***
Ryan watched Gloria go and sighed. It was obvious that Gloria had had a change of heart and Ryan was happy about that. Sometimes, parents had to be firm with their kids. For the very first time since he laid eyes on the regal, elegant woman who he’d come to love as a mother, Ryan thought Gloria looked old. It was as if she’d aged overnight. Worrying about her child had clearly taken its toll on the poor woman. Ryan rubbed his hand on his stomach, which surprisingly didn’t feel as flat as it had days earlier, and wondered whether his kid was going to give him such stress.
“Don’t stress your daddies out, baby.” He whispered. “You did good today. You saved your daddy, grandma, your uncle Troy…who is a little confused at the moment, your uncle Philip,” he relaxed more into his seat, “your uncle Stan, auntie Paige, grandpa Jo, and grandma Del. That’s a lot of people. Thank you. Your daddy and uncle Philp are being dickheads right now.” His speech began to slow down. “The others are looking for…looking for your uncle Troy. I hope they find him soon. Otherwise…your grannie will…” Ryan didn’t say any more because he’d fallen asleep.
***
Ryan opened his eyes when he felt lips brushing against his. “Hey, baby.” He murmured with a sleepy smile at his very dirty-looking naked mate. “Where’s Lip?”
“I’m here.” An equally dirty and naked Philip paused in the act of drinking water long enough to respond. Then the bottle went back to his lips.
“Why are you here alone?” Jeremy asked as he picked Ryan up bridal style.
“Was waiting here for Troy.” Ryan yawned. “He left when you two idiots decided to compare the length and size of your dicks.”
“Lip’s got nothing on me.” Jeremy snorted.
“Sure about that?” Ryan drawled.
“Are you checking out another man’s package, Professor Hicks?” Jeremy gave a mock growl. “And right in front of your mate?” He gave Ryan a soft kiss when he began to laugh.
“What do you mean Troy left?” Philip asked as he placed the now empty bottle on the table.
“He just disappeared,” Ryan explained. “No one saw where he went. The others are going to look for him. I decided to stay here just in case he came back here.”
“Shit,” Jeremy muttered. “It’s late. Where the fuck is he? Lip?”
“You’d be the best person to know.” Philip drawled. “Where exactly did you take him on that tour of yours?”
“Everywhere. He can be anywhere.”
“Great. Well, we can’t join the search in our birthday suits.” Philip gestured at himself. “Meet you at the reception in ten?” He turned to go.
“Alright.”
***
“You guys done?” Philip asked the two men on his floor, who were busy packing their tools.
Philip had realized before going to his meeting that evening that the dishwasher in his suite had broken down. He’d called and asked the guys to come and check it out the following morning. But they’d insisted on sorting it out immediately. Perks of being the alpha.
“We just finished, Alpha.” One of the guys answered. “We had to change the entire unit. Everything is sorted out now. The only problem is that we had to leave your door open as we worked because we needed to carry things in and out of the suite. The place is therefore not too chilled as it was before. Sorry.”
“No problem, Ronnie,” Philip said. “Thanks.” Philip entered his suite, closed the door, and then froze. “The fuck…” He muttered and then took in a deep breath. That scent… He would know that unique scent anywhere. “Troy…” Philip breathed as he glanced around the room.
With a groan, Philip started moving in the direction of that scent. He followed it directly to his bedroom. The sight that met him when he entered the room made his heart flip within his chest with tenderness. Troy was curled up on the couch in the room with his sleeping cat held firmly against him. He was fast asleep. Philip didn’t think he’d seen anything more adorable in his life. He just stood still and stared as hot desire spiked through him at the knowledge that his mate was actually in his bedroom. It was only when he felt Jeremy mentioning his name on their mind-link that he remembered he had to alert the others that he’d found Troy. Why the fuck was he hard, he groaned.
‘He’s here.’ Philip told Jeremy.
‘Here where?’ Jeremy asked.
‘In my bedroom. Does he even know whose suite this is?’ Philip sounded incredulous. It wasn’t a secret that Troy hated his guts.
‘Of course, he knows it’s yours.’ Jeremy chuckled. ‘I did take him there during the tour. I mean he had to know the alpha’s abode, right? Take care of him, yeah? I’ll inform the others.’
‘He’s fast asleep. Nothing to take care of.’ Philip muttered through the link. ‘Damn, he’s fine.’ He groaned. ‘Just looking at him is making my blood boil…’
‘Lip, don’t you dare…’
‘Fuck off.’ Philip cut his friend off. ‘Talk to you tomorrow.’
Summoning all the control he had, Philip went to the bathroom to take a well-deserved shower. After his shower, he pulled on boxer briefs and then went for a quick nightcap to help him relax. Then back in the room, he picked Troy up…with his lazy cat still held firmly in his arms and placed him on the bed. After tucking him in, he sat on the couch and stared at his sleeping mate. Philip still couldn’t believe Troy had actually chosen his room of all places to hideout. The boy looked so innocent and sweet in his sleep. But Philip knew better.
Just one word from Troy could send a person to the ER for an absurd rise in blood pressure, he thought as his gaze dropped to Troy’s slightly parted lips. How was it even possible that those sweet-looking lips could spew such annoying shit, Philip wondered. Just looking at those luscious and perfectly shaped puckers was making him flush with lust which he found real strange. After all, not only had he never been with a man, he’d never even considered it. He was, therefore, surprised at the fact that he wanted to know how those lips would feel like against his.
“Shit…” Philip cursed as he reached down to adjust himself in his boxer briefs.
Philip could feel his beast’s restlessness within him but was grateful for the wolf’s restraint. Philip knew that the only reason his wolf hadn’t forcefully busted out and demanded to be with his mate was that Troy’s wolf hadn’t fully awakened yet since he was yet to undergo his premier-shift. Philip would have been struggling to hold his wolf at bay that very moment, otherwise.
With a groan, Philip threw his head back and closed his eyes. He would be better off not looking at the sexy temptation in his bed, he thought as he allowed his mind to go over all that had taken place that evening. That had been some meeting, he chuckled. Troy was just too much. And Gloria… Philip said a quick prayer to Luna, to help Gloria understand that what the rest of them were suggesting for Troy, was the best.
He’d hated that he had to pull rank on Gloria that evening. But for everyone’s peace, her stubborn son needed to embrace his true self. Philip made a mental note to have a heart-to-heart with Gloria the following day. Hopefully, everyone would be calmer and more understanding the next day, Philip thought as he drifted off to sleep with an image of a certain blue-eyed hottie etched on his mind.