Page 68 of This Mate Thing

"Why did you sound like that?"

"My mate is trying to leave me."

I roll my eyes and escape into the kitchen."Where are you taking Ira?"

"It's a secret mission, Simon.We can't tell you."

I narrow my eyes."You're stealing my son from me?"

"Yes."

"Will you take him somewhere dangerous?"

"You're hurting my feelings."He splays a hand over his heart in a dramatic gesture."I'm the fiercest protector, and you're doubting my ability to keep Ira safe."

I didn't, but..."Where are you taking him?"

There is a gleam in his eyes I don't trust."You'll never find out."

"Have you ever met a seven-year-old?I don't need torture to get answers."

He grins."You wouldn't.You'd hurt Ira's feelings."

Fuck.The smug expression on his face tells me he knows he's won."Now."He walks closer."Where were we?"He grabs my hand and pulls me closer.

"I don't know.Where were we?The hallway, right?Do you want to go back there?"

He purrs."I don't care where we are as long as I can have you."

Have me.Have me how?"Eh..."

"You're thinking too much, my darling."

True, but..."What are we doing, Boris?"

He looks into my eyes, the playfulness gone, and I almost regret asking."We're doing whatever you want us to do."

I grimace.It's not fair to him."You can't..."I wave a hand, and he sighs.

He reaches for the back of one of the kitchen chairs, drags it out, and sits.Then he pulls me down on his lap.I'm too startled to resist.I don't think I've ever been on a man's lap before.Not in many, many years at least.

He slips a hand under the fabric of my shirt and caresses my back, but it's in a comforting way, not meant to arouse.

"Here's the thing."He places his other hand on my thigh."You're my mate.Shifters have one mate,one.You're mine."

I nod despite it sounding insane.

"I know you don't feel what I feel right now, and it's fine."

"It's not."

"Yes, it is, because we're different.I'm not gonna lie, these last couple of weeks have been hell.I've been going out of my mind knowing you and Ira are here and don't want me around.But it doesn't matter.Whatever you do, whatever you say, whatever you want, it doesn't matter.You can reject me your entire life, and I'll still want you.You'll still be my everything."

I wish he'd stop talking.I don't know how to deal with this.

He smiles."It's not a bad thing, Simon."

"Yes, it is.It sounds awful.You can't be fine with...wanting me and never having me?"