Page 21 of High Stakes and Soulmates (Fanged Mistakes #3)

CYRUS

A noise outside the room wakes me and I slowly open my eyes before realizing that my head is faaaaar too close to Ezio’s.

What’s even worse is that my leg is tossed over his and my arm has wandered over his chest like I plan to squeeze him to me like my life depends on it.

Like what the fuck was I doing? I’m over here clinging to him like a koala attached to a tree and he’s still lying there like a fucking board!

And didn’t this take some work with him above the covers?

It’s as though I was prepared to ditch the covers just to mold myself to him.

I try to retract my limbs. Just… sloooooowly draw them off his body before he can wake up and I’ll be forced to live with the atrocity of what I’ve done for the rest of my life.

Ezio’s head snaps over and his eyes lock with mine.

I freeze… which… why the fuck would I freeze?

How does freezing mid grope help in this situation?

“I was good,” he whispers. “I was so good.”

“There was a fly,” I say. “I was reaching over… to shoo it off.”

“Four hours ago?”

For fuck’s sake, I’ve been over here groping the man for four hours ?

I retract my limbs and clear my throat. “I fell asleep mid-swat.”

“Ah. Of course. I hate when that happens. Did you get it? The fly?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m glad.”

“Uh… do you want to use the bathroom first or should I?”

“I went into a meditative state so I’m okay… wait… you mean to get dressed.”

“What the fuck do you think I meant?” I ask.

“I don’t know! You were like… consuming my body with your own. It was a very difficult situation!”

“Why didn’t you push me off?”

“You really think I’d push off the man of my dreams?” he asks. “How much resolve do you think I have? I mean… I’m good but not that good.”

“Fuck,” I mutter.

“Fuck is right,” he says. “You seemed to sleep well, at least.”

“I take it you didn’t.”

“One doesn’t need sleep when they’re in paradise.”

“You are absolutely ridiculous,” I decide as I quickly get out of bed.

He just laughs while he rolls onto his side and hugs a pillow, and when I look over at him, I try not to find the look kind of cute. What the hell is wrong with me?

I take a deep breath and hurry into the bathroom to change. The only issue is that I did not knock on the door, which means that I come face to face with a very naked Yorick. And as I take it all in, I realize that I shouldn’t have been in such a rush to get away from Ezio.

“Fuck,” I cry.

“Oh, how titillating that you’d choose to just slip on in when I have no trousers on. Does Ezio know about this?” Yorick asks.

“I… didn’t… knock! I’m so sorry!”

“It’s okay. I was getting out of the shower and listening to you two talk about spooning. Did you have fun?” he asks as I slam the door in his face. I can still hear his cackles through the door.

“So you cuddle me all night and are already moving on to other men?” Ezio asks.

“No! Just… face that way, I’m going to change. You better have your eyes closed.”

“Yes, of course. Completely closed.”

I grab my clothes and check to see if Ezio’s eyes are closed, which they dutifully are, so I whip my pants and shirt off just as the bathroom door flings open. “It’s all yours. Oh my…”

“Why do you get to see him naked before I do?” Ezio cries.

“I’m not naked! I have underwear on. All of you are the worst.”

“I’m just saying that I like what I see,” Yorick says. “You got to see mine, I got to see yours. How fun.”

I hurriedly pull my clothes on and slip into the bathroom where I slam and lock the door, leaving Yorick in the room with Ezio. And then once my teeth are brushed and I’m ready for the day, I escape from having to face either of them by leaving through Yorick’s room.

“Somehow, I survived,” I declare to Julian, who is opening a delivery bag.

“Yeah? You know you didn’t even have to stay here? Since you’re human, you could have stayed at your house and driven in this morning since it’s like ten minutes from here,” Julian says as I stare daggers at him, especially because that’s the moment Ezio chooses to walk out.

“I… didn’t… want to miss anything,” I decide on.

Julian grins. “That’s understandable. Sounds like there was a lot to miss out on while you slept.”

“You can wipe that grin off your face. Nothing happened.”

“Nope. I was very good. I tried so hard,” Ezio says.

“Was something else hard?” Yorick asks.

“No, no, no. I was a perfect gentleman. I pulled upon my two hundred and so years of training,” Ezio assures everyone.

Julian is all smiles as he hands me a donut.

“Did you look the delivery lady in the eyes when she handed this to you?” I ask, positive that we should talk about him instead of me.

“I sure did not,” Julian says. “I made sure to tick the ‘leave at the door’ option.”

That makes the rest of us laugh. As soon as we’re done eating, we head downstairs as a group with Casimir proudly leading Gustov.

There are dogs everywhere, and Gustov is positive that every one of them wants to be his friend. He’s over there in heaven and, judging by the grin on Casimir’s face every time Gustov gets a compliment, Casimir is too. He hurries over to the booth to sign up as Julian shakes his head.

“He is far too excited about this,” he says. “Like… these dogs look ready for business, and Gustov looks the part but isn’t acting the part.”

“What do you mean he’s not acting the part?” Ezio asks as Gustov bounds toward us, hair flying, legs going everywhere. He’s far too excited.

Casimir is all smiles when he returns. “There were no ‘best dog alive’ competitions, so I signed Gustov up for Rally.”

“What is Rally?”

“No fucking idea but he’s going to win it. I wanted to be able to watch, so Julian, you’ll take him in since he listens to you better than anyone else in the group. But you can’t dally too long because I signed you up for agility right after.”

“You think Gustov is going to do agility?” Julian asks with a laugh. “This will be entertaining.”

“No, not Gustov. I signed you up. Ezio will be your handler,” he says. “I will be recording and sending it to your father, of course. Oh, I can’t wait to see his reaction. He’s going to love it.”

Julian gives him a look of disbelief. “Casimir! I can’t just go… run some freaking agility course!”

“No one is going to suspect a thing. You’re pretty small for a werewolf. People will just think you have more wolf in you than dog.”

He doesn’t seem convinced by this. “How about I put a leash on you and trot you around?”

“If that’s what you want, your one true love will permit it,” he says.

Julian just keeps glowering at him, but Casimir is fully unaffected. Honestly, he looks quite pleased with himself.

We walk around for a bit, and Casimir buys Gustov a new collar and a treat which cost more than was necessary for a dog that consumed it without even tasting it. Then we head over to the ring so we can watch a few dogs go before we do.

“Does… Does Gustov know any of this?” Julian asks, looking quite skeptical.

“Gustov doesn’t have to know any of this; he will get a perfect score just by being present,” Casimir declares.

“Says the man who will be watching and not embarrassing himself with it,” Julian grumbles as he takes the leash from Casimir. “You owe me so much shit after this. You chose to embarrass me both as a human and a wolf. There will be payback.”

“Sexy payback?” Casimir asks, sounding quite curious. “Because if it’s sexy payback, there were a ton of classes I wanted to put you in.”

“Ha. Funny.”

Julian sighs and leads Gustov up to the gate. He takes him inside and Gustov has his eyes fixated on him.

“He’s… actually paying attention. Impressive,” Ezio says.

“My Gustov knows when it’s showtime. He’s the absolute best dog to have ever existed. Have we not gone over this?” Casimir asks.

“You tried to eat him,” Ezio reminds him.

“I also tried to eat you,” Casimir says. “I bet you’d have been delicious.”

Ezio still has the ability to look offended, as if he could possibly be surprised after all this time that Casimir is a monster. “You love me!”

“I probably wouldn’t have eaten all of you,” he says as, out on the course, Julian takes off the leash.

“Why… did you sign him up for the one where you take the leash off? Isn’t that more advanced?” I ask.

“Because Gustov has advanced beyond all dogs,” he declares.

“Uh-huh… Okay,” I say while Julian starts walking and Gustov happily walks by his side…

though prances is probably the better word.

He’s like a model showing off as he picks each foot up with far too much lift, and when Julian calls for a sit at the next sign that tells him what to do, Gustov sits beautifully.

“That’s my boy. I knew he was the best,” Casimir gushes as Julian tells him to lie down. Gustov is more than happy to do it.

“Good thing they let you give them treats. It sounds like real competitions don’t allow you to treat them,” Yorick says when Julian treats Gustov before calling him to heel. I look over at Casimir, who is like a beaming father watching his child do a holiday play.

This is so ridiculous.

“Did you see that turn? I bet there’s never been a better turn in all of dogkind,” he says as Gustov hops up with a bit too much enthusiasm. It doesn’t seem like proud father Casimir has realized what’s happening here when Gustov’s entire body tenses.

“Gustov, stand,” Julian orders, and I guess that means “spring” to Gustov because he leaps to his feet and bolts.

The little course has a small fence that Gustov could easily jump, but at least he stays inside his area as he flies around the course, completely out of control.

His hair is flying, the people watching are laughing.

He wipes out a sign and does a somersault, but he’s back up and even dodges Julian who is trying to catch him.

“Wow, the obedience, the skill, the best dog in the world,” Yorick deadpans.