Page 36 of Midnight Rain

Cormac arched a brow.

“I don’t have to go on terrible dates anymore. Did I mention you’re an amazing kisser?”

“You might have said that.” Cormac grinned. “I’m thrilled that you approve.”

Austin frowned. “Hold on. I’m connecting the dots. If you’re a cheetah, that means so are your brothers, which means Orion is Duncan and Izel’s mate? Bran is Hayden’s, and Santee is Beckett’s.”

“Yes. Milly is also a cheetah, and just so you know, Santee is a bunny shifter.” Cormac would hold off on telling Austin that Izel was a reaper for two thousand years. His mate had made it through the most important things, and Cormac didn’t want to push his luck.

Austin’s brows shot up. “There’re more than just cheetahs, and now I want to run downstairs and pet Santee. I love bunnies!”

“One, there are many different breeds of shifters. Two, I wouldn’t advise petting Santee. Preternatural are very possessive and protective. Beckett wouldn’t take kindly to you petting his mate.”

“The fight,” Austin whispered. “You snarled at Duncan and Izel’s mate. That’s why they went crazy. Oh my god.”

“I crossed a line,” Cormac admitted, wishing he could take that back. It hadn’t been his finest moment. “Mates are precious to us. We protect them, even when they aren’t ours.”

“That’s why your brothers looked enraged when you told them about Jaycee.”

“Like I said, we protect mates, even when they’re not ours.” Cormac was, without a doubt, burying Jaycee if he ever saw him. He’d finally found his mate, and he wasn’t going to let anyone hurt Austin. Not even Austin’s crappy-ass mother. If she couldn’t treat her son with respect, she could kick rocks. His mate needed love and support in his life, not indifference and neglect.

“You can’t tell Paloma about any of this. We have a strict rule about keeping our existence hidden.”

Austin rubbed his forehead. “I’m not going to lie, Cormac. I’m overwhelmed right now. My emotions are ping-ponging all over the place.”

Cormac hugged him, loving the feel of Austin in his arms and the fact that his mate knew the truth. He no longer had to be careful of what he said, which was a relief. “That’s why you have me, Austin. Think of me as your emotional support cheetah.”

“That doesn’t even sound right,” Austin said against his chest. “I’ll stick with Lila, but you can be my fluffy kitty.”

Cormac gave a light growl. “Do I look like a fluffy kitty?”

Austin pulled back and glared at him. “If it helps me get used to your humungous cheetah, then you’re my fluffy kitty.”

Cormac nodded. “Then consider me a fucking kitten.”

Chapter Ten

Hugging a naked man was putting everything Austin had just learned and seen on a backburner. He could feel the heat from Cormac’s body soak into him. The guy’s natural scent alone was intoxicating, making Austin’s head spin.

“Right now, I don’t need my fluffy kitten.” Austin slid his hand over Cormac’s bare arm. “I need the guy who said he was going to tease every inch of my body.”

Austin’s brows shot up when Cormac purred. “What was that?”

“Something I’ve been suppressing around you.” Cormac slipped his hand up the back of Austin’s shirt, gliding his palm over Austin’s spine. “It’s a sound that means you turn me on.”

“Then purr away.” Austin grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it over his head, tossing it to the floor. “Now tease me, beefcake.”

A low chuckle rolled from Cormac’s chest. “Beefcake?”

“Would you prefer I call you cuddle muffin, sweat meat, or dickalious?”

“How about mate?”

Cormac ghosted his lips over Austin’s neck and shoulder, and Austin was done for. Whatever this man wanted, he could have, just as long as he didn’t stop making tiny shivers race through Austin.

“Mmm, I think, for now, I’ll call you thundercock.” Austin had no idea where all that was coming from. His brain was misfiring like crazy, all thanks to Cormac fogging his mind with those lips and his smell.

“Call me whatever the hell you want.” Cormac lowered Austin to his back, flicking his tongue across Austin’s chest then circling it around one of his nipples.

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