Page 37 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
A beat, and André looked in danger of his eyes falling out of his head. But then a slow smile took over his face, so bright he was almost painful to look at. “You’re seriously making me happy tonight. First, you call me for help. Now you want to stay the night with me? Absolutely you can sleep over. If this is my reward for helping you, please demand things of me more often.”
Silly man. Ian fully intended to declare himself properly, but he had no intention of leaving them in limbo even a second longer, either. He wanted to respond to André. He wanted to indulge them both instead of keeping a subtle distance between them.
With that affirmation in mind, he caught André’s chin and gave the man a kiss on the cheek.
“That’s your reward for coming to the rescue,” Ian corrected him, voice husky, delighting in André’s surprised expression. He was too cute. Ian would have to surprise him more often. “Me staying the night with you is only because I want to stay the night with you.”
“I don’t know what’s gotten into you today,” André managed, eyes still wide as saucers, “but I like it.”
“I bet you do. Drive, André. Let’s get home before this storm gets any worse.”
It took André two attempts to tear his eyes from Ian and finally start the engine. “Yeah…uh, yeah, let’s do that.”
Chapter 11
Even with driving out of the city to fetch Ian, they still beat André’s parents to the house. André could tell Ian was a bit overwhelmed by the house (mansion), but he didn’t say anything. To say it made André happy Ian wanted to stay the night with him was something of an understatement. It ranked right up there with saying the sun might be warm sometimes. He had to remind himself multiple times that this was a good step in the right direction. Taking advantage of it by trying to seduce Ian would backfire. He’d need to behave himself.
Behave, behave, behave.
Damn, this was going to be hard.
Even though he didn’t want to give Ian a reason to reconsider, he did feel it prudent to ask a question as they pulled into the driveway. “What about Casper?”
“She’s all right for the night,” Ian assured him. “I figured I’d be back late, so I left extra food and water out for her. I also texted my roommate.”
“Good. I didn’t want you worrying about her.”
André parked in the garage and led the way inside. He kicked off shoes near the shoe rack, found guest slippers for Ian, and tried to cover up his nerves. André had slept over with people somany times he’d lost count, so him having fluttery feelings in the pit of his stomach made no sense. Why be nervous now?
Because it was Ian.
Their housekeeper poked her head around the corner, blinking at him. “Master André, you’re back already?”
“I am, yes.” André paused and slid an arm around Ian’s waist, bringing him around. “Ian, this is Auntie Im. She runs the house. Auntie Im, this is Ian. He’s staying the night.”
“Ohhh,” Auntie Im replied, recognizing who he was. She’d been turned years ago, but she still looked like the forty-year-old woman she used to be. Tonight she’d clearly been relaxing, as she was in sweats and pink fuzzy slippers with her dark hair up in a messy bun. She gave Ian a wave and bright smile, taking him in from head to foot and back again. “It’s so good to meet you, Ian.”
Ian picked up on her reaction and shot André a dry look before returning the smile. “Miss Im, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Auntie Im, please. Have you eaten dinner? I can make something.”
“I ate before leaving. Thank you, Auntie Im.”
“Then I’ll let you be for the evening. Just let me know if you need something.”
“We will, thanks.” André took Ian’s hand and towed him toward the stairs. Ian didn’t try to tug free, which made André even more ridiculously happy. Seriously, this man was intent on sparking joy in André’s night.
Note that he was not complaining.
“Auntie Im’s been with the family so long, she basically helped raise me,” André explained as they went up the stairs. “So yes, she knows all about how I’ve been chasing you.”
“I figured from the way she looked at me.”
André paused right at his bedroom door and second-guessed his initial plan of having Ian sleep with him. Would he be ableto control himself? It was genuinely a question. He probably wouldn’t get much sleep—he’d be way too excited—but he would make the sacrifice if he could snuggle with Ian all night.
It should be fine. Yeah.
He pushed through, reluctantly releasing Ian’s hand as he did so. “I can pull out some clothes and let you take a shower first.”
