He eyed the house he’d just come out of, and even though he could remember Lionel’s cell number, he really didn’t want to go back inside with how long it had already taken to disengage from Dad.
We aren’t going home. Go to Lionel’s.
He could be asleep.
He needs us.
Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?Even as he asked, Brad started the engine and had the truck shuddering with how fast he exited the drive. An odd sense of urgency coming off his animal side.
Just go find our mate.
I’m going,Brad grumbled, his foot hitting the pedal a little harder to go faster. The streets weren’t overly busy, and the traffic signals were all in his favor. Less than fifteen minutes later, he pulled up outside Lionel’s house. Every light appeared to be on, and Brad caught a figure moving in front of the downstairs windows.
The second he put the truck in park, grinning at his luck, he opened himself to Lionel. What assailed him knocked him right off balance, and a sense of unease. Loneliness, the kind that was deep-seated was what Brad distinguished first. Then sadness. Rejection.
Lionel’s thoughts were scattered like leaves whipped up by a stiff breeze, making it hard for Brad to fathom the reasons for how his mate felt.
The ache Brad had felt throughout the day became an unbearable weight pressing on his heart when he grasped some of what Lionel was feeling was because he thought Brad didn’t care. Something about his pride was mixed in there too, along with cubs and someone called Cassandra. None of it really made sense, despite that, Brad called to his mate through their link.
Lionel… Mate…
Brad!
I’m here, mate, just look out the window.Brad held his breath waiting to see Lionel at the window, only the front door burst open, and Lionel was rushing out.
Seeing hair wild about Lionel’s head and clothes disheveled, got Brad jumping out of his truck to run and meet Lionel.
“What is it?” Brad asked breathlessly, jumping into Lionel’s arms as they reached for him. He pressed in close the second Lionel wrapped his arms around Brad, shaking so hard it was as if Brad had gotten shoved into a blender and put on high speed to whiz everything up.
Brad clung on, and Lionel held him so tight it was hard to take a proper breath. He didn’t care. He buried his face into his mate's neck and held him. “I’m here,” he murmured. “Right here.”
I’m sorry for whatever I did to make you feel like this. I had dinner with my parents, which is business, not pleasure,he explained working on following Lionel’s jumbled thoughts.I tried to call you, and I hate leaving messages, and I was going to ring you again, then everything went to shit with one of my electrical subcontractors, and it threw a huge spanner in the works. Then Dad rang to remind me about the monthly meeting, and I was late, so I didn’t have time to call you. Then I realized, as I was about to ring you to see if you wanted me to come over despite the hour, I left my phone at home.
Was Lionel getting it all? Was he making sense? Brad wasn’t sure when Lionel’s tears soaked through his jacket and the shaking hadn’t lessened.
Brad was strong, just not strong enough to carry Lionel back inside his house. He considered how to move things inside the house when he heard a door open and voices close enough that Lionel could be seen in his distressed state.
Take me inside so we can get naked and cuddle.
He felt Lionel’s pulse pick up speed.
I want to touch you properly. Show you how much I missed you.They needed skin-to-skin contact, Brad grew convinced of this when Lionel’s scattered thoughts became a little more focused on the idea of touch. At reinforcing their bond. Strengthening it, especially with the feelings of embarrassment that came across at the show of weakness.
Brad’s parents had raised him to understand that showing emotions was not a bad thing. Size or species had nothing to do with emotional displays. No, they were about expressing what was going on inside rather than holding it close and allowing it to eat at someone. It wasn’t healthy to do that.
Lionel walked jerkily back into the house, and Brad ignored the fact that his truck door was open, and the keys were inside. His mate was more important than if someone decided to steal his truck.
Inside, Lionel said nothing as he clung to Brad like he was a lifeline, taking him directly to his bedroom. At the side of the bed, Lionel didn’t release him.
“You need to put me down so I can strip you.” The quietly murmured words didn’t seem to sink in at first. Brad was about to shift when his booted feet hit the carpet.
Brad slipped his arms free, only to reach up, cupping Lionel’s bristly cheeks when his gaze dipped, and an increased sense of embarrassment came through their connection.
Brad shook his head, holding Lionel’s gaze. “Do not do that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. Your feelings are justified, and never let anyone tell you differently, not even me.” Brad kissed Lionel’s soft lips, tasting the tears. He pressed his nose against Lionel’s, and gently wiped away the lingering tears. “We need to clear away any misunderstandings. I’d like to do that naked while cuddling, if that’s okay?”
The nod was far more hesitant than Brad liked. He let go and took a step back and shucked off his clothes as quickly as possible. Naked, he stood in front of Lionel and resisted rushing when Lionel fidgeted, looking uncertain.
“I told my parents about you. They are excited to meet you, and Mom and Dad were peeved I hadn’t brought you to dinner with me.”
