Page 8

Chapter Eight

Ethan

H e tastes even better than I imagined.

After all the fated-mates stories I’d heard at Gran’s knee, I hadn’t been certain what would happen when I met mine.

I swallowed him down again, taking him to the back of my throat.

His hips jerked.

I nearly choked, but was able to move back in time.

“Sorry.” Kingston said the word through gritted teeth.

Poor man.

I speared his slit again, then swirled my tongue around his crown.

Another moan.

I drew him deeper into my mouth and raked my teeth gently against him.

“I’m coming.”

That was the only warning I got as he shot hot cum down my throat. I swallowed as best I could, even as he continued pulsing in my mouth.

His breath was coming in short, sharp pants.

Ha. I did that to him.

Blow jobs were my specialty. Or so my various hookups said. And I had no reason to doubt them.

Kingston softened in my mouth.

I swallowed one last time, pressed a kiss to his flaccid dick, and then crawled up his side until I could give him a kiss. A tongue-thrust-in-mouth down’n’dirty kiss.

He grasped my hair and held me in place as he fucked my mouth with his tongue.

I can’t wait for him to fuck my ass. It’ll be so damn good.

For now, though, his cock was exposed to the chilly air, and I didn’t want him getting cold. Reluctantly, I pulled back.

Glazed gray eyes met mine.

“Blanket.”

“Oh.” Slowly, he nodded.

I tucked him back into his briefs and, with his help, put his pants back over his hips. I pulled the blanket over him and tucked him in.

“You?” His glassy eyes were unfocused.

“I’m good.”

“No, I mean—”

“I know what you mean. Reciprocity is not required. I just want you to have a good nap.”

“Cuddle with me?” He closed his eyes. “No one’s every cuddled with me before. No one’s ever made me feel the way you have before.”

I wanted to ask him which way, but he was already drifting.

So I arranged the blanket over both of us and curled into his side.

In rest, he put his arm around me and pulled me closer. For a guy who claimed he didn’t do this, he was doing a pretty damn good job.

I pressed the heel of my hand to my cock—willing it to deflate.

Blue balls never killed anyone. Being here is way more important than an orgasm. And since I hadn’t slept at all last night, I closed my eyes and fell asleep as well.

Hours later, a buzzing pulled me from my reverie.

My ass was vibrating.

Okay, not in a good way.

I snagged Kingston’s phone from my back pocket and held up the screen.

It showed me a text, but not the actual message.

Damn.

“Babe?”

He groaned.

“This might be important.”

His eyes popped open. Clearly he was disoriented, and confused, because he blinked several times while staring at me.

I held his phone up.

He snagged it, entered a passcode, and stared. He cleared his throat. “Well…this is interesting.”

I perked. I liked interesting . “Uh-huh. What?”

“Tabitha and Gillian are amending their request and asking us to join them tonight. Apparently, they want us to meet their friend, Kat.”

“That sounds like fun. I’m always up to meeting new people.”

He squinted at me, as if trying to figure out some great mystery.

I poked his ribs. “She threatened to tell Hallstein. Like, so you need to go. Right?”

“You don’t even know who Hallstein is.”

“Nope.” I grinned. “But you do. And the guy’s important. So text her that we’ll see her at whatever time and which dessert can we bring? Or wine? Or salad?”

His nose wrinkled. He typed out a message with his index finger.

So cute.

I was a proficient two-thumb texter.

His phone buzzed again. “She said dessert would be lovely.”

“Great. Peanut brittle and some kind of cheesecake with fresh fruit.”

“Together?” He wrinkled his nose.

“No. As two things.”

“We’ll stick to just cheesecake. I don’t think peanut brittle counts as a dessert.”

After a moment, his phone buzzed again. “Six o’clock. Casual.” He sighed as he dropped the phone to his chest—an entire three inches. “What have I done?” That came out on a moan.

“Accepted a dinner invitation from two lovely women.” I scooted out of bed. “I need to feed you lunch now so you’re not hangry when we get to their place. Something light. Oh, bean salad.”

“Just no pineapple, okay?”

“Ew. Even I know you don’t mix pineapples and beans. Well—”

“Go, Ethan.” He gave me a scowl, but his voice was laced with amusement.

Four hours later, we sat in Tabitha and Gillian’s beautifully appointed living room. While this room was quite formal, the tour of the rest of the house had shown a well-loved home where the women clearly enjoyed their lives together.

So sweet.

Kat, however, was a different story.

At first, I’d thought Gillian and Tabitha wanted to set Kingston up with Kat.

Which would’ve been cute. Double K .

Except from all the little comments Tabitha made, clearly she believed Kingston, and I were together. Which we were. But we hadn’t been two days ago. So that part confused me.

Kingston and I sat on a rather uncomfortable couch. Gillian and Tabitha sat on a love seat, holding hands.

Super adorable.

Kat leaned against the fireplace and set her gaze on me.

After a long moment, Kingston scooted closer and took my hand.

I appreciated the support.

Kat examined her claws.

Oops. Fingernails. Really, really, really long fingernails.

Finally, she cleared her throat. “I’m going to provide you with the opportunity to amend your previous story. The one about how you found Tabitha’s keys.” She eyed the other woman.

Who straightened her spine. “Kat.”

Kat offered a laissez-faire shrug.

Tabitha pursed her lips.

Her friend returned her laser-intense focus to me.

This time, I cleared my throat. “It’s like I said—”

“No, it’s not like you said. Bluebell’s owner brought homemade cookies to apologize for the hassle.”

“Oh, what kind? My favorite is peanut brittle. Although that isn’t really a cookie. It’s a sweet treat. And not everyone can have it, right? Because of peanut allergies. Although they’ve discovered that if you expose people who are allergic to just a taste every day that eventually they’re, like, cured or something. I can find the study. Truly fascinating. Because, let’s be honest, being allergic to peanuts would suck. Isn’t peanut butter just the best food ever? Invented right here in Canada. Oh, or did she bring sugar cookies? Those are Kingston’s favorite. Especially vanilla-flavored. I wanted to bring those tonight, but Kingston said we had to go elegant, and that was cheesecake and, of course, fresh fruit on the top. Can I have the kiwi slice? Oh, and can Kingston have the strawberry? He just loves berries…”

I didn’t yelp when Kingston squeezed my hand—but it was a damn close thing.

Kat blinked. Several times. Finally, she gave a little shake of her head. Her gorgeous mane of blonde hair shimmered in the firelight.

Gas fires weren’t good for the environment, but Gillian assured me they only used it for special occasions and when the weather was super chilly out.

Like tonight.

More cold rain forecasted.

“Okay.” Kat let out a long breath. “What kind of shifter are you?”

Kingston’s grip on my hand tightened.

I glanced at him.

He met that gaze and gave me a quick shake of his head.

“Oh, Mr. Locksmith, the question goes for you as well.” She blew on her nails, then flexed her fingers.

“Holy shit.”

All eyes turned to look at me.

“You’re a lioness shifter.” So damn obvious now I had a moment of clarity.

Her cat eyes glinted.

Kingston drew in a sharp breath.

She waved him off. “I’m not going to shift. I’d destroy the furniture and my best friend would kill me.”

“So would her wife.” Gillian arched an eyebrow at the queen of the land before focusing her attention on me. “I am, apparently, the only non-shifter in the room.”

I gaped. “But you know?”

Kat snickered. “My bestie was so besotted that she couldn’t keep a secret. Well, I might’ve also given her permission.” She pivoted her attention to me. “But the rule about humans not finding out about us stands. How you’ve managed to keep the secret for twenty years is beyond me.”

“Hey!”

She arched an eyebrow.

“I’m twenty-four.”

“Still a baby.”

Yet I didn’t figure she was that much older than me. Still… “Squirrel.”

Tabitha guffawed.

Even the quelling look from Kat didn’t put a dent in her obvious amusement. “Oh, that’s priceless. Of course you found my keys.”

“Hey, that was hard work.”

“And our poor neighbor is completely mystified.” Gillian didn’t appear quite as amused.

“Oh.” I winced.

Kat waved me off. “Tabitha told Fania she’d mentioned seeing Bluebell, and you’d put two and two together and decided there must be a thieving dog in the neighborhood. Fania’s promised to keep better track of her wayward dog.”

This time, Kingston snickered. “Oh, cute.”

All three women turned to him.

“Amusing?” Kat cocked her head, again flexing her fingers like claws.

Kingston swallowed. Hard. Yet his gaze never faltered. “Racoon.”

Gillian wagged her finger. “Is it true racoons can open locks?”

“I’m going to say urban legend because, even if true, I’d never give away my species’ secrets.” He jutted his chin at Tabitha.

“Owl.” She grinned.

I nearly bounced off the couch. “Oh God, do you belong to a parliament of owl shifters? I mean, how cool is that? Okay, maybe not as much as a pride—” I nodded to Kat. “—but still really neat. And you can’t shift while you’re pregnant, right? Because—” I winced. “Hey!” Finally, I glared at Kingston. He didn’t have to squeeze my hand so hard I was certain circulation was cut.

Tabitha laughed. “Yes, that’s true.” She patted her flat stomach. “The reason we’re not having a shifting party in the basement. I don’t like to be left out. FOMO is a thing.”

Gillian rolled her eyes. “And yes, I’m going to be a mother to owl-shifter babies. That’s…mind-blowing.”

“You’ll help them embrace their human side.” Kat’s eyes softened. Then she pivoted her attention back to me. “You need to be more careful.”

“But—”

She glared.

I shrank.

A bit.

Kingston cleared his throat. “In his defense—”

“Was I speaking to you?” Kat growled.

“Uh…no, ma’am.” He shrank just that little bit as well. Normally he was self-possessed and strong. In the face of a lioness, though, he knew better. She’d eat him for a snack, spit out the bones, and then go find a coyote and bear for dinner.

“So, Squirrel…”

“Yes?” I perked.

“You’re going to be more careful. None of this almost getting caught. You do what humans do. I can’t believe, at—” She waved her hand around.

“Twenty-four.”

“—twenty-four, that you haven’t learned this most important lesson.”

“Oh no, I know. Gran tells me all the time. Just…” I shrugged, trying to find the right words. “I could help. Why would I not help?”

“Because discovery is more important than getting a few locks changed.” Her gaze settled on Tabitha.

“I blame Bluebell.” She shrugged. “But I’ll be more careful in the future.”

Gillian raised her hand. “I didn’t have lunch, and I’m starving. If we’re done with the whole blaming and shaming and lecturing, could we eat?”

I liked her. Enough gumption to stand up to the lioness. “Have you ever—”

She shot me an amused look. “Yes, I’ve seen them both shifted. They run up near Whistler sometimes. I get to hang around and watch their clothes. I look forward to having a baby to occupy my time.” She pressed her hand to Tabitha’s belly.

Kat blew out a long breath. “You always manage to undermine me.”

“You started it.” Gillian met her stare.

I cocked my head.

Tabitha grinned. “My favorite troublemakers. Do you want to start with dessert? I can see you salivating for the kiwi slice.” She favored Kingston with a smile. “And berries, eh? Should’ve guessed racoon right away.”

Which signaled the end of the confab.

Dinner proved to be absolutely delightful as we touched on a range of topics from politics—human and shifter—to philosophy and religion. Then we moved to entertainment. Gillian recounted her adventures as a contestant on Finding Love in All the Right Places . I’d watched the lesbian dating show last year. I should’ve recognized her right away, but my mind hadn’t gone there. I’d been too obsessed Friday night with keys and tonight with not being eaten by a lioness.

Kat butted into the conversation by adding that Tabitha had been the executive producer and extremely jealous of the other women’s interest in Gillian—whom she perceived as hers .

Both women shot glares at Kat.

There’s a story here. I’m not going to ask…but I am going to search on the internet when I get home tonight…assuming I’m not having fun with Kingston.

Kingston who never watched reality television and didn’t have a clue what we were talking about.

I said we’d watch.

Gillian begged us not to, saying she was a different person now.

Since she hadn’t known shifters existed before being on the show, then I had to agree with that.

We didn’t eat the cheesecake first, instead enjoying a meal of vegetarian lasagna—with a side of steak for Kat—and asparagus with cheese sauce.

I chatted the entire drive home as Kingston stared moodily at the streetlamps.

Only when we were safely in the garage, did I venture to say what was really on my mind. “Are you ashamed of me?”

“What?” He scowled. “Why would you say that?”

“Because you didn’t tell them. That we’re mates.”

He sputtered out a laugh. “Uh, dear Ethan. You went on at least thirty monologues—”

“Hey!”

“—don’t interrupt.”

I harrumphed.

“And you didn’t say anything either. I kept waiting for you to just spill the beans…but you didn’t. I figured you must’ve had a good reason.”

“I was, uh, trying to be discreet…?”

Another laugh. “Indiscreet is your middle name. You don’t know how to keep your mouth shut. As Kat asked, how did you get to be twenty-four without telling the human world about shifters?”

“Uh…” I scrunched my nose. “Because Gran asked me not to. I might be a continual disappointment to my dad, but I never want Gran to be upset with me.”

“Your dad doesn’t always sound like a nice man. In fact, I can’t remember you saying very much that’s nice about him.”

“Oh.” I frowned. “Well…huh.” More thought. “He’s not a bad man. Just set in his ways. You saw tonight.”

“Saw what?”

“Squirrels are close to the bottom of the pecking order.” I scratched my nose. “I mean, mice and rats are lower, but generally rodents are near the bottom. We only rank a bit above because we’re so pretty.” I tucked my hands under my chin and batted my eyelashes.

He sighed. “It’s still not right. And I didn’t see it tonight—that the women treated you as lesser than. I think I more noticed how we all deferred to Kat.”

“Except Gillian.”

“Yeah, you noticed that too, eh? She’s seen Kat in her lioness form and still doesn’t cower.”

“What do you think it would be like to cuddle with a lioness shifter?”

He barked out a laugh. “Well, unless you have a hankering to do it, I doubt Kat would be interested.”

My eyes widened. “Not me.” I pressed a hand to my chest. “I meant, like, anyone who chooses Kat as a partner. Does she…I mean, would she need to end up with a lion shifter? And, while we’re asking questions…how did a lioness shifter wind up in Vancouver? British Columbia? Canada?”

“I honestly don’t know. If we ever see her again, you’re free to ask her.” He grinned.

“Which you know will never happen.”

“Our paths might cross—”

“I mean that I’ll never have the guts to ask her.”

“Ah, but I might.” He held my gaze. “Come to bed?”

“With pleasure.”