Page 27 of The Jorogumo

"Now go chill out in your webs before you break out in hives." Because of course he couldn't be serious for more than a minute.

"Yeah, yeah."

With a wave, I made my way to my house, and that was where I stayed until dinner, just lazing on my hammock with a comic as my mind churned over Liam's whole visit.

It had gone better than anything I could've imagined, and I'd loved watching Liam get along with my friends, though not as much as I'd loved kissing him.

Liam was such a sweet man, a gentle teddy bear who was misunderstood far too often, and I was glad he'd met my friends. No one here would ever be scared of him, not just because he was human, but because they could tell how fuckinggoodhe was. If there was anyone who wouldn't judge someone based on their looks, it was the residents of the Sanctuary.

Dinner was a quiet affair, and other than some gentle ribbing from Khush and Silas, it passed without incident.

That night, it took me a while to fall asleep, but when I did, it was with a smile on my face.

The next day, I had to finish my chores—both from that day and the day before—and it was after lunch by the time I managed to make it to Liam's. I'd texted him about the delay, but I still wished I could've made it sooner.

Liam smiled widely when I rolled through the doors, Touya already on his way back to the Sanctuary.

As the doors closed behind me, Liam hurried over, leaning down to press his lips to mine in a soft kiss.

"Hey," he greeted with a smile as he stepped back, his cheeks pink.

"Hey, Liam. It's so good to see you."

He seemed pleased by that, and I noticed it wasn't the first time. Liam had really liked it when I'd told him he was mine, when I'd laid a claim to him. He liked being appreciated, my mate, and I was going to make sure he never felt otherwise.

"I haven't taken my lunch break yet."

"What? Why?" It was past three already, and he should've eaten hours ago.

Liam shrugged as he walked over to change the sign, but it didn't take a genius to figure it out. He'd been waiting for me. Damn, why did he have to be so sweet?

"Come on, we can sit in the back. You can stretch your legs too."

I followed after him, and when we reached shelves that hid me from the glass front completely, I stepped out of the wheelchair, then slipped into Liam's office with him.

Liam turned around, a smile on his face, and then let out a gasp when I pressed him against the wall, claiming his lips with mine.

After spending the day together yesterday, it'd felt awful to be away from him. I hadn't thought it would be that hard, and yet.

Sometimes, I thought I felt things more deeply than most people did. It was why I couldn't handle being around people for too long. Too many emotions that were far too big to name. It was as if instead of experiencing sexual desires, my feelings were ramped up double-time, so I felt everything twice as intensely in half the time.

"Fuck, Haruto," Liam gasped into my mouth, his hands fisting my shirt as he held me close.

My fingers flexed on his hips, and it was only the faint growling of his stomach, the reminder that he hadn't eaten anything, that made me pull away.

I rested my forehead against his, breathing him in as I forced my heart to calm the fuck down. My mate needed sustenance, and that took priority over my need to feel him close to me.

"You should eat."

Liam groaned as I tugged him toward his desk. "You're evil. Don't kiss me like that if you expect me to function afterward."

I snorted. "Duly noted. I'll be more mindful next time."

Liam huffed as he settled on his chair and pulled a paper bag closer. "Don't. You can kiss me anytime you want. Just give me a minute to get my head on straight afterward."

God, could he be any more adorable?

Liam

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