Page 59 of Animal Instincts
Joss shook his head. “He’s fine, just embarrassed — as he should be. Sorry, though, for ransacking your wardrobe.”
“You don’t have to apologise for wearing any of my stuff. Reckon I like it.”
A few steps brought him to Joss. Oliver pressed his arms around his waist, pulling him in tight. He nuzzled into the space where neck met shoulder. Joss gasped, laughing and wriggling as he attempted to get away with half-hearted shoves.
“Hmmm, reckon I like it very much. In my bed and in my clothes, I think that kind of makes you mine, don’t you?”
Joss stilled as the words caught hard in Oliver’s chest.
Mine.Joss washis.The thrill of possession burned through Oliver’s blood. Had he ever wanted anybody the way he wanted this incredible, amazing man? His head knew the answer, but so did his heart.
“Reckon I like it, too.”
Joss’ voice was quiet, steady and sure. He turned around in Oliver’s arms and gazed up at him with clear and candid eyes.
Oliver’s heart danced in his chest. This man could set a raging fire within him with little more than a heated glance, and melt his heart with the softest of smiles. His stomach knotted, his pulse picked up… Maybe he could say the word, the word he’d shied from. After everything that had happened yesterday and last night, maybe he could—
“And this colour is so me, don’t you think? Let’s have breakfast, as we’re opening in less than an hour.”
Joss wriggled out of Oliver’s hold, taking the press and warmth of his body with him as he turned his attention to dishing up. The moment was over before it’d begun, and a little bubble of disappointment burst in Oliver’s heart.
But soon. He’d pick the right moment, the right time to say the word crying out to be said. Oliver let his gaze move over Joss. His eyes narrowed. Yes, soon. Maybe when Joss was draped in his clothes again.
Oliver dropped down into the wooden kitchen chair — and winced.
* * *
“I checked the details for the animal care course, just to make sure nothing had changed.”
Oliver watched as Joss squashed the tea bags down hard in the mugs, shoving them back with a sharp jab each time they bobbed to the surface.
“And nothing has. It’s online, so it won’t get in the way of my work here, or in the café, so—oh!”
Joss held up the spoon over one of the mugs. Wet clods of tea leaves dropped from the broken bag back into the murky brew.
“I’m not surprised it’s burst, after the GBH you’ve laid on those tea bags.”
“I’ll make some fresh,” Joss mumbled, starting on his second attempt to make their first cup of tea since breakfast. “But I think I’d like to delay beginning until the autumn. You know, get some more experience under my belt and,” Joss grinned, more than a bit sheepish, his face flushing, “have the summer.”
“Have the summer? And why would that be?” Oliver stepped in close, placing his hands on either side of Joss, crowding into his space. “What—do—you—mean by—have—the summer?” Oliver asked between peppering Joss’ face with kisses.
“Well… I was thinking,” Joss murmured as he roped his arms around Oliver’s neck and pulled him in close, “how hard working country vets are, and how in need they are of a little holiday during the summer. Hmm, that’s… ooh.” Joss squirmed and gasped.
Oliver laughed as he licked and sucked and scraped his teeth at the thin skin beneath Joss’ ear. He was finding all those places that made Joss go weak at the knees, and had made it his mission to find more.
“Oh, god…Oliv-er,” Joss breathed, as his hips began to move in a steady roll.
“A holiday, you say?” Oliver kissed Joss’ warm neck, his heart pounding to the same rapid beat as Joss’ pulse against his lips.
“And their assistants are also hardworking. So, I was thinking we could go camping.”
“What?”
Oliver jerked back. “Camping? I’m all for a holiday in the summer, but a sandy beach, a hot sun, and a cold cocktail is more like a holiday than shivering under a nylon sheet in the rain.”
Redness crept up Joss’ neck, which had nothing to do with kisses and more kisses. Oliver had expected him to laugh, to make a joke, but all Joss did was go redder as his gaze slipped away.
What have I…? Oh…Why hadn’t he realised? Camping cost peanuts, sipping cocktails in sunny beach resorts didn’t.
