Page 29 of Finlay

The second was that Chester wasn’t ready for a relationship. He’d said himself that he couldn’t let anyone close.

Anyone human, that was.

It was that thought that had me shifting after my morning swim. Since I wanted Chester to accept me in both forms eventually, I’d decided to keep going with my dawn performances. Especially now I knew Chester enjoyed the show.

But if me being shifted meant Chester felt comfortable, then that was how I’d spend time with him for now. As I approached his back door, it did occur to me that this could be a betrayal of his trust. If he one day learned the truth, would he hate me for it?

“I’m so miserable. And so fucking lonely. But I can’t change that. I can’t let anyone close.”

Fuck it. Future me could talk his way out of this one.Current me was focused on making Chester happy. Besides, he’d only find out if he became my mate, and that wasn’t on the horizon. Not yet, anyway. And assuming Reid didn’t spill the truth at some point…

I shook that thought off. Nope. I wasn’t letting anything deter me.

Sighing internally, I gave a small whine and pawed at Chester’s door.Damn, this is so humiliating.

But then the door opened.

And Chester’s face lit up with the most magnificent grin.

That right there was the moment. The instant I knew I’d debase myself in whatever way was required, so long as it kept him smiling.

“Hey, buddy,” he crooned, dropping to his haunches and opening his arms wide. “You came back!”

I shot into his arms, my wolf vibrating with delight at Chester’s embrace. It wasn’t weird to lick his face, right? Dogs did that. Probably not because they were dying to taste the source of the most mouthwatering scent they’d ever come across, but that was fine. It was all part of the act.

Chester cupped my muzzle, something I’d never letanyonedo before. It put his fingers against the most vulnerable part of my throat. Strangely, I didn’t feel the urge to fidget or nudge him off. No, my tail just wagged faster.

“You’re a beautiful boy,” he crooned, still grinning. “And good news, I’ve cooked some bacon for you. You like bacon? I bet you do.”

I trotted into his kitchen after him, careful to keep myself from knocking any of his chairs over. I wasn’t sure ifChester had really considered how large my wolf was, but it was something I was acutely aware of.

Chester hummed as he went to a pan on the stove. I didn’t usually eat in this form, but I had to admit that it smelled pretty damn delicious. Not as delicious as Chester, but he’d probably think it was weird if I pinned him down and licked him all over.Besides, if I was going to do that, this was definitely not the form I wanted to be in.

No. I wanted my human tongue to taste him, my fingers, which could tease him until he whimpered, my voice to praise him.

“Bacon has to be one of the best smells ever,” Chester said as he fussed over the pan. “It reminds me of being a kid. Gran used to make me a bacon sarnie every Saturday. I’d scarf it down with a cup of tea while watchingSM:TV Live.”

Had he grown up with his gran? What had happened to his parents? I cursed the fact that I was stuck in this form, unable to ask him more questions.

Thankfully, Chester answered them in his next sentence. He was far chattier with me as a wolf than he’d ever been as a human. “My parents died when I was a toddler, so I was raised by my gran.”

He paused in flipping the bacon, smiling down at it sadly. “She’d be so fucking pissed off if she knew how long it’s been since I cooked bacon. I used to wish she’d survived long enough to meet Matt, but now I’m grateful she died before seeing what I’ve become.”

That bombshell had my wolf vibrating. Not only did it confirm that he’d lost his gran too, but that he still saw himself through his ex’s filter. I suspected he was alone in the world too. That and how he saw himself were both things I’d be changing if I got my way.

“Here you go.” Chester turned with a plate in his hand. He glanced between me and the table, which was a good foot lower than my head. “Hmm, how about I put this here? That’ll be easier for you. You won’t have to bend as much.”

I already knew Chester was considerate, but this was a whole new level. I wasn’t even his pet to care for.

But he was caring for me, in the best way he knew how.

I didn’t immediately snap up the piece of bacon. It meant breaking from my character somewhat, but even as a wolf, I was still me. And I would never eat until my partner was also sat and eating.

Chester isn’t your partner.

I shoved that thought away. The principle was the same. It was basic politeness, for fuck’s sake.

Chester sat down with a small bowl containing a miniscule amount of granola. He picked up a tub of yoghurt and spooned up a tablespoon’s worth, but instead of adding it to his breakfast, he bit his lip and looked at the carton. After reading the label for a minute, he tapped the spoon on the side until less than a teaspoon remained.

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