Page 23 of Mane Full Of Stripes
“If that’s… okay?” Jost watched Apollo suck more ice cream off his spoon and whimpered. “That’s so bad.”
“But it feels good to tease you like this, my mate.”
Jost raised his eyes to Apollo’s, seeing how dark his green eyes were. “Mate,” he murmured.
“Yes, so we can tease each other all we want. Eat your waffles, Jost, because the ice cream melts.” Apollo licked his lips and leaned across the table. “Tease me.”
Jost’s heart hammered in his chest, and he scooped up some ice cream and let his tongue slide over it before licking the spoon clean. Apollo moaned and his hand disappeared beneath the table. “Are you…” Jost waved a hand at him. “You know.”
“Hard, Jost. Am I hard for you?” Jost whimpered and nodded. “Why yes, I am. You are gorgeous and I’m lucky you’re my mate.”
“Have you seen you?” Jost blurted out.
Apollo shrugged. “I’m more interested in seeing you.” Jost inhaled swiftly, aware of how hard he’d become. So hard it hurt, and he wanted Apollo to do things he wasn’t ready for. “I can scent you,” Apollo growled. He blinked, sat back, and took several deep breaths. Jost watched his chest move and realized he need to calm down as well. This wasn’t the time or the place to be getting aroused the way he was doing. He wanted Apollo. Wanted to feel his perfect lips on his own, feel Apollo’s hands on his body. It made him tight with need, but his stomach dropped at the same time. He wasn’t ready just yet, but he knew he would be.
“Soon,” he mumbled, and ate some of his waffle, looking anywhere but at Apollo.
“Soon. Eat your waffles. I have a teddy to win. My mate wants one and as a good mate, I have to try.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Jost sucked his lips in at the smouldering look Apollo gave him. “Okay.” What he was saying okay to he wasn’t sure, but he knew for certain he would be claiming a kiss when the night was over.
The rest of their dessert passed quickly, and soon Jost stood next to Apollo as he picked up the gun and fired at the rabbits. He knocked them down with ease and Jost stared at him as he handed him the fat purple dragon Jost had wanted. “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”
“This is America, and as a prey shifter, it’s always a good idea to have other ways to defend yourself. Trust me. A predator shifter will stop when you shift and point a gun at their head.”
“Have you had that happen to you? A shifter hunt you?”
“Once when I was younger. Have a scar on my knee because of it. I managed to run back to my things, shift and point a gun at the tiger. It skidded to a halt and shifted.” Apollo smiled. “We may have spent the rest of the night together.”
“Really? That’s… wow. Really?” Apollo’s experience brought home to Jost the lack of his own.
“Yeah. She was pretty.”
“I’ve kissed girls, but I’ve only ever been with him.” Jost bit the corner of his lip and took a step away from Apollo. What could he possibly have to offer Apollo? He was younger and had no experience compared to—
“I’m older than you, so I’m going to have been with other people.” Jost felt Apollo’s finger under his chin, lifting his head up, and he blinked up at him, seeing his beautiful dark green eyes flicker over his face, then settle on his lips. “You are gorgeous, mate. There is no one I see but you.”
“Apollo,” Jost gasped, then gasped again when Apollo’s lips briefly slid over his own.
“Want another teddy?”
Jost stared at him, licked his lips, then nodded. “Please.”
Taking hold of Jost’s hand, Apollo tugged him over to another stall and proceeded to win him a teddy bear. Giggling, Jost carried them both, then yawned. “Time to go home.”
“I’ve had a really good night.”
“Yeah? Where would you like to go next time? I would suggest not ice skating. Maybe one of those adventure parks where we can spend the day climbing things and go zip lining.”
“I’d love to do that. Can we?”
“How about Sunday if I can get us both tickets?” Apollo slung his arm over Jost’s shoulder and Jost snuggled close, holding his teddies to his chest. “We could spend the day there and get something to eat, too.”
“I’d like that. We should get there early too, so we have more time.”
“Then we will.” Apollo kissed the top of Jost’s head. “I’m looking forward to spending the day with you.”
“So am I.” Jost smiled and hugged Apollo. He couldn’t wait to see his mate again.
