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)
“What do you mean?” Brian said while petting him, his fingers slowly combing through Keith’s hair and massaging his scalp. If he had been a cat, he would be purring.
“What do you mean what do I mean?”
“I don’t have a deal with Morgan Peters.”
“Uh-huh. Got it.” Keith nodded, causing his cheek to move up and down Brian’s thigh. He enjoyed the sensation, so he did it again. Maybe he had a cat’s soul. Nine lives would explain how he had survived the horrors the Ruperts had put him through and the even more dangerous things he had done to himself. “So, what’s your non-deal with Morgan Peters?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Intrigued by his mate’s stubborn refusal to admit the obvious, Keith grinned. “You know how sometimes you meet someone and you realize from the first instant that you want to spend the rest of your life without them?” he asked.
Brian blinked down at him, brow furrowed. “What?”
“Why do you feel that way about Morgan Peters when everyone else loves him?”
Brian growled, which was hilarious, so Keith chuckled.
“Why are you laughing?” Brian asked.
“Because you’re funny and cute.”
The stubborn expression left Brian’s face and he sighed. “One of the first things I did after coming to Purple Sky was visit Golden Valley. They’re the nearest pack to us by car and they’re powerful so I thought it’d serve us well to align with them. At the time, Ricky Marx was helping me with pack business and I brought him. Peters and his pack were rude to us, something happened between him and Ricky, and then Ricky ran off and hid from him. Then, when Peters came here searching for Ricky, I beat him up.”
Keith arched his eyebrows in surprise. “Morgan let you beat him up?”
“What do you mean let me?” Brian asked with a frown.
“Never mind.” His mate was a bit prideful about his strength and power, and the last thing Keith wanted to do was diminish him. “Now that you know Ricky is Morgan’s mate and you understand what happened between them back then, everything’s cleared up, right? You two can be friends.”
“It’s possible I misjudged him,” Brian grudgingly admitted. “And I appreciate that he wants to help you. That doesn’t mean we’ll be friends.”
“I see.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It’s an attempt to say something neutral so I don’t offend you by disagreeing with you,” Keith explained.
“How can you disagree with me about who I want as a friend?” Brian asked. “That’s a personal decision and I’m the person.”
“True, but I know Morgan and I know you, so I know you’ll be friends eventually. If it makes you feel better, I can pretend to agree with you now and then later, when you’re BFFs with Morgan Peters, we can commiserate together about how we were both wrong.”
“I will not be”—he shook his hand in the air—“that with Morgan Peters.”
“BFFs?”
“Yes.”
“Why can’t you say BFF?” Keith asked.
“Because I’m not a teenage girl.”
“Ah. Understood.” Keith nodded. “Too old and manly for acronyms. Makes sense.”
“That’s not—”
“How about a change of topic?”
“Please.” Brian looked relieved.
“Do you think I could have a cat soul even though I have human and wolf bodies?”
Brian opened his mouth, but no words came out.
“Brian?”
“Before I met you, I considered myself to be very intelligent, but now I’m genuinely concerned that the library will need to pack up all the big words if I walk in the door.”
“I love libraries!” Keith said gleefully. “They’re peaceful and cozy. The one in Green Field closed years ago. Once I get rid of the Ruperts, I can work on opening it back up.”
Brian blinked at him.
“Do you like to read?”
He opened his mouth but didn’t immediately speak.
“I can read out loud to you if you want. I’ll even do different voices for the characters.” He looked at Brian expectantly.
“I, uh, I’m not a child.”
“Oh, I know you’re fully grown.” Keith rolled onto his stomach, rested one palm on Brian’s thigh, and slid the other over his groin, caressing him through his jeans. “Hmm, not fully yet but I can make that happen.”
“Keith,” Brian croaked, his head lolling back and his eyes drooping. “Mate.”
“Let’s open these up and give you room.” He tugged Brian’s button free, slid his zipper down, and reached into the opening of his briefs. “Mmm, you’re so hot.” He slid Brian’s cock out of his underwear and pressed his nose to it. “And your scent is amazing.”
“I’m…” Brian gulped. “I’m glad you like it. I enjoy the way you smell too.”
Keith tilted his head and swiped his tongue up Brian’s shaft. “Taste great too.”
Hands trembling, Brian skated his fingertips across Keith’s forehead and down his cheek.
“Stunning.” Keith smoothed his spit-slick lips around Brian’s shaft. “Love this.” He made his way up to his crown. “Perfect.” He parted his lips and engulfed his mate’s erection.