Page 20 of Beautiful Butterfly

Folding his arms on the table, Alister dropped his head. “I think I freaked Wyatt out today when I told him I love him.” His eyes bulged as he looked up at Paris. “What does it mean if he didn’t say it back to me? We’re mates, but some guys panic when you use the L word. We were parked in front of Sweet Spot, and he just sat there staring at me as I talked too fast. I couldn’t make myself shut up.” He dropped his head back down. “I’m a hopeless dweeb.”

“You are such an adorable mess.” Paris patted his head like Alister was a good little puppy. “He had to have done more than just stare at you, hon. What happened after you ejected your emotions all over him?”

I was seconds away from ejecting my cum all over him.

A burning flush shot through Alister like a bolt of lightning. He could still feel the insatiable hunger in Wyatt’s kiss, still feel Wyatt’s erection between his fingers and pressing between his cheeks.

“He might have yanked me into his lap and been a hair’s breadth away from fucking me into the steering wheel.”

Paris’s eyebrows inched upward as his jaw slowly fell open. A broad smile expanded across his face before he let out a high-pitched squeal. “You slutty kitten!”

“Thanks for playing it cool!” Alister shrieked. “I don’t think the people on the other side of town heard you.”

His bestie got up and hurried around the table, plopping down beside Alister. “Spill the tea.”

Alister pressed his hand against Paris’s eager face. “Not a chance, bitch. When I asked for deets about you and Cannon, you told me you don’t kiss and tell. Eat my Nivea-smelling palm.”

Paris sighed. “You’re no fun.” He knocked Alister’s hand away. “Back to your problem. If you tell a guy you’re in love with him and he tries to fuck you in public, that’s not panic from hearing the L word, hon.”

Biting his lip, Alister glanced to where Wyatt was seated. His mate and Cannon were talking. Thankfully Wyatt was no longer sitting in that sexy pose. He had his back to Alister. “So why didn’t he say it back to me?”

“That’s something you’ll have to talk to him about.” Paris licked his ice cream, which had started to melt. “Just don’t read into it. For all you know, something in his past might be the cause.”

Paris was right that Alister shouldn’t read into it, but that didn’t stop his insecurities from welling up inside of him. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves then saw Sam and Morgan heading their way.

Alister really liked Sam. They’d hung out enough that the human had confessed that he’d been homeless for years and he’d had a nasty hyena shifter after him. Alister couldn’t imagine not having a home, and knowing Sam’s prior hardship only made him more endearing.

“Hey, guys.” Sam took a seat next to Alister. “I wanted to ask you two something, and it’s okay if you can’t. I completely understand since people do have lives.”

Paris chuckled. “Stop shutting down whatever it is before you’ve even asked us.” He leaned sideways and tossed the rest of his cone into the trashcan next to their table.

“Morgan has this thing about me making friends, which I have. It’s just I don’t hang with them too often.”

“Please don’t take the long road on this.” Alister patted Sam’s back. “What do you want to ask us.”

Sam had also divulged to Alister that he hadn’t had any friends when he was on the streets. He now hung out with Milo and Atlas, but as far as Alister knew, those were the only two people. It was nice that Sam included him and Paris in his small circle of friendship.

Taking a deep breath, Sam said, “I wanted to have a cookout this weekend. I like having Morgan’s friends over, but I’d like to have some of my own at the house, too.”

“We’d love to!” Paris grinned. “Who would turn down free food and being around friends? What day and time?”

“Really?” Sam’s dark blue eyes lit up. “You guys don’t have to bring anything. Well, except yourselves and your fellas.”

“Mates,” Alister said proudly. “Wyatt is my mate, and Cannon is Paris’s.”

“Right.” Sam nodded.

“What day and time?” Paris repeated.

“Saturday at two. Is that okay, or should I change the time?” Sam ran his hands up and down his thighs. “I’ve never planned a cookout, and it’s been ten years since I’ve called anyone a friend. Should I have asked you guys what day and time works for you instead of deciding beforehand?”

God, the guy now sounded like Alister with the way his words were coming out so fast. Alister curled his arm around Sam and pulled him into a sideways hug. “Calm down, kitten. Paris and I will be there on Saturday at two. Are Milo and Atlas coming?”

“Shit.” Sam bit his lip. “I already planned on them being there. I just forgot to invite them.”

Alister laughed. “A phone call will fix that. I’ll bet my glamourous wardrobe they’ll be there.”

“I’m nervous,” Sam whispered. “What if something comes up and my friends don’t show? Morgan’s coworkers are coming over, including the new guys, but I really want mates there, too.”

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