The Lynx Who Claimed the Sun (17 page)

Garth didn’t even give him the time to finish the phrase. He struck, embedding his fangs in the flesh of Nicolas’s neck.

A pleasure that Nicolas hadn’t even known could be possible invaded his body. Being with Garth was always beautiful and amazing, but this… This went beyond all imagination, beyond what words could possibly express. Nicolas felt his connection with Garth click into place, and then Garth’s thoughts and emotions seeped into Nicolas’s brain, mixing with his own.

It was too much, too much, and Nicolas found his peak, crying out his mate’s name as he climaxed. Heat filled him when Garth found his peak as well, and incredibly, Nicolas felt the lynx’s orgasm, as well.

The pleasure was too much for him to withstand. He lost consciousness, floating in a haze of absolute nirvana and contentment.

He came to when a voice reached out to him.
“Nico? Love? Can
you hear me?”

“Yes, Garth,”
Nicolas answered. Of course he could hear his mate. Why couldn’t he? He cracked his eyes open and looked up at his lover.

“You can hear me.” Garth said, sounding shocked. “You can really hear me.”

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It was only then that Nicolas realized Garth had been speaking to him in his mind. He remembered the bond Carson, Shiloh, and Daniel shared with their mates, and finally understood.
“You didn’t expect
it?”
he sent to his mate via their connection, testing his ability to telepathically talk to his mate.

“Lynxes aren’t like wolves, love. We don’t have mates. Hell,
we’re not even monogamous. And still, the moment I saw you, I knew
you were the one for me. I knew you were my sun. I just… I didn’t
realize it was going to be like this.”

Nicolas mused about his mate’s words.
“Maybe it’s not about the
species, but about how we feel about each other. After all, we aren’t
just the beasts we carry inside.”

Garth smiled at him.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

Nicolas smirked back when he realized his mate had started to purr. He loved to hear the comforting sound. It was so… Garth. And of course, it also had a lot of potential when Garth sucked his cock.

The lynx got up and retrieved a wet washcloth from the bathroom.

When he returned, Nicolas reached for him and pulled him back down on the bed. “Never mind that. We have a lot of time to make up for.”

Their lips came together in another kiss, and their passion reignited. It was a long time before either of them ventured out of the bed again.

128

Scarlet Hyacinth

Corbin and Preston sat together in the park, their new babysitter keeping a watchful eye on them. It was a beautiful, warm day, and their father had given them permission to come here, with the condition that they needed to watch out for any dangers. He might have been more cautious, but apparently, he trusted the person temporarily in charge of watching over them, something quite understandable given the identity of the babysitter in question.

Nicolas plopped next to them in the grass, obviously undisturbed by the fact that he was staining his clothing. Corbin liked that about the hummingbird. He wasn’t like other adults. He didn’t mind forgoing all those rules Corbin hated so much. And when he did draw a line, it was always with a sternness that held a hidden affection.

“Whatcha doing?” Nicolas asked them.

Preston shrugged. “We were thinking about shifting, but I’m not sure it’s allowed.”

“Oh, this place is for shifters only,” Nicolas replied. “Go right ahead.”

The real concern wasn’t that they feared people would see them shift, but rather, that they would get pissed at it. Most of the people in the area were herbivores. Even if Corbin’s dad was okay with having a hummingbird mate, others weren’t so accepting.

Nicolas winked at Corbin. “Don’t worry about them,” he whispered. “Just do whatever you like. You’ve got as much right to be here as they do. As long as we mind our own business and stay away from the others, we’ll be fine.”

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129

Corbin felt reassured at the hummingbird’s words. He and his brother chose a slightly more secluded spot, handed their clothes to Nicolas, and changed into their lynx form. It was always so freeing to release their beasts. Sometimes, they got to do it when they visited Soren’s pack lands, but that was far too rare in Corbin’s opinion.

He must have been rolling around in the grass with his brother for ten minutes or so when he felt a familiar presence. Both he and his brother instantly went cautious. They hadn’t seen their mother since that fateful day when she’d come at the agency. Corbin had been wondering what had happened to her. His father had assured him she’d been released since her involvement in Nicolas’s kidnapping seemed to have been made under duress. Even so, Corbin still felt a touch apprehensive.

She appeared from the trees, in shifted form and closer than Corbin had expected. She bared her fangs at them, and it occurred to him that she might have found out about the plan and was pissed about his and Preston’s involvement in it.

He shifted back into his human form, and Preston did the same.

“Mom?” he asked hesitantly.

She ignored him, and Corbin couldn’t help backing off a little. He didn’t know what she might have done if Nicolas hadn’t stepped in, effectively placing himself between their mother and them. “And you must be Bella,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you and all, but if you’d like us to have a chat, I would rather we did it in legged form, and possibly somewhere else.”

Corbin’s mother did shift, but she ignored the latter part of Nicolas’s suggestion. “I’m not going anywhere, hummingbird,” she said, anger tainting her voice. “These are my kids, not yours, and I can do whatever I like with them.”

Preston clutched to Nicolas’s back, obviously scared. Corbin’s apprehension melted into anger. “What do you want, Mom?”

130

Scarlet Hyacinth

“Just to tell you one thing, honey.” Her tone turned kind, but her eyes were cold. “You were always a burden for me. I’m glad someone else has to carry you for a change. I hope I’ll never see you again.”

Her gaze turned to Nicolas. “And you. Don’t think you’re better than me just because you have Garth now. You’d have never gotten him in the first place if I hadn’t thrown him away.”

Nicolas laughed. “Shows what you know. Garth and I were meant to be. But of course, you can’t understand that.”

She sneered at them. “I never loved him. I only wanted him so that he couldn’t be yours. But if he’s so stupid as to choose you over me, that’s fine. I hope you’re as miserable as you deserve.”

She turned on her heel and stalked off, changing back into her lynx form and disappearing in the distance.

As she left, Preston burst into tears. Corbin couldn’t blame his brother for crying. Sure, he’d suspected their mother had just been using them, which was why they’d wanted to help in the first place.

But from that to having her shout such ugly things in their faces… It still hurt. Why didn’t she want them? Why didn’t she love their father?

Nicolas knelt to hug them both. “Just ignore her,” he said. “She’s just bitter that she couldn’t get her way.” He kissed them both on the cheeks. “I’m sorry. Perhaps if I hadn’t been around…”

Preston released a horrified sound. “No. You’re the one who makes Daddy happy. I’ve never seen him smile as much as he does when you’re around.”

Corbin nodded. Thinking back, he suspected that even if his mother had wanted to return to his dad, it wouldn’t have lasted. She’d have left again. “Besides, you’re not such a bad guy,” he told Nicolas.

Nicolas laughed. “Thanks for that, boys,” he answered. “Hey, we still have time to get some ice cream before we have to meet up with your dad. What do you say?”

Corbin arched a brow. “We’re not supposed to eat sweets before dinner. It spoils our appetite.”

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“I won’t tell if you won’t.” Nicolas smirked. “Besides, just this once, I’m sure your dad wouldn’t mind.”

“Okay.” Preston wiped his eyes, already anticipating the delicious sweet. “Let’s go.”

“Not so fast. We might be in a shape-shifter park, but I won’t have you walking around naked.”

Both Preston and Corbin began to laugh uncontrollably. Nicolas laughed with them, a happy, joyful sound that reminded Corbin of a bird chirping. When they finally calmed down, Nicolas helped them with their clothing. “Okay. Now for your treat.”

Nicolas led them to the ice cream vendor and bought them two cones. “Just don’t eat it too fast. I wouldn’t want you to get sick.”

Preston nodded and obediently took his time in savoring his ice cream. Corbin slowed down a bit, too, even if his tendency was to gulp it all down.

Just as they finished the cones, a voice startled Corbin from his enjoyment of the treat. “Nico-Chi!” a woman was shouting.

At first, Corbin thought the person had nothing to do with them, but then, Nicolas groaned. A few moments later, a slender female reached them and smiled widely. “Hi. Long time, no see.” She had the largest nose Corbin had ever seen on a person.

“Hello, Valentina,” Nicolas replied. “What do you want?”

Valentina’s smile faded. “Can’t I simply say hi to my little brother?”

Her words made Corbin give her a more serious look. He hadn’t known Nicolas had family. He eyed her, watched Nicolas’s tense stance, and decided they needed to leave. Sister or not, the woman didn’t seem to be in Nicolas’s good graces.

He pulled on Nicolas’s arm. “Can we go now?” he asked. “Dad should be here by now.”

Nicolas turned to him and smiled. “Sure thing.” He looked back at his sister. “I’m sorry, Valentina. I’d love to stay and chat, but as you can see, I’m busy.”

132

Scarlet Hyacinth

Valentina gave Corbin and Preston a distinctly disgusted look.

“You’re a babysitter for the feline now?”

“I’m a parent,” Nicolas snapped back. Hearing the hummingbird say that felt strangely right. A parent. Nicolas was their parent, like Corbin’s dad. “Now back off. I can still take you, Valentina.”

Valentina lifted her hands, as if to say she was harmless. “Okay, okay, I get it. Just…
Hermanito
, why don’t you come home? You don’t need to stay here any longer. Sara is dealing with things. She’s even getting us treatment for what the elder did. You’re safe now.

Please, come home.”

“I am home,” Nicolas replied simply. “Now I really have to go.

I’ll see you later.”

Valentina grabbed Nicolas’s arm. “Wait! At least, tell me why you won’t answer my e-mails.”

Corbin bristled at her demeanor. He couldn’t believe she’d asked Nicolas to leave them. He wanted to take a bite out of her and put her in her place. Perhaps then, she’d find out not to mess with Corbin’s family.

“I changed my e-mail address,” Nicolas told her.

At the expression on Valentina’s face, both Corbin and Preston snickered. She had apparently learned her lesson, though, as she ignored them instead of saying anything about their amusement.

“And you didn’t tell me?” she asked, actually sounding hurt.

“Never mind. Will you give it to me now?”

Nicolas sighed in exasperation. “If I do, will you just leave me alone?”

Valentina nodded. “
Te lo prometo.
”

“It’s [email protected]”

Valentina stared. Corbin and Preston stared. Then at last, Preston burst out into laughter. “How do I know there’s a story there?”

Nicolas ruffled Preston’s hair. “Shut up, you.” He looked at his sister again. “Now, just go,
hermana
. I’m happy here. I might come visit one day, but not now.”

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133

Valentina looked sad. “I never thought I’d say this, but you’re not my Nico-Chi anymore. You really are Nicolas Shields.”

Nicolas shook his head. “I’m Nicolas Mckenna.”

With that, Nicolas turned his back on her and slowly led Preston and Corbin out of the park. They were supposed to meet Corbin’s dad in a few minutes.

Indeed, just as they reached the exit, Corbin saw his father’s car pull in. He released himself from Nicolas’s hold and shot forward.

When his dad got out of the car, Corbin took advantage of the opportunity and jumped on him.

His father laughed and picked him up. “Come here, you. Did you have fun today?”

Judging by the tone, Corbin guessed his dad knew about his mom’s visit, the ice cream, and the meeting with Nicolas’s sister.

Therefore, he didn’t feel the least bit guilty when he replied, “It was great.”

“I’m glad. Now get in the car,” Corbin’s dad said. “I’m taking you out for pizza. I’m sure you must be starving.”

Amusement twinkled in his eyes, and it was more than a little clear that he intended to give them a lesson as to why they shouldn’t eat sweets before dinner. Behind Corbin, Preston released a small squeak while Nicolas chuckled. “Don’t worry. We can take the leftovers to go.”

The two men shared a brief kiss, and as he looked at them, Corbin wondered how he could have ever doubted the bond between them. It was right there, so real that Corbin thought he could reach out and touch it.

After a few moments, his parents parted mouths, and they all entered the car. Preston clapped his hands together. “Pizza time.”

As his father started the car and engaged in traffic, Corbin caught sight of Nicolas studying them through the rearview mirror. His mind went back to what Nicolas had said back in the park.
“I’m Nicolas
Mckenna.”

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Scarlet Hyacinth

Before he knew it, he opened his mouth and inquired, “Are you two married?”

It was Nicolas’s turn to release a choked sound. Corbin amused himself with noticing how much it sounded like a chirp. “I… We…

Er…”

“We’re mated, and we’re making arrangements to officially register it,” Corbin’s dad answered. “In a few days, yes, we will be married in every possible way.”