Exhaling a long, slow breath, I follow their lead of pulling their shit together to deal with a scary situation rather than hide and hope it goes away. And part of handling things like a competent adult means being aware of your limitations and speaking up when necessary, even if it’s hard.
“Before we attempt it, I’d really appreciate some more practice suppressing my senses. Our last trip out was a bit-” loosing a breath, I admit “-overwhelming.” A wave of concern reaches me through the bond, so I rush out, “Not that bad, don’t get me wrong! It’s just that after being spoiled around only you and the quiet of the apartment for so long, it was a shock to my system with the onslaught of scents and sounds; gave me a headache. Strangers are one thing to risk slipping up around, but these are people you know. I’d like to make a good first impression, especially since there’s so much riding on it.”
“Absolutely, love.” Malcolm kicks off from the counter, approaching to palm my cheek. “And please know, I only suggested this at all because you’ve mentioned several times that you want a sense of direction and something to do,notbecause I think you need to ‘earn your keep’ as you so eloquently put it, in any way, shape, or form. Simply tossing the opportunity out there in case you want it.”
Smiling up at him, I turn to kiss his wrist. “I’ll give it some thought, and I honestly appreciate you creating an entire, unnecessary position solely to give me a sense of purpose. Let me make sure I’m not going to freak out and eat your friends, then we’ll talk.”
Grinning, he tilts my chin up to place a lingering kiss on my lips. “Keep putting dirty thoughts in my head and none of us will get any work done.”
Licking my lips, I smirk as his gaze quickly darts to Kasen and back once more.Yep, they’re in it together, after all. Real question is, why were they letting me think they only had a thing for each other instead of speaking up?
“Your threats aren’t nearly as convincing as you think they are.” Chuckling, I gently push his chest away. “Have a good day at work. This afternoon I’ll see if Kasen’s willing to walk me through how he manages to live in the city without losing his mind. Sound like a plan?”
Smiling softly, Malcolm nods, heading for the elevator. “As good of one as any. Call me if you need me?”
“I don’t have a phone, but I’m sure Kasen’s first thought if a burglar breaks in will be to give you a jingle.”
Scowling, Malcolm pulls out his phone. “I’ll swing by the store during lunch and see what they have in stock.”
“You worry far too much. I really don’t need one. The only people I’d even call are the two of you, and I’m sure you don’t want me dis-” I snap my mouth shut as an idea blooms to life. “You know what?” Giving me a curious look, Malcolm waits for me to finish my sentiment. “I’d like that, thank you.”
Beaming, even if it’s only because I’m not objecting to him buying me something, he dips his head. “My pleasure. Any requests for dinner?”
Turning in my seat, I address Kasen. “You pick.”
Caught off guard, he looks incredibly uncomfortable. “I’m fine with whatever, no worries.” At my unrelenting stare, he finally caves, looking at Malcolm. “Pizza? Text me when you’re almost done for the day and I’ll call in an order for delivery?”
He shoots him a thumbs up before getting in the elevator, the doors closing behind him. Once all of the teasing and distractions are gone, leaving me and Kasen alone, things return to the awkward stage of this morning again. Between him walking in on me mid-orgasm and the signals Malcolm was giving off, it’s impossible to look at Kasen as nothing more than a friend now.
And I don’t have the first clue where to put that in my head.
Fuck, I was the one that came to Malcolm confessing I was tempted to bite the guy, worried that I’d take things too far in the heat of the moment. But after spending time with him, it’s been getting gradually easier to bolster my defenses against the impulse, not wanting to hurt him or put any of us in an awkward position.
Has it only been easy around him because I wasn’t looking at him as a guy I needed to impress, so I could let my guard down? Or is it because him being Malcolm’s other fated mate connects the two of us on a deeper level, so being around him is as easy as it is with Malcolm?
What if we experiment with this dynamic, but it doesn’t work out? Things are good right now, is it really worth risking wrecking by pushing for more?
Nobody is pushing for more. They’re just trying to put the opportunity on the table as an option if I choose to bite. Options are never a bad thing for a girl that has so few.
“So,” I begin, attempting to break the terse silence, “have you always lived here?”
Kasen finishes off his coffee, crushing the cup in his hand. “Nah, moved out this way a few years ago. Born and raised in Shady Grove.”
Shaking my head, I chuckle. “No shit? Ashland for me.”
He stares at me for a long moment before he answers, voice gravely. “That’s only an hour drive away.”
“Small world. What are the odds?” I can’t decipher his expression, but when he continues to simply stare at me without speaking, I awkwardly try to restart the conversation. “Ever been to Goldie’s?”
He manages a strangled sound, having to clear his throat before saying, “Yeah. Goldie’s mated to my uncle.”
Realizing it’s upsetting him more than anything, I switch gears. “Why don’t you go grab your laptop and I’ll walk you through setup?”
Still staring at me far too intently, he tosses his cup in the trash and heads into the living room to the backpack he brought this morning. Following suit, I retrieve mine and get situated on the couch as he comes to sit beside me.
“Family still out there or did they follow you here?”
His lips press into a flat line as the game installation finishes and boots up. “Still out in Shady Grove. My parents, an older sister, and a younger brother. Lived out in the Wilds more than the town the majority of our life.”
