Protective Mate Read Online Free Page A

Simon think about kids? Did he like them? Did he want one? Would he help Zack to raise Hayley? God this was such a mess.
    "So Zack, what brings you to our small town?" Alex asked him. Their meeting earlier had been cut short when Zack realised Hayley wandered off, then with the invitation for dinner they never got back to it. It seemed Alex was going to continue the questions with the rest of the family present now.
    "I got a job at the local High School while the current teacher is out on maternity leave. I'll be teaching math and social studies." Zack stopped and took a breath. His body stilled as the most glorious scent permeated his senses. The smell was rich, musky and all man with a hint of soap. Zack turned in his seat to see the drop dead gorgeous figure of his mate standing in the doorway. Simon had his arms crossed over his chest and his hip resting against the door jamb.
    With his mate looking right at him, Zack smiled shyly and couldn't help but notice how sexy Simon looked in his faded jeans and tight black t-shirt, his hair still wet from his shower. A smile broke out across Simon's face as he pushed off the door jamb and stalked towards Zack. Zack's breath caught in his throat at the predatory look in Simon's eye.
    Everything else faded into the background when Simon stopped in front of him. Simon raised a hand and cupped Zack's cheek and tingles started under his skin from the contact with his mate, making their way through his body straight to his cock. Simon's thumb brushed gently across his bottom lip before the hand cupping his cheek tipped his head backwards.
    Zack's focus narrowed down to the lips in front of him, when Simon seductively leaned in for a kiss. Nothing else mattered at the moment except what it would feel like to have those lips pressed against his. He watched as a pink tongue darted out and licked the lips he so desperately wanted to taste before Simon finally closed the small distance still remaining between them.
    A moan escaped from his throat as soft lips finally met his. The kiss was gentle and searching, not hard and demanding like he was expecting. Either way was fine by him. Zack opened his mouth when he felt Simon's tongue gently swipe against his bottom lip, right where his thumb had caressed earlier.
    Simon's tongue invaded his mouth as the kiss deepened. The sound of a throat clearing cut through the fog created by the kiss; Simon broke away and rested his head against Zack's. They were both breathing fairly heavily; Simon kissed his lips once more before straightening and looking at the other people surrounding the table.
    Zack could feel the heat rush to his cheeks at the realisation he had just shared his first kiss with his mate in front of Simon's entire family. Zack's heartbeat quickened at the thought his daughter had witnessed his kiss; he quickly turned to see her reaction only to find his daughter looking at him with a huge grin on her face.
    "Daddy kissed a man." Hayley sang then broke into giggles. Everyone else at the table laughed at the stunned look on his face.
    Simon pulled out the chair on the other side of Zack and took a seat at the table. Another throat cleared and Zack glanced up to see Alex staring at Simon with one eyebrow raised. "Umm Simon, is there something you want to tell me?"
    Zack's mate leaned back in his chair with hands linked behind his head and sporting a cocky grin. "Nope."
    The small chuckle from across the table pulled Zack's attention away from his mate and had him looking instead at Jason, Alex's mate. Jason winked at him and his smile lit up his face.
    "Simon!" The name was practically a growl from the big Alpha.
    Simon's grin never faded. "It's not like you haven't already guessed."
    "I want to hear you say it."
    "Fine then, Zack is my mate. Happy now?"
    "Yep."
    "It's yes not yep. Right, Daddy?" Hayley asked so innocently Zack was hard pressed not to burst into laughter. Alex turned towards the little girl with an expression of