Page 5 of Fated Mates and How to Seduce Them
“It’s a cute name. Do you think I can pet her?”
Ian glanced at him, feeling oddly sheepish. “Um, honestly? No. I finally managed to pet her today, and I’ve been trying to make friends for weeks.”
Understanding dawned across André’s face. “Ah, so she’s semiferal, then?”
“She’s young enough she’ll become domesticated if I spend some time with her.”
“I hope it works out.” André squatted down a little to get a better look at her fuzzy face. “I’ve never had cats but have always loved them. Maybe that’s what I’ll do as a graduation present to myself, get a cat.”
Did vampires own pets…? Well, apparently they did. “Parents were against pets?”
His expression turned thoughtful, and he tapped a finger to his chin. “Hm, not like that. We traveled a lot when I was a kid. Well, my parents still travel a lot for work, but I no longer tag along during the semester. Having a pet when you’re never home isn’t feasible.” André shrugged. “Have you had a cat before? You seem comfortable with her.”
“My father had two. They were my favorite beings in the entire world.” Ian had sobbed like a child when he’d been forced to put both of them down, a bare six months after he’d lost his father. Neither Tony nor Thomas had been well, both developing cancer within weeks of each other. They’d been eighteen years old—an amazing lifespan for a cat. Still, losing them right after burying his father had been incredibly hard. He couldn’t even remember that dark time without crying, or so it felt.
“There’s lots of cats in the shelters,” André murmured. He stared at Casper with a pensive expression. “Hey, do you know if it’s better to get a kitten or an adult?”
What an odd conversation, but Ian played along and said, “Either’s fine, and honestly, both are hard to place for different reasons. Kittens are bundles of energy, and not everyone’s prepared when they take a kitten home. Adult cats are normally litter box trained, and you can get a better grasp of their personality, but most people go for kittens, so older cats move through a shelter slower.”
“Yeah?” André raised his eyebrows, visibly intrigued. “That’s food for thought. Look at you, you sound like a pro pet parent.”
Ian snorted and waved this praise off. “No, I did a lot of research. I’d thought about getting a new cat and then stumbled across Casper. I chose instead to focus on her, see if I could make friends and adopt her instead. Which, fortunately, seems to be possible.”
“I love a man with a warm heart,” André said with a wink. “You clearly have a good one, seeing how much time you’re spending on a single kitten.”
“Uh, thanks. I just think every living thing deserves a good home.” Ian personally knew what a boon having a loving family could be.
For some reason, André now looked at him in this strange way, like he was keenly interested. Or maybe evaluating Ian somehow? He didn’t understand it, and the intense gaze instinctively made him uneasy. No one looked at Ian with that kind of interest. It felt invasive, or at least, he felt prickly under it. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to interpret André’s look, and figured now was the right time to start his exit strategy.
“What?”
“I,” André said softly, almost to himself, “have apparently been blind.” His charming smile reappearing as he casually dropped, “Hey, Ian, come have dinner with me.”
Based on the heated look aimed his direction, it did not sound like an invite for a thank-you dinner. “Uh, why?”
“What do you mean why? I want to get to know a handsome man like you better.”
Oh, hell no. Ian put up a staying hand. “I’ll pass, thanks.”
André slowly blinked as if he’d never heard these words in his life. He likely hadn’t, Adonis incarnate that he was. Ian, however, was not one to set himself up for either trouble or failure. Yeah, no, he’d avoid going down that road. It had way too many warning signs.
“Pass? Why would you pass?” The puppy eyes were seriously next level.
Because I have common sense.Ian had no intention of handing him this answer, though. Instead, he deflected the question. “Why would you ask me to dinner?”
“Well, it’s obvious. You check all the right boxes.” André started ticking things off on his fingers. “You’re cute, especially when you smile—”
Ian choked. Cute? Him? He was in grey sweatpants, worn-in tennis shoes, and a T-shirt with a hole in the hem because it was laundry day and the only clean thing he had to wear. Ian hadn’t even managed to shave the past two days, and André calling him cute while looking like a street model felt too bizarre. Maybe the drug was still in André’s system and messing with his eyesight. It was the only plausible explanation.
“—you’re trustworthy, and believe me, that’s a rare thing in my life, and you’re really nice. The fact you helped me and now you’re being so sweet to a stray kitten is proof of what kind of person you are. You’re prime boyfriend material.” André stepped in closer, cobalt blue eyes like a caress over Ian’s faceas he gave him a once-over. The way his lips curved said he liked what he saw very much. “Plus, you smell fuckalicious. Why would I pass on such a perfect opportunity?”
Oh, look! The road had even more warning signs. Some were now flashing neon.
Ian made his tone even firmer. “I’m aware of your reputation, André. Sorry, but I’m not interested. I don’t want trouble with your lovers. I’m flattered, but no thanks.”
Time to retreat. He knelt, grabbed his bag, gave Casper one more pet, and then swiftly left the area. André made a noise of protest, but he ignored that too.
Boyfriend? Him? Hell would have to ice over first.
