Gayle sputters. “What?”
“Shit. I’m so sorry! That’s so rude of me! Jesus, why can’t my brain to mouth filter actually work?”
“Hey, no, no. It’s fine, Rodney. I just wasn’t expecting that.” Gayle says, clearing his throat. “Yes, I go into rut. I’ve never had an issue with my alpha side. If anything, it makes me feel gender euphoric in a lot of ways.”
“Oh,” I say, taking in that information, realizing that I really don’t know shit about shifters or alphas or any of that. My google algorithm is about to be wild when I get back home. “I was just thinking about--” at this, I bite my bottom lip, cutting myself off.
“You can say it, I don’t mind.”
“I just think it would be kinda special to make you a nest for your next rut. You know, if we’re to that stage of things.”
Gayle hides his face behind his hands but even so, I can see the way his face is flushed. Oh my gods, could this man get any more adorable?
“I think I’d like that,” he says between his fingers. Thankfully, he’s saved by a knock on the door. He rushes away to get our pizzas.
When he gets back, I’ve gotten into the nest and pulled the coffee table to sit up against the couch. He sets down our pizzas and gets in beside me. Of course I try a slice of his pineapple pizza. I’m not sure it’s quite moan-worthy but I surprise myself with how much I enjoy it. We chat while we eat. When we’ve had our fill, Gayle takes the leftovers into the kitchen.
I set a few blankets onto the table so that we can stretch out our legs. Gayle comes back quickly, sitting close enough that our sides touch.
“Do you wanna watch a movie?”
“Yeah,” I say softly, the lights all dimmed around us. Gayle puts something on but I’m not really paying attention, too focused on the feel of him beside me.
“You’re watching me, not the movie,” he says, barely above a whisper.
“Sorry,” I whisper, both of us knowing I’m not. “You’re very pretty, Gayle. It’s hard for me to look away.”
Gayle looks down at his lap before turning his head towards me. Our faces are so close I can feel his breath against my skin.
“Normally, I hate being called that, but when it comes from your mouth, I think I like it.”
“I’ve always been a sucker for pretty things and you’re no exception, Gayle. I’m happy to call you whatever you’d like though. I know how some words don’t feel right.”
“I don’t mind it,” he says, shaking his head. “But only because it’s you.”
My heart is racing inside my chest. We’ve somehow inched even closer together, barely an inch between our faces.
“Gayle?” He hums, his pretty brown eyes darting down to my lips. “Can I kiss you?Please?”
Gayle smiles as he nods his head. That’s all the permission I need. I bring one hand to his face, cupping his cheek before darting forward and pressing our lips together.
Gayle makes the most wonderful noise against my lips, a shiver running down my spine. His hands grab the front of my shirt, just holding on, like he’s worried I might pull away too soon. There’s like a minus thousand percent chance of that happening. This is everything I didn’t know I needed in my life.
His lips are perfect against my own, slotting into place. His skin is soft against my hand. When I move, it’s not to pull away but to deepen the kiss. Gayle makes another broken noise before his tongue is darting out, licking across my bottom lip, asking for entrance. I open for him and a moment later, our tongues are touching.
My head swoops, my heart races, and my entire body warms. This kiss is everything.
When I finally pull back, I rest my forehead against his, just trying to get my bearings. I open my eyes as I finally move away from Gayle, staring at his face which looks absolutely wrecked in the most delightful way. His eyes are wide, his cheeks are pink, his lips are red. All that from just one kiss. Fuck, I can’t stop thinking about how he’ll look when we go further, when we’re both naked, when we’re--
“That was the best kiss I’ve ever had,” Gayle says softly, cutting off my dirty thoughts which is for the best. I cannot walk home hard.
“It was pretty damn good,” I say with a grin. “This entire date has been the best, Gayle.”
“Does that mean you wanna keep dating me?”
“Absolutely. One hundred percent.”
“Good. That’s good,” Gayle says, turning back towards the movie. He reaches across the blankets and takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.
