Getty fell to his back and laughed. “Demon warriors. I’m definitely losing it.”
Donny couldn’t help but laugh, too. He was certain, if he were human and hearing this, he’d have a hard time believing it, as well.
Getty sobered. “So I guess I’m a target now.”
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to take any chances.” Donny sat up then pushed to his feet. With the hellhounds becoming bolder, he doubted he’d have his two-week honeymoon period with Getty. What truly puzzled him was the fact that, normally, you had to cut off a hellhound’s head after you stabbed them and then set them on fire.
Not the ones he’d run into. They’d just exploded.
Nothing made sense to him, but he wasn’t taking a chance with his mate. Donny was desperate to take Getty to the demon realm, to have his mate stay in his apartment, but first he had to gain the human’s trust.
“I guess I should get back.” Getty stood and dusted his backside off. “I have deadlines.”
“What if I were to tell you that I can take you somewhere safe so you can get your work done? Somewhere that you didn’t have to worry about hellhounds attacking you?”
Getty arched a brow. Though he looked interested, he also appeared cautious. “Go on.”
Donny moved closer and touched Getty’s jaw. It was a simple act, but damn if the connection didn’t feel good. He also needed to explain to Getty about mates, and so much more. What his mate knew about Donny’s world wasn’t much, and whether he passed out or not, Getty needed the entire truth.
Getty’s eyes fluttered closed for a brief second before they snapped opened and he took a step back, severing their connection. He looked around and took a long sip of his drink.
“What is it?” Donny looked around, but no one suspicious stood out. Everyone was going on about their day, paying them no attention.
“It’s…” Getty curled an arm around his midsection and turned away, staring to walk. Donny kept pace. “It’s complicated.”
“Whenever someone says that, it’s usually not. We’ve had sex, Getty. I had my dick in your mouth. I’m pretty sure anything past that should be easy to talk about.”
Getty gaped at him. “You don’t have to be so blunt.”
His cheeks caught fire, and Donny was amused his mate was so shy when it came to talking about sex. “What? It’s the truth.” He wiggled his brows. “And if you’re a good boy, I just might have your dick in mine.”
“Oh my god!” Getty whipped his head around, clearly to make sure no one was listening. “Keep your voice down.”
Donny chuckled. “How can you be intimate with someone but become shy when talking about what you’ve done?” Donny bumped arms with Getty. “Or what I want to do to you.”
“It’s just…” Getty stopped walking and raked his teeth over his bottom lip. Fuck, Donny was popping a boner just watching his tempting mouth and remembering how much pleasure it had brought him. “Believe it or not, especially the kind of town I live in, I have to hide…” He sighed and rubbed a finger over his brow. “My dad doesn’t know I’m gay.”
Donny was starting to see Getty’s issue, even if Donny thought it was no big deal.
“How do you think he’ll take it?” If Getty’s father ever found out and decided to lay a hand on Donny’s mate, the guy would regret ever being born.
“I have no idea,” Getty admitted. “Like I said, it’s complicated. My father has always had a problem holding down a job, drinks too much, and is dating Bimbo. I’m not sure if she’d fuel the flames of my dad’s anger.”
“Bimbo?”
A wry chuckle escaped Getty. “I can’t remember her name. It’s something my brother and I call her. She wears skirts that are so short they should be illegal, cakes on her makeup, wears big hoop earrings, and if you ask me, she’s not faithful to my dad. Bimbo is all about the dollar bills, which my dad doesn’t have because he’s jobless.”
The guy sounded like a real winner. “Is that why they live with you?”
Getty nodded. “He was losing his apartment and asked if he could stay with me.”
Now Donny was really confused. “If he’s that bad, if she’s that bad, why did you say yes?”
“God, you sound like Pete.” They’d circled around the walking paths and ended up back at the bench where they’d been seated. “Could you tell your dad no?”
“I don’t know my father and my mother isn’t worth the breath I’m using to talk about her.” That was a subject Donny never wanted to discuss. His gut clenched just thinking of the things she used to do and how no mother should ever treat her child that way.
“I’m sorry.” Getty stopped and placed a hand on Donny’s arm. Their connection was back, which made the dark cobwebs in his mind ease. “I guess you could say I don’t have a backbone. I felt trapped when he asked me, and to be honest, I didn’t have the heart to see him on the street.” Getty rolled his eyes as his hand fell away. “I told you it was complicated.”
Donny knew all too well what it felt like to be trapped in a situation you didn’t want to be in. At the time, he’d been powerless to do anything about it. He’d been young and untrained and at the mercy of others.
He’d vowed never to be in that situation again. Donny would eviscerate anyone who even thought of wielding that much power over him.
Yet, looking at his mate, he knew in his heart that Getty held power over him. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the human. He was ready to go to Getty’s house and put his guests out on their asses.
All Getty had to do was ask.
“Is where you’re talking about far?” Getty asked, interrupting Donny’s thoughts.
Donny grinned. “It’s complicated.”
“No way.” Getty poked at Donny’s arm. “You can’t use my words against me.”
“It’s better I show you.” Donny coaxed Getty into walking again. Until they had the hellhound problem under control, he didn’t like being on the streets with his mate.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Cadeym lingering near Bistro, drinking from a brown and white to-go cup, leaning against the side of the brick building. He was keeping an eye on things, making sure it was safe for Donny and Getty to have their talk.
Donny hadn’t told Cadeym that Getty was his mate. Cadeym was the last demon warrior who was single, and he was already depressed as fuck that he hadn’t found his. The news that Getty was Donny’s mate… Shit, Donny wasn’t sure how the brother would act.
“Did you drive here?” Getty asked.
Donny repeated himself. “It’s complicated.”
“Lord, now you’re stuck on that.” They stopped at a gray sedan. “I need my laptop and a few other things from my house. I have a feeling we’re going to your place, so I’m guessing I’ll need some clothes, too.”
“Just like that?” Donny asked. He was amazed his mate had agreed to go anywhere with him. But it set Donny at ease knowing Getty would be tucked away in the demon warriors’ apartment building. Donny would be able to do his job without his attention split, without worry about Getty’s safety.