Page 147 of Forbidden Moon
“All right, it’s time to go inside and do your chores. Jonah and RJ are busy right now, but if you ask nicely, they might come and see you later.”
After promises to read a story after supper, the men gathered up their luggage to head for the house. Ben stopped them.
“Uhhh, you might want to go the other way instead.”
He gestured towards Eastside, the location of their new home—the one that wasn’t quite finished yet. Neither Ben nor Evan would explain, though RJ figured it out.
“This is great, Jo! Let’s take a look.”
Pleased and excited, they gathered their things and made tracks for the cabin. The construction crew had been slaving away at the structure for weeks to get it finished, but Jonah never expected them to complete it this early. A final turn allowed them a look at the wide front porch, revealing huge white bows on either side of the steps. A WELCOME mat lay before the door, and an idea came to RJ before they went inside.
Setting their burdens down, he scooped Jonah into his arms, opened the door, and carried him across the threshold. RJ set down his blushing husband, burying his nose in the man’s hair and neck amid rumbly moans. Jonah let him sniff for a minute before asking the question he’d been considering since the wedding ceremony.
“What’s got into you, Rascal? Is there something wrong with my scent?”
RJ continued his exploration of Jonah’s skin, sniffing, licking, and nibbling. He answered when he reached his mate’s ear.
“Nothing’s wrong, it’s just that you smell... different, and I can’t get enough. I mean, it’s the same, sort of, onlymore. I can’t explain it, Jo. You’ve always smelled like the forest to me, but it keeps changing. Your scent is the same as it was during our vows—like the woods right after a rain shower.”
Jonah finally understood what must be happening.
“It started! Your senses are becoming more like mine, and you’re noticing things you couldn’t detect before! Right now, I’m excited and happy and love you so much. Strong emotions will cause our scents to change a little bit, and pretty soon, you’ll know how I feel without even asking.”
RJ’s brows shot up.
“I didn’t understand before. It’s no wonder shifters talk about scent all the time. This is cool!”
Jonah rewarded his mate with a sweet kiss and then gasped when he got a glimpse of their home’s interior. Instead of jumbled chaos, the place was nicely arranged and spotless.
The pack must have worked fast to haul everything over here last night while Jonah and RJ were at the hotel. It would save them hours of packing and unpacking.
When they reached the master bedroom, they found clothes put away and the bed made up with fresh linens. The kitchen, too, appeared ready to use, with a prepared lunch waiting in the refrigerator. Jonah spotted a plain envelope on the countertop and pulled out a note in Robyn’s handwriting.
“Welcome back! Enjoy your first night at thenewplace. With love, your packmates.”
Jonah’s heart soared. This was a perfect wedding present! RJ tapped his shoulder and pointed to the adjoining room. Jonah gaped at the beautiful handmade dining set he’d ordered from Cliff Townsend months ago, sunlight reflecting off the polished surface.
“Look at that.It’sgorgeous. I didn’t know he’d finished it!”
They spent the next half-hour examining every nook and cranny of the house, delighted by the finished product and the lingering aroma of new construction. RJ came along in time to incorporate a few of his own ideas, and they’d shopped together for new furniture and accents. It would betheirsright from the start,and Jonah picked RJ up to spin him in circles. Leaving for two weeks after just one night wasn’t going to be easy.
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THEY SPENT THE FIRSTfew days in RJ’s hometown of Kalamazoo. He showed Jonah all of his old haunts, including the home and neighborhood where he grew up. On the second day, Rosa hosted an intimate supper with them and the staff of Lottie’s Locks. They were showered with gifts and welcomed Jonah with stories of a much younger RJ and memories of his mother. The event caused Rascal to realize how many friends he’d left behind, though he’d never regret his decision to move up north.
The next day RJ took his mate to some area parks and recreation areas where he’d cut his teeth with the DNR. Jonah soaked up the new sights and smells as any shifter would, and the ties to RJ’s life here provided a more complete picture of his mate. By late afternoon, they arrived at the Riverside Cemetery—the kind of place most shifters avoided. Because it meant so much to RJ, Jonah wanted to be here and honor the memory of his mother, who was, by all accounts, an amazing woman.
Stepping out of the car, Jonah sensed the tranquility of the place in the enormous old trees and neat rows of tombstones. RJ took his hand and led him to a series of adjacent plots—final resting places for his father, mother, and grandparents. Jonah smiled at the words etched on Lottie’s headstone; “THE BEST WAY TO REMEMBER ME IS TO BE HAPPY”. He glanced over at his mate.
“She left that message for you, didn’t she?”
He nodded, eyes misty.
“Ma didn’t want me to let the good things in life go by. She hoped I’d meet somebody special and not end up all alone. I wish she could have met you, Jo, because then she’dknowI’m happy.”
Jonah wrapped an arm around Rascal’s waist with a gentle squeeze.
“Well then, let me introduce myself.”
