Mercury Rising 11 - Meet Me at Sunrise

by Lynn Hagen

  Colton’s heart beat wildly at the thought of spending the night with his three mates. Three. How the fuck had that happened? He normally wasn’t shy when it came to sex, but Colton had also never been with more than one guy at a time, either.

  “I’ve never been to the tavern.” Victor bounced around like an excited puppy as Colton tried to pull himself together.

  Corbin gave Colton a knowing smile before he went back inside, leaving Colton standing there confused as hell.

  * * * *

  “You smell like straight-up vampire,” the bartender said as Colton strolled to the bar. “It’s like you dipped yourself in a vat of them.” Darius’s gaze fell to Victor. “And who is this cutie?”

  Victor squeaked and half hid himself behind Colton. He didn’t like the fact that he was starting to look at Victor like a kid brother. Colton didn’t even want to go there after what had happened to Anthony, but a protective streak shot through him as he glared at the bear shifter.

  “This is Victor and keep your dirty thoughts to yourself.”

  Darius chuckled and winked at Victor. “You know I love to flirt.”

  “I also know you’ve fucked half the men in this town,” Colton said as he took a seat at the bar, Victor scrambling onto the stool next to him.

  Darius’s gaze shot to the little bartender who was heading their way. Coral seemed oblivious to their conversation.

  “Give me the special,” Colton said. He looked down at Victor.

  Darius lowered his voice as he spoke to the vampire. “Got O-Negative in the back. Want a glass?”

  “You have blood here?” Victor sounded as though Darius had just told him he was going to Disney World.

  “I’ll heat some up and bring you a glass with Colton’s dinner.” Darius walked away, but his gaze strayed to Coral before he disappeared into the kitchen.

  Colton grabbed the bowl of pretzels that sat off to the side and snatched a handful, thinking about his mates as he chewed.

  “I can tell they miss you.”

  Colton looked at Victor. “Come again?”

  “Your mates. I’ve heard them talk about you. They miss you.” Victor curled his lips in. “But that’s none of my business, and I shouldn’t be eavesdropping on their conversations. Not that I was!” He held his hands up. “I just overheard them from time to time.” He rested his chin on his hand. “I wish I had a mate,” he said dreamily.

  “What’s your story?” Colton popped a few more pretzels into his mouth. Why did he find talking to Victor so easy when he couldn’t even talk to his brethren without needing to escape and get fresh air? He even liked talking with Reggie.

  But most of all, Colton couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss he’d shared with Antonio and the one Corbin had just given him. Being with them felt so…right.

  “My story?” Victor placed a hand on his chest. “You want to know about me?”

  “Why does that seem so shocking?”

  “Because no one ever wants to know about me,” Victor stated. “Everyone tries to act like I don’t exist.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “That’s the life of a coven,” he said. “Hierarchy is everything. The Veneto brothers are like gods while I’m closer to a slug.” He twisted his lips to the side. “On second thought, I think a slug would have higher standing than me.”

  Colton had forgotten the triplets’ surname was Veneto. “It’s like that in a wolf pack, too.”

  “Really?” Victor scratched his dark hair. “You guys at Mercury Rising all seem tough. I can’t imagine any of you being kicked around.”

  Colton narrowed his eyes. “Someone’s been kicking you around?”

  “No,” Victor answered quickly and looked away. “But the lower your status, the more you’re treated like poop on the bottom of a shoe.”

  “I take it Morrison isn’t the only one who fucks with you.”

  Victor glanced around the tavern. “I’m sorry, Master, but—”

  “Colton. Call me Colton.”

  With a nod, Victor said, “I’m sorry, Colton. But I’m not a snitch. That’s an unsafe thing to be when you live with so many dangerous beings.”

  Colton opened his mouth and then closed it when his phone rang. He recognized the number. “Hello?”

  “Hmm, I really love the sound of your voice.”

  Colton grunted. “What do you want, Antonio?”

  He might be acting gruff, but Antonio’s smooth, silky voice was causing havoc with Colton’s body. His heart galloped, and he felt his palms become sweaty.

  “Come outside and I’ll show you what I want.” Antonio’s light laughter made Colton’s body tingle.

  He looked toward the tavern door but didn’t see his mate. Colton wondered if Antonio was alone or if his brothers were with him. Victor looked as though he was fascinated with the pretzel in his hand, but Colton knew he was listening.

  Victor took a nibble then grimaced, spitting while wiping his hand across his mouth.

  “Give me a second,” he said to Antonio before he ended the call.

  “I used to love food,” Victor said as he sighed.

  “I’m gonna have to give you a raincheck on our time together,” Colton said to Victor.

  “That’s okay.” Victor tossed the remainder of the pretzel onto the bar. “I’m gonna enjoy my evening here. You go have fun.”

  “Stay safe,” Colton growled at the little mouse before he headed out the door. Standing by his Charger was not only Antonio but Corbin. They were talking softly to one another until Colton approached.

  Antonio turned a lustful gaze toward Colton as Corbin closed the distance. Bo, the resident alligator, hissed as he backed into the shadows.

  “I thought you guys were gonna leave me alone while I ate dinner.” Colton stopped when Corbin reached him. The vampire took Colton’s hand and led him to the car. “I’m not making out with you guys in the middle of a parking lot.”

  But if they started touching and kissing him, Colton wasn’t so sure he would want them to stop. Not when his lips tingled at the remembered kisses, and his wolf whimpered for Colton to sandwich himself between them.

  “You had no trouble last time.” Antonio smirked. “But that’s not why we’re here.”

  Why did that disappoint Colton? He pulled his hand from Corbin and folded his arms. “Then why are you disrupting my dinner?”

  “Because we have pressing matters that need your attention,” Lucian said as he walked toward them. Colton hadn’t even seen him standing off in the cut. The vampire looked regal as he strode toward Colton. His steps were more like gliding over the dirt.

  “And what business is that?” Colton hadn’t had time to process everything that had happened tonight, and now he felt as though he was being thrust into the vampire world. So far things hadn’t seemed so hard, but he had a feeling the truly hard things hadn’t happened yet.

  The Veneto brothers were easing him into this, but Colton needed time. He’d gone from flat-out refusing to become Master, to hanging at the club and considering the role. But if this was about politics, Colton knew he wasn’t ready to tackle the mess Magnus had left behind. Not yet. Not until he learned more about the inner workings of the vampire world.

  “A council meeting has been called,” Lucian said. “And since you are the Master—”

  “Whoa.” Colton held up a hand. “Pump the brakes, buddy. I might be considering the role, but I’m not ready to go to a meeting.”

  “Kingsley has resurfaced,” Antonio said. “And he’s set free the prisoners from the veil.”

  Colton cursed. The pack had been afraid he would do something like that. Kingsley used to be one of their elders, one of the Consiglio. He had slaughtered the old council and had tried to kill more than one bounty hunter. The lion shifter was off his rocker and had been hiding out in the veil.

  In truth, it had been so long that Colton had forgotten about him. “How many prisoners are out?”

  Lucian narrowe
d his eyes. “All of them.”

  * * * *

  “We’ll be in there with you.” Antonio took Colton’s hand and caressed the back of it with his thumb. “It’s protocol. The Master doesn’t attend any official meetings unguarded.”

  No one was around, and Antonio was hoping that his mate let his guard down, that he didn’t do that whole snarling thing and push him away.

  “I think I can handle a council meeting without breaking down or flipping out.” Colton looked at the brick building as though he could walk in there with no problem, but Antonio saw the hesitation in his eyes. And hadn’t Colton already said that he wasn’t ready for a meeting? Even so, Antonio knew his mate would do just fine.

  “I’m sure you can handle anything thrown your way.” Antonio winked and then sobered. “Your mates won’t look at you any differently if you aren’t ready. We can take your place at the table.”

  Colton carded a hand through his blond hair and blew out a breath. “I could use a drink.”

  “Council meetings are best attended sober.” He squeezed Colton’s hand. “What do you want to do?”

  Straightening his shoulders, Colton pulled his hand free and headed toward the door. Antonio couldn’t be prouder of the wolf. It seemed when Colton committed himself to something, he was committed. He was gonna do just fine as Master, just as long as he left the booze alone.

  “Just one second.” Antonio had been staring at Colton’s ass and couldn’t resist touching his mate. He spun Colton and pressed him against the bricks. “For good luck.”

  “What’re you—”

  The air stirred between them as Antonio seized Colton’s mouth and devoured it, mapping his mate’s body with his hands. Colton became hard as he kissed Antonio right back, using tongue and running his fingers through Antonio’s hair. He loved that his mate was now receptive to him, that Colton didn’t hesitate when Antonio had him pinned against something.

  He pulled back and stared into his mate’s gorgeous blue eyes. “We need to go.”

  Colton grinned, and the smile was breathtaking. “You’re the one who stopped me.”

  “That I did.” He nipped Colton’s chin before taking a step back.

  “Great,” Colton groused. “Now I have to go into my first council meeting with a hard dick.”

  Antonio groaned. What he wouldn’t give to relieve his mate of that problem. Definitely later. He planned on taking Colton down to their living quarters and ravishing the man. It was about time his wolf was claimed, and Antonio and his brothers would do that tonight.

  He still thought converting Colton was the better option, but Corbin and Lucian were against the idea, and his mate was too stubborn to see the benefits. Colton was also too proud, and Antonio needed to give his mate time to adjust to the vampire life before approaching him with the idea.

  With a sigh, he followed Colton into the meeting, hoping this didn’t take too long.

  Chapter Five

  “Are you sure you want to be out here with me?” Rio asked as the two walked through the town park. “Don’t you have vampire business you need to tend to?”

  After the meeting, Colton had needed familiarity. He needed to let his wolf hunt, and he’d needed time away from his mates to think. The meeting had gone well, and Matt had treated him like an equal. And that was one reason he was so loyal to his alpha.

  But Matt was no longer his leader. He’d made that clear after the meeting. Although he would always be considered a friend, his alpha had severed their ties, telling Colton that he needed to focus on his new responsibilities, and wished him well.

  “I need to hunt,” Colton said. “I’m not sure I’m cut out for politics.”

  Rio clapped him on his shoulder. “You’ll do fine. You’ve always been a bossy bastard.”

  Before his life had been forever changed. Rio had left that part out.

  Colton was also avoiding going back to the club because he knew the Veneto brothers were waiting for him. He wasn’t sure he was ready to have sex with three men at the same time.

  “Well, you’re welcome to tag along,” Rio said. “But I’m sure I can take the leopard shifter down on my own.”

  “Gee, thanks for making me feel useful.” Colton spotted a shadow from the corner of his eye.

  “I saw it, too,” Rio said.

  They changed course, heading for the large oak in the center of the park where the shadow had appeared. They had two dozen escaped creatures from the veil to hunt down, yet at the moment, they were executing a capture warrant for a leopard who had assaulted some college kids.

  The job must go on. Though Matt had said Colton was done with the bounty hunting business. That still chapped his khakis. Just because he was Master of the vampires didn’t mean he had to quit executing warrants. Colton lived for the hunt and wasn’t sure what he would do with all his free time now.

  Rio went right as Colton went left. They circled the tree, only to find Lucian leaning against it, his arms crossed as he narrowed his eyes at Colton.

  “I guess you got this,” Rio said before he took off.

  “Why the hell’re you following me?” Colton snapped. “Can’t I get a moment’s peace?”

  Lucian stalked toward him, and Colton forced himself not to take a step back. Lucian was tall and sleek, and his black, silky hair fell around his shoulders. He was handsome as fuck, but lethality bled from him. “Why are you avoiding your mates?”

  “Who said I was avoiding any of you?” Colton spun and was ready to walk away, to find Rio and join him on his hunt, but Lucian grabbed his arm and spun him back around.

  “Are you afraid of being with us?” Lucian smirked as his heated gaze slid over Colton. “I promise to be gentle.”

  Colton snarled. “I said I wasn’t avoiding you.”

  He stopped himself from shuddering at the way Lucian was staring at him. The look was primal, seductive, and Colton felt that gaze touch him deep inside.

  Lucian nodded. “Very well, then.”

  Colton yelped when the vampire grabbed him and used his inhuman speed to make it to the club. By the time he had them at the door to the lower chamber, Colton felt like he’d be sick. “Don’t fucking do that to me.”

  He held his stomach and waited for the lightheadedness to pass as Lucian opened the door and led him downstairs. The hallway was dark, with door after wooden door lining the walls. Halfway down the hallway was a kitchen to his right. It looked modern, sleek, and unused, and Colton wondered why vampires would need the room, but he was too nervous to ask.

  At the end of the hallway was a red door. Colton wasn’t sure he wanted to see what was on the other side. Would Corbin and Antonio be waiting for him? Did the triplets plan on ambushing him?

  Man the fuck up. These are your mates and you need to get used to being with them.

  Lucian opened it and walked in, leaving Colton in the doorway. It was the swankiest bedroom he’d ever seen. He wasn’t sure why, but Colton had expected dark paneled walls, candelabras everywhere, and maybe even a coffin.

  What he saw were light hues, from the walls to the bed to the carpeting on the wooden floor. The bedroom appeared…normal. The only thing missing were windows.

  “Were you expecting a coffin?” Lucian smirked. Had the guy read his mind, or was Colton’s stunned expression giving him away? He walked in and looked around.

  “Honestly, yeah. I thought your room would be decorated in black and red colors and be, well, more vampire-y than this.”

  The comforter on the four-poster bed was white, with tan-and-cream pillows. The carpeting was beige, and there were swirly patterns cutting through it. The walls were tan and white, making the room appear bright. The sheer curtains hanging from the four-poster were a light yellow, bringing the entire room together.

  Lucian moved in behind him and brushed his hand over Colton’s nape. One guy? Colton could handle that.

  He didn’t protest when Lucian lowered to his knees and removed Colton’s shoes and socks and
then stood and guided Colton to the bed.

  He lay down on his side, his head propped on his hand as he stared into Lucian’s beautiful face. Colton was staring at a vampire, the very breed he’d sworn to hate, yet being here with Lucian felt…right.

  “Having second thoughts?” Lucian gave Colton a soft smile as he undressed, exposing inch after inch of his perfect, flawless body.

  “Fuck no.” When Lucian’s cock sprang free, Colton whimpered. It had been nearly a year since he’d had sex, and he was more than ready. He lifted his upper half from the bed and tore his shirt off, tossing it aside.

  Lucian groaned. “I love when you look at me that way.”

  The vampire crawled into bed and moved his fingertips over Colton, caressing him. Colton fought to hold on to a sense of balance as Lucian slid Colton’s pants off and tossed them aside before his mate tugged the boxers off, too. When he settled back into place, the pad of Lucian’s thumb raked over the head of Colton’s cock.

  The sensation was exquisite.

  As he arched against Lucian, his legs parted for the hard thigh pressed between his, lifting him, forcing Colton to ride the contours of Lucian’s leg as he ground his balls against the vampire.

  Colton ached as though sex was more than a want. He ached as though it were imperative to his very being.

  Lucian’s mouth found Colton’s nipple, and the lash of the man’s tongue had Colton’s eyelids fluttering, had sensation shooting straight to his cock and beyond as a ragged cry left his lips.

  “Come for me, my love.” Lucian’s voice was rough and raspy.

  Colton gasped for air as Lucian took Colton’s lips in a kiss, the man’s tongue licking along his as Lucian’s fingers slid down Colton’s ass, gripping him closer. Arcs of pleasure tore through him as his legs tightened and he rode the vampire’s powerful thigh.

  “I’ve dreamt about this,” Lucian growled against Colton’s lips as he gave Colton a moment to breathe. “I want to bury my cock deep inside you. I want to feel you quivering in my arms, calling my name.”

  He wanted Lucian to take him, to ease the hard knot of hunger tightening inside him. His hips arched closer, the friction nearly shattering him.