Taming the Enforcer’s Flirt (7 page)

“I need to know about Cornelius’s past. Specifically, his relationships. Family, friends, exes. Once that information is provided, I’ll talk to him about it, so it’s not like I’ll be keeping it a secret.” Well, not for long, anyway.

Grunting, Vane agreed. “Done. I’ll see what I can dig up.”

After being rescued, Vane had soaked up information like a sieve, and quickly discovered an affinity for computers. He wasn’t as good as Raymond, but he was still damn good, and Einan wouldn’t have to worry about Vane possibly blabbing his request to another member of the clutch that happened to drop by and chat. Raymond’s brain to mouth filter broke at the worst possible times.

That reminded him, he needed to think up a suitable punishment for the gargoyle. Pushing that thought aside, Einan expressed his thanks and hung up. He sat there for several minutes wondering what Vane could possibly end up finding, but then figured he shouldn’t borrow trouble. What he really needed to do was clean, he decided, looking around his rooms again.

As a workaholic, he didn’t make time for tidying up nearly often enough. Heaving a put-upon sigh, Einan stood up and went to work.

“Hey.”

Einan looked up at the sound of his mate’s softly spoken greeting and pulled his hands out of the hot, soapy water where he’d been washing the excessive number of coffee mugs he’d found lying around his suite. “Hey,” he responded, grabbing a towel and drying his hands. He took the opportunity to take in Cornelius’s sleep tussled hair and slightly red-rimmed eyes. He wore just his cargo shorts low on his hips, the top button undone, his bare feet sticking out the bottom.

To Einan, he looked fucking edible. He also really liked how comfortable Cornelius seemed to be in Einan’s space to be wandering around half dressed.
Just as it should be.
Tossing down the towel, he held out a hand, gratified when Cornelius immediately took it. He pulled his mate into his arms, liking the way the shifter sank into his embrace.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked, nuzzling the smaller man’s temple.

Cornelius nodded, his hair rubbing across Einan’s cheek. “Still tired,” he admitted right before a yawn confirmed his claim. “But wanted to know where you went.”

“Not far,” Einan assured. He pecked a kiss to Cornelius’s temple. “Gargoyles don’t traditionally sleep like you all do since we spend the day as stone.”

“Then why do you have a bed?”

Glad his dark gray hide would hide his flush. “Well, I, uh—” He snickered at himself, then revealed, “I enjoy lying on the comfortable bed and staring at the ceiling. When I’m struggling to figure out a problem, it helps me think.”

“Oh,” Cornelius tilted his head up and stared at him. “What kinds of problems do you struggle with?”

Einan took the opportunity to rub his lips over his lover’s, mindful of his sharp canines but liking touching his mate too much not to take advantage. “I’m the lead enforcer for my clutch, so I’m responsible for security. Sometimes, other paranormals come around or even human vandals or teenagers looking for a thrill. It’s my job to keep them out and us safe.” Grimacing, he added, “Not to mention every time Bobby heads off to work, I have to be certain he has a bodyguard.”

“Oh, wow. Why?” Cornelius asked. His brows drew into a frown. “Are you guys having problems right now or something?”

Shaking his head, Einan stated, “No, not currently. We had problems with a coven to the south, but the Vampire Council stepped in and the trouble-makers have been either killed or cowed. It’s pretty quiet right now.”

“Then, why?”

“For the same reason I’ll send security to discreetly keep an eye on you,” he said. “Better safe than sorry.”

“Oh. You’re gonna have me watched?”

Cornelius sounded offended, but Einan refused to back down on this point. “Yes. I know you want to finish your degree, so I assume you’ll want to get a job at some point. I won’t have peace of mind unless I know you’re safe,” he stated bluntly.

For several seconds, Cornelius nibbled his bottom lip, and Einan wondered if he was about to argue. To his relief, Cornelius finally shrugged and slowly stated, “Okay. I can understand that.”

“Good.” Smiling, Einan winked. “Once I can take on a human form, I’m sure I’ll be dropping by for
lunch
on at least a weekly basis.” He punctuated his words with an eye ridge waggle so his mate would know exactly what—or rather who—he intended to
eat
.

Einan’s words had the desired effect, and Cornelius snickered. “I’m not sure that’ll work so well if I’m working around kids, but I’m sure we can find a few places around town for afternoon delights.”

“I do like the way you think,” Einan growled, cupping his shifter’s jaw and claiming his mouth in a slow, thorough exploration.

Not wanting to get too carried away before they discussed a few other things, Einan eased the kiss to an end, then led Cornelius to the couch. Once they were both comfortable, he twined their fingers and mentioned, “Since you’re trying to work in the child care industry, I’m assuming you want kids someday? And since you’re friends with Gus, you also know that when the time comes,
you’ll
be the one carrying them, right?”

Cornelius nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up. “Oh, yes. I even know what I want to name our first son. Xavier. I’ve always loved that name!” he gushed excitedly.

Einan’s jaw sagged open. “Uh, okay.” Well, damn, he hadn’t expected
that
reaction. “You’ve thought about having kids before, haven’t you?” he hazarded to guess.

Nodding again, Cornelius beamed. “I always thought I’d have to find a woman to act as surrogate. But this is so much better!”

Now Einan nodded. He wondered how soon his obviously ecstatic mate would want kids. Einan wanted a couple, sure, but he’d like some time to figure out how he and Cornelius would get along first. “Are you hungry?” he asked. “I should probably make you some cinnamon toast. It’s what Gus eats to keep from getting pregnant, although I’ve never heard of a male having back to back eggs.”

“Oh, um, sure.” Cornelius seemed to deflate. “You don’t want kids?”

Well, shit, that hadn’t been what he wanted. How did he keep putting his foot in his mouth? In bed, they were more than compatible…but out of it? Einan just couldn’t seem to do or say the right thing.

Trying to put the smile back on Cornelius’s face, he admitted, “I do, yes, but I’d like to get to know
you
before throwing a little one into the mix.”

Surely
that
had to be right…
right
?

Disappointment stabbed through Cornelius, but he nodded anyway. In his head, he
knew
Einan was right, but that didn’t mean he had to like it. “Yeah, you’re right. We still have a relationship to figure out,” he mused. Maybe he shouldn’t have come across quite so gung-ho to have kids. Maybe Einan didn’t even want any and was just trying to appease him.

That would suck!

Einan squeezed his hand, looking pleased and relieved all at the same time. Cornelius felt a bit bad. He hadn’t meant to stress out the gargoyle. He knew he was high maintenance at times. He didn’t try to be. It was just…him.

Deciding a subject change was in order, and he wanted to learn more about the gargoyle, he asked, “So, what do you look like in human form? Will you change and show me?”

“Oh, I can’t, yet. I need you to claim me, first,” Einan stated. “I was gonna talk to you about that.”

“But I have claimed you,” Cornelius countered. What the hell was Einan talking about?

His gaze strayed to the bite mark he’d left on the gargoyle’s neck, just to be sure his memory wasn’t playing tricks on him. Near the end of their coupling, he knew he’d been kinda out of it after all the pleasure the male had given him. His body had about given out, and in fact, it had after Einan mounted and bit him that last time.

Cornelius had desperately wanted to please his mate, wanted to show him he could give him exactly what he needed whenever he needed it. He didn’t want Einan disappointed, and in truth, had been more than happy to bend over for the gargoyle, but damn, when Einan had bitten him and he’d come, he thought his balls would turn inside out.

Einan scowled for a second, then followed Cornelius’s gaze and touched his neck. Understanding crossed his expression as he traced the bite mark. “Ah, well, yes, you did. I meant you’d need to claim me while we had sex.”

Now, Cornelius was really confused. “Uh, I
did
.” He spoke slowly, trying not to grit his teeth in frustration. “You were there,” he added. He started to rise, wanting to move, but Einan’s hand on his thigh tightened, stopping him. Feeling controlled, manipulated, he tore away from his mate’s hold and paced across the room before Einan could stop him.

When he turned around, to his surprise, he found Einan’s hands folded together, his knuckles white, as he scowled at the ground.

“Well?” Cornelius snapped.

Einan lifted his gaze, then rubbed his hands over his legs. The muscles under his clawed hands were taught. Whatever he had to say frustrated Einan, too.

Suddenly, Cornelius felt like a heel, especially in light of how difficult this—whatever
this
was—seemed to be for his mate. He returned to Einan and dropped to his knees before the gargoyle. This close, Einan’s frustration and embarrassment practically rolled off of him.

Cornelius rested his hand on Einan’s, stopping his movement and getting the male’s attention. “What is it?” he urged. “I don’t mean to be obtuse, I just don’t understand.”

Einan’s jaw worked for a second, then he admitted, “You need to fuck me.”

Well, that hadn’t been what he’d expected. Except… Cornelius lowered his gaze and grimaced before muttering, “I don’t top.”

“I can’t gain a human form until you’ve spilled in me,” Einan stated.

Well shit!

“Damn,” he whispered.

It was Einan’s turn to look confused. “What’s wrong? Shouldn’t
I
be the one saying that? I’ve never bottomed before and don’t really look forward to it.”

Oh, that just made Cornelius feel so much better. Jumping to his feet, he snarled, “Then the fact that I don’t top should make you happy. We’re perfect for each other. I don’t top and you don’t bottom. It works out great.”

“Except you need to top me in order for me to go through molt,” Einan snapped back, his expression thunderous.

Cornelius took a step back from the obviously angry gargoyle, but as agitated as he was, he couldn’t seem to control his mouth. “Well, what if your mate had been a woman? It’s not like she could top you. What would you have done then?”

Einan rolled his eyes. “It works different with a woman.”

His scoffing tone grated on Cornelius’s last nerves. Curling his lip, he sneered, “Then maybe you should just think of me as a woman, because I…don’t…top!” His last three words he finished nearly on a shout.

Having enough of this conversation, Cornelius turned and stalked away from Einan—or it could have been the way the gargoyle rose from the sofa, his lips curling, a low growl escaping him that had him retreating. It was intimidating as hell, and Cornelius’s flight reflex once again kicked in.

“Don’t you walk away from me, mate. We’re not done!”

Like I’m gonna stay in the same room as an angry dominant. No fucking way. Never again!

His hand on the door handle, he glared over his shoulder at Einan. “Yes, we are.” He felt pretty good that his voice came out even, because inside, his heart hammered against his ribcage, threatening to beat right out of his chest. Ever since Corbin, if someone more dominant grew angry with him, he panicked and ran.

Even through the door, he heard Einan’s frustrated roar.

Cornelius ran.

After several minutes of ducking through doorways and dodging the sounds of voices, Cornelius skidded to a stop. He glanced around and realized he actually knew where he was. Raymond’s office was on this hallway.

Heading that way, he breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth, forcing his heartbeat to slow. No sense freaking the computer guy out by arriving looking like a scared rabbit. He had no desire to explain his reaction to anyone…well, except Gus, but since he didn’t know where his buddy’s quarters were, he had to ask.

After one more deep breath, Cornelius knocked on the door. He heard something thud on the floor, then a muttered shit. Finally, Raymond called, “Just a second.”

Cornelius sure hoped he wasn’t interrupting anything important…like sex, especially considering the scrambling noises his sensitive shifter hearing picked up on the other side of the door.

When Raymond opened the door and mumbled, “Yeah,” Cornelius really thought he had indeed done just then.

Except, there was no one in the office with him. Still, the scent of cum hung heavy in the air. Beating off then? Either way, Cornelius needed information. “Uh, sorry to interrupt. I’m trying to find my buddy, Gus’s, room. Can you, uh, point me that way?”

“Sure,” Raymond immediately replied, then he glanced over Cornelius’s shoulder. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who the gargoyle looked for, especially since next he said, “Where’s Einan? I heard you’re mated to him and you smell like sex. Why are you here and he’s not? I’m surprised he would let you out of his sight. Most gargoyles hole up with their mate for at least seventy-two hours after finding them to seal their bond.” Raymond nodded once, as if agreeing with what he said.

“Uh, whoa, there, turbo,” Cornelius said, holding up his hand, stopping the slender gargoyle’s flow of words. “He’s busy and I’m lost. Can you help me?”

Raymond’s eyes widened. “Oh, right, yeah. Sorry.” If he hadn’t sported black hide, he totally would have been blushing. His scent completely gave him away. Raymond pointed back the way Cornelius had come and explained how to get to Gus and Tible’s suite of rooms.

Wanting to keep moving, and feeling twitchy, like he was being watched, Cornelius quickly waved and turned away.

“Hey, congrats!”

Glancing over his shoulder, Cornelius forced a smile. “Thanks.”

After only one miss-turn, Cornelius found the doors he was certain housed his friends. He could smell their scent permeating the hallways, telling him they’d either entered or exited their suite recently. He hoped it was the former.