Page 14 of Twist of Fated Mates
I’m glad to be alone together again. “Well, that was embarrassing.”
Nigel flops onto the bed and covers his face. “Yes, that, and also terrifying, nerve-racking, and mortifying. I cannot believe this is how I met your mother.”
“It could have been worse. We could have been midsession.” I laugh. “There are certain things even I would rather not share with her, and that’s one of them.”
“Will I meet your father tonight?”
“Oh.” Explaining this to people isn’t my favorite thing. Not everyone understands. But Nigel is my intended, so I shake off my hesitation. “I don’t have one. Or, I mean, I do, obviously, but I don’t know who he is. My mother insisted.”
“Oh. Okay.” He sits up, hair all floppy and tangled and adorable. “Why? No, you don’t have to tell me. Sorry to be nosy.”
“Don’t be. After you shared your story with me last night? Nigel, I’d tell you anything. It’s no problem, just, Mother’s abit unconventional. Especially as an alpha of a werewolf pack.” Most wolves are monogamous. It’s the natural way among us. But my mom isn’t the conventional sort, and mated life doesn’t suit her.
“She seems nice.”
“Sheisnice. To everyone who deserves it and some who don’t. But she’s never wanted a mate. She thrives on…” How to put this delicately? “Variety. Men, women, some werewolf, others human, a troll once, and occasionally more than one at a time.”
Heat warms my cheeks. Not that I’m embarrassed of my mother’s love life, only that it’s a topic I prefer not to think of. Because gross. That’s my mom. “I’m not even sure ifsheknows who my father is. I wouldn’t put it past her to have made certain no one would know bysessioningwith multiple options.”
Nigel smiles. Fangs peek-a-boo between his lips. “Well, that’s one less chance at another embarrassing introduction. As if I could do much worse than being naked and drooling on you.”
“You weren’t drooling. Were you?”
“Does it matter? We’ll never live that down.”
“Who cares?” I slide closer to him and smooth my fingers through tousled ebony locks. He’s so pretty. “All packs need cringeworthy stories to tell and retell. We were just being helpful.”
“I suppose that’s a good way to look at it.” He catches my gaze, eyes darkening.
“Of course it is. The way I see it, we have the rest of the afternoon all to ourselves.” I trace his jawline and tuck his hair behind his ear. “We could be helpful over and over again in that time.”
He grabs my waist and tugs me close. “I love the way you think.”
I’m grinning as our lips meet.
And I love you.
Chapter Six
Nigel
Rain plinksa rhythm on the old metal roof as the last sunbeams disappear over the horizon. Nightfall should feel welcome to a creature like me. Instead, it ushers in a familiar fear.
Vampires.
I shiver in Charlie’s arms despite the recently stoked fire crackling not ten feet away. A pot of water warms over the flames. We may not be able to shower before leaving, but we can at least wash up.
That done, we dress, and I fret.
Charlie watches me. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Vampires. Vampires making demands. What demands?”
“Like they have any right to demands,” he huffs. “It’s their elders who should be begging to make amends.”
“I just want to be left alone by everyone but you.”
“Aww, that’s sweet.” He stands on his toes to kiss my cheek. “But in a sad way. Your people miss you.”
