Page 18 of Mated to the Human: Volume One

“Leander,” Derek said, moving to include the newcomers in their circle. “Well, it’s where we’re gathering, but I’m sure there’s a table somewhere for us.”

“I’ll find it,” the man with Leander spoke up and wandered off.

Leander watched him for a moment before shooting the group a tight smile and following after his man.

Hollis bit his lip, the bubble they’d been standing in bursting as he realized the room was filling up. For a moment, he’d forgotten that his uncle was scheduled to be in attendance.

“Hollis?” Derek touched his hand.

Smiling up at him, Hollis linked their fingers together. “Just looking for…” He let his words trail off. Derek would know what he meant.

“He’s not here yet. I’d smell him.”

Hollis wrinkled his nose. “Sorry.”

Derek barked out a laugh. “I’m used to it. Come on, let’s find our seats.”

They were seated at one of the front tables. Hollis sneakily put the little card with his name embossed in pretty silver lettering into his jacket pocket. His cheeks went hot when Derek winked at him. Dinner was amazing, and he did his best to pay attention during the speeches.

Neal had come in with Richard and his other son Preston minutes before dinner was served. They were seated at another of the front tables on the opposite side of the room from Hollis and Derek. Hollis did his best to keep his eyes from wandering in their direction, but he slipped a few times. Only one of those times had Neal been looking his way.

When the dishes were cleared and they opened the dance floor, Derek looked over at him. “One dance before we go?”

“I’m a terrible dancer,” Hollis said, abject panic rising up in his chest.

Derek stood, offering Hollis his hand. “A slow one. Trust me.”

Hollis swallowed and took Derek’s hand.

They made their way to the dance floor. Derek kept them close to the edge. The song was already playing—the man on the grand piano bent over the keys as beautiful notes filled the room. Hollis didn’t know the song, but he did trust Derek.

Pulling him close, Derek wrapped a strong arm around his waist and held his other hand. He kept their clasped hands resting high on his chest and started to sway back and forth while he turned them in a slow circle.

Oh. Hollis leaned into Derek’s warmth and strength. Resting his cheek on Derek’s chest, he closed his eyes.

“You know,” Derek’s whispered words reached him over the music. “I didn’t want a mate. I was against the plan for these matings from the start.” He pulled Hollis tighter to him, like he could mold them together with his strength alone. “I’m so glad I agreed anyway and so, so grateful for you.”

Tilting his head back, Hollis brushed his lips over Derek’s. “I’m grateful for you, too.”

8

Derek coaxed Hollis into three more dances, even a couple faster ones. Seeing Hollis’s cheeks pink from laughing and exertion made his heart feel lighter than it possibly ever had.

The evening had gone better than he’d hoped, but he was ready to take his mate home and strip him out of that tuxedo. He knew Hollis didn’t think so, but he looked absolutely delicious wrapped in the custom-tailored pants and jacket. The crisp white shirt and bow tie suited him so well, Derek could have stared all night. He would have, but there were too many potential enemies there.

The other newly mated couples had stuck close during the dinner. Cane and Jacob seemed to be figuring things out, even if Cane’s eye still had some bruising around it from the illegal fight he’d been in. There was definitely a tension between the two of them that Derek hoped they’d resolve.

As for Leander and his mate…it was hard to tell. The human, Merrick, was quiet, and so was Leander. He wasn’t usually one to worry about other people’s relationships outside of his hellhounds, but he hoped they’d make it work, as well. Perhaps his own growing affection for Hollis had softened him more than he’d realized.

Of course, Derek had been keeping tabs on Neal throughout the evening. The commissioner was sitting at his table with a glass of scotch, his two sons, and several other members of the human police force. Good. Leaving while Hollis’s family was occupied seemed like a good idea. He wanted to avoid a confrontation for Hollis’s sake and the other gala patrons. It was supposed to be a fun night out, not front-row seats to a smackdown.

Hollis looked up at him with happy, sleepy eyes when the next slow song started to play.

Derek pulled him close and whispered in his ear, “Want to get out of here?”

When Hollis leaned back, the sleepiness from a moment ago was replaced with a heat that made Derek's belly go tight. “Yes, please.”

When they reached the outside of the ballroom, Knox and Bacchus, who was on his first field assignment, bid them good night.

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