Page 20 of Cider
“Cider, you look divine.” Titus stepped forward, his arms lifted me from the ground as he hugged me. His nose moved behind my ear and I could hear his smile. “You smell even better with a mix of goat.” He pulled back and winked at Billy.
My mountain man blushed as he cleared his throat. My grin hurt my face as he started bringing the food to the table. His whole face was red and he refused to look at Titus.
Oh my God. I looked between them and my hands tingled with the need to clap them together. Was that sexual tension between them? Please, let it be. This perverted fox totally loved her some man on man love.
“Thanks for having us.” Titus’ low voice rolled over my senses.
“Sure.” Billy cleared his throat as he finished bringing out the food. “I hope you don’t mind vegetarian dishes.”
I sat next to Billy as Titus sat next to Jack across from us.
“I’m fine with vegetarian. I had my red blood earlier this afternoon.” Titus licked his lower bottom while staring at me.
Oh boy. It was getting hotter in here as my cheeks filled with blood.
“Do you ever keep it in your pants?” Jack gave a side glare to Titus. “It’s been centuries and you still flirt with anything with a pulse.Even her.” His gaze found mine and I went pale.
Before I could reply to his insult, Titus was standing over him with Jack’s face pressed into the table with Titus’ hand on his neck.
“Now, Jack, you and I have known each other for a very long time, but I’ve never known you to be intentionally hurtful. Especially to a woman that is your mate. Our mate.”
Shit. Titus was so getting laid after dinner. This was so much better than my idea of throwing the bowl of mashed potatoes at Jack’s face.
“Now, apologize to Cider, and if you can’t say anything nice, don’t open your mouth. Got it?” he growled into Jack's ear before pushing away from him. He sat back at the table, put a napkin on his lap, and looked up as if he didn’t just go alphahole on Jack.
Jack’s hair was standing up as he ran his hands through it. He wouldn’t look me in the eyes.
“Titus is right, I’m sorry. That was rude.”
Even though he was a dick, he still made my body stand up at his voice. My tits were traitors.
“Thanks.” I glanced at Billy, who looked murderous. “Why don’t we eat?”
Besides a few awkward minutes, dinner went swimmingly. Jack actually ended up talking and being a reasonable person. He was also funny.
Dang it. It was hard to stay mad at the guy when he made me laugh so hard, water came out my nose.
Billy had loosened up and looked to be enjoying himself. Titus was, well, Titus.
It was coming on to two AM when Jack pushed himself from the table as he stood.
“Thank you for the company and dinner. It was… enlightening.” He nodded at Billy before looking at me. “I’m sorry, again. I’ll speak with you later.” With that, he left, shutting the front door behind him quietly.
“I think he just needed his head knocked around a little. He’s always been like that. Stubborn and assholeish until someone clocked him.” Titus rubbed his jaw, a small smile across his face. “He’s actually quite charming underneath that cool exterior.” He winked at me. “I guess that’s my cue that I should head out.”
“Wait.” Billy spoke before I could. “You don’t have to leave, if you want to stay the night. That is, if Cider is alright with it?” His face was deep red.
Oh. Hell. Yes.
I was totally getting some man on man love. My fox’s tail shook in excitement.
Titus had frozen as Billy spoke. His eyes roamed over Billy’s face, narrowing as he contemplated the invitation.
“You don’t have to do anything.” Billy started to panic. “It’s totally fine! I can stay in my room.” He held up his hands.
Titus moved from around the table to stand in front of Billy. They weren’t the same height, yet the way he moved, he seemed somehow bigger. He reached out to run a finger up Billy’s neck that stopped him from his blabbering that he’d continued while Titus had walked over to him.
“Billy,” Titus’ voice was silk. “I would be more than happy to get to know you just as intimately as we know our mate.”
