Titan crouched next to Mathlin, nuzzling his shoulder. “Are you going to yell at me if I rub your back?”
“Leave your arm alone!” Mathlin growled, his voice deepening by a notch.
Smaller cats weren’t supposed to do that. Titan eyed his omega, angling himself so he could stroke Mathlin with his left hand. He buried his nose in Mathlin’s neck and inhaled deeply.
Past Mathlin’s linen scent, past the scents of sweat and puke, there lingered the same sweetness he had found earlier.
“You don’t smell ill,” Titan said, confused.
Mathlin retched again. Titan’s chest ached. His omega seemed so uncomfortable.
After a while, Mathlin flushed the toilet and stood. Titan grabbed the water glass off the counter and filled it, ignoring the stab of pain through his arm.
“Titan!” Mathlin scowled. “You need to let your arm rest.”
“I want to be a good alpha,” Titan growled back. “And that means not standing around, watching you do everything on your own.”
“Alphas,” Ottis said drily in the next room. Titan could almost hear him rolling his eyes.
“You can do more when your arm is healed,” Mathlin grumbled.
“But that’s next week, when you’re done healing the broken bones.” After that, it was only a matter of time before Mathlin finished healing Titan’s bicep. What would happen after that? Would Mathlin leave? They had briefly talked about Mathlin sticking around after the contract was up, but Mathlin hadn’t officially agreed to it.
His stomach tightened.How do I convince him to stay?
Then it struck him: the courtship. If it worked, then maybe Mathlin would have a reason to stick around. Titan swallowed nervously.
Mathlin rinsed out his mouth. When he turned to dry off his face, he scowled at Titan again.
“Math, tell me what I’m allowed to do,” Titan pleaded. “Or—I have an idea. Let me use my right arm a little. My bicep is already fucked, anyway, and you’re planning to reopen the wound to make it heal right.” When Mathlin continued to scowl, Titan added, more softly, “I just want to make things better for you. It’s really hard to do that without any arms.”
“Fine,” Mathlin said, sighing. He looked less grumpy, though.
“Thank you.” Titan leaned in, pressing a kiss to his forehead. Then he ducked his head lower, stealing a kiss off Mathlin’s lips.
Mathlin turned bright red. “Wh-what was that for? I still smell like puke!”
“For putting up with me,” Titan said, kissing him again. “Let me take you to a doctor.”
Mathlin scowled. “You’re cheating.”
“But it’s working?” Titan said hopefully.
Mathlin didn’t reply, but that was just as telling.
Ottis eyed them speculatively when they stepped out of the bathroom. “So... puking, huh?”
“He doesn’t smell sick,” Titan said.
Ottis raised his eyebrows. He came over and sniffed Mathlin, too. Then he coughed awkwardly.
Like he knew something.
“What?” Titan said uneasily.
“You know... I don’t think Mathlin is sick,” Ottis said slowly.
They stared at him.
