Page 25 of Kennedy

Kennedy’s expression lit up. “Would you want that?”

“Very much so.”

“Usually, I would suggest going to the park, but it’s getting dark. It’s also cold, and I don’t want you to have to sit on a bench while I play around.”

Lewis hesitated only a second before offering, “I can take you to my apartment.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want to invade your private space.”

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure. Maybe you could spend the night? I mean, we could share the bed.” Shit, did that make it sound like what Lewis was avoiding? “To sleep,” he quickly added.

They’d only kissed, and he was nowhere near ready for more, even though he wanted to jump his mate’s bones. He enjoyed taking things slow and allowing Kennedy to show him how much he cared. He didn’t need sex to know because Kennedy ensured that Lewis felt cherished every time they were together. Lewis was a bit scared that would change if they slept together, even though he didn’t think Kennedy would do it on purpose. He liked where they were now, and while he knew their relationship would progress and deepen, for now, he wanted to enjoy what they had.

“We can share your bed to sleep,” Kennedy confirmed. “I can even sleep in my lion form if it makes you more comfortable. I’ve been told it’s quite comfy to hug me in that form.”

Lewis frowned. “Who got the opportunity to sleep with you in your lion form?”

Kennedy laughed and pulled Lewis closer. “You might not be my first boyfriend, Lewis, but you’re my only mate. Don’t worry about the men who came before.”

Lewis nodded, but he knew it would be easier said than done. Part of him was awfully jealous at the thought that his mate had been with anyone else, even though he had, too. He felt possessive, which wasn’t like him, but then, Kennedy was his mate. Everything Lewis felt was new because he’d never had that kind of bond and connection with anyone else, not even with the people he’d dated before.

“Ready?” he asked so he wouldn’t startle Kennedy by shimmering them.

“I’ll always be ready when it comes to you,” Kennedy reassured him.

Lewis was pretty sure there was something deeper in those words, but he didn’t feel like examining them right now. He could obsess over it tomorrow once he got to work. For now, as soon as Kennedy nodded, he shimmered them to his front door.

He lived above the flower shop. The apartment was tiny, but Lewis was alone, and he didn’t spend a lot of time there. Most of his day, he was at the shop downstairs, and when he wasn’t, he spent as much time as possible with Seymour. He visited his parents, saw a few friends, ran errands, and only saw his apartment to shower and sleep.

Maybe that was why he felt a bit self-conscious as he opened the door to let Kennedy in. The apartment was a bit dated because Lewis had invested all of his money in the shop, but Kennedy didn’t seem to care. He stood in the middle of the living room, looking around and taking everything in.

“It’s not much,” Lewis quickly said. “That’s the bathroom and the bedroom,” he said, pointing in their direction.

That was it. Kennedy could see the kitchen above the counter since that was the only thing that separated it from the living room. Lewis liked it because it meant the room looked bigger, but at the same time, it also meant that his living room smelled of food when he cooked. Kennedy didn’t seem to mind. Once he was done looking around, he turned his attention to Lewis.

“Do you want me to strip in the bathroom?”

Lewis’s cheeks flushed. He moved toward the kitchen as he took off his jacket. “You can shift in here. I’ll just go and grab some water. Do you want snacks?”

“We just had dinner, so no, thank you.”

Lewis took much longer than he normally would to grab two bottles of water, but he wanted to give Kennedy time to shift. He doubted Kennedy would be self-conscious even having him there watching him, but they weren’t there yet when it came to their relationship. Kennedy was used to being naked with shifters, but Lewis wasn’t a shifter. He was Kennedy’s mate.

When Lewis returned to the living room, it was to find that Kennedy had shifted and settled on the couch. He was so big that for a moment, Lewis wondered if the couch would break. Then, Kennedy stretched, and Lewis didn’t care anymore.

He put the water on the table, took off his shoes, and turned toward Kennedy. “I can put on a movie, but I don’t think I’m going to fit with you on the couch.”

Kennedy yawned as if he didn’t care. Lewis glared, but he wasn’t angry. He loved that Kennedy was comfortable enough with him to behave like this.

He wiggled his way onto the couch, not one bit disappointed that he had to snuggle close. He ended up squashed between the couch and Kennedy’s lion body, feeling warmer than he usually was in winter. Both of them were facing the TV, but Lewis doubted he’d be able to follow the movie. His entire focus was on Kennedy, who was so big, warm, and soft that Lewis wasn’t surprised when he felt his eyes start to close.

He couldn’t find it in himself to get up and offer to move to his bed. Instead, he squeezed his eyes shut and told himself the couch was just as comfortable.

Chapter Five

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“LEWIS TEXTED TO TELLme he was going to be a little late,” Kennedy announced to Jimmy and Seymour.

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