I can’t help laughing at his horrified expression. “Yup. I’d say so.”
“Ugh, that’s disgusting.”
I giggle, slipping my arms around his waist and sliding my hands beneath his shirt and over his warm belly. “I hope we still end arguments that way when we’re their age.”
“We won’t argue because I won’t be a jerk like him.” He doesn’t turn, but he doesn’t stop me from touching him, so I let my hands roam and press my cheek against his back. “Yeah we will. Maybe you’re perfect, but I can be a jerk sometimes, and I expect you to call me out on it.”
“You’re not a jerk.” He turns and grips me by the waist, lifting me and setting me on the counter in front of him so he can lean in and kiss my neck. “We won’t fight like them.”
“It’s not bad to fight, Bas. It’s only bad if you don’t make up afterward.” I try to kiss him, but he pulls away, making a face when the thumping from the guest room is joined by moans. “Sorry. I can’t while I have to hear that.” He winces. “Does it sound like he’s hurting her to you?”
I snort. “Maybe she likes it like that.”
He makes a gagging sound. “Oh gods. Don’t do that.”
“Maybe she likes it when he—” I’m cut off by his large hand over my mouth, and honestly I’m laughing too much to get the words out anyway. Eventually he starts laughing too and lets me go so I can wrap my arms around his neck and hug him close. “Maybe we should go stay at the eco-cabins again and leave them to it.”
He sighs. “I wish we could, but I should try with them. I’ll kick myself if I don’t give them the chance to know you.”
The mood is very different at dinner. It’s not really better, though. Hunter sits close to Linda with his arm slung over her shoulders or his hand on her knee and grills me with questions.
Somehow I find myself describing my childhood and my family while he watches me with his boulder-gray eyes.
“So you couldn’t shift as a child?”
“Dad!” Bas drops his knife and fork onto the table and glares at Hunter.
“It’s fine.” I reassure him. I turn to Hunter. “Yeah, for a long time I didn’t think I had the magic. I guess I’m a late bloomer.”
“Right. But you can shift now?”
I wiggle uncomfortably in my seat. “Ah, well, I’m working on it.”
“How long are you planning on staying?” Bas cuts across the conversation, his normally warm expression hardened to match his father’s.
“Now don’t be like that. I’m just looking out for you, son. This could be the mother of your cubs.”
Bas sets down his knife and fork with a clatter. “Verawillbe the mother of any cubs I have if she wants that. Whether you interrogate her or not. If you want to stay under my roof, you’d better start showing her some more respect.”
“Sebastien, what your father is trying to say is—”
He stands, and I feel the anger vibrating off him through the bond. “I don’t want to hear it. Gods, I just knew you would embarrass me. Vera’s family has always been nothing but welcoming to me, and the second you have the chance you’re in her face asking stupid questions like any of it makes any difference. She’s my mate! What does that mean to you?”
There’s an awkward silence.
Bastien’s father scoffs. “Well lucky you’re a beta. The chances of any cubs are low anyway.”
There’s a low growl from Bas and an answering sound from his father. They glare at each other across the table. Bastien’s form shimmers, and his body swells. His face elongates as his shift begins, but a moment later he gets hold of himself, balling his hands into fists and shutting his eyes until his face returns to human.
Then he turns and leaves the room. A moment later the bedroom door slams.
Linda and I get to our feet at the same moment. A harsh bark freezes us in our tracks.
“Sit the fuck back down. Don’t dignify his tantrum with a response.”
My knees tremble at the command in Hunter’s voice. Linda plops back into her seat with a gasp. Was he talking to me or Linda or both of us?
The command in his tone—he used his alpha powers—disgusts me to the point bile rises in my throat, and I want to spit my last mouthful back onto my plate.
