Demon Warriors 1: Hondo (9 page)

“No,” Chris sobbed as he squirmed around. “It’s not me. Snooke needs help. He jumped in the way and took the blast. He saved me.” Hondo was stunned. He held on to Chris as he pulled his cell phone out. “Phoenyx, I need you over on Broadview by the dry cleaners. Chris’s friend is badly hurt.”

“I don’t understand. He’s a neutralizer. How could he be hurt?” Chris cried.

“Even the strong can’t take too many hits before they take their toll, baby.” Hondo tried his best to comfort his mate. Phoenyx appeared from the side of the building, walking over to Snooke and kneeling down.

“Help him, please,” Chris whimpered. “He’s my friend.”

“I’ll help him, buddy.” Phoenyx leaned forward and let one single teardrop fall onto the open and ugly wound smoldering on Snooke’s back. Hondo was always in awe of the demon’s healing powers. He watched as Snooke’s back began to close, the charred skin turning pink with pucker and then smoothing over to look as though he had never been harmed.

“Thanks.” Hondo tilted his head toward the warrior. His feelings were conflicting inside of him. Did he misjudge the man? Had he been too hasty in declaring Snooke a spy simply because he had been a jealous man? The demon saved his mate’s life. Would someone of ill character do something like that?

“Let’s get him home.” Kane bent down and pulled Snooke up into his arms. “Where does he live?” he turned and asked Chris.

Chris wiped at his eyes, shaking his head. “I don’t know. You can take him to my house.”

“I’ll take care of the guy on the ground.” Phoenyx nodded behind Hondo. “You two take care of Chris and Snooke.” Phoenyx smiled. “I like his name.”

Hondo clapped the warrior on the back as he and Kane walked over to Chris’s house, carrying the two tired and battle-ridden men.

“Do you know who he was?” he asked his mate as he opened the front door with the key Chris handed him.

“No. Snooke and I were coming from King Wings when he yelled for us to run. I don’t know who he is or why he was after us.” Hondo watched as Kane lay Snooke down gently onto the sofa, checking the rest of his body for any more injuries. Hondo left Kane to his task as he carried Chris upstairs. “Do you think he could be working with Leam? Did he say anything to you?” Chris shook his head as he rolled over once Hondo set him down on the bed. “Nothing, he didn’t say a word, just kept blasting at us.” Hondo kicked his shoes off and crawled in next to Chris, pulling his mate close and molding him to his body. “How are you holding up, baby?”

Hondo could feel his slim mate’s body shaking. He wanted to go find the jerk and make him pay for scaring the living daylights out of his lover.

Chris began to softly cry in Hondo’s arms. “I thought he was going to die.” He clutched Hondo’s shirt. “I thought I wouldn’t get a chance to thank him for being my friend and for saving me.”

“He’s fine now, baby. Kane is looking after him.” Hondo gently rocked Chris in his arms, kissing his head, as he wished he could take his mate’s pain away.

He lay there holding Chris for a long time, even after the demon fell asleep. Hondo thought of all the decades they had been friends, of all the fun they had together. He could have lost his best friend this evening, and that scared the hell out of him.

Chris was his mate, but to Hondo, that took a backseat to their friendship. His love for his buddy was strong, and tonight, he realized that he was falling in love with the speedster as well.

* * * *

Chris sat on Hondo’s couch as he listened to the warriors talk. He found out absolutely nothing.

“Even after I threatened him with the detention cell…no dice. The guy was tight-lipped. Wouldn’t give me a name or tell me why he was after Chris,” Phoenyx said as he threw his arm over the back of the couch and slouched down.

“Who went with you?” Kane asked.

“Rainerio and Wayland. I couldn’t get in touch with Takeo. I think he’s seeing someone in the human realm.” Kane pushed back onto the two back legs of the kitchen chair he had brought into the living room. Chris was amazed at how the warrior could keep his balance, considering Kane was just as large as Hondo.

“Takeo’s slapping skin somewhere. He has to be. The guy’s hardly around here and never answers his cell phone.” Kane rocked the chair back and forth, as if it were made for such an action.

“What about Snooke? You say he just took off?” Chris asked. He was baffled by that news. Considering what had happened, he thought Snooke would stick around for a while.

“Yeah. I went to the can, and when I came out, no Snooke,” Kane said with a slightly resentful tone. Chris looked up at the warrior’s face, wondering if Kane was starting to like his friend the same way Snooke liked Kane.

“The adrenaline probably hadn’t worn off,” Hondo said as he sat on the couch and pulled Chris onto his lap. “He’ll be back.”

“You two look good together.” Phoenyx smiled over at them.

“Who would have thought our Chris was a mate to one of us.” Chris laid his head on Hondo’s chest, inhaling his mate’s scent.

He felt off-kilter since the fight and needed grounding.

“Did you find Torky and Ace Boogey?” Hondo asked as his thumb played over Chris’s arm.

“Those two.” Phoenyx rolled his eyes. “I had to chase them down.

Ace thought I was there to take him down for gambling behind the apartment building. Like I give a shit about that.”

“What happened?” Chris sat slightly forward.

“Used the shadows and cut him off. He wasn’t a happy camper.

Got even ornerier when I told him what Panahasi wanted.” He smiled.

Chris jumped when Kane fell backwards, hitting the floor hard.

Hondo and Phoenyx began to laugh, his mate’s chest vibrating with laughter. Chris leaned forward to see if Kane was okay.

Kane jumped up and quickly brushed himself off. “I’m good.” Chris started to laugh when he saw the warrior was unharmed.

“You’re too big to use that chair that way,” Chris teased.

“Nah, just lost concentration.” Kane knelt and began to pick up the broken pieces of wood. “I’ll replace this for you.”

“You can break them all if you do that again,” Hondo continued to rib Kane about his clumsiness. Chris had a suspicion he knew where the warrior’s brain was.

Mr. Snooke had some explaining to do…when they found him.

* * * *

Chris zipped around Hondo, excitement bursting from every pore.

“Where are you taking me? Is it to Devil Mart for their weekly sale?” He tried his best to make his mate spill the beans.

“No.”

“Is it Bernard’s Buybacks? I need more DVDs.”

“No.”

“I know, I know. You’re taking me to Eryk’s Electronics, right? I really could use another universal remote.” He spun around and started speed walking backwards, staring up into Hondo’s ox-blood eyes, begging with his for a hint.

“No.”

Chris racked his brain trying to figure out where Hondo could be taking him. The warrior’s hand shot out and grabbed Chris right before he ran into a passerby. The vampire sneered at Chris and kept walking his two-headed poodle. “I want a pet.”

“I hear they’re a big responsibility. Weigh the pros and cons before making a hasty decision, babe.” Hondo spun Chris around, making him walk forward again as they turned from Broadview Avenue onto West 39th.

“The Pancake House.” Chris jumped around thrilled. “Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, all you can eat pancake Thursday. Yippy!” Chris had to slow down so he wouldn’t leave Hondo behind. They made a left on Creston Road and then another left on Huff.

Chris grabbed Hondo’s hand, pulling his mate to walk faster as they neared the restaurant.

“I’m coming, Chris. Slow down, the place isn’t going anywhere.” Hondo laughed.

“It’s been ages since I’ve been here.”

“We were just here two weeks ago.” Hondo pulled Chris into the crook of his arms and squeezed him to his body before releasing him.

“That’s ages to a pancake-aholic.” Chris ran and opened the door, tapping his foot impatiently as Hondo took his time. He must have seen how Chris was acting because Hondo slowed down, as if using Chris’s powers backward. He rolled his eyes, ready to pull the lug-head in if he didn’t stop goofing around. “Hondo,” Chris whined from the door.

“I’ll stop torturing you.” He grinned as he walked through the door. The aroma hit Chris as soon as he walked into the place. His mouth watered for blueberry syrup with buckwheat pancakes.

“You can sit anywhere,” the waiter said as he hurried by them.

“Your choice, babe.” Hondo followed behind Chris as they made their way to the back. All eyes tracked their every movement. It was always that way when the warriors went somewhere. None of the citizens of Serenity City knew a lot about the Demon Warriors, and all were curious. Chris understood why Hondo became upset when Snooke was asking, but Snooke was his friend. Chris just had one of those gut feelings that he could trust him.

They also sat in the back because Hondo liked to have his back to the wall, keeping an eye on everyone. Chris guessed he would be paranoid too if demons gone bad were always trying to kill him.

“Can I start you off with something to drink?” the waiter asked as he approached their table. Good god, could they get seated first? Talk about a fan base.

“I’ll have an orange juice,” Hondo said as he sat down. The waiter smiled and turned to leave.

“Uh, hello, I haven’t ordered anything yet,” Chris pointed out tersely.

“Yes?” the waiter turned back around, a slight attitude in his voice. Chris wanted to take the glass of water from the table and toss it in the guy’s face. He’d seen that on television once and was dying to try it. If this snob kept it up, he just might get the chance.

“I’ll have the same,” Chris growled under his breath when the waiter rolled his eyes and walked away. “He must be new. I haven’t seen him here before.”

“Hmm,” Hondo said as he sipped at the water.

“Did you not see how he just treated me?” Chris put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his hands. He wasn’t a fussy person, but bad service was bad service.
Let’s see if I leave a tip. That’ll teach
him.

“Relax, babe. We’re here to have a good time.” Hondo ran his knuckle down the side of Chris’s face, smiling adoringly at him.

Chris let out a sigh. “I will.” He leaned into Hondo’s touch, relishing the feel of his mate’s warm fingers against his skin. Chris scooted closer, looking up at Hondo and trying to give his best come-hither look that he could muster.

“Your face looks pinched. Are you in pain?” Hondo stopped caressing his face, a look of concern in his eyes.

Guess that didn’t work out so well.
“No, I’m fine.” Damn, Hondo had him so wound tight that he was making come-on moves in a Pancake House. Chris leaned back and took a deep breath, trying to deflate his throbbing cock.

He had an itch, and as soon as they were done here, Hondo was going to scratch it.

The waiter came over with their drinks, handing Hondo a menu with a hooded glance, tossing Chris’s on the table without looking at him. Chris picked it up, ignoring the rude man. The only thing that saved Hondo’s hide was the fact his mate seemed oblivious to the flirting. He sat there looking at his menu as the jackass took the hint and stomped off in a snit.

Chris wasn’t sure if he should get pissed or laugh at the situation.

“I’m ready to order.” Hondo sat the menu down, looking around the restaurant as Chris made up his mind. He didn’t know why he bothered to look at a menu. He knew it by heart.

“Me, too.”

Hondo held his hand up for the waiter who seemed to be waiting eagerly behind the counter. The man rushed over to the table, pad and pen in hand.

This was going to be a long breakfast.

Hondo let out a belch as he and Chris leisurely walked hand in hand back to his apartment. Those pancakes hit the spot. A nap was in order now.

As they walked through the neighborhoods, Hondo inhaled deeply, listening to the sounds of people out on their porches having a good time. Kids played football in the streets, while others strolled along walking their pets. It was a peaceful time of day.

“I want to stop and get a new movie.” Chris tugged on Hondo’s hand.

“To Bernard’s it is then.” Hondo was just about to open the door for Chris when he spotted Falcon coming out of his bank. The reason this caught his attention was because Leam came out behind him.

Hondo quickly ushered Chris into the store, watching the pair from behind a rack of videos. What in the hell were those two doing together?

“What’s wrong, Hondo?” Chris asked from beside him.

Thankfully his mate hadn’t spotted Leam. The demon would be in a tizzy right now.

“Nothing, babe. Why don’t you go pick out a movie for us to watch?” He turned back around once Chris nodded and walked off.

Hondo tilted his head when he noticed the pair in a heated debate. He pulled his cell phone out and snapped a couple of pictures, and then stuffed it back into his pocket.

“Found one,” Chris shoved the case in his face, wanting Hondo to see the damn case when it was sitting on his nose. He glanced outside and saw the pair had disappeared.

“Looks good.” Grabbing the case, Hondo quickly paid for the movie and got Chris out of there before Leam spotted them. He was not in the mood to fight right now.

Hondo’s cock did a happy dance at the thought of being inside of Chris again. Man how things changed in such a short period of time.

“I want to pop some popcorn and maybe even have some hot chocolate.”

This made Hondo take notice. “Let me see that movie.” He wiggled his fingers until Chris extracted it from the bag and handed it over.

“
Lovers in the Night
?” Fuck, Chris had gotten him. Hondo was so busy paying attention to Falcon and Leam that he hadn’t really looked at the movie Chris has shoved in his face. This was going to be grueling.

“But you said that it looked good.” Chris grabbed the movie and stuffed it back in the bag. “Don’t you want to watch it with me?” The disappointment in Chris’s voice tore at Hondo. They’d never in a hundred years watched a chick flick before. It must be a mate thing. “Of course I want to watch it with you.” Hondo hoped Chris couldn’t see the truth on his face. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his feelings.