Page 35 of How to Rescue Your Surprise Baby

“Really?” Mav stepped into the shower with him, fully clothed, the shower spray running all over his shirt.

Telos stopped breathing. But Mav acted like it wasn’t something big. His shirt began clinging to his body, turning translucent, accentuating the outlines of his pecs and biceps. And still he crowded closer, leaving barely an inch between them.

Telos refused to back away. Herefused.But it only made everything worse because Mav was so close to him, all over again.

Mav studied him. Ever so slightly, uncertainty flickered in his eyes. “You like me.”

Telos’ heart stuttered, that damn traitor.

Mav’s gaze dropped to his chest. Then it shot back up, and Telos felt another flash of surprise at the back of his mind.

“I thought it was a fluke, at first,” Mav said slowly. “When you had me pick Estie out of your beak. You felt... warm.”

Telos frowned. “Warm? That wasn’t—”

“Then you began feeling awkward. I’ve never known you to beawkwardaround me.” Mav’s gaze intensified. “Orshy.”

Crap.“I wasn’tshy.”

“So tell me why you’re nervous now, then. Why you’re not insulting me like you usually do. Why you can’t even look me in the eye, when you’re usually trying to stare me down.”

“I—” Telos’ heart pounded. He wasn’t in the mood for Mav’s criticisms, Mav telling him he was fucked up, or that there was no way he’d ever return Telos’ feelings. “I don’t evenwantto feel this way.”

Mav froze. Telos felt his surprise again, and—maybe a whisper of disappointment?

He had to be projecting onto Mav. Mav didn’t feel things like that toward Telos. Telos shouldered past the other alpha and stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to dry himself. Then he headed to his bags, yanking out a new set of clothes.

He felt too bare right now, in front of Mav. Now that Mav had touched him where he was vulnerable, and seen his secrets.

Mav shut off the shower and followed him out, leaving some distance between them. “After Reinford, I thought—”

“We’re not talking about Reinford,” Telos growled.

Reinford was almost three hundred years ago, a dark, stormy night in a beautiful castle, and it had been the best and worst time of Telos’ life, because they’d become such good friends in a matter of weeks.

Then Telos had to go and ruin everything by falling in love.

“I’m sorry,” Mav blurted. “I didn’t think—”

“You didn’t think a lot of things,” Telos snapped. “And that’s fine. Leave me alone.”

He felt Mav’s gaze on him, though. His skin prickled when he bent over to stuff his legs into his pants. Even though Mav had seen everything, he still felt so naked with his balls hanging out. Mav had beeninside him.

“You stole my clothes.”

Telos stiffened. His pants snagged against his damp legs and tore, but he was in such a hurry to leave that he didn’t care.

“Telos.” Mav strode over, grabbing his arm. “Listen.”

His voice was low, insistent. Telos turned his head slightly to indicate he was listening, but he also couldn’t help slowing down, letting Mav’s warmth soak into his skin.

“I didn’t realize you felt that way,” Mav said quietly. “I—I was brought up to think it was wrong. That it wasn’t even a possibility because alphas were not born to mate with other alphas.”

Telos snorted. “Yeah, I’m a freak of nature.”

Mav’s mouth twitched. “Does that have to do with you shifting into dinosaurs?”

Telos rolled his eyes. “Please. Dinosaurs ruled the planet before we took over. They’renota freak of nature.”

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