Page 14 of Harvest

Evan’s call that Stephanie had arrived safe and sound, was in his room and that Evan had posted a guard at the door and one below the balcony was music to his ears.

“I take it something more than a casual sex thing at the club happened?” he’d asked.

“Yes, if you must know, she’s my fated mate.”

“What the hell, Xander?” Evan said, his amusement easily heard in his tone of voice.

“I know. The only reason I didn’t tell you earlier was that I had a non-wolf audience and wanted to speak to Damian first.”

“You don’t think he’ll try to keep her from you, do you?”

“Wouldn’t do him any good if he did. But no, Damian would never stand between a fated pair even if the she-wolf was being a pain in the ass.”

That made Evan laugh out loud. “I’ve found with Kayla the best way to cure her of being a pain in my ass, is to put some sting in her tail. Does wonders for them and there is nothing better than the feeling of driving into your mate’s wet and willing pussy and having your pelvis hit her warm, red ass.”

“I rather imagine I’ll find that out for myself.”

“You’re sure?”

“More than I’ve ever known anything. It was the most amazing thing-feeling her and then catching her scent. We scened together and she slipped into subspace faster than anyone I’ve ever seen, and the sex afterwards was off the charts.”

“What happened?”

“She doesn’t want a fated mate and I suspect the notion of having her Dom be her fated mate was a bit much for her.”

“I would think if she’s submissive to begin with…”

Evan and Kayla weren’t members of the club.

“Some submissives only want to submit at a club or sexually. They convince themselves they don’t want to submit anywhere else. That’s Stephanie; she’s convinced herself it’s okay to submit in certain scenarios, but not in others. We’ll work it out. I’m just glad to know she’s safe at home.”

A little over an hour later, Xander turned into the drive and hit the remote gate control on the SUV’s visor. He pulled into the enormous garage on the side and to the back of the house.He wanted to get to Stephanie. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. If he was lucky, he’d be able to wake her when he joined her in their bed.

“What the fuck, Xander?” growled Damian from the kitchen.

Xander sighed and joined his alpha, making himself a cup of coffee. Maybe this was best, he could get things settled with Damian and then deal with Stephanie.

“Morning, Damian. Good to see you too.”

“Want to tell me why I got up this morning, only to find a guard posted outside your door? And when I asked why, was told he didn’t know just that Evan had told him to come and stand guard at your orders.”

“Same reason there’s another guy stationed outside under my balcony,” said Xander with a smile.

He often wondered if he and Damian got along so well because Xander wasn’t intimidated by the fierce alpha wolf and often took fiendish delight in baiting him.

“Knock it off, Xan. I haven’t even finished my first cup of coffee.”

“And yet another advantage to having a fated mate. I haven’t even had a sip of one yet and I’m my usual, charming self.”

“Asshole,” Damian grumbled. “Wait. What did you say?”

“See? You’re more awake than you thought.”

“Do you do this just to annoy me?”

“Mostly,” said Xander amiably.

“Need I point out to you that I saved your miserable life and the least you could do is take pity on me and tell me what the fuck is going on.”

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