Page 72 of Starlight

“Yes…why is that so hard to believe?”

“I am used to having you to myself.” There was a part of him that didn’t want to share Cole with anyone because they looked and they judged.

“You don’t want to be seen with me?” Cole joked.

Akai leaned forward and draped his arms around Cole’s shoulder. “I do want to be seen with you.”

“Good. Even though I need to hide it from my family and friends for obvious reasons, if we also had to hide it from monsters, it would be impossible.”

Akai kissed his temple. “There is no way for this not to be a secret in the human world.”

Cole had already risked his job for him, and it was too much to ask him to give up everything to be his mate. So he wouldn’t ask, even though Akai liked the idea far too much.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

As they got closer to Yellowstone, Cole’s stomach tightened and tumbled. It was anxiety, not fear, with a dash of curiosity thrown in for good measure. This was a world that he shouldn’t know about, yet he had an invitation.

It was the kind of thing most humans never learned about. He imagined that explorers centuries ago must have felt the same as they headed off, not sure what they’d find or exactly what they were getting into.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Akai asked for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Yes. Nerves are normal when stepping out of your comfort zone. Are you okay?”

Akai was silent for a moment too long.

“Are you having regrets?”

“No.” Akai sat up and leaned between the seats.

Did he voice his denial a bit too fast? Should he be worried about being uninvited? “What then?”

Akai looked down and sighed. “I’m bringing a human to solstice and telling a lie that he is my mate. I thought it would be easy, but I am finding it is not.”

“Because you don’t want a mate.” They had discussed this. And agreed. Cole hadn’t wanted a mate a week ago. A week ago, the idea had seemed too far-fetched for him to even consider, but if other humans did it, why not him? It wasn’t as though he had many ties to the human world, and he’d still be able to see his family even if they could never learn about the monster side of his life. Even if his father fired him, he’d be able to find other work. He didn’t need to totally disappear into the monster world.

Akai made a noise that could mean everything or nothing. “It wasn’t something I was considering, monster or human. Initially, I only asked you, so you’d drive me.”

“I know. I’m not stupid.”

“I’ve noticed. And I like the sex.”

“Same.”

Akai grinned, all sharp little teeth. “Especially in the morning. It’s like you don’t want to waste any opportunity my cock juts out.”

Cole shrugged. “I didn’t hear you complaining.”

If he ignored the way Akai had turned him down when they’d stayed at the monster house, which in hindsight was a good thing, and Akai had made it up to him later.

“I am not complaining…I am conflicted.”

Cole wanted to press, but he wasn’t sure he’d like the answers if he did—and that was assuming Akai was ready to talk, which he didn’t appear to be.

“Turn left up here.”

“Are you sure?” There wasn’t a road.

“At the trail. Trust me.”