Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47519 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
“No, but”—he waived his free hand back and forth between them— “we should get dressed.”
“Is there someone else here?” Keith stilled, tipped his head to the side so his ear was raised, and inhaled deeply. “I don’t hear anyone or smell anyone.”
They were upstairs and the house was large, so that wasn’t an answer to his question, but Keith happened to be right. Brian had sent the healing team away earlier and nobody else lived at the Alpha house or had the right or ability to access it without his permission.
“We’re alone,” he confirmed.
“Great. Let’s go.” Once again, Keith flipped around and headed to the stairs, dragging Brian behind him.
“This is delicious,” Brian said after swallowing a mouthful of an omelet that contained more sausage and ham than eggs. “I love meat.”
“You’re propositioning me in the kitchen?” Keith said, eyes wide and expression scandalized. “Well, I suppose if you insist on eating my meat, there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”
Brian laughed. The day had been ridiculously stressful. He was worried about Keith’s health. He had made an enemy of a neighboring pack. He had an Alpha for a mate. There was so much he needed to think about and manage, but somehow this man overrode all of that and made him giddy.
Keith set down his fork, planted his palms on the table, and rose from his chair. “Where do you want me?” He made a show of slowly panning the room. “I guess I could clear the table?” He reached for Brian’s mostly full plate.
“Don’t you dare.” Brian said playfully as he pulled the plate toward him. “I’m not done with the delicious meal you made.”
“I thought you said you wanted to eat my meat?”
He considered his exact words. “I'm pretty sure that isn’t what I said.”
“Oh.” Keith frowned and pouted exaggeratedly. “Do you not want to eat my meat?”
The insinuation had his eyes reflexively moving to Keith’s groin. His balls were nicely sized, his sac pink, and his cock was long and thick, even in its relaxed state. Yes, he very much wanted them in his mouth. Amusement giving way to arousal, he licked his lips.
Keith’s laugh pulled his attention back to his smiling face and twinkling eyes. “You’re easy.” He winked and sat back down. “I’m pretty sure it’s one of your best qualities.” He tipped his chin toward Brian’s plate. “Eat, mate.”
Yet again feeling like he was processing at point five speed, he blinked and stared. His emotions had been rocketing in so many directions, so quickly that he was getting dizzy. He had to get himself together so he could support his mate.
“Want me to feed you?” Keith took Brian’s fork from his hand, gathered some of the omelet onto it, and held it up to Brian’s mouth. “Open.”
His lips parted automatically and it wasn’t until he was chewing that he caught up to the situation. “Stop.” He swallowed the food and reached his hand out. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you,” he reminded them both. “You’re injured.”
“I’m fine,” Keith insisted. He handed Brian his fork and picked his own back up. “I’m stronger than I look.”
“You keep saying that.” He ran his gaze over his mate. Keith was gorgeous but not in good shape. No shifter should be that thin, especially not an Alpha. He wouldn’t point that out because he didn’t want to insult Keith’s appearance or his strength, but that didn’t change the truth of the matter.
“That’s because it keeps being true.” Keith once again inclined his head toward Brian’s plate. “Eat before it gets cold.”
He took another bite. “Thank you for making this. I’m supposed to be taking care of you.” He’d do better.
“We can take care of each other. And we made it together.”
Warmth bloomed in his chest. Was this why Jobe didn’t mind being mated to another Alpha? He shook off the thought. Alpha or not, Keith was in a fragile state and he needed care. “I fetched ingredients and watched while you cooked.”
“Exactly. Fan support brings out my A game. We’re a great team.”
“Fan support?” The heaviness lifted and he chuckled. “You’re something else.”
“Are you saying you’re not a fan?” Keith took another bite as he spoke to him in a teasing voice, his eyes lit up with happiness, his beautiful face glowing.
Each time Brian slipped into dark thoughts and worry, Keith effortlessly pulled him out. “I’m a fan,” he agreed sincerely.
“Me too.” Keith’s smile gentled.
They ate in silence for a few moments while Brian mentally caught up to everything his mate had told him. “What happened eight years ago?” he asked once his plate was empty.
“I thought I knew but I now realize that I don’t.”
That response only raised more questions, but before Brian could press him further, Keith continued speaking.
“Eight years ago, an Omega from Golden Valley came to Green Field. At the time, I didn’t know anything about him or why he was there, but I later learned that he had been seeing the then presumptive Alpha of Golden Valley and they’d had some sort of falling out so he was sent away. Rupert brought me to meet him, and when I did, I thought he was my mate.”