Let the Rain Come Down [The Moonlight Breed 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (read a book TXT) 📗

“Egyptian lynx.” Oscar lifted both eyebrows and wiggled them. “I have been known to read from time to time.”

“Here I thought you were a nice guy. You’re kind of a pain in the ass, though.”

For the first time in nearly fourteen years, Demitrius realized he was grinning openly. His sunglasses were lying discarded on the ground beside them, and even his hair was tucked behind both ears. Not a single part of him was hidden, and Oscar wasn’t flinching away from him or curling his nose in distaste.

“You really are gorgeous, Demitrius. Never in a million years would I have thought that someone like you would want me. The guy who signed my contract was…” Oscar trailed off, his bright green eyes rounded until they looked in danger of popping out of his head, and his lips pressed together into a tight, white line.

So, it would seem that Demitrius wasn’t the only who had been keeping secrets. His briefing had been fairly vague when Stavion had asked him to keep an eye on the new Moonlighters. Oscar and his friends had been found in a cave in Missouri. They were on the run from someone who wanted to hurt them. It was possible that whoever this person was could be searching for them at that very moment. That was really all he’d been told.

“Tell me, sweetheart.” Holding himself up on one hand, Demitrius used the other to brush the curls back from Oscar’s sweet face. “You know all of my secrets now. I think I can handle yours.”

Oscar curled his fingers around Demitrius’s wrist and nuzzled his cheek against his palm. “This is nice. I love the way you smell.”

“Stop trying to distract me, brat.”

“A second ago, you said I was a sweetheart. Now, I’m a brat? You really should get your story straight.”

With a silent sigh, Demitrius pushed away from his mate and rolled to his side, pulling the little shifter with him. Oscar fit perfectly against his chest, and the sweet smile on his lips made Demitrius feel like a king. “We don’t have to talk about it now.” He placed a soft kiss to Oscar’s forehead and pulled him a little closer. “We should be getting back to the house.”

“Are you mad?”

“No, baby, I’m not mad. When you trust me, you’ll tell me. I can wait.”

Oscar pushed at his chest, leaning back so he could look up into Demitrius’s eyes. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m embarrassed,” he admitted.

“Whatever happened to you wasn’t your fault. You have no reason to be embarrassed, baby.”

“Intellectually, I guess I know that. However, it doesn’t change anything. I can’t change what they’ve made me.”

“And what would that be?” Another question occurred to Demitrius before he even had an answer for the first one. “What type of shifter are you?”

“A hedgehog.”

“Really?” Demitrius hadn’t meant it as an insult. He was honestly just surprised, because he’d never met a hedgehog shifter before. The way Oscar’s face fell was unacceptable, however.

Slipping a finger under his mate’s chin, Demitrius lifted his head and pecked him on the lips. “I bet you are adorable.”

Oscar shrugged halfheartedly. “I guess. It’s not exactly intimidating.”

“Who on earth do you need to intimidate?” Stretching his right arm out to the side, Demitrius made a fist and curled it toward his shoulder to make his bicep bulge. “With me attached to your hip, who in their right mind would even think about breathing in your direction?”

His antics did the trick, and Oscar chuckled under his breath—even if he rolled his eyes as he did it. “Fine, you win. I’m adorable.”

“Mmm,” Demitrius purred. “Yes, you are.” Sliding his fingers from Oscar’s chin, he cupped his hand tenderly around his mate’s cheek, holding him delicately as if he was made of the finest crystal and would shatter just as easily.

“Did you know that your eyes sparkle when you smile?” Oscar arched his neck, bringing his mouth closer to Demitrius’s. “You really don’t see yourself clearly.”

Demitrius knew exactly what he looked like, and he’d seen firsthand hand how others viewed him. Perhaps it was because of the mating bond that Oscar saw him differently, but Demitrius could live with that. He wasn’t naïve enough to think that his mate’s opinion was the only one that mattered, but Oscar’s approval made it a little easier to endure the stares and whispers.

Careful of his sharp teeth, he dipped his head the last inch, pillowing his lips against Oscar’s in a tentative kiss. It had been a very long time since anyone had been willing to venture that close to his mouth, and he half expected Oscar to shy away. So, when the arms around his neck tightened, dragging him closer, and a sweet little moan filled his ears, Demitrius was momentarily struck immobile.

Once his brain caught up with what the rest of his body already knew, it was game over, though. Rolling on top of his mate, he pinned Oscar to the dewy grass and slanted their mouths together. There was no struggle for dominance or power. Demitrius was in charge. End of story. Oscar seemed more than agreeable to give him that control, though, and let him lead them where they needed to go.

His small body trembled, and gasping moans poured from his lips, but when Demitrius pulled away to make sure he was okay, Oscar’s only response was to jerk him back into the kiss. Their tongues slid together, twining and caressing in a slippery dance that mimicked things to come. As hard as his dick was and as much as he ached to claim Oscar right there by the pond, Demitrius wouldn’t allow their first time together to be anything but perfect.

“Time to go home, baby.”

“Don’t want to,” Oscar panted, chasing his lips and trying to pull him closer again.

Demitrius chuckled, holding his mate easily at bay. “The shifters and weres will be waking up soon. Let’s find us a bit of privacy.”

Nodding