“I have the day off.”

  So did Jason. Merrick had told Jason he wouldn’t be on the schedule until he was fully healed. Jason had tried to protest, because he needed the money, but Merrick wouldn’t budge on his decision.

  “So are we going to braid each other’s hair and talk about boys?” Jason smiled then winced. Damn. He hated that his face hurt so much.

  Another seductive chuckle from Dante. “My hair’s too short to braid, and I’d rather not talk about boys.”

  “I meant grown men.” Jason rolled his eyes.

  “I got what you meant.” Dante touched Jason’s foot with his own. A simple little knock that sent butterflies crashing through Jason’s stomach. He should have moved his foot back, but he didn’t. Jason didn’t want to admit that he liked Dante touching him because he’d sworn off men. At least for a little while.

  That didn’t mean he couldn’t play footsie under the table.

  “I have to run errands today.” Jason pointed toward his fridge. “I need groceries, and I have to return something to one of the Amazon lockers.”

  In truth, Jason was surprised there were lockers in such a small town, though he hated sending back his headphones. Unfortunately, he needed the money if Merrick was making him stay home. The lockers were located in the grocery store, so Jason had to go to only one place to take care of both errands.

  “Then we’ll make a day of it.” Dante said it like Jason hadn’t just gotten out of the hospital two days prior. It sounded like they were going to the farmers market to get juicy cantaloupe and ripe apples. Great. Now Jason wanted ripened fruit.

  Dante pushed his empty plate aside. God, the guy could eat. Jason was still working on his own food. Then again, he didn't need as many calories as this guy must need. Jason also noticed the way Dante was studying him, his face, really, but that intense look did something to Jason’s insides.

  “I know I look like I got hit with a bag of rocks over and over again. You don’t have to openly stare at me and remind me how hideous I look.” Now Jason was the one shoving his plate aside, only his had hardly been touched.

  Okay, so he was acting like a petulant child since Dante had been nothing but nice and helpful since the attack.

  “I was studying your face and berating myself for not getting their sooner, if you must know. Don’t try to read my mind. If you want to know what I’m thinking, just ask.”

  Now didn’t Jason feel stupid? “This wasn’t your fault, so don’t go shouldering the blame. It’s not like we have some sort of connection. We’re barely friends.” That had come out wrong. “I mean we’ve just started being friends, so you have no obligation to me. Hell, I’ve got family members who have less concern for me than you do.”

  Dante got up from the table and carried their dishes to the sink. Jason couldn’t think of anything else to say, so he went to his room to get dressed. He really didn’t want to go out in public with his face looking the way it did, but he had no other choice if he wanted groceries. Leaving the kitchen also gave him time to himself to take a breath. There was no reason for him to be so strongly attracted to Dante, but he was.

  Far more than he should have been. Dante was an authoritative type who was used to getting what he wanted. He was a demanding presence that rankled Jason’s nerves, and no matter how many times Jason told himself he wasn’t interested in the guy, he knew it was a damn lie. He’d been interested since first laying eyes on Officer Asshole, who was turning out not to be such an asshole after all.

  * * * *

  Never had Dante seen anyone take so long in a grocery store just to get a few items. Jason examined every label, reading the nutritional value, as if he were shopping for a client with heart disease. His lips pursed in a cute way as his finger slid across the box of oatmeal he was looking at. It was his fifth box, the previous four of different brand names and flavors.

  “It’s oatmeal,” Dante groaned. “All of them have the same weird texture with tiny bits of freeze-dried fruit. You already took thirty minutes in the produce aisle molesting cantaloupes.”

  Jason set the box back on the shelf and picked up another one. Dante was seconds away from banging his head against a shelf. “You have to be careful what you put into your body. I’m trying to find the least amount of refined sugar and the most fiber.”

  “They make over-the-counter products for constipation,” Dante grumbled.

  Jason sighed as he turned fully to face Dante. “I prefer natural solutions. Did you know drinking pear juice for babies helps you to naturally unclog? It might take a day or two, but it works. Unfortunately, you’d be shocked at how much sugar is in those drinks, and they’re meant for babies! I get that they have to make it palatable for babies so they’ll drink it, but I prefer less than ten grams of carbohydrates and sugars in the stuff I’m eating or drinking.”

  Dante was dying to blurt out that they were mates, and if Jason let Dante claim him, the human wouldn’t have to worry about any of that. He’d never get diseases like diabetes or high cholesterol, and he would live as long as Dante did.

  It was tempting just to get Jason moving out of the aisle.

  “Then eat prunes.”

  “That are loaded with natural sugars?” Jason tossed the box he’d been holding into his cart. “Type one diabetes runs in my family. I don’t want to end up on insulin like my grandmother was. Even my mother has it, though she manages her diabetes like a pro.”

  Dante might not be human, but even he knew that, if Jason hadn’t become a type-one diabetic by now, it wasn’t going to happen. The guy was slim and, from how he read labels and was careful with what he bought, was unlikely to become type two. “What’s next on your list?”

  Maybe if Dante helped, they could get out of there sooner. Dante never was one to take pleasure in shopping. He ordered most of his clothes online and grabbed whatever looked good in the grocery store so he didn’t have to spend so much time reading fucking labels or bargain hunting.

  He had more money than he would ever need thanks to his longevity and smart investing, but he wasn’t frivolous. But, to him, buying groceries wasn’t frivolous. Toss the shit in the cart and be done with it. Fuck prices and nutritional value.

  They ended up with fifteen things in the cart. Two hours in the store and fifteen items. Someone shoot me now. Next time his mate needed food, Dante was using an app to get it delivered. Willow Point might be small, but the town was surprisingly progressive.

  “Are you really that adverse to shopping?” Jason asked as Dante loaded the bags into the trunk of his car.

  “I don’t know a single guy who enjoys it.” Dante slammed the trunk then returned the cart to the outside cart return.

  “That’s very sexist,” Jason commented as he opened his door. “I’m a guy and happen to like shopping, when I can afford to.”

  His mate got into the car and closed the passenger door. Dante was about to slip into the driver’s side when he spotted a car in the next aisle. It looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t pinpoint where he’d seen it. The car was forward facing, and there wasn’t a plate on the front. He noted the make, model, and color before he got into the car and drove back to Jason’s apartment.

  * * * *

  “What is this?” Dante looked down at his plate with a grimace. Jason rolled his eyes at how dramatic the guy was being.

  “Vegan spaghetti.”

  Dante pushed the pasta with his fork. “That doesn’t look like spaghetti.”

  “The noodles are made from zucchini.” Jason wasn’t particularly fond of the meal, but it wasn’t that bad. It was also healthy for them. “Stop acting like a kid staring at his vegetables and just taste it.”

  “Where’s the meat?” Dante looked up at him. “There’s no meat in here. I like Italian sausage or meatballs with my spaghetti.”

  Because Jason hadn’t been able to afford such luxuries. “Oh my god, am I going to have to force feed you? You haven’t even tried it.”

  With a doubtful look, Dante shoved a forkful into his mouth. By the expression on his face, he wanted to spit it out. He chewed and swallowed then stuck his tongue out. “This is awful. Can’t we just order something from the diner?”

  Jason actually burst out laughing. He couldn’t help it. Dante reminded him of a kid right now, protesting anything healthy and opting for the stuff that would eventually kill him. Not that Jason hadn’t indulged in that kind of food before. When he’d run into Dante again after that ticket, he’d been in Joe’s with a burger and fries, which he hadn’t eaten because he’d been trying to get away from Dante.

  Jason even indulged in the food at work because it was free. Guys his age shouldn’t worry about stuff like healthy eating, but not only did type one diabetes run in his family, so did high cholesterol. His grandfather had passed away from heart disease. It was never too early to live a healthy, or semi-healthy, lifestyle.

  Dante shoved his plate away. “I can’t do it. I need meat, grease, flavor. I don’t want to eat plants. I want to eat a cow.”

  Looking down at his plate, Jason wanted the same. Trying to eat healthy sucked. Jason liked the bad food, the kind where he could hear his arteries clogging, and wished he didn’t have to worry about such things. “Fine, this once. You’re paying and order me a large salad with grilled chicken.”

  Dante snorted as he pulled out his phone and dialed. Jason took their plates to the sink. “Hey, Joe. This is Dante Mykel. I want to place a delivery order.” He paused for a brief second. “Two corned beef sandwiches, a shit-ton of fries, three slices of your chocolate supreme cake, and”—he looked at Jason—“a bottled water.” Dante paused again. “Nope, that’s not it.” He turned to Jason again. “What do you want? Don’t you dare tell me a salad.”

  Jason’s jaw dropped. “That order was for just you?”

  “I got a water,” Dante countered. “That’s healthy.”

  Jason could have sworn he heard Joe laughing on the other end.

  Dante shrugged and said, “Give Jason a cheeseburger and fries and toss in another slice of cake for him.” He grinned. “Yeah, make that two bottles of water.”

  With a tiny growl, Jason reached for Dante’s phone, but the guy yanked it out of Jason’s grasp. “Give me your phone. That’s not what I said I wanted.”

  Dante leaned over so far that Jason fell against him. The man’s arm curled around him, stopping him from falling, which made Jason’s body press against Dante’s. Jason’s breathing grew shallow as he rested his palms against Dante’s hard, broad chest. They were looking at each other, the phone still at Dante’s ear.

  “Just send the food.” Dante hung up, but he’d yet to let Jason go.

  It was as if they were frozen in time, Jason’s heart thundering in his chest as his gaze went from Dante’s gorgeous green eyes to his perfect lips. Dante looked as if he wanted to kiss him. Jason wondered if that was what he wanted. Yes. No. Fuck. He wasn’t sure. He couldn’t think with Dante pressed against him.

  Dante slid his hand behind Jason’s neck and eased him closer. Their lips brushed, sending rioting feelings through Jason. It was as though that spark between them ignited, setting off fireworks inside him. He groaned, parting his lips, straddling Dante’s lap at the same time.

  And he felt the hard proof under him that Dante wanted him. The guy stole Jason’s very breath as he deepened the kiss, and fuck, could Dante kiss. That stubble on his jaw rasped against Jason’s skin, adding a thrill to what they were doing.

  What were they doing? Jason looked like shit after his encounter with Kevin, but Dante didn’t seem to care. Dante was so lost in the kiss that Jason had to restrain himself to not get too caught up. He wasn’t sure how he was going to manage that. They were supposed to be just friends, but they’d definitely crossed a line.

  Now Jason was thinking that maybe they could be friends with benefits, because fuck if he wasn’t curious about that hard wedge pressed against his ass. His thought that he wasn’t going to get involved with another musclehead flew out the window. Dante was like a walking wet dream, and Jason would be an idiot to let a moment like this go to waste.

  There you go again, acting like a complete slut.

  That thought made Jason pause. He really liked Dante, really liked him. He didn’t want the guy to think him easy, that he could get what he wanted then kick Jason to the curb.

  Jason pulled back, his breathing coming out hard and heavy as he stared at Dante’s beautiful face, those kiss-swollen lips, and… Were those canines?

  Oh shit! Dante was a shifter.

  Chapter Five

  Watching the excitement leave Jason’s eyes punched Dante right in his gut. He knew why that spark had faded. Dante hadn’t been able to keep his canines from lengthening. They were on display, and he couldn’t think of a single thing to say that would explain what Jason was looking at.

  “Jason.”

  His mate cocked his head to the side, lifting his hand to Dante’s mouth. A single finger glided over one of Dante’s canines, and instead of fear in his baby blues, there was curiosity. Dante just sat there, holding his breath, waiting for the reality to kick in and Jason to scramble away in fear.

  “They’re very pointy.” His finger investigated the other canine with as much care, as if they were priceless artifacts he didn’t want to break. “Do you have claws, too?”

  After swallowing the lump in his throat, Dante set his phone aside and showed Jason his hand, letting his claws slide free. Why wasn’t Jason freaking out? Why wasn’t he hysterical and yelling for Dante to get the hell out?

  “This is so cool.” Jason touched one sharp claw then another.

  “Why aren’t you afraid?”

  Jason shrugged. “I’ve been to The Manacle so many times that I should be paying them rent. I’ve seen things that shouldn’t be possible. Fangs, canines, red eyes, vampires sucking at people’s throats.”

  “But humans have their memories wiped when they leave.”

  Jason grinned. “Is that why the bouncer always runs his hand above my head?” He laughed. “I thought the guy had some kind of tic or something, or maybe he was flirting with me.”

  The wipe hadn’t worked on Jason? “Are you human?” He smelled human, but Dante knew half-breeds existed. It was possible the wipe hadn’t worked because Jason wasn’t fully human.

  “One hundred percent. Trust me, if you met my parents, you’d know I’m not anything exciting.”

  Dante had no idea what that meant. “I’ve heard that some humans are immune to being bedazzled or having their memories wiped.” Sheriff Tate Weston had told him about some guy named Anson who owned Smoke and Mirrors, how he’d had his memory wiped but it hadn’t fully worked. Anson had remembered bits and pieces, though he thought it was a dream, until his mate, Renzo, had finally told him the truth about preternatural existing. Maybe Jason was one of those who retained his memory, too.

  “You’re not afraid of me?”

  Jason pursed his lips. “The only thing about you that I’m afraid of is another ticket I can’t afford.”

  Dante chuckled. “Then stop breaking the law.”

  When Jason tried to get up, Dante gripped his mate’s hips. He liked touching Jason, was glad he could now that they’d crossed that line with that amazing kiss. Dante was greedy and wanted another one. He forced his canines to recede, because, honestly, it was hard to kiss when his teeth got in the way.

  One of Jason’s blond brows arched. “Holding me hostage on your lap?”

  “There’s something else we need to discuss.” Since Jason wasn’t afraid of him, Dante wanted to push forward, to tell Jason they were mates, and hopefully that wouldn’t freak the man out.

  “One question first.” Jason lifted Dante’s upper lip, looking for the canines that had receded. “What kind of shifter are you?”

  “Cheetah.”

  “Oh my god!” Jason’s grin widened. “That’s so freaking cool. Can I see you shift? I saw it once at the club. Some guy got way too pissed and the bouncers dragged him toward a back room. They tried to shove him inside, but he’d changed into a black panther before they succeeded.” He cocked his head. “Are all shifters that aggressive?”

  “When we have to be,” Dante admitted. “Not with you, though. I’d never get aggressive with you… because we’re mates.” There, Dante had put it out there. Now he waited to see how Jason would react.

  “What does that mean? Mates? I’ve heard that word, but I seriously doubt you’re calling me friend.” He chuckled. “Okay, we’re friends, clearly, but you know what I mean.”

  It was one thing to tell Jason what kind of shifter he was. That didn’t have an impact on Jason. Not really. But telling the guy their souls would be bound was a bit trickier. Dante felt as if he were trying to navigate through a field of landmines. One wrong word and shit would explode in his face.

  “It means fate handpicked you for me.” Keep it simple.

  “Like soul mates?” Jason’s smile faded.

  “Deeper than that.” Dante took a deep breath and let it out slowly, keeping his hands firmly on Jason’s hips. “It means our souls will be bound together. It means you’ll never want for anything. It means your happiness and health are my top priority. You’ll never get diseases, and you’ll age as slowly as I do.”

  Jason just sat there, staring at Dante, not saying a word. Dante’s cheetah paced, yowling softly as it, and Dante, waited for Jason to say something. Anything was better than the silence. The longer Jason sat there, the more tightly Dante’s nerves wound.

  “Let me get this straight.” Jason had his hands on Dante’s chest. His fingers curled into Dante’s pecs. “I don’t have to worry about what I eat?”

  That was not what Dante was expecting. Of all the things he’d said, Jason had focused on that?

  “No diabetes or heart disease?”

  “Nope.”

  “Where do I sign up?” Jason laughed, but it was a nervous laugh, and Dante wanted the tension gone from Jason’s eyes.