“Shit, really? That must be stressful.”
“I have no idea. He doesn’t really talk about it with me,” Calloway says easily, pulling out his phone.
“Gods, he sounds like such anadult. I playvideo gamesfor a job,” Rodney says softly.
I look at him from the rear view mirror. “Shut up. Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Compare yourself to him or try to put yourself down. I also play video games for a living and I’m a ‘real adult’ or whatever.”
“It’s different,” he says with a pout that makes me roll my eyes.
“I think it’s cool,” Calloway says, not even looking up from his phone. “For what it’s worth.”
“Oh my gods,” Rodney says softly, his eyes wide. “You think I’mcool? Kei and Rin areneverhearing the end of this. I can die happy.”
Calloway snorts, shaking his head. I focus on the road, my chest warm and happy. It takes about an hour to get to the camp. Rodney and I grab all his bags, helping move them into the cabin he’ll be staying in.
Rodney waits at my vehicle while I make sure Calloway is all signed in. He gives me one last hug before ditching me to hang out with my friends. He’ll be okay, but will I?
“Oh baby,” Rodney says softly, cupping my cheek once we’re back in the car. “You’ll be fine. He’s a strong kid and he has his phone so even if something happens, he can call and let you know.”
I nod my head. “I know. This is just the longest he’ll be away from me.”
“I’m happy to take your mind off it.”
“Oh yeah? And how’s that?”
“Justso muchsex,” Rodney says, completely serious. I finally crack a smile, leaning in to steal a little kiss. I pull my vehicle away, driving back the way I came towards Rodney’s house.
We chat the entire way about anything and everything. Talking to Rodney is so easy. I want him to know everything about me, even the things that are a bit harder to swallow, theuglier parts of my life. In return, I want to know everything I can learn about him.
All the while, that little voice in the back of my mind won’t stop. It’s becoming a mantra, playing over and over.I love him. I love him. I love him.
I thread our fingers together as I drive, needing to be touching him, needing to feel connected. My insides feel like molten lava, oozing out and wanting to completely bury the both of us together.
The almost two hour drive goes by in a flash and before I know it, we’re pulling into Rodney’s driveway. He steals another kiss before pulling our bags out of the trunk and stepping inside.
Kei is on the couch. He lifts his hand in greeting before his entire body goes tense, his eyes going wide. He sniffs the air and growls.
In response, I’m frozen in place. My instincts don’t know what they want to do. On the one hand, I’m encroaching in another alpha’s space. He’s growling at me and I want to defer to him. The other part of me wants to bare my teeth in response. I want to tug Rodney behind me and stake my claim. I want everyone, including Kei, to know who Rodney belongs to.
Fuck. I never get like this. What the hell is happening?
I take a steadying breath before looking at the floor, bowing my head in submission to Kei.
“Fuck,” Kei says, standing up quickly and coming over to us. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you bow. You can stand up,” he says quickly. I look up at him, still feeling confused as fuck.
“What’s going on?” Rodney asks, stepping beside me. Without meaning to, I step in front of him, getting between him and Kei.
Kei’s eyes widen further. “You guys can’t stay here. Absolutely not.”
“Someone please explain what’s happening right now?”
Kei looks down at me, meeting my eyes. “I can smell you,” he says softly. “You’re about to go into rut.”
“Oh,” I breathe out, realizing that’s why I feel so defensive and territorial. “Fuck.”
