The banter was just another stall. He needed to come clean before Zack accused him of being an alien sent to probe the guy. Wait. Zack might actually enjoy it. Nix that entire thought.
“Colton?” Zack eased slightly away, eyes wary.
“We’re mates.” Fuck it. Ripping off the bandage wasn’t Colton’s usual way of handling things. But this case qualified as an emergency, so he was breaking the goddamn glass.
“Like animals in the wild. Not buddies. Because you’re a cat, black panther, so of course it means the animal kind of mate and not chummy pals.”
“Slow your breathing, Blue.” He cupped his mate’s face, forcing the focus to remain squarely on him. “In through your nose. Hold it in, beautiful. Now a slow, controlled release through your mouth. Feel the anxiety draining away?”
“Not yet.” Zack drew another deep breath through his nose, eyes locked on Colton like he was an anchor. Soft touches also helped to ground his mate. Silky skin under his fingertips. A few more controlled breaths. The tension visibly bled from Zack’s shoulders. His breathing evened out as the harsh lines smoothed in his face. “Told you. Delicate sensibilities. Blood pressure obliterated.”
“At least you stayed conscious this time.” He tapped Zack’s nose. “Baby steps.”
“Honey, my ass is still learning to crawl.” Zack curled onto his side, facing the back of the couch. “Really need a moment right now.”
“You want me to leave?” The offer was a knee-jerk response. Colton would leave if asked, even if he wanted the opposite.
“I should say yes.” Zack pushed himself up until he was leaning on one arm. “My mind needs room to think, but—” their eyes met— “every cell in my body is screaming for you to stay. Why? Why do I feel so attached to you in such a ridiculously short amount of time? Why does my stomach hurt at the thought of you leaving?” His eyes turned to slits. “It’s the mate thing, isn’t it? Am I going to wither away if you stray too far?”
“It’s called the pull, Blue.” He softly tapped Zack’s chest. “Fate’s nudge in the right direction. Our life strands were weaved together eons ago. We were meant to find each other.” The trick was finding your mate while they were still alive. As unnaturally long as preternatural lived, there was still a chance your mate no longer existed or had yet to exist.
Finding Zack was like hitting the cosmic lottery. Colton no longer had to worry he’d missed his chance at true happiness.
Not when his very existence was draped over him, teeth worrying his bottom lip. “That still doesn’t answer the question of needing last rites if you trip and windmill your ass into another room. I’m not shriveling up because you can’t look where you’re going, klutz.”
Colton laughed so hard he started wheezing. Zack’s mind was so goddamn beautiful. Amazing and lightweight terrifying. “Why’d you put that image in my head?” he asked before bouts of laughter seized him again. Must’ve been contagious since Zack was doubled over, trying hard to catch his breath.
Someone pounded against the door hard enough to make the frame rattle. Son of a bitch knocked like they were pissed and raring to spread their misery.
“Stay here.” He gently set Zack aside then stood. His pants were still unzipped. Didn’t care. Maybe it would give the right impression to the wrong person.
Before he yanked the door off its hinge, Colton stopped and took a deep breath. Ending someone just for being asshole-level annoying wasn’t gonna wash with the Ultionem. And since Colton would rather not spend time in the underworld being tortured, he slowly exhaled. Didn’t help.
“Wait.”
Colton stuck out his palm, signaling for his mate to stay put. Because if this was the bastard who’d bruised Zack’s delicate skin, he wanted Zack as far away as possible.
Twisting the doorknob, Colton yanked open the door. His gaze lowered until he reached a set of glaring eyes. The way the guy had rattled the door, Colton was expecting someone much taller and possibly built. Instead, the stranger’s forehead struggled to reach his collarbone.
“Can I help you?” Relaxing against the frame blocked Zack from prying eyes.
The stranger scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Zackary home?”
“You are?”
“His brother. Craig.” He eyed Colton with interest. “And you are?”
Not someone you want as an enemy.
“None of your business.” Zack slapped at Colton’s back. “Can you move your massive body? It’s blocking…everything.”
Colton didn’t budge an inch. Gods, Craig’s posture practically oozed teeth. For a guy barely clearing Colton’s collarbone, Craig had that cocky, I-dare-you-to-touch-me air—the kind that made it so tempting to give him a one-way ticket to the ER.
Another jab to the ribs from Zack finally did the trick. Colton allowed himself a few seconds to glare down at the scrawny bastard on the other side of the threshold, memorizing the look in his beady eyes. Craig didn’t even flinch under the scrutiny. That smile? It was pure bullshit.
As soon as Colton stepped away, a low, vibrating growl threatened to escape him. He let Zack slip past, but not more than half a step separated them. If anything started, Colton was ready to drag that bastard Craig back down the stairs by his ankles.
Warm air drifted in from the apartment hallway, mingling with dryer-sheet perfume and faint cigarette stink clinging to Craig’s clothes. Heat radiated from the concrete landing, baking into every breath. Zack angled his body, never quite letting go of the doorframe.
