Phoenix Reborn (Alpha Pack, #7.5)(16)

“I don’t want to die, but you heard Nick,” he said, taking Noah’s shaking hands in his. “You believe me, believe in me, don’t you?”

“Of course I do! But—”

“No buts. Remember what Nick said, when the time comes. I don’t know what it is, but it sounds bad. Believe in me, and remember my gift.”

He was every bit as freaked as Noah. But when he saw the tears well up in his mate’s eyes and spill over, his only thought was comforting him. Quickly, he pulled Noah into his arms and kissed him.

“Ah, baby. It’ll be all right, you’ll see.”

“Nick’s visions always come true,” he replied with a sob. “I spent so many years wishing for somebody of my own to love. I can’t lose you now.”

“Hey, they come true, but not always exactly like he saw them. Micah was supposed to die, remember? But the course of events changed, and he didn’t.”

Belatedly, he realized what Noah had said—somebody to love. Does he love me?

“I know, but it still scares me.”

“Me too. But we’re not going to let this ruin our time together, you got that?” Tilting his mate’s face up, he gave him a searing kiss, soothing him by rubbing palm down his back.

“Okay,” he breathed.

“Good. Now let’s get that shower and get to dinner. That is, if you’re not too tired to go to the dining room?”

“No, I’m good. It will be great to rest after dinner, though,” he admitted.

That was a testament to just how exhausted his mate was, and Nix was afraid he’d pushed him too hard and worn him out. They’d made love twice, and gone for a long walk as well. Maybe it had all been too much.

Once back in Nix’s quarters, Nix undressed himself and his tired mate. Then he got the water warm, pulled him into the shower, and soaped him from head to toe. There was no messing around this time, though Nix could’ve been ready to go again with very little encouragement. This was a time to simply pamper his man. Out of the shower, he toweled Noah off, thinking how much he enjoyed this new sensation of taking care of his mate. Very much. Being concerned for his welfare, seeing to his needs, seemed as natural as breathing. He hoped every day it would get easier and he’d get over this irrational fear of being with a man in public.

Thanks, sperm donor. The bastard didn’t even deserve the title “father.”

“I still don’t have any clean clothes here,” Noah said suddenly. “Can we stop by my apartment?”

“Not a problem. In fact, why don’t we go get you a bag of stuff to keep here? You might as well stay here until we can figure out which quarters we’re gonna live in.”

Noah blinked at him. “Did you just ask me to move in with you?”

Nix hesitated, then said shyly, “Yeah, I suppose I did. You’re my mate, I like having you around, and I don’t plan on letting you go anywhere. What do you say?”

“As proposals go, it could use some work,” Noah said with a grin, “but yes, let’s get some of my stuff. I’ll stay with you until we decide.”

“Great!” Nix felt absurdly happy, and pulled Noah in for a kiss.

*

A few minutes later, that giddy feeling was gone, replaced by something like shock. Noah’s apartment looked like the inside of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, there were so many colors warring for attention.

“You like it?” Noah was regarding him eagerly.

“Um, baby, I hate to tell you this, but I’m going to be in charge of decorating.”

“But—”

“That’s final.”

Damn, he felt like he’d just kicked a puppy. Noah’s face fell as he regarded his living space.

“Well, I suppose it is a little loud.”

“Honey, this would give Freddy Krueger nightmares. Sorry.”

“Can I bring some of my pillows?”

Nix eyed the bright purple cushions like they were rattlesnakes. “We’ll see. You can help decorate, okay? But I still have final say.”

From his mate’s pleased grin, he figured he’d already lost the battle, and wondered just how awful those purple pillows were going to look on his nice brown leather sofa.

Ugh.

Packing didn’t take long, and he watched as Noah tossed clothes into a gym bag. Next came bottles of body wash and hair products Nix was certain cost more than his entire bathroom inventory.

He was going to have to ask Nick for a pay raise.

Last, Noah changed out of his dirty clothes, grabbed his bag, and they were ready to go. Nix took the bag from him and his mate didn’t protest, just looked at him like he’d hung the moon.

They dropped off the bag and headed on to dinner. When they reached the dining room, a lot of the others were already there. Noah tried to let go of his hand, but Nix held tight.

“I’m going to work on not hiding us in public.”

The smile that earned him was worth a million dollars.

Apparently Aric and the others from earlier had already spread the word, which was fine by Nix. Saved them both from having to repeat themselves. As they sat at a table with Blue, Kalen, and Kalen’s mate, Mackenzie, Nix steeled himself to endure the congrats and backslaps, which weren’t long in coming. But he didn’t know what to say when several people showed curiosity about why he and Noah hadn’t officially mated.