Let the Rain Come Down [The Moonlight Breed 6] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) by Gabrielle Evans (tools of titans ebook .txt) 📕

they’re doing a great job with the newbies. Here’s the problem, though. If shit goes down, they’re going to protect their mates first.” Stavion pushed a hand through his dark hair and sighed. “That’s the way it should be. I’d do the same with Jory, but who’s going to protect Oscar and the others?”

Demitrius didn’t doubt Xander’s ability as a leader, and he didn’t feel that Stavion was saying anything negative against the man, either. If he had a mate of his own, he’d do everything in his power to keep him or her safe. Unfortunately, he didn’t have high hopes that he’d ever find a mate, especially one who would actually want to be with him.

That was his lot in life, and he had made peace with it a long time ago. Now, he needed to focus on more realistic pursuits. Keeping the newest members of Haven safe was now that pursuit. There was one little hiccup in the plan, though. “Are you sure I’m the right guy for this?”

From what he understood, the new guys had been through something traumatic and still feared that someone was coming for them. He was a little nervous about what they would think of having a seven-foot-two, three-hundred-pound shadow.

“Seriously, I think they’re going to love you. Zavion and Zuriel will try to climb you like a jungle gym. Considering what they’ve been through, the twins are amazingly trusting, and they just want people to like them.”

That didn’t seem so strange to Demitrius. In his experience, and he had a lot of it, most people from bad situations were searching for acceptance. Still, he had his doubts that they would be that accepting of his particular condition. “Well, let’s get this over with.”

“Just give them a chance, Dee.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means nothing.” Stavion opened the door of his office and exited without waiting to see if Demitrius would follow. “They’re meeting us in the kitchen. I think Talon is trying to teach them to cook eggs.”

They reached the kitchen sooner than Demitrius expected, and he hung back in the entryway until Stavion introduced him. There were only four men in the kitchen, all seated at the center island, and not a one of them over five foot tall. He could definitely see why they’d need a bodyguard.

“Hey, guys,” Stavion greeted. “Where’s Talon?”

“In the shower,” one of the twins answered. “He had a little accident.”

“You threw an egg at his face and poured flour on his head,” his brother added with a roll of his eyes.

Demitrius knew their names, but he had no idea who was who. Hell, the only way he could tell the little blonds apart was by scent. One of the other guys sat with his head down, his dark hair falling around his face while he pushed the food on his plate around with his fork. He didn’t say anything, but Demitrius could tell he was taking in everything going on around him.

“Yeah, well, he deserved it.”

“Zuriel,” Stavion said in an exasperated sigh. “Never mind. Look, there’s someone here I want you to meet.”

“You mean the giant standing over there?” Zuriel leaned to the side to see around Stavion and waved enthusiastically. “Hey! Come eat!”

Demitrius gave a little wave in return, but most of his attention was focused on the last guy in the room. He hadn’t said anything, either, but he was smiling indulgently as he watched his friends babbling excitedly to Stavion. “What’s your name?”

The man turned slowly in his direction and looked him up and down with a curious expression. “Oscar. Who are you?”

“Guys, this is Demitrius Accola. He’s going to be hanging out once the cabins are finished and making sure nothing bad happens.”

“You got us a bodyguard?” Zavion asked in awe. “So cool! Is that why he’s wearing sunglasses?”

He was glad the runt approved, but Demitrius still couldn’t take his eyes away from Oscar. The man was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen with auburn hair that fell in a halo of curls around his delicate cheekbones. Oscar’s lime-green eyes watched him with guarded interest while his full, pouty lips quirked upward fractionally on one side.

“Demitrius!”

“Huh?” Had Stavion been speaking to him? Shaking his head several times, Demitrius tried to focus his attention on the coven leader, but he couldn’t stop sneaking looks at Oscar out of the corner of his eye. Maybe he wasn’t the right man for this job after all.

“I asked if you’d like to move into the lower west wing until the cabins are finished.” Stavion arched one of his dark eyebrows, giving him a look that was just a little too knowing for Demitrius’s tastes. “I’m sure you’d be very, uh, comfortable there.”

“Why did you say it like that?” Zavion climbed to his knees on his stool and leaned forward over the counter. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”

“Why is he looking at Oscar like that?” Zuriel adopted a pose similar to his brother’s and turned his head back and forth between Oscar and Demitrius. “Oscar, do you feel okay? Your face is really red.”

Oscar’s cheeks were a little pink, but it didn’t make him look sick. If anything, he looked even more stunning than he had seconds earlier. “If you think it would be best for me to stay in the main house, I guess I can do that.” He was going for nonchalant, but he wasn’t sure he pulled it off judging by the smirk on Stavion’s lips.

“No,” Oscar said firmly. “I don’t think that will be necessary.” His gaze flickered briefly to Demitrius before he addressed his friends. “I think we should probably clean up this mess before Talon gets back.”

“I think he should clean,” Zuriel grumped. “He started it.”

Curious against his will, Demitrius walked around the island, keeping his gait slow so as not to frighten anyone. The tiled floor was a complete mess, covered in flour, water, strips of uncooked bacon, and what appeared to be at least