Page 35 of Midnight Rain

“I’m too busy trying not to hyperventilate,” Austin said. “One thing at a time.”

He led Austin over to the bed and made him sit. Then Cormac rubbed his mate’s back. “You did amazing. Better than I thought you would.”

“Because I was frozen with fear. You can’t run away when your body says fuck you.”

He could feel Austin’s heart slowing under his palm. “Now do you believe me?”

Austin looked wide-eyed at him. “I just had a five-hundred-pound cheetah rubbing itself all over him. Its long and sharp teeth close to my dick, making me fear for my carrot and potatoes. I don’t think you need to ask me that, Cormac. I saw it with my own eyes.”

Cormac chuckled. “I’ll have you know I roughly weigh two-ten.”

“You think lowering the number helps in any way?” Austin blew out a few breaths. “Okay, you survived those jealous bitches in cosmetology school. You can handle a large cheetah rubbing all over you.”

“You got this,” Cormac said. “It just might take you a while to adjust to the idea.”

Now all he had to do was tell Austin that they were mates. It was one thing to see a man shift into a cheetah. It was another to find out you were going to bind your soul to him.

“I have one more thing to tell you.”

Austin whipped his head around. “Don’t tell me I have to clean your litter box and handle your disgusting hairballs.”

Cormac frowned. “Uh, no. I don’t use a damn litter box.”

“Thank god.” Austin looked genuinely relieved. “Hold on. You’re the cat Lila was barking at!”

Cormac held up a finger. “I never lied to you about that. I said it was a he, which I am. When you asked if the cat was in the house when we were eating on the couch together, I was. When you asked if the cat was in this room, I’m right here.”

His mate stared at him for about five seconds and then burst out laughing. “Holy shit! You were talking about yourself!”

At least his mate was taking this pretty well so far. Cormac grinned. “I never lied to you.”

“I just wasn’t being specific enough.”

Cormac shrugged. “That wasn’t my fault.”

Austin’s laughter died down. “So what else are you going to short-circuit my brain with?”

“This one you might not take so well.” Cormac moved his arm away from Austin. He didn’t want to, but if Austin lost his mind, Cormac would rather not have his arm in the line of fire. “I’m what’s known as a preternatural.”

“I thought you called yourself a shifter.”

“Yes, I am. But I’m referring to a broader group. Every preternatural has a mate handpicked for them. Someone fate thinks would be their perfect other half.”

Austin looked incredulously at Cormac. “Are you saying I’m yours?”

Cormac nodded. “Why do you think you’ve felt so comfortable around me or why we hit it off after we got our assholery out of the way, and why you trusted me so easily?” He placed his hand over Austin’s chest. “It’s called the pull. A feeling of needing to be near that person, craving them, of wanting to share your life with them.”

Austin threw his arms up, and Cormac leaned back slightly, trying to avoid getting hit. Here was the part where the guy would tell him to go to hell, especially after what he’d been through.

“Oh my god!” Austin said. “Do you know how many dates and horrible boyfriends that could have saved me from if we’d met years ago? I wish to god everyone had a mate so you could weed out jerks when you didn’t feel that connection.”

“You are ass-backward,” Cormac said. “Most humans love the animal and freak out over belonging to someone for the rest of their life.”

“Like you said, we click,” Austin said. “I love our conversations. You make me laugh. You’re fine as fuck with a rocking body and a big dick. An amazing kisser, too. You’re considerate, sweet, care about your family, and you have gorgeous eyes that I keep getting lost in.”

“If you keep going, I’m going to owe you blowjobs for the rest of your life.”

Austin smirked. “And I have a goddamn cheetah that still scares the fuck out of me. Best of all?”

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