Free The Runaway Cat (Book 2 Cloverleah Pack Series) by Lisa Oliver Page B

without question that Griff was his mate - that is why he claimed him.  Like he had a choice.  His cock was straining at his zipper and his heart was aching to hold  the man again, all just from being in the same building as his mate. The Fate’s were funny like that.  No matter whether Griff was this Angel person, or the mechanic he originally claimed to be, he was Diablo’s mate and for some reason he was here at Georgio’s party.  Sitting in the bathroom wasn’t going to help Diablo work out why.
    Pushing out of the stall, Diablo washed his face and hands and then pushed open the door to the facilities.  Standing outside were two of Georgio’s goons, who grabbed him by his arms and started pulling him back to the party. Diablo shrugged them off so he could stand on his own two feet but he didn’t try to get away from them.
    “I do know my way out of the bathroom guys.  It’s not like I needed an escort,” he said sarcastically.  The goons ignored him and stayed by his side until he got back to his vacant chair.  Griff was sitting in the one immediately next to it, with Georgio on the other.  Boy this was going to be fun.  Diablo sat and kept his gaze lowered and his face expressionless.  He felt Georgio reach for his leash that was still hanging from his collar and then a harsh tug as Georgio pulled his face around to meet his.  He heard a hiss from Griff beside him and realized that Griff must have seen his bruises.  Even though his body was positively humming from being so close to his mate, Diablo tried to focus on Georgio whose voice was dripping with contempt.
    “You were gone too long boy.  Don’t leave my sight again.” 
    Georgio ran his thumb hard across Diablo’s bruised chin and Diablo went to drop his head down again.  Fuck he didn’t want to look at anybody. Then he felt another hand touch his face gently tipping his head to one side as Griff examined his face.  The look on Griff’s face was menacing and Diablo refused to meet his eyes.  But Griff wasn’t looking at him - he was looking at Georgio.
    “What happened to your boy Georgio?  Accident with a boot?”  If Georgio was surprised by Griff’s growling tone, he didn’t show it.
    “Stupid boy needed to learn some manners.  He is lucky that is all he got.”  Holy hell, Georgio sounded like he was proud of himself. Diablo refused to look up at either man.  Maybe spending the rest of his life in the bathroom wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
    Griff growled.  Yep that was a positive loud and possessive growl.  But when he spoke his voice was deceptively quiet.
    “Don’t know that I want to do business with a man who can’t treat his boy with respect.  Not only have you marked him badly but then you have humiliated him by making him wear his hair back.  Is this something you get off on, Georgio?  Think it makes you a big man when your boy wears your bruises?”
    “I…er…no, of course not Mr. Bandures…”  Georgio struggled for something to say as Griff reached behind Diablo and careful untied his hair allowing it to fall down over Diablo’s shoulders. Griff sat back in his chair and clicked his fingers over his shoulder. A young slim blond twink human bounded up to Griff’s side and ran his hand over Griff’s shoulders.  He too was wearing a small gold collar but he had his leash in his own hands.
    The surge of rage Diablo felt as the twink ran his hands over his mate was powerful.  He quickly put his hand between his legs to stop anyone from seeing them partially shift.  The look he gave Griff would fell most men at 100 paces.  Diablo felt his cat roaring and screaming to get out and Diablo struggled to stop from shifting then and there.  He wanted to feel the little twink’s blood running through his hands.  Fortunately Georgio was still focused on Griff or he might have noticed something was wrong.
    Griff wasn’t paying any attention either and instead was whispering in the twink’s ear.