by Lisa Oliver
“Cari,” Christian asked, “you said you clapped, and Marcus flew across the room. What were you feeling when that happened? What did he do? I take it you knew him before he came onto you?”
“I used to work with him, and he was part of a group of people I went out for drinks with on a Saturday night.” Cari tilted his head and Quaid found himself drowning in hazel eyes framed by black rimmed glasses. “He could smell I was mated, he got really angry about it, going on about how he’d convinced his alpha to let him claim me as a mate. He was going to bite me, he ripped my shirt….”
Quaid wanted to go back and kill the man, instead of sending him crawling with his tail between his legs. “That must have upset you,” he said gravely.
“He had me cornered by the washing machine. I panicked. His fangs were dropped. He was trying to bite me. I just wanted him to get away from me. I couldn’t believe it when he went flying. It was like he’d been punched in the chest, but I swear I didn’t touch him.”
“What are you thinking, babe?” Dolph asked Christian, who was stroking his chin.
“I’m thinking we need something a bit more concrete than a thousand year old anecdote to assess the extent of Cari’s power, and what it can do. If we take the word of the professors who’ve studied the incident since, then Marcus should be dead. Instead he was just stunned, is that right?”
Quaid nodded. “He was a bit wobbly on his feet, but he was still breathing after I got hold of him. However,” he looked down at Cari and winced. It had to be said. “The Fanshaw alpha seems to know the white hedgehog story. In his head, from what I could gather from the rubbish Marcus was spewing, if he mated Cari to one of his wolves, then he has an ultimate weapon under his control. He’d been sending wolves of all shapes and sizes around Cari while he was out on his Saturday night jaunts, hoping a natural bond would occur.”
“You never told me Marcus said any of that.” Cari glared.
“Sorry, sweetness, it’s not as though we had much time to talk, what with my reckless driving and all.” Quaid grinned. But he was all serious when he addressed his bosses. “The thing is, Cari winning the lottery was the icing on the cake as far as the Fanshaw alpha is concerned. He got his cousins, the lawyer and the therapist, to try and steal the money at first, thinking if Cari could be convinced he was ‘pack’ then no one needed to seduce him anymore. The alpha would hold the considerable purse strings and if Cari wanted to see any of it, he’d have to do as he was told.”
“A forced mating?” Dolph and Christian shared a hard look.
“Sure, looks that way.” Quaid couldn’t hide the growl in his voice. “When the theft of Cari’s funds didn’t work, Marcus told the alpha he’d be the best shot at forcing a bond with Cari, because Cari trusted him to get close enough to bite.”
There was a long moment of silence, as if even Cari didn’t know what to say. Then Christian stood and stretched, and then bent over, smoothing his pants down his legs. “Personally, I think we need to test Cari’s power under lab conditions and see what we’re up against. But I’d need to do some research on who can be trusted to conduct any testing first. You two can’t go gallivanting all over the country if Cari going to kill someone for groping your ass.”
Cari bristled, but Quaid shook his head quickly, urging his mate to keep quiet.
“In the meantime,” Christian continued, “be grateful you have such a rich young mate, Quaid. You two can stay here at our exclusive suite, usually reserved for royalty, and be entirely safe. Get to know each other better. From all accounts, you’ve only been together twenty four hours, yes?”
“I hope you’re going to give us a bit of a discount, boss.” Quaid shifted uncomfortably. He knew how expensive the exclusive suite could be. “I do work for you.”
“Meh, we’ll see.” Christian winked. “It won’t do either of you any harm to learn how rich people live. With the right sort of investment, those lotto winnings will keep you in comfort for the rest of your days. Now off you go. I’ll keep you updated with anything I find out.”
Helping Cari to his feet, Quaid stood, reaching over Cari’s shoulder to shake his boss’s hand. “I really appreciate this,” he said quietly, “more than you can know. But remember Cari isn’t one of your employees. If you make any plans for him or I, you make sure you ask us about them first. Any testing, investment advice or anything else, Cari’s word is final on what actually happens. Do we have a deal?”
“Cari is now our guest,” Christian said smoothly. “I wouldn’t dream of putting my wishes before his.”
Realizing he’d done all he could, Quaid led his mate from the room. So much had happened in the last hour. New revelations, new impacts on their life together, some of which had to be horrific for poor Cari. A hot bath, a long soak, and some finger foods could be just what the love doctor ordered. Now, he just had to hope Cari would agree.
Chapter Seventeen
Cari gave a low whistle as Quaid led him into what was known as the Exclusive suite. It wasn’t a suite, it was an entire house, including a private swimming pool, hot tub, a barbecue area and manicured gardens. The whole place was surrounded by tall trees artfully placed so they let in the light, but provided privacy for the occupants.
The state of the art kitchen held more gadgets than Cari had seen in a department store, and the living room was twice the size of his last apartment. Shaking his head, Cari took in the rugs that were so thick, they swallowed his shoes, the giant entertainment center and the cream leather couches. “Who needs this much space for two people?” he asked, his eyes trying to take it all in.
“Rich people like their space.” Quaid didn’t seem affected by it as he went through to the kitchen, but then Cari reasoned, he’d probably seen far bigger and grander places when he was doing his job. “Besides, this place has four bedrooms and five bathrooms, so there are often groups staying here.”
“We could have gone into one of the smaller suites.” Cari twisted his hands nervously. He wasn’t sure he wanted to even sit down in case he marked the furniture. “I can’t imagine how much all of this is going to cost.” Then he remembered. “Oh, my gods. I can’t even afford to look at this place. You took all my money.”
Quaid froze in the act of filling the coffee machine with beans, a deep look of hurt etched on his face. “I didn’t mate you for your money,” he snarled, slamming the bean packet down hard enough on the counter for it to spill all over the pristine surfaces. “I had your money moved to another account that only you will access, so the damn wolves don’t get your therapist to declare you incompetent and take control of your assets.”
Cari’s heart raced, and his lungs started working overtime. “I wasn’t going to the therapist for mental health problems,” he tried to explain. “I got told by the sheriff’s office, Douglas was a negotiator. I thought my prickle might let me go back if I talked to him.”
“Are you really that naïve?” Quaid roared, causing the spilled coffee beans to quiver. “Your prickle didn’t want you. They kicked you out because you’re a gay omega with white prickles. Why the hell have you been wasting all that money and fucking time on therapists, trying to get back in?”
“I thought they might have made a mistake, or had time to reconsider.” Taking off his glasses, Cari started cleaning them on the edge of his shirt. He kept his head down, not wanting Quaid to see the tears falling down his face. All he ever seemed to do since he won his money, was cry.
The worst thing was, what Quaid said was true. In the deepest recesses of his heart, Cari knew that. His parents turned their backs on him as he was dragged away from the meeting, the word “banished” ringing in his ears. But the prickle was the only home he’d ever had. There’d even been a moment, after he’d won the lotto and before he met Quaid, that he thought they might take him back now he was rich and able to take care of himself. But that was yet another dream smashed to bits. And now Quaid was angry at him too.
/~/~/~/~/
If shifters
got heart attacks, Quaid imagined the symptoms he was having would feel the same. Looking at Cari trying to hide his tears was causing some bastard with a big fist to squeeze the life out of his heart muscle. Yes, his pride had been hurt, hearing Cari’s accusations about the money, but instead of explaining quietly and calmly how his mate’s money was safe, Quaid had lashed out, bringing up the most painful thing he could think of to hurt his mate. Cari’s banishment.
Ignoring the mess on the kitchen counter, Quaid hurried to his mate, wrapping him up and swinging him off his feet. “I’m sorry,” he whispered against Cari’s curls. “I had no right to lash out at you like that. I promise your money is safe and no one will ever tell you what to do with it. Not even me.”
“I don’t care about the money,” Cari sobbed, flinging his arms around Quaid’s neck. “All I’ve ever wanted in the whole world was for someone to care about me for who I am. My parents didn’t care if I lived or died. My prickle always treated me like a leper. Douglas and Barry tried to rip me off. Lucy and Marcus and their crowd – they only pretended to be my friends because some alpha I only met once told them too. Why doesn’t anyone want me for me? Aren’t I good enough?”
You’re a fucking shit for brains, Quaid Poullon. “I am so, so, sorry,” Quaid whispered, hugging his mate tighter. “You are worth a million times more than any of those assholes who let you down. I know it won’t mean much when you’re hurting so badly, and that’s all my fault, but I will love you to the ends of time. I don’t care if your prickles turn gray and fall out. I will stand by you if you go on a gigantic spending spree and blow all your coin at a casino. I will be with you for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health. If you call on your power and eliminate every asshole who ever breathed at you wrong, I’ll be standing by your side, giving you an alibi, holding the shovel to bury them all when you’re done. I want you Caractacus Hudson. I want you for you and I swear, I always will.”
“You really mean that, I can feel it, and that does make me feel a lot better.” Lying his head on Quaid’s shoulder, Cari patted the back of his neck gently. “But you’d better be careful with those words of yours. I’m sure I heard love mentioned and something about richer and poorer. You’ll have me thinking you’re going to propose to me next.”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll get down on one knee now and propose,” Quaid said, glad to hear a spot of Cari’s spirit was back. “I should warn you though. The only thing I have worth having, is the one thing you can’t buy.”
“What’s that?” Cari whispered.
“My heart,” Quaid said simply. “And that was yours from the moment I saw you in my brother’s office.”
“I’ll look after it,” Cari promised, pushing himself off Quaid’s shoulder and leaning in for a kiss. “For the record, you own mine too.”
That wretched fist on his heart let go, and Quaid breathed a sigh of relief. “So,” he drawled, “I happen to know this place has a jacuzzi bath tub big enough to fit six of me. Are you keen for a soak?”
Even with his reddened eyes and tear stained cheeks Cari was adorable when he smiled. “I was thinking we’ve had our first argument. Does that mean we get to have make-up sex now? Maybe in the tub?”
“I do like the way you think, mate of mine,” Quaid growled as he carried Cari through into the master bathroom.
Chapter Eighteen
Cari knew his sudden about-face had surprised his mate, but it’d pleased him too. Whenever he’d been confronted with issues in the past, Cari had made lists – pros and cons, good and bad points – everything he could think of listed so he could see things clearly all in the one place. But he had a mate now, and Cari’s need to see Quaid smiling at him far outweighed his underlying anxiety.
Besides, from what he’d remembered of his amazing claiming the night before, Cari was keen to feel that way again. It was hard to believe they’d only met twenty-four hours before. Everything about Quaid called to him on a cellular level. It was as if they’d always been together.
So, when Quaid set his feet on the floor in the bathroom, leaning over to start the tub filling, Cari didn’t have any hesitation pulling off his clothes, setting them neatly on one of the stools leaning against the wall, with his glasses resting on top of them. The heat in Quaid’s eyes, when the man turned to look at him, was worth any minor discomfort he felt at being naked.
“You take my breath away, little darling.”
Cari’s heart skipped a beat at Quaid’s smile. “Do you need help with your own clothes?” He asked, stepping forward in what he hoped was a flirty manner. “Let me do that for you.” Pushing Quaid’s hands away from the buttons on his mate’s shirt, Cari started at the top and worked his way down. He’d had so few gifts in his life, but on the rare times he had, he’d enjoyed opening them sometimes more than the gift itself.
Undressing Quaid was better than a hundred Christmases. Quaid’s shirt was deliciously tight, so every time Cari undid a button, the shirt pinged open a little more. Quaid’s breathing was heavy, causing his chest to rise and fall in such a way his shirt almost fell off his body. Confronted with so much skin, Cari wasn’t sure what to do first, but Quaid’s nipples were raised lumps, just begging for his mouth, and Cari was happy to oblige.
Quaid’s deep-felt groan and the way Cari’s head was cradled, pushing his face into Quaid’s chest, let him know he was on the right track. Opening his mouth, Cari sucked the tight nipple into his mouth, taking care not to catch the skin with his teeth. But it seemed Quaid had other ideas.
“That’s it, babe, bite down, put some pressure on that little nub. Let me feel it right down to my cock.”
His cheeks flaming, Cari did as Quaid asked, the warning niggle in the back of his head about hurting his mate swept aside as Quaid’s hips started to thrust against his belly. Pulling off with a pop, Cari moved his head to the other side, capturing the other nipple in his mouth and sucking on it, scraping the skin with his teeth. Quaid’s response was more than he could have ever hoped for. He was causing Quaid to growl and moan, it was his belly Quaid was rubbing off on, and Cari hadn’t even got the man’s pants off yet.
Something Quaid clearly realized as well, because just as Cari was really getting into what he was doing, he was picked up and moved a foot back, his teeth dragging out the contact with Quaid’s skin as long as possible.
“You’re too damn good at that, little minx,” Quaid said, ripping off his remaining shirt buttons and undoing his pants. “I’m not coming until my cock is encased in your tight ass, so get in the tub.”
The tub! Cari had completely forgotten the water was running, but fortunately the tub was deep. Shutting off the taps, he climbed over the edge, and sank down into the warm water with a sigh. There was a bench, running around the tub, which Cari eased his naked butt on, swirling his arms around, letting the water soothe his aches and stresses. Quaid getting in caused the water to rise another couple of inches, but it was still sitting under Cari’s neckline, so he wasn’t alarmed about it. He didn’t know how to swim in his human form, but he could swim in his shifted form if he had to, he just wasn’t keen on doing it.
“You need to come and sit on my lap.” Quaid patted his big thigh. “I’ve got something big and juicy for you to impale yourself on.”
“Don’t we need lube for that to happen?” But Cari was already moving in Quaid’s direction. His mate was right, it was a huge tub.
“I’ve got that right here,” Quaid said, holding up a brand new tube of lube. “Come and stand between my legs first.”
Sit. Stand. Cari was a bit confused, but he did as Quaid asked, the heat of his cheeks increasing when he saw how close Quaid’s mouth was to his dangly bits. Quaid caught his glance and grinned. “I don’t know what’s prettier,” he growled, “the blush on your cheeks or the bright red tip of this cock. Rest your hands on my shoulders.”
Of course, doing that meant Cari had to get closer, his arms weren’t that long, but when he hesitated, Quaid too
k control, cupping his butt cheeks and pulling him forward so Cari had to hold onto to something. And within a blink he was so glad Quaid had broad shoulders. There was the click of the lube cap, a bit of fumbling behind him, but then Cari’s cock was encased in incredible warmth and suction and there were fingers tapping at his hole.
Widening his legs, to give his mate more room, Cari gripped Quaid’s shoulders hard, resisting the urge to thrust. Quaid was an alpha and probably wouldn’t appreciate someone thrusting into his mouth, but it seemed that’s exactly what Quaid wanted. A finger in his hole had Cari thrusting forward instinctively, and Quaid rumbled his encouragement.
One thrust wasn’t enough. Nor was the second one or the third. Cari felt as though an alien life form had taken over his lower body. It was the only thing he could think of to excuse his behavior. His legs were jellified, his hips took on a life of their own. Cari had no clue how many fingers were now stretching his hole, but it wasn’t as though he was going to stop and analyze things. Not now. Not when Quaid’s mouth threatened to unravel him in the best possible ways. His back end was full, his dick and balls were throbbing in harmony with the need to come. A final moan from Quaid around his cock was his undoing. Throwing his head back he yelled, “Quaid,” at the top of his voice. His orgasm rocketed through him, as Quaid tickled that magic spot inside of him and suckled gently as he swallowed.
“Oh, my gods, oh, my gods.” Quaid finally let his dick go, and Cari collapsed over his mate’s head. Panting as though he’d run a marathon, he barely noticed falling forward when Quaid moved out from under him, arranging his arms and torso on the edge of the tub.
“I’m not finished with you yet.”
There’s more? Resting his head on his arms, Cari tried to get his breathing under control. It was a fruitless task. Surging up behind him, Quaid gave him no notice as the blunt head of his cock found it’s mark and Cari was impaled, just as his mate promised.