“My mouth approves,” Mathlin said. His lips felt wet all over, a reminder of the kiss. But Mathlin didn’t enjoy being wet everywhere else on his body, so he scrubbed the back of his hand over his mouth.
Titan’s gaze darkened. “That’s the first time I’ve seen you clean your face.”
Mathlin froze. “Uh. Okay?”
“It’s adorable,” the alpha murmured, grinning. “But let’s step away from the food in case someone thinks you’re licking your hand.”
“You don’t mind?”
A hazel eyebrow went up. “Sweetheart. I’ve had my tongue in your hole.”
Mathlin’s body squeezed at that memory; heat flickered through him again.
One of the party guests gasped, scandalized.
Titan coughed and said loudly, “I didn’t do that in the bakery. Just FYI.”
More faces looked over. Mathlin cringed, his face burning now. “Oh gods, we should be anywhere but here.”
“C’mon, let’s see if Everdin and her poor victims are around.” Titan stepped closer, bumping Mathlin with his right arm, the one with the torn bicep. Mathlin carefully wrapped his arm around Titan’s and dragged him away.
They didn’t escape unscathed. A few of Everdin’s victims hunted them down, each of them furious in some way. Mathlin let Titan respond to them—because Titan always had sane, reasonable answers.
That, and Titan kept nuzzling Mathlin to show everyone they were ‘together’.
By the end of an hour, they had met the rest of Everdin’s victims, except Everdin herself was nowhere to be found.
“Shall we do this without her as a witness?” Titan murmured, leaning in to accept the mini pastry from Mathlin’s fingers.
“I think she would be soooo mad if she missed out,” Mathlin said. “Everyone would’ve seen it except her.”
They exchanged a look, understanding flashing between them.
“C’mon,” Titan said urgently.
With the alpha hot on his heels, Mathlin hurried over to one of Yasmin’s tables, ducking under its long tablecloth. He gathered the things he had stashed there. “I’m ready,” he whispered, lifting the tablecloth so Titan could squeeze in after him.
It was a tight fit under the table, faint light filtering through the tablecloth. Titan was so close, his warmth soaking into Mathlin’s skin.
Mathlin stuffed the drooping bundle into Titan’s open mouth; Titan bit down on it. Then Mathlin clipped two bouncing, springy toys to Titan’s hair. A huge, fluffy garland went around Titan’s neck, followed by a red sequined cape that draped over his shoulders.
“How do I look?” Titan grinned.
“Pretty and amazing,” Mathlin said, giggling as he drew and colored in large circles around Titan’s eyes. He pinned rings of glittering tassels around Titan’s pant legs. “Now you’re ready.”
“Give me the ring,” Titan said.
“Oh! I almost forgot. Here.” Mathlin hooked the velvet box—attached by a thin, sparkly chain—to the front of Titan’s belt. “There.”
“Nice. Now, it’s showtime.”
They looked over each other—Mathlin a rumpled mess, Titan a chaotic-but-planned larger mess. Then they exchanged a grin.
“This is gonna be insane,” Mathlin said gleefully.
“Do me proud,” Titan murmured.
Butterflies surged through Mathlin’s stomach.
