Page 70 of Sweetheart

Levi

The property was quiet. Levi could feel the members of his family both inside and out. His protective instincts were still on high alert, and he hadn’t transformed back completely to his human form. Not that it seemed to bother his mate.

The back door opened as Levi reached the deck steps.

Drake peered out from the door and smiled. “He okay?”

Mason popped his eyes open before lifting his head. “I’m fine.”

“He’s fine,” Levi agreed. Although Mason sounded so tired. “I’m going to take him up to my suite. Could you…can you make sure we’re left alone for the night? He needs to rest.”

“No problem,” Drake replied. “The boys are having a movie marathon in the playroom, so I’ll keep them busy.”

“Did Gavin come back in?”

Drake shook his head. “No, he took off. I tried to talk to him but he wasn’t in the mood to listen.”

Levi sighed. He was more than a little worried about his friend. The great hunt. It was a time before Levi had been alive and every story he’d heard had spoken of the absolute horror of those that lived through it. Gavin had been born at the end of it. Losing his family before he was even six months old. “Axel will explain.” Levi just didn’t have it in him.

Above them thunder rocked the night and flashes of lightning streaked across the dark sky.

“Bring your boy inside. We’ll keep an eye out for Gavin. Is everything else okay?”

“Yeah. Alot has happened. I—” He shrugged, his arms straining as he held his mate.

“Go. Get him cleaned up and take care of him.”

Levi was glad for the escape. He bypassed the playroom, taking the stairs outside the kitchen.

“You're worried about Gavin,” Mason said as Levi carried him up the steps.

“He doesn’t talk about it often, the times during the great hunt, but he’s told me more than most. This will be hard for him.”

“If there is anything I can do to help, just let me know,” Mason said. “If you need to be with him, I understand.”

Levi smiled down at his mate. “Thanks. Right now, he needs to be alone. When he’s ready, we’ll help him through this.” They were a team now. “First I need to check you over and then I was thinking about a shower.”

“A shower together?” Mason questioned while wagging his brows.

“What kind of Daddy would I be if I didn’t personally make sure my boy was all clean?” Levi teased.

“I just got so hard,” Mason told him.

“I’ll have to check that out as well,” Levi said. “Make sure everything is working properly.”

Mason whined. “Daddy!”

He chuckled. It was fun to tease his mate. The small taste of intimacy earlier had Levi craving more of Mason. “Here we are.” He pushed his door open since it wasn’t latched closed. Bypassing the main room and kitchenette, Levi headed straight to the master suite and ensuite bathroom.

The bed still had pizza boxes piled in the middle so at least he knew his boy had gotten something to eat. “Do you need a drink? Are you hungry?”

“Honestly, I really want that shower with you and to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“I know, baby.” He set Mason down on the long marble vanity across from the frosted glass shower.

“This is pretty,” Mason mused. He was peering around the bathroom.

Levi looked around in pride in his bathroom. The soft mint with gold accents brightened up the large space. They all decorated their suites to their own liking and his private rooms were his second favorite part of the main house. The rooftop oasis was his very special place. He’d take Mason up there soon.

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