Autumn Feast - Charlie Richards Page 0,14

the best of days, but they were Roark’s family, and now, Noel’s.

Sometimes he wished he didn’t have to deal with them, though, especially when he was tired.

He put in the code to the door and pushed it open, blinking at the light. He frowned when he saw that Roark was still there, sitting at the dining table along with Griffith, his mate Lawrence, Armand, and Beck. Roark was one of those who liked going to bed early so he could have some quiet time to read or watch TV. “Hey. I hope you weren’t waiting for me. I texted you to tell you I’d be late,” Noel said, dumping his bag onto the empty end of the table and walking to Roark. He kissed the back of Roark’s neck and leaned on him, closing his eyes and inhaling his mate’s scent.

He would have been too self-conscious to do something like that a few years ago, but the warehouse was his home, the assassins his family, and that came with some perks, one of which was that Noel was entirely comfortable with them.

Roark reached back and squeezed Noel’s arm. “I wasn’t planning on waiting for you here, but Griffith had an idea, and I had to stay if I didn’t want Armand to make a mess.”

“An idea?”

“I want to throw a Halloween party for the shelter kids,” Griffith said.

It took Noel a second to understand what he was talking about. Griffith had only recently moved in, and Noel didn’t know him that well yet. He did know that Griffith volunteered at an LGBTQ shelter, though. The shelter worked with teenagers who needed help, providing them with food, medical attention, or a bed—and sometimes all three of those. Noel had meant to ask if he could help, maybe volunteer, too, but he’d been too busy and hadn’t had the time to approach Griffith about it yet. “That sounds like a good idea.”

Griffith smiled. “I want to give them something they can remember, something they don’t usually have. Armand volunteered to plan it, but Roark took over.”

Noel chuckled and kissed Roark’s neck before straightening up. “Trust me, Roark saved your ass.”

Griffith chuckled. “I wasn’t aware of that, but I’ve just heard enough stories to realize now.”

Noel bumped Roark’s shoulder. “You’re going to organize a party, then?”

Roark groaned and leaned the back of his head against Noel’s stomach. “I know. What was I thinking?”

“That the party would be a mess if you let Armand do it.”

“Hey!” Armand protested, but they all knew he would have made a mess.

Noel smiled and kissed the tip of Roark’s nose. “I’m going to bed. Are you staying down here to continue planning this party of yours?”

“I think we did enough planning for the day. Armand, you’re not allowed to organize anything without me, Win, or Griffith present. Got it?”

Armand pouted. “Whatever. I’m not that bad at stuff.”

Noel kissed Armand on the cheek. “You’re a good man, but you’re hopeless at organizing anything.”

Noel was glad when he and Roark finally got to their room. The silence there was soothing after the day he’d had, and he couldn’t wait to get into bed with his mate and rest. He made a beeline for the bathroom, knowing Roark had showered before dinner. This was their routine, and there was something soothing about it, something that made Noel feel like he was home.

Roark was in bed when Noel came out of the shower, steam billowing behind him. He was reading, but he put down his book and smiled. He looked tired, and Noel knew he was still struggling with being one of those who gave the orders now. He was doing his best to help Win, but it wasn’t always easy, especially with so many people to deal with, now that a lot of the assassins had found their mates.

Noel slid under the sheets naked, sighing in pleasure and closing his eyes at the feeling of the cool, clean sheets against his still-damp skin. He started to relax, but before he could, Roark rolled him to his front. Noel yelped, but he let his mate guide him. Roark climbed on top of him, straddling his ass, and pushed his fingers into the knots in Noel’s shoulder.

Noel groaned in pleasure. “A bit more to the right,” he said, wiggling his right shoulder.

Roark chuckled and leaned down to place a kiss there. “Always so demanding.”

“You’re the one who decided to give me a massage. You didn’t even ask if I wanted one.”

Roark’s hands stopped