Without Reservations

sat next to Keaton, watching his father closely.
    They sat there for several minutes, Bit answering questions about himself, until his mom popped her head out of the kitchen. “Chay?
    Where’s your new fri—Oh.” Her gaze landed on Keaton then snapped up to Chay.
    Chay barely held in a sigh. Come on, Mom, don’t give him any shit…please.
    Keaton stood, holding his hand out. “Mrs. Winston, pleasure to meet you. I’m Chay’s friend Keaton.”
    Lena looked startled, but shook Bit’s hand anyway. “Nice to meet you, Keaton. I admit, you weren’t what I expected.”
    “Someone a little taller?” Keaton asked, a chuckle in his voice.
    “Someone a little darker.”
    “Mom.” Chay jumped to his feet.
    “Lena.” So did Joe.
    “Supper is ready.” Lena turned and left, going back to the kitchen.
    Chay touched Bit on the shoulder. “Sorry, Bit. She’s kinda, well, she doesn’t…”
    Joe patted Chay’s shoulder, then Bit’s. “What Chay is trying to say is my wife is a bit on the prejudiced side. Don’t worry about it, son. You’re www.samhainpublishing.com 41
    J.L. Langley
    welcome in our home. She’ll come around. Now…let’s eat.” He sauntered to the kitchen, leaving Chay alone with Bit.
    Bit raised a light brown eyebrow. “You could have warned me.”
    “Sorry. I didn’t know she’d be that obvious. She tolerates my friend Remi all right.”
    “He’s white?”
    “He’s half. And well…he probably doesn’t really count, he looks Apache.”
    “Come on, boys. Brisket’s getting cold.” Joe’s shout echoed through the house.
    Bit grinned. “I like your dad.”
    Chay nodded. “I like him too. Come on before he eats all the food.”

    Û

    Even with his mom’s standoffish attitude, the evening went well.
    Keaton seemed to relax and enjoy himself. The man could be real charming when he wanted to be. Chay caught himself staring more than once over dinner. He couldn’t help it. Keaton drew him like a moth to a flame. He couldn’t wait to run his hands through those blond curls. He wanted to know if that hair was as soft in human form as it was in wolf.
    And those eyes, damn, he had nice eyes. They actually sparkled when Bit smiled. And dimples. Bit had dimples. Chay hadn’t noticed them before.
    Of course, that could be because he hadn’t seen Bit smile much.
    “I like your family, Chay.”
    He glanced to the passenger side of the truck, gaze zeroing in on that angelic face. “Good. I think they like you too. My dad does anyway. But my mom…she will too, eventually.” I hope.
    “You think? I tell you, I don’t think I helped my own cause any when she asked if I wanted any potato salad and I laughed in her face.”
    42 www.samhainpublishing.com

    Without Reservations
    They both shared a quick laugh. “You may be right. But eventually, she’ll get over the fact that you’re melatonin-challenged.”
    Keaton chuckled. “Yeah, maybe, but something tells me when she finds out we’re mates, she’s going to have a bigger problem with my penis than she does my pigment.”
    Chay suspected Bit was right. He pulled into the parking lot of Bit’s apartment and drove around to Keaton’s building. He parked next to Keaton’s car.
    “Thanks, Chay. I did enjoy it.”
    “Me too, Bit. Me too.”
    Bit reached for the door handle, but Chay grabbed his arm and tugged him back. Before Bit could protest, Chay did what he’d been dying to do all night. He cupped Bit’s head in his hands, threading his fingers through those pale locks, and slanted his mouth over Bit’s. And yes his hair felt as soft in human form.
    Bit hesitated for half a second before he relaxed and let Chay in.
    He took complete advantage. His tongue thrust into Keaton’s mouth, touching, tasting, devouring. That‘s good. Keaton tasted intoxicating and, God, could the man kiss.
    He consumed Chay right back, giving as good as he got, even sucking on Chay’s bottom lip.
    Chay’s cock grew harder than a fucking rock. He couldn’t remember ever getting this turned on this fast. Maybe as a teenager, but not recently. If he didn’t stop now, he wouldn’t. Not that that was a bad thing, but he’d promised. He drew back, gasping for air.
    Bit followed suit, laying his head on Chay’s shoulder, breathing heavily.
    Chay gave into one last temptation and ran his fingers through Bit’s hair. “Sorry about that, Bit. Kinda lost my head there.”
    Keaton nodded. “Yeah, th-th-this is…we aren’t supposed to be