Chapter Four
"Remember to be patient," Yuma told Acheron, who was strapping the soft-sided lunch cooler to the back of his bike.
Acheron finished, then glanced the small penguin shifter's way. "Of course." He'd try, anyway.
Hearing Rusty's response to just his words and tone had made resisting the impulse to go to his mate the evening before extremely tough. Phone sex with Rusty had given him the best damn orgasm... that he could ever remember. He desperately wanted to top it.
"Knowing when to push is just as important as offering time," Adam warned as he hip-checked Noah. "Right, mate?"
Noah's cheeks took on a rosy hue, but he nodded.
"And conversation requires more than one person talking," Sam reminded him. "Listen as well."
Nodding, Acheron placed his helmet on his head and swung onto the bike. "I'll do my best." He focused on the beta and gave him a wry smile. "But I'm still learning."
"Well, just give him multiple orgasms then." Payson waggled his brows as he spoke his suggestion. "That makes everything better."
Snorting, Acheron shook his head and fired up his Ninja.
"They mean well." Kontra stopped beside the bike and held out a leather jacket.
Taking it, Acheron felt that it was a style with hard plastic shielding inside the lining. He lifted a brow. A leather jacket was hot enough on a warm spring evening, which was why he hadn't bothered to put one on. Besides, he was a shifter.
Obviously seeing the question in his eyes, Kontra smiled. "Wear it. Trust me. Your mate will appreciate your nod to safety."
"Ah..." Acheron mused as he shrugged into the jacket. The helmet and protective style jacket would make it seem as if he cared for his safety, even while zipping around on a motorcycle built for speed. "Thank you."
"Sure, and good luck."
"And don't try to make out in front of Korvyn," Lamar called, waving. His lips curved into a slight smirk. "While Rusty might enjoy the kiss, he'll feel embarrassed about it later."
Acheron nodded again. "Again, thank you."
That was definitely something he'd have to remember, because it never would have occurred to him.
Putting his motorcycle into gear, Acheron headed away from the group of shifters and their mates, eagerly making his way in the direction of his own waiting man.
As Acheron drove, he thought about what he'd learned the evening before. Rusty had no experience with men. That knowledge got him hotter than he would have expected. For some reason, Acheron loved the idea of teaching his mate from the ground up. The possessiveness was an unexpected feeling.
Following Rusty's directions, Acheron easily located his mate's home. It was on a country road that offered decent seclusion. The lots were large, offering generous amounts of space between homes. There were plenty of trees, too, as it appeared there was a stream running behind some of the homes.
The tree cover on Rusty's spread appeared exceptionally thick, which didn't surprise Acheron. The man would need privacy to shift and play. Not for the first time, Acheron wondered what kind of cat shifter his mate was.
Hopefully, I'll find out soon.
Stopping his bike before the two car garage, Acheron noticed a short wheelchair ramp leading to the front door of the ranch-style home. There were also two steps on the front of the extra-wide porch, although a number of leaves littered them, betraying that they probably weren't used much. A gravel drive went around the back of the home, and he wondered what was back there and looked forward to exploring his mate's territory. It would also give him time to confirm that there were no poisonous snakes or spiders in the vicinity of Rusty or Korvyn.
Yep, I can help around here in small ways.
Acheron took off his helmet and swung off the bike, then placed the headgear on the fuel tank. After unhooking the lunch bag, he headed toward the front door. He'd offered to bring drinks, but his mate had declined, assuring him that he had several options that would go with steak.
By the time Acheron reached the door, he noticed that it'd been opened. He spotted a black-haired man in a wheelchair waiting for him. The guy had a speculative expression on his face as he openly perused Acheron, but at least he sported a smile.
"Hi," Acheron greeted, holding out his hand. "Korvyn, is it?"
Korvyn nodded and took his hand. "That's me."
Acheron gave the man's hand a firm shake, then released him. "I'm Acheron. Can I assume Rusty told you I was coming?"
Gripping his wheels, Korvyn backed his chair. "Yeah, come on in. Rusty's in the shower. That's the water running you hear." He waved a hand toward the left side of the house and the hallway there, which was opposite the open concept floor plan. "I'm sure he won't be long. He probably heard your bike over the sound of the water. Take off your boots and join me in the kitchen. What'd you bring?"
Acheron found the human's open welcome interesting. Would the questions come later? As soon as he sat down on the boot box and began unbuckling his boots, he got his answer.
"So, mates, huh?"
Glancing up once before returning his attention to his boots, Acheron nodded. "Yeah. Your brother is my mate." He straightened on the boot box so he could focus on the other man as he toed off his footwear. "I hope we can come to some kind of friendship, Korvyn," he stated honestly. "Because I'm not going anywhere."
Korvyn grinned widely, waggling his brows. "Does that mean you're going to sneak me beer and stuff?"
Acheron opened his mouth, then snapped it shut again. He had no desire to do anything that would upset his mate, even to get in the man's brother's good graces. Acheron mentally scrambled for how to respond to the grinning male.
"You don't need to sneak beer," Rusty grumbled, appearing from the hallway across the room. "Don't make my mate feel like he has to do something wrong just so you won't give him shit about us."
Sweeping his gaze over his approaching mate, Acheron nearly swallowed his tongue. In grease-stained jeans and a work shirt, Rusty had been handsome enough. Wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a pale green polo shirt that set off his honey-brown eyes--stunning!
"Aww, I was just giving him shit, Rusty," Korvyn replied, wheeling backward a little and turning, so he could look his brother's way. "It's part of the deal. He mates with you, becomes your husband, that means I'm his brother-in-law." He snickered, clearly finding the situation humorous. "That means I have a free pass to give him a hard time."
Acheron remembered the gang's warnings and yanked his gaze back to Korvyn. He processed the human's words. "Huh." That'll take some getting used to. "I suppose there are worse things."
"There. See?" Korvyn laughed. "Acheron doesn't mind." He swatted Acheron with the back of his hand, then turned his chair and began wheeling toward the dining room. "I'm gonna get a beer. Want one? And what's in the bag?"
Thoroughly confused on how to respond, Acheron cocked his head as he glanced between the pair. He finally rested his gaze on Rusty and lifted both brows. It didn't escape his notice that his mate's cheeks had a pinkish hue to them.
"Uh, sorry I wasn't out earlier," Rusty murmured, stopping a couple feet in front of him and shoving his hands in his pockets. "Got off work a little later than I'd hoped, then got distracted by--" His cheeks darkened further. "Anyway, we should probably head to the kitchen."
Acheron rose to his sock-clad feet and picked up his lunch duffel. "I understand kissing is supposed to be done at the end of the date, and I was warned not to try to make out with you in front of your brother." Closing the distance between them, he noticed the instant that tension tightened Rusty's shoulders, so he stopped with about eight inches between them. "But I do still very much want to touch." Lifting his free hand, he reached toward Rusty's torso, pausing when his fingertips were a couple of inches from his shirt. "May I?"
Rusty's nostrils flared, and a tremble worked through his body. His mouth opened and closed, and his eyes dilated.
"Please say yes," Acheron urged.
Slowly, Rusty dipped his chin in a slight nod.
Pleased, Acheron rested his hand on Rusty's pectoral. He smoothed his hand upward, being careful to avoid his nipple. The contact wasn't meant to stimulate so much as forge a connection between them.
That didn't mean Acheron missed the smooth, hard lines of his body. Reaching Rusty's shoulder, he squeezed the tendon lightly as he scraped his thumb along the pulse point in his neck. His mouth watered as he thought about sinking his canines into his mate's flesh and marking him.
"Thank you for having me over, Rusty," Acheron murmured, holding his mate's gaze. "I look forward to getting to know you."
Rusty licked his lips, then swallowed hard enough that his Adam's apple bobbed. Lifting his hand, he laid it over Acheron's wrist. He gripped him lightly. When Rusty urged him to release his shoulder and rotate his wrist, Acheron didn't fight him on it. As his mate nuzzled his nose along the inside of his wrist, Acheron's blood heated, and the hairs on his nape stood on end.
Oh, fuck yeah. My mate is marking me.
Peering at him from beneath his lashes, betraying not only his pleasure but his submission, Rusty smiled at him. "Me, too. Very much." His cheeks darkened further, causing the color to spread down his neck. Rusty cleared his throat, then stepped away from him. "So, uh, come on back, and we'll get that drink, and I'll show you where the grill is."
Acheron lowered his hand as he nodded. When Rusty turned and headed deeper into the home, he slid his gaze over his mate's wiry form, pausing at the man's rounded ass. He wanted to close the distance between them and grip those globes, to squeeze and rub and see if they were as hard as they looked.
"Acheron?"
Yanking his focus upward, Acheron met Rusty's gaze. He saw his shifter's lifted brow and realized he'd been caught looking. Acheron shrugged as he got himself moving.
"Sorry," Acheron murmured, then rolled his eyes. "Not really. I'm actually sorry you caught me and it made you uncomfortable."
Rusty's lips curved, and a soft chuckle escaped him. "Please don't apologize for looking at me like that, especially in my home. I'm just--" His cheeks remained flushed as he rested his hand on the kitchen counter and tapped his fingertips on it restlessly. Finally, he mumbled, "Just not used to it."
"Ah." Acheron slid the fingertips of his free hand across Rusty's back as he passed him, rounding the bar and moving into the kitchen. "Then I will endeavor to change that."
Deciding a subject change was in order, Acheron placed the bag on the counter and unzipped it. "I need a cookie sheet or platter. Something to spread the meat out on." He pointed at the contents. "There are several slabs of ribs marinating as well as a couple of steaks." Acheron turned his attention to Korvyn, who was just rolling back into the kitchen through a door that led to a large utility room. "You do eat meat, right? I asked about allergies, but probably should have confirmed that you're not a vegetarian."
Korvyn grinned widely. "Yeah, I eat meat." He waggled his brows. "I even gave Rusty some pointers last night about eating meat when he told me about you."
"Fuck! Korvyn!"
Laughing, Korvyn grinned. "What? I was just trying to help you be comfortable doing just that."
"That's the last thing--"
Acheron scented Rusty's shock, heard his cry, even as his own brows lifted. Anger surged through him, but he squelched it. His initial reaction was to snarl at the man who was upsetting his mate. Except, this was his brother, so he knew he couldn't.
Clearing his throat, Acheron drew attention to himself. He grinned widely at Korvyn, holding the cheeky human's gaze as he leaned against the counter. "While I appreciate your attempts at assistance, I plan to take great pleasure in teaching Rusty everything he needs to know." Acheron winked, gratified to see a slight pinkish hue creeping over Korvyn's cheeks. "Everything."
Once Korvyn's brows had lifted and his lips had parted, his shock perfuming the air, Acheron turned and looked at the food. "So." He peered at Rusty, offering a reassuring smile. "How about that platter?"
To his relief, Rusty cleared his throat and jerked a nod. He headed around the counter and opened a cupboard, clearly happy to move on.