Caden smacked Ten on the back of the head. “Stop reading my thoughts. But yes, now that you mention it, like Gary. He was my first mistake. I thought I knew what love was, but Gary and Chris showed me I knew nothing at all. Then I met Quade and you, and I realized that my disappointments set me up for something wonderful.” Caden sandwiched Ten between him and Quade. “I always wanted a family, and I’ve got the best one there is.”
“Okay, enough mush. I want pizza, and if a lycan gets too hungry, you don’t even want to be around us, because the Three Little Pigs story? Not so much a story, but an object lesson from people who kept one of us waiting for a meal.”
Caden huffed. “You’re such a drama queen.” Then his stomach growled. “Fine, I’m hungry too. Ten? Seriously, if you think of anything else you want in your room, let us know. We’ll do our best to get it for you.”
“Thank you, Poppa.” He turned and went back into his room, closing the door behind him.
“This is amazing. I thought I was in love with my other apartment, but this? It’s palatial in comparison.”
“Well, we have a very important son. Dandrot wanted to ensure Ten was happy.” Quade kissed Caden on the nose. “Plus, you’ve got that whole Tree of Life thing going, so that also factors in.”
Caden put his hand on Quade’s chest and pushed him away. “Ugh. I don’t even want to talk about that. Let’s just order our food and try to pretend we’re normal, at least for a while.”
“Baby, there’s nothing normal about you. Even if you weren’t a wood sprite, you’d still be able to give me wood just by looking at me.”
“One more crack like that, and we won’t even get to the food. And with Ten in the house, not sure we want to traumatize him.”
Leaning forward, Quade kissed Caden’s neck. “The bedrooms are soundproof. You can scream as loud as you want. And believe me, by the time I’m through with you, you’re gonna scream.”
A shudder went through Caden that had Quade wishing he could throw Caden over the couch and take him right there. But he was right—there was a kid in the house now, so he had to be more discreet. It didn’t mean he had to keep his hands off, though.
“Put your hand on my cock.”
“But Ten….”
“Just do what I say.”
Caden’s breathing tightened, but he reached down and wrapped his fingers around the hardness in Quade’s pants. Satisfied Caden would do as he asked, Quade gripped his wrist and dragged Caden into the bathroom. He closed the door, reached down, and unzipped himself.
“Get on your knees.”
A gleam in his eye, Caden dropped down without hesitation.
“You know what to do.”
Trembling hands reached into Quade’s fly, grabbed the thick shaft, and hauled it out of the opening. Caden took a deep breath, spread his lips wide, and sucked Quade into his mouth.
“Fuck, yes. Suck it. Take it deep.”
Caden bobbed with fervor, the slurping sounds echoing against the walls. Quade was grateful Caden was so into it. It made what he wanted even easier to say.
“I’m going to fuck your mouth. I want you to stroke yourself while you suck me.”
Not waiting for a reply, Quade wrapped his hands around Caden’s head and pushed in past his throat, loving the way Caden simply opened his mouth wider and took what Quade gave him.
Never before had Quade thought he could have a lover he could be tender and gentle with, while at the same time being true to his own nature and taking him harder. Caden was everything Quade ever wanted in a mate and more. He groaned as Caden increased his suction.
“Going to cum in your mouth, Caden. I want you to swallow it, drink me down. Let me become part of you forever.”
Caden moaned, and the vibrations went straight through to Quade’s cock, causing him to shoot. Caden never backed off, never hesitated. He took it all, just like Quade wanted.
Spent at last, Quade let go of Caden and took a half step back, not surprised to find a puddle of cum cooling on the floor. “I like that.” He pulled Caden to his feet and kissed him, delighting in his taste on Caden’s lips.
“I loved it. I love you. You make me feel ways no one else ever has.”
Shoving him against the wall, Quade buried his face in Caden’s neck, enraptured by the sweet smell. “No one ever will. I will kill anyone who touches you, do you understand me?”
That familiar shiver rolled through Caden. “Fuck, that’s hot.”
“My threatening to kill someone is hot?” Quade bit down on the tender flesh, which caused Caden to whimper. “How about if I say I’ll eviscerate them? String their entrails like garland around a tree? No one touches you, Caden. You’re mine, and that’s a lifelong commitment.”
“I’m yours.” Caden’s voice was soft, dreamy. “But just so we’re clear, the garland bit might be a little much.”
“Noted.” Quade stepped back, staring into Caden’s eyes. He now understood the story of the sprite rings. He might own Caden’s heart, but Caden had claimed Quade’s soul.
And he didn’t mind in the least.
“What about school? You have to have classes.”
Ten frowned. “They can’t teach me anything I don’t already know or can’t learn in an instant.” He cocked his head. “Mrs. Khaab speaks Hmong Daw.” He closed his eyes a moment, then when he opened them he said, “Thiab tam sim no kuv ua ib yam nkaus thiab. Or, in English, now I do too.”
He leaned back and stared into Caden’s eyes.
“ I’m more use in the infirmary, helping people understand their abilities or getting them comfortable with Sanctuary.” His nose wrinkled further. “Besides, have you ever read the mind of a kid? Video games, sex, boobies, sex, food, sex. They’re so… base.”
“And yet you need more to your life than just working in the infirmary. How do you expect to prepare yourself for adult interactions?”
Ten sighed as though he was bored with the conversation. “I already interact with adults. Their minds aren’t nearly as chaotic. I like the order.”
Caden did his best to suppress a groan. He and Ten had been going around on this for almost an hour. Every time he tried to get Ten involved in something meant for people his age, he got shut down hard. He wished Quade was home instead of being out in the field. Caden would admit he wasn’t prepared for dealing with a twelve-year-old.
“You need to be more social with your peers.”
“Peers?” Ten cocked his head. “I don’t have peers.”
Around them, the air grew warm. Caden turned for a second and saw what was happening. Objects small and large were floating in the air, bobbing around as though on strings.
“No one can do the things I can. And when they look at me, they’re afraid. And who can blame them?”
Things started to move, slowly at first, then picking up speed. They whirled through the room, keeping an orbit around Ten and Caden.
“They might not admit it, but even the adults are afraid of me. I’m a freak, you know. Oh, I’m useful to them, but beyond that? They’re terrified of what would happen if I ever lose control. So guess what? Even when I get upset, I. Can. Never. Lose. Control. I’m not supposed to have the same emotions as kids my age. It’s expected that I won’t laugh or cry or be angry. So why would I want to subject myself to being alone in a crowd?”