Brad’s face looked stricken. That was the only word Lionel could think of to describe it. He immediately felt guilty for making his mate feel that way. “Look,” he said hurriedly, wanting to say anything that would make that look go away. “I’ve spent a lot of years on my own. It really doesn’t matter about the pride, and I totally understand how busy you are. If you can just let me know when you’re available to see me, then I can work around it, that’s fine. Honestly, it’s fine.”
“Lionel, don’t be like this,” Brad said quietly. “I know, as my mate, you’re meant to be my first priority, and I know it’s no excuse, but my dad called about our business meeting. And I honestly thought you’d be bored if you came with me. I should’ve asked you. I didn’t give you the chance to decide one way or the other. That was a mistake on my part. This being mated is as much of a transition to me as it probably is to you.
“I’m sorry, I don’t like the idea of leaving voice messages. They just feel unnecessary, especially when I was just checking to see how you were. Now I know I upset you, I’ll leave a message next time.
“Leaving my phone at home was another totally klutzy mistake. Barely ever happens, but all I was thinking was to get the business meeting over so I could come and see you. Inhindsight, I can see how doing that hurt you. I can’t imagine what that felt like for you when I didn’t answer, especially when I should’ve been with you in the first place. That was a shit thing, but it happened, and now we need to put plans in place to make sure last night doesn’t happen again. I want us to be happy together, and that just means I have to tweak the way I do things going forward, especially when I have a lot going on work-wise.”
“You don’t need to do anything different for me,” Lionel said. “That’s not what mating is about. We’re meant to be perfect for each other. We’re meant to fit things in around each other. It’s meant to be easy. But apparently…”
Lionel swallowed down the lump in his throat. “Apparently, it’s easier for people to have other things to do than spend time with me. I’m a big boy, I can handle it. Please don’t worry about it.”
“That is not the way it is at all.” Brad put down what he held and got up from his stool, going around the counter to wrap his arms around Lionel’s middle. As much as Lionel wanted to cling to him, he resisted, settling for resting his hands on Brad’s shoulders.
“There’s so much more you’re not telling me,” Brad said softly, his curls soft against Lionel’s chest. “So many conflicting feelings that go deep. I can sense them in you, even if I don’t know what they’re all about.”
“I don’t know how to put how I’m feeling into words.”Especially in ten minutes.
“Think it then. Let me see.”
It’s not that Lionel could think of anything else. Since the business with Pennington the day before, he felt as though his whole life had imploded. He let his thoughts roam from one memory to another. The numerous times his mother had left him to fail on his own. She constantly told him to run off and play because she was busy with her friends.
The countless times she laughed off his concerns, or refused to hug him when he hurt himself—telling him to just work it out for himself and everything would be fine. That underlying fear that the reason it had taken five-year-old Lionel so long to be found in the well was because Mom didn’t even realize he was missing.
He'd been part of a pride. It wasn’t as though he was completely alone, and Lionel had friends. But then, when he met his mate, the first person he told about being mated slashed his ties with the pride and banished him because Brad wasn’t a lioness.
“Bit of a mess, aye. Bet you regret claiming me now,” Lionel said as Brad’s arms tightened around him. “I won’t even be allowed to see Mom if and when she finally comes home unless she cuts ties with the pride as well. I doubt very much she thinks I’m important enough to do that.”
“Aw, hon, that’s a shit sandwich and a half.”
“It’s not all bad.” Lionel inhaled, determined to pull himself together. “I love Mom. She is who she is and never pretends to be anything she’s not. Thanks to her, I have a lot of experience in working things out for myself, being independent, and I just keep going. I appreciate that you have a very full and busy life and that… yeah… you’ll fit me in where you can, I’m sure.”
“Hey,” Brad said, tapping him lightly on his stomach. “You’re talking like we’re breaking up, something I would not do, even if it were possible. I’m in this with you for the long haul, but this is only our second day. Life happens, hon. We both have lives we were living before we met. We’re both busy, and we’ll learn to work around that so we can make priority time for ourselves, which I want to do with you.
“As for your pride business, I think that totally sucks.” Brad tilted his head slightly. “When I get my phone back, I’ll be sure to leave a message for Dad and let him know we won’t be working on anymore of Pennington’s projects from today onward. I knowthat name, and I know Dad does too. Our withdrawal of services will put a definite kink in Pennington’s plans, especially if other builders refuse to work with him, too.
“But that’s an aside. What’s important is you and me. Just because I’m busy, that’s not a reflection of how I feel about you. I work harder than many I know. I’ve had to prove myself over and over and over again since I was knee high to pup.”
“When was that? Sometime last week?” Lionel chuckled to show he was teasing, relieved when Brad joined in.
“The week before, actually. I promise I will be here by six-thirty,” Brad said, and he sounded happier. “I’ll knock off work about six. Does that work for you? We can spend some time out—go on our first date and spend some time learning more about each other. How about I take you out for dinner?”
“You don’t have to do that.” Lionel didn’t think anyone had invited him out before. Usually he was the one who made the plans, but it was nice that Brad thought of doing it.
“I want to do it. You’re important to me, and while I know we didn’t get off to the best of starts, neither of us could have predicted the events of yesterday. Please, though, don’t forget I want to be with you. I am beyond thrilled and still giddy that you’re my mate, and I’ll be telling people all about it today, I promise. Genuinely, I didn’t think you would want me to say anything until you told your mom. I should’ve clarified that with you.”
“As she’s out of the country, it’s not like she would hear about it from anyone else. I’ll send her a text today. I don’t know where she is half the time, but I’ll let her know.” He dropped a kiss on Brad’s curls and took in his scent before stepping away. “You have work to do, and I’d better get into my office and see how much of my business has been affected by being cut off from the pride. I wasn’t in much of a state to get much done yesterday after Pennington left.”
“You aren’t alone anymore, my mate. You have me and my family on your side. Gods, I can already imagine how pissed Dad’s going to be about Pennington. If I don’t answer a call from you right away, it will be because I can’t get him off the phone.”
Brad stepped into his space again, standing on tiptoes to brush a kiss on Lionel’s chin. “I’ll grab my phone on the way into work, so we can catch up throughout the day, and I’ll be here by six-thirty to take you out for dinner.”
“I’ll be here.” Lionel nodded, making sure he was smiling. He wasn’t sure he felt any happier, but at least Brad would be under no illusions about the type of person he was stuck with now.
I’m just going to have to do better and be better because Brad deserves the best.
Chapter Sixteen
Brad
