just had to see how open Cardin was to the idea.
“Um, that seems, well—”
Cardin once again paused and nibbled his lip. He glanced around at the others who were pouring out the door from behind them and mingling with the guys already there. Then Cardin frowned, and when Leortis followed his gaze, he realized he was scowling at Stefan, who was talking with a couple of others and grinning at him.
“Did you set this up?” Cardin’s tone took on a hard, combative quality. He pulled away from Leortis and started toward Stefan. “Did you call this hot guy and convince him to pretend to be interested in me?” Waving his hand toward Leortis, Cardin continued, “Because that’s not cool. I’m not a cheater like Shawn.” Cardin bowed his head and yanked his phone from his pocket. “I’m gonna call a cab.”
“Whoa, whoa,” Leortis rumbled, taking the phone from Cardin’s hand. “Stop that.”
“Hey! Give that back!” Cardin cried, reaching for his device.
Leortis grabbed Cardin’s outstretched hand with his free one as he tossed the phone to Vicar. His guard caught it easily and shoved it into the pocket of his slacks. Cardin glanced between them with wide eyes, and fear began to perfume the area.
Double damn!
“Please, whatever you’re thinking,” Leortis began, using his thumb to massage Cardin’s palm. “It’s not true. I have never met Stefan before or talked to him in my life.” Seeing Cardin’s expression of disbelief, Leortis sighed deeply as he cradled his mate’s jaw. “My beautiful mate”—he rubbed his thumb along his jawline—”I don’t know who gave you the impression that you’re not desirable beyond reason, but I arrived here to speak with Agnoroth. You are the reason I am staying and crashing this barbeque.”
For several long seconds, Cardin just gaped at him. Then his eyebrows furrowed. To Leortis’s relief, the scent of his anger melted away to be replaced by confusion.
“Why?”
Hearing that single word drew a smile to Leortis’s lips. He could easily work with interest, even if it was based in disbelief. Leortis was quickly learning that Cardin appreciated the direct approach.
“Well,” Leortis began as he drew Cardin toward a lounge chair near the pool. “I intend to spend the day holding you, learning about you, and whispering sweet nothings into your ear.” Settling on the lounge chair, his legs to either side of it, Leortis easily used his paranormal strength to tug Cardin down in front of him between his spread thighs. As soon as he had his mate where he wanted him—namely, sideways in his arms and resting a shoulder against his chest, albeit stiffly—he purred into Cardin’s ear, “Beautiful man, I mean to steal you away from that jackass who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants and keep you all to myself.” Cardin gaped at him, and Leortis barely resisted taking his mouth. Reminding himself that his mate wasn’t his, yet, he added, “And let me assure you, I will never do something so stupid as stray from your side.”
Cardin’s cheeks darkened to a scarlet hue, and he hunched his shoulders. “H-How did you know if you never talked to Stefan before?”
“I have exceptional hearing,” Leortis told his human. “And he whispered it to someone as we were entering the house.”
With his cheeks darkening further, Cardin cast an angry glare Stefan’s way. “Big mouth,” he muttered, hunching in on himself. “Never shoulda told him.”
“Don’t feel that way, beautiful,” Leortis countered, once again cradling Cardin’s jaw and using the hold to get him to tip his head back and meet his gaze. “Then I never would’ve met you.” As much as Leortis hated that his mate was hurting, over the years, he’d noticed how Fate worked in her own time. “Us meeting, definitely Fate.”
Cardin rolled his eyes, but at least his lips curved into a small smile. “Right. Fate.”
“Don’t believe in Fate?” Leortis asked curiously, arching one brow. “Why not?”
Gaping, Cardin stared up at him with wide eyes. “A-Are you serious?”
“I am.” Smiling while teasing his thumb along Cardin’s jaw, Leortis admitted, “I believe in Fate, destiny, and finding one’s soul mate.”
Cardin snapped his mouth shut and cocked his head. “Really?”
“I do.” Leortis watched Cardin once again nibble his bottom lip. Unable to help himself, he groaned under his breath. Using his thumb to tug the abused flesh from between Cardin’s teeth, Leortis muttered, “Do you have any idea what a tease that is to me?”
“Um, no,” Cardin whispered, his tone turning breathy.
Leortis growled softly, focusing his narrowed eyes on Cardin’s mouth