Page 71 of This Mate Thing

His eyes pop open.

Right, no growls.

"Hop to it, love.Shoes on."

I step into my shoes and reach for the door handle.

"You're serious?"

I turn to look at him, confused."About what?"

"About heading out to lunch."

"You don't want to?"

He shifts his weight a little."I...eh...yeah, but...it's expensive, and I'm sure there are some leftovers we can--"

"Shoes on.We're heading out."

A few minutes later, I'm steering my car toward the city.Simon is a little fidgety in the passenger seat, and I glance at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

The answer came way too fast.

"Simon?"

He sighs."I'm not comfortable with you taking care of me, of us.I mean, I'm grateful, but..."

I nod."I'm not trying to take away your freedom."I'm trying to give him some.

"No, I know, but I've always taken care of myself.I can't...give up."

I tried to search his tone for a deeper meaning.Give up his freedom by tying himself to me?By accepting this mating?A knot forms in my gut."We'll do everything at your pace."Fuck, I hope he won't shut me out again.I don't know if my heart can take it.

He frowns at me."What?"

"If you're scared about what accepting this mating will mean, we'll slow down.I never meant to pressure you.All I want is to be near you, but if you need a break, I'll accept that.And I know I can be a bit...much.I'll try to tone it down.Be less...dramatic."I roll my eyes at myself, but when he says nothing, I wince.Fuck.

He takes a deep breath."I meant, I know I don't have a job right now, but I'm not comfortable living on your income.I'm not comfortable being a kept man.I need to earn my own money."

I stare at him, and it isn't until the car behind me honks, I realize I've slowed down."Fuck."I press on the gas pedal again."You don't want me to buy you lunch?"

He makes a frustrated sound."I do, but I want to buy you lunch too.Not right now since I don't have any money to waste on lunch, but when I get another job."

"You want another job?"

I can tell by thesilence, it wasn't the question he expected.I make sure I have my foot on the right pedal before I look at him.

"Yes, of course."

I frown but focus on the traffic again.Does he look down on people who don't have jobs?"I'm...eh...I don't think I want a job right now."

Silence.

Then he clears his throat."How long can you go without having to work?"