Page 20 of Pooch Planet

Chapter Eight

Benji stared at the ground as he led the way back to his home. In his peripheral vision, he could detect several of his neighbors watching in what he believed was certain judgement, the onlookers ready to bolt the moment he and Antoine passed through the threshold of his home to spread more gossip. Either that, or he was suffering from an extreme case of pooch paranoia.

“This is my place.” He glanced up at Antoine as he unlatched his door. “Watch your head. You might need to stoop down when you come in.”

On the short journey back to his home, they hadn’t spoken. For the first time in their brief acquaintance, Antoine seemed unsure of himself—which did nothing to reassure Benji.

Once they were inside, Benji considered the tiny area, that hadn’t seemed anywhere near as small earlier, and wondered where Antoine would sit. He turned to Antoine and noted he seemed to be contemplating the same thing. Benji’s gaze landed on the green shaggy rug that covered almost the entire open space.

“I vacuumed yesterday, right before I left for the Bone & Tail.”

Antoine gave him a warm smile. “This is perfect.”

Right as Benji was about to lower himself to the rug, he produced more slick, his cock thickening again, his body seeming to respond even stronger to Antoine’s presence than before. It would be a true miracle if they managed to exchange two sentences before he jumped the guy.

He straightened. “Uh, would you like something to drink? Or anything?”

Antoine regarded him in puzzlement. “Are you okay?”

That was when Benji realized he was twisting his hands and rocking from foot to foot. He probably thinks I’ve gone rabid.

“I’ll be right back.”

Benji whirled around then yanked one of his few pairs of pants from the small rail next to the bathroom, then darted inside and slammed the door behind him. As he ran what he’d just done through his mind he groaned in embarrassment. Now, Antoine would also think he’d piddled himself.

With a sigh, he cleaned up then put on the fresh pair of pants. As he put himself to rights, he also pondered his situation. His heat had been triggered. It was gradually getting worse, however, other than a couple of woodys, the urge to cuddle up to Antoine, not being able to keep still and his body producing an annoying amount of slick—he hadn’t gone into a full blown frenzy yet. He never would’ve been able to show his face in the village again if he’d started humping Antoine’s leg at the bar.

But the fact remained, he hadn’t lost all control. First heats took a lot longer than subsequent ones, so he probably still had time. And Antoine didn’t seem too hot and bothered either. Actually, Antoine didn’t seem all that interested. Maybe attracted to him, and there’d been the protective thing where Benji had thought he was going to maim Butch, but nothing that indicated Antoine viewed them as fated. Which answered his question about gargoyles. It probably wasn’t a thing for them, so it would be a bitch to try and explain the concept.

Might as well face the inevitable.

Benji smoothed down his hair then flung open the door. Antoine greeted him with a smile, yet concern still marred his brow. He patted the rug.

“Come sit with me, Benji. Putting this off any longer isn’t helping either one of us.”

Benji bit his lip then obeyed his Alpha. He screwed his eyes shut as he took a seat next to Antoine—close, but not too close. Benji sucked in a deep breath, Antoine’s amazing scent filling his lungs. The heady, masculine aroma of his Alpha was more powerful than it had ever been. The initial smell that had been enticing was now becoming all-consuming.

The conversation they were supposed to be having seemed hopeless.

Antoine snapped his fingers in front of Benji’s face. “Benji, focus. I need to know what’s on your mind, how you’re feeling before I share what my feelings are. I want you to dictate the pace of what’s happening between us.”

Benji licked his lips. “What do you think is happening between us?”

If he could save himself from declaring his undying loyalty to his Alpha when Antoine only wanted a quick lay, he would declare their discussion a success.

Antoine regarded him with a soft smile, tucking Benji’s hair behind his ear. “Well, to begin with, I’d say you were in heat. But I don’t know very much about dog shifter mating. Do dog shifters mate for life? Or…?” Antoine rubbed the back of his neck. “What I’m trying to say is, I don’t want to place more significance on this than there truly is.”

Benji’s jaw dropped and he angrily crossed his arms. “No, what you’re trying to say is I’m a slut who gives it up for any stud available the moment my heat hits.”

Antoine’s eyes rounded and he appeared as if he’d been slapped. “No! That’s not what I meant at all!” He scrubbed his face with both hands then brought his voice lower. “What I’m trying to say, sweetheart—and doing a horrible job I might add—is that I don’t want to pressure you if you’re not ready to be my omega yet.”

Benji straightened. He wasn’t sure what had thrown him off more—the endearment or that Antoine wanted him to be his omega.

“So, wait. Gargoyles have fated mates?”

The evening had just gotten much more interesting.

Antoine not too subtly moved closer. “We do. Is that also true of dog shifters?”