The Defiant Claim - The Claim: Book 2 [LGBTQ+]
Chapter 35 - Mik (Part 1)

Mik hurried to complete Sam’s favorite dishes and dessert in the hours he had to complete them. Time would fly by, he knew.

Clement stopped by about half an hour into Mik’s cooking to drop off the table.

“It really is a fine piece of furniture you got there. You did a good job. I’ll consider taking you under my wing if you want,” Clement said as Mik scrambled to make the cake—for the second time.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll think about it,” he replied, separating the last egg white from the yolk and dumping it into the large mixing bowl. Why did a cake need so many fucking egg whites?

Clement left while Mik beat the egg whites to the right consistency.

The second cake also failed and Mik, getting frustrated, tried once more, hoping that the third time was the charm. When he was done, it looked good and he shoved it in the oven before rushing to get the rest of the food done.

Time passed and Mik’s cake came out perfect. He set it aside to cool, upside-down, like Luna showed him, and continued his mad dash to finish the meal on time. He didn’t have time to spread the buttermilk frosting it and hoped Sam didn’t mind if he waited a bit after their meal to have a slice.

Ignoring the pile of dishes in the sink (he’d get to them later), he set the table with all the food (covered—hoping they would still be warm when they got back) and plates with the oil lamp in the center, turned the lights of the cabin off, and ran out the door to get Sam.

The sun was still up, though low in the sky as he dashed across the valley. He ran as fast as he could, knowing he was already late and the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint Sam on their first Valentine’s Day.

Sam was waiting inside with Dr. Waaban, the sled ready to go outside the side doors. When they caught sight of him, Dr. Waaban wheeled Sam out and helped him onto the sled.

“Sorry I’m late,” Mik said between pants for air. Damn, out of shape too, he scolded himself.

“It’s okay,” Sam told him. “We didn’t wait long.”

While Mik secured Sam to the sled, he asked him how both of his exams went.

“Good, I think. I won’t know until tomorrow about the results of my nursing test, but Dr. Waaban said I’m getting stronger. I still have a long way to go but maybe in another week or two I’ll be able to stand and walk around a bit.”

Mik looked into his eyes and pulled Sam’s scarf over his nose. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

Standing back up, Mik nodded his head in greeting to Dr. Waaban and thanked him before setting out with Sam behind him.

The snow was starting to melt, making the walk back a little harder with the sled. Temperatures were rising as a wind from the south blew in. The sun dipped lower in the sky, touching the horizon and turning the expanse of blue into an orange-red.

“Can I ask now or should I wait and be surprised?” Sam asked behind Mik.

Mik’s head shook, his lips curving up a bit. “Wait.”

Sam sighed in exasperation, a playfulness rubbing the edge. “Fine, fine, if you insist.”

When they arrived, Mik picked Sam up and carried him into the cabin. Sam gasped as Mik stepped inside and set him on one of the two wooden chairs that belonged to the old table. “You got us a new table and made dinner.”

“Not just any table,” Mik said as he pushed Sam’s chair closer to the edge, “but one I made.”

Sam gaped at him as he headed back to the door to unload Sam’s wheelchair and noticed a wrapped gift with it. After putting the sled away, Mik returned with the foldable chair and gift.

“What’s this?” Mik asked.

“Your Valentine’s Day present.” Sam beamed, his face flushed with warmth.

“What is it?”

“Later. You can open it later. Let’s eat! I’m starving!”

Mik set the gift on the couch and returned to the table. He took all the coverings off the dishes and began to dish out a little of everything onto Sam’s plate before his own. Pulling up his chair, he sat beside Sam and gave him his first bite.

Sam couldn’t stop grinning and blushing and moaned his appraisal as his tastebuds savored the food. “It’s perfect.”

Sam’s praise made Mik’s balls clench.

Fuck. How was he going to keep himself together today? The more Sam blushed, the sweeter his scent became and the harder it made Mik. He wasn’t planning to go all the way with Sam but to follow Oshki’s advice and prepare him.

The way Jez prepared him all those years ago.

Then when Sam was stronger and independent, they’d seal the matebond. Mik just hoped he was strong enough to resist the urge to mark him and claim his soul forever until then.

“Good. I’m glad. Luna taught me every evening this week,” he told him.

“What? When?” Sam was surprised and looked down at the table again, running his hand over the smooth surface. “And when did you make this? It’s beautiful.”

Mik looked down at his hands in his lap and inclined his head in submission. “I lied. I’m sorry. I wanted to surprise you. I didn’t get driving instructions in the morning. Luna set me up with Clement, who makes wooden furniture and stuff. He taught me and let me use his tools. And instead of hunting, Luna taught me how to make your favorite foods and Noodin... Alpha Noodin... gave me meat to bring home to you. They...” Fuck. He had to admit it. “They’ve been very kind to me and supportive to help make all this possible for you.”

“For us, you mean,” Sam corrected.

Mik shrugged. “I guess so.”

“They want to see you succeed too. And the table is beautiful! I never would have guessed that you made it. Did you enjoy it?”

Mik shrugged again, feeling his cheeks warm up at the compliment. He ran his hand over the table. The light from the lamp was enough to cast a warm glow over the delicious food but the table was hidden underneath in the dim light.

“Yeah, I did. I enjoyed handling the power tools, sanding down the surface until it was nice and smooth. I liked seeing it come together. It was a nice piece of wood that I probably wouldn’t have even glanced at before but when I saw it and pictured what I could do with it in my mind... I liked turning my vision into a reality.”

“Well, it looks great. Woodworking is a valuable skill set. Maybe you should give it a shot?” Sam looked hopefully at him as he ate more food and melted on the spot. “I mean, your cooking is great too but if you don’t want to be a chef, that’s fine.”

“Maybe I’ll try it. Clement seemed impressed with my work.”

“Do it.” Sam smiled before taking another bite.

Mik wiped some sauce from the corner of Sam’s mouth before placing a kiss on his cheek. “My cooking will be just for you, then. Only you.”

More heat rushed to Sam’s face and Mik had to tear himself away with a groan. Why did he have to smell so damn good?

Sam put his hand on Mik’s knee as he continued to eat, only to cause more straining and discomfort in Mik’s pants. It was a good discomfort though and he put his hand over top of Sam’s and continued to eat next to him.

The food was delicious. Mik could see why it was Sam’s favorite.

They took turns feeding each other—Sam started it and it brought pain to Mik’s chest. A bittersweet ache within. He had to blink back a few tears so they wouldn’t fall as he accepted the food from Sam’s fork and leaned in to nuzzle his neck.

His male was getting stronger. He waited so long for Sam to wake up from his coma and then let him back into his life. He almost lost him... He was still kicking himself for that. How could he do that to his mate? How could he push him away and chase after a female who not only didn’t care about Mik but wasn’t worth it in the first place? He almost lost this.

When they had stuffed themselves to the brim, Mik set the dirty dishes aside and brought the cake over. He apologized for not finishing it before but Sam waved his apology aside.

“Don’t worry about it. You did a lot of work and I know this cake is hard to make and needs to cool before you put the icing on.”

Sam watched him spread the frosting on—a difficult feat. Mik couldn’t get the sticky substance to go smoothly over the surface without picking up bits of cake in the process. Sam repeatedly assured him that it didn’t have to be perfect—it would taste just as good as if it were a mess. When the icing was on, Mik covered the top with sliced strawberries and drizzled melted chocolate over them.

“Alright,” Mik stood back and looked at his ugly masterpiece, “I may not be a good baker or cake decorator, but at least I tried.”

“And I appreciate all your efforts,” Sam told him.

Mik scooped him up and sat down on the couch with Sam on his lap. “Good. I’m glad. Those dishes look intimidating, but I’ll do them later. I just want to hold you now.”

“Want to open my gift?” Sam asked.

Mik nuzzled his nose in the crook of Sam’s neck, eliciting more heat and tantalizing aroma. “Sure,” he murmured, forcing himself to pull away and grab the present sitting next to them.

“Mind helping me?” he asked, brushing his hand up Sam’s thigh with the arm that was wrapped around the younger male.

Sam swallowed, his temperature rising further with the caress. “Sure, if you want.”

“You hold it and I’ll rip,” Mik said, replaceing a spot of paper with a little give to tear while Sam held the gift in his hands.

Pulling away the paper, Mik looked at it in confusion. It was an empty leather photo album.

“To fill it with memories of us together,” Sam said, opening it to the first page that held the only picture—of them at Mik’s birthday party. Sam was sitting on his lap with his head resting in the crook of Mik’s neck.

Mik swallowed as emotion climbed up into his throat.

“I didn’t know what to get you...” Sam confessed in a shy voice when Mik didn’t comment anything.

Setting the album beside him on the couch, he wrapped Sam up in his arms and pressed his lips to his hot neck. “It’s perfect.”