Page 19 of Nitro

"Six?" Tommy asked me with a raise of his eyebrows.

"We bears have a huge appetite," I explained.

"I'll keep that in mind," Tommy said.

He even scribbled it on a nearby notepad.

"In mind for what?" I prodded, hoping he'd say our next date.

"For the next time I cook a meal for us," Tommy said.

"Aw, anyone else mentioned you guys are so dang cute?" Spike said, zipping up his jeans as he emerged from the bathroom. "Thanks, Tommy."

“Don’t mention it,” Tommy said.

"Spike, don't you have somewhere to go tonight?" I asked.

He better get the hint because in two seconds, I was going to haul his annoying ass out of Tommy's place.

"Right, of course," Spike said. I ushered him out the door.

"Thanks for having Nitro's back all the time, Spike," Tommy called behind him. "Anyone would be glad to have a good friend like you."

"I am a good friend," Spike said, beaming at Tommy's compliment.

I had a feeling very few people in his life had given him compliments.

"Bye," I said, slamming the door shut in his face.

Then I finally turned to Tommy. "Finally, it's just us," I said.

"Um, yeah." Tommy sat on the couch, then patted the empty space next to him.

It was a two-seater, and I wasn't exactly a small guy. Suppressing a grin at the prospect of our bodies touching and being so close to Tommy, I sat.

I had a particularly good feeling that night, and my hunch was right.

Tommy didn't seem to mind when I slid my arm over his shoulders. He even leaned in closer.

His heavenly scent enveloped me, waking my inner grizzly.

"What happened?" I asked, reminding myself not to go off-topic.

My job at this moment was to listen and be there for my mate.

Tommy told me everything, beginning from him heading out to buy sleeping pills and ending with him rushing back to his apartment.

I frowned, not liking the fact Tommy had gone out at such a late hour.

Sure, Moon Burrow was safer than most places in the country because the MC claimed this area as our territory, but still.

"You should've called me the moment you sensed you were in danger," I automatically said.

When Tommy's face fell, I immediately regretted my words. I reminded myself to see where he was coming from.

Tommy moved here to feel normal again, to remind himself he could be independent. I cleared my throat and tried again.

"I didn't imply you were helpless or anything like that. If you were genuinely in trouble, would you promise you would contact me?" I asked, making my tone as gentle as possible.

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