Without Reservations

sense www.samhainpublishing.com 27
    J.L. Langley
    of smell. Damned pheromones. Keaton sighed and stomped to the door.
    He flung it open and glared.
    Chay smiled—damn him—and held out a pizza box and a six-pack of beer.
    “I don’t drink.”
    Chay chuckled. “Hi, Bit. Nice to see you too. Gee, thanks, I’d love to come in.”
    Keaton growled and stepped aside, letting Chay in. “My name isn’t Bit.”
    The pizza box was shoved at him again, giving him no choice but to take it this time.
    Chay set the beers on the kitchen counter and started wandering room to room.
    Keaton’s lips twitched. The man had balls, he’d give him that. Most people would’ve been scared off by now. “Why are you here, Chay?”
    “Because you are mine. I haven’t figured out what the hell I’m going to do with you yet, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re my mate.”
    “How about you just leave and pretend we never met, go find yourself a nice girl, settle down, get married and have babies. No one but you and I will ever know she’s not your mate.”
    Chay turned around from inspecting Keaton’s bedroom and looked him square in the eye, his gaze boring holes in Keaton. “No.” His eyes changed, the whites almost disappearing.
    A thrill shot through Keaton. His own eyes started to shift, but he fought it off. He glanced down and noted Chay’s tented scrub pants. At least Chay’s body and his wolf instincts responded to him, even if his mind didn’t. Keaton wasn’t sure whether to be happy or to be pissed off about that too.
    This was a no-win situation. The more Chay hung around, the more Keaton found to admire about the man. And that wasn’t even counting 28 www.samhainpublishing.com

    Without Reservations
    the physical pull. Chay was gorgeous, there were no two ways about that, but damn it, the man was likable too.
    Not many people stood up to Keaton. It wasn’t like he was some intimidating big bodybuilder type, but he was a very powerful werewolf.
    The fact was wolves steered clear of him when he wanted them to. But not Chay. The man wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Somehow he doubted much did deter Chay. Keaton could fall for Chay, if he let himself. But to what ends? To always be his best bud? His pal? The thought didn’t hold much appeal, because somehow he knew his feelings for Chay would be much more, given half a chance. And what were the odds that Chay’s feelings would ever progress to that point?
    “Come on, Bit, let’s eat, I’m hungry. I got extra pepperoni.” Chay walked past him, grabbing the box out of Keaton’s hands on the way to the kitchen. He set the box on the counter and started going through the cabinet.
    Great. Keaton stormed into the kitchen and pulled down a couple of plates, handing them to Chay. He was hungry. Maybe after they ate he could explain why this was a bad idea.
    “You wanna sit at the table? Or on the couch? Looks like you have work set out on the table.”
    “Couch. You want a glass for your beer?”
    “Nope. I’m good.” Chay settled himself on the couch and the food on the coffee table, then filled his plate with pizza. He popped the top on his beer and took a long swig. He had a nice strong neck. A neck meant to sink teeth into, to lick.
    “You gonna eat, Bit? Or are you going to stand there staring at me with a glass in your hand?”
    Keaton closed his eyes, more pissed off at himself for staring than at Chay’s smug remarks. He filled his glass with ice tea and joined Chay on the couch.
    www.samhainpublishing.com 29
    J.L. Langley
    They ate in silence. As soon as they finished, Keaton took their empty plates and the empty pizza box to the kitchen. When he came back to the den, Chay had stretched out on the couch with his arms over the back and his feet out in front of him. The man had long legs. He had to be at least six inches taller than Keaton. Keaton had always liked tall men.
    Keaton sat on the other end of the couch. He was supposed to be getting Chay out of here, not admiring the man’s bod. “Listen, Chay. I appreciate you trying to make things work. But it’s not going to. It would be best if we didn’t see each other anymore.”
    Chay leaned forward and caught Keaton’s chin in his hand.
    Keaton was so stunned he just sat there.
    Chay drew close enough Keaton could feel his breath on his skin.
    “This is about the kiss isn’t it? I’m sorry. It caught me by surprise. I’ve never kissed a guy before.”
    He nodded, his chin