Page 26 of Spooks & Specters

As much as he wanted to screw his mates’ brains out, the need to feed Kit was more important. Nevertheless, he stuck his nose against the back of Kit’s neck and inhaled deeply. His dragon rumbled, content. Hopefully that would keep him satisfied until later this evening.

“Our mate is hungry, Connie,” Hudson said quietly.

Connie sighed against Kit’s lips, then pulled away. “I know.”

Kit huffed.

“Later,” Hudson whispered against Kit’s neck.

Kit turned his head to glare at Hudson. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“I sincerely hope so.”

Connie helped Kit up. Privately, Hudson could admit he missed Kit’s weight on his lap. He joined them at the picnic table and picked up a water bottle. He needed something to drink.

“Why don’t the two of you sit down, and I’ll fix your plates. Is that okay?” Connie asked. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Sure thing.” Kit climbed on top of the picnic table as he told Connie what he wanted.

Hudson raised an eyebrow as he watched his mate clamber up there. “What are you doing?”

“Sitting on top of the picnic table.”

Connie snickered as he filled Kit’s plate.

“I can see that. I mean why.”

“There’s not enough room for us three to sit on the bench. This way, one of us won’t have to sit alone.”

Warmth curled in Hudson’s chest. “Trust you to think of such.”

“What a lovely thought,” Connie added, handing Kit’s plate to him. “Hudson? What do you want?”

Hudson rattled off his choices. Within minutes, Connie presented Hudson with his plate. The joy in Connie’s eyes from serving both of his mates was evident to Hudson.

Such a dragon thing.

Fixing himself a plate, Connie sat opposite Hudson, and bit into a chicken leg.

ONCE THEY finished their meal, Kit reminded them to wait thirty minutes before returning to the water. Puzzled, Hudson glanced at Connie, who mirrored his expression.

“What?” Hudson inquired, putting their garbage in a trash bag he’d brought along.

“What do you meanwhat?” Kit asked.

“Why do we have to wait thirty minutes?” Connie questioned.

“Haven’t you ever heard that?” Kit finished off his pie, then held out his hand for the wet wipes Hudson had.

“Well, yes, but that’s an old wives’ tale,” Connie said. “The belief that the blood going to your digestive tract after eating steals the blood needed to keep your arms and legs pumping during swimming is unfounded. Surely you know that.”

“My mama said I had to wait after eating when I was a kid, and I certainly wasn’t going to argue with her about it,” Kit said. “Besides, that’s something humans believe, anyway, and you two are not human. I’m the only one who is. Well, kind of. So it’s more for me. But if I can’t go in the water, it’s only fair that you two can’t either.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, I completely understand not arguing with your mama,” Connie said.

Kit pointed at Connie. “Right? If you know, you know.”

Hudson did not know. His mother hadn’t particularly been that involved in his raising.

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