Page 22 of Siren in Love
The officer shrugged.“Haven’t seen it myself.Just heard it was very large, and not exactly the friendly type of cat either.Already sent two of ours to the ER.”
“Damn.”Corvin double-checked the door lock on his side.
Mike ignored him.“My boss lives on this street, and if it’s all right with you, I’ll check to see if he’s home.I’d prefer it if my boyfriend could stay there.It’s getting to be a bit chilly.”
Corvin’s heart fluttered in his chest.He was cold, but objectively, it really wasn’tthatcold.Plus, there was a blanket in the back of the van.But Mike had never not taken any complaint Corvin had voiced seriously, whether it was the cozy restaurant he’d taken Corvin to after he’d mentioned it once, or when Corvin had wanted to stay in and read instead of going out on a date.
Corvin’s eyebrows rose.Shit.He’s spoiling me.He’s been spoiling me all this time, and I think I’m already used to it.What if he stops suddenly now that we live together?He’s going to have every opportunity to take note of everything about me that annoys him.
Corvin fidgeted.He didn’t want that, at all.
The officer shrugged.“I’d rather you stay in the van, but if the better half is cold, suit yourself.”He turned and walked to the next car.
“Do you think he means big cat as in a tiger or something?”Corvin asked as Mike closed the window.
Mike shrugged.“He didn’t seem to think so, else he would’ve ordered us to stay in the car.”He pulled out his phone and started texting.“Great, Peter’s home.You’ll be more comfortable there.”
Corvin bit his lip.“I’ve never met your boss.Isn’t he… He’s a lawyer too, right?Won’t that be weird if you just drop me there while you stay with the van?I’m really not that cold at all.”
“Oh, shush.I can see your lips turning blue.And Peter won’t mind.He doesn’t do warm and fuzzy, but underneath all the prickliness, he’s nice.”
Corvin picked at his nails.“You know, not everyone’s cool with a guy dating another guy.”
Mike snorted.“Thatworries you?Peter doesn’t mind.I guess you could say, ah…I guess you could say he eats homophobes for breakfast.”
“Okaaay?Hey, wait.Have you been hiding an office romance from me?Did you have a crush on him?Or he on you?But that would be, what’s it called, power imbalance and all that.An illicit affair.Or is he your work wife?”
“Work wife?I mean, I guess you can call him that.”Mike looked thoughtful.“It doesn’t quite fit though.You’ll see when you meet him.”
“Okay, fine.But it’s really not necessary.I swear, I’m not that cold.”
Mike gave him a flat look.“Mm-hmm.Do me a favor and stay here for a sec.”
He got out of the car, and while Corvin was expecting him to go to wherever Peter lived, Mike rounded the hood of the van and opened Corvin’s door.
“Seriously?For fucking real?You told me to stay in the car so you could open my door for me?”
“Yup.The police officer said there was a big cat, and I will not let you run around by your lonesome.While you’d make a cute cannibal, I don’t want to see you become cat food.”
Corvin groaned.“What kind of murder cat do you think they lost, huh?It’s probably more scared of us than we are of it.”
Mike shrugged.“Better safe than sorry.”
Corvin knew he wasn’t going to win this.Mike could be stubborn as a fucking rock.It was sort of adorable, but not so much when Corvin was on the receiving end of it.
He took Mike’s hand and followed him.Looking back over his shoulder, Corvin saw that the line of cars behind their van had grown, effectively boxing them in.
“I guess we’re stuck here until that kitty cat is back in the bag.”
“Not you.You’re going to be stuck where it’s nice and warm.Here, this is the place.”
The houses on Bennet were all pretty nice, in an understated townhouse style that hinted at the owners’ deep pockets.Mike hurried Corvin up the stairs of one.It was painted a light gray, and just in time for spooky season, pumpkin heads and a miniature scarecrow had been positioned right next to the front door.
Mike rang the doorbell and moments later, one of the most handsome men Corvin had ever seen opened the door.He regarded them with a dark gaze.
Except, his eyes weren’t really dark at all, they were as blue as a frozen winter lake.He has some midnight energy though.Feels shadow cold when he looks at me.Not what I was expecting from Mike’s boss.Corvin took in the pale face and the near platinum blond hair.Apparently, Mike works where all the sexy lawyers work.
“Michael,” the man said, then settled his gaze on Corvin.
