“I’m starving, but not for spareribs.” Ian stood right in front of him. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
“They don’t only have pork, babe,” Rick sniffed in the direction of the barn. “There’s some beef I can smell, and I think there is fish as well. I’m sure there’ll be a heap of salads and other sides.”
Rick’s shirt front was suddenly grabbed, as if Ian was trying to shake him. “I’ll say it again. I am ready to leave. Now. We’ll get takeout, drive-through, whatever. I don’t care. All I’ve been thinking about since I saw you on that animal was whether you could ride me as well as you rode that bull. You up for that?”
Oh…“Yep.” Pip’s spareribs were going to have to wait for another day. Grabbing hold of Ian’s hand, he started fast walking them to where the vehicles were parked. “We’ll take my truck,” Rick rumbled his voice hoarse with desire. His bear was really close to the surface of his skin. “We can pick yours up later.” He was really glad that Ian didn’t even try to argue with him about it. He wasn’t letting hismate out of his sight for a second until they were both exhausted and wearing claiming bites.
Chapter Eight
Ian
Inside the cab of Rick’s truck, Ian made small talk, it was either that or strip off and attack Rick. He was a gentleman, his mother would be appalled if they got arrested.
“I told you about my job with Earnest, what do you do?”
“I own a business that deals in assessing risk for corporations when investing in the markets. I enjoy it,” he answered, adding as much enthusiasm as he could. No one wanted to be seen as boring, even if they were next to Rick. Bull riding, he shivered in his seat.
“I bet that’s a tricky business, working through all those levels of risk, you must be brilliant.”
Ian’s cheeks were warmer than the sun, he was sure, despite it being also so…normal.Yet, it wasn’t when the scent of their joint arousal was filling the small space. Ian curled his hands in his lap to resist reaching out to touch as Rick drove with confidence.
The whole day had been a kind of wonderful torture, but the idea of sitting and eating with his cock trapped by something so meager asa safety pin was too much. Being so forward was not his usual style with a bed partner. He didn’t actually have a style.
Why does that matter? He’s not a bed partner, he’s our mate, and can’t you smell how eager he is for us?
That might be so, but we need a little decorum.
If you sound that prissy in front of Rick, he might run away. Just strip off and show him the goods.
Honestly.
“—this next turning.”
Ian looked at Rick and blinked rapidly, assessing what he had missed arguing with his animal. “Where do you live?”
Rick nodded, his brows drawing together. “Nearby, yes, but I was just saying there’s a decent takeout on my way home. We could grab something…” he glanced at Ian briefly, grinning widely, “for later after we’ve expelled some energy.”
Ian chuckled and agreed, as he was the one who had suggested it earlier. “That sounds sensible.” He could be sensible for a few more minutes—couldn’t he?
It was more than a few minutes; it was more like thirty when Rick returned with a white bag holding Thai takeout that smelled delicious—just not as tasty as his mate.
Keep it together.
Keep it together.
Exactly four minutes and twenty-two seconds later, Rick pulled up outside a small two-story house with pretty flower boxes on the windowsills and at the edges of a pale blue fence. The house spoke of home, he didn’t need to step inside to feel it, it was easy to see.
What would Rick make of his place? Ian lived in an apartment in a nice apartment block, but it wasn’t nearly as pretty as this house. He had a moment of ‘shouldn’t they talk about expectations’ beforeclaiming each other, then Rick placed his hand on his lower back once outside the truck. The press, the heat against him, sent his body into overdrive. His mind was lost in a haze of lust.
“It’s nothing special, but it’s home.”
The husky voice left Ian panting as they walked up the steps. “It’s so pretty. Looks like… a real home.” It did, and Ian could see himself there, but that was jumping the gun when Rick might not want that. The sexual attraction of mates was well known, that burning need to claim—he could feel it snapping between them—but once it died down, would Rick want a boring risk assessor when it was clear he had an adventurous soul which Ian did not.
Don’t get all up in your head now when things are just getting interesting.
He had no answer when Rick opened the front door with a flourish, popping the takeout bag on a small round table sat inside the door and, before Ian could take a step, Rick swept him up in his arms.
Oh, my!
