Redemption (Rogue Nation MC #1)

18. Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Theo

I should have never let the bowls sit in the sink overnight. Damn dried ice cream had to be the hardest thing to scrape out without damaging the dish. A bit of hot water and letting them soak helped, but not enough apparently. I heard the click of the front door, and I called out to Owen. “Owen, where did you go? Mako has coffee here. No need to go downstairs, it’s all made. Grab a cup.” I turned off the water and placed the dishes in the dishwasher. Wiping my hands on the towel, I froze. That smell… it wasn’t Owen.

“Don’t mind if I have a cup. I never got mine before. The almighty sprite reamed me a new asshole. Little fucker got me out of bed just to yell at me… about you, no less.” I couldn’t even turn and look at him. All I could see was the look of hurt on his face when he turned his back on me yesterday.

“Why would he yell at you about me? I can stand up for myself, you know.” No part of me was really offended. Owen stood up for me like a loyal friend, and it made me love him for it. “Is he alright? Is he in trouble for yelling at you? Please don’t be upset with him. He did it for me. I’ll take his punishment if I need to.” I heard Mako’s boots scuff across the floor and suddenly he was standing so close to me.

He reached over my shoulder into the cabinet, pressing his chest against my back. As he picked up his cup, he leaned into me and whispered in my ear, “No one’s in trouble and no one’s getting punished. Unless you want me to punish you… do you want me to punish you, baby? Just how bad were you last night?” With that, he licked the shell of my ear and my whole body shuddered. I couldn’t breathe. So, I leaned back into his chest and a deep moan escaped me.

Placing one hand on my hip and using the other to put the cup on the counter, Mako turned me to face him. I looked at his chest because I couldn’t bear to see the hurt still in his eyes. A tear ran down my cheek and he used his free hand to wipe it away. He put his finger under my chin and tried to pull my face up to look him in the eyes. I just shook my head and closed my eyes. “I’m so sorry Mako, I never meant to hurt you. Before you left, I tried to explain. I’d never reject you. It’s all new to me. I didn’t know.” I tried my best to hold in the sob and failed.

“Nope, we’re not gonna do this through tears, baby. The one who is sorry is me. I got stuff in my past that reared its ugly head and caused me to doubt both of us. I sorted it out and I’ve no intention of letting you reject me.” After opening my eyes, I looked into his. I saw no pain. Only love and understanding. For me. Owen was right. He was mine, and I was his.

Reaching up, I put my arms around his neck. “I know we need to talk, but will you kiss me, Mako? I missed you more than I thought possible.” He wrapped his arms around me and consumed my mouth. Starting slowly and softly, growing more firm by the second. By the time I parted my lips and let him in, he was growling possessively from his chest.

As quickly as it started, it ended, leaving me breathless and leaning on the counter to stay upright. Goddess, my mate could kiss. “You’re right, we need to talk. If we keep this up, the only talking that’s gonna happen is you screaming my name while I’m buried in you.” He grabbed the cup from the counter and went to the coffeepot.

I shrugged one shoulder and mumbled, “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”

“I heard that, and I wholeheartedly agree, so we need to get this out of the way.” Taking my hand, he pulled me over to the sofa and into his lap. “Need you here, need to touch you.”

I turned in his lap so I could lean into his shoulder and look him in the face. “Owen explained to me a bit of shifter history and about fated mates. Everything in my soul tells me you’re mine and I’m yours. I just don’t know what to do about it. I don’t think I want to live without you and I’m not sure I can stay in this town with the Mossdales here. I don’t think they’ll ever let me go, even if I offer to sign over everything I’ll have. Please tell me you have an idea.”

“I do, baby, and it doesn’t involve you losing anything, including me. I KNOW you’re my fated and that scared the shit out of me last night. There’s stuff I need to tell you about my past. It’s not all good, but it’s stuff you need to know before you decide if you want to be tied to me for life. You willing to listen?” I kissed his cheek and nodded. “Well, first off, I hate myself for it, but you’re not the first man I’ve ever been in love with.” My breath hitched. “Nope, it happened years and years ago, baby. It’s long over and done with.”

“Where is he now?” I needed to know if some man was going to return and try to rekindle Mako’s feelings for him. My heart couldn’t take it.

“I don’t know. I’ve had Gates looking for him for years and as good as he is, he’s never been able to find where he went.” My heart squeezed tight in my chest.

“Why look for him if he left you?” I needed to know.

“Well, what happened is…” The longer Mako talked, the angrier I got. By the time he finished his story, my fists were balled in rage, and I was ready to take it upon myself to find this Pacey fucker and destroy him. “Calm down baby, Pacey better hope I find him before Bear does. I’ll just end him quickly. Bear would make him suffer in unimaginable ways before he let him die. Then he’d try to revive him so he could do it again and again.” He let out a laugh.

“Well, I wasn’t completely sure, but now I’m positive I like Bear. Him and me could be great friends.” I giggled into his chest.

“Yeah, if you woulda seen Owen going after me this morning, you’d think you have your own Bear wrapped in a tiny package. That boy was vicious. I was a little scared.” I giggled even harder. “Bear’s more than my friend though baby, Bear is my brother in every way but blood. We’ve been together since 6th grade.”

I thought on that a moment. “Is he another fated to you?” Not that I had seen any attraction when he spoke of Bear or when they were around one another.

“Nope, nothing like that. We’ve been apart for weeks at a time and there is no pull beyond missing his friendship. Pacey tried his hardest to drive a wedge between us for a while. Bear never liked him and never trusted him.” So, Bear was just my mate’s best friend. I’d make him one of mine, too. I prayed to the goddess that he liked me. “I see that look on your face. Bear is gonna love you. Not as much as I do, of course, but almost as much.”

Shock hit my senses, and I froze. “Y-y-you love me?” Running his hand along my jaw, he nodded his head, and I cried.

“Baby, I’m sorry. I know it’s too soon, but it’s how I feel, and I’ll hide nothing from you. I won’t say it again until you’re ready to hear it, I promise.” I couldn’t speak. I just cried and shook my head. “Calm down Theo, it’s gonna be OK, baby. Breathe for me. In and out, in and out. That’s it.” Slowly, I calmed enough to speak.

“Ten years Mako. It’s been ten years since anyone said that to me. Poppy was the last one to say it to me before he died. I know it’s fast, maybe too fast, but… I love you too. I think I did the first time you kissed me.” He kissed me again. There was no gentle this time. It was deep and rough. He was pushing every bit of love into his lips and tongue. “Show me Eddie, show me how much you love me.” I moaned between breaths.

“Theodore Mossdale, if I show you, it won’t be gentle. I’m not sure I can hold back. I’m going to claim you and make you mine.” Well then, he made his intentions clear.

I pulled away and shook my head at him. “Not a Mossdale, never felt like one. I’m a, wait, what’s your last name?” I cocked my head to the side and giggled. We were doing this backwards, but it felt right.

“Sharkey, Edward Sharkey.” He licked a trail up the side of my neck.

“Hmm, Theodore Sharkey… I like it. I think you need to make it official. Make me yours Edward Sharkey.” He growled and pushed me back onto the sofa, landing on top of me.