Keata's Promise [Brac Pack 7] (5 page)

“Then let’s go eat.” Cody stood with Keata in his arms, and his heart was lighter, taking him down to the kitchen. He knew his mate had skipped dinner, and Cody wasn’t going to have him want for anything.

He sat Keata in one of the chairs and pulled out the chicken strips from the freezer. Cody had learned that Keata loved them. He wasn’t the best cook in the world—he actually sucked at it—but he could fry them.

Cody moved around the kitchen, aware Keata watched his every move. Yeah, he showed off his prowess a little. He flexed more than he should have and hitched his hip to the side, seeing Keata staring at his ass. Cody reached up into the cupboard and flexed his biceps, smiling when he heard Keata’s breath hitch.

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“Here you go, babe.” Cody placed the plate in front of him. He sat down next to his mate and cut his strips up, feeding them to him.

“I not a baby.” Keata pouted.

Cody smiled, looking Keata up and down. “No baby, for sure.” He growled softly as he leaned in to kiss Keata.

Keata pouted at Cody as he leaned back and stuck his hand up to stop him. “No. I say no earn.”

“Okay.” Cody relented. “Can I kiss you at least?” Keata eyed him warily. “You try to trick me?”

“Promise, I’m not.” Cody crossed his heart.

Keata nodded. “Only kiss. I watch sneaky hands,” he warned.

Cody pulled Keata into his arms, cupping his face. Cody hesitated.

He didn’t want to rush this knowing his mate was innocent. Would this be his first kiss?

“Keata, have you kissed before?”

“No.” Keata blushed as he leaned is head back and puckered his lips. Cody’s heart swelled. He was just too damn adorable. He leaned forward as he lightly traced his tongue across Keata’s puckered mouth.

Keata gasped.

“You like?” Cody felt his mate shake. His cock jerked, and Cody had to remind himself that Keata was only allowing a kiss.

Down, boy.

“Uh-huh.” Keata’s eyes were still closed, his head tilted back.

Cody could devour him. He was too damn pretty, lickable, suckable, and edible.

Keata held his hands in front of him, almost fisted in a prayer.

Cody watched as Keata slowly opened his eyes.

“More?” he breathed in a hushed whisper.

Cody ran his hand down Keata’s neck, laying a soft kiss to his lips, hovering close to feel Keata’s warm breath caress him.

“More?” Keata asked again.

Cody smiled then ran his tongue across Keata’s teeth. When Keata
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gasped, Cody thrust his tongue in, exploring Keata’s sweetness.

“What the hell is going on in here, Keata?” Cody growled as his arms wrapped around his little man.

“Don’t growl at my mate, Cody,” Storm warned him.

“Then tell him not to yell at mine,” Cody snapped.

Storm and Kyoshi stood there with shock written all over their faces.

“You? You’re his mate?” Kyoshi’s expression turned from shock to anger, his face twisting up menacingly. “I thought you were fucking Jasper,” he hissed.

Cody stood so fast the chair clamored to the floor. “I haven’t touched Jazz since Keata walked through the front door.”

“Let him go!” Kyoshi stepped forward, but Storm grabbed his arm, pulling him back.

“No, dragonfly. It is forbidden to come between mates.” Storm looked down at his mate sadly.

“No, Keata. Don’t,” Kyoshi begged.

Keata clung to Cody. “Stormy eyes, take Kyoshi,” Keata pleaded.

“If you hurt him, I will personally become your worst nightmare, Cody.” Storm’s face filled with angry promise.

Cody was pissed but knew they had a right to be angry. He had waited too many months, dodged Keata at every turn. All he could do was prove to everyone his intentions were true. He loved Keata, loved him the moment he laid eyes on him. Now all he had to do was convince Keata, and the rest would fall into place.

Cody inclined his head. “Never. I was a fool once. Never again.” Storm nodded, but his eyes told Cody that he would be watching him.

Cody grabbed Keata’s plate then walked out of the kitchen with his mate still clinging to the front of him. He took Keata to his room, set the plate down on the dresser, and sat in the window seat. He wasn’t ready to let his mate go just yet, so he held him in his arms.

“More?” Keata pushed up from Cody’s chest, puckering his lips.

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Cody was amazed Keata still wanted to kiss after the explosion in the kitchen. He ran his fingers through the satin hair, relishing the softness. Cody pulled Keata up to sit straight.

“You kiss me?” Cody wanted Keata to have a little more confidence with touching and exploring him.

Keata pulled Cody’s head toward him, running his tongue across Cody’s lips, mimicking what Cody had done downstairs. Cody moaned as his eyes closed. He was going to have a lot of jack off sessions until Keata agreed to let him claim him. Having Keata kiss him was pure eroticism. He fought against his canines descending, the urge to claim his mate was getting stronger the longer he touched and kissed Keata.

“More?” Cody mimicked Keata’s word.

Keata smiled and deepened the kiss, his tongue sweeping into Cody’s mouth. Cody could feel Keata’s erection, and that only made his throb harder in his jeans.

Breaking the kiss, Keata stared into his eyes. “I like.” He smiled shyly.

“Good. I want more.” Cody sipped at his lips as his hands ran up and down Keata’s sides. If kissing was all he was allowed right now, he was going to become a master at it. His lips would be permanently attached to Keata’s.

His mate pushed at Cody’s chest, his eyes becoming frightened.

“What’s wrong?” All they were doing was kissing. Cody wasn’t pressuring him for anything more. His eyes scanned the room. They were still alone. He listened, but it was silent. So what had his mate so afraid?

“Nothing.” Keata lowered his head, his face turning red.

Was Keata embarrassed about his erection? That was the only thing Cody could think of. Keata was trying to hide it by placing his hands on his lap.

“Don’t. You’re supposed to feel that way with me.” Cody grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands away, kissing each one, and then laid
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them on his chest.

“I no understand.” Keata turned his head to the side, glancing at the floor.

“You will,” Cody promised, running the back of his hand down Keata’s beautiful face.

* * * *

Keata skipped down the steps. He carried the necklaces in his hand that he had made for the mates. He hoped they liked them. Keata had worked hard on them and was excited to surprise the mates with his gifts.

Keata thought about Cody and the kissing they had done. Okay, so he gave in a little too easily. Who wouldn’t with a man as handsome as his mate? The manly smell had driven him crazy, and Keata was now addicted to those soft lips.

That didn’t mean Cody was out of the cat house yet. He had a lot of making up to do, and Keata would make sure Cody kissed him as a part of his punishment. He giggled at his silly thoughts.

He rounded the corner into the den when Kyoshi stopped him.

“Has Cody claimed you?” Kyoshi pulled at Keata’s collar to look for the bite wound he heard all mate’s received when claimed

“Stop.” Keata pushed his cousin’s hand away.

In his native tongue, Kyoshi spoke angrily. “
What have you done
with him, Keata?”

“That is none of your business. We are mates, and it’s intimate.

You know better than to have me discuss such things with you,”
Keata shot back, irritated that Kyoshi wouldn’t accept the fact that he was an adult and could make his own decisions.

“Did you kiss him? Did your penis get hard?”
Kyoshi tugged on Keata’s forearm.

Keata pulled away and lowered his head. Why was Kyoshi being so mean? What Cody did to him was none of Kyoshi’s business.

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“I thought so. Do you know what Cody is going to do with his
hard penis?”
Kyoshi jerked Keata’s head up to make him look into his eyes.

Keata took a step back. Kyoshi shouldn’t be saying these things to him. It was private. He had no clue what Kyoshi spoke of, but he shouldn’t be talking about Cody that way.

Kyoshi’s eyes softened
. “I’m not trying to be mean, Keata. I’m
trying to let you know you’re not ready.”

“It my business,” Keata yelled at him angrily and then ran from the den. He fled to his room and dropped onto the carpet. Why couldn’t Kyoshi be happy for him? It wasn’t fair. Keata balled his hands into fists and pounded them on the floor, throwing the necklaces across the room.

Why couldn’t he be a happy mate like everyone else? It seemed that the gods themselves were out to keep him and Cody apart.

* * * *

Tank messed with the riding mower, trying his best to figure out why it wasn’t working. He hated the fact that he was the one to discover it sputtering and stalling.

Maverick’s philosophy around here was “You find it, you fix it,” and Tank had been the one to find it broken.

“Hey.”

Tank looked up from the “Do it yourself” printout the Alpha had given him to see Cody walking his way. He was still pissed as hell at the wolf. “What?”

“Glad to see my popularity is still so strong around here,” he teased.

“Not funny and I’m not in the mood right now to listen to you.” He tossed the paper on the ground. How the hell were you supposed to fix something from an internet printout? The Alpha may have money to hire a repairman, but he hated for strangers to come around.

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That made life hell for the non-mechanically inclined warrior like him.

“I just wanted to apologize to you.” Tank stood and shook his head. “I’m not the one you should be apologizing to,” he groused.

“I’m working on it with Keata. We’re talking now.” Tank walked around to the other side of the riding mower and stared at it. He had no clue what the fuck he was looking at. He kicked it. Worked for his computer when the thing was on the fritz.

“Uh, I don’t think that will help.” Cody stared at him curiously.

“Unless you’re trying to tear it apart.” Tank rounded on him, pointing his finger within inches of Cody’s face. “Look, I don’t appreciate you coming out here trying to joke with me after hurting the little guy. He’s my buddy, and seeing him hurt makes me want to hurt you.”

Cody threw his hands up. “Fair enough. I don’t honestly have to explain myself to you about me and my mate.” Cody shot back. “But I thought we were friends, so I wanted to clear the air. If you think you’re too big to listen, then fuck it.” Tank took a deep breath. “I don’t know all the details, and I don’t want to. Just tell me Keata isn’t going to hurt anymore.”

“Never again.”

Tank nodded. “Then I’ll think about forgiving your ugly ass.”

“In your dreams. I’m the hottest warrior here.” Tank laughed. “After me.”

“I can live with that.”

* * * *

Maverick watched the two wolves hash it out in the backyard from the kitchen door. He had known all along that Keata was Cody’s mate but refused to interfere.

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Life had to unfold the way it was supposed to, but it didn’t make watching Keata go through what he had any easier.

He smiled at what lie ahead for the two. If Cody thought Keata was timid and meek, he had another thing coming. The little mate was a spitfire waiting to blossom and discover his own strength.

And Maverick couldn’t wait to see Cody run behind him like a love struck pup.

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Chapter Four

“Hey.” Cody walked over to his mate then sat on the floor in front of him and crossed his legs. “You okay?”

“No.” Keata shook his head.

“What’s wrong?” Cody reached out, curling his knuckles under Keata’s chin, making him look into his eyes.

“Kyoshi say…say…” Keata blushed then pointed to Cody’s crotch.

It took a moment for it to sink in, but Cody got the gist of it.

“What? Did he say something about my cock?” Keata slapped a hand over his mouth and giggled then nodded.

Cody let out a low growl. His mate was too sexy for words.

“Can’t I say cock?”

Keata giggled again.

“Is cock a funny word?” Cody was enjoying the laughter coming from his mate. The sound was making his heart sing.

“Funny word.” Keata fell back laughing.

Cody crawled over him, hovering. “Should I say penis? Prick?

Shaft? Tallywacker?” He began to laugh with Keata. His mate’s giggles were contagious.

“Funny words.” Keata giggled some more then sobered, grabbing Cody’s shoulders and pulling him down. “More?” Cody swooped down and devoured Keata’s lips, his mate tasting sweeter than the finest wine. He ground his cock into Keata’s.

With a look of pure panic, Keata pushed at his shoulders, demanding Cody move away. Keata scooted back until he was up against the wall. His knees drew up as he wrapped his arms around
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his legs.

“What’s wrong, Keata? No hurt, promise.” Cody was still on all fours, his eyes pleading with his mate.

“Scared,” Keata said so low that if Cody didn’t have superior wolf hearing, he would have missed it.

“Come here, baby.” Cody sat back on his legs, his arms stretched out for his mate.

Keata crawled over to Cody, and he wrapped him in his arms.

“I know you’re scared. I promise, no hurt.” He rubbed Keata’s back.

With a deep breath, Keata pulled out of Cody’s arms and stripped naked.

Cody sat there dumbstruck for a moment. He quickly recovered and shot to the bedroom door, closing and locking it. He stood there staring at his naked mate.

Holy shit, he was beautiful. While his face took on feminine features, his body was all man. His skin was smooth and flawless except for the scar of the attack on his thigh. He could see Keata shaking, his hands at his sides. Keata was hairless except for his eyebrows and the hair on his head.