Chapter Eleven
The phone ringing jolted Billy out of a deep sleep, and he automatically rolled over, resting his hand on Cord’s chest. His mate was listening intently, nodding, and grunting “all right” every few seconds… Billy’s heart sank, even as he tried not to show it.
He and Cord enjoyed a wonderful week together. After three days of him and Cord enjoying Billy’s heat cycle, they’d moved on to other things, like talking to each other about likes and dislikes and braving society as a newly mated couple. Bullet had been out with them twice, and Cece and Tristan joined them for lunch just the day before. Cord had also been in touch with a realtor, both in Frankton and Newport, arranging for his old house to be sold and letting the agents in Frankton know they were looking for somewhere large, with privacy and a bit of land where their wolf forms could run. The Frankton agency had promised someone would be in touch with a few options within the next few days.
It looks like that will be delayed,Billy thought, taking in Cord’s tense expression as he ended the call. “Bad news?” he asked softly, wrapping his arms around Cord’s waist.
“We’ve got another job,” Cord said grimly. “It’s out at Burton, so I’ll be three days, no more than four, I promise.”
“Hey,” Billy patted Cord’s chest. “We’ve talked about this, remember? We both knew it would happen sooner or later. Your job’s important to you, and I understand that.”
Cord looked tortured. “I don’t want to leave you…”
“No. No.” Billy interrupted him, putting his fingertips over his mate’s mouth. “We talked about this, too. What you do is vitally important. There are omegas out there that need you and your team to rescue them. I know that.”
“I don’t like the idea of you being alone.”
Truth be told, Billy wasn’t keen on the idea either. Now he had an alpha in his life, it was as if all his dreams had come true. He felt safe, cherished, and cared for, something he hadn’t had since he’d presented as an omega at fourteen years old. Cord was kind, funny, and very sexy.
Billy lived for the moments when they would be doing something like watching a movie or cooking a meal together. He’d suddenly look up, conscious of Cord’s heated gaze, and within seconds clothes were tossed off, and Cord had him pressed over the counter, across the cushions of the couch, or up against a wall on one occasion. Always believing he was nothing special, Billy was thrilled by how Cord showed him with every touch and kiss that he was.
But Billy was also conscious of what he needed to do as Cord’s mate, which meant pushing his feelings aside and supporting his mate in what he needed to do. “I’ll be fine,” he said with as much cheer as he could muster. “I’ll message Cece and Tristan and go to lunch with them tomorrow, and I need to spend some time responding to my client inquiries. I know, I know you said I didn’t need to work, but I have to let my clients know I’m no longer available, and that will keep me busy while you’re gone, all right?”
“I still don’t like it.” Cord sighed, brushing a kiss over Billy’s hair. “Bullet said he’d pick me up so you can use my car while I’m gone. I don’t want you using a taxi if you don’t need to, all right?”
“I couldn’t reach the pedals in your big truck, let alone see over the steering wheel.” Billy laughed. “I’ll look after your car for you, but I won’t be using it. When do you have to go?”
“Bullet’s picking me up in fifteen minutes. There’ll be a helicopter waiting for us at the airport when we get there.”
It sunk in then, the mention of the airport, that Cord was actually going, not just down to the corner store, but actually out of town. Billy had to press his lips together as he nodded.
“I probably won’t be able to message you, although I’ll try to email if I get the chance.”
Billy nodded again. Cord had told him a horrific story about how someone on his team accepted a call while they were on a job, blowing their hiding place and leading them to be attacked. “Don’t worry about messaging me,” he said quickly. “Just come home safely as soon as you can.”
“Nothing and no one will keep me away from you. You have my word.” Billy was grabbed, and Cord was kissing him, something Billy was thankful for, as he hoped it meant his mate wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes.
The grip Cord had him in was urgent and tight, and Billy felt his body responding, but he tamped it down. They didn’t have the time, something Cord clearly understood, too, as he was let go, and Cord climbed out of bed and reached for his clothes. Hugging the blankets up under his neck, Billy watched his mate get dressed and reach for his phone, keys, and wallet.
“No more than four days,” Cord said again as he moved toward the door. “If you need anything, you have the team command number. I’ve already listed you as my fated mate, so they will know who you are. If you call them for anything, someone will help.”
“I’ll be fine.” Billy nodded. “I’ll miss you, but you’ll be back soon. Stay safe for me, please.”
“I always am,” Cord said gruffly as he went out the door.
Billy held his breath, listening as Cord made his way through Billy’s small house, and a few seconds later, he heard the front door open and then close. A car pulled up, and a car doorslammed, but it wasn’t until the vehicle started moving away that Billy let his tears fall.
You can have five minutes being a weeping willy,he told himself firmly,and then you’re going to buck up, get some sleep and in the morning, you have things to do. It’s not like you haven’t been alone before.But sleep was slow in coming, and as the first light started peering in through the crack in his curtains, Billy gave up and got up.I’ll just get some work done. Keep my mind busy until I can message Cece and Tristan.
Chapter Twelve
“Are you all right?” Bullet murmured, although Cord could hear him clearly over the plane engines.
“Nope.” Cord looked up to see Rapid watching him with a cunning look on his face, his feet resting on a large metal case. The moment he noticed Cord was looking in his direction, he winked and grinned.
“First, instead of going to Burton, I find out we’re heading to HQ, where I had to sit through an hour long lecture about techniques mated alphas have to engage in to keep their mind on the job – before breakfast I might add.
“Then, instead of going by helicopter to Burton, which was where I was told we were headed, we’re on a plane heading to the west coast. Him sitting across from me on the damn plane I didn’t think we’d be on, when you’d told me he’d been transferred to another team, is the shit icing on a puke cake as far as I’m concerned.”
