Synthia had turned at the first sound of his voice. She scrunched her brows together just a little as she pouted her lips. "Of course, Luther, dear," she all but cooed, walking toward him, hips swaying in what was probably supposed to be a seductive fashion. "Is everything all right? Carson said you had some unexpected personal business to attend to."
She kept coming as she spoke, edging into Luther's personal space. She lifted her hands and placed them on his bare chest. Rubbing over his pecs, she purred, "If there's anything I can do to help, you know all you need to do is ask."
Luther's brows shot up at her aggressiveness. While she'd pursued him in the past, asking him on hiking outings and out to dinner, joining his table and flirting with him while at pack barbeques, she'd never called him endearments or made blatant overtures such as these.
His shoulders tensing, his skin nearly crawling where she touched him, Luther reached up and gripped Synthia's wrists. He lifted her hands from his body, surprised by the amount of force it took him to remove them.
"Synthia," Luther growled. "This is not appropriate."
"I just thought you may want some help relaxing," Synthia responded, pulling her hands away.
Luther released her, scowling, not liking her behavior in the least.
Smiling coyly, Synthia reached out and touched his shoulder this time. "You're so tense. I can help with that," she offered, sliding her hand down his upper arm.
"Not appropriate," Luther snapped, growing past irritation to anger. He knocked her arm away and stepped away from her. "The personal matter I needed to see to was finding my mate."
"Your mate?" Synthia's lip curled and she scowled. "What are you talking about?" Her gaze shifted left, finally noting that they weren't alone. "Who's that?"
Luther stepped close to Deke and wrapped his arm around the smaller man's waist. Deke stood stiffly, his arms wrapped around his own torso as if hugging himself. Rubbing up and down Deke's side, Luther tried to soothe his tense, confused human.
Deciding blunt would be best, hopefully then Synthia would get the picture, Luther continued to rub Deke's side as he stated, "Synthia, this is Deke Sommers, my mate."
Synthia curled her lip, making her appear far less attractive than Luther knew she could. "You're claiming to be a fag now?" she screeched. "Is this some kind of plague that's affecting our people?"
Narrowing his eyes, Luther growled low in his throat. "Synthia, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to bring my daughter home," he just managed to keep from snarling. "It'd be best if you left now."
"That scrawny fag is not your mate!" she screamed, even stomping her foot. "I am a far better choice to be your mate. I am a strong wolf. He is a scrawny human. Worthless for building the pack. I can give you more strong cubs. He cannot. I am far better suited!"
Shaking his head, Luther felt his wolf's hackles rise. "Damn it, Synthia," he rumbled, tired of her attitude, her insults, and her determined stubbornness. "This is not about choosing. Fate has already done that, and she's done a fucking fantastic job. I've had more enjoyment and relaxation in Deke's company in the last twelve hours than I have with any other in years," he claimed, tightening his hold on Deke.
Deke angled his body, putting his chest flush to Luther's side. "Hey, relax," he soothed, resting his left hand on Luther's stomach while using his right to rub his back, up and down his spine. "You know not everyone is accepting." Then, to Luther's shock-and even a bit of pride-Deke fixed his gaze on Synthia and spoke condescendingly, "Especially when they're sore losers."
"Why you little-"
"Don't you finish that, Synthia," Luther roared. "Your welcome has officially worn out. Get out of my house!"
Synthia's green eyes blazed with hostility as she glanced between them. Then, in the blink of an eye, her expression cleared. She offered a simpering smile and shrugged one slender shoulder as if she didn't have a care in the world. Turning away, she strutted toward the door, swinging her hips.
At the door, Synthia paused and looked over her shoulder. She curved her red lips in what could only be considered a sad smile as she focused on Deke. "I'm sorry that he's playing with you like this, human," she murmured. "Luther has never had a lover more than a couple of days." Synthia smirked. "Don't come crying to our people when he gets tired of you and sends you on your way."
With that parting shot, Synthia left the house.
Luther sighed and shook his head. He turned fully to Deke, wrapped his left arm around his waist, and cupped his nape with his right hand. "I am sorry you had to hear and see all that."
To Luther's pleasure, Deke turned his head and rested his cheek on his shoulder. "It's okay. You can't expect everyone to be accepting," he murmured. "You just need your family and your alpha, right?"
"Right," Luther replied.
Running his hand up and down Deke's spine, Luther took a few minutes just to enjoy holding the man. Soon he'd have to deal with his daughter, but for now, this was all he wanted. Sighing, Luther settled his chin on the top of his mate's head and enjoyed the embrace.
After a few seconds, Deke softly asked, "Did you mean it, when you said you felt more relaxed with me than you have in years?"
"Yes," Luther responded instantly, continuing to hold his mate. "It was like I hadn't even known what I was missing until I met you." He paused, trying to find the right words. "With you near me I feel...content."
Deke sighed, nuzzling Luther's chest, settling his cheek more firmly against his shoulder. "Me, too," he whispered.
Smiling, Luther rolled his chin along Deke's head, so he could kiss the top of his mate's head before returning to their prior position.
A flash of movement caught his attention and Luther spotted Stephani peeking around the corner of the hall. For several seconds, he held his daughter's gaze. She stared back, nibbling her bottom lip, her brows drawn together.
Luther recognized her deep thoughts expression, so when she turned away and disappeared back down the hallway, he didn't feel concern. Instead, Luther felt hope.
Chapter Seven
As much as Deke enjoyed their embrace, his stomach rumbling betrayed another need. He grinned upon hearing Luther's chuckle. When Luther's hold loosened, Deke eased away from the other man and peered up at him shyly.
Deke didn't remember the last time he'd just stood in another man's arms with no expectation of anything else. It had felt … really nice.
"So, we could have steak and eggs, steak and baked potatoes, or maybe steak with mac and cheese," Luther told him.
"Oh, um." Deke drew his brows together and nibbled his bottom lip. "Well, I guess I could just have the eggs or potato. I'm a vegetarian."
Luther's blue eyes widened almost comically. "A vegetarian?"
Deke nibbled his bottom lip a few seconds longer, then couldn't hold his straight face any longer. Bursting out in laughter, Deke nearly doubled over with his mirth. He realized after a moment that Luther hadn't joined in, said anything, or even moved. Managing to get himself under control, Deke straightened and grinned tentatively at his lover.
His brows drawn together, Luther stared at him with a serious expression.
Swallowing hard, Deke tried not to feel like a kid caught doing something wrong. He tried to figure out if Luther was actually upset with him, because the shifter had the disapproving, scowling father thing down.
"Um, sorry?" Deke whispered.
Luther snapped his arm out and grabbed Deke's waist, reeling him in. Deke felt his back pressed against Luther's chest. Growling into his ear, Luther rumbled, "You're gonna keep me on my toes, aren't you, mate?"
Deke tilted his head so he could peer over his shoulder up at Luther. Seeing the smirking tilt of his lover's lips, he answered the expression with a grin of his own. "Maybe," he whispered.
Chuckling, Luther leaned down and pecked a kiss to Deke's lips. "Good." With that, he released Deke. "Come on. I really do have more than just steak," he added, winking.
Laughing, Deke followed Luther down the hall to the kitchen. "So, I do actually eat meat," Deke told Luther, who lifted a brow and smirked. Deke leaned on the counter and licked his lips, before lowering his voice huskily and saying, "What self-respecting gay man doesn't eat meat."