Page 98 of In This Iron Ground
“Is it a deteriorating disease you have, or acute blindness?” Nasir pouted at him in fake concern. Damien laughed, shrugging his hands off.
“Shut up. What about you? Are you with someone?”
“Yeah, actually. She, uh…was one of my TAs.”
“Damn, Nasir. What, do you also have a type?”
“What, you mean unavailable?” Nasir answered, giving Damien a meaningful look.
Damien looked away. “I meant…”
“It’s fine, man. Anyway, it’s going good, so…”
“Is she a shifter? I mean, is that rude to ask?”
“Well, it’s as rude as asking someone their race, I guess.”
“Yeah, so, pretty weird in casual conversation.”
“But pretty common.”
“Yeah.”
“But anyway, she’s a mijina,” Nasir said. Damien nodded. He’d only briefly read about the werebadgers originating from Japan. He made a mental note to look into it further, for curiosity’s sake.
Nasir’s nose twitched slightly before he looked up abruptly. Damien followed his gaze and saw Hakan standing stiffly by the house, half the large yard away. Damien and Nasir had tucked themselves at the periphery, almost leaning against the tall wooden fence that circled the yard.
Damien grinned and waved at him. He’d known that Hakan was going to show up with some friends. Hakan nodded at them, staying where he was. Damien rolled his eyes, waving at him to come closer. He knew Hakan well enough to know why he was keeping away. Hakan hesitated for a moment before walking over.
“Hey. I’m Nasir.”
“Hakan.”
There was a stretch of awkward silence as they stared at each other. Damien began to feel a little uneasy. Normally, Hakan scent marked him as soon as he saw him by putting a gentle hand on the nape of his neck. So far, Hakan had barely looked at him.
Maybe it’d been wrong to call Hakan over. Maybe Hakan didn’t want other werewolves to see them together. Maybe—
Hakan looked at Damien, a frown twitching his eyebrows. Damien returned the stare.
Slowly, Hakan’s hand rose and he placed it lightly on the back of Damien’s neck. Damien relaxed instantly, and the hand gripped a little harder. Not in possession, but in comfort.
Damien leaned into Hakan’s side and the hand at his neck dropped to his waist. When Damien looked back at Nasir, he was looking at Damien with fond exasperation.
What?Damien mouthed. Nasir shook his head, smiling.
Hakan remained a mostly silent presence as Damien and Nasir caught up a little awkwardly. By the time Nasir went back to the main house, however, Hakan was rubbing circles over Damien’s hip bone.
“He’s nice, right?” Damien turned so that he was face-to-face with Hakan.
“Mmhmm.” Hakan’s hand came up to grip Damien’s other hip.
Damien snorted. “Honestly. I get that we run together, but I’m starting to worry you’ll want to pee on me one of these days,” Damien joked. He watched as Hakan’s face turned completely red and tilted away from him. Damien’s mouth fell open. “Oh. My—”
“No.”
“God.”
“No, I did not, that is not—”
