A Cold Winter's Day 25 (7 page)

“You’re family, Luke,” Malcolm said as he wrapped his thick arms around Luke and picked him up, crushing him to the bear’s chest with Cole tucked between them.

“Put me down!”

“Not on your life.” Malcolm walked back toward the house, carrying Luke and son up the steps and back into the warmth of his home. “Give Cole to Chance.”

“No,” Luke argued as he tried to wiggle free. It was a useless task, but Luke was determined to take the threat away from the bears.

“Fine,” Malcolm growled as he set Luke down and plucked Cole from his arms.

“Give him back!” Luke shouted as Malcolm handed his son to Chance.

“Not until we talk, mate!”

Luke could see Chance’s eyes grow round as he took a step back, refusing to give Cole back to him. A few more of the Lakeland men gathered into the living room, all wearing a stunned look as Malcolm tossed Luke over his shoulder and proceeded to carry him upstairs.

Luke kicked his legs, clawing at Malcolm’s back as he tried to get the massive mountain to release him. It did no good. Malcolm carried Luke into his bedroom and slammed the door shut before he dropped Luke onto the bed.

“You are my mate, and I will die to protect you. Get that through your thick skull.”

And that was exactly what Luke was trying to prevent. “You will if I stay here, Malcolm. You have to let me go.” His words were soft, pleading as he stared up into the prettiest grey eyes he had ever seen.

Malcolm leaned forward, his lips a mere inch from Luke’s as his eyes turned a stormy grey. “I won’t let you go, Luke. Fate gave you to me to protect, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

And Luke had a feeling that every last one of the Lakelands was going to pay for Malcolm’s conviction.

Chance winced when he heard the door slam upstairs. That couldn’t be good. His pa had a nasty temper, although he rarely showed it. That was how he had kept seven bear shifters in line as they grew up.

They all feared seeing it, feeling it, or being anywhere around it when his pa’s anger reared its ugly head.

“Did he say
mate
?” Riley asked as he stared at the steps.

“Yeah, he did,” Chance said in stunned disbelief. “Pa has a mate, and he’s a man.” The words still wouldn’t sink into his brain. Since when was his pa gay? He had had a wife. His pa had raised seven sons.

And he was gay?

Why wasn’t he told about this?

What fucking universe did they live in again?

“Hot damn!” Chauncey whooped as he picked Curtis up and spun him around. “He won’t be lonely anymore.”

There was that.

“That means Cole is our brother,” Bryce pointed out. “No diaper duty!”

“You can’t call that!” Curtis protested. “Everyone has to help.”

“Says you,” Chauncey stated as he set his mate onto his feet. Curtis glared up at Chauncey as he slapped him on the chest.

“Go get the baby stuff out of my car before I call no sex.”

Chauncey paled as he ran from the house.

“Pa has a mate,” Chance said as he stared at the ceiling. Things were definitely about to get crazy around the Lakeland household.

Crazier than it already was.

* * * *

Malcolm continued to stare into Luke’s chocolate-brown eyes. He had to calm his temper. Seeing Luke leave with Cole had set his teeth on edge. Worry, concern, and downright anger wrapped around him as he saw his mate walk out the front door. He didn’t even want to think about the heart-wrenching desperation.

He never wanted to feel that way again.

The only thing Malcolm wanted to do was protect Luke and Cole. Well, there were other things Malcolm wanted to do to Luke. His eyes dropped to the small pout of Luke’s lips just an inch away from his.

All he had to do was lean a little closer, and Luke would be panting.

Neither of them moved.

He forgot about tribes, and Maverick, about his sons downstairs, and the problems just outside his front door. All he could think about at the moment was Luke. How good he smelled or how stunningly handsome he was. Malcolm wanted to find out how good Luke would feel as his mate cried out his name.

He wanted to hear his name fall from Luke’s kiss-swollen lips as he came for him. His cock began to fill in his pants as their eyes continued to stare at the other. Malcolm could tell Luke was waiting for him to make the first move.

Was it that easy?

With tortured ease, Malcolm closed the distance, ghosting his lips over Luke’s at first, and then his tongue battled to gain entrance. Luke whimpered as he fell back onto the bed, Malcolm following him down.

Their limbs entwined as Malcolm cupped his mate’s face, his lips and tongue exploring every inch of Luke’s mouth. He reached between them, almost tearing Luke’s pants as he tried to get them unsnapped.

He needed skin, wanted skin, had to have it now.

Slow down, damn it, slow down.

Malcolm slowed his pace, fearing that he would hurt Luke in his fevered rush to feel naked flesh against him. It had been so long since he had felt another body in his bed that he was praying for the patience Luke deserved.

“Are you going to claim me, Malcolm?”

Malcolm growled as he finally unsnapped Luke’s pants. His fingers were too large and getting in his way. For once, they were a hindrance. He pulled back, staring down at Luke’s disheveled hair and kiss-swollen lips.

God, Luke was sexy as hell.

Malcolm ran his hands over Luke’s chest before reaching the hem of his shirt. He pulled it up and over his mate’s head, taking in the small hue of his mate’s light brown nipples. He ran his calloused thumbs over the small peaks, watching them pull tight and pebble.

It amazed him how well Luke’s body reacted to his touch. It stroked his ego in ways only Luke was capable of doing. Luke’s tousled hair covered one eye, sending Malcolm’s desires into overdrive.

“Yes, Luke. I’m going to claim you.”

His mate’s eyes turned an even darker brown as arousal so strong that Malcolm could almost taste it danced in the depths of Luke’s brown orbs. “You know everyone in my tribe is out to get their hands on Cole. I won’t let them.”

“And neither will I,” Malcolm said before pulling Luke free of his pants. His heart caught in his throat, making it dry and thick as he stared at his mate’s length. Malcolm blinked a few times, the realization kicking in that he was about to fuck a man.

The one and only time he’d been with another man wasn’t much of a memory. The guy had given Malcolm a blow job. That was it.

This was a whole different ball game now.

Without an ego attached to his claim, Malcolm knew he was much larger when it came to cocks.

Much, much larger.

Would he hurt Luke?

Malcolm pushed the worry to the back of his mind as he leaned forward and sucked in one perfect nipple. He groaned at the knowledge that Luke tasted better than he had imagined. His skin was paler than Malcolm’s, a contrast that was truly breathtaking to him.

“Take it off,” Luke whispered as he tugged at Malcolm’s shirt.

Malcolm leaned back, pulling his shirt over his head, showing Luke every cut of muscle he possessed. He had never even considered his body before, but now that his mate lay there looking at him in reverence, Malcolm was pleased that he was so well-defined. Working on the ranch kept him in shape along with his long runs in his bear form. He was grateful that he had stayed in shape.

Luke’s warm hands skimmed over his pectorals and abdomen, his fingers playing over Malcolm’s six-pack. He could feel Luke’s fingertips etching over every defined line. He knelt there, allowing his mate to explore his body. Luke had every right to explore Malcolm’s body. The slim man was his mate and vice versa. Although he prayed Luke didn’t study his body all night. He had other plans for Luke and Malcolm knew he wouldn’t have the patience to wait much longer.

“Pants,” Luke panted as his eyes lowered to stare at Malcolm’s groin, his tongue sliding out to lick his bottom lip. The sight of hunger in Luke’s eyes and seeing the pink appendage wetting his lower lip made Malcolm’s cock even harder, almost to the point of pain as he scooted from the bed and stripped naked.

Malcolm quickly crawled back onto the bed, not wanting Luke to worry over his size. That was the last thing he wanted. The moment was too perfect to ruin. He knew there was nothing to worry about. He realized this. Fate wouldn’t give him a mate he would hurt. Malcolm relaxed at this knowledge.

Pulling Luke into his arms, Malcolm kissed his mate’s neck and laved his ears. He inhaled his mate’s savory and wild scent as he nibbled his way over to Luke’s other ear. His eyes snapped up when he saw Luke’s ears moving.

Did elves do that?

Apparently so.

He groaned at the way they wiggled, his lips kissing one tip, and then the other, his hands skimming up Luke’s sides and down his back, feeling his calluses lightly scrape his mate’s smooth flesh. The man seemed so tiny in his arms, even though Luke was tall. But being the size Malcolm was, it made Luke seem small, fragile.

His fingers roamed over Luke’s flared cheeks, squeezing them gently as his tongue traced his mate’s collarbone. Luke groaned, tilting his head to the side.

His hands roamed over Luke’s body, getting familiar with what was now his. He could discover every nook and cranny and still not tire of seeing such perfection.

Malcolm was a bit surprised when Luke pushed on his chest, knocking Malcolm onto his back. “What was that for?” Had he done something wrong? Had he hurt Luke with his weight without realizing it?

“Watch,” Luke said as he slid down Malcolm’s body.

Oh, he was watching, all right. Malcolm couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of Luke as Luke’s fingers raked through the hair in the center of Malcolm’s body. The sensation wrapped around Malcolm’s spine, making his whole body shiver.

Just from that one intimate touch.

“You liked that?”

Malcolm nodded as Luke leaned forward and captured his cock between those supple lips. He sucked air in between his teeth as Luke opened wider, trying to take the full length of Malcolm into his mouth.

Luke was making his head spin out of control. He wanted to tell the man to stop, that he was too large for what Luke was trying to do, but he couldn’t find a brain cell to utter the word for him.

Malcolm fisted his hands in the sheets as he tried to stop his impending orgasm, but it was a battle he was quickly losing as Luke’s mouth licked, sucked, and hummed over his cock.

Malcolm lifted his arms, cupping Luke’s face as he watched his mate suck his cock. It was an erotic sight, a sight he had fantasized about for many years. There was just never a face to put with the act. Now there was and it was perfect. It was Luke’s.

Spreading his legs wider apart, Malcolm directed Luke’s head, showing his mate exactly what he liked and wanted. Luke followed Malcolm’s lead, his tongue lapping at Malcolm’s heavy sac, sucking in one side and then the other.

He gently pulled at Luke, his mate coming back up to suck Malcolm’s cock back into his mouth, the moist heat engulfing him. Malcolm moaned, his eyes hooding as he enjoyed what his mate was giving.