wrapped his hands around Keaton’s. “We don’t even really know what his gift is. The only thing we know for certain is that he can see people for who they truly are. A vampire’s touch may not do anything to him.”
That was true, but Keaton didn’t want to take that chance. He was becoming increasingly frustrated until Kade made a small noise that indicated he remembered where he was. “I knew I would remember!”
“Fantastic, now can we get there?”
“You don’t have to be so bitchy. I’m only trying to help.”
Now Keaton felt like shit. He had not meant to become snarky. “I’m sorry, Kade. I’m just worried. I know I just met the kid today, but I don’t know, it’s like we clicked.”
Kade squeezed his hand tightly. “We’ll get to him.”
After five more minutes of driving, Kade pulled into a long driveway. He parked the car next to a beat-up old truck. The two hurried out of the car and ran toward the front door. Keaton knocked as hard as he could, hoping they made it on time.
Kade glanced through one of the front windows and then turned toward Keaton, shaking his head. “I don’t see anyone.”
“Well then”—Keaton waved frantically toward the front door—“break it down.”
“You want me to break into their home?” Kade asked in a tense voice. “Are you trying to send me back to prison?”
“Well, no,” Keaton said as he glanced at the door. “Then you might want to take the car and go because I’m about to break this door down. You standing here next to me is only going to incriminate you.” Keaton opened the screen door and turned the knob, not surprised at all that it was unlocked.
People who lived in such rural areas tended to keep things unlocked. He eased the door open and stuck his head inside. “Hello?” he whispered loudly. When he didn’t hear a response, Keaton walked in.
Kade was standing outside cursing before he hurried inside and close the door behind them. “I am highly protesting this.” Kade grabbed Keaton’s hand and led him up a set of stairs. “They’re probably asleep in their bed. That’s where we need to check.”
As they ascended the stairs, Keaton’s nose began to twitch. “What on earth is that smell?” He was still getting used to his shifter form. Hell, it’d only been a few hours since he had changed. Everything was so new to him, images sharper, scents stronger, and he felt like he could take on the world.
Keaton loved feeling strong, but right now he was more concerned with that overwhelming stench. It was starting to burn his nose.
Kade stiffened beside him and then pulled Keaton back. His teal-colored eyes narrowed as he glanced at one of the bedroom doors. “What you smell is vampire blood.”
Keaton was confused. If the vampire was only coming here to wipe a mind, why would he be smelling blood? A foreboding feeling began to pull at Keaton’s chest. Something wasn’t right.
Kade pulled his hand free and pressed it into Keaton until his back was against the wall. “Stay right here,” Kade demanded quietly. He didn’t say a word as his mate crept toward the bedroom door. He wanted to follow. God, how he wanted to follow, but Keaton was terrified of what he would see.
He wanted to shout for Kade to hurry up and check, but he also wanted to shout for Kade to get away from the door. Neither of them had any idea what was beyond it. What if it was something so heinous that it would give Keaton nightmares for years to come? But what if Kevin was hurt?
It took everything in Keaton to stay rooted to the spot.
Kade listened at the door, pressing his ear into the wood. Keaton strained to listen as well, but he didn’t hear anything. He sucked in his bottom lip and began to chew on it when Kade reached for the door handle.
As his mate turned the knob, Keaton’s anxiety began to build higher. He watched, his breath frozen in his lungs as Kade slowly opened the bedroom door. The door creaked as it slowly moved inward. All of the sudden Keaton felt as if he was in the middle of some horror movie.
He glanced over his shoulder but all he saw was an empty hallway. Seeing no one there did not stop him from worrying. His eyes swept back over to Kade and saw that his mate had gone inside.
Now Keaton was standing all alone in the dark hallway. He wasn’t sure what he was more afraid of, being left out here when he had no clue what was going on, or what was in the room with his mate.
Unable to stand it anymore, Keaton crossed the hallway, creeping close to the room. He knew that Kade had told him to stay where he was, but Keaton was starting to freak himself out. His life had never been this exciting before, nor had it ever been this scary.
His goddamn nerves were frazzled.
Taking in a deep breath to calm himself, Keaton leaned his head inside the bedroom. He saw Kade standing there, his head lowered. Keaton couldn’t understand why his mate wasn’t moving.
Taking another step, Keaton was now standing in the bedroom.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait outside?” Kade asked, his voice…off. He didn’t sound mad. His tone sounded more like he was tired.
Not understanding what was going on, Keaton glanced around the room. His breath left his lungs in a whoosh. His heart began to hammer at a fast pace as his mind tried to understand what his eyes were seeing.
“Kevin?” Keaton said the young man’s name in a soft tone. “What’s going on?”
Kade turned his head and glanced at Keaton, his eyes filled with something close to fear. Keaton didn’t like this. He wanted to get out of here. Keaton had no clue what was going on, but his mind was telling him that it was bad.
Real bad.
The vampire lay at Kevin’s feet and he was—oh god, Keaton was going to be sick. He had no head. The vampire’s body lay there, headless. Keaton stumbled backward, his back hitting the wall as he stared from the dead body to Kevin.
“He was a bad man,” Kevin whispered. “He wanted to hurt my dad.
”
Keaton glanced around but didn’t see Kevin’s father anywhere. His right hand pressed against his chest as he leaned forward. “Kevin, where is your father?”
“He tried to hurt my dad,” Kevin repeated, his voice strained, his eyes unfocused. “I couldn’t let him hurt my dad.”
Against his better judgment, Keaton moved forward. Kade grabbed his arm, but Keaton pulled away. He sidestepped the prone body as he stopped in front of Kevin. “No one blames you. I just need you to tell me where your father is.”
“Safe,” Kevin said. “He’s asleep in his bed. I put him to sleep so he wouldn’t get hurt. He tried to fight the vampire, but my dad isn’t strong enough to defeat something as evil as that.”
“Keaton.” Kade said his name softly. “Please come over here.”
He didn’t understand his mate’s fear. Yeah, there was a dead body on the floor, but Kevin wasn’t even an adult yet. Why was Kade so afraid of the small human? Unsure what to do, Keaton moved over to Kade. “Will you tell me what’s going on?”
Kade glanced down at the dead body. “I’m hoping like hell that he wasn’t one of Christian’s favorites.” His mate nodded toward the vampire. Keaton could see the problem with that. But Kevin had said that the vampire was trying to hurt his father. There was no way he could get in trouble for defending—Keaton thought about Kade going to prison for defending his friend. This was so screwed up. But that still didn’t explain why Kade wanted Keaton to get away from Kevin. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Kade gave him a wry smile as his eyes swept from Keaton to Kevin. “It seems Kevin is full of surprises. He has a second gift.” Kade’s eyes hardened, which shocked Keaton. “Young Kevin is a styre mente.”
Chapter Eleven
Kade stood back as Maverick walked through the bedroom door, but he never took his eyes off of Kevin. Did Kade think that the teenager would intentionally hurt him? No. But he was a young, powerful, untrained styre mente. Even being locked away for so many years, Kade knew just how dangerous Kevin was right now.
Maverick’s light-grey eyes skimmed over the dead body, his expression stoic. His hands were clasped behind his back, his long black hair falling over his shoulders as he knelt down and examined the body. “How did he threaten your father?”
The young man was standing with his back against the wall, his arms curved around his stomach. Kade could see the slight trembling of his body as Kevin gazed at the alpha. “H–he bit him.”
“I thought they were only supposed to swipe the humans’ minds?” Keaton looked up at Kade. “Do they have to bite in order to clear someone’s memory? The man on the street wasn’t bitten when that vampire touched him.”
Maverick stood to his full height, his jaw made of granite as he stared back at Kota, who had been waiting just inside the door. “Call the prince.” The words were said in fury. “Tell him to get here now or risk losing every fucking vampire he has sent to my town.”
Kade drew his arms around Keaton, pulling his mate close when Maverick walked over to the young man. He felt Keaton fight to pull away, trying to go to Kevin. There was no way he was letting Keaton anywhere near the alpha—not when Kade couldn’t decipher what mood the wolf was in.
Hurting a child was not Maverick’s style, but then again, Kevin was no ordinary child. He was a deadly weapon if he were to fall into the wrong hands. Whatever Maverick decided to do, Kade would understand. Having a styre mente near the people they cared about was extremely dangerous.
“Does your father know about your abilities?” Maverick asked.
“He knows that I can see people for who they truly are. But I never told him about—” Kevin glanced down at the dead body.
Maverick moved closer, leaning in, his frame daunting over Kevin’s. “Have you killed anybody before?” Kade was shocked that the question was spoken with gentleness, not a hint of anger or reproach in the alpha’s voice.
“No, sir.” Kevin’s thin body began to shake harder right before he dropped to his knees and vomited. This time Kade let Keaton go. His mate rushed over, running his hands over Kevin’s back.
“You will be taken to somebody who will train you in the correct way to use your abilities,” Maverick said before he turned to Kota. “Make sure one of Christian’s men gets this damn body out of here.”
Kade wasn’t sure what to do. He wanted to take Keaton and leave, but his mate was consoling Kevin. So he just stood there, watching as Maverick coaxed Kevin to his feet. “Let’s go wake your father and let him know what’s going on.”
Kevin nodded as he wiped at his eyes, still looking a little green. Kade circled his arms around Keaton when his mate rejoined him. He had never seen this side of the alpha, caring, gentle. Maverick walked with them out of the room, Kade following behind.
But instead of going to the father’s room, Kade walked Keaton outside. “Are you doing okay?” His mate hugged him, resting his blond head on Kade’s shoulder. Kade ran his hands through the silky strands as he waited until Keaton regained his bearings.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen a dead body. And now that I’m a leopard”—Keaton shuddered—“the room, the body, and even the scent was clearer, crisper. I could’ve done without that.”
“Sorry, baby. You can’t turn that off.” Kade walked Keaton to the car and opened the passenger door for his mate, helping him in and buckling his seat belt. It had been one hell of a night. The only thing Kade wanted to do right now was take Keaton home. This was way too much excitement for him.
“Hold on, buddy.” Keaton unsnapped his seat belt and slid out. “I’m not that out of it that I’ll let you drive again. Your skills are rusty as hell and my nerves are shot. You can practice later. Right now I just want to get home in one piece.”
Kade scowled at his mate. “I’m not that bad.”
Keaton tossed his head back and laughed, Kade appreciating the musical sound. Inside Kevin’s home had been intense, and he was glad for the light bantering.
“Dude, have you actually paid attention to the way you drive? Corners are not safe around you.” Keaton walked around the car, holding his hand out, his fingers wiggling for Kade to hand over the keys.
“I do not drive like that.” Kade dropped the keys into Keaton’s waiting palm. “I’m a very safe driver.” His statement only made his mate laugh harder. Kade tried to be offended, but seeing the smile on Keaton’s face tore down his defenses, making him chuckle. “Okay, maybe I am a little rusty.”
“Come on, kitty cat.” Keaton got into the driver’s side. Kade was purring at the reference. He liked it…a lot. Maybe he could get Keaton to pet him as he said the endearment again. His cock was growing hard at the thought as he slid into the passenger side.
Keaton scented the air. “What is that scent?”
Kade covered his smile with his hand, wondering if his mate was going to figure out that he was sniffing Kade’s lust. It was a heavy, exotic scent that was filling the car quickly. He didn’t say a word. Keaton was going to have to learn how to differentiate the aromas in his environment.
Lust was a damn good scent to start with.
His mate continued to sniff as he started the car. “It smells spicy. The aroma reminds me of…” Keaton turned his head and looked at Kade. “Sex.”
“Very good,” Kade said in a tone that couldn’t be mistaken for anything other than raw hunger. He slumped a little in his seat, his groin clear for Keaton to see just how hard he was getting. Keaton’s eyes grew wide, and then lowered as he licked his bottom lip.
The man was going to be Kade’s undoing.
Kade lowered his head, shifting his eyes to his left as he ran his hand over his erection, hitching his hips at the same time. He massaged his fingers over the swollen denim, enjoying the show he was putting on for Keaton.
The car stopped at the end of the driveway. Keaton’s fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel, the knuckles turning white as his breath hitched. Sapphire eyes were glued to what
Kade was doing.
“Drive us home.” Kade unsnapped his jeans, pulling the zipper down slowly. Keaton tore his eyes away from Kade and began to drive again, but Kade could see that Keaton was stealing glances.
Kade’s moves may appear even and slow, but his blood felt like it was racing. In the process of trying to turn Keaton on, Kade was unleashing the lust inside of himself as well. With his left hand, Kade looped his thumb into his underwear and pulled them forward, grabbing his cock with his right hand.
He caught the sight of Keaton’s canines slowly extending. The man was a newborn in the paranormal world. He was going to have to learn how to control his leopard. Right now, just the two of them, the sight made his cock pulse harder in his hand.
Moving his fingers up and down his shaft at a leisurely pace, Kade used his left hand to push into his pants and cup his balls. He rolled the sac in his hand as his right hand slid up and down his cock.
What had started out as teasing Keaton was quickly turning into a private masturbation session, his mate witnessing the show. He pressed his back further into the seat as his hand stroked his cock more quickly. He wasn’t sure why, but knowing that someone—that Keaton—was watching only spiked his arousal higher.
“Kade,” Keaton said almost desperately. The sound of him swallowing hard filled the car. “You’re distracting me.”
“Watch the road, baby.” Kade’s hand moved quicker, stroking himself faster as he pulled on his balls. He wasn’t going to last and he couldn’t stop. The erotic pleasure was pulling him under, forcing him to finish what he had started.
Throwing his head back, Kade gasped, grunted, and began to fuck his very own hand. He needed release. He needed, so goddamn badly that Kade’s hand was now flying up and down his cock. He thrust forward and then pulled back, groaning and panting.
“Shit,” Keaton whispered as he pulled over to the side of the road. He turned in his seat and just watched as Kade masturbated right there in front of him. Kade squeezed his cock, letting out a moan as he played with his balls. He was close, his sac growing tighter as his body shot toward his orgasm.