Page 23 of Jurassic Measures
“Hey, Mom.” Landry wrapped his arms around her and she squealed when he spun her. His father was a little more sedate and they hugged minus the spinning.
“Mom, Dad, this is Jason McPherson, my mate. Jason, these are my parents, Nathaniel and Charlotte Astor.”
I held out my hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you both.”
“I can’t tell you how amazing it is to meet you.” Charlotte beamed, pushed aside my hand and hugged me.
Over her shoulder I saw Landry and his dad laughing. Knowing those were two men who could shift and devour us should have terrified me, but oddly I felt safer than I ever had before.
“Come in, I made a roast and I don’t want it to get cold.” Charlotte took my hand and didn’t release me until we got to the dining room table.
It was a dinner like any I’d had with my folks, except I was sitting in a castle and these people were richer than anyone I’d ever known.
They joked, talked about their day, mundane things.
“Jason, you must be feeling overwhelmed.” Charlotte smiled at me from across the table.
We’d gotten to dessert without anyone talking about the elaphrosaurus in the room.
“I was, maybe still am. Landry’s done a tremendous job of explaining things. I realize that Google is a program of lies and life as we know it is also a lie.”
All three of them burst out laughing and I couldn’t help but to join them.
“Fair deduction,” Nathaniel said. “Bonding to my son will mean you will have a very long life.”
“With that, you’ll watch people you love die,” Charlotte added.
I nodded. “In my life I have clients, Amber is my assistant but also my friend, and then there’s my parents. I always knew I’d watch them die, but I don’t have many people in my life.”
“That may be so, but in the hundreds of years you’ll likely live, you will make connections and lose them.” Charlotte’s expression was full of compassion.
“I’d love to say I understand but until I experience it, I won’t know how it’ll affect me.”
Landry smacked his father’s arm. “Told you he was smart.” Then he winked at me.
“You’re a wise man. It will be hard at times but the rewards far outweigh the negatives.” Nathaniel tipped his teacup at me. “I think I speak for Charlotte when I say we’d be thrilled to have you as part of our family.”
For the next hour I heard tales of things they all did over the years and a niggle of excitement sparked in my chest. I’d traveled some since my father gave me the shop but not as much as I wanted. With Landry, I’d see every corner of the world and that made my heart so very happy.
As we traveled back to his building, he squeezed my hand.
“Not so bad, right?”
“Your parents are amazing.”
He smiled. “They love you.”
I took a deep breath and pressed a kiss to his delicious lips.
“I’m ready.”
“For sex?”
I chuckled. “Probably always with you, but I meant to complete this bond thing. I want to do it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I promise, I’ve never been more sure in my life.”
