Page 17 of The Tech Guru's Heart

“Oookaaay,” Ezra drawled, still unable to wrap his mind around what Link was claiming.

There’s just no way.

“So, I know you don’t believe me, but you will,” Link claimed confidently, a small smile teasing around the edges of his bearded lips.“There’s a reason I decided to share that I’m a shifter with you while you’re out here, after all.”

Ezra didn’t know how to respond to that, so he kept his mouth shut.

Link’s dark eyes seemed to twinkle.“You know that old adageseeing is believing?”He didn’t wait for Ezra to confirm, immediately adding, “Well, I figured that should be my first course.I showed you my musk ox form, then shifted in front of you.”Grimacing, Link murmured, “I should’ve known you’d faint.Most humans who aren’t verbally prepared first usually do.”He scoffed softly before muttering, “Even some whoaretold in advance what’s about to happen still faint.”Link shrugged, jostling them.“Most humans just don’t accept it the first time around.”

“They don’t?”Ezra piped up.When Link shook his head, his beard sliding gently across his skin, Ezra fought back a shiver as he muttered, “Glad I’m not alone in that.”

“Another thing I’ve heard over the years is the way a human will comment,I’d think I’m dreaming, but I don’t have the imagination for this sort of shit.”Link winked, grinning widely.“How about you?Ever imagined this sort of thing?Like to read paranormal fantasy books or watch those sorts of movies?”

Ezra hummed, realizing the truth in Link’s words.He definitely didnothave the imagination necessary for a paranormal called a shifter.Shaking his head slightly, Ezra side-eyed the big man curled against his body, staring at him expectantly.

“Well, I think you can guess the answer to that considering I already told you I’m not a gamer,” Ezra pointed out softly.“And I don’t watch movies much.I enjoy the outdoors way too much to sit in front of the boob tube after working for hours in front of a computer for my job.”

“That’s understandable.”Link rubbed his palm up and down Ezra’s side as he softly continued, “I’m a shifter, and I love being outdoors in my musk ox form.It’s why I came out to spend time with you...so you could see we’re compatible, even though I’m a hacker.”

Goose bumps broke out along the skin of Ezra’s side, and he struggled to focus on their conversation.He knew it was important, no matter what his aching dick thought.The huge male cuddled up to his side had claimed they were soul mates...and after a few seconds of thought, Ezra had been able to figure out the meaning of that one on his own.

“So, you think we’re soul mates.”Ezra figured that was the next huge thing he needed to deal with—shifters aside, of course.“I mean, yeah, we have chemistry, but why would you jump to the conclusion of soul mates?”

“You need to understand that a shifter lives a lot longer than a human.To alleviate the prospect of a long, lonely life, a shifter has a mate out there, only one, and it’s a pairing blessed by Fate herself, and we consider finding him or her the greatest of gifts.”Link’s voice rumbled through the air, soft and deep.“She allows us to recognize that person by scent, and that person is the one we can bond with and build a life with, so we’ll never be alone again.”

A husky chuckle filled the air as Link squeezed Ezra’s side.“When I smelled you at Amelia’s apartment...justday-am.”Smiling widely, Link tipped his head so he could peer at Ezra fully.His dark eyes twinkled with his obvious pleasure.“I sprang wood and just about swallowed my tongue.”He turned his head and inhaled deeply, before letting his breath out on a groan.“Gods, you smell so damn good, sweetheart.”

Considering Ezra had been hiking for three days and hadn’t bothered to apply deodorant because he wasn’t planning to head into town for supplies for a few more days, he couldn’t imagine how Link could enjoy his scent so much.He felt his cheeks heat with embarrassment.Ezra shifted a bit in discomfort when Link did it a second time.

Perhaps Link noticed his unease, for his head popped up, and he leveled a piercing look at him.“Your scent is the greatest aphrodisiac, Ezra,” he declared, his expression serious.“Never doubt that.”

Ezra licked his lips while sucking in a sharp breath.“So, uh, mates.”A disturbing thought hit him.“Blessed by Fate.”He wasn’t going to touch the idea of Link believing in the mythical being, but he had to wonder.“Is that why we’re so attracted to each other?Because of this Fate and mate thing?”

Wait.Wouldn’t that mean I have to believe in shifters, Fate, and mates for that to be true?

Even as Link quickly shook his head, Ezra realized he truly didn’t know what he suddenly believed.

Shit.Could everything Link is telling me actually be true?

Chapter Seven

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“NO, OF COURSE THAT’Snot the only reason,” Link declared, knowing that was a normal human response, too.The value of free will and choice and all that.Needing to alleviate Ezra’s concerns, Link explained, “We’d have been attracted regardless.Fate just gives what we feel for each other a bit of a boost.”Seeing the disbelief in the narrowing of Ezra’s eyes, Link added, “Lowers our inhibitions a bit, helping each of us have a little extra incentive when there might be obstacles to overcome.Maybe something that we’d otherwise let get in our way.”

“Like the fact that I’ve only ever seriously dated women,” Ezra murmured, sounding a bit dazed.“Well, except for this one time for like...two weeks...years ago.”

Huh.That’s news.

I’ll follow up on it later.

Instead, Link nodded.“Uh, right.That.”Thinking quickly, he added, “Or how Tucker was bisexual, but he’d never come out to his family because he knew he’d be disowned, but he did it for Rigel.”

It almost seemed as if a lightbulb came on over Ezra’s head.“Wait.Amelia’s brother, Tucker?”Even as Link began to nod, his mate continued, “Tucker came out for Rigel because...because”—his voice lowered as if imparting a secret—“they’re mates?”

Link resumed nodding and opened his mouth to confirm verbally, but Ezra wasn’t done.

“Then Rigel is a”—Ezra waved a hand to indicate Link’s body—“like you.”His eyes widened almost comically.“Or is Tucker one?What about Amelia?”

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