If Riley had been human, he would have drowned in all that hot water, but he let that slide to focus on the important part.
“We are? We’re dating?” The sinking feeling finally stopped spreading through Riley’s body. It was replaced by a new warmth in Riley’s chest. He was being given a lifeline, wasn’t he?
Before Seth could speak, Riley answered for him. He couldn’t have Seth changing his mind in the next three seconds. “We are,” he said hurriedly. “Yes. Boyfriends. I’m the boyfriend.Yourboyfriend.”
“Okay, boyfriend.” Seth shot him a glance as he held up a sweatshirt for perusal. “Go get your moms to fix my car.”
Mama Sybil sether book on her lap with a frown. She and Mama Daphne were curled up on the living room couch together, taking turns reading out loud. On a different day, Riley might have joined them with a book of his own.
“I still think it would be better if he were leaving with a claiming bite.”
Riley crossed his arms. “Leaving as a vampire, you mean.”
Mama Sybil raised an eyebrow at Riley, as if to say,Well?What of it?
Riley frowned at her. “I’m not doing that to him. Not against his will.” He’d decided he wasn’t going to be a Wolfgang. He was going to be a Riley. And a Riley respected his mate’s wishes, even if his mate’s wishes involved horrible book clubs and hiring sullen goth teenagers instead of devoted boyfriends.
His mothers didn’t say anything. Mama Sybil’s eyebrow stayed arched.
A standoff.
“Fix. The. Car.” Riley waited a long moment, the tension in the air growing thicker with each passing second, then added, “Please.”
Mama Sybil opened her mouth, and Riley steeled himself for a scolding. Maybe she was going to tell him he had to turn Seth right away or be locked in the attic. Not that they’d ever locked him in the attic—or anywhere—but there was a first time for everything. And the whole mate thing had everyone on edge in a new way.
But then Mama Daphne cleared her throat and laid a placating hand on Mama Sybil’s forearm. “Already done, Riley darling.”
Riley split a suspicious look between the two of them. “Really? Already?”
“Of course!” Mama Daphne told him. She almost sounded hurt that he didn’t believe her. “You two are getting along so well, after all. And you’re taking him home yourself, yes? Like a gentleman?”
“Yes.” Riley straightened, then told them, “We’re boyfriends.”
Mama Sybil looked suspiciously close to rolling her eyes, but Mama Daphne made an approving noise. “How wonderful! I knew you’d charm him.” She tilted her cheek toward him. “A kiss before you go.”
Riley leaned down and kissed both his mothers on the cheek—Mama Sybil huffed but accepted hers otherwise graciously—then went to fetch Seth.
Seth came down the stairs in the sweatpants and sweatshirt that were a size too big for him, his own clothes tucked inside his tote bag. He looked so cute in Riley’s clothes. Riley wanted to squeeze him, lift him off the floor and rub his cheek against those curls, but he’d wait. Seth was weird about Riley manhandling him in front of his mothers.
Seth approached the couch, standing solemnly in front ofRiley’s moms. They’d remained seated at his arrival, and Riley had a feeling they were trying to be less intimidating rather than purposefully rude.
“Thank you for the hospitality.” Seth managed not to sound sarcastic, which was pretty impressive, considering. Maybe it was all his customer service training.
Mama Sybil’s smile gleamed in the afternoon light. “Oh, anytime, darling.”
Seth narrowed his eyes. “I left a plate of orange rolls for you. I hope you enjoy them. Riley helped.”
Mama Daphne leaned forward and reached out a hand, patting at Seth’s hip. “What a darling! Drive safe on the roads. Precious cargo and all.”
And that was that. No threats. No fangs. Everyone on their best behavior.
Suspicious.
Seth waited until he and Riley were outside the house before breaking and asking, “AmIthe precious cargo she’s referring to?”
Riley only grinned.
It was a comfortable drive through the woods. Seth played one of his more soothing playlists loud enough to fill the car. He didn’t seem to be in the mood for chatting, but Riley didn’t mind. Seth had a lot to think about, and Riley was just excited to get back to Seth’s house, to be inside Seth’s space again. Excited for Seth to sleep in Riley’s arms and take Riley to work with him the next day.
