"Okay, this is my place—but just to warn you, I haven't lived here long so don't expect much." I checked the doorframe for my subtle markers to see if anybody had broken in during my absence. So far, so good. Yes, there was the white thread that went into the lower part of the door above the hinge. Matthew smirked when he saw me remove the small piece of scotch tape on the opposite side.

"Old-school techniques, I like it. But I have to ask, is this a bad neighborhood or something? Or do you have enemies that I don't know about yet? Because I’ve got to admit that this is making me feel pretty naked without my gun." Matthew's easy acceptance of my first layer of security made my wolf preen with pride.

He stood there patiently while I unlocked the row of deadbolts with separate keys, entered my pin into the keypad, then finished with the retinal scan once the panel popped open. As I opened the door and stepped aside to allow Matthew entrance, he flashed me a grin. "Again, I have to ask about the neighborhood or your enemies. It's either that, or you have a lovely collection of tinfoil hats stashed somewhere inside, right?"

I shrugged as I closed the door behind us and locked everything up tight again. Matthew counted under his breath while I engaged all fifteen locks and opened another hidden panel to set the alarm with my thumbprint. I turned back around with a rueful smile when I saw the concern on his face.

"Now that the cartel has been removed, I don't have any enemies that I know of, and the neighborhood is fine—but it's always better to be safe now than sorry later. And yes, my teammates would probably be more than happy to describe my tinfoil hat wearing tendencies for you in full technicolor glory—but I don't actually own any."

Matthew cupped my cheek with his palm as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss to my lips. When he pulled back, his hand stayed with his thumb stroking my cheekbone. "Based on the little bit that I've picked up on since we've met, I'm certain that you have your reasons for being paranoid. Now come on, show me the rest of your security measures so we can relax. I'm quite sure that a guy with this many locks on his front door wouldn't leave it at that."

I sighed with relief, flashing him a grin as I stole a quick kiss before leading him back to my office. "If you don't mind, I really do need to check the security cameras and the audio feeds from around the perimeter. I've been gone for several days and I need to make sure that everything is as it should be."

"Check away, Shakespeare. I'll be right behind you every step of the way. If I'm going to be living here—assuming we're ever actually mated, that is—I’ll need to know your systems."

Glancing back over my shoulder, I looked at him curiously. "Shakespeare? I'm pretty sure that I've never been accused of having a way with words."

Matthew barked out a laugh. "No, I'm not referring to the master playwright. I’m talking about one of my favorite characters from Meerkat Manor. I used to watch that show when I was younger; I was totally addicted to it. Anyway, Shakespeare was one of the more courageous members of the Whiskers group. He got bitten by a puff adder in the first episode, but made a full recovery and was a major player in the group. He watched over the young and was never afraid to face off with the more dominant males when somebody needed protecting."

I quirked a brow. "You're calling me a meerkat? I'm not sure if I’m supposed to be pleased by that, given that I’m an alpha wolf. Although I do identify with the protector part."

"Oh, no. It's totally a compliment. Have you never seen meerkats? They’re so cute, yet fierce. They stand on their back legs with their little paws up against their chest as they stand watch. They are totally alert and miss nothing, kinda like a certain mate of mine. The way your eyes track everything around you and you're hyperaware of your surroundings just totally makes me think of the meerkats."

Growling playfully, I backed him up against the wall and scraped my teeth over his neck. "I'll just have to show you my dominant wolf side so you can stop comparing me to cute critters, I suppose."

Matthew gave a sexy groan as he planted a hand in the center of my chest and pushed me back. "Unless you're planning to claim me right here, you'd better quit teasing me, Shakespeare. I believe you had cameras to check?"

Shit! I jerked back and walked around the corner into my home office. I couldn't believe that I’d let myself get so distracted by my sexy mate that I hadn't finished checking on my basic security measures. A quick glance of all my monitors showed me that everything was on the up and up, but there was a flashing red light showing that the silent alarm on the balcony patio outside of my bedroom had been triggered. Walking over to the wall safe, I pressed my thumb to the scanner and punched in my code. When the door swung open, I pulled out a handgun and checked the chamber before sliding a fully loaded clip into place.

Matthew held out an expectant hand, quirking a brow when I hesitated before passing the gun over, retrieving a second one for myself. He checked the slide and double-checked the clip I'd just put in. I nodded with satisfaction at his caution and closed the safe.

"I didn't miss that look of surprise on your face there, Shakespeare. Did you forget that I'm a trained agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation?"

"Don't remind me, Sugar Bear. I'm having a hard enough time reconciling myself to the fact that I’m mated to a feeb. I mean, you literally get your paycheck from the man."

Matthew puffed his chest out. "That's Agent Sugar Bear to you, Shakespeare."

"Duly noted." I held a finger to my lips as I led the way to the bedroom. I edged closer to the sliding door, holding my ear to the wall before risking a glance at the curtain. Rustling noises and scratching sounds had me on high alert. I released the safety and chambered a bullet, holding my gun at shoulder level with the muzzle pointed toward the ceiling as I cautiously flicked the curtain aside to peek.

Nothing. It was possible it could have been a bird. Or a bat. But that would have been unusual.

I felt Matthew's breath on the back of my neck as he looked over my shoulder. He snorted a laugh and tapped my ass.

"Put the safety back on, Rambo. There's nobody to kill here. The only thing that little guy is gonna steal is our hearts." Matthew was chuckling as he slid his hand up my gun arm and pushed it down. I glared through the glass at the little ball of fluff that was meowing pitifully and pawing at the door now that it had seen us.

"I thought I was Shakespeare, now I'm Rambo? And for the record? We don't know where that cat has been. Sure, it looks like a sweet little kitten, but don't let it fool you. And don't forget that kittens also have a bad habit of growing up to become cats. But who knows if it's feral? It could have rabies, toxoplasmosis, Campylobacter bacterium—and don't forget cat scratch fever, which is a real thing. Kitten claws are particularly sharp; even the smallest scratch can infect us if he's a carrier."

Matthew shook his head, huffing out a laugh as he elbowed me aside and unlocked the sliding door. He slid it open before I could stop him and a piercing alarm began to blare. He looked over his shoulder with a frown. "Can you please disable that?"

I quickly entered my code and breathed a sigh of relief when the noise stopped. Matthew chuckled.

"And also, we're going to have to talk about some of these security measures. This looks like the perfect spot for me to enjoy a cup of tea and I don't want to set off a damn alarm every time I want to come outside."

He slid the door the rest of the way open then stepped out to pick up the kitten. It was a fuzzy little black and white striped tabby with big green eyes and a soft pink nose. Its paws were pure white like it was wearing little kitty socks, and even I had to admit that it made an adorable picture as Matthew cuddled the little intruder against his chest.

"See if he has any tags, Agent Sugar Bear. We need to return him to his owner if he's not wild. At any rate, you probably shouldn't get too attached. You know that cats are always afraid of our inner wolves. That's why shifters don't have pets." I was rambling at this point, but Matthew didn't seem to notice. When he looked up at me with a broad smile and cartoon hearts practically pulsing in his pupils, I had a sinking feeling that we'd just become one of the few shifter couples with a pet.

"He's not afraid of my wolf at all, listen…" Matthew walked closer to show me the rumbling purr that I'd already heard emanating from the little puffball. He pulled him back and lifted him up to see between his legs before glancing back at me with a grin. "And quit calling my little girl a him, she is a precious little princess is what she is."

I groaned. "Princess? Are you kidding me right now with that? Please don't tell me that we just adopted a cat."

Matthew rolled his eyes as he carried the undoubtedly flea-ridden thing into my home. "Of course she's a princess. Girl kittens grow up to become queens, duh. And that would be a no on the tags. We can look around and see if anybody's reported a missing kitten, but this little thing is emaciated and appears dehydrated. She needs to get some TLC."

Pulling out my phone, I started looking for a local vet. Matthew walked closer and looked over my shoulder. "Whatcha doing? Oh, vets! Good call. But first, we need to run to the pet store and get her some food and dishes, and maybe a pretty little collar. Is there a Petco or something nearby?"

Shaking my head, I shot off a text to Pax. "We aren't leaving the apartment, Agent Sugar Bear. Let me get the guys to help us out here. Until we know that you’re safe, we need to keep you behind closed doors, remember? I had a hard enough time convincing the bossman that we didn't need guards outside the door."

My phone chimed with a text from Pax that contained a series of laughing face emojis. A second message popped up a moment later.

Let me get the kiddos settled and Zeke and I will handle it for you. As soon as we both stop laughing, we'll get right on that.

I rolled my eyes but sent back a thank you text.

Make sure you add flea treatment and whatever can be used to sanitize this thing. Sheep dip maybe?

Matthew glanced at my phone then rolled his eyes as he cuddled the puffball closer. "You're not going to get our baby anywhere near sheep dip, sanitizing crap, or anything else that you're tossing around that big brain of yours right now. Flower will clean herself, trust me."

I followed as he wandered back through the apartment. I flipped on the living room lights while he settled down on the sofa to examine the kitten a little closer. Joining him, I sat just outside of striking range. Those tiny ninja kitten claws weren't getting me. "Flower? Are you going with the name from Bambi because she's black and white or because she smells like a skunk?"

"Hush, she doesn't stink—she simply smells like a feline. Your wolf will just have to learn to live with it. As for the black and white, that does fit, but I was actually thinking of Shakespeare's mom from Meerkat Manor. Her name was Flower."

Shaking my head with a sigh, I smiled affectionately at my mate, knowing that I could deny him nothing. "So if this kitten hasn't been reported missing, we're keeping her, I take it?"

"We are definitely keeping her; I don't care if she was reported missing. Anybody who would let a kitten get this dehydrated and emaciated doesn't deserve to have her. She had no tags and obviously needs better care than whatever she had in the past. Here, meet our new daughter." He passed the fluffball over to me, shoving her into my hands before I could react.

I flinched as those sharp little claws latched onto my shirt. I gulped, then put on a brave smile as I looked down at our intruder. Her head tilted to the side as she gazed up at me with total adoration and began purring again. My hands began stroking over her soft fur before I even realized I'd moved. She snuggled right into the center of my chest, as if she belonged there. Matthew curled up beside me and we cuddled on the couch with Flower. I looked closely, but from some miraculous streak of luck, I didn't see any fleas on her. When she fell asleep, I passed her back to Matthew to cuddle and pulled his feet onto my lap.

Matthew leaned back against the arm of the couch, stretching out while I massaged his feet with Flower sound asleep in the center of his chest. When he also began to lightly snore, I couldn't resist pulling my phone out and taking a picture. I didn't stop kneading his feet until there was a loud, hammering knock on the front door. Matthew and Flower both startled awake. He flinched as her little claws dug in before she sprang off his lap and raced over to the door. I laughed when I heard her hissing and making little rattling growls as Zeke yelled through the door to open up.

Scooping the little fluffball up, I quickly unlocked everything and opened the door. Pax handed the bag he held into Zeke's already full hands and strode right in and snatched Flower from my hands, automatically cradling her in his arms.

"I've never been one for cats, but this little thing is precious as heck." He grinned and went over to the couch where Matthew was now sitting up with a welcoming smile for my friends.

Zeke sighed as he followed his mate into my apartment and waited for me to lock up behind him. "Where do you want all this crap? You owe me ninety-seven bucks, by the way. Pax must have bought out the whole damn store. If I end up with a damn pet after this shit, my knife and I might have to come for a visit, Jo-Jo."

Pax flashed Zeke a reproachful glare. "What have we talked about with that knife, Ezekiel? We don't threaten our friends and family with our knife. It's just not polite. And for the record, I think that floppy-eared bunny would be a perfect pet for our family. The only reason I didn't insist on bringing him home tonight was because I need to do more research before I introduce a pet into a home with young children."

While Matthew and Pax fussed over Flower, Zeke and I carried the bags into the dining area and began to unload everything. After I'd set up a food and water bowl for our new baby girl, I opened a can of wet food and dished a little bit onto a small paper plate for her. I was just setting it out when Matthew came around the corner with her.

"Perfect timing; I was just going to ask if you had the food ready. Pax has been researching on his phone how we can best help her."

Pax walked over and took the plate from my hands. "I need a small bowl, Jonah. What we need to do is add some warm water to this and turn it into mush. That will help her get hydrated. Set up the fountain-style water bowl I got her, please. That should intrigue her enough to get her drinking."

While the two of them took over, Zeke and I backed away and let them do their thing. Matthew saw the purple, crystal-encrusted collar laying on the counter and let out a loud "awwww." I shook my head. "I'm just gonna leave you guys to this. Zeke and I need to go over a few security measures as long as I have him here."

"You boys do that." Pax snorted. "I'll be along once the little princess is handled to double-check your efforts and fix your errors."

By the time they finally left an hour later, the cat was fed, on her way to hydration, and sound asleep on a cushion on my favorite chair. Matthew slipped up behind me and caught me around the waist while I locked up behind my friends. "Now that we've had our excitement for the day, what do you say we go to bed, Shakespeare? I don't know about you, but I have plans for tonight."

His hands slid up my chest and tweaked my nipples before gliding down my sides and cupping my cock through my jeans. I groaned and thrust up into his palm.

He grinned. "Yes, someone else appears to be on board with my plans."

I’d fought it long enough. I had given him a few days to recover and regain his strength after his ordeal. The whole time, my wolf had been restless for us to claim our mate. If he hadn't been in heat that first night, I never would have touched him then. And taking him without being able to claim him, given our position, had been frustrating on every level. But now? Now I was past ready. I spun around and scooped him up in my arms with a growl.

Matthew threw his head back with a laugh. "Wow, check my nerdy man flashing that alpha brawn. You know we’re almost the same height, right? It's kind of ridiculous for you to carry me."

"The only thing ridiculous," I growled, nipping playfully at his neck, "is that we've been together for all these days and you're still not wearing my mark. That changes now."

"Ooh, I love it when you get all alpha, Shakespeare." He laughed and began nipping at my neck in return as I carried him back to our room.

Setting him down on the bed, I pulled my shirt over my head. "Get undressed, Agent Sugar Bear. The first one naked get the first blow job."

His eyes lit with challenge and he quickly began to disrobe. Clothes flew, and it was a photo finish as we both landed on the bed naked. Matthew pushed me down and crawled over my body to straddle my hips.

"We both won, so I call sixty-nine action for the win. But that can wait. First, I'm gonna ride that fat knot and finally claim my mate." He planted his palms on my chest and leaned over to take my mouth in a possessively bruising kiss.

I thought about flipping him over, but instead I slid my hands behind my head and leaned back to enjoy the ride. Omega slick perfumed the air as Matthew lifted his hips and reached back to get himself ready. I bit my lips, craning my neck around to enjoy the show. I stretched an arm out to grip his dick, but my hand was slapped away.

"I've decided that I like your hands up there where you had them. Keep them behind your head, if you don't want them bound. And don't forget, I'm Agent Sugar Bear and I know at least seventeen different ways to restrain you."

My wolf prowled just below the surface and my teeth were already elongating with the need to bite… to mark… to claim. Matthew stroked his hands over the thickening hair on my arms, his eyes flashing gold as his own wolf pushed for dominance.

"You might want to calm your wolf down, Shakespeare. I'm not trying to get into bestiality here." Matthew winked as he raised his ass and slowly lowered himself onto my cock.

My hands itched to grab his hips as he rode me fast and hard. He rocked back and forth and up and down, working my cock like a joystick as he sought his pleasure. Our first time together had been slow and sweet—this was apparently going to be the exact opposite.

Sharp claws raked down my sides as Matthew threw his head back with a loud groan. "I'll take that hand now," he rasped. "I'm right on the edge, it won't take much to get me there."

With a growl, I gripped his hips and rolled him over onto his back, taking control as I fucked into him hard and fast. My knot was thickening and expanding already. With every thrust, it became harder to pull free of his silky heat. Stretching myself over him, I braced on my elbows and let his dick grind against my abs as I rammed into his tight ass.

Matthew came with a shout, spurts of cum spreading between our bodies. He tilted his head to the side, submitting his neck for my bite. My balls pulled tight as lightning zigzagged down my spine. Wrapping my arms around him, I held him close as I finally sank my teeth into his flesh and claimed my mate.

My cock pulsed and I came harder than I ever had in my fucking life when he gave his answering bite, sinking his teeth into my skin. The bond that snapped into place between us was stronger than I ever could've imagined. Licking his wound clean, I lifted up to stare into his eyes with wonder.

"Do you feel that too? Like the other half of our souls have merged and you're complete for the first time in your life?" I blinked back tears as I peppered his face with kisses. "I know it's much too soon to say this, and it's probably the bond talking since we haven't spent more than a matter of days together, but I already know that I love you."

Matthew gripped my face with both hands and kissed me soundly. After he pulled away, he gazed up at me with adoring eyes. "I've always been a believer in love at first sight. So yes, I believe you. And by the way? Shakespeare was the perfect honorific for you. That was some poetic shit you were putting down right there, I gotta tell you."

He kissed me again then whispered against my lips. "And by the way? I love you too."