Page 32 of Midnight Rain

“I’m pretty sure you’ll want to let Lila go downstairs. I have a feeling she might go nuts.”

“Is your cat in here?” Austin looked around like he was trying to find a housecat. “Is that why I haven’t seen it roaming around?”

“My cat is definitely in here.” Cormac took Lila from Austin’s arm and set her outside the door. “Go pee on Duncan’s boot for me.”

She trotted off but stopped and looked back at him. Cormac waved for her to go, and she went.

When he closed the door, he nodded toward his bed. “Have a seat.”

Austin crossed his arms. “Are you about to go dad-mode on me?”

“That would be… I really wish you’d stop saying that, considering last night.” Cormac wasn’t one of those people who liked to be called daddy. It wasn’t his kink, though more power to the people who did like it.

Austin’s arms slowly lowered. “You just had to go there, didn’t you? I wasn’t even thinking like that, so thanks for those unwanted images in my head.”

Cormac closed his eyes. “Change of subject while I try to burn them out of mine.”

When he opened his eyes, Austin was already seated on his bed, and fuck if he didn’t look damn good there. No one, aside from family, had ever been in his room. When Cormac used to seek out a bed partner, he always went to their house or a motel. It was easier to leave in the morning, and Cormac’s room was his sanctuary.

“So what’s with Izel’s hodgepodge code?”

Austin smoothed his hand over Cormac’s bedspread, making it hard to think. The only thing in his head right now was stripping Austin naked and spreading him out like a feast.

Taking a seat next to Austin—That was a mistake. It only brought them closer on the bed. Cormac got up and sat in the comfortable chair close by. He propped his elbows on his knees and sat forward then wondered if that made him look too much like a dad.

Stop with the fucking dad references.

“I’m sure you heard Izel call you my mate, which I am going to kill him for.”

Austin nodded. “He has an accent, like yours, but not, so I just assumed he was using it as meaning a friend or something close to that.”

Cormac sat back, rubbing his forehead, wondering why this was so damn hard to say.

“Just say it.” Austin sat forward, placing his hands in his lap. “Whatever it is, I bet it’s not as bad as the secret I was keeping.” Austin studied him. “Unless you’re going to tell me you have a spouse stashed somewhere.”

“No.” Cormac shook his head. “There’s no one in my life, Austin. Not until I met you.”

Unease crept into Austin’s pale green eyes as he crossed his arms. “I really wish you’d just spit it out. The longer you make me wait, the more my anxiety is kicking in.”

Cormac scrubbed his hands over his face as he sighed. “I’m a cheetah shifter, Austin.”

He could see the wheels turning in Austin’s head, but they were moving very slowly. “Are you saying you can change into a cheetah?”

“Yes.” Cormac ran his fingers through his beard, which was something he only did when he was either beyond irritated or nervous. Not even his brothers had figured out that small telltale sign.

Austin pursed his lips. “I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt since, so far, you’ve seemed pretty rational to me.”

That wasn’t what Cormac expected to hear. With Austin needing an emotional support dog, Cormac thought this was going to go as badly as it could, then maybe even worse.

“You think I’m full of shit.”

Austin glared at him. “I didn’t say that. In fact, I’ve grown very fond of you. You might even go so far as to say I deeply value our friendship, despite our rocky start.”

“We gave each other blowjobs last night. I think we’ve gone past friendship, sweetheart.”

Austin smirked. “I was erring on the side of caution just in case, but thanks for reminding me of a spectacular night.”

Cormac chuckled. “It was very memorable for me, too. Can’t stop thinking about your dick in my mouth or mine in yours.”

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