Peter listened to one side of the conversation as Quain reassured his father that they would be able to meet Peter soon. It sounded to Peter from only hearing half the conversation that Quain’s parents were concerned abouthim.
After several minutes, Quain said goodbye, disconnected, and handed the phone back toPeter.
“Everything allright?”
Quain nodded. “I agreed that we’d be by for lunch tomorrow. If that doesn’t work for you, let me know and I’ll call himback.”
“That’s fine.” Peter tried not to let his nervesshow.
“Relax. Lynx don’t usually eat wolves.” Quain’s pointy-toothed smile didn’t reassure him atall.
Chapter 7
Peter woke in incremental steps.Loud vibrations pulled him up from the dark, comforting layers of sleep, and lured him into consciousness. It took a few minutes to focus his sight and visually translate the image before him. Although he had given Quain his own room, the lynx shifter must have slunk back into Peter’s bed after he fell asleep. Somehow during the night, he had obtained a large, feral housecat.
“Hello there.” Peter scratched the lynx behind the ears and grinned when Quain purred like a well-tuned motor. He jerked back when claws kneaded his bare chest. “Ouch. Watch that. I like to keep my skinintact.”
The lynx opened one eye andsmirked.
“Yeah, you’re hysterical, and I’m full ofholes.”
Quain changed back into a human while yawning. Peter admired his smooth transformation. One minute a lynx, the next a man. He didn’t think even Silver could shift sofast.
Oddly enough, the expression of smug cat to smug mate didn’t really change. “Don’t likeclaws?”
“Not embedded in my skin. What are you doing here?” He blushed when he realized how that sounded. “I didn’t mean it like that. I thought you wantedspace.”
Quain blushed. “I got lonely. After having spent such a long time in isolation, I didn’t expect to need someone next to me while Islept.”
“Don’t you usually sleep alone?” The wolf inside him wanted to howl his claim. No one else should be sharing a bed with Quain, and if he ever found another lover there, he would rip out histhroat.
“Yes, but I didn’t have a mate before.” Quain burrowed into Peter’s chest before he could ask further questions. “My lynx needed to be next toyou.”
Peter sighed and stroked the shiny hair resting on his chest. “I don’t really mind. I was trying to give you your space. You can sleep with me whenever you want. I’m trying not to rush you or give you the wrong idea by asking you to joinme.”
“I’m sorry for giving off mixed signals,” Quain mumbled against hischest.
“It’s fine. Just don’t mind if I rub my morning wood against you.” Peter grinnedmaniacally.
Quain jerked back from him. “Youwouldn’t.”
Peter gave a fake sniffle. “You don’t want me to get any relief? What kind of mate are you?” He let his bottom lip slide out when Quain tilted his head to look up athim.
“I don’t want you coming onme.”
“No?” The thought of spreading his scent across Quain appealed to Peter’s wolf on manylevels.
“No, I want you to come inside me, just not yet.” Quain’s flushed skin shredded Peter’sresolve.
He scooted back until they weren’t touching anymore. His fingers curled around the blankets to keep his hands away from Quain’s tempting skin. Saliva pooled in hismouth.
He swallowed before speaking. “I’ll wait. Just don’t interrupt my shower time. I have to take care of something.” He slid out of bed to put more distance betweenthem.
“And a big something it is.” Quain’s eyes widened as he stared at the outline of Peter’s erection against his boxerbriefs.
Quain giggled, that was the only word for that enchanting sound. Charmed, Peter kissed Quain’s forehead, keeping his body away from thebed.
“We should probably get ready. I have to make sure there aren’t any problems in the garage and that my men are on schedule before we meet your family for lunch.” He refused to admit his stomach sank. None of his previous dates had been serious enough for a meet-the-family moment. One of the benefits of dating casually was the complete lack ofparents.
