Page 23 of Demon (Mystic Guardians #3)

Chapter Twenty-Three

C allan

When Callan slowly came awake, he realized he’d slept through the entire night for a change. Then he realized that Lonnie was asleep sprawled on top of him. It wasn’t the first time Lonnie had crawled on top of him in his sleep, and now he knew it wouldn’t be the last. That soft, pretty hair had flopped up to cover Callan’s mouth, and he smiled as he inhaled Lonnie’s warm, musky scent deep into his lungs.

They’d had sex and that scent permeated the room as well, making him feel all sorts of things. Pride that he’d found a mate so well-suited to him, and even more…love. It had come fast, but it was there and deeper than he’d thought it could happen in such a short time. He didn’t know if it was because of the soulmate bond, that fate knew they were perfect for each other, and he really didn’t care. He had a lifetime of waking to this wonderful man draped all over him, and he looked forward to every single morning.

Lonnie smacked his lips noisily, then turned his head, his hair sliding over Callan’s lips. Then his head popped up.

“I’m asleep on top of you again. Sorry, I’m not sure why I keep doing that.”

Callan hugged him tight. “Don’t be sorry. I love it.”

“I hope so, since I’m not aware I’m doing it.”

“You feel good on top of me.”

Lonnie crossed his arms over Callan’s chest and propped his chin on them, blowing a hunk of hair out of his eyes as he gazed at Callan. “So, what now? You don’t have to be my bodyguard anymore.” His mouth turned down. “I don’t want you to leave, but there’s also this whole mate thing.”

“I’m going nowhere.” Callan tucked Lonnie’s hair behind his ear. “We’re bonded, so we will be together.” He took a deep breath, unsure how Lonnie was going to respond to what he needed to say. “Lonnie, it’s quick, but I love you more than I’ve loved anything in my life.”

He lifted his head again. “You do?”

Callan nodded. “How do you feel about that?”

Lonnie pushed himself up to straddle Callan, his lovely form on full display. He’d lost all his inhibitions about his body, and Callan couldn’t be happier about that. Especially since he loved that body so much. He settled his hands on Lonnie’s hips.

“I’m thrilled since I feel the same. I love you, Callan. But compared to yours, my life will be short. What would that do to you?”

Of course Lonnie thought of Callan first. His chest grew warm, and he couldn’t help but smile. “We’ve already started bonding, but if we fully do, your life will be as long as mine.”

Pretty blue eyes flared wide. “Really?” He placed his palms on Callan’s chest. “Oh my god, I could live hundreds of years? Write so many books! Are you serious?”

“Very serious.” Callan stroked his thumbs over Lonnie’s silky skin. “But you have to really think about it. You’d be with me all those years and—” He broke off, cursing his inability to get the right words out. “You’re so smart and I’m?—”

This time Lonnie halted his words as he gave a fierce frown. “So are you. You may not be the biggest talker—like me—but I’ve come to know you, and that mind of yours is sharp.”

“Cambion demons have trouble speaking sometimes. You might grow frustrated with that.”

Lonnie shook his head, hair swishing over his shoulders. “No. I like you just the way you are. You’re more likely to get tired of my mouth.”

“Never happen,” Callan growled.

Lonnie chewed on his lower lip for a moment, gaze intense. “Callan, I know we’ve known each other only weeks, but I felt connected to you right from the start. I really am in love with you.”

Fierce joy flooded Callan’s entire body, and he held onto Lonnie as he sat up to rest his back against the headboard. He pulled Lonnie close until his ass rested over Callan’s already interested groin. He hugged Lonnie hard and buried his face in that sweet-smelling hair. “I love you, Lonnie Russell.” He wanted to say more but was too overwhelmed by the flood of everything he was feeling. But he had to try. He cleared his throat and pulled back to look at that face he loved. “You are perfect for me. Everything I’ve always wanted and thought I’d never have.”

“How did you know we were soulmates? And how long?”

“Suspected right away when we touched. My horns tingled. Only happens with a mate.”

His lips twitched. “So…the gifts. That wizard told me you were courting me. Is that what it was? You trying to woo me and call it demon tradition?”

Callan grunted. “It is tradition. Courting gifts. First is supposed to be something you love. Second is the book.”

“And the third?”

“Something of mine that now belongs to you. I chose the hoodie to see you in my clothes. Mix our scents.” He growled and cupped Lonnie’s ass. “So hot seeing you in it. I slept on it for three days so it would smell like me.”

Lonnie’s grin was nothing but pure delight. “That gift made me feel like a real boyfriend because it did smell like you when I put it on. I love all the gifts. This whole time, I’ve had a demon courting me, and I didn’t know it. Callan, you are the gift. The very best one.” He wrapped his arms around Callan’s neck, hugging him close. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. To be a soulmate, an actual real soulmate, is like a dream come true. And to have one who likes me just as I am and doesn’t try to change me makes it even better.”

“You’re perfect.”

He sat back, frowning. “But I’m not. I’ll annoy you, there’s no doubt. Sometimes, I annoy myself. And I’ve noticed how neat you are in the bedroom you’ve been using. I’m not, nor will I ever be, neat.”

“Don’t care about that,” Callan said softly as he reached up to cup Lonnie’s cheeks. “Should have said you’re perfect for me. You are. Liked you the moment I met you. You weren’t scared. That doesn’t happen often. People are usually scared of me.”

“I was too excited over you being a demon to be scared. But as I’ve told you, you aren’t that scary.”

“I’m scary,” Callan quipped back, smiling because he remembered how he’d felt the first time Lonnie said that. Offended. He didn’t feel that way now. He was happy his mate wasn’t scared of him. He cleared his throat. “So, do you want to complete the bond with me?”

One brown eyebrow went up along with the corners of his mouth. “Does that involve sex?”

A bark of laughter broke out. “Partly. We’ve been bonding this entire time, but Xavier has a spell. Makes it permanent. It would mean we’ll be together for life.”

“And that life will be a long, long time?”

“Yes.”

“Then bring it on, Callan, because no amount of time we’re together would ever be too much.” He stopped speaking and frowned. “But what do I tell my sister? She doesn’t know about your preternatural world. I asked her several times, and she laughed at my imagination.” He made air quotes while he said the last word. “She’ll see me not aging.”

“We’ll tell her the truth. Trust her with this. I don’t want you to have to lose her.” Callan liked Gabby a lot, and just from the little time he’d spent with these two together, he understood they were too close to separate.

He should probably tell Lonnie he would eventually have to leave his job after a certain number of years, too. Possibly move. Staying in one place for too many years brought about scrutiny most preternaturals couldn’t afford. And Callan had already lived in this area for ten years, though he didn’t know his neighbors and could just change houses since most of his friends were like him. And his brothers were here—had actually moved to Seattle to be closer to him after he’d taken the job at Protective Solutions. But it would be different for Lonnie. People at his work would start paying too much attention.

He focused on Lonnie to see his frown had deepened. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ll have to watch her grow old and will eventually lose her.”

“Or not,” he said softly, stroking his fingertips over that frown. “We don’t have to do the spell that will stop you from aging.”

“And we break up?”

Callan’s nostrils flared. “No. I’m with you as long as you are alive.”

Lonnie tilted his head. “But then I’m asking you to watch me grow old and eventually die.”

Callan didn’t say anything. Just the thought threatened to rip his heart out.

“I couldn’t do that to you. Tell me something, do you want to have a mate? Four hundred years is a long time to not have one.”

“It’s what I’ve always wanted. Was thrilled when my horns tingled. And to know that it’s you?” He paused, his mind skipping over all the words that always seemed to tangle when they reached his mouth. This was important, so he spoke slowly and clearly. “You are everything I’ve always wanted, Lonnie. I’m so happy with you as a mate. Happier than I have ever been. And to know that we’ll have a lifetime together fills me with nothing but joy.”

Lonnie was silent a long time, his eyes shimmering. When he finally spoke, his voice shook. “Then let’s have that lifetime together, because you are all I could have hoped for, too.”

Callan wrapped his arms around Lonnie, holding him close, and he knew then that his many lonely years had been worth it.

He’d been waiting to meet this one special man, to find the rarest of loves, and now they had centuries before them to enjoy it.

The End

Thank you so much for reading Demon. I hope you enjoyed this love story about Callan and Lonnie. I just fell so hard for Callan. A rating or review on this would be wonderful— if you’d like to add one. These help spread the word about a series. Finn’s book is up next!