Page 147 of The Good Boys Club

“Real,” I repeated. “I want you, as you. The you I met fifteen years ago. The you who tied sunflowers to an arch with me. The you I spent every Sunday cuddled on the sofa with. The you I fell in love with. Not werewolf Ci. Shifter Ci. This Ci.” I motioned to the entirety of him. “Human ears, no tail, no fangs, foreskin, everything.”

He laughed, blinked away tears.

“I fucking love you, Cian. And I don’t want you to go back to Remy. I’ll understand if you need to . . . if you say no. But I want you to stay here with me. As my mate.”

“I love you too,” he said. I squeezed him so tightly his feet left the ground. “Always have done. Mash, I’m obsessed with you. Every decision I’ve ever made . . . everything I do is to bring me closer to you.”

Memories flooded my thoughts.

“This model had the best leg room of any in the showroom.”

“Hey, wanna be my roommate for another two years?”

“You are a good boy, though.”

“I’ll do it! I’ll come with you to Howling Pines.”

I brought my lips to his again and kissed him. Wet and open-mouthed, but heart-flutteringly gentle. Cian whimpered. His cock grew heavier between us. I wanted to lay him down on the mud and take him into my mouth, but there was more to be said first.

I pulled away a little so I could look into his eyes. “So, does this mean you’ll stay with me?”

“Mash, I would do any—”

“Wait.” I silenced him with a kiss. I had a better idea.

Werewolf customs were worlds apart from humans’ or shifters’ or any other species’, but I’d seen enough rom coms in my life to know how these things worked. I dropped to one knee, my head level with Cian’s naked stomach.

“Oh my gods,” he said. “Is this for real?”

“Cian James Michael Barker—”

“Michael James,” he corrected with a laugh-sob. A tear raced down his cheek.

I swallowed down my building emotions. My feelings could wait. “Cian Michael James Barker, this is such a big ask, but would you do me the honour of becoming my real—realmate? Not fake. It’s always been you. Only you. Will you stay here with me in this boonie little werewolf town in the middle of nowhere? Will you be my beta?”

His mouth opened, but I pushed my finger against his lips, halting any words before they could escape, and got to my feet.

“Wait. Don’t answer yet. I know you like to make informed, well thought through decisions, and this is kinda rash, but I’ve been thinking about stuff. I don’t want you moving here without considering everything first.”

I held his mouth closed still. He nodded.

“So, okay, our home. We could live in the main house, but if you don’t fancy living with my mam and nana, and I can’t say I’d blame you, I’ll build you a cottage. One of those A-frame timber houses you love with a wall of glass and a reading nook, and a library with a rolling ladder, and a bathtub with little copper bath feet. Anything you want.” I’d seen his online mood boards.

The cutest “oh” left his lips. I removed my fingers. “You can do that?”

“Sure, it’s my land. Werewolf building laws are more relaxed than the ones in Borderlands. Plus, I know the town planner. He’s sort of my uncle, but not really.”

“Of course,” he said with a laugh.

“You won’t be able to work for Byte Tech. I chatted with Dee-Dee, and she said they’re looking for employees who can be at the branch and, well, it’s not commutable. But I have spoken with someone else who is very open to offering you a job, and I think you might love it there.”

“But there are no tech companies in Lykos.” I could see his mind whirring.

“Not tech, not even computers. Far from it actually.”

“What then?” He was frowning now, a hand on his hips.

“There’s a position going at The Full Moon. Clem said you’d make an excellent sous chef, if you want it.”

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