But for now, he was safe and happy.In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this happy.He might not have wanted to talk about what had happened to him, but doing so had left him feeling lighter.
He tilted his head to tell Taylor that, but he didn’t get the opportunity.Taylor was watching him in a way that made Ben shiver.He told himself not to move when Taylor did.He waited, needing to know what Taylor was about to do.
He wasn’t disappointed.
Taylor pressed their lips together.It was just for a few seconds before he leaned back, but it was enough.It left Ben breathless and wanting more.He wasn’t sure he couldaskfor more, considering what he knew about Taylor, so he told himself to wait.Whatever Taylor wanted, Ben would give him.He’d even told him about Jimmy when it was the last thing he wanted.
“Was that okay?”Taylor asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ben nodded.It had been more than okay, but he wasn’t sure he had the words to say it.Right now, he felt like he’d never learned to speak.That was how stupid being kissed by Taylor made him feel.
Taylor didn’t seem to mind.His lips curled into a smile, and he leaned forward to kiss Ben again.This time, it lasted longer, and it gave Ben the opportunity to kiss him back.
Thiswas what Ben had wanted since he’d first smelled Taylor.It wasn’t even the kiss, although that was part of it.It was feeling safe.It was feeling the affection in every move Taylor made.Taylor hadn’t told Ben that he cared about him, but he didn’t need to—although Ben would be happy to hear it.Ben could feel it.It was in the way Taylor had taken care of him these few days and in the way he cradled Ben’s face and slowly kissed him as if trying not to spook him.It was in how he’d soothed Ben while Ben had been talking about his ex.He’d given Ben a chance, even though he hadn’t thought anything could happen between them.He’d been confused and shocked, and it would’ve been so much easier for him to tell Ben to fuck off.Instead, he’d stuck around, even after he’d found out that he was Ben’s mate.If Ben had to guess, Taylor wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
Good.
He looped his arms around Taylor’s neck and tried to pull himself closer.Taylor chuckled and slowed down the kiss, which wasn’t what Ben had been trying to do.It felt like Taylor was teasing Ben, which was definitely possible, but not something Ben knew how to deal with.
“We’ll have time to do this later,” Taylor murmured.“But you need to talk to Gal.”
Ben shook his head.“What I need to do is kiss you again.”
“You will.”
Ben scowled.He didn’t understand how he’d gone from being afraid to kissing Taylor to being annoyed at him.“Just not now, right?”he asked.
Taylor grinned.“Think about how much sweeter it’s going to be after you’ve done the hard part.”
Ben sighed.Taylor wasn’t wrong.As little as he wanted to talk about Jimmy again, he had to.He might as well get it out of the way now, right?Besides, if it meant he could come home to Taylor and kiss him again—and maybe do more if both of them were ready for it—he was willing to go right away.
Uh.Maybe Taylor knew what he was doing.
“Fine.Let’s go talk to Gal.”
Taylor kissed the tip of Ben’s nose before leaning back.Ben had to let go of him, but thankfully, he didn’t go far.He got up from the couch and held out his hand, waiting for Ben to take it.
Ben did just that.He allowed his mate to pull him to his feet, resisted the temptation to bury his face against Taylor’s chest, and allowed Taylor to guide him out of the room.
It wasn’t that late in the evening, so the house wasn’t silent yet.Ben could hear people talking in one of the living rooms they walked past, and a child laughing in the distance.It warmed his heart.These people had welcomed him even when they hadn’t known him.They hadn’t pushed when he’d kept them at a distance, even though he knew they had to be curious.They were giving him time to get used to the pride and the people who lived there, and they understood that he was afraid.
They didn’t even know that he was Taylor’s mate, yet they’d made him feel welcome in a way he hadn’t expected.He was still scared sometimes, but he could admit that these people were good people.They wouldn’t kick him out, and they wouldn’t hand him over to Jimmy, even if he were to find him.For the first time since Ben had met Jimmy, he was safe.It was hard to believe, but it was the truth.
They didn’t go to Gal’s office like Ben had expected.Instead, they stuck to the back hallways until Taylor stopped in front of a closed door.He didn’t hesitate to knock, then to open when a voice called for him to come in.
It wasn’t Gal.If Ben had to guess, this was Gal’s mate.It was the only explanation for how comfortable the man looked in Gal’s personal space.The room smelled strongly of the alpha, but not only of him.
“Ben, this is Liam, our alpha mate,” Taylor explained, confirming Ben’s suspicion.
Liam looked young, with warm brown eyes and dark blond hair.He wasn’t the kind of man Ben would have imagined the alpha with, but maybe that was why Fate had selected him.He had to be what Gal needed.
“Liam, this is my mate, Ben,” Taylor continued, startling Ben.He hadn’t expected Taylor to be so open about their bond, considering he hadn’t even told most of his friends.
Liam didn’t look surprised, and he probably wasn’t.Gal would have told him, if anything so he knew what was happening within the pride.“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he told Ben.“Gal is in the bathroom, but he’s almost done with his shower.Why don’t you sit down?”
Ben nodded.He was tempted to leave, but this was the right thing to do.Besides, the promise of what would happen once they were done here meant that he had to get through this.Once he did, he’d be allowed to go home and spend the night however he wanted.
He doubted that Taylor was ready for more than a few kisses, but that was okay.He wasn’t sure he was ready for more, either.As much as he wanted Taylor, he was also afraid.The last time he’d wanted someone, he’d ended up locked in a basement.Ben knew Taylor wouldn’t do that, if anything, because he lived with the pride and wouldn’t be allowed to, but he was still a bit wary.They needed to get to know each other first.
