AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dude, chill,” Daniel squeaked as he ran around the couch, putting the piece of furniture between them. “I come in peace.”
“We need to talk, bear,” Laith said, hands on hips. “I’m going out on a limb here and guessing there are a few very important things you forgot to mention.”
A low, rumbling growl vibrated in Tillman’s chest as he glared at Daniel. “I’m gonna turn you into past tense.”
“Stop threatening me!” Daniel rolled his eyes. “Fucking alpha males.”
“He came to warn me.” Laith was losing control of the situation. He thought he could have a civil conversation with Tillman, but it seemed he wanted to flex instead. He shoved at Tillman’s chest. “Who are you to barge in here and go nuts?”
“He’s your mate,” Daniel pointed out. “That pretty much gives him carte blanche to be an asshole.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Laith scowled at Tillman. “Behave or…or…just behave, damn it.” Laith rubbed the bridge of his nose as he briefly closed his eyes. “I’ll tell you what’s going on if you tell me whether we’re mates.”
Tillman took a deep sigh. “This isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”
“I was right,” Daniel said in a singsong voice. “Can I call it, or can’t I?”
“Shut it,” Tillman growled at Daniel. “I don’t like you as it is. Keep adding your two cents and I’m going to maul you.”
“Someone needs aromatherapy and a massage,” Daniel muttered.
“You didn’t tell me your ex was a demon,” Tillman said to Laith.
“I didn’t know until he just told me,” Laith defended as he grabbed Tillman’s hand and pulled the guy toward his bedroom. When they were in the room, Laith closed the door behind them. “Why didn’t you tell me you were a bear?”
“It’s not exactly something I go around advertising.” Tillman dropped onto the bed, and damn, now all Laith could think about was how he’d sucked the guy off against the wall. “I was working up to it.”
Laith crossed his arms and leaned against the closed door. “Well, you better work up to it fast, because I want answers.”
He patted the bed next to him, inviting Laith to sit. Reluctantly, Laith joined him, keeping a bit of distance between them. Tillman sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to tell you about me being a shifter, but it’s not easy revealing something so personal when we just met. I really care about you, Laith. I hoped that getting to know each other better first would make it easier when I eventually told you the truth.”
He brought Laith’s hand to his lips in a gentle kiss, his eyes never leaving Laith’s. “You are everything to me. My mate, my heart. I’ll understand if you need time, but I’m not giving up on us. What we have is too rare and special. I’ll do whatever it takes to make this right between us.”
Why was Tillman saying all the right things? Maybe Laith was a sucker, but he wanted to forgive the guy. “No more secrets.”
“You have my word,” Tillman said. “Now, tell me why I’m not allowed to kill that demon out in the living room.”
Chapter Five
“Because he might be telling the truth,” Laith replied.
“Do you trust him?” Tillman didn’t. After all, Daniel was a demon. Tillman hadn’t had great run-ins with demons, and he hadn’t met a single one he’d gotten along with.
“I don’t trust anyone from my old town,” Laith said. “I’m barely trusting Daniel, and he could be blowing smoke up my ass for some ulterior motive. I just don’t see what his end goal is if he’s lying to us.”
“Demons don’t need end goals.” Tillman got up and started to pace. He didn’t like Laith’s ex in the other room. He didn’t like the fact that a demon was in their presence at all. Daniel’s father was up to something. Could it simply be that he was homophobic, or was there something deeper going on?
Tillman needed to find out. He needed to eliminate any threat against his mate. If Daniel could find Laith, then so could his father. Tillman placed his hands on his hips and blew out a breath. “I’d like it if you stayed in my shop while you work.”
“You want me to become a prisoner?” Laith didn’t look happy at the idea, and Tillman didn’t blame him.
“It’s for your safety, Laith.” Tillman hunkered down in front of his mate and took Laith’s hands in his. “You have no idea what a mate means, Laith. If I lost you, I just…” Tillman closed his eyes.
For as long as he could remember, he’d been searching for his mate. All preternatural did. It was their one shot at happiness, their only chance to be with someone who truly understood them on a level no other ever could or would. Laith was Tillman’s solid rock, his foundation now that he’d found him.
He would kill anyone who threatened to take that away from him.
Laith sighed, squeezing Tillman’s hands. “I get it. I do. But you can’t just lock me away, Tillman. I have a life here now.”
