Page 84 of Laken's longing

“Looking for Isley,” he grumbled. “Or more his sugar glider, who has taken the huff because I said he couldn’t have cuddles until after my meeting with Edric from Hales.”

Jupiter stayed where he was by the door, shoulders shaking with laughter when Laken sat back on his heels, lookingunimpressed. “You should see yourself. How the mighty have fallen.”

Sticking up his middle finger, feeling heat spread up his neck, he rose as gracefully as he could and brushed the carpet fluff off his trousers. “What do you want?”

“Sugar glider cuddles of course,” Jupiter deadpanned.

“Not funny,” Laken snapped back, despite his lips quirking up at the edges. “But if you can find him, then you can have some.”

It irked a little that Isley’s animal side had taken to Jupiter, the same way Emmy had. It liked to fly into Jupiter’s hand for fun when they went home for dinner, which had become a weekly thing in the last month. Sometimes with Isley’s parents, who it turned out were friends with someone that Popi knew, and they’d met at one of the many fundraising events Popi supported.

Jupiter’s sharp gaze traveled the room with an eagerness that got Laken rolling his eyes. The first time Jupiter’s charmed smile had landed on the sugar glider, it had endeared it.

“He’d have won every game of hide and seek, wouldn’t he?” As he spoke, he crouched down, scanning under the desk and chairs. He stood, taking a couple of steps into the office, watching where he stepped, then craned to look up into the tops of the windows.

Charlotte appeared in the open door. “Hales’ representative has arrived. Do you want me to show him in?”

Resigned to having the meeting without Isley present—or not in human form—he nodded, hoping that Edric didn’t touch him and set off the sugar glider, causing it to do something silly.Please behave,he sent out the silent plea as Edric came striding into the office. He smiled politely at Jupiter, and that smile warmed when it landed on Laken.

Fuck. Fuck, no!

Isley was right, the man was interested in him. His total disregard for Jupiter, who was by far the more attractive between them, confirmed what Isley’s animal felt. Damnit all, he was going to have to apologize again.

He released a sigh and forced a smile. “Edric, nice to see you again.” He took the offered hand, shaking it firmly, and letting go fast.

“Same.” His voice was more husky than usual.

Double fuck!

Isley, where the fuck are you when I need you? Can you sense where he is?

Asking his animal was always a last resort, but he was desperate with Jupiter smirking behind Edric’s back as Laken escorted him to the chair next to the pile of clothes. He cursed silently at not thinking about hiding them.

“Samples,” he muttered while Jupiter chuckled.

“I’ll leave you to it.” As Laken glanced at Jupiter’s retreating back, his eyes widened at the waving sugar glider hanging from the woollen vest like it didn’t have a care in the world. If it was possible, he was sure it was smirking!

Isley

I’m going to kill you for this. Seriously, you had to throw a strop and then wave at Laken like that from Jupiter’s back! I can’t even speak right now.

You’re doing a damn fine job of it. All you had to do was let me have some cuddles before that ass came so I could mark Laken good and proper.

He’s marked plenty. We’re mated, or have you forgotten?

How could his animal forget when it had only been last week that Laken had sunk his teeth into the back of Isley’s neck while…

Just making sure that everyone knows. Remember that idiot in Paris. I had my scent on Laken and it wasn’t enough of a deterrent. This time I’m not taking any chances.

Taking chances? Edric isn’t interested in Laken, just the contract.Did he sound convincing, when earlier he’d allowed his animal’s doubts to creep past just for a second. Look where that had gotten him!

He is. Three times he touched him. I counted. No one touches more than once and that's a handshake. I notice these things.

Well, if that is the case, then we’ve left our mate with handsy Edric and can now make sure of nothing, because we’re hanging off Jupiter and it looks like he’s leaving the building, which means I can’t shift as my clothes are in Laken’s office. This is a fine mess you’ve gotten us into.

A terrible thought occurred.Oh God, what if he’s going for a hook up?

It was late afternoon on a Friday.