Hagen, Lynn - Knox [Zeus's Pack 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting ManLove) (3 page)

Now he was feeling like a real heel. But how was he supposed to look at Trevor like a human being? He was a vampire for fuck’s sake.

“Okay, next time I won’t be so quick to temper,” Knox promised.

“Thank you.” Sammy smiled this time, and Knox felt like a million dollars. “It’s getting late, and I need to clear the rest of the tables.”

“I can help.” Knox scented a small amount of arousal, and it was such a fucking turn-on. He cleared his throat and took a step back. His erection would show through his jeans, and right now Sammy was not happy with him. Maybe turned on, but the look on his face told Knox to back off.

“No, it’s my job.” Sammy grabbed the dishpan and headed to the kitchen door. A mixture of annoyance and lust wafted past Knox’s nose.

He followed that scent, right out into the dining area. “It’s no problem.”

“No, now go on.” Sammy turned his back, and Knox knew when he was being dismissed. He walked over to the bar, watching Sammy as he cleared the tables. Knox’s eyes perused his mate’s body, appreciating every fine line.

“You’re about to drown me in lust if you don’t stop watching him.” Theo waved a hand in front of his face, sliding a drink to Knox.

“He’s my mate.” Knox picked the glass up and took a swallow while watching Sammy wipe down tables.

“No shit.” Theo sounded surprised. “He’s a nice guy, couldn’t ask for a better mate.”

Knox agreed. Now if he could only figure out what to do about his vampire mate.

* * * *

Trevor sat back in his car, chewing on his thumbnail. He wondered if Sammy was still going to come out after what happened in the kitchen.

The scent had hit him while he was lying on the floor. The large man was his mate. It was screwing with Trevor’s head big-time. And to make matters worse, the large man was a shifter.

How the hell did he end up with a human and a wolf? The human he could deal with. He was actually proud his mate was human after the way his coven had treated him. Trevor didn’t want a vampire for a mate.

But a shifter?

He wasn’t too sure how happy he was about that, considering the dog made it clear he didn’t want any part of Trevor. That was fine by him. Trevor was used to rejection. One more wasn’t any sweat off of his back.

His eyes darted over to the screen door when it squeaked open. A small grin pulled at his mouth when he saw Sammy once again peek his head out. Trevor reached up and clicked on the dome light.

“Trevor?”

“Over here, little darling.” He watched Sammy hurry over to his car. “I didn’t think you would come.”

“Why?”

Trevor leaned out of his window. “I thought maybe the shifter would have poisoned your brain.”

“What’s a shifter?” Sammy tilted his head and looked at Trevor curiously.

“Get in, I’ll explain.” Trevor reached across the seat and pushed the passenger-side car door open. Sammy ran around and climbed in.

“You’re not gonna bite me, are you?”

Trevor felt shame wash over him. “No, I’m not going to hurt you.”

Sammy nodded and buckled his seat belt. “Where to?”

Trevor started the car and pulled out of the lot from behind the tavern. “Anywhere you want to go.”

“How about a nice drive? It doesn’t matter where. It just feels good to get out.”

Trevor knew that feeling. He turned left onto Trenton and then right onto Route 14. A nice country drive should make Sammy happy. “So, did you grow up here?”

Sammy shook his head as he stared out of the window. “No, I came here after my boyfriend kicked me out.”

“His loss.” Trevor had to take a moment to control the anger that welled up in him. For anyone to mistreat this nice guy was cruel, and when the guy turned out to be his mate? It was downright fucked up. Trevor wanted to go find the guy and teach him a lesson.

“I had enough money to make it here, and then the sheriff and his deputy got me the apartment and the job at Theo’s.”

“That was real nice of them.” He was glad to hear not everyone in town was an ass. Trevor glanced over when he felt a breeze in the car. Sammy had let the window down and stuck his head out, the wind blowing his hair around. He was amazed at the serene look on the guy’s face as Sammy enjoyed the fresh air.

Trevor laughed. It must be nice to take such pleasure in the small things. It had been too long since he had done that. He reached over and tapped Sammy’s arm. “Be careful.”

Sammy leaned back. “It felt good to do that.” He twisted around and stared up at Trevor. “Now tell me what a shifter is.”

Trevor rested his left arm on the door, running his finger over his chin. “You know I’m a vampire, right?”

Sammy nodded. “I figured that one out.”

Trevor glanced sideways, looking over at his mate. “I’m real sorry about that. I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No, just scared me.”

Trevor nodded. “A shifter is someone who can change between human and animal.”

“Holy…wow.”

He chuckled. The look on Sammy’s face was priceless. His eyes were wide, and his mouth hung open. “Knox is a wolf shifter.”

“I’m not sure why, but I’m having a little more trouble with that fact than you being a vampire.”

“It’s the whole changing into a wolf thing.” Trevor kept his eyes on the road, but he could see Sammy’s head nodding.

“Yeah, that’s it.” His mate turned to look back out of the window. “So, is he the only one?”

“Shifter?” Trevor asked.

“Yeah, but I meant, here, in town.”

Trevor could hear the confusion in his voice. He wanted to reach out and pull Sammy into his arms and tell him the world was still the way he had always seen it, only it was expanded now.

He shook his head as he stared ahead. “No.”

Trevor pulled over to the soft shoulder, cutting the engine. Sammy still stared out of the window, as if he were searching for something. “Are you okay?”

“No.” His voice sounded distant.

“Sammy, look at me.”

His mate slowly turned his head. Trevor’s breath caught at the cheerless look in his eyes. It didn’t match his personality one bit. It bugged Trevor because he always had an attention for detail. How had he missed that?

Trevor reached over and rubbed his hand up and down Sammy’s arm. “It’s a lot to take in, I know.”

“It’s not only that.” Sammy dropped his eyes.

“What?”

“It’s too embarrassing.”

Trevor grinned. “You can tell me.”

Sammy’s hands clenched in his lap. “I like you both.” A blush fanned across his mate’s face.

Trevor had figured out that all three were mates. Sammy was supposed to want Knox. Too bad Knox didn’t want Trevor. The man was stunning. “Don’t be embarrassed. You’re our mate. It’s okay to want us both.”

“What’s a mate?” Sammy looked up then, his brows pulled together.

Was Trevor going to be the one to explain it
all
to him? It looked that way. Knox should be sitting here doing some of it, too. It was only fair. He didn’t want Sammy looking at him like the bad guy.

“Mates are people who fate has matched together. Fate has decided the three of us would be perfect for each other.”

“Then why did Knox act that way?”

Trevor turned away. It had been obvious in the kitchen. “Because I’m a vampire.”

“So, he’s a wolf. If you ask me, that’s the pot calling the kettle black.”

Trevor agreed with the human.

* * * *

Sammy was having a hard time processing all this information. Both of them were his? How? He glanced over at the man sitting next to him. Trevor was very handsome. The vampire was really tall and very masculine in features, resembling a runway model in Sammy’s opinion. His dark eyes and hair made Sammy want to reach over and run his hands through the straight, dark strands.

And Knox? He was just as tall, but bulkier, with a lot of muscles. The wolf was good-looking as well. His black hair and hazel eyes made Sammy want to pant and beg for attention. And here he sat, little ole Sammy, plain as a bagel. It was a wonder either of them wanted to be bothered with him.

Connolly hadn’t, and he wasn’t anywhere near as good-looking as these two. Why would fate think he would be good with these two? He felt like a booby prize in the bottom of a Cracker Jack box.

“Come on, little darling, let’s finish our drive.” Trevor smiled at him, and Sammy felt like he was back in his own personal meadow. “Let’s leave all this stuff behind and have some fun.”

Sammy beamed at him. “Let’s have some fun.” Trevor was truly a nice person. Why couldn’t Knox give him a chance? The vampire turned the music on, and Sammy bounced around to the rap music. He felt alive and carefree for the first time in a very long time.

Trevor threw his head back and laughed when he saw Sammy dancing. He couldn’t help but laugh. It was contagious. Trevor drove down back roads and around farms for what felt like hours, Sammy loving every minute of it.

“Time to get you home.” Trevor was driving back down Route 14 and heading for town. Sammy was a little disappointed their time was up. He was having such a good time.

“Stop pouting.” Trevor smiled as he turned onto Trenton Street. “We can go again tomorrow night if you’d like.”

“Am I being that obvious?”

“Yes, little darling. Your bottom lip is hanging to the floor.”

Sammy sucked said lip in, not wanting to come off unappreciative. It had been a wonderful night—except for the start of it with Knox pushing Trevor down—and he didn’t want to spoil the cheery atmosphere.

The vampire pulled around to the back entrance and cut the engine. Sammy felt a little awkward. Was he supposed to give Trevor a kiss of thank you and good night? He wanted to. Still not sure about all the stuff that was laid at his feet or how Trevor felt about him, Sammy unbuckled his seatbelt and climbed out of the car.

Trevor had gotten out on his side and walked Sammy to the door. “I had a nice time.”

Sammy was a nervous wreck. Were you supposed to feel like throwing up when you liked someone? “Me, too.” He reached for the door when Trevor bent down and kissed him.

He was extremely nervous now but opened for Trevor’s probing tongue. The vampire wrapped his arms around Sammy and pulled him close, kissing him like nobody’s business. His toes were even curling in.

It was Trevor who broke the kiss. “Sweet dreams, little darling.” His fingers traced down the side of Sammy’s face, and he leaned into them.

“Uh-huh.” He reached for the door handle and missed the first two times. Trevor chuckled and opened it for him. Sammy reached into his pocket and pulled his keys out, unlocking the door and looking back at Trevor. “Tonight?”

“Tonight, little darling.”

Sammy nodded and went inside. He was floating on cloud nine. His feet were light as they carried him upstairs and to his apartment. He ran through the door and fell on his bed, grabbing a pillow to his chest as he grinned from ear to ear. “Oh god, look at me. I’m grinning like the biggest fool.” He giggled.