Cufflinks and Claws, page 2
It was a start. He sat on the coffee table and stared at Sid. How could he tell this man he craved him? He longed to kiss him and looked forward to every time they went away together on business trips. His wolf cried for this man, too. The animal had known the second he’d spotted Sidney that this was his person. The wolf hungered for him.
His mate.
But he couldn’t just bite him and demand compliance. Sidney should be able to make up his own mind.
“Are you okay?” Sid asked. “You seem pained.”
“Beyond the fact I shifted from my lupine form in front of you? Yeah, I’m a little pained.” He knew to the center of his being that he hadn’t made a mistake by letting Sidney in on his secret, but he wished Sidney hadn’t been so shocked. He also wanted to get this wedding over with so he could move on with his life with Sid.
Sidney sighed. “I get it, but you switched forms. You were a wolf, and I’ve never seen anything like that before. My mind hasn’t made sense of what I saw. I have so many questions.”
“And I’ll answer them.”
“I hope so.”
“I will.” The more he got Sidney to understand, the faster they could get to falling for each other and becoming sealed mates.
“Okay then.” Sidney leaned back in his seat. “Then tell me what I saw.”
“I was born in my human form. My mother is a human and my father was a wolf shifter. Because of him, I can shift. My father was the alpha in our pack.”
“Is that the wolf version of your family?”
“Yes.”
Sid shook his head. “Okay…and the shifting…is normal?”
“When I turned twenty, I was able to shift for the first time. That’s when I met the other members of my pack in their lupine form. Not all of us in the pack are related, but we’re a unit,” Dixon said. “My father was killed in a hunting accident, and I’ve been told I’m to take my place as the alpha. Everyone in the pack has a job, and I’ve been tasked with taking care of them.”
“Hunting accident?” Sid’s eyes widened. “That’s awful. When? Why didn’t I know you had so many relatives?”
“My father, the pack leader, was killed by a hunter two weeks ago.”
“Holy shit.”
“Agreed. He was on pack land and should’ve been protected. Unfortunately, he was killed. It looked like an accident, but I’m convinced otherwise. I have an idea who did it, but I can’t prove it yet.” But he would.
“I’m sorry.”
“Appreciated.” He truly did. Dixon sighed. He hadn’t shared this story with many people and few outside of the pack knew of the passing of his father. Sid made conversation easy and was his closest ally. How could he not fall for this man? “I’m the alpha now and I’ve got to run this pack in the same way I’ve run my company. Everyone has their place and their job.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Ah, this was another reason why he liked Sid—he questioned so much, but in an intelligent way. He thought things through. “I have a challenger.”
“Buy them. You have the money. You have the clout. Buy them off. Everyone—you’ve told me a hundred times—can be bought if the money is right.”
“I would.” He’d made billions on his land sales and acquisitions, but there wasn’t enough money in the world to put off his challengers.
“But?” Sid dipped his head. “There’s a problem?”
“Kael isn’t interested in my money without my land. He wants power, money and mostly control of the pack.” He held up his hand. “Before you ask, Kael is my half-brother.”
“Dad slept around?”
“He did.” As the alpha, his father seemed to believe he should sleep with every female and create as many offspring as possible. Good for enlarging the pack but shit for handing over the role of alpha to a proper successor.
“Ouch.” Sid narrowed his eyes. “That’s why you don’t want to commit to any one woman.”
“That, and I’m gay.”
Sid snorted. “You are?”
“I am, but I’ve kept it hidden.” Stupid, really. He wanted to be accepted on his own terms, but he hadn’t been strong enough to accept himself. “I refuse to hurt someone in the way my father hurt my mother. But concerning the alpha, Kael thinks he should run the lands and should sell to the loggers. If he had his way, he’d make his own money, but he’d take the forest away from the pack. I see that bigger picture, but all he sees is rich land being used for nothing.” He figured Sid knew, but then again, Sid hadn’t known about his ability to shift, either.
“Damn.”
“Yeah.”
“So what do you need to do?” Sid sat up. “He has to be stopped.”
This was why his wolf had chosen this man—his ability to jump in and do the job. The man was organized and efficient. Plus, he was handsome as hell. “Get married.” And sealed to a mate. “Easy.”
“Okay, then let’s find someone suitable. You’re handsome and rich, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find an eligible bachelor.”
“No. I choose you.” He grasped Sid’s hands and electric sparks shot through his body. His wolf howled again. The animal growled its need for Sid, wanting to claim him. Yes, Sid was his. Soon, he’d convince him they were meant to be together. Their pairing was destined.
“What? You can’t want me. I barely believe what I saw and I’ll bet there’s at least one shifter who would happily marry you.” Sid shook his head again. “I’m not even good enough. I bet there’s a way we can sell this whole thing as a reality show, make a bunch more money, expand your empire and find you someone suitable.”
“It doesn’t work that way. My heart wants you and yes, you are good enough. Anyone we’d find on a reality show might be good for ratings—which I don’t need—but lousy in love.” Besides, the wolf wasn’t interested in anyone else. The animal paced and growled within him, wanting to know why this was taking so much time.
Sid groaned.
“My wolf chose you first. He knew.”
Sid’s eyes widened. “It— He…whatever. The wolf did, huh?”
“Yes.” He’d tell him a thousand times if that was what convinced him. He’d shift, let the wolf mark him, go on a hunt with him…whatever it took.
“And it chose me?”
“Yes.” How many times did he have to say that?
“That’s crazy.”
“Maybe.” But it felt right.
“I can’t. I’m too young for you and human. I’m not sure I believe in shifters, even after what I saw, and I’m just your assistant.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He didn’t stop until he got what he wanted, and the wolf was even more tenacious.
“Mr. Meade.”
“Dixon.”
Sid gasped. “I can’t call you that.”
“It’s my name.”
“You’re my boss.”
“You’re my mate.” There. He’d said it.
“Jesus. I’m leaving.” Sid stood. “I need air.”
“Please?” He didn’t know how to make Sid understand. “How about this…? We have a little time before I have to prove I’m married and mated. Give me that time to romance you.”
“Romance…” Sid sank onto the arm of the sofa. “This is so unreal.”
“Will you allow me to show you we can be together, and it can be wonderful?” Dixon asked. “How we should be together?”
“I still need some air.” Sid rounded the couch and ventured onto the porch.
Dixon wanted to tell him everything would be all right but wasn’t sure how.
All the money in the world wouldn’t fix this.
Kael needed the validation of being the alpha because he knew he wasn’t meant for the role any other way. Dixon had often seen his kind before—they needed to feel important because they knew their position and claim were tenuous at best.
He didn’t want to grab Sid, but the longer he stood on the porch, the more Dixon felt anxious about whether the property was truly safe. A pack of wolves protecting him, a security team made up of former military operatives and enough firearms to equip a small country weren’t enough to make him feel reassured.
He opened the sliding door. “Sid?”
“Yeah?”
“Come inside. I’ll give you space in here, so you won’t be so exposed.”
Sid sighed, then ducked into the home. Just as he crossed the threshold, the wood splintered and pieces of the doorframe ricocheted.
Dixon moved into protective mode and tackled Sid, covering him with his body. He should’ve guessed someone would try to hurt Sid. They might know he was Dixon’s assistant, but he’d bet they’d sensed Sid was his mate, too.
Would they separate him from his destined mate?
Not if he could help it. He’d protect Sid or die trying.
Chapter Two
Sid pressed his body to the floor and squeezed his eyes shut. He hadn’t heard the bullet whizzing through the air, but he’d felt the splinters from the shattered wood of the doorframe and watched the side table explode as the bullet struck it.
Dixon lay on top of him as a shield, which Sid appreciated. Either he was smart and trying to protect Sid or he’d known there would be an attempt to shoot him. At least he’d prevented Sid from getting hurt.
“I’m sorry, but you have to stay down.” Dixon rolled off Sid and crawled over to another end table. He slapped a remote, bathing the room in darkness.
“What just happened?” Sid crawled behind the sofa, then sat against the back of the furniture. He needed a second to gather his wits. He tucked his knees to his chest and trembled. “Are we okay?”
“We are now.” Dixon rested his arms on his knees and leaned against the wall. “I hit the button to cloak the windows. I’m sorry that happened and that I didn’t protect you better.”
Sid leaned forward, trying not to throw up. “I see.” His head swam and he couldn’t stop shaking. His knees refused to cooperate when he tried to stand. His heart raced. Jesus. He’d been shot at. What the hell? Why would someone shoot at me? “Did you just put a shield on the house?”
“I dropped the bulletproof barriers into place. This house is now a fortress,” Dixon said. “No one can shoot at us. It’s fire and bomb-proof, too.”
“Must be nice.” He couldn’t imagine having so much money or influence that one needed a bomb-proof anything.
Dixon helped him to his feet, then hit another button. Yellow light flooded the room. Sid continued to tremble, but when Dixon enfolded him in his arms, he didn’t fight. He needed reassurance. Besides that, he’d often dreamed about this kind of attention from Dixon. How could he not want his boss? The man was sexy, suave and didn’t look anything close to his forty-five years of age. He had slight grays at his temples and a weathered, but handsome face and caring eyes. Sid wanted to melt into him and enjoy being together.
If only he hadn’t been shot at and Dixon didn’t have to get married to keep his land. If only Dixon wasn’t a wolf shifter.
Christ. What a mess.
“Whoever shot at the house knows I’m here, and they want to scare me,” Dixon said. “They want to scare you.”
“It worked.” He stayed in Dixon’s arms but faced him. He’d never been this close to Dixon without being in a meeting or deep in discussion about a land purchase. He noticed the flecks of amber in Dixon’s green eyes and the sprinkle of gray hairs in his five-o’clock shadow. Then there were Dixon’s lips. Had he always had such an attractive mouth and kissable lips?
“You’re safe here.” Dixon nodded. “They have to get through me to get to you and that won’t happen.”
An hour ago, he might have believed Dixon completely. He would’ve gone along with him without question. But in light of the current circumstances, he wasn’t sure what to think. If Dixon could become a wolf, then he had the potential to kill…unless there was a bullet involved.
“Do you trust me?” Dixon asked.
“I do.” He didn’t know where that had come from, but he did have faith in Dixon.
“I will protect you.”
“I know.” He smoothed the front of Dixon’s shirt against his chest. His fingertips tingled from touching the man he’d fantasized about so many times. So much taut muscle, and he smelled wonderful—raw and tangy, but masculine. Whether in his wolf form or human, he was magnificent. “I’ve seen your wolf and he’s scary, but beautiful.”
“He likes you. He’s pacing within me, desiring to mark you. He wants to rub on you, leaving his scent so everyone knows you’re his.”
That seemed so odd to hear, but not impossible. He still couldn’t wrap his mind around Dixon shifting, but he didn’t have much time to mull this over.
“You have questions,” Dixon said. “Ask.”
“How do we get out of here? You can’t manage your lands from here, can you?”
“I can in my war room, but I also have an underground shaft that leads down the mountain to the garage. It’s a little bit of a haul, but it’s worth it to be safe. I’m safer and more connected than you might think. My business dealings are fine, but you know that.”
He did. He’d helped with the books and managed the accounts so often he swore sometimes he knew more about Dixon’s dealings than Dixon did. “What about the property? If someone’s trying to shoot at you, then where’s your security? You pay a pretty penny for it.”
“Once we’re in the war room, I’ll find out. They didn’t protect me properly, and you’re right—they’re too expensive to be letting me down.”
“Will you let me see it? The war room?” He didn’t like not knowing about that part of Dixon’s life. Then again, he hadn’t known about Dixon being a shifter, either.
“I will.”
He hadn’t expected him to agree. “Fair enough.” He paused. “You’ll show me because I’m your assistant.” Not because he meant anything more to him…despite being in Dixon’s arms.
“Because I’d like you to be my husband.”
So much for that being forgotten. “Why do I…so I marry you, which shows your strength and you keep your lands, right?” It made so little sense.
“Correct.”
“Do we split once you retain your spot?” Was it a spot or position? He didn’t know.
“No.”
“What if we’re not compatible? You drive me crazy with your demands. That’s not how a marriage works.” He shook his head. “I’m used to you giving me commands, but I won’t be commanded in a relationship.”
“It’s a partnership, I know.” Dixon nodded once. “I can adjust—contrary to popular belief.”
Dixon confused him. The Dixon Meade he knew refused to change for anyone. “Really?”
“Really.”
He needed more time. “I’m not sure.”
“I know it’ll be hard.”
He shook his head. “I still have so many questions.”
“I knew you would. You tend to question everything.”
He chuckled, more out of nervous energy than amusement. “I do, don’t I?”
“Sometimes.”
“I’m…” God, he hated to sound so unsure, but he wasn’t confident in his choice. “How do you know I’m the one?”
“For me? I let my wolf decide.” Dixon let go and stalked around him. “I didn’t invite you here for those signatures because I’ve already filed those documents. I had you come here for another reason.”
“You did?” He should’ve known.
“I wanted to have time with you alone.”
“You get that all the time. Why now? Not at the office?”
“I’m your boss, you’re my assistant and I didn’t think you’d give me a chance for what I had to tell you when we were at the office,” Dixon said. “I was right.”
“Dixon.” This all made little sense and annoyed him.
“You’re too good a man to ask for money to be kept as my husband, you’re smart, a quick-thinker and you’ve seen me at my craziest,” Dixon said and grinned. “You know me more than anyone.”
“But I’d never seen your wolf form.”
“Until today.”
“Correct.” God. He’d seen so much and never would’ve thought he’d seen Dixon as a wolf. But the ease with which Dixon talked and the way he trusted him wasn’t lost on Sidney.
“I also wanted the chance to do this without being at the office.” Dixon’s eyes flashed.
“Do what?”
Dixon tugged Sid close and kissed him. The second Dixon feathered his lips over Sid’s, electricity shot through Sidney. He tensed for a split second, then relaxed and kissed Dixon right back. He’d never craved anything or anyone in the way he did Dixon.
Sid eased his arms around Dixon and caressed the planes of his back. He couldn’t deny the attraction or that he’d dreamed of this moment for so long. He liked Dixon more than he wanted to admit. His heart leapt at the notion of being with Dixon. Even if the marriage wasn’t totally true, he’d have some time with the man of his dreams.
Dixon broke the kiss and kept Sid close. “Damn.”
“Yes.” He rested his forehead on Dixon’s. “You certainly have some serious magnetism.”
“Got more than that.” Dixon nuzzled Sid’s cheek. “My wolf wants you. Right now, he’s gnashing his teeth and clawing me from within to get out and take you.”
“Is he?” He groaned. “Is he really that determined to have me?” He shouldn’t be talking this way, but he didn’t care. He had Dixon for now.
“Yes.” Dixon pinned Sid between his body and the wall, then kissed him again.
Sid whimpered with pleasure. Why was he fighting this? He wanted Dixon to crave him. Now he had his chance.
Hell yes, he’d take it.
Dixon shoved his hands beneath the sides of Sid’s jacket, then pushed the garment off his shoulders.
Sid let the jacket fall to the floor and helped tug the hem of his dress shirt from his trousers. He wanted Dixon to touch him everywhere.
“Love it.” Dixon opened the front of Sid’s shirt. He grinded on him and left heat in the wake of his fingertips on Sid’s skin. He rubbed the growing bulge in his jeans against the one in Sid’s trousers.
