Page 20 of His Place in the World
Angus tilted his head to look at him.“Do you know how long I’ve wanted to kiss you?”
“If your feelings for me are anywhere close to my feelings for you, it’s since the first time we met.”
“It is.”
Angus’s confirmation was all Del needed.He cupped one of Angus’s cheeks with his free hand and leaned forward, so close that his and Angus’s breath mingled.
Then he kissed Angus.
It was everything Del had imagined it would be, but also more.Kissing Angus, feeling his lips against his, his taste, made Del feel like he’d come home.It was odd, and it had never happened to him before, but he was glad for that.Angus was the only person who was his home.He was Del’s future and would become his everything in time.
As long as they both gave their bond and each other a chance.
Chapter Four
Angus felt ridiculous.He usually spent his days in front of his computer, wearing jeans and t-shirts, but today, he had on light flowy pants and a vest that left his chest bare.
He felt ridiculous.
It didn’t matter that Del was looking at him as if he was the most beautiful man in the world.If Angus had a choice, he’d cover himself up, then hide in his office for the rest of the day.
“Do I really have to wear this?”he asked no one in particular.
“I tried to convince Remi to let you wear a t-shirt, but he nixed the idea,” Ryland answered.
He was wearing a suit and looked perfectly at ease in it.Angus understood why he shouldn’t be dressed the same way, and he didn’twantto wear a suit, but there had to be something better than the pants and vest.
He looked at Remi, ready to beg, but Remi didn’t even let him speak.
“Ryland already has bodyguards.That’s not why you’re there.”
“I know we’re hoping people will presume what my role is in Ryland’s life, but do I really have to expose so much skin?I feel ridiculous.”Angus plucked at the vest.“I can’t believe the other shifters there will be dressed the same way.”
“Some of them will.Some will wear even less.If this is too hard for you to deal with, you need to tell us now.”
Angus swallowed and shook his head.He knew this was the only way to make the mission happen.He could complain all he wanted, but at the end of the day, he’d do it, and he’d do it with a smile on his face.He was only acting, but the other shifters he’d meet tonight wouldn’t be.He’d do everything he could to free them and ensure they wouldn’t be hurt again.
Unfortunately, that meant he’d have to keep himself in check at least tonight and that he’d have to wear ridiculous clothes.
“You don’t have to go if you don’t feel up for it,” Del said from the corner of the room.
After getting dressed, they’d all met in Cam’s office.Mercer and Matt were there, too, and like Ryland, they wore suits.Theirs were black and didn’t look as if they’d cost more than Angus made in a month, but still.They were handsome, and no one would look at them and think Ryland had bought them at an auction.
“I’ll do it,” Angus said, defying Del with his gaze.
They hadn’t talked about this again.They’d only had a few days to prepare, and Angus hadn’t wanted to make things even more awkward between them.They’d both agreed that they needed to talk about big decisions, but also that they had to let the other do what he felt was for the best.Del hadn’t tried changing Angus’s mind, but Angus didn’t doubt that he would if he could.
He wasn’t okay with Angus putting himself in danger.It didn’t matter that he hadn’t said anything about it again and that he probably wouldn’t.Angus and he both knew his feelings, and Angus was having a hard time dealing with them.
Before, he hadn’t had to think twice about making decisions.He was the only one involved, and it had been freeing.Now, whenever he needed to do something, he thought about Del.He couldn’t avoid doing so and didn’t want to.Del was in his life to stay, and in the end, that was all that mattered.
But it wasn’t easy.They were both learning their boundaries and limits and how to be together, and it was still unsteady.It felt like something might break with every single thing Angus said or did, and he didn’t like that feeling.
“If everyone’s ready, we should head out,” Remi said.
He was still pissed about not going with Ryland, and he’d accepted it as gracefully as Del had accepted that Angus would be doing this.There was a lot of grumbling and glaring, but like everyone else, he was doing his job, which was organizing everything behind the scene.
Everyone moved toward the door.Angus was the last one to get there, but Del was right in front of him, and he stopped moving once they were alone in the room.He turned to face Angus, and they stared at each other for a moment.
