Hunter(Zeus's Pack 5)(15)

“I’m good, I’m good.” He fell on his ass and took a deep breath. “You just caught me off guard, sir.” Quinn’s arresting good looks captured Tristan’s attention for a moment, and all he could do was stare.

Quinn knelt down in front of him, reaching out and clutching Tristan’s hand. When Quinn pulled him off the floor, Tristan landed on Quinn’s legs, his upper body draped over his mate’s legs.

Tristan gulped.

Although Xavier had treated him like dirt under his shoe, Tristan knew relationships weren’t supposed to be that way. This was why he ran so many times. He wanted what his parents had, that devoted love that you could only get from your mate. It was hard opening up and trusting someone, especially after what had happened to him. Tristan stared at Quinn’s lips, licking his own dry ones in want.

“Jellybean,” Quinn repeated. This time though, this time it was low and husky, laced with want and desire.

“I’m okay.” He pushed away, not ready to give his full trust. He had been made to believe once by a handsome face and pretty words. This time he was going to make sure his world was safe before he gave in.

Quinn cleared his throat and helped Tristan to his feet at the same time he stood. Oh, how those lips were tempting Tristan to give in, though. He knew for a fact his fleece pajama bottoms were tenting, giving away his state of arousal.

Quinn pulled Tristan into his arms. He resisted, too afraid of what he was feeling. It was ten times more powerful with Quinn than it was with Xavier. Quinn grinned, and his eyes lit up. He began to slow dance with Tristan, singing along with the song, as though he were singing it directly to him.

Tristan pretended he was.

His mate had a very nice voice, soothing and sexy. His hands stayed on the small of Tristan’s back, so he began to relax, allowing Quinn to guide them around the living room. He made Tristan feel so important, so wanted not only in that moment, but since he had come here.

Quinn was easy to be around. It felt like floating on one’s back in a pond on a hot summer’s day, peaceful, and nothing in the world compared. Tristan grinned up at Quinn, feeling bashful and content at the same time.

The last year of his life was like battling a snowstorm, blinding, rough, and bitterly cold. Being in Quinn’s arms was like walking through the door and shaking the snow off, seeing the fire blazing in the hearth, knowing that he had finally made it home.

Tristan sighed and rested his head on Quinn’s chest, listening to his mate’s heartbeat as they danced around the living room. “This is nice, sir.”

“It is,” Quinn agreed as they swayed back and forth. One of Quinn’s hands skated up his back, snaking through his hair as he massaged Tristan’s scalp. He could get used to this real easy. Quinn’s chest began to vibrate as his voice sang the lyrics to the song.

Tristan wrapped his arms around Quinn’s waist, desperate to believe his mate wanted him happy and safe. His hand shot up and wiped away at a tear as they danced around the coffee table. Why the hell was he crying?

“My jellybean. Let it all out. Give me your pain and take my happiness. Heal, baby.”

Tristan cursed himself when he began to weep in Quinn’s arms. This was supposed to be a nice dance, not a freak show. He pulled from Quinn’s arms and raced down the hall, slamming his bedroom door shut. Tristan braced the door with his hands, trying to get his emotions under control.

“I’m so sorry,” he told the door, his palm repeatedly slamming into the wood grain. He was tired of living like this. Quinn shouldn’t have to put up with a mental case. Tristan punched the door this time. “I want to live again,” he shouted.

“Tristan. Let me in, jellybean,” Quinn called from the other side of the door. “We both can get through this, just talk to me,” his voice pleaded.

Tristan wiped his eyes on his sleeve and then turned the knob, opening the door. Quinn stood on the other side, his hand shoved into his Levi’s, a gentle smile on his lips. “Can we finish dancing?”

Tristan laughed and cried, nodding his head as Quinn gave him the biggest and goofiest smile he’d ever seen. He grabbed Tristan’s hand and pulled him down the hallway, spinning him until Tristan ended up in his arms. “No more talk if you don’t want to.”

Choices.

Once again his mate was giving him choices. The boyish smile on Quinn’s face almost brought Tristan to his knees. “I started dating Xavier about a year ago.”

Quinn grabbed his hand, holding it to his chest as they slowly made their way around the room.

“It was nice at first. He was the perfect gentleman, and then everything changed. His words were pretty enough, had me convinced that he knew what was best, that he wouldn’t steer me wrong.”