Astrid's Wish (7 page)

“No shit?”

50 AJ

Jarrett

“No shit. I need you to send Carter. He’s the only one I trust to piece together Astrid’s memories and maybe see things that Astrid has forgotten.”

“Fine. I’ll endure his evil stares and smart mouth just for you,”

Carlos whined.

“I appreciate it, friend.” Klaus took a deep breath. “Another thing, don’t tell anyone. Keep this between us. I don’t want the council catching wind of him and I being mates. I wouldn’t put it past Benedict to question my judgment and send out another interrogator, and I will not subject Astrid to one of those cruel assholes.”

“Umm, aren’t you one of those cruel assholes?” Carlos teased.

“Fuck you, Carlos.” Klaus chuckled into the phone. “But seriously, I tried to deny this mating bond at first, but hell, Carlos, I can’t. When I’m around him, I can’t think. I can barely string two thoughts together. It’s the weirdest feeling ever.”

Just talking about Astrid had his heart beating double time in his chest. A light sweat covered his palms. All he wanted to do was go find Astrid and sit and cuddle the man in his arms, never letting him go.

The truth of what he felt for Astrid hit him like a ton of bricks, leaving him momentarily speechless. “Dear god, I think I’m falling in love with him already.”

“I’ve heard it said that is what happens when one finds their mate.

Try not to freak out too much. Fate never seems to get it wrong. I’m happy for you. Congratulations, man”

Klaus smiled. “Thanks, Carlos.”

When he disconnected the call he went in search of Ben. He had to tell him they would be having another guest, a guest that planned on combing through Astrid’s mind in search of information for the council.

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Astrid wandered along the hallway in a daze. He just had his first real kiss, and it was amazing. Even now, just thinking about Klaus’s firm lips on his caused his penis to stiffen. The sensations that flowed from Klaus to him were indescribable. He would have to rank Klaus’s kiss up there with his love for ice cream, only better.

He headed toward Miles’s room, wanting to ask his friend about him being Klaus’s mate and what that meant. As he got closer, he could hear Miles and Trevor talking.

“Do you ever get the feeling we’re a bunch of bottoms among a shitload of tops?

Miles began to giggle. “I would have to agree with that, cuz.”

Astrid stood outside Miles’s door and watched the two men fold the laundry while sitting on the bed. He was curious to what they were talking about. “What are ups and downs?” Astrid asked the two men.

The laughter died, and the room became so quiet a piece of fuzz could have hit the carpet and Astrid would have heard it land.

Miles looked to Trevor, and Trevor turned to him.

“Astrid, sweetie, I didn’t hear you come in,” Miles said as he motioned for him to have a seat on the bed. “Here, have a seat.”

Once he was seated on the bed he looked up at Miles. “So, what are ups and downs?”

“You mean tops and bottoms,” Trevor corrected him.

Miles’s eye shot daggers in Trevor’s direction. “We were talking about, umm…” Miles’s voice trailed off.

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“Sex,” Trevor said as he flopped down on the bed. He positioned his arms behind his head and relaxed into the mattress.

“Oh, what about it?” Astrid asked eagerly. Every time someone started to talk about sex, they would stop once they realized he was in the room. He wasn’t a child. He wanted to be part of the conversation, too.

“Nothing,” Miles said in a rush.

“For fuck’s sake,” Trevor shouted to the ceiling as he threw his hands in the air. “You people need to stop treating him like a baby.”

Astrid nodded his agreement. He understood why everyone treated him like he would break at the first sign of distress, but he wouldn’t. And now, more than ever, he wanted to know more about sex. Strange desires burned within him, and he needed to understand it. Astrid needed guidance into the world of making love, because what Lucian made him do wasn’t love.

“You really want to talk about this?” He nodded, and Miles let out a defeated sigh. “See, when two men are together, one usually…one usually…” Miles looked to Trevor for help.

An evil grin played across Trevor’s lips. “Astrid, buddy, basically what he’s trying to say is usually one’s the giver, and one’s the receiver. And let me tell you, the receiving is always so much better.”

Astrid shifted his attention back to Miles for a better explanation.

“What he is trying to say is one man penetrates the other with his penis, and the other opens his body for the invasion. With proper care given, the man taking the penis feels no pain.” Miles started to count his recommendations off on his fingers. “First, lube should always be used, and some stretching done before penetration is a must as well.

Second, being on your hands and knees is a more comfortable way to start out for the partner taking the penis. Third, deep breaths help with the little bit of pain you may feel.”

“Oh my god. You just made my dick shrivel up with that checklist.” Trevor sat forward. “Miles, you make sex sound so clinical and impersonal.” He turned his attention to Astrid. “Astrid, Miles
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brought up some good points and things that should be followed prior to having sex.”

Trevor climbed off the bed. He sat on the floor directly in front of Astrid. “Sex is also about emotions and your body feeling pleasure.

When you’re with someone that you care about, the sex is incredible.”

Trevor’s eyes fluttered shut. “You feel a burning in your gut, and the only thing that will soothe that ache is connecting with another person.” Trevor blinked open his eyes. “The need to be with the man you desire above all others sets your skin on fire with the need to touch and to be touched.”

Both he and Miles sat stunned at Trevor’s eloquently spoken words. Astrid had never known the man to speak from the heart or show any serious emotions, really.

“Trevor, I must say that was one of the sweetest things I think I’ve ever heard you say,” Miles said to his cousin.

“Thanks. I’m not a total douche. I do have feelings, too, ya know.”

Astrid thought about what Trevor said. He felt like he had a scorching inferno inside him whenever near Klaus. He wanted things he’d never wanted before. The need to please wasn’t being forced on him, and he knew deep down Klaus would never hurt him intentionally. He wanted to feel Klaus’s strong fingers on him, touching him, loving him.

A tear sprang to his eye. How could he say “love”? He wasn’t worthy of love after all the things Lucian had done to him, who would want to be near him intimately? He was damaged in more ways than one.

“Oh, sweetie, why the waterworks?” Miles wrapped him in a warm embrace.

Astrid tried to speak, but the lump in his throat kept choking him up. Tears burned like lava down his face. “I’m no good.” His words were muffled from gasping for breath. It hurt to know he wasn’t worthy of Klaus’s attention, let alone his love.

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Jarrett

“What are you talking about? Of course you’re good. You’re one of the sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever met.” Miles wiped the tears from Astrid’s cheeks.

“After what Lucian did to me, no one will ever want me. I’m dirty.” He buried his face in his hands, unable to see the disgust on his friends’ faces.

“No!” Trevor bellowed as he jumped to his feet, scaring both him and Miles. “You were victimized. You didn’t ask for what happened to you. If anyone is dirty, it’s that sick fuck. He forced things on you that you didn’t deserve, and it’s a miracle that you came out of that house of horrors alive.”

“Trev’s right. Astrid, sweetie, you are a sweet, innocent soul. If anyone deserves love and happiness, it’s you.”

Astrid let Miles pull his hands away from his face. The sincere smiles on their faces reassured him that they meant what they said.

“You think I can have what I want?” he asked. He wanted his friends’ honest opinions. Did he have a chance with a man like Klaus or not?

“Well, that depends. What exactly do you want, Astrid?” Trevor asked. His eyebrows raised high on his forehead in question.

“Klaus,” Astrid whispered.

“Are you out of your mind? Miles shouted. “You barely know the guy. I’m sorry, Astrid, but I don’t think he’s the man for you, at least not yet.” Miles crossed his arms over his chest. He looked so upset, Astrid could practically see the smoke curling up out of his ears.

“Miles, it’s not your decision.” Trevor sat down next to Astrid. He examined him with a cool stare. Astrid started to squirm under the pressure. “Astrid, just for shits and giggles, can you tell us why you want Klaus?”

He couldn’t explain it really. All Astrid knew was that he felt the burning feeling in his gut like Trevor described. Part of him recognized Klaus like he knew him all his life, a connection with
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another person he never knew existed. A sense of belonging engulfed him when in the presence of the older witch.

“Because we’re mates.”

Miles released an aspirated sigh. “Did Klaus tell you that? That son of a bitch.”

“No, Miles.” Astrid shook his head frantically. “I mean, yes he said that word, but it’s something else that calls me to him. I–I–I feel him here,” Astrid stuttered as he brought a hand to rest in the center of his chest.

“You tell him about this mate business, or I swear I will. And we both know how terrible I am with words,” Trevor said.

Miles closed his eyes. He took a few deep breaths. When he opened them he appeared to be a little less upset. “Astrid, you know how Ben and I are a couple, right?” He nodded. “Well, in the paranormal world that’s called being mates. Fate has picked you two to be together. In all rights, you were made for one another.”

Astrid gathered from Miles’s sullen look he wasn’t happy about this development. But why? If fate wanted him with Klaus, shouldn’t his friends be happy for him, too? Maybe Miles thought him unclean and unworthy of Klaus’s love. “I was right, then. You think I’m not good enough for him?”

“Oh, sweetie, no.” Miles laughed softly. “It’s actually the other way around. I don’t think he’s good enough for you.”

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Astrid, Klaus is so much older than you. He is going to want things I just don’t think you’re ready for. This mating bond blinds you to everything else. The urge to mate consumes you, and I just think you still need more time to heal without the pressure to have sex right now.”

“That, and you think Klaus will take Astrid away from us,” Trevor said from his side of the bed.

“What do you mean?” Astrid asked.

56 AJ

Jarrett

“Sweetie, Klaus works for the council. That means he travels a lot, and if you’re mated to him, he’ll take you with him.” Miles’s voice cracked as he started to cry. “He’ll take you from us.”

Astrid started to cry, too. He curled his smaller frame into Miles’s side, clinging to the only family he had ever known. He wanted Klaus, but he also wanted the family he created with Miles and the other warriors.

“Come on you two,” Trevor said as he hugged them from behind.

“Just because Astrid has found his mate doesn’t necessarily mean he will travel with Klaus all the time. From just meeting the guy once, I’d bet some serious cash that if he had a mission to go on that he thought was dangerous, he would leave Astrid with us.” Trevor shrugged. “Plus, you dorks, there’s always cell phones, e-mail, text, and Skype. Even when we’re not under the same roof, we’re never more than a call away.”

Astrid could see the glossy sheen of tears Miles tried to hold back.

He didn’t want to upset anyone, but he had to be true to himself and what he wanted, and he wanted Klaus.

“Is this really what you want, little man?” Miles asked.

Astrid nodded his head. For once he got to decide what he wanted.

To make that decision felt really good. It was a start on taking control of his life. But he still needed his good friend’s guidance.

He nervously chewed on the inside of his cheek. It was embarrassing to be a hundred and thirteen years old and not have a clue on how to make love the proper way. No forcing and no beating until someone submitted, like the way he had been taught. He needed to know what to expect from a lover and what was expected of him.

“What’s wrong, little man?” Trevor asked as he ruffled his hand through Astrid’s hair.

“Can you show me how to get Klaus to sleep with me?” Astrid stumbled over his words. His face heated as if he were standing directly in front of the sun. He feared he might melt into the pretty beige carpet.

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“Umm, yeah. Miles, a little help please.” Trevor shifted uncomfortably as he looked toward his cousin for help.

“Trevor, he’s not asking you to have sex with him. So calm down.” Miles turned to Astrid. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?

It’s quite a big step.”

Astrid nodded his head. He understood their concerns, but he couldn’t stay away from Klaus even if he tried. All his nerve endings felt raw. Not being with Klaus caused him pain.

“Okay then.” Miles smiled. “Trevor, let’s give Astrid here a little crash course in seduction.”

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Klaus had informed Ben of the witch coming to visit. Ben even agreed it was for the best. With him and Astrid being mates, it would be hard to question him and not get emotionally involved.

After leaving the war room, he headed straight for his room.

Exhaustion made his bones ache with every step he took. It seemed like hours had passed, not minutes, when he finally reached his bedroom door. The house was so large it was like walking around in a maze. He never knew where he would end up.

Turning the knob, he stepped into the darkened room. He removed his shirt without even flipping on the light. He was tired and didn’t want the bright shine of the overhead light.