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“And what did you tell him?”
"I already had someone who was interested that I met earlier in the day. I offered him the room, and he accepted." Tanner was becoming annoyed with the questions. "Why do you care about any of this?" He snapped.
"Blake is concerned about you. He is worried that my moving out has left you in a financial bind." That didn't make any sense.
"I have a roommate. He has already given me next month's rent, so I'm fine; I'm in good shape financially. Please assure him of that." He didn't need Blake worrying about him.
“I’ll assure him, but he would have felt better about it if you’d given the room to Loren.”
"Mr. Fish was not someone I felt comfortable with. I doubt I'd have given him the room even if I hadn't already promised it to another. The guy was pretty full of himself and did not particularly like the apartment anyway." Tanner was saying so much more than he wanted to. "I have to go now, Salem; thank you for calling." Tanner quickly said goodbye before Salem could think of something else meaningless to say.
Tanner wanted to get back to Mr. Zeke Montgomery and those gorgeous dark eyes of his. Tanner's heart was opening wide for this man, and he knew he should be careful, but it was impossible. Zeke was so personable and easy to be with; his massive crush was a given from the beginning. So soon, it was an avalanche of desire, and Tanner wanted to see if maybe Zeke was having some of the same feelings. He stuck his phone in his pocket and hurried back to the living room.
Zeke was not there. He could hear him in his room, probably getting his things situated, and that could take a while. Tanner felt a pang of regret for having left him to answer Salem's call. He would have much rather remained with Zeke, who was touching his hand and looking at him like he had plans. Now, the spell was broken, and life was back to its boring self.
He was just turning around to go back to his room when Zeke came out of his room and called to him. He instantly turned back, eager for whatever Zeke wanted. If anyone else were acting like this, he would have called them pathetic, but he did not feel pathetic. He felt energized and excited.
"I wanted to be sure and let you know that you are welcome to everything in the kitchen. Whatever you want, please help yourself, and the same goes for everything I have brought. Treat them as your own." Zeke was matter-of-fact, with no fanfare, just kind and sincere.
"Thank you, that's very generous," Tanner responded.
"I'm a generous guy." Zeke teased with a seductive wink that went right to Tanner's cock, causing a delightful tingle. This was going to be damn interesting, if not mortifying. It could go either way since he still didn't know that much about Zeke.
Zeke stopped and looked at him with concern. It was something he hadn't expected, and he didn't know where it was coming from. He popped his eyebrows, giving him his complete attention, and waited to hear what was bothering him. "You want a better understanding of who I am? You want to know me better?" That was freaky but cool, as he seemed to read Tanner's mind.
"Yes." What else was there to say? He'd just been thinking about the fact he knew very little about the man he was going to be living with. If he was willing to talk, Tanner was willing to listen.
"Let's sit in the living room. The couches need to be broken in, and it's always better to talk in comfort." Zeke placed his hand on the small of Tanner's back, much like he had yesterday when they were walking to the apartment, and he really liked it. The man's touch was so nice and made him feel important. He directed him to the couch against the right wall, and Zeke sat down next to him very close. He was close enough that Tanner could smell that manly aroma that was distinctly Zeke, and it was marvelous.
"Ask me anything." He said and then added. "There are some things related to my work that I cannot discuss, but if you ask a question I cannot answer, I will tell you why." Tanner was impressed with his openness and was eager to know more about this handsome man. His tight black jeans and his tight black t-shirt were accentuating all his assets, and honestly, Tanner would have been satisfied to simply sit there and stare.
"You look like a man who has his life in order, strong, organized, and sure of himself. Why would you want to share an apartment on the east side with a man like me?"
"The cost was right for me, and the area has low crime. I wanted a place that felt comfortable and made me feel like I was home, and this place does that for me. As far as living with a man like you, I find you honest, friendly, and easy to be with, and I believe our likes and dislikes align for the most part. It also doesn't hurt that you are quite handsome." Zeke finished with a sexy wink and a pat on his knee. Tanner was getting the vibes, and it was real. He was not imagining Zeke's interest.
“You’re not so bad yourself.” Tanner returned the compliment and could not suppress the blush that accompanied it.
Zeke loved their verbal foreplay. Tanner was proving himself to be a little sweetheart who liked to tease, and Zeke was ready for him anything he wanted, and any way he wanted it, Zeke would provide. "Are you seeing anyone, Tanner?" Time to get to the heart of the issue.
"No, are you?" Zeke liked the trajectory of this discussion.
"No." Zeke reached out and ran his fingertips along Tanner's jawline. "I find you very attractive, Tanner, and I'd like to explore a relationship if you're interested," Zeke stated and then softened it. "We can take it slow."
"No need to go slow," Tanner responded with another teasing smile. "I feel the same way." He laughed nervously, but he wasn't backing down or shying away.
"Okay, how about we start with this." Zeke reached over and cupped Tanner's cheek, pulling him closer. He held his gaze for a few seconds before taking his lips in a kiss that did not disappoint. He kept it gentle but did not hold back as he explored the soft, moist loveliness of Tanner's mouth. His lips were just as delicious as they looked, and Tanner, still a little unsure, reciprocated with a hesitance that Zeke hoped to dispel.
He pulled back but continued to stroke Tanner's cheek with his thumb and dropped tiny kisses to the sides of his mouth. "Just as nice as I thought it would be." He whispered, and Tanner turned to take his lips in a kiss of his own. His mate was the entire package: sweet and innocent but also daring and sexy as hell.
His hesitance was becoming a turn-on that Zeke had never known he desired. The way he pushed through the shyness, taking the risk to have what he wanted, was making Zeke break out in a sweat. The smell of lily and jasmine filled his senses.
The desire to ask for more was right on the tip of his tongue when, suddenly, someone opened the door and walked in. There was no announcement and no knock. The guy just walked in like he had a right to be there. Zeke was on his feet in an instant with Tanner beside him.
He maneuvered Tanner behind him as the stranger continued further into the room. Zeke did not feel fear or shock from Tanner but rather irritation and anger. It was obvious that he knew this man as well as the young man who entered behind him.
"This is Salem and his boyfriend, Blake." Tanner made the introductions, and all Zeke wanted to do was to throw their asses back out the door they so ungraciously walked through. Blake looked indignant at having been presented as the boyfriend to Salem, who was clearly the lesser in the relationship.
Zeke stepped closer to Tanner's side, close enough to be able to step in front of him if things went south. Anger was filling the air, anger and dread, and Tanner was not picking up on it. The big man in the suit was a wolf shifter, and the little one standing submissively in his shadow was a fox shifter. The only human in the room was Tanner, and he had no clue.
