Page 21 of Feels Like Home

Ian shut off the water then turned his mate to face him. “This isn’t a casual thing for me, kitten. It’s definitely going somewhere.” He grabbed the tea towel so Jace could dry his hands. “I’d really like to talk to you in private. That’s why I wanted you to come to my house.”

“I have to make a store run.” Jace set the towel aside.

“I’ll buy your grandmother two cases of cookies and a rich, decadent cake if you say yes.” Ian needed to tell Jace that they were mates and he was a black panther. It was getting harder and harder to suppress his purrs around the guy.

Ian didn’t want to hide anything from Jace. In a short period of time, the human had come to mean so much to him. But that was how things worked in Ian’s world. A preternatural didn’t feel whole without their other half.

“I’ll admit I’m nervous, but you don’t have to bribe me to come to your house.” Jace slid the last of the dishes into the sudsy water.

“What makes you uneasy?”

“Being completely alone with you.”

Ian stopped Jace from washing the silverware, once again turning his mate to face him. “Do you think I invited you to my house so I could hurt you?”

It tore Ian apart to even consider such a thought.

“No.” Jace’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean for you to take it that way.”

“Then what do you mean?” Ian stroked his thumb over Jace’s cheek, brushing away a stray water droplet. “I’m just trying to understand why you’re nervous to be alone with me.”

They’d already been intimate, so Ian doubted that was the issue.

“Because I’m me,” Jace finally said, and then the words poured out. “I overanalyze. My brain goes blank. My insecurities and anxiety overwhelm me. I constantly wonder what you see in me and then fret that you’ll get tired of dealing with my craziness and walk away.” He took a deep breath as if he’d run a marathon.

Ian had no idea anyone could talk that fast.

“It felt good to say all that out loud.” Jace’s shoulders relaxed as if a weight had lifted and he could finally take a breath of fresh air. “To be honest, I’m convinced you’re a narcotic.”

“How so?” Ian frowned.

“Every time you touch me my anxiety levels lower. Like you’re doing now.” Jace bounced his shoulders. Ian’s hands rose and fell with his arms. “I feel like an addict needing a fix when you’re not touching me, and that probably sounds creepy so I shouldn’t be telling you that.”

Ian’s gaze skipped over Jace’s face. His mate felt the pull. Felt their connection. That was why he calmed down when Ian touched him.

“That’s a lot to unpack, kitten. I don’t want to rush through any of it, so why don’t we finish up here, make that store run, then head to my place so we can pick this back up?” Ian suggested with a lift of his eyebrow.

“I freaked you out.” Jace tried to break the hold by wiggling his arms, but Ian kept a firm grip.

“Not by a longshot. I’d just rather discuss this at my place.” He looked toward the kitchen entrance. “My gut tells me our conversation isn’t as private as we think.”

Myla’s and Inez’s dual scents had suddenly flooded Ian’s senses, indicating they were close enough to hear every word.

“Then let’s finish the dishes.” Jace scrubbed the silverware, setting it all on Ian’s side of the sink. When they were done, he helped Jace wipe down the counters and table, sweep the floor, and take out the trash.

“We’re heading to the store,” Jace called out. “Be back in a minute.”

“We can take my ride.” Ian couldn’t wait to get home and shower. He’d been wearing his clothes since yesterday. He’d slept in them, gotten some spunk in his underwear, his shirt was wet from washing dishes, and specks of dirt clung to him from sweeping the floor and dealing with the trash. “Grab a change of clothes when we get back from the store if you want to shower at my house, butt quack.”

“I’m burning those underwear,” Jace groaned as they walked out the front door.

Ian chuckled. “That won’t remove that image from my head. I’m going to frame them and hang them in my bedroom.”

“You can’t be serious,” Jace grumbled.

They slid into Ian’s Navigator. “Every time I look at them, I’ll think of the amazing morning we had on your carpet.”

Jace blushed deeply as Ian pulled away.

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