Now that I’ve asked, I realise that Harley and I haven’t properly hung out since we both gained our freedom. Between my piss-poor finances, getting involved in Raj’s investigation, and Harley wanting to make up for lost time with his niblings, we’ve only seen each other at work. A night at the pub will be fun, once we get the work conversations out of the way.
His eyes flash with his wolf. ‘Just us?’
I frown, not sure what he’s getting at. ‘Yes.’
He glances at Raj, who’s now leaning against the courtesy car his insurance company provided, scrolling on his phone while he waits for me. ‘Give me an hour. I’ll meet you at the Kelpie O’Kenmare.’ He walks off before I can reply.
Hoping a couple of beers will improve Harley’s mood, I head over to Raj and get in the car with him. His shoulders are tense, his movements stiff as he starts the car and drives us home.
‘You okay?’ I ask after he’s parked in the space allocated to his flat and we’ve got out.
He manages a tight smile as we head for the door into the building. ‘Worried about a few things.’
‘There’s a lot going on.’ I keep it deliberately vague since we’re in a public space. ‘I’m meeting Harley for a drink, but I’ll give you a massage later if you like.’
I’m sure we’ll discuss the case when I get back, and that’ll get Raj even more stressed, but maybe I can help my tactile tiger unwind enough to sleep.
He stops at the bottom of the stairs next to the mailboxes, a frown on his handsome face. ‘It’s not safe to go out alone.’
‘I won’t be alone,’ I sign, trying to ignore my dragon’sunhappy vibration. My dragon wants our treasure to see us as capable and impressive, not vulnerable and weak.
Raj doesn’t reply as we head upstairs to our floor. He follows me into my flat, waiting until the front door is closed before responding. ‘It’s dangerous to go out right now. You know that.’
‘We’re meeting in a public place.’
‘It’s Monday. It’ll be dead everywhere.’
‘It’s just a pint in a neutral zone pub!’ My hand movements are big, a knot forming in my stomach.
His shoulders rise and fall, his hand movements careful. ‘I’m not trying to keep you locked up. I just need to know you’re safe.’
I take a deep breath and shake out the tension in my fingers. I don’t want this thing between us to end just because I have issues with the people I love trying to look after me.
This time I manage gentler hand movements. ‘I’ll wear the tracker if you promise to stay safely inside your flat wards.’
‘Deal.’ He tugs me closer with a finger in my belt loop and kisses me. ‘Want me to help you shower before you leave?’
My lips twitch into a half smirk, my cock already thickening. ‘I’ll never say no to that.’
The first thing I notice when I walk into the pub isn’t the racing green leather bench seats or old-fashioned wooden chairs, it’s Harley talking to Ayo and a guy I don’t recognise, full drinks in their hands as they stand at the bar. Raj was right about it being quiet—there are only two strangers in the entire place, at a table towards the back—so I can’t help wondering how much of a coincidence this actually is. Did Raj send Ayo to keep an eye on me? But I didn’t tell him where I was going, and Ayo’s here before me, so maybe I’m being paranoid.
As I approach them, I pick up the scent of wolf from thestranger. His messy black hair looks deliberately styled that way, and he’s got storm-blue eyes and a friendly smile.
Harley turns when I get closer, looking behind me as if expecting someone else before his tense shoulders drop slightly and he up-nods me. ‘You couldn’t take a shower before you came?’
I punch his shoulder. ‘Fuck off. Of course I washed the stink of fae magic off me.’
‘But not the stink of cat shifter.’ He wrinkles his nose.
I frown, because he’s been making similar comments ever since Raj and I started sleeping together, and it’s beginning to piss me off.
‘Who are your friends?’ I ask, changing the subject.
‘We don’t have to sit with them,’ he signs, his shoulders tense.
‘At least introduce me, for fuck’s sake. You’re being rude.’
‘Oh, you know what manners are?’
