by Liv Rider
Shaun shrugged. “Emily said that if they spend more time on me than on admiring her in her wedding dress, she’s gone wrong somewhere.”
Mitchell laughed, glad to see Shaun smiling a little. “She’s right. They should focus on her, Dale, and the wedding.”
“I almost didn’t come.” Shaun’s voice was quiet. “It was difficult anyway, because of my job, but I also didn’t want to deal with….”
Mitchell’s heart broke for his mate. “With people still suspecting you.”
Shaun nodded, but didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to.
Drop them all into the lake from a great height! his dragon hissed.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Mitchell said, wanting to do more to reassure his mate. Shaun deserved to have a great time this weekend.
Shaun glanced up at him. “Me too.”
To think he’d been so close to not meeting his mate this weekend. If Shaun hadn’t been so brave, he would’ve stayed in Lewiston. Maybe Mitchell would’ve run into him there, or during some future family get-together. Or maybe Mitchell’s busy job and Shaun’s busy job would’ve kept them from being at the same family birthday at the same time.
If Shaun could be brave and take a leap, trusting Mitchell with his past, then Mitchell could be brave and take a leap too. Maybe there was a reason they had met this weekend. He remembered when Parker had met Cameron at Halloween Fest. His friend had wondered if he had met his mate at the wrong time, because they were so different. But that had worked out. Parker had been able to help Cameron in a way he wouldn’t have been able to if they had met a month or a year later.
Mitchell had told Parker to trust the bond between fated mates instead of questioning it. It was time he did the same. Maybe he and Shaun had met here and now so he could help Shaun face the wedding guests from Millersburg tomorrow.
“Besides,” Shaun continued, “Emily would kill me if I missed her wedding.”
Mitchell moved closer, watching Shaun’s reaction. There was no harm in trying, and Shaun had to be feeling the pull between them too. “Your sister wouldn’t be the only one who’d be disappointed.”
“Oh? Oh!” Shaun’s eyes widened as he looked up at Mitchell, then his cheeks flushed. “Um, I’d hate to disappoint?”
Mitchell leaned closer, watching Shaun’s eyes dart down to his lips before meeting his eyes again.
Shaun wanted this.
He cupped Shaun’s cheek with one hand, his body thrumming with the joy of finally, finally getting to touch his mate. He heard Shaun’s sharp intake of breath, then felt a hand rest on his waist. The touch burned through the fabric. He couldn’t wait to feel that hand on his bare skin. “I don’t think you ever could disappoint me, to be honest.” He closed the distance between them, pressing his mouth against Shaun’s.
Heat bloomed inside of him at having Shaun’s body against his. It wasn’t enough. He pressed closer, his other hand on Shaun’s shoulder, reaching up to run it through those tempting curls….
But before he could, two hands were on his chest, pushing him away.
Mitchell was too surprised to protest, looking down at Shaun and searching his face. Shaun didn’t meet his eyes, and his hands were heavy against Mitchell’s chest. His own hands were still on Shaun’s cheek and shoulder, and he resisted the urge to caress him and pull him closer. What was wrong?
Shaun ducked his head, avoiding his eyes. “I can’t. There’s—Chris.”
Chris.
He’d completely forgotten about Shaun’s boyfriend.
Mitchell pulled his hands away as if burned, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him whole. What the hell had he been thinking? How could he have done something so stupid?
Shaun didn’t look at him as he turned away and hurried down the path, heading back to the Inn.
“I’m sorry!” Mitchell felt sick to his stomach. He’d messed up by giving in to his desire instead of thinking it through.
Shaun didn’t stop, walking faster if anything. Mitchell watched him go, still mortified at his own actions. Yes, Shaun was his fated mate. Yes, Shaun had seemed into him before Mitchell kissed him. But he should have known better. Shaun was in a relationship, and there was nothing honorable about what Mitchell had done.
Go after him to explain! his dragon urged, as devastated as Mitchell was. Tell him he’s our fated mate!
He wanted to run after Shaun and apologize again, but he stayed where he was. There was no point in explaining things. Not tonight. Shaun probably hated him, and Mitchell didn’t blame him. He’d crossed a boundary and pushed things too far, too quickly. He’d have to fix this, but who could he turn to for advice? His father, who’d just tell him to go after what he wanted and damn the consequences? Look where that had gotten him.
He kicked a pebble. Of all the times for him to forget about his number one rule. What would his father do, then do the opposite..
His mother would be a better bet for advice, but it wasn’t fair to bother her with his problems while Dale was getting married tomorrow.
Which left his friends back in Lewiston. Mitchell didn’t look forward to telling Thomas or Parker how he’d messed up, but at least they had experience with fated mates.
When he got back to his room, he called Thomas. Parker would just tell him ‘I told you so’ and be right. Mitchell figured Thomas would at least be sympathetic before saying that Mitchell should’ve seen this coming.
“Sorry for calling so late,” he said, when he heard Thomas pick up.
“That’s all right. How’s things?” Thomas’ voice was cheerful.
Mitchell swallowed, unsure how to start. “Complicated.” He explained to Thomas what he’d already told Parker. Thomas congratulated him as well before falling silent when Mitchell explained Shaun was in a relationship. When he talked about what had just happened, Thomas groaned on the other end of the line.
“You didn’t.”
“I did.”
“I mean, I get it. I really really get it, but….”
“I know.” Mitchell stared out the window at the moon’s reflection on the lake. “I wish it was something I could fix. A problem I could solve. But there’s nothing I can do about him having a boyfriend.”
Drop him into the lake from a great height?
Thomas hummed in sympathy. “But you also can’t ignore it.”
“You sound like Parker.”
“Well, Parker’s right. You won’t be able to ignore your feelings, and you’ll be with him all day tomorrow.”
“At least we won’t be alone again.” It was a small blessing. Mitchell was sure he could keep himself from kissing Shaun if other people were around. At least, he hoped so.
“You need to tell him what’s going on at some point.”
“I won’t make him break up with his boyfriend! They seem happy! Chris seems like a friendly guy!” Not as friendly as Mitchell would be, but still.
“Shaun needs to know so he can decide for himself. Keeping things from him won’t help. He’s probably wondering why he’s so attracted to you.”
“You sound like Parker again,” Mitchell grumbled. “Look, he knows about shifters now, and he’s still dealing with that. I’m not adding ‘oh, by the way, we’re supposed to be together forever and that’s why I kissed you’ to that.” He hadn’t told Thomas that Shaun knew about the concept of fated mates, thanks to Dale.
“That’s fair. But you should at least check in with him tomorrow to see how he’s dealing with it, because I’m guessing your brother will be busy.”
It was a good point. “His parents know too, he can talk to them.” But even as he said it, Mitchell knew it was unfair. Shaun would have questions only a shifter could answer, and he couldn’t burden Dale with that.
“Mitchell.”
“I don’t see how talking to him tomorrow will help! I already crossed the line once, and I won’t do it again. It’s his sister’s wedding. He deserves to have a fantastic time, which is difficult enough as it
is.” Mitchell hoped the bridesmaids would be too busy with the wedding to sneer at Shaun all the time. Now that he knew the truth, it would be more difficult to stay out of it, but he would have to. It would look weird if he was too defensive of Shaun.
“Well, make sure he has a fantastic time,” Thomas told him. “But try to enjoy yourself, okay?”
“I’ll do my best.” Thomas hadn’t told him anything new, but talking to his friend had made Mitchell feel a little better.
Step one for tomorrow, though, would definitely be to avoid Shaun. He couldn’t risk doing something stupid again.
9
Shaun
He made it back to the Inn in record time and was glad the lobby was empty as he hurried up the stairs. He overheard chatter drifting over from the bar, but he didn’t want to face other people. Not after what had happened.
Mitchell had kissed him.
Shaun hadn’t been wrong. The other man was into him. Mitchell was handsome, and a good listener, and kind, and a wonderful kisser going by those couple of seconds, and he was into Shaun.
Any other day, Shaun would have thanked his lucky stars and not questioned it.
But right now? This was karma. This was karma kicking him in the ass and rubbing his face in what he couldn’t have.
He entered the room he shared with Chris and sat down on the chair next to the window. He looked out at the woods behind the Inn, then buried his head in his hands, pulling at his hair in frustration. How could he have been so stupid as to let Mitchell kiss him? He should have stopped it as soon as Mitchell had leaned in and tilted his face up. But he’d been unable to ignore the heat and desire inside of him and how good Mitchell’s hands had felt. He’d forgotten all about Chris for a moment. The only thing on his mind had been Mitchell and the need to touch him.
I don’t think you ever could disappoint me, to be honest.
To be honest.
He’d pushed Mitchell away and run off as soon as he’d remembered he was supposed to be in a relationship. Mitchell had shouted an apology after him, but Shaun had kept running. What other choice did he have?
Explain the truth to Mitchell about Chris? About the bar? After Mitchell sounded so impressed about Shaun owning a bar? Better to run away in a panic.
The thought of explaining that to Mitchell, who cared so much about honesty, made his stomach turn.
He’d been nervous as he’d told Mitchell about what had happened back in Millersburg, but it had also felt good. Surprisingly good. He usually hated talking about his past. His friends and colleagues at the bar knew some of it, since he’d told them things here and there, but he’d never told them everything. Chris knew the entire story, but it hadn’t been something Shaun had dumped on him the first day they’d met.
But it was different with Mitchell. Some part deep inside of Shaun trusted him, and Mitchell hadn’t judged him. He’d just let Shaun talk while listening. He’d asked a few questions and even sounded genuinely impressed with how Shaun had handled it.
For the first time in his life, Shaun had been impressed with himself. He had turned his life around. He had made a fresh start.
And then he messed it up. As usual.
Still, he had pushed Mitchell away before it had gone further. No one had seen them. That was the one positive thing about this entire evening.
Well, that and knowing something as magical as dragon shifters existed. Even if he’d never see Mitchell again after this weekend, at least he’d have the memory of how gorgeous the dragon had looked in the setting sun, and how the scales had felt underneath his hand.
Dragons were real.
They were real, and they hated lies and dishonesty.
Mitchell had sounded impressed with Shaun, but only because he thought Shaun was a successful business owner. He’d tried to use it as a bridge between their two worlds, emphasizing how being responsible for a bar wasn’t all that different from being responsible for the well-being of hundreds of people. Maybe closer to a thousand.
Mitchell was impressed with Shaun, the bar-owner who knew the burden of responsibility. There was no way he’d be impressed with Shaun, the bartender who’d never been responsible about anything in his entire life.
The door opened, and Shaun started, half-worried it would be Mitchell.
When Chris walked in, part of Shaun still felt disappointed.
“Hey, how was your evening?” Chris sat down on the bed and took off his shoes. “What was the thing your sister wanted to tell you?”
“A secret.” He couldn’t tell Chris about shifters, but he didn’t want to lie either.
Chris frowned at him. “She’s expecting a baby?”
“No.”
Chris kept looking at him, then shrugged when Shaun didn’t elaborate. “No, you wouldn’t be moping miserably at awesome news like that.”
Shaun didn’t know what to say to that either. Chris was right. He was moping, and he was miserable.
“The wedding’s still on, right?” Chris asked.
“Oh, yeah.”
Chris nodded at Shaun’s lack of enthusiasm. “You’re not looking forward to dealing with people from your old town.”
“That too.” Shaun sighed as he slouched in the chair. Chris was the only person he could talk to about Mitchell, and maybe it would help to tell someone. “Mitchell was there. When we headed back here, he kissed me.” Shaun wasn’t sure how he’d expected Chris to react, but it wasn’t with a face-splitting grin.
“I told you so! But why the long face? Bad breath?”
“I have a boyfriend!” Shaun snapped, getting up. “Remember?”
Chris looked confused. “No, you don’t. You’re single. That’s why—oh. Right. Me.”
“Yes. You.” Shaun glared at him. Chris had better remember about their supposed relationship tomorrow.
Chris leaned back on the bed. “I still don’t see why that’s something to sulk about.”
“Because I don’t want him to think I’m a cheater!” His stomach turned at that.
“Then explain to him I’m not your boyfriend.” Chris grinned again. “In fact, why don’t you explain that to him now, and I can have the room to myself?”
The thought of spending the night with Mitchell was a very pleasant one, but it only took a second for Shaun to realize all the ways that was a terrible idea. “I can’t tell him the truth.”
“Why not?”
“Because—Because—” Shaun gestured at Chris and himself and their hotel room. He didn’t know where to start. “Just because!”
Chris’ grin turned sly. “You like him.” He leaned forward. “You really like him.”
Shaun knew his cheeks were turning red, and he hated himself for it. He hated Chris. “Well. Yes.” He didn’t know why or how, given that he’d only met Mitchell that day, but he definitely liked Mitchell.
“Didn’t he mention during dinner that he lives in Lewiston? That’s a sign right there. You two are meant for each other.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Shaun felt his cheeks redden further, and he wished he’d never told his friend about the kiss. “I can’t tell him.”
“Why not? You worried he’ll run around and tell everyone else?”
“Aren’t you?” Why was Chris so cool about this? He’d look like an idiot too if people found out tomorrow he was here because of a lie. Then again, Shaun would look like the bigger idiot, and Chris would enjoy telling him ‘I told you so.’ He probably had brought popcorn along.
“He seemed like a decent enough guy. Besides, if you play your cards right, he’ll be too busy to tell anyone.”
Shaun shook his head. “You don’t get it. He’s got this important job, and now he thinks I have an important job, and—”
“Bartending is an important job. Beer does not pull itself from the tap.”
Shaun glared at him. “He’ll think I’m a loser.” A loser for lying about his life.
Chris got up from the bed to grab his suitcase from underneath i
t. “If he thinks you’re a loser just because of your job, then you’re better off without him. Anyway, I’m gonna take a shower, and when I come out, I want you to either have left to tell him the truth, or stopped moping. Deal?”
“Deal,” Shaun muttered. He couldn’t tell Mitchell the truth.
“I mean, what’s the worst that can happen, right?” Chris continued as he rifled through his suitcase.
Shaun went back to staring at the forest outside the window. He knew Chris was right. Mitchell wouldn’t tell anyone else about his lies. He wouldn’t have to worry about the Millersburg party finding out from a disgruntled Mitchell and laughing at him.
No, he knew why he didn’t want to tell Mitchell what was going on.
Because it meant admitting to Mitchell he hadn’t been telling the truth from the moment they’d met, and watching any respect Mitchell had for him go down the drain.
The next morning, Shaun sighed as he walked down the hallway to get to Dale and Emily’s hotel room. He hadn’t slept well, even though the couch in the room he shared with Chris was comfortable enough. It was a beautiful day outside with a clear blue sky. Predictions for the afternoon were still good too, with some clouds but no rain. The breakfast buffet downstairs had been great, with plenty of delicious, locally produced options to choose from. On any other day, Shaun would have happily filled his plate several times to try the different muffins, and see which local cheese went the best with toast.
Chris was downstairs, doing just that.
Shaun’s stomach, though, had squirmed every time he glanced over at the far corner where Mitchell had been eating and sharing a table with the other groomsmen. He hadn’t looked over at Shaun once.
He was lucky he’d been able to swallow one slice of toast and finish his cup of coffee at all.
He knocked on the door. The thing with Mitchell meant he was in no mood for the wedding, but if anything could cheer him up, it’d be seeing his sister getting married to the love of her life. She had told him earlier that Dale would sleep elsewhere, as he had decided to be traditional about not seeing her before the wedding.