A chuckle escaped me. “No, you smell amazing.” I closed my eyes in humiliation. “Oh my god. I didn’t mean that.”
“You didn’t?” He cupped his hand over his mouth and sniffed. “No…minty fresh.”
I sucked in a breath and let it out. “Okay, yes, your breath is fine, and you do smell good in general, but what I meant was…well, I have no idea what I meant. Maybe I should go back in the house before I lose what little self-respect I have left.”
Leon reached for my hand, and I let him take it. “Tobias, what’s going on? If you don’t like me, say so, but I didn’t get that impression. Did something happen to make you cancel our date? Did you meet another jackal?”
Another jackal? They were pretty rare among shifters. “I’m pretty new in town, but so far, you’re the first jackal I’ve met. I just…I get nervous at the thought of dating again. And when I get nervous, I shut down.”
“You’ve had a bad experience?” He stroked my palm with his thumb, sending shivers up to my shoulder. “Is that it?”
I nodded.
“Do you want to go out with me?”
I nodded again.
“Can I kiss you and see if we can’t settle those nerves?”
I tipped my face up, unable to say no. It was just one kiss, right? A friendly one to help me calm down. But the second his lips touched mine, calm was the furthest thing from my current state.
Warm, minty breath, a tongue that stroked mine, awakening feelings and desires I’d shut down a long time ago. My knees went weak, and I stumbled over the threshold. He followed me, backing me into the foyer. I heard the door click closed behind him as he steadied me.
Chapter Eight
Leon
“Bedroom,” I growled into his ear as my teeth scraped his earlobe. Frantically, he moaned, fingers grappling with my belt.
“Down the hall,” Tobias said. He turned his head to the side, giving me greater access to his neck. Gods, his scent was concentrated right there. I ran my tongue up the column of his neck from shoulder to ear, tasting him, taking my time.
“If you keep that up, I’m going to come before we even get your pants off.” Tobias giggled. “Take me to bed, alpha.”
He took my hand and led me down the hallway. I didn’t have a chance to see his bedroom because there was nothing but him. We found the bed, and I pulled back, taking a chance to really see him.
“What are you waiting for?”
I let a growl exit my mouth. “Patience, omega. Patience. No reason to rush.”
He whimpered in response and reached for his shirt, pulling it off in one graceful move. My turn to whimper. I kicked off my shoes while licking my lips at the sight of him. His abs were taut and firm, flexing as he breathed. He had a slight olive tone and a freckle right in the middle of his chest.
“The first time you touch me, I swear I’m going to come. Touch me, alpha. Don’t make me beg.”
“Mmm, I might make you beg one day but not tonight.”
I took off all my clothes and then closed the distance between us and reached for the button on his pants. He wore no boxers underneath. I growled at the sight of his thickened cock bobbing in anticipation.
“Get on the bed,” I commanded. He did so without hesitation.
Spreading his legs, I stood between them and then lowered my mouth to his swollen cock. He cried out, threading his fingers through my hair and tugged. “That’s right, alpha. Gods, that feels amazing.”
The head of his cock pressing against the back of my throat, I sucked him off, my lips against the base. His smell drove me to madness. He bucked his hips, fucking my mouth, his breaths growing shallower.
I pulled away as his balls tightened. Tobias was on the verge of coming, but I wanted him to work for it, just a bit.
“Alpha?” He flopped on the bed and pouted.
“Not yet. I want to be inside you when you come. You want that, too, don’t you?”