Page 2 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

Telos waited until Mav had grabbed a few more frozen things and left to pay. Then he promptly turned his back on Major Licking and picked up two frozen pot pies, from a different—better—brand, a third frozen meal, and the ingredients for a midnight PB&J sandwich.

Mav was refueling their rental car when Telos stepped out. Telos flung himself into the passenger seat, opening a bag of chips. “Pity I’m stuck with you on this side quest. Staring at your ugly mug while we find this elusive mage guy. I’d much rather be hunting down the kidnappers.”

Except they both needed to be here: Mav because he was the only one who could find the mage, and Telos because the spell had to be cast on him.

None of the others were true shapeshifters—they could only switch between their human shape, and one specific creature. Telos could shift into anything he wanted, which was critical for this mission. The plan was to sneak him into the kidnappers’ hideout as a baby.

But just in case any of the kidnappers could sense he was an impostor, they needed a spell to hide his true identity. A spell so strong that no one would even realize it was there.

“Put on some blinders,” Mav said. “Or look out of the window. I don’t need your eyeballs on the side of my head.”

“Just for that, I’m going to find some slimy eyeballs, and throw them at you.”

Mav bared his teeth. It shouldn’t be as hot as it was.

Once the tank was filled, Mav got behind the wheel. Telos pretended not to notice when Mav’s shoulder bumped into his;the car was too small for two people their size. At least it still had decent horsepower; he would’ve had some choice words for the rental company otherwise.

Telos reached for the radio dial to change it away from classic rock; Mav promptly slapped his hand away.

“That’s the only station we can agree on,” Mav muttered. “Unless you want to be murdered right here.”

“Ah, your death threats warm the rock-hard cockles of my heart.”

“I’d roast them over a fire.” Mav checked his blind spot and changed lanes, his hands steady on the steering wheel. Also hot. Damn it.

“What would you season my cockles with?” Telos waggled his eyebrows.

“Salt and pepper. Something spicy to smother the taste.”

“Aw, I’m disappointed that you don’t want to taste me.”

Mav snorted.

The real reason for the radio was so it would drown out all the sounds in the car. Mav’s breathing, his heart thumping. The way his clothes rubbed against his skin, every rustle too intimate for this enclosed space.

But it couldn’t hide his scent. Mav had been using the same cologne for decades, something wonderfully marine with citrus and sage; woodsy notes mixed with a hint of salt.

Telos owned a bottle of it. That was a secret, too.

He turned back to his chips and crunched on them, occasionally throwing a piece at Mav.

Mav snarled. “Quit it.”

“I’m feeding you, darling. You should open your mouth wider.”

The other alpha gritted his teeth, tightening his fists on the steering wheel. Telos grinned and settled further into his seat.

Eventually, they pulled into the parking lot of a small hotel, with a brightly lit lobby and lamps next to every room’s entrance. Mav left the car to check them in.

Telos watched his pants stretch taut over his ass.

A short while later, Mav emerged from the lobby with two card keys. Telos stepped out of the car and caught the key Mav flicked at him.

“Which room?” Telos asked.

“It’s on there.” Mav didn’t look at him, instead turning to the trunk to grab his overnight bag.

Telos flipped his card around. On a bright pink sticky note, someone had scribbled the wordsRoom 69.

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