Page 11 of As The Shifter World Turns

“It’s not a problem. Really. I’ll come back when you’re done too.”

“I wasn’t sorry for you driving my butt, although I appreciate it.” He clicked his seatbelt.

“Oh, you’ll pay me back. I need help staging tomorrow.”Please let himtake the offer.

“I work at four.”

“I’ll make sure you're there on time on one condition.” We pulled onto the main road.

“Which is?” he asked with hesitation.

“What were you sorry for?”

“I scented the pheromones. You don’t need to pretend with me.”

“Not pretending. He has a date tomorrow with not me. It’s just me being horny.” We pulled to a stop at the light. “You see… there was this dildo…”

5

A KISS IS JUST A MISS

Archer

I’m beat.

It’d been a long day at work, and I was looking forward to a hot shower and a night on the sofa eating leftovers and watching TV. But as I wheeled my bike through the Sunshine Manor gate, I pounded a fist against my forehead. Neil had invited me for dinner, and that was tonight.

So, there’d be a shower, hopefully a warm one, as long as there was enough hot water. No sofa and no leftovers. I considered begging off and saying I was exhausted—which was true—but I’d only been here a short time, and cancelling so late, when Neil had probably already cooked, wasn’t the way to make friends.

Glancing upward at Micah’s closed front window, I idly wondered if he was home. The porch was infused with his scent, which I tried and failed to ignore.

I yawned while I locked the bike and peered over my shoulder as a vehicle pulled up. The words big, expensive, and shiny flashed into my head as two men emerged. I’d never been fashion conscious, but their suits shouted money, and plenty of it. Their shoes probably cost more than I earned in a week.

They strode through the gate as though they owned Sunshine Manor, ignoring me. The pair didn’t strike me as friends of Daire’s. He was certainly rich, but he didn’t wear his wealth as the two men did. Even their fragrance reminded me of money.

Daire raced onto the porch, and his gaze dipped toward me before he greeted the newcomers. “Dad. Father. You didn’t tell me you were coming.”

Oh, they do own the place!

“That was the point, son,” one of the men replied as the other turned up his nose at the paint peeling off the handrail.

“Come inside. Ivor’s not back from class yet.” He got behind them and shoved them toward the front door.

But as the words left his mouth, Ivor jogged up to the front gate. When he caught sight of Daire, he froze.

“Isn’t that your roommate?” One of Daire’s parents pointed to the wolf shifter, whose hand was clutching the metal gate, blood draining from his face.

“Y-Yes,” Ivor stammered.

“Y-Yes,” Daire repeated.

My head swiveled from Ivor to Daire, trying to figure out what was happening.

“Have you found somewhere else to live?” the same man asked me.

“I think you’re mistaken,” I replied to the man. “I just moved in.”

Both men glowered at their son, and Daire visibly wilted under their unblinking gaze. “Didn’t our son tell you?”

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