Snorting, Deke replied, "We've all hooked up with people we shouldn't." Hence, his own need to run from Michael. Thinking about him, Deke thought maybe moving in with Luther wasn't such a bad idea … once he'd met and been accepted by Luther's daughter anyway.
"Most of the pictures were taken by my cousin, Leo," Luther said, changing the topic. Deke didn't mind that at all. "You'll meet him soon enough. He had business meetings today, but he wanted news on how Stephani did in training today." Smiling down at him, Luther said wryly, "She's the defacto leader of her little group, so we both think she's gonna end up being a strong wolf … if she can ever figure out how to be punctual."
Deke liked the relaxed way Luther talked about his family. Stress-free and happy, he seemed to have good relationships with them. It'd be nice to see how they actually interacted, to see that kind of respect in action. It'd been so long since he'd experienced it in a relationship.
Of course, then Luther had to ask the inevitable.
"What about your family?" Luther questioned. "Are they all back in Sacramento?" He grinned and waggled his brows. "Am I gonna have to ask your father for your hand or something?"
Deke's jaw sagged open. Shock flooded him, replacing the internal cringe he'd experienced at having to discuss his family. "Wow, I'd forgotten that paranormals move so fast," he mumbled, instead.
Luther blew out a breath. Pinching his lips together, he nodded. "Yeah. Compared to humans, we do. Once we find our mate, we-" Pausing, Luther blinked, swallowing hard. He eased his hold and stepped away. Sliding his right hand down Deke's left arm, Luther gripped his hand. "Come sit. I owe you an explanation."
Sighing, Deke followed Luther's urging and they settled on the loveseat together. Evidently, now that Luther had him in his arms, he wasn't going to allow Deke to go far. As soon as Luther released Deke's hand, he placed his right arm over the back of the cushion and held him pressed loosely against his side.
"I'm not going anywhere just yet," Deke whispered. Turning his body, he pressed his shoulder into the shifter's side and placed his right hand on Luther's chest. He rubbed lightly, feeling Luther's pounding heart under his fingertips. "Talk to me," he urged. "Tell me what changed. Was it just proximity? Out of sight out of mind?"
"You're blunt," Luther mumbled gruffly.
Deke shrugged. "Guess I just don't see the point in beating around the bush. If we mate, this will create upheaval in both of our lives."
Luther pressed a kiss to his temple. "There is no if for me, sweet human." He whispered the admission. "I'm sorry I walked away the first time. It'd been a long, long time since I'd been attracted to a man and even longer since I'd acted on it."
Nuzzling Deke's temple, he continued, "I asked after you the next time I saw Dirk a couple of days later, but you'd already flown back to Sacramento. I figured I'd give myself time to wrap my head around Fate choosing a male mate." He shrugged. "I needed time to decide if I was going to pursue you or let you go."
"You were going to let me go, weren't you?" Deke hated asking, but that's really what it sounded like.
"No, actually," Luther responded instantly. "Stephani is going to summer camp for two weeks next month before school starts again. I had planned to seek you out then. It was driving my wolf and I nuts that I knew who my mate was but didn't have you with me." Luther gripped Deke's nape and urged him to tilt his head back. "You showing up just sped up my plans."
Grimacing, Luther admitted, "I scented you last night, but when I spotted you, you were talking to Declan." He frowned and shook his head. "I'm just a few years shy of two hundred, Deke. I've been known by a number of names and have done dozens of jobs. I've followed Declan across an ocean and half a continent. When that wolf told me to get my head of out my ass or walk away from you, it scared the ever-loving shit out of me."
"Oh," Deke whispered. "Yeah, I-" He paused and grimaced. "I can see why you'd follow him. He has a good ear."
Luther nodded. "He's a good alpha. He takes care of his own."
Deke grunted. "In answer to your earlier question, I don't talk to my family. I came out when I was sixteen. I thought they were okay with it." He frowned. "Maybe at the time, they were." Pursing his lips, Deke peered up at Luther. "You know. Now that I think about it, my parents started the disapproving attitude after becoming members at their country club. For some reason, appearance became everything to them."
"Anyway," Deke continued. "Thanksgiving dinner two years ago, they gave me an ultimatum. Stop being a fag or stop being their son." He scoffed and waved a hand at himself, indicating the eyeliner he wore. "You can imagine which I chose."
"I am grateful for that," Luther told him. "Although, I am sorry your family caused you pain."
Deke grimaced. "I guess the worst part was losing my brother and sister. My brother, Derek, is older by a year. He's a big guy, quarterback, captain of the football team, and he protected me in high school, even after I came out." He sighed. "It really sucked when he didn't speak up against them."
"Well, I'll give you my family," Luther offered, then he winked. "Of course, once you meet them, you may not want them."
Snickering, Deke smiled up at Luther. "Doesn't everyone feel that way about their family?" he teased.
Luther lowered his head and pecked a quick kiss to Deke's lips. "They probably do." Then, he tightened his grip on Deke's nape and sealed his mouth over his.
Deke enjoyed the firm pressure of Luther's lips against his own for several seconds. Then, Luther nipped his lower lip before swiping his tongue across it. Understanding the silent request for him to open, Deke did just that. Luther immediately thrust his tongue into Deke's mouth and lapped at Deke's own appendage.
Humming at the pleasant stimulation, Deke felt his blood heat and flow south. He opened wider and tilted his head, slotting their mouths together more fully.
Luther growled at the move, growing more aggressive. He swirled his tongue around Deke's mouth, exploring, dominating, consuming. Deke moaned and twisted his fingers into Luther's shirt, suddenly wishing the man were naked again so he could feel the heat of his skin.
Deke turned more fully as Luther tightened his right arm. Swinging his leg over Luther's lap, he straddled the man. As soon as his hard dick felt the pressure of his lover's answering erection, Deke hissed.
Tearing his mouth away from Luther's, Deke lifted his head and gasped in a much needed lungful of oxygen. He rested his hands on Luther's shoulders and rocked his hips. Applying pressure to both their erections, he earned a grunt and hiss from Luther.
"Damn, Luther," Deke muttered. "How the hell do you get me so hot so fast?"
Luther moved both hands to Deke's hips, urging him to continue moving as he lifted his own hips into the rutting motion. Through gritted teeth, he replied, "Y-you're my mate. It's a paranormal thing."
Deke jerked a nod as he felt his balls pull tight. "So weird. God, I can't believe I'm going to come again," he whined. Lowering a hand to his fly, Deke struggled to open his jeans.
"Yeah," Luther encouraged. "Let me see it."
Obeying, Deke yanked open his button-fly, releasing his dick. Never had he been so happy to no longer be wearing underwear, since he'd used it to clean himself up earlier in the woods. As soon as his hard shaft pressed between the flaps, Luther reached for him.
Luther only had to jack him once before his balls let go and he spurted. Deke groaned and shuddered, watching through half-mast eyelids as streams of his white seed erupted from his slit to land on Luther's t-shirt.
"Damn, what a pretty sight," Luther rumbled.
Releasing Deke's dick, Luther lifted his fingers to his mouth, licking the traces of cum from them. Deke watched the pleased smile curve Luther's lips as he hummed. Luther winked, then wiped his saliva on his own t-shirt before reaching out and cupping Deke's jaw.
Luther brought their mouths together again, and Deke went along willingly. After swiping his tongue over Deke's lips, he prodded his lips. Deke happily opened for him, welcoming his lover's tongue. He sucked the appendage lightly, tasting himself on Luther.
Deke pulled away from the kiss and grinned at his lover. Rocking his hips, he felt the ridge of Luther's erection pressing against his balls. "You want me to suck you off?" he offered.