Sean swallowed hard and nodded at Declan, but it wasn’t fear Declan scented from his mate. Arousal wafted from Sean once more sending heat straight to Declan’s cock. He bit back a groan as the zipper on his jeans bit into the straining flesh between his thighs. His cock jerked when Sean licked his lips nervously and Declan couldn’t stop himself. He rose from the floor and covered Sean’s mouth with his own. This time the kiss was anything but placid and loving. It was passionate and lustful. Declan plunged his tongue inside Sean, dying for a taste of the man meant to be his. His hands fisted into the sheets beside Sean as he fought his natural urge to grab the man and strip away the barriers between them, wanting nothing more than to claim the beautiful shifter for his own.
A gasping moan reverberated against Declan’s eardrums and he eagerly swallowed it. Declan slid a hand beneath Sean to cup the back of his head, holding him steady for the ravaging kiss. His body hummed with the need to dominate Sean, but he would never do anything to harm Sean. His mate was still healing. He forced himself to break the kiss and buried his face in the pillow beside Sean. Declan could feel his skin trembling as he kept his weight off Sean’s prone form and tried to gather himself.
“Declan?” Sean asked uncertainly near Declan’s ear. But it was the touch of Sean’s hand on his side which caused Declan to raise his head.
“I’m sorry,” Declan rasped.
A healthy red flushed Sean’s cheeks and his lips were swollen from the hard kiss. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not. You’re still injured and I-“ Declan broke off his words.
“I liked it,” Sean admitted softly.
Declan groaned at the innocent words. His dick jerked inside his pants. Sliding away from Sean, Declan perched on the edge of the bed, one leg bent at the knee while the other dangled over the side. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
He heard Sean’s breath catch and smiled. He took Sean’s hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed the backs of Sean’s fingers. “How would you like to come downstairs for dinner tonight?”
A smile lit Sean’s face. “Yeah?”
“I think you’re up for it. Just promise me you’ll let me know if it’s gets to be too much.”
Sean eagerly nodded. “I will.”
“Good. It’ll be just us, Rose, the girls, Ronnie, and maybe one or two others.”
“I’d like to see Ronnie again,” Sean said.
“I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you, too.”
Declan spent the remainder of the afternoon with Sean telling him about the streak, how many members they had, and how there were other clans out in the world as well. He also explained about the Council of Shifters, an elite number of elders who watched over their kind and ensured they did nothing to endanger themselves or others like them. He relished the fascination he saw on Sean’s face as he talked and would spend the rest of his life doing whatever he could to see such an expression on his mate’s features. The only interruption came in the return of Victor and the others, but Declan forewent hearing the report until after the evening meal, not wishing to ruin the time he spent with Sean with bad news.
When it was time for dinner, he helped Sean put on a clean pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt another streak member had loaned them until the clothing Declan had ordered arrived. Sean trembled with eagerness as Declan helped guide him down the stairs to the dining room making Declan happy he’d suggested Sean join everyone despite his injuries.
7
Sean
The rest of the house matched the opulence of the bedroom, in Sean’s opinion anyway. He’d never seen such beautiful hardwood floors, plush carpeting, and shining furniture before. The gleaming oak of the staircase caught his eye the moment they stepped out of the bedroom and Sean stared in wonder. Everything in his father’s place had been dilapidated, falling down, or dirty. The railings in the house had been missing spindles or were entirely gone. Most of the walls throughout the hallways leading into the dining room Declan led him to were white. Some had paintings or mirrors and others had pictures of what Sean was certain were streak members. He could only hope Declan would let him explore further once he’d healed properly. The need to see more itched beneath his skin.
But it was the sheer breathtaking display of food on a long dark cherry dining table which caused Sean to stop, his mouth dropping open in shock. He’d never seen so many different and wonderful dishes in his life. His stomach growled and clenched at the same time. Plates of greens, meats, baskets of bread, glasses of what appeared to be water, and what Sean knew to be some type of potato with cheese on top covered most of the surface.
Too many varying scents of shifters tantalized his nose on top of the food. He saw Sam, Tara, and Vicky already seated at the table, and he recognized the woman named Rose sitting close to the head of the table with Ronnie next to her. But it was the sight of an unknown man with dark blond hair, light blue eyes, and goatee which caused him to tense. He didn’t even realize he’d tightened his hold on Declan’s forearm until Declan brought his hand down on top of Sean’s. “Easy, baby,” Declan murmured. “This is Victor, my beta. He would never hurt you.”
“Hello, Sean,” Victor greeted, voice smooth and warm.
Sean slowly relaxed and gave a tremulous smile. “Hello.”
“Sean!” Ronnie cried, jumping from his seat to rush up to him. He threw his thin arms around Sean’s waist and hugged him.
Sean smiled and touched the top of Ronnie’s head, returning the hug halfway, still holding onto Declan.
“Careful, Ronnie,” Declan grunted out a warning. “He’s still not completely healed.”
“I’m fine,” Sean admonished Declan softly when Ronnie backed away as if his tail were on fire and he appeared crestfallen. “I barely feel it anymore. Promise.”
The grin returned to Ronnie’s face. “I wanted to come see you, but Mama said you couldn’t have visitors yet.”
“Well I’m okay enough now so you can come visit me whenever you’d like,” Sean replied, releasing Declan to lean forward and ruffle Ronnie’s hair.
Ronnie scowled at the childish gesture, straightening his hair out in a huff. “I’m not a little kid.”
Sean bit back a laugh and tried his best to give Ronnie a solemn expression. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
Ronnie gave a short nod in acceptance of Sean’s apology. He grabbed Sean’s hand and tugged. “Come sit next to me!”
Declan sighed. “Ronnie.”
“Please?”
Sean glanced at Declan who gave him a small nod. He smiled and followed Ronnie the short distance to a chair near the head of the table. Ronnie pulled it out for him as well. “Thank you,” Sean said.
Declan took the seat at the end of the table, to Sean’s left. Sean smiled at Vicky and the other girls across from him. No one moved to take any food as Declan took the plate in front of Sean and began dishing food onto it. They waited until Declan had placed the food back in front of Sean and also filled his own plate before they served themselves. Sean wondered at the dynamic in confusion, but the food distracted him and he picked up his fork. There were green beans, the potatoes with cheese, rare strips of what appeared to be beef of some kind, and a roll. He didn’t even know where to start.