Marie Harte - Hayashi's Hero

“Funny, coming from a guy with a psychic background.” Morgan couldn't help it. He had to kiss Kisho again, to convince himself that what they shared was not a dream, but real.

They parted from the kiss, and Kisho ran a hand over Morgan's shoulder. “Yeah, funny.” Kisho grew silent. “Morgan, I want you to know. When I told the others you were nothing to me, it wasn't true. You were never just a fuck. I love you.” Morgan's heart stuttered. He'd hoped for affection, for at least a hint of trust while they built their relationship stronger. He hadn't thought to hear those incredibly moving three words.

He didn't speak, afraid to ruin the moment.

“I've been taught, for so long, that different is wrong. First it was for being half white.

Then it was for being gay. Christ, my dad would have had a coronary if he knew his only son was a, and I quote, 'fucking pole smoker.'”

“A damned good pole smoker,” Morgan teased in a gentle voice, and Kisho chuckled.

“I could never tell him the truth. I couldn't chance that he'd kick me out, and I didn't want to lose him, too. And then I joined the navy. Don't ask, don't tell.”

“Yeah, but the guys—”

“Are my family. We fuck each other, I know. It seems stupid to be weird about being gay with them. But it's the Circ stuff that makes us do it. The other guys are straight. And I was afraid…”

“That if you came out, they'd turn you away?”

“I feel like an idiot. But yeah.”

Morgan stroked Kisho's cheeks and lips. “Baby, I won't turn you away.”

“Fallon called me an asshole for the way I treated you. Said you loved me.” There was a question there.

“What do you think?” Morgan felt tears under his fingers, and he wiped them away.

“Kitsu?”

“I think any man who would take on three Circs, who would accept a pole-smoking monster, and who read my poetry and said he liked it, I think that man might love me.”

“Don't forget the roses.”

Kisho smiled, and the sight of that joy made Morgan's entire world feel right.

Morgan tugged Kisho closer and rolled onto his back, pulling Kisho on top of him. “No might about it. I love you, baby. I love the sensitive poet, the man who listens to Mozart, the kick-ass SEAL, and the sexy-as-hell beast under your skin. I've been waiting for you since I was sixteen years old.” He kissed Kisho tenderly, sharing the love he felt inside. “Ever since Alicia gave me that figurine, I knew you belonged to me.”

Kisho froze. “Wait a minute. You said your aunt gave you that.” Morgan groaned. “You have to swear this to silence.”

“I swear.”

“She is going to shit a brick if she knows I told you.” He looked into Kisho's eyes and groaned again. “Fuck. She probably already knows. Well, Alicia, she's kind of an aunt several times removed. We may not look much alike, but she's family.” Kisho's beautiful eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”

“No. My family is really powerful when it comes to the psychic stuff. Alicia has always been on the fringe of normal anyway. But her abilities are seriously scary. She gave me that damned fox when I turned sixteen, and she told me it had a twin. Then she left.” Lost in thought, Morgan stroked Kisho's back. “I knew as soon as I held it that whoever owned that twin belonged to me. Can't explain it. I just knew.”

Kisho gave him a look.

“What?”

“My grandmother called it her little kitsu, what she used to call me. She said the jade fox belonged to my mother and had brought her great luck. That my father wasn't the curse my grandfather called him, not if he'd given my mother such a fine son.” He paused. “Hell, she might have been a bit psychic herself, because she told me to find its mate. But maybe she meant I'd find my mate.” Kisho smiled at the memory. “I've been dreaming about you for years. You saved me when I was pushed from that building.”

Morgan tightened his hold. “Yeah. Scared the shit out of me to find you like that.”

“How did you find me?”

“Had a feeling. My gift is pretty selfish, kitsu. It's all about making my life better.

Whatever I want, I usually seem to get without a lot of effort. I was a real prick for a lot of years.”

“No,” Kisho teased.

“Yeah. Came from life coming too easily. Then I had a visit from Alicia a few years after she gave me that fox. She showed me a picture of you. And I knew. I had to clean myself up, become a man you could be proud of. I became a better fighter, a mercenary with ties to places you could use.”

“Are you telling me you became a mercenary so you could one day help me ?”

“Yeah, but it taught me a lot, too. Right and wrong are pretty much shades of gray.

Delancey's bad. Montaña's bad. But so is a government that tries to kill its own. If I'd known the hell you were in at Pearson Labs, I'd have come for you sooner. But Alicia never told me about that. Said it wasn't my time to find you.”

“Wait. Are you saying she knew about us Circs back then? How long has she known?”

Morgan silently cursed. “Kisho, do me a favor. Pretend I never said anything about Mrs.

Sharpe, that I'm not related to her at all, and that you know nothing.”

“But—”

“The only thing you need to know is that I love you. I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Kisho relaxed. “Really?”

“Really.” Morgan stroked his lover's face. “And as soon as this operation ends, I'm going to show you how to properly beg forgiveness after breaking your mate's heart. Letting your team leader fuck me up the ass is not how you say you're sorry.” Kisho snickered, and the sound sent waves of happiness through Morgan. “Yeah, but you weren't sorry when you came down my throat, were you?”

“You're going to need a lot of discipline in the future. I can tell.” Kisho kissed him. “Morgan, are you really okay with everything? We're mated. For me, there's no going back.”

“I know that.”

“I don't want anyone else the way I want you. But sometimes, the mating heat, it makes it—”

“Kitsu, I understand. We'll take it one step at a time. You're Circ, and by nature of being yours, I kind of am too. I can satisfy the need, baby.”

“You do. You really do.”

“This is still so new. I don't know if I like sharing you. It won't be easy watching you with anyone else, but I know Circs are different. Hell, I just took it from you and Jules. I'll adjust. Just give me some time to have you all to myself, okay?”

Kisho agreed. “I don't want to share you either. I was jealous when Jules touched you, and then it felt right. Your bonding to Jules changed our dynamic. You belong now. Sex among the team increases our ties. Our beasts need it.”

“So do I need to get with the other guys to—”

“No,” Kisho growled. He cleared his throat. “Um, no. Olivia bonded with the others but not with me. Yet my beast knows she's one of us. Jules is the glue that holds us together. So long as he accepts you, the others will. Probably.”

“Tersch.” Morgan didn't need to be a mind reader to know that another problem would be convincing the Viking he belonged.

“He might be an issue. But we can handle him.”

“We. I like that. Well, just so long as I don't have to take it from the Viking. I have a feeling he's a real pain in the ass.”

Kisho started laughing. “Spot-on description. And you really don't want to get on Ava's bad side.”

“Does she have a good one?” Morgan joked and joined in his kitsu's mirth.

They didn't stop laughing for a long time.

“Hey, ladies, let's go.”

Jules's gruff voice through the door made Kisho groan. Reality intruded.