Alex lifted his hand. “It’s a gift. Don’t worry a second about any of that.”
Kenji sighed. “Thank you.”
Alex smiled. “You’ve already thanked me.”
He disappeared through the curtain. Kenji collected his clothing and folded them into a pile. After tugging his no-show socks and running shoes back on—even though he’d noticed many people had walked barefoot, likely for ease of shifting—he came out with his arm loaded. He showed his shoed feet to Alex.
“This okay?”
Alex lifted his robe a bit, displaying a pair of Nikes underneath. “I know it’s super clean here, but I’m not walking out in public without shoes on.”
Kenji chuckled. He already liked Alex very much.
After the clerk gave him a cloth tote to carry his clothing in, they exited the shop and found Qylar and Cryss both holding a sleepy-looking child in their arms, waiting for them. Qylar turned and met his gaze. He gasped, his lips parting. His eyes widened as he gave Kenji the once over.
Kenji’s face warmed at Qylar’s perusal. “Is this okay?”
Qylar closed the gap between them, never taking his gaze from Kenji’s. He gently traced his fingertip from Kenji’s exposed sternum down the deep open vee in the front of the robe and stopped where the fabric crossed and tied. “The color suits you.”
Aeloran turned his head, still tucked under Qylar’s chin. He smiled bashfully at Kenji before hiding his face again.
“What do you think, Ael? Does Kenji look nice in his new robe?”
Ael peeked and nodded, grinning.
“Thank you, Ael,” Kenji said, smiling at the boy.
“Kenji, I’d love to show you around more,” Alex said. “But I think I need to get home and put my feet up. Q can give you the rest of the tour.”
“I think we all need to get back to the apartment to rest,” Qylar replied, still staring at Kenji.
“A nap sounds good,” Kenji said, all while hoping Qylar might slide into bed with him.
One side of Qylar’s mouth curled up, hinting he might’ve had the same idea.
“Let’sallgo take a nap,” Cryss murmured with a grin before gazing down at an already passed out Zaadi.
CHAPTER 15
Finally alone in the guest suite, Qylar sat on the bed and drew Kenji closer to stand between his spread thighs. From the moment he’d seen his mate in the robe, all he could think about was leaving it in a puddle beside the bed as soon as possible. Now was his chance.
“You look good,” Qylar said, looking up at Kenji.
Kenji wrapped his arms around Qylar’s shoulders. “You haven’t been able to stop looking at me since I put this thing on.”
“I’ve been wondering if you’ve got anything on underneath it and that broke my brain.” He drew up the bottom of the robe, slowly exposing skin. He snorted with laughter when the first thing he found were Kenji’s pair of bright white Adidas running shoes still on.
“What?”
“Most Nefyrians go shoeless.”
Kenji kicked them off without releasing his neck. “The human in me likes wearing shoes in public spaces.”
Qylar drew Kenji closer. “In private spaces, the Nefyrian in me… wants to be the Nefyrian in you.”
Kenji grinned and sat on Qylar’s lap. “Both sides of me approve of that suggestion.”
Qylar lifted Kenji’s chin and claimed a kiss. He growled, need mounting. “I nearly went into that shop and dragged you out. I’m not used to sharing you with other people.”
