From the way Deke shrugged and continued to focus on the food, Luther realized it was a sore spot for his mate. Not only had his nana settled to teach him, he'd eventually been ostracized by the rest of his family as well. Luther reached over placed his left hand over Deke's right. "You are welcome to experiment in our kitchen any time you want."
"Our kitchen?" Deke repeated, his brows shooting up.
Realizing he couldn't take back his slip, Luther shrugged and offered a crooked grin. "We did already discuss how shifters moved fast."
Deke nodded slowly, his expression sobering. "Then, you should probably know that, the reason I came out here was to get away from my boyfriend, and he doesn't like it when people cross him."
Luther cocked his head, fighting back the bile that filled his throat upon hearing Deke call someone else his boyfriend. While he had no right to feel jealous, he still did. He took a deep breath, then forced a smile as he squeezed his mate's hand.
"Sweetheart, what happened with past relationships is just that. Past," Luther assured. "You're mine to care for now."
Deke swept his gaze over the others before settling fear-filled eyes on Luther. "I don't want to see anything happen to you because you got mixed up in my problems."
"Then you'd better tell me about your problems," Luther urged. "That way, we can work through them together." He glanced toward Stephani and Leo, as they both listened with rapt attention. He returned his focus to Deke. "As a family."
Chapter Nine
A family.
Deke shivered at the idea. Other than Dirk, who he'd sort of felt like he'd lost when his friend had mated with the globe-trotting vampire, he hadn't felt like he had a family in a long time. Could he trust this? Then, he realized, probably.
Luther thought he was his mate. From Dirk's explanations and stories when he and Sebastian traveled, the vampire always put his happiness first. While Deke realized he'd be sharing who came first with Stephani, he knew he could live with that. He hadn't had anyone to truly call his own in … ever.
Michael had always wanted ménages. Even at the beginning of their relationship. It should have been a dead giveaway that it wouldn't work, but he'd just been disowned by his own family and he'd been desperate for affection. Having never enjoyed threesomes, he'd given Michael an open relationship.
Deke wouldn't have to do that here.
Luther would be devoted to him.
Taking in a deep breath, Deke breathed out slowly. "I already told you about my family disowning me a couple of years ago," he started slowly. "I met Michael a few weeks after that." He shrugged. "I was lonely. He was nice … most of the time."
Deke paused, glancing from Luther's calm expression to his daughter's curious one. "Uh, should I-" He cleared his throat, shifting in his chair uncomfortably.
Stephani's eyes widened and she gave a very unladylike snort. "Puh-lease," she snarked, leaning back and crossing her arms over her breasts. "I grew up with these two," she said, jutting her chin at Luther and Leo. "Leo's got the biggest mouth of anyone in the pack."
Leo frowned. "I do not. You should hear Kyle!" Leo turned to Deke. "He's a trucker. He has one hell of a potty mouth."
"Thank you for making our point," Luther cut in dryly. He rolled his eyes. "Leo never could curb his tongue." Squeezing Deke's hand again, Luther assured, "You're welcome to speak freely."
Deke nodded slowly. "Well, uh-" He focused on his salad, picking at the leaves limp with dressing. "Michael likes ménages and I don't do that anymore. I told him that, as long as he was safe, he could occasionally feel free to indulge. He kept pushing me to join him, saying he had a few friends that would love an opportunity to join us." Deke had known, even then, what that had meant. Michael's friends wanted to fuck him.
No thanks. Deke chose who fucked him.
Grimacing, Deke admitted, "That always caused fights. We'd split up, then he'd apologize and I'd take him back." He shook his head, disgust at himself filling him. "Evidently, he got tired of me saying no," he stated bitterly. "He brought friends over anyway and they tried to-" Deke paused and clenched his jaw for a few seconds, struggling as memories of being grabbed took hold.
"Hey, easy," Luther purred, squeezing his hand. "You're okay. You're here now. No one can hurt you."
Giving the shifter a smile, Deke murmured, "I got away, got in my car, and drove. Finally, I called Dirk, and he said to meet him here. That was five days ago." His voice hitched. "I have nightmares and I don't know what to do with myself. I'm sure I've lost my job by now and I can't go back to my apartment and get my things for fear that Michael will be waiting."
"One step at a time, Deke," Luther urged. "We can find where Michael is and if he's looking for you. I know plenty of shifters that would be happy to accompany us to Sacramento to get whatever things you want. You never have to see him again, if that is your wish."
"Hell," Leo cut in. "If you want, we could give Michael a sound thrashing. Sounds like the man could use one."
Deke's jaw sagged open. "No," he cried. "Don't do that."
Leo scowled. "Why? Surely you're not protecting him."
"No," Deke said again. "I just-I don't want you to stoop to his level."
"If that's your wish, Deke," Luther agreed. "We'll look into his whereabouts and go from there."
"Thanks," Deke murmured, relieved.
Luther nodded and sent a pointed look Leo's way. The shifter placed his fork across his empty plate and nodded. "Right," he said, rising from the table. "What's the rest of Michael's name and where does he live?"
Deke's brows lifted. Surprise filling him. "Oh, um, yeah." Realizing Leo meant to start the search right that second, he rattled off Michael's information.
"I'll keep you posted," Leo stated, striding from the room, pulling his cell phone off a clip on his belt as he went.
Stephani sighed. "Figures. He always gets out of cleaning the dishes."
"I'll do them," Deke offered, jumping to his feet.
"Are you sure?" Luther asked. "You did help cook."
"You didn't," Stephani said, pointing at her father.
Deke smiled at their byplay, his tension easing. "Tell you what," he said. "I'll take washing duties if you two clear the table and dry."
"Who clears and who dries?" Stephani asked, eyes narrowed.
Luther held out his fist. "Roshambo."
Smirking, Stephani held up her fist, too. "One, two, three."
In the next instant, Luther held his hand flat and Stephani held out two fingers. She laughed and pretended to cut Luther's paper with her scissors. "I win. I choose."
Laughing, Luther nodded. "All right."
Stephani's eyes sparkled, mischief lighting them. "I'll clear, then I'm gonna go to Peggy's house for the night." She waggled her brows. "Give you newlyweds a chance to-" She whistled suggestively.
Deke felt his cheeks heat even as he attempted to suppress a snort of laughter. He failed, covering his mouth as he headed to the kitchen with his plate.
"No more talk like that, young lady," Luther grumbled, but Deke noted that his lover didn't successfully suppress his chuckles, either.
Deke felt his nerves intensify as he followed Luther down the hall toward the bedroom. All through cleaning the kitchen, the wolf shifter had gifted him with soft touches and meaningful, lusty looks. At this point, Deke's dick stood straight and ready in his jeans.
He sure felt grateful now that Leo had agreed to take Stephani to her friend's house.
Luther guided Deke into the bedroom, then pointed to the open door on the right. "That's a bathroom. There are a couple of new toothbrushes under the sink. Feel free to clean up. I'm gonna call Frankie and let him know you'll be staying the night."
Deke nodded and turned toward the room. Before he'd taken more than two steps, Luther gripped his arm and gently spun him. The wolf shifter smiled at him. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Peering up at Luther in confusion, Deke asked, "What?"
"This," Luther purred.
Luther lowered his head and captured Deke's mouth. He thrust his tongue in deep, and Deke opened wide to accept his lover's thick appendage. Sucking it lightly, he sighed into the other man's mouth. Luther growled softly, then pulled away, much to Deke's disappointment.