Page 52 of Maneater

Rex squeezes my ass, his grip strong, and I’m reminded of the night we fooled around when he was in his Howler form. I find his free hand and lace our fingers together, trailing behind him. He drops the bag onto the counter, then turns, pulling me to him. Our arms encircle each other’s waists.

Rex gazes down at me with a soft smile. “My favorite thing ever. Coming home to find you here.”

I chuckle. “Mine is waking up in your bed.”

“Mmm…” Rex nods. “That’s my favorite too.”

I arch my eyebrows. “You can’t have two favorites.”

“Who says?”

Rex leans down and captures my mouth again, the kiss languid and soft. He finishes by brushing our lips together, then rests his chin on top of my head as he holds me close. He lets out a sigh, and I pull back, peering up at him.

“What is it?”

His eyes bore into mine. “What if it was your bed too?”

I hope he’s saying what I think he’s saying, but I need him to use all his words.

“What exactly are you asking me, Rex?”

“Move in. I know it’s a long drive to the market, but my schedule’s flexible. I can give you a ride every day, so it won’t be too much of a burden on you. And didn’t you say your hours will be cut after Labor Day?”

“Rex, I’m not going to make a major decision on our relationship based on driving distances.”

“Oh.” He licks his lips. “Then what will you base it on?”

“The fact that I love you with every fiber of my being and don’t want to live without you.”

Rex’s jaw is hanging open like he’s catching flies, and for once, I’m the one who makes a shocking statement. Still, he is leaving me hanging. He snaps his mouth shut, then swoops me up in his arms. I squeal, Winston makes a hasty exit, and Clover retreats to her basket in the far corner.

Thankfully, they’re not voyeurs.

Rex tosses me on the bed, then straddles me, his feral eyes locked on me.

“I’ve been in love with you from almost the moment we met.” Rex lowers himself to his elbows. “Somehow my spirit knew you were the one for me, the love I’ve yearned for these many lonely years.”

I hate that he’s had to experience such a solitary existence over so many decades. I’m not sure how it will work given the disparity in how we age, but even if I can’t be with him as long as we’d like, we can still have a lot of time together. As Virgil said, cherish every moment.

I clasp the back of his neck and encourage him closer. “Then we shouldn’t let a few measly miles keep us apart.”

Rex grinds against my hip, his breathing picking up a quicker pace. “We won’t let anything keep us apart.”

“Then fuck me, Rex.”

I have no idea why that popped out of my mouth, but I’m done holding back with Rex, no matter what it is.

“You don’t have to—”

“I want it,” I interject. “I’m so fucking hot for you all the time, never mind what you can do with those magical fingers of yours. It’s like you wrote the book Fun with Prostates.”

Rex’s brow creases. “There’s a book? And I didn’t use any magic, not for something so personal. That was all me.”

Oh my God. He slays me with how innocent he comes off sometimes.

“I know it’s all you, my love.” I smile. “Take care of me though, okay?”

He whispers, “Always.”