Page 17 of Baby and the Beast

“I wasn’t sure how you felt about me—about us—but I had to see," Jesse continued. "The last six weeks has nearly killed me, but I’m a package deal. Two for one.”

Seth’s heart pounded so hard his chest ached. “I love a bargain,” he whispered, almost afraid of the answer. “Providing it’s for life.”

“Is that what you want?”

Then somehow they both moved at the same time and came together in a clash of hot breath, and lips, and strong arms. Seth didn’t know which was more perfect, and he would have happily stayed kissing Jesse forever until a demanding yip broke them apart. He glanced down at Leia.

“You have a puppy,” Jesse said in wonder, clasping Seth’s hand as if he was frightened to let go.

“Princess Leia,” Seth introduced them, and Leia licked his hand, then promptly curled up and went to sleep. "Talk to me,” Seth urged and practically dragged Jesse to the new couch, frightened if he let go Jesse would disappear. “Are you safe if we stay here?”

Jesse kissed him again. “The group is everything Grandad said it was and more.”

Seth swallowed, surprised Jesse was even telling him all this. “And you’d leave them?”

Jesse hesitated. “That depends on you.”

Seth blinked and tightened his arms around Jesse. “I want you here with me if that’s what you mean.”

Jesse buried his head in Seth’s neck. “It nearly killed me having to go. All the way there I tried to think of any way I could come back.”

“You had to keep Maddox safe.” And he would never resent that.

“I have something I want to say.” Jesse lifted his head. “I love you. I think you are the kindest man I have ever met. You’re strong and sexy, and you have this inner goodness that shines out. I think I fell in love with you when instead of running from a wild animal you stayed because you thought it was hurt.” He paused. “But if you don’t feel the same, I understand completely. We can—”

But Seth didn’t give him chance to finish that sentence because he fastened his hungry lips over the ones he had been dreaming about kissing for the last six lonely weeks. Jesse clung on as one kiss led to another, and another, and they only stopped for breath. “I love you too. I hoped. I think that’s why I bought this place. Somewhere in my crazy heart, I hoped you would find me.”

“I had to wait for his papers and agree not to leave or contact anyone until then. There’re some other shifters in hiding, and I couldn’t risk their lives. It’s why it took this long.”

Seth nodded in understanding, and he couldn’t have kept the smile off his face if he tried. “How did you know I’d be here today?”

“Ricoh has a contact at the rental company, and he told me you’d bought this place. I think that’s when he believed you were serious. We’ve been keeping an eye on it, and when the furniture was delivered, I knew that meant you were going to live here, so I’ve been visiting every day to check.”

“But I’m human. How are they okay with this?”

“Because when I told Ricoh I was leaving as soon as Maddox had a birth certificate, he started to believe that a shifter could fall in love with a human.”

Seth’s heart was so full he was frightened it might burst. “You love me? I’m—”

Jesse smiled. “Adorable? And yes, very much.”

“Not as much as I love you,” Seth replied. “Both of you.” He couldn’t believe he was here. That they were both here. “I haven’t got a lot of money until I finish doing the repairs.” But they would manage. “I can’t believe you’re telling me all this.”

“And that’s something else I’ve been asked to ask you. They keep themselves secret from humans, with the exception of mates, but they’re running out of space.”

But Seth was still caught up by the word “mate.” Then he absorbed what else Jesse said. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been asked to offer you a proposal. Renting these cabins out, but with a particular type of customer.”

“You mean shifters?”

Jesse nodded. “I said I would ask.”

Seth paused. It was an incredible idea.

“It’s your choice.” Jesse snuggled in. “And not something you need to decide now.”

“But if I said no, where would it leave us?”

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