Liam

of oxygen.
Instead he'd waited patiently for Declan to finish his conversation. He didn't want to embarrass the other man by letting him know he'd been overheard.
Liam cleared his throat and rapped twice on the wall, hoping he would get Declan's attention. Declan started slightly and tried to cover it by sitting up, but Liam still saw it, he'd hoped to make enough noise that he wouldn't startle Declan.
"Dinner's ready," he announced casually.
"Thank you, I'll be right there." Declan's voice sounded barely more than a whisper.
"Take your time." Liam offered a friendly smile before turning and heading back into the kitchen.
Liam plated up the food and placed it on the table before going back for drinks and cutlery. Grabbing two beers from the fridge, he set them on the table and sat down. He only had to wait a moment before Declan slowly walked in and sat opposite him.
"Thank you," he said again quietly.
"You're welcome. Now eat up, you look dead on your feet." Liam cut into his steak.
Declan quietly chuckled. "I'm so tired I can barely lift my knife and fork, but I'll force myself because this smells amazing, and I'm starving."
"It's nothing special. I'll show you to the guest room as soon as we're done here."
Declan nodded in understanding but seemed too intent on his food at the moment to converse further. Liam took a long drink of his beer, trying to cool his awareness of the other wolf, before he turned back and concentrated on eating his food. Before he knew it they were both finished with dinner and Declan's eyes were drooping.
Liam picked up Declan's plate and his own and took them back into the kitchen and placed them in the sink. He'd worry about cleaning them after he settled his mate down for the night.
His mate! Liam still found it a little hard to believe he had finally met the man fated to be his. Let alone the fact he had just rocked up on his doorstep completely naked. Liam shook his head to dislodge the thoughts and images. He would be hard as stone if his kept thinking about what Declan looked like under his clothes.
After several moments, willing his body not to betray him, Liam got himself under control and walked back into the dining area. Declan remained at the table, holding his half-finished beer. He looked so tired Liam thought he might fall asleep where he sat.
"Come on, Declan, let's get you tucked into bed. I don't think it's safe for you to try and stand in another shower at the moment, and I don't think either of us is ready for me to be getting in there with you to help. As much as I would love to see you all warm, wet, and naked, some other time maybe?"
Liam helped Declan stand, the smaller man turned into his side and seemed to snuggle in. Liam felt the soft laugh vibrate against his body.
"Yeah, definitely some other time," Declan said.
Liam held Declan close and they made their way down the hall to the guest room nearest Liam's bedroom.
Liam wouldn't sleep with his mate under the same roof, even if they were in separate rooms. If they couldn't share a bed yet, at least Declan would be as close as possible. Liam turned the light on when they entered the bedroom, and not too soon either. Declan's body had been getting heavier and heavier as they walked up the hall. Liam leant down and pulled the sheets back on the bed before manoeuvring Declan to sit down on the side.
Liam reached down and grabbed the hem Declan's shirt. "Up," he said quietly, not wanting to startle the nearly asleep man.
Declan's arms moved sluggishly upwards and Liam struggled a little to remove the much too large shirt. As sexy as he found his mate in his clothes, he didn't want the man to get tangled in his sleep.
The sweats on the other hand he would leave. Liam threw the shirt over the tallboy at the end of the bed.
Laying Declan down, he lifted his mate's legs and got them under the blankets. He then pulled the doona up until he completely covered his mate leaving nothing showing but his head on the pillow.
Liam tucked a stray lock of hair behind Declan's ear before he bent down and placed a quick gentle kiss on Declan's lips. "Sleep well, my mate."
Declan's hand shot out from under the blankets in a surprising show of alertness and he gripped Liam's mid-retreat. "Thank you," he whispered and squeezed Liam's fingers once before dropping back to the bed.
A little snore, not even ten seconds later, told Liam his mate had finally succumbed to his exhaustion. Liam couldn't help it, he stood and watched the other man sleeping for several minutes, still awed and amazed by his appearance in his life.
He couldn't stand watch over Declan like a predator stalking his prey all night. Liam headed back to the dining room and kitchen to clean up the dinner dishes. After the excitement of the day, Liam was too keyed up to be able to relax just yet, so he finished putting everything away, pulled another beer from the fridge and headed for the living room.
He sat on the couch where Declan had been lying earlier and pulled the rumpled blanket to his nose. The sweet scent of his mate still lingered in the fibres and Liam sighed in happiness. Something must have happened to Declan. Why else would he show up naked on Liam's doorstep? He would wait until the other man felt comfortable enough to confide in him. It might kill him in the meantime, but whatever Declan needed, Liam would try and provide.

CHAPTER 5
Declan came back to consciousness slowly,
confused by the unfamiliar softness of the mattress underneath him. The sheets were wrong; a much higher quality than his own cheaply bought Kmart ones.
He blinked at the bright light shining through the curtains, becoming more alert. Declan had a