Accepting His Human(11)

Drake smiled, and the effect on Ailean's cock was immediate. It filled  swiftly, pushing against the confines of his slacks. Getting off with  his mate had been nice, but it didn't ease the ache caused by his desire  to actually claim the man. He'd heard how some of the wolves had dated  their human mates before claiming them. Ailean hoped he didn't have to  do that, because he didn't know if he could be patient.

"Here's the turn," Drake said, drawing his attention.

He turned the car onto a side street, checking the rearview mirror to be  sure the detective still followed. The tiger shifter turned his truck  behind them, following closely. "Which one?" he asked, looking over the  many office buildings.

"It's that one."

Nodding, his gaze swept over the structure his mate pointed at for a few  seconds. It looked like a standard, modern office building with steel  and glass construction.

Ailean turned his car into the parking lot across from it. At Drake's  questioning look, he smiled grimly. "Sorry, little mate. I don't want  you getting too close to them." Drake nodded. "Me neither."                       
       
           



       

Grady parked next to them and climbed from his vehicle.

"This the place?" he asked, after they all stood together.

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"It's that one," Drake said, pointing. "That's the building where I meet  my contractors and other scientists." Nodding, Grady surveyed the area,  his hands on his hips.

"Well, considering the state you found him in, I can't imagine he came from very far."

Ailean agreed. "What are you going to do?"

"Come back tonight with Carson." He grinned coldly.

"He got back from Georgia yesterday, so we'll see what we can sniff out."

"Who's Carson," Drake asked curiously.

Grady spared him a glance before refocusing on the buildings around them. "A friend."

"Another officer?"

Ailean chuckled. His little mate really was too curious for his own  good. He sobered and exchanged a glance with Grady. He had to tell him  something or his mate wouldn't stop asking questions. "Some of the  authorities are compromised," Ailean revealed. "Not all of them can be  trusted, that's why Lyle asked specifically for Grady, and why Grady  asked you to bring him to me. Carson is a military trained friend who is  helping us figure out how bad the situation really is."

Drake's brows lifted, his pretty brown eyes rounding.

"What can I do to help?"

"Nothing," Ailean replied quickly. "You've done enough.

The detective will take it from here." He turned to Grady.

"Do you need anything more from us?" His mate's scent was driving him nuts. He needed to get the man alone.

Grady's gaze snapped to his, and he smirked. "Not for now. Where can I find Drake should I need to question him later?"

"I'm scheduled at the hospital at three this afternoon. I'll take him  back to Declan's before then." He hated the idea of leaving his mate at  the wolf's house, but he didn't want 55




Drake to be alone in Colin City until he knew he was safe.

Nodding, Grady turned and headed to his truck. "Got it.

See you later."

"Get in," he said, opening the door for his mate.

"Where are we going?" Drake asked.

He grabbed Drake's arm before he could climb into his car and pulled him  close. "My place," Ailean whispered before claiming his lips. He delved  his tongue into Drake's mouth, licking his gums and tangling their  tongues. His mate's mewls of pleasure and the way he pressed his body  close, as if trying to meld them together, enflamed Ailean's desire to a  near fever pitch. When the need for air became paramount, he broke the  kiss and grinned at Drake. "To do a little more of that."

"Okay," Drake panted.

The chuckle behind him had Ailean releasing Drake and ushering him into  his seat. After closing the door, he glared over his shoulder at Grady.  The man stood with his hands on his hips, not looking at him, so Ailean  rounded the car.

Before he opened the door, Grady called, "It's nice to see you this … happy."

"I'll be happy after I claim him," he snapped back.

"There's a lot to talk about first. He is human, after all." Grady finally turned his head and looked him in the eye.

"Do you think you can handle that?" He growled in irritation. "Of course  I can. He's my mate." Grady's eyes narrowed slightly and the man  frowned. "I hope so."

When he turned away and climbed into his truck, Ailean growled low in  his throat. So what if he'd kept clear of any long term entanglements  with humans for nearly eighty years. This was his mate. Of course he'd  make it work.

Ailean opened the door and climbed into the car.

Drake looked at him. "Everything okay?" he asked.

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Forcing a smile, Ailean nodded. "Of course." He leaned over and gave  Drake a quick peck. "Let's get out of here." Another thirty minutes of  driving, Ailean checking his rearview mirror often during that time, and  he pulled into his home's driveway, a single story, three-bedroom house  that Ailean used for his sanctuary. He hadn't brought anyone here since  he'd moved in a year and a half ago.

Whenever he'd wanted sex, he used back rooms and hotels.

It seemed fitting that the first man he took to his bed was his mate. His cock jerked at that thought.

Smiling, he led Drake into his home. Passing through the living room, he  glanced toward his kitchen. "Would you like a drink or anything?"

Drake paused, looking uncertain. That's when Ailean noticed the tension  in the man's shoulders. "Hey," he murmured, wrapping his arms around his  nervous mate.                       
       
           



       

"Let's curl up and watch a movie, okay?" He motioned toward the sofa. "Have a seat. I'll grab us a couple of sodas."

"Okay," Drake muttered. "Diet, if you have it." Ailean chuckled. "I think you could use the calories, little mate."

Drake blushed, hunching his shoulders. "Food just isn't always a priority."

Cupping Drake's cheek, Ailean stared down at the man.

"I'm a doctor, and although I'd love to give you a physical," he added  with a lascivious wink, "it wouldn't take that to figure out that you're  under weight." Drake tried to pull free, but Ailean wouldn't let him  get away. "I happen to think you're sexy just the way you are, Drake,  but that's not going to stop me from wanting to make certain you're  healthy."

"You think I'm sexy?" Drake whispered, his big brown eyes widening with hope.

"Oh, yeah," Ailean assured. He pulled Drake into his 57




arms, tucking his smaller frame close against him. He nuzzled his face  into the crook of Drake's neck, inhaling his mate's sweet scent. So  good! "I really like the way you smell."

"It's said that scent from pheromones is a key component to attraction,"  Drake whispered, tilting his head to give Ailean more room.

"Huh," he muttered, nibbling on Drake's neck. He wondered briefly if his mate had any idea how right he was.

Scent was how shifters determined their mate. And right now, that's all  he cared about, getting inside his mate and easing the ache in his dick.  His cock pressed painfully against his fly, and to his great pleasure,  he felt his mate's tension ease as Drake melted against him.

Lifting his head slightly, he captured Drake's lips, speared his tongue  between his lips, and delved deep inside his mouth. Sweet heaven! He  wanted to stay there forever. He nipped the man's lower lip, capturing  it and tugging gently as he pulled away.

He grinned at Drake's dazed expression and dilated eyes.

Gripping one small ass cheek in each hand, Ailean lifted his mate, encouraging Drake to wrap his legs around his hips.

Drake's moan was music to his ears as their erections pressed together in a delicious wave of painful sensation.

He walked to the couch and dropped down onto it, keeping his mate firmly  on his lap. His lips captured Drake's again as he slid a hand up the  man's body and underneath his t-shirt. His palms traced over warm skin,  almost burning him with the intensity of his need.

Growling softly, Ailean pushed the man's shirt off his head, his breath  catching as he took in the chocolate skin he'd been able to touch only  briefly in the shower that morning. He leaned forward and his lips  latched onto Drake's pert nipple. Drake gasped as he sucked the hard nub  into his mouth, his mate's body arching in desire to press 58




more skin into Ailean's mouth.

"What … what happened to watching a movie?" Drake gasped.

After several more hard sucks, he released Drake's nipple.

"Did you want me to stop and put on a movie instead?" he asked between  gentle nips and licks as he made his way to Drake's other hard nub.