Page 29 of Forbidden Moon
Chapter 12
JACK’S UNUSUAL CALLto Robert brought the man to Jonah’s doorstep; scent heavily laced with curiosity. They greeted each other warmly and resettled in the living room. Jack began before Robert said a word.
“Thank you for coming so quickly. I must ask you not to reveal this discussion to anyone, even your mate, for the time being. Agreed?”
Bemused, Robert knew Jack wouldn’t ask such a thing unless it were essential. Jonah’s scent smelled of fear and anxiety—almost unheard of for the sweet Omega.
“All right, but I can’t imagine what you two are conspiring about.”
Sparing Jonah the embarrassment, Jack explained what they needed.
“Jonah met his human mate today. He requires dating advice, and I am not the best qualified for such guidance. Your long years of interaction with them may provide helpful counsel.”
It took an astonished Robert several moments to pull his thoughts together. Surprise, joy, and confusion wrestled with the challenge he’d just been handed, finally breaking through with a wide smile.
“I’m not sure I understand completely, but I’m happy for you, Jonah! As it happens, I do have some experience that might come in handy. Why don’t you bring me up to speed first?”
Robert listened to the abbreviated version of events thus far, including their earlier conversation. Jack and Jonah answered questions, and Robert came to understand Jonah’s fears. It soon became apparent why they looked to him for help, and while not an expert, he knew more about the in’s and out’s of dating and human relationships than anyone else in the pack. While his wolf didn’t like the idea of recalling those lonely, awful days, he was willing to cooperate if it helped Jonah secure a mate.
Once Robert understood, Jack left them to it with a final admonition for Jonah.
“Come to Evan or me if you encounter any trouble. You do not have to face this alone.”
Jonah hugged him, thanked him again, and saw him to the door. Robert waited on the couch, patting the seat next to him as Jonah approached. The gleam in his packmate’s eye hinted that this might not be as overwhelming as he feared. Robert rubbed his hands together, obviously enjoying his advisory role.
“All right! Let’s get started. Trying to hide your shifter nature will be more challenging than the fine art of dating—trust me, I know. Don’t get me wrong; your shifter senses will provide helpful information as you get to know each other. That gives you an advantage, as long as you don’t revealhowyou know those things. As an Omega, you’ll already sense when he needs comfort or assurance, but your nose will tell you if he’s angry, or nervous, or hiding something. Humans are famous for not telling the truth, especially when trying to make a good impression or get you between the sheets.
“Never challenge his words outright; rather, encourage him to tell you what you already know with questions or open-ended statements. Considering you work with humans every day, I’m sure you’re already good at it. They love to talk about themselves, and you must have a million questions for him already. If he’s a good conversationalist, you can establish a satisfying back and forth where you take turns asking and answering. I’m guessing you’ll learn more about each other on your first date than at any other time.”
Jonah gave him a tentative smile.
“I think I can do that. RJ is easy to talk to and a perfect gentleman.”
“Good! I suspect you won’t have any difficulty with conversation then. As you talk, make mental notes of things you might have in common and use those to plan future dates.”
Jonah nodded.
“We both love wolves and being outdoors, so that’s a start. RJ’s seriously built, so he must work out a lot, and since he shops at the Cooks Market he’s probably careful about what he eats.”
Robert grinned and threw up his hands.
“See, you’ve already got this! When you’re talking, remember to be selective with your word choices. Think through what you’re going to saybeforeyou speak. Leave out anything specific to shifters that RJ wouldn’t understand. Words like mate, scent, run, pack, shift, Luna, and moon. Be careful about growling, too, though you might get away with it once in a while or during sex.”
Jonah squirmed at the mention of intimacy.
“He tried to kiss me tonight, but I wouldn’t let him. I mean, I wanted to, but if we got started I wouldn’t be able to stop! Good thing he couldn’t read my mind.”
Robert laughed out loud, knowing exactly what Jonah meant.
“The biggest problem for you is that RJ isn’t some random human; he’s yourmate. For him, it’s simple attraction. For you, it runs much deeper and is harder to control. Your wolf will push you to claim him first and ask questions later. If you’re both ready, then go ahead, but remember—he’s human and lacks our stamina. You’ll have to be careful not to wear him out or expect an orgasm every five minutes. Humans can’t keep up with us, which means you’ll have to alter your expectations until you get used to each other.”
