Page 29 of Kitten Kisses

The smile on Alex’s face was pure delight. “See, I told you it would be good. Now aren’t you glad you agreed to a cup instead of hunting down a tranquilizer gun?”

Slater’s brow rose at the mention of tranqing his cat.

“Jeez!” Alex jumped and slapped a hand over his chest. “You’ve got to stop scaring me while I’m in the kitchen!”

They locked gazes. The way Alex looked at Slater was nothing short of heart racing. He was stunning in the midday light. Slater wanted the feeling he had in this moment to stay forever. He wanted that look to always radiate from his mate’s eyes. In the silence between them, Slater felt so much.

God help him.

He was a lucky man.

“I don’t know you like I should, since you’re dating my son,” Becky said as she stood, forcing Slater to pull his gaze away from his mate, “but please don’t leave Alex alone again with your exotic pet.”

She hadn’t seen him shift. That was a relief.

“I told you it wasn’t going to hurt me, Mom.” Alex looked directly at Slater. “Like any cat, all it wanted was to meet me and let me pet it. Bonding is so important.”

Was Alex saying what Slater thought he was?

“Yeah?”

“Yes.” Alex smiled.

His hummingbird wanted to bond with him.

“Did you hear me, Slater?” Becky asked.

He turned to her and hung his head slightly. “You said you wanted to get to know me better because I’m dating your son.”

“That’s not—” She huffed. “That’s true, but I was talking about your tiger.”

“I’m always around when Alex is with my tiger, ma’am. But I hear you loud and clear.”

“You weren’t here earlier,” she pointed out. “Alex called me in a panic because your pet passed out and he couldn’t figure out why.”

Punch right to the heart. Slater didn’t think his mate could be any more beautiful, but he’d just been proven wrong.

“When my cat isn’t feeling well, it likes to sleep so it feels better.”

Alex turned but not before Slater caught his smile, and then he started cleaning off the counter, leaving Slater to face down his mom.

“I wasn’t far, Becky. I promise.”

Alex’s shoulders shook slightly, and with his heightened senses, Slater could hear him softly laughing.

“Well, now that the crisis has been diverted, I’m going to head back to work,” she said. “Just do Alex a favor and let him know where you keep your tranquilizer gun. Wild animals can be unpredictable.”

Slater guessed Alex couldn’t hold back any longer because he collapsed against the counter, laughing so hard his smile was wide and his cheeks were a pretty shade of red.

“What has gotten into you?” his mom asked.

Slater had to curl his lips in so he wouldn’t join his mate.

She rolled her eyes. “Boys are so strange. Alex, walk your mom out.”

Alex wiped the tears from his eyes, trying to stifle his laughter as he stood up. He took one look at Slater, who was fighting his own grin, and let out another burst of uncontrollable laughter.

“I’ll walk you out, Becky,” Slater offered, gesturing for her to follow him.

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