Page 37 of Mane Full Of Stripes
Jost kissed Ella’s cheek, then went upstairs. Parents could be confusing sometimes, and maybe that would be him one day. His and Apollo’s child. That thought had him stopping. “Oh,” he whispered. Him, a parent. After Jenrick, he’d never considered it because that meant being intimate with someone and he’d sworn he would never do that again, and then his alpha came along. He could see it, too. Him holding his and Apollo’s child. He hugged himself, a soft smile on his face. First, though, he needed to be able to have sex.
“Ugh!” He grabbed his bag from his bed and jogged downstairs. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Take condoms and lube!” Otto shouted from the kitchen.
“How are we even related?” Jost shouted back as Anslem shouted, “That’s enough from you, Otto.”
Walking outside, Jost ignored the butterflies in his stomach and got into his car, putting his bag on the passenger seat. He rubbed his clammy hands on his jeans and switched the car on, then drove to Apollo’s. The entire journey there, he doubted himself and the decision he’d made. Too soon. They’d known each other for mere weeks, and he was about to spend his first night with his mate.
By the time he arrived at Apollo’s, Jost was a bag of nerves, evident when he held his hand up and watched it shake. Rubbing his hands on his thighs, he stared at Apollo’s house and bit his lip, his breathing fast and erratic. Apollo came out and stood at the door before coming over to his side of the car.
Jost opened the door but didn’t get out, and Apollo crouched by his side. “You don’t have to stay,” he told him softly. “You can come inside and have something to eat, then go home.”
“I want to stay,” Jost whispered. “I can’t get out of the car.” He giggled, then gulped and stared down at his hands still rubbing his thighs. Fingers stroked his cheek, and he looked at Apollo, then closed his eyes when Apollo kissed his forehead.
“Leave your bag here for now. Come inside and eat with me. I made mashed potatoes.”
“You and your mashed potatoes,” Jost choked out past a throat gone tight.
“I kept them plain, too. Just for you.”
“I’m honored?” Apollo chuckled, then stood and held his hand out. Jost stared at it as he sucked on his lip, then slowly placed his own in it. He could trust Apollo. They were mates, and he knew deep down Apollo wouldn’t hurt him. Shutting the car door, Jost followed Apollo inside his home, then paused when he saw the living room. Warm colors were the first thing he noticed. Soft yellow walls, and a cream sofa with light beige rug in front of an open fire. Jost could see himself lying on the rug in front of the fire in his shifted form, letting the heat warm him. The room was large, which was normal in houses owned by shifters, and Jost let go of Apollo’s hand and crouched by the fire. “I like this.”
“Me too. When I’ve been out running, it’s nice to relax in front of.” Apollo pointed to the blankets. “Sometimes I come inside and grab a blanket and watch the flames flicker.”
Standing, Jost smiled over his shoulder at Apollo, then scented the air. “Beef?”
“Beef and mashed potatoes.”
Jost chuckled. “Just those two?”
“Please.” Apollo sighed, shook his head as he placed his hand on his chest. “I think you hurt my feelings. The food’s almost ready. Want to come through to the kitchen?” Jost nodded, then glanced down at his sneakers. “Kick them off and put them by the door. You can hang your coat up there as well.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“About three years now. The house had this lovely sixties vibe going on with an avocado kitchen. It was horrendous, so I ripped it out and modernized it. I like to cook, so I wanted a place where I could.”
Jost followed Apollo into the kitchen and stared. “Wow.” The first thing that caught his attention was the island in the center. “Mom wants one of these.” He walked over to it and slid his hand along the smooth surface. The kitchen was a pale cream color with granite counters and a large six burner stove that Apollo stood in front of as he pulled the beef from the oven.
“Want to sit here or at the table?” Apollo glanced behind Jost, and he turned, seeing the kitchen had been extended into what had been the dining room. The room felt large and airy, but again with warm colors that made Jost sigh. He could see himself in their kitchen cooking alongside Apollo. It was a nice thought, and helped to ease his nerves.
“I think the island would be nice.” Apollo placed the beef on a mat on the island as Jost came over. “Do you need me to do anything?”
“No, but thanks. I have it all covered.” Apollo placed a couple of dishes with vegetables and his beloved mash and put out plates and cutlery. Grabbing a couple of beers, he passed one to Jost, then sat. “Dig in, Jost. I had this on low—very low—all day and my mom popped over to check on it. She thinks I might poison you.”
Jost put some veggies on his plate, then watched Apollo scoop a mound of potatoes on his. He slowly raised his eyes to Apollo, who merely shrugged and passed the dish over to him. “You really do love mashed potatoes.”
“I do, and do you think in the morning we can get up early and go for a run?”
That made Jost pause, but he liked the idea of seeing Apollo in his zebra form, so nodded. And now he knew he was staying over, which made him shiver with both nerves and desire, a heady mix he pushed away. “I’d like that.” Jost smiled when Apollo put several thick slices of beef on his plate, then moaned when he took a bite, and it melted on his tongue. “So good,” he mumbled around the food in his mouth.
Apollo chuckled. “I tell the kids not to speak while eating, but in this case, I’ll accept it.”
Swallowing, Jost sipped his beer. “It’s really nice. I’ll have to thank your mom.”
“Hey! I put it in and took it out. She only checked on it for me.”
“Where would we be without our moms?” Jost gave a small sigh, then shook his sudden mood away. No. That was in the past, and his parents had been amazing. Even Otto—Satan’s Spawn—had been good to him. Freya had baked Jost’s favorite cookies, which he appreciated.
