Page 36 of Tossed into the Mob
He frowned as if he’d forgotten their mates were human. “Right, my cousins.”
The light from my building created patterns on his face, and my heart ker-thunked at how he was eyeing me. His scentsurrounded me, making me dizzy. But I’d caused him so much trouble, and we were friends. That was all it could ever be.
Friends, friends, friends. I repeated the words, trying to convince myself that was what we were, though the voice in my head hinted we could be more.
I’d accused his family of hiding secrets, but I’d been keeping my own truth on the down-low. Whatever this thing was between Treyton and me, perhaps it was time to find out.
THIRTEEN
TREYTON
I’d turned the music up because I’d convinced myself that zombies were repelled by loud noises, though I didn’t want to put it to the test.
Really? Zombies? Our mate isn’t marked and you’re frightened of a creature that doesn’t exist.
They might. There’s no proof.
So as I was headed to my folks’ and the phone rang, damn, I almost lost control of the car. And for a shifter that was unlikely, though it had happened to a driver on a bad guy’s orders who’d been preparing to have Matt killed.
The device was in the phone mount, and my command activated the speaker.
“What?” I yelled, not checking who was calling because I was concentrating on not going off the road, and also my heart was speeding and I couldn’t slow it.
“Treyton, it’s me.”
My anxiety plummeted as if it was on the last stretch of a roller coaster. “Everything okay?”
“Mmmm.” There was a pause, and I slowed and did a U-turn where I wasn’t supposed to. If Brock needed me, I’d be there.
“I was thinking that in my younger days I was pretty good at fighting off zombies. Got a costume and everything.”
“That’s a valuable life skill.” I couldn’t resist a giggle, picturing a young Brock fighting off imaginary zombies with a toy sword. Maybe that was why he attacked our bodyguards. He’d had a lot of practice defending himself.
“It sure is. But if you need company at your place, I could stay with you.”
I identified hope in his voice when it rose at the end. Or uncertainty. My wolf urged me to say yes, telling me our mate wanted to be marked. But he’d skipped a few steps and made a giant leap into the unknown.
Nothing’s certain. Take it easy.
“That…” My voice was little more than a squeak. “That would be nice, but what about your dad?”
“Dad has made friends with a neighbor since we moved in. He’s a retired doctor and has agreed to spend the night there.”
I didn’t need any more encouragement and pressed my foot on the accelerator while fumbling in the glove compartment for breath spray. I tore up to the building entrance, and he was standing there, his arms wrapped around himself. Hoping he wasn’t regretting the offer, I flung open the passenger door, and he got in.
I blinked because his scent was overpowering, more so than in the past, even ten minutes ago. He pulled out a plastic sword and waved it around.
“I came prepared.”
His earnest expression coupled with the hair that had flopped over one eye was so adorable, I didn’t even think or ask permission, and I kissed him. No tongue, just a peck on the lips.
Shit, what did I just do? I pulled back, searching his eyes, waiting for him to yell at me.
“Interesting zombie-fighting tactic.” He put a finger to the lips I’d just kissed and cupped his ear with the other hand. “I think it’s working. I don’t detect any zombies nearby.”
“Better have your sword ready just in case.” I was enjoying the banter because it was so different from the trauma of when we first met.
His eyes widened, and he glanced at my crotch. My cock rose to the occasion, but I was wearing dark jeans, and Brock being human wouldn’t be able to see the hard ridge under my pants.
