Page 39 of Feels Like Home

Ian winced as he grabbed his mate and steadied him.

Shaking his head, Jace hurried from the kitchen. Ian chuckled at how discombobulated his mate seemed.

Ten minutes later, Jace returned, a backpack slung over his shoulder. “We’re heading out, Mom!”

“Condoms!” Inez shouted back.

Jace looked incredulously in the direction of her voice. “She did not just say that. I swear to god they’ve never acted like this before. I think the cake had liquor in it.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Ian hollered, though preternatural couldn’t contract or transmit diseases. He looked down at his mate. “We’re fine, though I doubt the cake was soaked in booze.”

Jace smacked at Ian’s arm. “Stop encouraging my grandmother. And you can’t get drunk off of human alcohol, so how would you know?”

Ian slung his arm around Jace’s shoulders. “I find her an adorable riot and enjoy the banter.” He steered them toward the front door. “And I know the cake wasn’t filled with alcohol because I would have smelled it.”

“Then why are they acting like giggling teenagers?”

“They were having fun.” Ian closed the door behind him then helped his mate into his truck. “You have to admit they were hysterical.”

“They were—” Jace’s brows furrowed. “Ugh, forget it.”

The ladies had let their hair down with Ian there, making him feel like a part of their family.

When they arrived at his house, Ian kicked off his shoes. “I’m getting out of this wet shirt.” He wiggled his brows. “Care to see my bedroom?”

Without waiting for an answer, he took Jace’s backpack and headed toward his room. Ian stopped when he felt his mate behind him.

Jace looked around, a wrinkle forming between his eyebrows. “There aren’t any doors in this recessed area.”

He pressed his palm against the oak wall. Jace gasped when a section of the wall swung inward to reveal Ian’s master bedroom.

“Your bedroom door is a secret panel?” Jace wandered inside, glancing around. “Your bedroom is bigger than my kitchen and living room combined.”

Ian closed the door behind them. “But your rooms are filled with love and laughter.” He set Jace’s backpack down then pressed another section of wall to enter his walk-in closet.

His mate peeked inside. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You can come in.” Ian pulled his shirt off and tossed it into a nearby hamper. He didn’t bother putting on another shirt. He pulled off his pants, and they joined his shirt.

“You have a washer and dryer tucked away in this corner. Who has a washer and dryer in their closet?”

“Someone who hates doing laundry.” Ian peeled off his socks.

“I thought you said you were changing your wet shirt?” Jace ran his hand over the custom-made wooden shelving, opened a few drawers, and then wandered out of the room.

“I’m in for the night.” Ian walked out and closed the door. “I’m getting comfortable.”

Jace stood there looking at the wall of glass behind Ian’s bed. “Aren’t you afraid someone will see you in here?”

Ian had to admit he loved showing Jace the different features of his home. He picked up a two-button remote and handed it to his mate. “Go ahead and press the top one.”

“Get out of here!” Jace squealed when the transparent glass turned opaque, making the windows completely private. He hit the bottom button and the glass was once again transparent. Jace played with the remote with giddiness, laughing every time the window switched back and forth.

Ian crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, enjoying the look of wonder on his mate’s face.

“Will I break something if I keep doing this?” Jace turned around and set the remote on the nightstand.

“I’ll just have to charge the remote more often.” Ian led Jace to his bed. “Movie?”

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