The mention of his mate had Luke grinning wide, a love-struck look coming over his face.
“He’s doing well. He’s at a small business owner’s conference in New York this weekend. I would have gone with him, but there’s been some drama in the pack that means no one is allowed to leave the territory.
“Anything serious?” John asked, crossing his ankles on the coffee table and folding his hands over his stomach.
“It’s pretty serious, but we’re not supposed to talk about it. I think it will work itself out, though.”
Luke didn’t sound too worried. He grabbed the dip and chips and lifted them off the table, setting both down on the sofa between him and John. He then lifted his feet on the coffee table and leaned back too.
John grabbed a chip and scooped it into the dip, spilling some on his shirt as he lifted it to his mouth.
“Shit, I’m such a pig.” John lifted a cheesy bean off his shirt and popped it in his mouth, reaching back down and wiping at the stain he’d made. “This is so typical.”
“Should I get you a bib?” Luke teased, making John scowl at him in mock offense.
“I’m good, thanks,” he said, sticking his finger in his mouth and figuring that he’d wash his shirt when he got home. “Besides, I’m not the one who runs around the woods once a month eating little furry animals.”
Luke snorted and shook his head. “I don’t eat furry little animals. I only go after the big game. Like moose. Have you ever fought a moose?”
“I can’t say that I have.” John took a sip of his beer. “Though if I ever find myself in a situation where I might have to, I’ll make sure to call you for backup.”
“As you should. Moose are vicious animals. Did you know that they can kick forward, and not just back like horses? They’re crazy. If they didn’t taste so good I’d avoid them like the plague.”
“I don’t want to think about you eating raw meat,” Luke said, scrunching up his face in distaste. “It grosses me out.”
“Whatever. What do you want to talk about?”
“Anything but eating raw meat.”
“Fine. But first I’m going to get another beer. Do you want one?”
“That would be great,” John said.
Luke got up and headed out into the kitchen, stretching his arms over his head as he left the room. John watched him go, and he was surprised at himself that his cock didn’t even twitch at the display. Luke’s shirt had ridden up, exposing his lower back, and his ass looked amazing in those jeans, but John might as well have been looking at a woman.
It was weird.
When Luke got back John accepted the beer, and the two of them sat together, drinking and eating chips and dip, talking and catching up while they waited for the game to start.
The game was minutes away from starting when John casually asked Luke just exactly why werewolves didn’t like humans.
“They just don’t smell right,” Luke said, looking grossed out at just the mention of how humans smelled. He shot an apologetic look at John. “It’s not that you smell bad, exactly, it just doesn’t smell right. It’s like… the scent of human arousal is a boner killer.”
“A boner killer?” John asked.
“Pretty much. Why are you asking?”
“Just curious. I mean, Owen looks human, so I was just wondering what separated him from a regular human. I didn’t know it was a scent thing, though that makes sense.”
“You don’t have like… feeling for me, do you?” Luke asked, looking horrified at the prospect. So horrified that John couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Oh, God no. I mean… I had a crush on you while you were working in Builder Falls, but that was before I got to know you.”
John brought his beer up to his mouth, grateful that he could truly and honestly tell Luke that he didn’t have feelings for him. When he looked over at Luke, however, the werewolf didn’t look particularly happy.
“What?” John asked.
“You don’t have to be so vehement,” Luke said, sulking. “And what do you mean you didn’t have a crush on me any more once you got to know me?”
