AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dash knew he could trust Theodore not to screw him over in the usual way, but he wasn’t sure how much he could really share with the other man. “I’ve found my mate. I want to settle down. The life of the road isn’t for him, and I don’t want him in danger.”
“Ah, so it’s your cock making this decision.” Theodore grinned at him.
“It’s all of me. My cock included, of course, but also my heart and mind and every fiber of my being. It was a done deal the moment I saw him. I knew I’d do anything. We hit a few bumps along the way and parted for a bit, but I’m really giving this life up.”
Theodore’s grin faded as he eyed Dash once again. “Interesting.”
“That’s all you have to say?”
Theodore shrugged. “Since I’ve never wanted to fuck you, I don’t really have any feelings about you settling down. Are you sure this man is really all right with your past?”
“Yes. We’ve discussed it.” He finally sat down in the other chair. “Extensively.”
“You must promise not to sell any of us out if he turns you in.”
Dash smiled. “He won’t do that.”
“For your sake, I hope you’re right.”
“I believe I am. After the way things ended before, he wouldn’t have taken me back if he wasn’t sure.”
Theodore asked, “You actually like him? You aren’t just with him because he’s your mate?” He grinned again. “Or because he’s good looking?”
“Yes, I like him. A lot. I love him, in fact.” He paused, settling back in his chair. “How do you know he’s good looking?”
“Your face lights up when you mention him. There’s a spark there.”
“There’s always a spark with a spirit mate.”
“He’s a shifter, too?”
“No.”
“I’d ask how that works, but I guess it hardly matters.”
“Matehood doesn’t have boundaries. Different types of shifters can be mates, and our mates are human quite often. Only really comes into play when there are children.”
“Hmmm.”
Dash narrowed his gaze. “What?”
Theodore gave another shrug. “I spent a couple of nights with a shifter last month. She walked away readily enough, but I can’t stop thinking of her. Anything to do with matehood?”
“Probably not. She’d feel it if you were her mate, and she wouldn’t have walked away. At least, not without knowing how to find you again.”
Theodore sighed theatrically. “My ardor is one-sided, as usual.”
Dash laughed. “And you’ll meet someone else. As usual.”
Theodore stood up and stretched. “Any chance I could share your room? I promise not to rifle through your bags.”
Dash happened to have a decent amount of coin in his pockets. He didn’t want to open his bag and give Theodore any reason to think he had anything worth stealing. He trusted the man not to hurt him, but he didn’t trust him not try to sneak back in here later to steal from him. “I can spot you enough for one of the small rooms downstairs. I’m going to meet my mate so I only need enough coin to get me through another couple of days of riding.” He pulled out enough for a room and then added one more coin before holding his hand out. “Here. No need to pay me back. I’ll be making an honest living in the near future, and I think it’ll be steady enough.”
Theodore hesitated a moment and then took the offered coins. “I feel bad now. If you had let me stay in here, I was absolutely going to rifle through your bags as soon as you started snoring.”
“I know. I’d have picked you up and thrown you out the window.”
Theodore laughed. “Thanks.”
