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“Sorry. Sorry. She’s…on the hunt for a man. You know how that is.”

Cullen looked Orion up and down. “I do.”

Oh, that felt so good. His cock hardened, and he leaned forward, his need flaring.Be careful, mate.

I know. I’m trying. Tonight. I promise.

“The pheromones are going to make me want to gnaw on the table.” Yarrow bared his rather impressive front teeth. “Someone might complain, you know.”

He nudged Yarrow gently. “Drink your coffee.”

“What’s good here?” Cullen was pretending to look at the menu.

“I like the pancakes,” Orion offered, “And the egg, potato, and cheese breakfast tacos. They are made of win.”

“I like waffles,” Corbin murmured. “They have pecan ones.”

“Yum.” Yarrow did grin then. “You want to split some tacos and each get a waffle?”

Corbin beamed. “Sure. Though I want two waffles. And bacon.”

“You do you, boo,” Yarrow said. “I’ll skip that part.”

“We could split the tacos and pancakes,” Cullen told him. “No bacon.”

“Sounds great to me, l-old man.” He winked, barely cutting off the “love”.

“Man, no bacon, it must be love.” Or at least really intense heat bond. Either way, he’d take it.

“So what do you have to do after this,” Yarrow asked.

Corbin shrugged. “I think we’re going shopping.”

“We’re absolutely going shopping.” Cullen grinned. “I promised that—”I would bring Elliot home something that he could play with. Some art supplies, maybe a new stuffy. “I would get myself some warm winter clothes.”

Good save.

I know we keep almost making mistakes. It’s hard. I got used to not having to pretend.

He nodded, just barely, because it was true, at least for Cullen. Orion guessed it hadn’t been that long for him, and to be honest, pretending was the easiest part. He’d been a part of the human world for a very long time, and he wanted to fit in and surround himself with all that delicious energy and life.

It was easier for him, too, because it seemed to be easier to believe in unicorns than in dragons.

Personally, he was more worried about things like losing his temper. That tended to make him a little pointy. Injustice didn’t suit him very well.

No, I can imagine you have a finely tuned sense of justice.Cullen winked at him, the wrinkled mask his mate wore just charming as hell.

I like the old man illusion. You’re very good at it.

Don’t talk about it. It has to feel real, hmm? And I’m covering both of us. All three, actually—I can’t seem to not reach out for you.

You’re good to me.

I want to be…

He realized that Corbin was doing a really good job of talking to Yarrow, keeping him distracted while they talked in their heads. He couldn’t help it; he only had eyes for Cullen.

That’s a song.