Page 18 of The Jorogumo

Even though I'd already told Liam about my sexuality, about what I could and couldn't offer him, telling him we were matesfelt like I was trapping him. And while my jorogumo side was very much onboard with that, my logical side was not. I didn't want Liam to be stuck in an unsatisfying relationship.

Fucking hell, I was just going around in circles, wasn't I?

Glancing at my phone, I realized it was almost time. I'd promised to meet Liam outside his shop, and Bellamy had offered to go with me.

Bellamy was another human who lived in the Sanctuary, mated to a kelpie named Alaric. They both lived in the Lakes (& Rivers, though we just called it Lakes) area, and while I didn't know them very well, I knew they were good people.

"Ready?" Bellamy flashed me a smile, making the scar on his cheek twitch.

I nodded, too nervous to speak, and his smile softened.

"It'll be fine, Haruto. Everyone's going to be on their best behavior, even Jacinta."

That made me smile. "I know. I'm just nervous."

Jacinta was a cecaelia, a bossy cook, and a wonderful person. They also ran the gossip mill in the Sanctuary, so everyone was careful about what they said around them.

We left the Sanctuary, and I wheeled down the street, the way to Liam's store all but instinctual now after more than two months of going back and forth.

It didn't take long to reach his store, and I peered through the glass front, wondering if he was inside.

Pulling my phone out of my shirt pocket, I called him.

"Hey, Haruto. Are you here already?"

"Yes, I'm outside."

"Shit. Be down in a minute. Sorry!"

"It's okay. I can wait."

Glancing up at Bellamy as the call ended, I explained, "He'll be here in a minute."

I heard clattering inside the shop; then a door opened and closed. I knew Liam lived in an apartment above the store, though I hadn't seen his living space yet.

I smiled when I spotted him through the glass front, and Bellamy leaned down to whisper, "Okay, that's my cue. I have some errands to run. I'm sure you two can make your way back, yeah?"

"Yes, thank you," I said, shooting him a smile. I was sure he wasn't lying about the errands, but I also knew he'd said it to give Liam and me time with each other.

"My pleasure, Haruto. Have fun, okay?"

I nodded, and he took off down the street, whistling under his breath as he went.

Turning my attention back to Liam, I watched as he locked up, then turned to me with a wide smile.

"Hey, Haruto!"

While Liam was big and could appear intimidating if you didn't know him, he had the disposition of a cheerful, excited kid, especially now, and I grinned as he skipped down the steps to my side.

Leaning down, Liam pressed a kiss to my cheek, which made me suck in a surprised breath. Leaning back, he met my eyes, his brown ones warm and sparkling. "Okay?"

"Very much so," I said once I'd found my voice, and he grinned wider as he straightened, then clapped his hands.

"I'm so excited to see your home," he said, then ducked his head, his cheeks warming up. "Sorry. I'll keep myself in check, I promise."

"No," I said with a firm shake of my head, mentally cursing anyone who'd ever made Liam feel like he had to hide away parts of himself to be accepted, to be wanted. I knew only too well how that felt, and I hated that he did too.

"No?"

---