“The cute cheetah who was just dry humping you at the door.” Fenrir turned to walk away, but stopped. “Oh, another thing. I smelled something foul when he came here. It smelled like rotting flesh. Get that looked into... you never know what’s buried under old homes like this.”
Scott sniffed the air, but the only scent that came to him was feline.
Quintus. Sweet, sexy, and sublime. Fuck, what the hell am I thinking?
He tried to stomp down the feeling of how excited his body had gotten just by having the other man grind against him. He’d seen the cheetah around town, and although they knew each other, Quintus only knew him as Scott and not Scottland.
Scott had to admit, he didn’t know anything about the man. He’d always thought he was cute, and he wasn’t wrong in his assumption. He closed his eyes and brought his finger to his neck and gently rubbed the spot, reliving the few seconds he’d felt another intimate touch. Scott knew his parents were right, and he needed to move on with his life and find his mate.
But some loves are not easy to get over.
He’d had a lover or two after Alec’s death, but hadbeen unable to give them his all. He’d kept his heart guarded, and over time they’d growntired of waiting for him to be completely theirs.
Will I be able to give my mate what he wants when I find him?
Scott couldn’t answer the question. And until he could, he’d remain single and live some semblance of a life. His life was lonely, but not empty. He had his family, friends, and his music. Those were the things and people he could give his all to and not worry about his heart breaking in the process.
* * *
Later that week,Scott entered Bella’s Diner. He loved her baking, specifically—her peach cobbler. It sometimes reminded him of his dad’s homemade cobbler. The diner was packed as usual. Since Bella’s was only open four days a week, people liked to get their weekend stock of pies and cakes. Scott couldn’t blame them. He looked behind the counter and was surprised to see Quintus helping out.
Scott knew the man owned Wolfe Construction, and from what he heard, Quintus was a great boss. Scott found it admirable that even with his busy schedule, he still helped his mother out. Scott stepped up to the counter, Quintus had his head down, looking at the notepad ready to take his order.
“What can I get you?” he asked, not looking up.
“An apple and peach cobbler to go, please,” Scott said, his voice low and deep. The voice he used when he spoke to a submissive.
Quintus’s body stiffened. Slowly, he raised his head. His eyes widened the second he recognized Scott.
“Am I ever going to get my estimate?” Scott asked him.
“Um…um….”
“Hello, pretty kitty.”
Scott smirked loving Quintus’sreaction. He couldn’t stop himself from teasing the cheetah. And the man was pretty and every bit his type. Slender with muscles in all the right places, heart-shaped lips, and golden eyes that pulled you right into him.
“Um…Let me go get the pie…” Quintus stammered as he backed away from the counter.
Scott had a feeling he wasn’t going to get his cobbler order anytime soon.
“I have no idea what’s wrong with him,” Miya—Quintus’s little sister—said. “He’s been acting strange lately.”
“You don’t say,” Scott mumbled.
“Yeah. Anyway, what can I get you, Doctor Shelton?”
Scott repeated his order, but the entire time he couldn’t stop thinking about how sexy Quintus looked in the tight jeans and plain, white, long sleeve T-shirt he was wearing.
* * *
Gods,why is he here?
He knew Vale Valley was small compared to the big city. But it seemed he couldn’t stop seeing Scott everywhere he went these days. And each time he saw him, Quintus would leave—hoping Scott didn’t see him. After the way he’d behaved—rutting and sniffing the man—he was too embarrassed to face him.
“Are you okay?” Donald asked him.
They were at the planning of the summer festival, and Chance was also going to announce to the board members that Donald was the new deputy mayor. In most states, the mayor and his deputy were elected together. But things were done differently in Vale Valley since the mayor could be in office for a lot longer than usual four-year term. Also, the new mayor was not voted in by the people but would be chosen under the discretion of the outgoing mayor.
