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Nicholas cupped his cheek once more. “What you need right now isn’t sex but a real connection. Something solid to build on. So I thought that… maybe we could, you know, date for a while.”

The sweetness of Nicholas’s words and tone robbed Jake of breath for a moment.

Nicholas sighed. “A lot has changed for both of us, and we need to get to know each other all over again. We need to get back into the headspace where we’re both safe and whole and holding on to one another, waiting for the storm to pass. And with time—and help—itwillpass.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against Jake’s in a chaste kiss. “Right now you need to work on being Jake Carson again. I understand that completely. And I’ll stand by your side on this journey if you want me there. I’ve waited all these years to have you back, and I’ll be honest, even if sex is never on the table, I’llstillwant you.”

Jake smirked. “Sex on the table? Got some kinky fantasies going on there, Doc?”

He laughed. “And there you go with that smokescreen again. The only fantasy I have right now is of living the rest of my life with you. That’s all I want. The rest is merely icing on the cake.”

“Huh. First tables, now icing.” Jake managed a grin. “I like the way you think.” Before Nicholas could utter another word, Jake laid a single finger on his lips. “The humor helps, okay? It’s a coping mechanism. And I love the idea of weathering this storm with you at my side. Because I get the feeling I’m about to sail into a shitstorm of epic proportions, and I’m going to need a port to come home to. I needyou.”

Nicholas squeezed his hand. “You’ve got me. I’ll do whatever it takes to be there for you.”

Jake swallowed. “Would that include giving up your single bed in the basement and moving into my room? At least while you’re here. I don’t want to sleep alone. And I think having your arms around me might quell some of the nightmares.”

Nicholas grinned. “I’m going downstairs now to shove all my stuff into my bag and bring it to your room.”

Jake had to smile. “You really like that idea, huh?”

He chuckled. “What gave it away?”

“You know what else is going to take some time? Catching up with the world. When I was first captured, phones were things that plugged into a wall, or else you found them in a phone booth on the street corner. I wasgazing around the table this evening, and everyone has a cell phone. I mean,everyone. And as for the internet….” He shook his head. “What else have they come up with?”

Nicholas chuckled. “If you think that’s impressive, wait until you see the new sex toys. Remote controls and everything.” Jake stared at him, and he laughed. “And no, that isn’t a joke. I could put something in your ass and with a touch on my phone, I could have it vibrating even if I was in a different state. Or on a different continent.”

Jake was on another planet. It was the only explanation.

Nicholas chuckled once more. “So many things you need to learn about…. You missed the first Fleshlights, for one thing.” Jake gave him an inquiring glance, and Nicholas waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it now. I’ll show you. I have one. And then there’s the Magic Wand.”

“That gizmo for massaging aching muscles?” Miranda had bought one for him.

Nicholas roared. “Oh, sweetheart, you reallydohave some catching up to do.”

Jake smiled. “Sweetheart. I like that.”

He could cope with everything this brave new world had to throw at him—as long as he had his family and Nicholas.

Don’t forget. Somewhere out there, we have another mate.

Hearing Nicholas inside his head was easier to accept than the idea of a remote-controlled sex toy. Then a thought occurred to him.

“What if our mate is a she? Would you be okay with that?”

Nicholas smiled. “Why don’t you ask Crank that question? Because while Roadkill—or maybe it was Hashtag—might have dubbed him the gayest straight guy ever, he’d never considered being in a gay relationship until he discovered Saul and Vic were his mates. And what’s he like now? As the younger generation is fond of saying, he’s totally loved up. So to answer your question, yes, I’d be okay with that. Because she would be our mate, and I can’t believe some higher power would bring us together if there was even the merest possibility that we wouldn’t be compatible.” He rubbed his thumb in slow circles on the back of Jake’s hand. “The same higher power that gave you your gifts for a reason.” He looked Jake in the eye. “I also believe it’s no coincidence we freed you at this point in time. You’re supposed to be here. You have a very important task to perform, one that might change the course of shifter history.”

The hairs on the back of Jake’s neck stood to attention, and his arms prickled into a carpet of goose bumps. He couldn’t argue that point.

Not when he’d had the same thought.

“Hey, you two. Can you come inside for a minute?” Dellan hollered from the French doors.

Nicholas held on to Jake’s hand. “Let’s go spend some time with our new family.” He chuckled. “Funny how things turn out. I’ve been alone all these years, and now I have a mate, and by extension three stepsons andtheirmates.” He led Jake into the kitchen—

“Surprise! Happy birthday, Doc!”

There was thecrackof party poppers, a cacophony of noisemakers, and suddenly there was glitter everywhere. On the table sat a cake, and even though Jake had told Mrs. Landon what he wanted, he had to laugh when he saw it so well executed.

Nicholas guffawed. “It’s an elephant wearing a party hat.” Draped over its back was a banner bearing the words 60 TODAY. He turned to Jake, his eyes shining. “This is your doing.”