“Have you ever had a moment of weakness and decided to like dirt?”
Bennett smirked. “No, baby. I’ve never been with the waiter.”
“And you better never, either.” Didn’t Lucas know anything about mating?
“I couldn’t even if I wanted to, because we’re mates. You honestly don’t know a thing about mates, do you?”
“Only what you told me yesterday.”
“This isn’t the time to discuss it,” Ramsey’s tone didn’t leave room for arguing.
Sage brought their drinks, not meeting their gazes.
Lucas grabbed his hand when he sat the orange juice down on the table. He held on long enough to find out if the man did anything to his drink. At least that was what Bennett assumed was Lucas’ intent. Lucas didn’t seem like the mean, vindictive type so Bennett didn’t think he was going for a full read on Sage.
Sage frowned and yankedhis hand away. “That’s so fucking wrong, man.”
Lucas shrugged. Apparently, his drink was fine because he took a sip of it. “So is openly flirting with someone’s mate.” Lucas met Bennett’s gaze. “That has to be a thing, right?”
He nodded.
“Now, if you do something to my food, I’ll know without touching you, so don’t.” Lucas gave Sage his order, completely ignoring Sage’s surprise.
Sage turned to Bennett, keeping his tone business-like. “What can I get you?”
Bennett ordered, not saying another word about the situation. He barely heard Ramsey as he ordered, focusing on Lucas, who sat beside him with a possessive hand on Bennett’s thigh under the table. Sage might not have been able to see the hand, but it didn’t appear that Lucas cared very much.
Lucas was a sassy little thing, that was for sure. Bennett liked that about him, but he still couldn’t let him get away with grabbing someone’s hand like that and reading him as if he had a right to do so. Lucas knew he needed permission.
“That wasn’t okay, Lucas,” Bennett said when the waiter left.
Lucas shrugged. “He was a jerk.”
“He didn’t know I was mated, baby.”
Lucas shrugged, looking away. His orange juice suddenly fascinating. “I won’t do it again.”
“Lucas, you can’t do that to anyone, whether you like them or not.” Bennett’s tone sound harsh even to his own ears.
Hurt crossed his face. He never said another word after that. Even when Ramsey gave him instructions. When Sage brought their food,he apologized to Lucas for flirting with his mate, and still Lucas never said a word.
“He’s sorry too. He’ll come by your house and apologize later today,” Ramsey would make Lucas if it came down to it. That was clear in every word. When Lucas nodded, Ramsey turned back to Sage with a smile. “You’ll come by the lake soon, Sage?”
“Sure. Thanks, Alpha.”
Bennett leaned over and whispered in Lucas’ ear. “Are you going to eat, or look at your food?”
Lucas turned and glared at him.
“Eat. Now.”
Again, Lucas looked as if he wanted to stab Bennett with his fork through his forehead. How everything had gone so wrong so quickly, Bennett didn’t know. He knew one thing though. He learned more about his mate in the past few minutes than he had after hours of spending time with him yesterday.
Ramsey grinned at him, as if to say he had his hands full with that one.
“It’s wise for you to move in with Bennett,” Ramsey said suddenly. That seemed to open Lucas’ mouth.
“So the overbearing ass can boss me around all the time and talk to me like I’m a child. No, I don’t think so.” Lucas pushed his plate away.
