Dreamspinner Press Year Seven Greatest Hits Page 35

  The elevator finally dinged, and the doors swooshed open. A gaggle of ladies emerged, and one of them jostled into him. Pain shot through his injured shoulder, and he leaned against the wall. She didn’t even pause, taking one look at his scruffy yellow T-shirt and too-big khaki shorts and turning up her nose in disgust.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled. He hoped he’d sweat-stained her thousand-dollar blouse. It would serve her right.

  Luck was on Dayton’s side, and no one else waited to get on the elevator to go up. He pressed the button for the twenty-fifth floor and looked around the empty car to see if maybe, possibly, there was something he could rub against to scratch his back. He’d kill for one of those little back scratcher doodads. Maybe they had them at that country restaurant out by the highway. They had a little shop in there with random gadgets.

  Dayton decided to stop there for dinner. No way did he want to hang out with Hart long enough to not be home in time for bed. He’d managed to arrange his pillows in exactly the right way to allow him to sleep without jostling his arm. Nothing like a little innovation in the form of fluffy pillows placed perfectly.

  The doors opened without Dayton finding a scratching post, so he went down the hall to the door of Hart’s apartment. He stood there staring at the silver numbers. Did he really have to do this? Maybe he could just tell Tawny he’d stopped by. It wasn’t exactly a lie. He was here, wasn’t he? Didn’t this constitute stopping by?

  Dear God, his back itched. Dayton adjusted the strap on his shoulder and tried to wiggle it around to just that spot in the center of his back that was turning him into a crazy person. Of course, the moment he’d contorted himself enough to find a bit of relief, the door opened and Hart glared down at him.

  “Um, hi.” Dayton straightened himself up to his full height. Five ten was a perfectly respectable height under ordinary circumstances. Not when faced with the six feet, seven inches of an irritated liger, however.

  It wasn’t just Hart’s height that intimidated everyone around him, even his father, alpha of an entire lion pride. No, his coloring sent chills through most people he met—dark blond hair, with hints of deeper lowlights that told those in the know of his mixed heritage. He wore his hair longer now than when Dayton had last seen him. It brushed his shoulders, the dark streaks standing out more with the added length. His hair was stunning—but his eyes. Those were the scary part. Such a dark brown that they appeared black, the irises seemed larger than most. Being caught in Hart’s glare would shake the bravest man’s courage.

  He growled at Dayton, so Dayton did the smart thing and took a quick step back.

  “What happened to you?” Hart’s voice was low and dangerous and matched the glare in his eyes.

  “Oh, this? Some random thing where I hit a basketball hoop pole thingy and messed up my shoulder. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  Hart grabbed him by the good shoulder and pulled him closer. “You smell like….”

  “A sweat factory. Yeah, I know. You do realize it’s like a hundred degrees outside. I know your nose is all sensitive and stuff, but I can’t help sweating. Now I know why they call this place Hotlanta. Sheesh.”

  Hart sniffed again. “No, you smell like them.”

  Them. Hart’s family. The ones he wasn’t allowed to see anymore. “Oh.”

  Hart pulled him inside the apartment. Decorated in all black and white, it could have been in some magazine for modern interior design.

  Dayton hated it.

  Before he could voice his opinion, another massive itching attack struck. “Oh fuck me.”

  He pulled away from Hart and found the nearest doorway. He rubbed his back against it with a whimper.

  Hart stared and blinked once or twice, but Dayton couldn’t focus on that. All he knew was that if his back didn’t stop this incessant itching, he was going to lose what was left of his mind.

  Hart walked toward him, a puzzled frown forming on his face.

  Dayton was tempted to stop so the little disapproving lines between Hart’s eyes would disappear, but the doorframe was doing exactly what he needed. He ignored the strange impulse and continued to make a fool out of himself by rubbing against it.

  When Hart reached his side, he spun Dayton around and jerked his shirt up. “You’re rubbing your skin raw.”

  “It itches. It won’t stop.”

  Hart lowered his shirt again and slid the brace aside.

  And then, heaven.

  He scratched Dayton’s back.

  “Oh, oh my God. Please don’t stop. Right there. No, a little to the left. Oh. Oh. There. Oh fuck, that’s wonderful.”

  Hart ended the back scratch with a run of his large hand down Dayton’s spine. “They aren’t taking very good care of their pet.”

  Dayton sighed in contentment as the itching stopped for a blessed moment. Then he realized what Hart had said. “I’m not their pet.”

  Hart humphed. “Tawny assured me you were well.”

  “I am well. Almost. Soon as I have this—” Dayton paused and waved his hand over his bad shoulder. “—whatever it is to make my shoulder better, I’ll be good as new. Accidents happen, you know? It wasn’t their fault. You remember what it was like. Sometimes you guys forget your own strength.”

  Dayton looked up, and Hart stared down at him with his black eyes gleaming. His face became a blank mask, the one Dayton remembered all too well.

  He crossed his arms over his chest as his voice became even lower. “They did this to you?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t say did exactly.”

  Hart grabbed Dayton’s chin and forced his head up. “Then what exactly would you say?”

  “Look, it was a basketball game. They needed another player and asked me to jump in. I did. I got body checked. And can you let go of my face? You’re making me uncomfortable.”

  Hart immediately dropped his hand.

  Dayton checked to see if Hart had left a finger-shaped indention on his cheek. Damn shifter strength.

  They stared for a long moment, and Dayton fidgeted.

  “So, looks like that whole lawyer gig is paying off for you.” For a random subject change, it wasn’t his best effort.

  Hart shrugged. “I do okay.”

  “So is it true you’re the lawyer for that new hip-hop boy band? ’Cause I gotta tell you, they’re pretty amazing. Um, not that I really like boy bands or anything, but you know how the girls are. They always have that stuff playing, and it’s really catchy, so I find myself singing along. But hey, I don’t mind singing along with those guys, so it’s got to count for something, right?” His second random subject wasn’t any better than his first.

  “Yes, I am,” Hart answered. “I’d forgotten how much you like to talk. You smell like them.”

  “Yeah, buddy, you’ve said that already. And I guess that’s bugging you, so I’ll just head on back home. It was good to see you.” Dayton nodded. Mission accomplished.

  Except Hart didn’t seem to agree. He pulled Dayton back to him, and damned if this whole push-pull thing wasn’t getting on Dayton’s nerves.

  Hart wrapped his arms around Dayton’s chest and pinned him in place. “Don’t go yet.”

  Dayton closed his eyes as he waited for his shoulder to throb with the sudden movement, but it didn’t happen. He opened one eye as he looked down at Hart’s large hands gently holding him. Hart had never been this touchy-feely with him. In fact, the liger rarely touched anyone. Maybe it was just a pretense to feel closer to his family. Something about that whole “smelling like the pride” business.

  Hart began taking slow steps backward and pulled Dayton along with him. He began a purring rumble in his chest that sent shivers down Dayton’s spine. The good kind of shivers. Except not. Because this was his best friend’s brother, and he shouldn’t be having good tingles where Hart was concerned.

  “Hart? Um, not sure what you’re doing here.”

  Hart nuzzled his nose into Dayton’s hair. “Don’t like you smelling like them. N
ever have.”

  Wait. What? Dayton’s mind floundered. “Wait. What?”

  “Need to get rid of their smell. Want you to smell like me.”

  “Oh no, buddy. Don’t know what you’re doing here. Are you in heat or something? ’Cause if you’re in heat and smelling all that lionessy goodness on me, then we need to have a long talk. Preferably over the phone. Maybe next week.”

  Hart growled. “No.”

  “Oh come on, big guy. Your sister wanted me to stop by, so I did. But you doing this whole growly-sniffy thing is not making me want to come back. Ever.”

  “You’re mine.”

  “Um, no. Actually, I’m not. I’m mine. What’s with you guys and the whole ownership gig? I swear, Tawny tries the same thing. Remember that time when that kid pushed me down on the playground? Yeah. You’re acting like that. And that wasn’t fun either. I spent the next twenty years convincing people I didn’t need a girl to beat up the bullies for me.”

  Dayton stumbled over the corner of a rug. White. Who had a white rug? In their bedroom? Furry white rugs? Seriously? Hart needed a new decorator.

  “Been wanting you for so long. Can’t wait any longer. Have to get you away from them.”

  Okay. Weird. “Listen, Hart. Come on, cut it out. And why are we in your bathroom? Which is all white and seriously, did you pay someone to do this? All white except for black towels? Who the hell has black towels?”

  Hart released Dayton, who immediately spun around to try and rationalize with him.

  Hart began unfastening the sling holding Dayton’s arm in place. “Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. What are you doing?”

  “Taking this off. Taking it all off.”

  “Okay, this has gone on long enough. I don’t know what you’re playing at here, but I’m not in the mood. Is this some kind of joke or something? Did you hit your head? Maybe have a few too many last night?”

  The sling hit the floor.

  Dayton held his arm cradled to his chest and scowled.

  “No, I’m going to get what I want. Finally.” Hart grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  He began tugging at Dayton’s T-shirt and got it off his good arm and over his head before Dayton caught up. Hart eased the shirt down over Dayton’s injured arm and dropped it on the floor. He licked his lips and purred again.

  “Oh shit. You are in heat. Fuck my life.”

  Chapter Two

  HART LET Dayton keep talking. Let him pretend Hart was in heat. He was, in a way. He’d never gotten Dayton’s smell out of his mind. He smelled like summer, something sweet and fresh and hot. No one else had ever affected Hart like Dayton. He’d known since his first heat that Dayton was meant to be his. He’d also known there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it at the time. How could he provide for his mate when he had nothing to offer? No job, no education, and no pride to belong to.

  Now, though, he could take care of his mate. He stripped off his own shirt as Dayton babbled behind him. He had to get the scent of the rest of the pride off his mate. Dayton didn’t know, didn’t understand what it meant, but Tawny did. His sister knew what her best friend was to him. Had known for years and had sent him here to be claimed.

  She’d even been nice enough to cover him in other scents so Hart wouldn’t be able to resist. Not that he would have been able to anyway.

  Dayton leaned up against the tile wall and held his arm close to his side. Hart grumbled, the animal inside stirring even more to life. Hurt. His mate was hurt, and he hadn’t been there to stop it, to help. He ran his fingertips down Dayton’s arm, the golden skin breaking out in goose bumps at his touch.

  He didn’t want to scare Dayton away but couldn’t let him leave without his marks on him, his seed inside. He knelt at Dayton’s feet, his head even with the shorter man’s chest. He needed to touch and taste, needed something other than scent to hold on to.

  “Hart, what are you doing?” Dayton’s whispered words penetrated the haze of lust surrounding him.

  “Going to take care of you now.” He licked the sweaty skin of Dayton’s stomach, the heat from outside causing him to feel warmer than usual. “Delicious.”

  “Aww, Hart. That’s just wrong, man. I’m a hot mess.”

  Hart laughed. “Yeah, you are.”

  He traced his fingers down to the button on Dayton’s khaki shorts. He looked up, met Dayton’s startled gaze as he unfastened them, and slipped the fabric over Dayton’s hips.

  The bulge hiding beneath Dayton’s white boxer briefs filled him with hope. He nuzzled in, feeling the firm length grow even harder under his touch. “You want me. I know you do.”

  “Well, yeah. I mean, look at you. But we probably shouldn’t do this, Hart. Tawny will kill me.”

  Hart gripped the waistband of those tight briefs and tugged them down. “No, she won’t. Why do you think she sent you here? Especially wounded. She knew what I’d do.”

  Dayton’s lightly furred sack begged for a touch, so Hart lowered himself farther and licked a long swipe from Dayton’s balls all the way to the tip of his cock.

  “Oh fuck.”

  “Yeah, baby. We’re going to. Let’s just get you cleaned up first.”

  Dayton groaned and thumped his head back against the wall. “You cats are obsessed with showering, you know? I thought you were supposed to hate water.”

  Hart gathered Dayton to him and pulled him closer to the shower door. He reached in and turned the water on before removing his slacks and boxers. “Come on in. Let me show you how obsessed I am with showers.”

  Dayton stepped inside, and his eyes widened. “Holy massive shower.”

  “Yeah.”

  And it was. Hart had it redesigned to fit his larger frame when he’d bought this apartment. He’d kept his mate in mind, though, and had multiple waterspouts installed at different heights. The plumbers had thought him crazy. Hart had known the time would come when he would want to claim Dayton and make this their home.

  Dayton sighed when the waterfall trickled over his head and down his back. The scents of the other lions began to drift away. Hart’s beast purred in contentment. No one else’s scent should be on Dayton. No one’s but his. Dayton’s bright gold hair darkened to a deep honey as the water rained down on him. He tried to lift his arm to brush his hair out of his face but winced. A lefty with an injured left arm. Hart wondered what else he hadn’t been able to take care of lately.

  Instead of continuing to imagine Dayton’s hands on himself, or not, as the case may be, Hart raised his own and brushed the curls off Dayton’s forehead.

  Dayton sighed. “I feel better already. I guess I got overheated out there today.”

  “Yeah.” Hart poured shampoo into his hand and ran it over Dayton’s head. He dug his fingers in, massaging the scalp and getting another happy sound from his mate.

  “That feels good.”

  Hart grinned and kept going. He loved having his hair washed and wanted to give Dayton the same pleasure. When he’d cleaned the strands thoroughly, he guided Dayton back under the water and helped rinse the suds free.

  Dayton seemed to wake up from the spell he’d been under and blinked up at Hart. “Where did this come from? I mean, I didn’t know….”

  “I’ve known for a long time,” Hart murmured. “I just didn’t know how to say anything, and then everything happened with Dad.”

  Pride politics were something outsiders couldn’t comprehend. As a human, Dayton knew more than most. Tawny had always gotten her way, even as a small child, and she’d decided early on that Dayton was “hers.” Their father hadn’t quite known what to do about it. Her tantrums were legendary, but Dayton had been an argument easily won. He’d seemed so fragile as a child, nothing but skin and bones with a mop of golden curls. With only his mother looking out for him, and her working multiple jobs to pay the bills, Dayton had spent quite a bit of time with the pride. The lionesses had adopted him as quickly as Tawny. The alpha hadn’t stood a chance against the force of their atta
chment to Dayton.

  Dayton leaned forward and rested his head against Hart’s chest. He nuzzled his face into Hart’s chest hair. “I hate that he sent you away like that. You were too young.”

  Hart wrapped his arm around his mate and held him close. “It is what it is. He waited until I was eighteen, at least made sure I got into college. It’s more than most would have done under the circumstances.”

  “Yeah, but to not allow you to see your sisters? That’s just wrong.”

  “Not in our world, babe. You know that. He can’t be weaker than a member of his pride. I didn’t want to be alpha, but I was a threat simply because of what I am. I’m lucky he didn’t throw me out like my mother did.”

  Dayton trembled against him.

  Such a big heart, breaking for him. Hart tilted Dayton’s chin up. “Don’t be sad for me. I made it where I am because of the path they put me on. I’m glad for it. I’m where I always wanted to be, doing what I always wanted to do.”

  Dayton wrinkled up his nose. “You always wanted to be an entertainment lawyer? Really?”

  “Well, okay, I wanted to be a rock star. There was just one problem.”

  “Right. You can’t carry a tune. God, can you not carry a tune. You can do so many things so well too.”

  “You have no idea.” Hart winked and leaned down to capture Dayton’s lips in a kiss. He kept it soft at first, exploring and teasing. Time for hard and fast would come later.

  They broke apart a few moments later, and Dayton grinned. “Yeah, you’re good at a lot of things.”

  “I’ve been waiting a long time for you.”

  Dayton grabbed the shower gel and poured some into his hand. He turned his back to Hart and began to soap up. His shoulders were too tense, though, his body betraying his stress.