Page 13 of His Place in the World (Legendary Shifters #9)

Ryland reached back, and Del could see he took Angus’s hand. He dragged Angus along as he pushed past Fulton. Del expected the asshole to try to stop them, but instead, he said, “Take him to the cages and hand him his purchase. I’ll see you soon, Mr. Young.”

Since Ryland hadn’t introduced himself, Fulton shouldn’t know his name. He’d clearly looked into him, which wasn’t surprising but still gave Del the creeps.

It was hard to breathe as Del looked at the screens at the progression Angus and Ryland made. They were taken away from the balconies and the auction area and into a more spartan hallway with gray cement walls and floors. From there, they entered a room that made Del swear and look away.

When Fulton had mentioned cages, he hadn’t been lying. Two rows of them lined the walls, some empty, others containing the shifters who’d been auctioned. They were visibly scared and pressed against the back of their cages. Tyler was, too, when the group stopped in front of his.

His cage was open, but he didn’t step out.

Del wondered how they were going to do this for a moment, then sucked in a breath when Angus stepped forward.

He looked straight at Tyler and offered him his hand, and after a moment of hesitation and a look behind Angus, Tyler took it.

He allowed Angus to pull him out of the cage, and Del wasn’t surprised to see his father slide out of his jacket and drape it over Tyler’s shoulders.

Tyler looked back at him and jerked as if surprised.

His eyes were wide, but thankfully, he didn’t try to run when Matt put a hand on his shoulder and guided him away.

Del was so tense he felt he might snap. He followed Angus’s path on the screen, and as soon as they were at the exit, he shot out of his seat.

Remi called out something, but Del didn’t stop.

He opened the back door of the van and rushed out.

Even if Angus didn’t need him, he’d be there for him, dammit.

Del wasn’t the only one running toward the limo Ryland and Angus had arrived in.

Doyle was with him, silently supporting him.

They reached the limo before the others, and Del slipped in.

He wanted to go straight to Angus, but he knew better.

No matter how much he wanted to help, exposing them would only make things worse.

Doyle had to hold him back when the limo door opened. Ryland slid in, his eyes widening when he saw Del and Doyle. Angus was right behind him, and Del was surprised not to see Tyler with him. Instead, Tyler was wrapped in Del’s father’s arms, wearing his too-long jacket.

Mercer made a disgusted sound when he looked back as he climbed into the driver’s seat, but thankfully, he didn’t say anything. He turned on the engine and drove off faster than he should.

Del grabbed Angus and pulled him into his lap. He wrapped his arms around him and buried his face against his mate’s neck, telling himself that Angus was safe. He could touch him, feel him, and he was okay.

“Let’s go home,” Ryland said.

They did. It was late, so they didn’t linger once they reached pack territory.

They’d talk about the mission and how Del and Doyle had messed up tomorrow.

The only problem was that Del wasn’t ready to go home with his father and leave Angus behind, so he clung to him as Toby led Tyler inside to one of the guest rooms.

“Meeting tomorrow,” Cam declared as he looked at their group.

“Thank fuck,” Remi muttered. “You and I need to talk, Ry.”

Ryland ignored him. “Will Tyler be okay?” he asked Cam.

“Yes. Go home, everyone.”

Del didn’t want to, so he took a risk. “Angus?”

Angus looked tired, but he smiled. “Yes?”

“Can I stay with you tonight?”

Angus stared for a moment. He didn’t ask Del why he wanted to stay or what he had in mind. “Of course.”

Del was so relieved that he could have kissed him.

Instead, he said goodbye to his father, explained he’d be staying the night, and followed Angus to his bedroom.

Neither of them spoke as Angus disappeared into the bathroom, no doubt to shower.

After what he’d been through tonight, he’d need time to himself, so Del decided to give him that.

He felt awkward, but things didn’t have to be that way. He doubted Angus would be up for much once he came out, so he went to work getting everything ready. That way, they could go to bed right away.

He turned down the bed and undressed. He hesitated, but they were going to sleep, and he didn’t want to be uncomfortable, so he took off his jeans and his sweater and left them on the chair by the window.

The light streaming through was soft but strong enough that he could move without bumping into anything.

He didn’t want to presume anything, but it was clear they were about to share a bed, so he got under the blankets and pulled them up under his armpits. Then he waited.

It didn’t take long for Angus to come out, and when he did, his hair was damp and he was only wearing a towel wrapped around his waist. That was all Del had time to see before Angus turned off the light.

“How tired are you?” Angus asked as he moved toward the bed.

“Not as much as you. I spent the night sitting on my ass.” While Angus was in danger.

“I’m not tired. I didn’t do much.”

Del licked his lips when Angus unwound the towel from his waist and let it drop to the floor. He climbed into bed and settled next to Del, but they didn’t touch.

Not yet.

Del was tense and had no idea what to do.

Thankfully, his mate didn’t seem to have that problem because he rolled toward Del and plastered their bodies together.

The shock of his damp, cool body against Del’s heated one was heaven, and Del opened his arms to welcome the man he was falling in love with.

Angus growled, stunning Del. It should have sounded corny, even coming from a shifter, but it sent a shiver down Del’s spine instead. Angus had been hesitant in their relationship, but then, so was Del. That Angus was gone now, though, and all that was left was a man who knew what he wanted—Del.

Del opened his legs. Instead of taking advantage of that, Angus rolled away. Del heard the sound of a drawer opening, then closing, and Angus was back, solid and perfect on top of Del.

They rolled together until they almost fell out of bed, and Angus was under Del. He slapped the bottle of lube he’d grabbed from the drawer on Del’s chest, telling him what he wanted without a word.

Del grinned and smoothed his palms down Angus’s side, then around them until he could cup Angus’s ass. He slipped a finger between the still-damp cheeks and teased Angus’s hole with the tip of a finger.

Angus stretched under Del and opened the lube Del hadn’t taken from him yet.

He squirted some on his fingers and looked at Del in question.

Del rolled them again, making Angus grin.

He didn’t care how they did this, but in this position, it would be easier for Angus to have access either to his ass or to Del’s.

Angus sat up, straddling Del’s hips. He reached back, and while Del couldn’t see what he was doing, he had a great imagination.

Angus’s expression helped him with that, too, but he still ran his fingertips around Angus’s waist until he met Angus’s hand.

He followed it to Angus’s fingers. Lust tore through him when he realized Angus already had two of them in his ass, and he pushed one of his right along with them.

Angus leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Del’s shoulder. “You’re perfect.”

Del barked out a laugh. “Not really.”

“Okay, maybe not, but you’re damn close. That’s enough for me.”

“Yeah?” Del needed it to be

He and Angus moved in sync, getting Angus ready. Del loved that his mate included him in this. It would have been easier to take care of it himself, but they were in this together.

“Yeah. I couldn’t have asked for a better mate.”

Del hoped Angus wouldn’t regret those words in a few months. Even if he did, though, they were mates, and Del had learned that it meant a lot to shifters.

“Come on, Del. Fuck me,” Angus whined.

Del pushed his hand between them and grabbed his dick, holding it up so Angus could sink onto it.

Leaning back, Angus gripped Del’s thighs almost too hard as he did so, making Del groan at the pinch of pain. He closed his eyes and swallowed, hanging onto his control.

Angus sat down, his ass pressing against Del’s thighs.

They were one. It wouldn’t last long—there was no way Del would be able to stop himself from coming—but it was perfection. He hadn’t known he wanted this, but now he couldn’t imagine his life without Angus.

Del shifted his hips. Angus looked down at him with heated eyes that told Del what he wanted. They just stared at each other for a moment, and Del knew this was his future.

Angus was his future.

Then Angus rose and sank down again. His eyes rolled back as he dropped his head and bit his lips, never looking away. It wasn’t the first time Del had sex, but it was the most intimate one.

“I thought you were going to fuck me?” Angus asked.

Del laughed. “I will.”

All thoughts of the future could wait.

Del pressed his feet against the mattress and pushed his hips up. Angus yelped and leaned down to put his hands on Del’s shoulders. He used the hold to help his movements, and while it took a moment for them to coordinate, eventually, they got it.

Angus grinned down.

Del had never wanted anything more than this—than Angus. And now, he had it. He had everything .

Suddenly, this wasn’t tender anymore. That was good with Del. because he felt like he was about to explode.

He flipped them, pushing Angus to his back and taking control. His hips moved instinctively as he yearned for the pleasure that was about to come, but he still made sure that Angus was right there with him.

Within minutes, he was ready to come. From the whimpers coming from Angus, he suspected he wasn’t the only one, so he tilted his hips and kissed his mate.

It took a few tries, but when he managed to nail Angus’s prostate, Angus’s back arched.

He clung to Del as if trying to become part of him, but he already was.

He’d been in Del’s heart since the first time they met.

A wave of pleasure flooded Del when Angus’s ass tightened around him. Angus shuddered and cried out. His nails dug into Del’s shoulders, but Del barely felt it, because he was coming inside his mate, and it was the most perfect instant he’d ever experienced.

Del stopped moving. He pressed his forehead to Angus’s, letting their breaths mingle as they both panted.

He never wanted to move, and since he didn’t wish to squash Angus, he held himself up on his elbows.

His muscles felt weak, so it wouldn’t last forever, but for now, he couldn’t let go of Angus.

He didn’t have to. Angus had found him, and he was never leaving him. Knowing that no matter what happened, they’d always have each other, Del finally allowed himself to relax in a way he hadn’t done in years.

He was safe and loved. He had a home, and he’d found his place in the world.

Finally.