Page 14 of Demon (Mystic Guardians #3)

Chapter Fourteen

C allan

Callan sat in the same position even after Lonnie fell asleep with his head in his lap. Just holding the man all night had done a lot to chase away the anger and fear that had ripped through him the night before. When he’d heard Lonnie scream his name, he’d been in the living room watching another of Lonnie’s shows, and he’d torn down the hall as fast as he could. Smelling that someone had been inside Lonnie’s room had sent rage into his brain.

And then he’d seen Lonnie shaking.

His mate had been so damn scared, so Callan had tamped down the fury and taken care of him. Comforted him—and in return, he’d received comfort.

He stared down at the pretty man in his lap. Lonnie’s mouth was slightly parted, small snores escaping with every other breath. The back of his head was firmly pressed to Callan’s balls, so he’d stayed hard on and off the whole time. Now, he was hard again. Lonnie had pushed the blanket down and his T-shirt had ridden up to show his soft belly. A sexy trail of brown hair led down from his navel to disappear into the low pajama pants. So low, Callan could see a hint of bush. He wanted to touch that curling hair so badly, both hands were in fists.

His desire for this human transcended any he’d ever felt. And it wasn’t only because of the mate bond. He found Lonnie beautiful. Sexy. And though he’d read up on ADHD to better understand the man, he just found his sometimes-odd behavior endearing. He didn’t like that it gave Lonnie trouble. Didn’t like knowing Lonnie’s brain worked overtime and that he worried so much. Lonnie couldn’t help it. And he certainly didn’t like that Lonnie didn’t think himself special. His past boyfriends and girlfriends had been stupid.

Callan planned to give him the support and understanding he needed, unlike that last boyfriend. Lonnie had pointed him out when they’d been at the college, and jealousy had made him see red. Richard was incredibly good-looking, and he’d spotted them and started heading their way. Callan had steered Lonnie away quickly, not wanting to give the guy even a chance of stealing back Lonnie. He’d thrown such a hard glare over his shoulder, Richard had scuttled off.

Lonnie shifted, pulling Callan out of the memory. When his eyes blinked open, he stared at Callan with sleepy, hooded eyes. Callan held his breath, turned on out of his mind. It took Lonnie a few moments to orient himself, obviously confused he wasn’t in his bed at first. Then those wide lips stretched into the sweetest smile.

Callan just hauled him up until he was straddling Callan’s lap. Lonnie settled against him, slumping forward, his hands on Callan’s chest.

At first, Lonnie just looked at him, running that gaze all over his horns, then face. Callan wondered if this beautiful little human liked his face. He couldn’t really be considered handsome by most. His skin wasn’t completely smooth—there were lines and scars.

So no, not handsome. Interesting, maybe. Hopefully.

He waited for Lonnie to say something, barely able to breathe. And as he waited, heat began to change Lonnie’s features. A flush filled his cheeks, his eyes went to half mast, and his sexy lips parted.

Lonnie was staring at his mouth. Then he leaned in close, locking eyes for a moment as if he were asking for permission.

“Yes,” Callan whispered.

Lonnie let out a moan that was sexy as hell as hell as he pressed his lips to Callan’s.

And Callan saw stars.

Need swamped him as he pressed his fingers into Lonnie’s back. He opened his lips, letting Lonnie inside, eliciting another of those lusty moans.

He could smell how excited Lonnie was growing—a sweet and musky scent that made his brain spin. This time, he was the one to moan, and that sound must have sparked something in Lonnie because he squirmed closer, deepening the kiss. He felt Lonnie hardening against his stomach. He was already there himself, rigid and aching. He ran his palms all over Lonnie’s back and shoulders, then his waist. He absolutely adored that Lonnie had love handles.

Lonnie took his mouth away, leaning back to look at Callan, who was digging his fingers into that softness. He didn’t dig hard—not yet. This whole situation had a gentle air to it that was new to him. He was used to rough kisses, loud grunts, not soft moans and sweet morning smiles. He didn’t even mind the morning breath.

But when Lonnie came back to his mouth, this kiss wasn’t gentle. It was like a gas-soaked torch being lit as shared lust blazed between them.

Callan was so completely in Lonnie’s thrall, it took him several moments to hear the loud knocking on the front door.

“Ignore them and maybe they’ll go away,” Lonnie whispered against his lips.

“Can’t,” Callan said as he reluctantly lifted Lonnie off his lap. “It’s my boss.”

“Oh!” Obviously flustered, Lonnie clasped his hands over the tent in his sweats. “I can’t meet him like this!” he hissed.

Callan couldn’t help his delighted laugh. The professor just looked adorable with his beet red face and squirming body. He got it. He was still so turned on, it felt like he might combust.

It wasn’t to be helped. “He’ll understand.”

“Oh god,” Lonnie said before he threw one of his multi-colored blankets over his shoulders and wrapped it around himself. “It’s winter. It’s cold. It’s early.”

He was mumbling all this under his breath and Callan threw back his head to laugh as he walked to the door. Xavier was too polite to pay attention to his own rampant erection.

He let his boss in.

Xavier, wearing dark slacks and a black sweater under his beige winter coat, stepped into the house, and as Callan expected, he paid no attention to the obvious sexual atmosphere. Callan didn’t think the sorcerer could smell the lust-filled moment he’d walked in on, but he did know Xavier was perceptive as hell.

He didn’t care if Xavier knew—he was proud of having a mate. He was more disappointed at the interruption since things had been getting really good.

Xavier held out his hand to Lonnie. “I’m Xavier, owner of Protective Solutions. I talked with your sister, Gabby. Pleased to meet you.”

Lonnie’s hand shot out to shake while he used his other hand to keep the blanket closed.

Callan snorted.

He looked so silly. Yet still adorable. Callan’s chest puffed out a bit with the knowledge he’d affected his mate so much.

“So Callan has filled me in on your late-night visitor. I’d like to see where he was standing. And then we’ll look at the notes.”

Lonnie nodded and scurried down the hall, still clutching that blanket.

Xavier gave Callan one lifted eyebrow.

“He just woke up and is cold,” Callan explained. “I didn’t realize you would come so early.”

“It’s ten o’clock, Callan.”

“It is?” Callan glanced at the clock next to the television. “Lonnie didn’t fall asleep until early this morning.”

“He didn’t have to teach today?”

Callan shook his head. “No classes today. Is a good thing after last night.” He led the way into Lonnie’s bedroom, moving freely; he’d grown comfortable with all the shelves. He could no longer smell the intruder, but that scent would be familiar to him if he ran into it again. Lonnie stood next to the bed; he’d finally ditched the blanket. Callan’s gaze went immediately to his crotch, but all was fine there. When he looked back up, it was to find Lonnie giving him a pleading look as if he were asking Callan not to look there and make it worse again. He bit back a grin.

Xavier didn’t need to be told where the intruder had stood. He walked directly to that spot and closed his eyes. Callan knew he was using his magic, knew that sometimes spell use left traces of magic that a sorcerer could read.

The air around them grew thick, and the tiny hairs all over his body stood on end as Xavier did his thing. Lonnie’s eyes were open impossibly wide as he stared at the sorcerer with his mouth open.

He was using powerful magic if they could feel it like this. Callan was a little envious. He had his own powers, but Xavier carried something infinitely deep—a connection to something, like maybe the very source of magic itself. He’d never met anyone else with Xavier’s power.

It took several minutes, and when Xavier finally opened his eyes, they were more black than usual, like his pupils had overtaken the irises. “Your intruder is a wizard.”

“A warper wizard?” Callan asked.

Xavier nodded. “He’s using a spell to hide his signature, which tells me he feels he has reason to hide who he is. Callan said you think it’s one of your students?” he asked Lonnie.

“Just from what the notes have said.”

“Show me.”

Once back in the living room, Lonnie pulled the notes from his briefcase and handed them to Xavier. Xavier took them out of the bags and ran his palm over each one.

“He’s good at masking his tracks. There is nothing on these.”

“If it’s a student, I’ll be able to scent him now when I’m close.” Callan sensed Lonnie’s frustration, so he laid his arm around the man’s shoulders, smiling when Lonnie cuddled in close. “You have classes tomorrow?”

“Full day,” Lonnie said with a nod.

Xavier tucked his hair behind one ear, still looking at the notes. “Whoever he is, he’s escalating, so Callan, you’ll need to be vigilant. I can also bring in Finn, if you’d like. He can better sense these wizards.”

“Is that necessary?” Lonnie asked. “I’m not sure I want someone else in my home.”

“It could end up being necessary. This wizard is hyper-focused on you and your life. That makes him dangerous. But we can wait and see if Callan can pick up on his scent first.”

“Let’s do that.” Lonnie shivered, making Callan tighten his arm around him.

Xavier didn’t stay long after that, and once he was gone, Callan could tell that they’d lost the earlier mood entirely. Lonnie’s lips were pinched into a tight frown as he started to pace.

“I hate this,” he said when he stopped in front of the television and threw up his hands. “And I don’t get it. What about me would bring this out in someone like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m a chubby school professor. Not even that good-looking. I don’t do anything special outside of my job. I’ve never flirted with a student in my life, either.”

“May not be a student.”

His shoulders slumped. “That’s true. I’m wracking my brain, trying to think of where I could have run into an actual wizard.”

“They are everywhere. Could be anyone.”

Lonnie looked at him, features drawn and pale. “Yeah, Callan, that’s what’s scaring me so badly.”