Page 43 of Silent Fire (Sin & Steel #6)

Suero’s mate was the nephew of the cheetahs’ alpha. At the time Xavier had thought the wolves snatched his nephews, including Jared, Miguel’s mate. Xavier had threatened war to get them back.

Then, out of nowhere, his enforcers showed up at Santiago’s looking for them. Which was odd since hiding Kia there was a last-minute decision.

“The vibes are all off,” Tomas said. “Too much sketchy stuff is happening.”

At least for now, the hyenas were staying quiet. Probably because Diablo had killed their alpha for kidnapping his mate.

“Get Noel back to the tavern when you’re done here. I’ll let Matias know your elegido has a hostile on his six.” Cesar started his motorcycle then held out his fist. Tomas bumped it. Our beef is squashed.

As soon as Cesar took off, Santiago and Noel walked out of the diner. “Where’s Diablo?” Tomas asked.

Noel handed back Tomas’s bank card, and even though he trusted his mate, Tomas took it and slipped it back inside his wallet.

“Chowing down under the watchful eye of those creepy lizards,” Noel said, eyes wide, which made Tomas grin. “Never seen anyone eat that much food before. His table looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet.”

Santiago laughed. “Since you’re Tomas’s mate, you’ll get used to seeing all kinds of crazy.”

Tomas shot him a murderous glare.

“Oh, uh, I hear Percy calling me. Peace out.” Santiago moved quickly toward his motorcycle, shoved his takeout into a saddlebag, then sped off.

“Nope. Nothing weird about that.” Noel turned toward Tomas. “All right, spill. What are you keeping from me?”

Chewing the side of his lip, Tomas studied his mate carefully, torn on how to handle this. His wolf had already chosen, but Noel hadn’t.

Being in an abusive relationship, Noel had his choices stripped from him.

Now Tomas felt like he was doing the same.

Damn Santiago for opening his mouth and sparking a conversation Noel wasn’t ready to have.

“You remember when my wolf chased you through that grass?” he asked.

Noel’s brows furrowed. “Kind of hard to forget a pony-sized wolf prancing around me.”

“Yeah, well, there was a reason for that.” He paused, wondering how badly he was going to screw this up. Noel was just now starting to trust him, and Tomas was about to blow the man’s mind wide open. “My wolf chose you.”

Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm him.

Silence fell between them, the rumble of passing cars the only sound. Noel simply stared at him, expression unreadable.

Great, I just overloaded the poor guy’s mind. He was about to snap his fingers in front of Noel’s face when his mate blinked.

“What exactly does that mean?” he asked slowly, voice wary.

Tomas drew a fortifying breath. It was too late to back out of the conversation, so he just plowed forward. “It means my wolf wants to protect and cherish you, like…forever.”

The skin under Noel’s eye twitched, the bag in his hands crinkling. “Your wolf wants to marry me? How…” He licked his lips, still looking at Tomas like he was insane. “How does that even work?”

The bag crinkled even louder. If Noel kept gripping it so tightly, he’d smash the food.

Because that’s his main concern right now. Cinnamon rolls.

“Does that mean it’ll take your place?” Noel wrinkled his nose. “I’m not.” The side of his mouth twitch as the tension in his features eased. “Good one. You had me going for a second.”

Yep. This was going according to plan. Noel was falling into his arms, agreeing to be his mate. “You don’t believe me?”

“That’s just it. I do believe you, but I was hoping you were just trying to prove you had a sense of humor.” Pressing a hand to his forehead, Noel turned and walked to Tomas’s bike.

Concerned, he followed, reaching out to touch Noel’s arm, needing the connection, but curled his fingers in, giving him space instead.

“I—”

“Zit.” Noel held up his hand, finger wagging back and forth. “You’re going to let me process this, buster. You can drop that MOAB on me and expect me to simply say okay.”

“I never—”

“One more word,” Noel warned, glaring up at him. “You’re asking for a huge commitment, so I get whatever the hell I want right now.”

He watched Noel process everything, his heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and dread. His wolf paced restlessly, desperate to claim their mate fully. But Tomas knew better than to push. With Noel, he had to go slow, make him feel safe every step of the way.

Never again would Noel feel the harshness of having his needs ignored, even if it killed Tomas not to hold his elegido through this.

After blowing out a breath, Noel squared his shoulder and gave a curt nod. Tomas held his breath, wondering what that meant.

“Go ahead.” Noel waved his hand with a small flourish. Tomas was pretty certain it was his mate’s way of regaining some control of the situation.

“No, my wolf wouldn’t replace me,” Tomas said. “It wants to share a deep bond with you, but it’s my ugly mug you’ll see almost all the time.”

“Almost?” Noel’s voice didn’t sound as strained, his shoulders relaxing slightly.

The ring in Tomas’s pocket felt even heavier than before. “My wolf will come out if it feels you’re in danger.” Whether right or wrong, he omitted the fact he had two beasts inside of him. Noel was barely dealing with his wolf. Tomas didn’t want to know how he’d handle the news of a lycanthrope.

The truth would be revealed, eventually. “Is Brian your husband?” Tomas asked the question before he could stop the words from tumbling out.

“Hell no!” Noel jerked his head back, then his brows shot up just as a few customers exited the diner.

“You think because of that ring…” He shook his head, anger blazing in his eyes.

“That’s the one time I stood my ground,” Noel said softly, rubbing his ring finger like the band was still there.

“He forced it on my hand while telling me he owned me.”

“He really is an asshole,” Tomas snarled, relieved Noel hadn’t bound himself to that bastard.

“You’ve no idea.” Noel snorted. “I yanked it off and told him I couldn’t marry a monster. Tossed the ring aside as I fled.” He trembled slightly as pride flared in his eyes.

Tomas grinned so hard his goddamn face hurt. “You’re such a badass, sweetheart.”

His mate blushed and ducked his head, smiling. “Thanks. It felt good to finally stand up for myself.” The smile faded. “It was the only time I did.”

“You take that win and you run with it,” Tomas snarled softly. “All that matters is that you survived, Noel. You came out of that hell a stronger person. Maybe not whole, but intact, giving yourself a chance to heal.”

And Tomas was so damn glad he had. Not because Noel was his mate, but because no one should have to live that way.

Because Noel surviving meant Brian had lost. And as soon as Tomas found him, he would cease to exist.

“Babe, you gonna keep making me stand over here?” Tomas held Noel’s gaze, his wolf stirring at the sight of those defiant blue eyes. Fire and vulnerability in one tantalizing package. His mate was bold, sassy, utterly fearless now that the spark between them blazed.

“You gonna give me time to deal with this mate thing?” Noel countered. “Because if it’s something—”

Tomas stalked forward until their chests brushed with each breath. He caged Noel against the motorcycle, arms bracketing that lithe body as he leaned in close. “You want to play this game, carino ?” His voice emerged a low rumble laced with promise.

Noel’s eyes flashed, teeth sinking into his plump lower lip. The motion drew Tomas’s focus, made his mouth water with the urge to taste, to consume. “Maybe I do,” he challenged, chin lifting in blatant provocation. “Think you can keep up, lobo ?”

A growl vibrated up from Tomas’s chest. His wolf was done with words, ready to claim what was theirs. He fisted a hand in Noel’s hair, gripping just tight enough to tilt that defiant head back, baring the long line of his mate’s throat.

Noel’s lips parted on a sharp inhale, eyes going wide and dark. He didn’t fight the grip, didn’t try to pull away. Just held Tomas’s heated stare, daring him with every ragged breath to take this further.

“Keep talking, carino ,” he purred against the thrumming pulse under Noel’s jaw. “Give me an excuse to shut you up properly.”

The challenge blazed brighter in those blue depths. Noel pressed closer until their bodies aligned from chest to hip, until the hard line of his arousal slotted against Tomas’s thigh. “You couldn’t handle me, papi .”

Something primal unfurled in Tomas’s gut, a wildfire of lust and possession blazing through his veins. He captured Noel’s lips in a searing kiss, all teeth and tongue and molten need.

Noel surged into the embrace, one hand fisting in Tomas’s shirt to yank him closer as their mouths warred for dominance. His other hand raked down Tomas’s back, nails scoring delicious lines of heat through the fabric.

Tomas swallowed the needy moan that spilled from Noel’s lips. His mate was pure flame, biting and bold and utterly unashamed in his desire. With each nip of those wicked teeth, each teasing swipe of Noel’s clever tongue, the wildfire in Tomas’s blood raged hotter and brighter.

He growled his approval deep in his chest, claiming Noel’s mouth again and again until they were both panting harshly. Only then did he pull back a scant inch, eyes locked on those swollen, glistening lips he’d just ravaged.

“You were saying, carino?” Tomas rasped out, drunk on the scent of Noel’s arousal, on the taste of his mate’s yearning. “Something about me not being able to handle you?”

Noel’s chest heaved, blue eyes blown to depthless black pools. His tongue swept over his bottom lip in a move that had to be calculated sin. “Guess you’ll have to prove me wrong then, won't you?”

With a feral snarl, Tomas hoisted Noel up, pinning that compact body between his own and the motorcycle. He rocked his hips forward, letting Noel feel every rigid inch of the lust he’d stoked. “Be careful what you wish for, florito . I don’t do anything halfway.”