Toby tugged Ernest with all his strength to the door, eager to get going, to come back forthat.Then maybe he’d be able to think beyond what was happening in his way-too-tight jeans.
Humans, you’re so funny.Sex.For sex.
Doesn’t matter what it’s called, so just be quiet, I need to concentrate.
Toby rolled his eyes heavenward and headed out of the apartment, up the stairs, and out into the fresh air.The weight of Ernest's work roughened hand in his was perfect.How would it feel tracing over his skin?
It didn’t help to have these thoughts, considering how aroused they were.The smell seemed to have created a bubble around them.Was it a mate thing?
It made no odds.What worried Toby was how on earth he was going to control large, heavy objects when he felt all trembly on the inside.This was possibly the most unwise decision he’d ever made, but it was too late now.Bowl, eat, thensex!
Yes, Toby could manage everything in that order—possibly.
Chapter Fourteen
Ernest
Ernest was a forward planner.He was detail-oriented, well known among business owners and acquaintances as someone who always mapped things out, strategized.He did all he could to make sure that he was always thinking at least two seasons ahead when it came to running his business and his life.
All of those habits flew right out the window the moment Toby kissed him.One taste of those delicious lips, and Ernest’s brain went blank.The only thing he was thinking by the time Toby had gently pulled away was how soon he could stake his claim on his precious mate.
They had their booking at the bowling alley to get through first.It was fine.Ernest knew how to play, even though Toby was very sweet about explaining the basics.Ernest listened purely and simply because he enjoyed hearing Toby talk.His new mate showed every emotion on his sweet face, and he was so excited about even the simplest of things—an excitement Ernest knew had been missing from his life.
The playing of the game was as bad as Ernest had suspected it would be—and it had nothing to do with his results.He shared his body with an elephant spirit—he was well used to bowling things down, so what better place to do that than a bowling alley.
Heavy balls weren’t an issue—well, the ones in his pants were, but Ernest kept them tucked away.He simply picked up the bowling ball, strode toward the line, and just before the last step, he would bend, release the ball, and send it barreling down the lane.He was upright again by the time the pins were hit.
Ernest wasn’t the type to do anything fancy, no matter what he was doing.But the way Toby reacted to his inevitable strike took excitement to a super-nova level.Toby would dance, do a sexy shimmy, and as Ernest came back to where they were sitting, Toby was right there, stroking his arm and beaming at him.Ernest’s biceps had never received so much attention, and it made him feel like a million dollars… it was also a subtle form of torture that was threatening Ernest’s control.He was about ready to combust.
It was worse for Ernest when it was Toby’s turn.Toby had style with a capital S.He didn’t walk toward the lane, he had a strutting dance step that showed off his lean legs.And he didn’t just go to the line and then release the ball—he danced toward it, as if teasing the shot, and then he took a few steps back, sidestepped a couple of paces, andthenwent in for the shot.He would bend over, sweeping his arm out from behind him, releasing the ball down the lane.
Toby had a good aim.He was getting almost as many strikes as Ernest was, and even if he missed a few pins, Toby didn’t get upset about it.He would stand on the line and do a little shimmy dance, clapping his hands in excitement before running back.It was fun; it was torture, and Ernest was doing his best, but he was fighting inappropriate thoughts every time Toby bent over.Those tight pants left nothing to the imagination.
As a rule, Ernest didn’t care what people wore.Everyone was entitled to dress in a way that pleased themselves, and that included Toby with his tight pants.Toby was his mate.They might not have got to the claiming part, but they had both said the words and recognized that was what they were going to do…after the date business.Toby looked adorable and sexy, all at the same time.
The issue—and why Ernest was getting decidedly grumpy as he went to take his turn—was that other people clearly thought Toby looked good in those pants too.He grabbed hold of the ball, making sure to get one with the larger finger hole sizes—his chunky fingers wouldn’t fit into the holes in a regular ball.Fortunately, the bowling alley was clearly used to shifter types who were built on the extra-large side.
As he went over to the line and bent down to take his shot, Ernest caught sight of a younger man leaning over the back of the seats, chatting to Toby and seeming very friendly.Ernest’s vision went black as his elephant trumpeted a warning in his head.Get that man away from our mate!
Ernest barely got his ball traveling in the right lane.Before the pins were down, he was making his way back to their seats.Toby was sweet.He was used to being friendly with people because he worked in retail, and it was just the type of guy his mate was Ernest had discovered.So, of course, he was talking back.
The ball landed with a huge smash at the end of the lane, as pins went flying.
“Oh my goodness, Ernest, that is just incredible!You are so powerful, you almost smashed a hole in the back of the lane!”
I had good reason.Ernest sat down, making sure to put his arm over Toby’s shoulder, letting the interloper know he was not welcome.“Are there many more frames left in this game?”
“Two frames to go, and we’ve only got another 10 minutes.The time flies so fast when we’re having fun,” Toby said with a happy smile.“I’m not sure that I’m going to be able to beat you, though,” he added hopping up and dancing over to where the ball return was waiting.
He picked a smaller ball.Toby’s fingers were strong and slender, and Ernest could imagine…
Gods, just stop.Think about something else.Ernest wanted to bang his head on the nearest solid surface because he wasn’t helping himself.His elephant wanted the claim.Ernest had a few other concerns.
For example, Toby seemed very attached to his new apartment—the one provided by one of his friend’s mate.Ernest desperately wanted to keep living in his own home.It was where his business was.But then Toby was living where his business was, too.Ernest didn’t think he could ever see himself living in an apartment—no matter how cute or new—and he wasn’t quite sure how that side of things was going to go.
Maybe I could buy Toby his own car, he thought.I don’t have an issue with driving him to work every day and picking him up if he doesn’t drive.But then he has already said how close he is to his friends…
Now, Ernest was torturing himself with things they hadn’t had a chance to talk about yet.And that was the definition of stupid.Except deep inside, since Ernest had taken in Toby’s scent for the first time, he knew all he wanted was for Toby to be in his house, sprawled across his bed, filling the house with his sweet scent so that the place always felt like home.
