Page 38 of Finding His Fox

He tugged at the collar of my shirt and asked, “Are you going to kiss me?”

“It’s a shame not to,” I answered.

Slanting my mouth over his, I took my time exploring him, enjoying the sweetness of him.

Nate clutched my shoulder, responding in equal fashion. When I pulled away, we both panted. Nate’s eyes were half-lidded with pleasure.

All I wanted to do was bundle him up in my arms. Keep him close forever. Assure him that no matter what danger he was in, I would always come running to his side.

“I didn’t know what came over me just now. When I toppled over the boat, my mind just blanked out,” Nate said.

I slid one arm over his shoulder, pulling him close. When he didn’t bat me away, I took that as a positive sign.

I didn’t interrupt Nate because I had a feeling he had to get something off his chest.

“Cal, you told me we met as kids. Can you tell me more about that?” Nate asked. “When I almost drowned earlier, it felt like my body was remembering an old fear. That’s so strange, isn’t it?”

“Not strange at all.”

He’s ready to hear the truth, I told myself. Nate already knew about the existence of fox shifters and the supernatural.

Would he find it hard to believe that a terrible monster lurked in these woods a long time ago?

I took a deep breath and told Nate everything—about losing Shawn and about the creature that had left such a terrible impact on both our lives.

After I was done, the fires had burned down to cinders. Nate fell silent for a few moments. I fed the flame more logs before returning to Nate.

Nate rested his head against my shoulder, trailing his fingers down my arm. When he reached for my hand, I twined our digits together, wondering what he was thinking.

“A wendigo. So that’s what it was called? I always thought it was a bear,” Nate said softly.

“Yes. I’m not a therapist, but I believe your mind was protecting you all this time. A defense mechanism against the trauma you experienced years ago,” I said.

“That makes sense. I couldn’t wait to leave Fox Haven back then,” Nate murmured. “Now all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.”

“I’m glad you came back. I wouldn’t have met you again otherwise,” I told him truthfully.

Nate looked at me and I tipped his chin using my fingers, then kissed him again, slowly, tenderly, as if we had all the time in the world.

I wanted to do more for Nate. To cover him with kisses and touches. To strip him bare and show him how much he meant to me.

In the end, I held back, knowing Nate had already been through a lot today. First, Nate fell off the boat.

After that, I just hit him with details of our shared past. It was too much to take in at once.

“Me too,” Nate said after I pulled away.

We cuddled on the sofa a little while longer.

Then I asked Nate, “Do you want to sleep over?”

Before he misunderstood my intentions, I continued, “You can have my bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Nate considered my proposition, then nodded.

“I don’t mind. Max,” he suddenly said, rising to his feet. “He must be so hungry.”

“Tend to Max while I whip up dinner and fix the bed,” I told him.