Seb eyed him as though expecting him to elaborate. Tim covered his face with his hands and tried to think of the best way to put it. “I’m not out of control or anything, but being this close to you makes me want to—”Stay with you, keep you safe, because you’re mine. Or you could be.
“Want to what?” Seb licked his lips.
Tim breathed through his mouth, trying to avoid scenting the air because he recognised the look Seb was now giving him—intentionally or not.
“I want to take you into that bedroom and—”Bite you,his mind helpfully supplied.Oh shit.“—and keep you safe,” he added lamely. He stood up and tried to walk calmly into the kitchen while his heart pounded. “I think I’m going to nip out and get you the basics now. Milk, bread, cheese, anything else?”
He needed to get out of there just to get himself together.
“Um….” Seb looked at him as though Tim had lost his mind, and Tim didn’t blame him. “Maybe some bacon. Oh, and crisps.” He pulled his wallet out, frowning as he peered inside. “I don’t have any cash on me, but if you—”
Tim waved him away. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You don’t have to pay for my food. I’m not a charity case, you know.”
Seb refused to meet Tim’s gaze; obviously money was a sore point.
“I know that.” Tim realised he had no idea what Seb did for a living or if he was getting paid while he was off sick. “It’s only a few essentials. We can sort it out later.”
“Okay.”
Seb relaxed a little, and Tim took it as his cue to leave before anything else was said. He paused at the entrance to the hall. The thought of leaving Seb here alone seemed wrong, but he’d have to do it eventually. Might as well use this as a trial run. “You’ll be all right while I’m gone?”
Seb huffed out a laugh, albeit a tiny one. “I think I’ll manage. And no, I won’t answer the door,” he added, reading Tim’s mind. “In fact, take my keys, then I don’t have to get up and let you back in.”
“Good idea.” Tim scooped them out of Seb’s outstretched hand and left before he could change his mind.
Fortunately there was a Tesco Express a couple of hundred metres from Seb’s flat. Tim headed in that direction as soon as he’d checked the vicinity was clear of shifters. Pulling out his phone, he then sent Nathan a text as he marched along the pavement.
Took S home. I want to bite him.
Nathan’s reply was immediate, all in shouty caps.
WTF? GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE NOW.
In hindsight, maybe not the best opener.I’m not going to actually do it, I just wanted to. Never felt that strongly before. Wanted some advice. Then as an afterthought, because he could easily picture Nathan halfway to his van by now,And I’m walking to the shop.
The next reply he got sounded a lot less angry.
Ok good.He’s in danger, it’s a natural reaction. Have you scented him?
No.
Do it. That should help. Having sex would help more, settle down your wolf. Make him smell like he’s yours.
Fuck, just the thought of that gave Tim a semi. He adjusted his jeans as subtly as possible.I think I’ll stick with the scenting for now.
Ok. It’ll take the edge off, trust me.
Thanks.
Before he knew it, he was back at Seb’s front door, fumbling with the keys.
“Sebastian?” he shouted up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Not that he was worried, but he just wanted to see him—confirm that nothing bad had happened in the forty minutes he’d been gone.
“Just a sec.” The reply sounded slightly muffled, and Tim reached the top step just as Seb came out of his bedroom, wrestling a T-shirt over his head while still keeping hold of his crutch. He’d put on a low-slung pair of shorts, and the combination left a wide expanse of skin on show, complete with a dark blond happy trail.
