Silas couldn’t find it in himself to argue.
Chapter Seven
––––––––
CRAEG EXITED HIS ENSUITEbathroom, his boxers secure around his hips.For so many decades, he’d slept in the nude, but with his inexperienced, young mate beside him in bed, he’d rustled up a few pairs to sleep in.He wouldn’t say it was the most comfortable, but he figured it made Silas feel better.
After all, I saw the way my mate stared in shock at my shaft when we were naked in the cave.
Anythin’ for my Silas.
Even with clothes on, Craeg knew he wasn’t hiding his erection, what with the way it jutted from his body, tenting his boxers.He couldn’t help it.Seeing Silas waiting in bed for him was just too provocative a sight.
Patience.I can have patience.
Craeg kept repeating that to himself as he crawled into bed beside Silas.His mate was sitting up, his back against the headboard, with the blanket pulled around his waist.He wore a thin gray tank top, and Craeg saw the top of his shorts peeking above the edge of the covers.
So fuckin’ sexy.
Wait.No.Patience.
Even though waiting was the last thing Craeg wanted to do, and his minke whale encouraged him to forge their bond asap, Craeg resisted.He smiled at Silas as he slipped his arm around his shoulders.Cuddling his mate close—loving how his much smaller mate practically sank into his embrace—Craeg stared down at him.
“Hey, sweets,” Craeg crooned, pressing a kiss to where his hair met his forehead.“How are ya doin’?”
Craeg knew they’d had a good, but tough day.Forcing his mate to meet his alpha and beta had been a difficult choice.Seri had been the one to suggest combining the meet-and-greet with the fun of the shows.
I’m so glad Silas enjoyed it.
“I’m okay,” Silas answered softly.
Except, there was a note of something in Silas’s voice that had Craeg wondering.
“Are ya sure, Silas?”Craeg asked softly.Once Silas tipped his face up to meet his gaze, he entreated, “Ya can talk to me about anythin’.”
After a slow breath, Silas rested his head on Craeg’s shoulder.He tilted his head a little so he could peer up at him.His brows were furrowed, as if he was having some kind of internal debate with himself.
Craeg had seen him do that often enough.He’d realized early on that his mate had to decide if he wanted to share.It seemed that taking that leap of faith to try to express himself was difficult.
Maybe someday he’ll trust me enough that it’ll become second nature.
I sure hope so.
“You said that...Grisham is...one of us,” Silas stated slowly, quietly, obviously choosing his words carefully.Craeg didn’t interrupt as his mate continued, “As in, Grisham is one of your pod, even though he’s a human and not a...a shifter.”
Craeg nodded once.“Aye,” he agreed, recalling his words.
“But I’m a shifter, but I’m not part of your pod.”Silas’s brows furrowed even as he continued speaking, as if sorting it out in his mind.“Which means, I’mnotone of you.”Before Craeg could counter that, Silas snapped his gaze up to his face.“Not until I’m bonded with you.Right?”
“No,” Craeg immediately refuted.Then he realized that probably wasn’t totally accurate.“Not in that sense.”After a second, Craeg explained, “You’re a shifter, so you’re one of us by default.Even if ya weren’t my mate, as soon as we learned ya were alone and unknowin’, we woulda helped ya.”Seeing Silas’s disbelieving, incredulous look, Craeg assured, “We really would have.”Then he sighed and admitted, “Although without the link between us, ya woulda been assigned a mentor to teach ya how to navigate the world instead of me bein’ so...hands on.”Craeg needed to be completely truthful.“It woulda been for not only your own good, but the good of all paranormal kind.”
Silas nodded slowly, his gaze sweeping the room as he obviously processed that.“So, to keep the secret of paranormals safe.”His voice was soft and quiet as he stated, “That anonymity thing you all talked about.”
“Aye.”Craeg couldn’t lie to his mate.
Peering up at him with wide brown eyes, Silas asked, “What if I wanted to be part of yourone of usfor real?”
Craeg’s brain stalled, and his thoughts froze.A second later, what his mate was asking slammed into him.Silas wanted to be claimed.Craeg met Silas’s gaze, seeing nothing but warmth and interest within his brown eyes.
