Chapter Eight

 

 

The beep of his cell phone woke Korvyn from a comfortable doze. He frowned for a few seconds, trying to get his bearings. His back felt warm, and a heavy weight was slung over his waist.

Then the pleasant twinge in his ass registered.

Right. Prudhoe. Mates.

Well, Prudhoe calls me his paramour, and he’s a fae, but whatever.

Turning his head, Korvyn smiled at his huge, sexy hunk of a fae lover. He lifted a hand, intending to trace Prudhoe’s pointed, upswept ear—so fascinating—but the beep registered again. Korvyn realized it was the chime of his phone that had woken him.

Korvyn tried to pull from Prudhoe’s grip so he could sit up, but his lover’s hold only tightened. His fae tugged him flush to his chest as he nuzzled his face against his nape. Prudhoe hummed, and his hands began to roam, sliding his palm up and down his torso.

“Where you goin’?” Prudhoe muttered, his words muffled since his lips were pressed against Korvyn’s skin.

Humming, Korvyn tipped his chin down, enjoying the ministrations. He felt his blood heat and flow south. His dick began to fill, readying him for another round.

His phone began to trill.

Groaning, Korvyn squeezed Prudhoe’s wrist. “My phone. I left it in my pants.”

“Can you ignore it?”

“I wish,” Korvyn replied. “But it’s my brother’s ringtone.” Grimacing, he added, “I told him I’d be home by ten. Shit. What time is it?”

Prudhoe ceased his ministrations and eased away. “Let me grab it. It sounds like it’s coming from your pants.” He swung his legs off the side of the bed as he gave Korvyn a sly smile. “I might have gotten a little exuberant. They ended up over by the dresser.” With a wink, Prudhoe rose and headed in the direction he’d indicated.

Seeing that his pants were indeed halfway across the room, Korvyn laughed. He sat in bed and admired the flex and relax of Prudhoe’s ass muscles. His hands twitched with his desire to grip the globes and squeeze.

When Prudhoe straightened and turned, Korvyn’s pants in hand, he growled softly. “Oh, Korvyn,” he murmured, crossing back to the bed. “I certainly enjoy the way you look at me.”

Korvyn took his pants with a laugh as he waggled his brows at Prudhoe. “Well, that’s good, because I sure love looking at you.”

Prudhoe growled some more as he crawled back onto the bed. With his arm around Korvyn’s torso, he tackled him.

Flopping back on the bed, Korvyn laughed, nearly losing his grip on his pants. Prudhoe chuckled, too, as he cuddled his big body back around Korvyn’s. He nuzzled his nose against Korvyn’s neck, licking and nipping. Settling his groin against Korvyn’s thigh, he rutted, showing off that he already sported a half-hard cock.

Moaning, Korvyn turned his head and enjoyed his lover’s touches. His mind began to cloud as lust rushed hotly through his body.

Then his phone rang again.

Korvyn groaned for a different reason.

Prudhoe chuckled. Resting his forehead against Korvyn’s nape, he softly ordered, “Better get that.”

Silently agreeing, Korvyn fished out his phone. He groaned when he saw not only the time, but the number of missed calls and texts from Rusty. His brother’s number again flashed across the screen, telling Korvyn he called once more.

Hitting the accept button, Korvyn immediately stated, “I am so sorry, bro.”

“You should be,” Rusty growled, his tone full of frustration. “You scared the fuck out of me. Are you okay? Are you safe? What happened?”

Korvyn couldn’t help but smile, even as he watched Prudhoe rise on his elbow and lift both brows. He could only guess at the fae’s thoughts. His brother sounded more like a father than a sibling.

After so many years, Korvyn didn’t mind. His brother had always had his back. “Yeah, I’m great. Really. I just lost track of time.”

“Lost track of time?” Rusty’s tone held his incredulity. “It’s almost two in the morning. How could you have—Ah, shit. You went home with your date.” Groaning, his brother stated, “Why didn’t you just text that you were going to stay the night with him? And it’s a first date. Are you out of your fucking mind?”

Korvyn laughed. “Actually, no. Uh, as it turns out, Prudhoe is my mate.” He grinned when his announcement was met with silence. Turning his head, he winked at Prudhoe as he stated, “Now tell me you’re happy for me.”

“Y-Your mate? Wow!” Rusty sounded more than shocked. His disbelief was clear. “A-Are you sure?”

“Congratulations, man!” Acheron called, amusement coloring his voice. “You just shocked the shit out of your brother. What kind of shifter is he?”

Relief filled Korvyn that at least Acheron was happy for him. He also felt annoyance... for his brother. After all, Korvyn had welcomed Acheron with open arms.

“He’s not a shifter, actually.”

Korvyn held Prudhoe’s gaze, lifting his brows in silent question. Was he allowed to tell Rusty and Acheron? He sure hoped so. They were family, after all. To Korvyn’s relief, Prudhoe smiled while offering a slight nod.

“What is he then?” Acheron pressed curiously.

“He’s a fae.” Korvyn hesitated, then hardened his tone. “And of course, I’m sure. You think I’d joke about something like this?”

“Of course not,” Rusty replied, resuming the conversation. “I apologize. I shouldn’t have asked that.” He sighed, and his next words were filled with warmth. “I really am happy for you. You deserve your happiness.”

Korvyn relaxed, and with a sigh, he mentally let go of his misplaced ire. Of course his brother would be worried. The shifter always worried.

“So, tomorrow. Uh, today, I guess,” Rusty amended. “Bring him home so I can meet him. A fae? Huh.” Then a low growl came through the line. “He better not think you’re leaving the human plane to go there.”

“No, I’m not leaving,” Korvyn assured, understanding the concern. Hell, he’d had it himself, hadn’t he? While sliding his hand over Prudhoe’s buzzed-short, white-blond hair, Korvyn explained, “Prudhoe says humans aren’t allowed in the fae realm.” He frowned, realizing something. “I didn’t actually bother to ask why.”

Rusty chuckled. “Well, tell him we’ll grill him over breakfast.”

“Lunch,” Acheron stated, letting Korvyn know that the other shifter still listened in. “I ain’t gonna be up for breakfast.” His playful growl came through the line. “And neither will you, my mate.” Korvyn knew those words were directed at Rusty, for next Acheron called, “Have a fun rest of your night, Kor. Oh, and just delete all Rusty’s messages without listening to him. You know how he gets.”

Then the line went dead.

Korvyn laughed, knowing Acheron would be doing a great job of putting Rusty to sleep for several hours. Doing as the scorpion shifter had advised, he didn’t bother listening to or reading his brother’s messages. He deleted them, instead.

“So, just like that?” Prudhoe appeared surprised, yet pleased. Sliding his left arm under Korvyn, he slung his right leg over his thighs. “No more questions? Just orders to bring me round for lunch, huh?”

“Yep.” Korvyn reached over and placed his phone on the nightstand before shoving his pants off the side of the bed. Finally, he grabbed the lube and turned to face his lover. “And since we’re both up, I think I need you to get me sleepy again.”

Prudhoe purred low in his throat as he took the lubricant and rolled on top of him. “Your wish is my command, my paramour.”

Korvyn felt Prudhoe’s dick line up with his own and let out a moan. His lover used his hips to push his thighs wider, then captured his mouth in a feral kiss. Wrapping his arms tightly around Prudhoe’s wide shoulders, Korvyn gave himself over to his fae lover’s talented ministrations.

 

Pushing the book return cart before him, Korvyn hummed happily to himself. He felt a twinge in his chute muscles with nearly every move he made, and he fucking loved it. The sensation reminded him that the last two days hadn’t been a dream.

It certainly felt like it, however.

My own hot as fuck mate.

Korvyn didn’t know what god he’d pleased to get so lucky, but he sure wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

For the first time since Korvyn had been employed by the library, he’d been naughty and called in sick when he really wasn’t. They had dealt with the Spanish Inquisition-like lunch with his brother, then spent the day getting to know each other. Korvyn had been grateful he’d had yesterday off, so he’d had even more time with Prudhoe.

Although his man had tried to talk Korvyn into calling in sick again—or quitting, since Korvyn no longer needed to worry about money—he hadn’t. He’d needed a little time to wrap his mind around everything that had happened to him. His job at the library was perfect for that.

Korvyn knew that Prudhoe wanted to move in with him immediately. That was the paranormal way. Korvyn understood that, and he accepted it.

Unfortunately, Korvyn didn’t want to live with his lover and his brother. It was... awkward. He just didn’t know how to express that to Prudhoe, not to mention Rusty. The ranch home was set up for Korvyn and his wheelchair, but it wasn’t a good place for two paranormal couples to live.

The testosterone and possessive jealousy was already through the roof, and it had only been two days.

So what do I do?

“Korvyn?”

Hearing his name pulled Korvyn out of his frustrating thoughts. He turned his head and just managed to keep from gaping. The man standing nearby looked so similar to Prudhoe that he felt a really uncomfortable niggle of interest.

“Korvyn Peruke?”

“Yes, that’s me. Can I help you?”

Meeting the guy’s eyes, any interest Korvyn felt died a swift death. While the man had pale blue eyes similar to Prudhoe’s, there was a cold, calculating gleam in them that caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. The leer on the man’s face as he looked Korvyn over didn’t sit well with him, either.

For the first time in... ever... Korvyn didn’t feel safe at work.

“So you’re Prudhoe’s paramour,” the man commented as he closed the few steps between them. “You don’t look like much, but maybe you take an ass-pounding real good.”

Korvyn shoved both hands into his pockets and jutted his chin upward. Curving his lips into a sneer, he hoped to draw attention from the fact that he was using his phone. “I don’t know who you think you are,” Korvyn began belligerently, “but I’m at my place of work.”

Since he didn’t have Prudhoe’s number memorized, he texted an SOS to Rusty. He knew his brother would drop everything and respond. Family did that for each other.

“I think you should leave.”

“Not without you, Korvyn.” Grinning hungrily at him, the man extended his hand. “I’m Droitson Rison. Surely Prudhoe mentioned me.”

While Korvyn recalled Prudhoe mentioning a brother he didn’t speak to, he hadn’t given him a name. He could put two and two together though. Having no desire to touch the other man, Korvyn moved his own hands to the wheels of his chair and prepared to move around the cart.

“Prudhoe mentioned a brother. One he didn’t talk to.” Korvyn started rolling slowly. “Now I know why. You’re an asshole, and there’s no way in hell I’m going anywhere with you.”

“Sure you are, Korvyn.” Droitson’s look turned calculating. He leaned close and murmured, “Don’t you want to see the fae realm?”

Korvyn glanced around, hoping no one was on either side of the aisle and could overhear. “Humans aren’t allowed in the fae realm.”

Droitson smirked. “That’s not entirely accurate,” he countered. “There are exceptions... such as when the first-born in the family line, such as myself, has a male paramour from another realm.” Droitson swept his gaze over Korvyn once more. “Then that male can be allowed in since my presence is required there for court decisions.” Smirking, he added, “Only females are banned completely, forcing a fae to give up his title to stay with her. No half-breeds allowed, you see.”

“Uh, did you find your paramour here?” Korvyn knew he was missing something, but it just wasn’t connecting.

Reaching toward him, Droitson traced his forefingers down Korvyn’s jawline, causing him to jerk backward... and slam into the corner of the book trolley. “You, Korvyn. I will take you.”

“I’m not your paramour,” Korvyn denied, glancing around. His wheel was jammed into the side of the cart, and the only way to get it free was to move forward again... toward Droitson. Glaring at the fae, Korvyn stated, “I’m your brother’s partner, so you need to get out of here.”

“Ah, I see Prudhoe didn’t tell you.” Droitson gave him a smug smile. “You see, Korvyn, paramours run in family lines.” His eyes narrowed as he swept his gaze over him again. “If I had met you first, you would already be bonded with me.”

Korvyn refused to believe a word out of the demanding and crazy fae’s mouth. “Well, you didn’t, so I’m with your brother. Now get lost.” Korvyn figured it couldn’t hurt to try again.

“Like I said. Not without you.” Droitson grabbed the arm of Korvyn’s chair and jerked him forward. “Now, don’t make a scene, paramour,” he crooned. “Don’t want word of our existence to get out, would you?” Droitson grabbed the handles of Korvyn’s chair and forced it to start rolling. He leaned over the back and hissed into Korvyn’s ear. “The only one I want to kill is my brother, but if I have to harm the humans in here, I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.”

His heart hammering in his chest, Korvyn glanced around, but the only person he saw was a scowling Misses Winters.

No way am I going to get any help from her.