"It didn't hurt, Daddy."
"Good." I know I had tears in my eyes when I glanced up at Stalker.
He smiled and drew me into his arms, hugging me close. "He's fine, mate."
I was pretty sure he was, as well, and that was such a relief. "So, we're both part of the pride now?"
I had to be sure.
"You are indeed," Stalker said with obvious enjoyment. "Mated and bonded to Alpha Sinclair's panther pride."
My father was going to shit kittens.
Chapter Nine
Opening my eyes, I knew instantly that something was different. It took me a moment to realize that I wasn't sleeping in my own bed. With that knowledge came the memory of mating Jojo and joining the pride the previous day.
The question was, where was my mate?
I rolled out of bed and reached for my jeans, which had been carelessly kicked to the floor in my haste to get Jojo back into bed last night. I knew there was a sexual component to any mating, but I had never known it would be so intense. Merely breathing in Jojo's scent made my cock harder than a rock.
Thinking about him.
Touching him.
Pretty much anything to do with Jojo made me hard.
I pulled my pants up and zipped them then wandered out of the bedroom. I heard laughing before I even reached the living room. I stopped at the end of the hallway and stared at the scene before me. Something tugged at my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Jojo was sitting on the couch drinking something from a cup. He had his feet tucked up under him and a smile on his face as he watched Tommy play on the floor with a small kitten. Tommy was the one laughing, and it was a beautiful sound.
"I see Bob found you," I said as I sauntered out, walking over to sit down next to Jojo. "He said he wanted to get Tommy a cat."
"I remember you mentioning that."
I leaned in and puckered my lips, wanting my morning kiss. Jojo pressed a quick kiss to my lips. I wasn't having that. I took the cup from his hand and set it on the table then hauled Jojo into my arms, all to the sounds of his laughter.
"Daddy, why are you kissing Stalker?"
Oh crap.
I slowly leaned back and glanced at Tommy. I so wasn't answering that question. I grinned at Jojo. "You're up, Dad."
Jojo rolled his eyes before turning to look at Tommy. "Stalker is Daddy's mate, Tommy. Do you remember what that means?"
Tommy nodded. "It means you and Stalker love each other, right?"
My eyes rounded. I wasn't sure we loved each other at this point, but the potential was there. We were mates after all. From what I'd witnessed watching the others, love came and it came quickly. I wasn't against the idea.
I could feel myself falling already.
"Yes, something like that," Jojo said. "It also means that we're going to live here with Stalker now."
"Can my kitty live here, too?"
"Uh…" Jojo glanced at me. "Your turn."
I chuckled as I reached down to pick up Tommy's kitten. I held the little thing up, looking it over. "He can stay, Tommy, but you have to help take care of him. You have to make sure he has food and fresh water every day, that he has a good place to sleep at night, and that you play with him often. Do you think you can do that?"
