Behind the Eight Ball by M.A. Church Read Free Book Online

you—”
    “Just….” I so didn’t want to do this. “I know you want an explanation for being out of contact like that, but I just…. Let me get myself together first, please? I also need to clean up the glass.”
    Dolf gently laid his hand on my shoulder, stopping me. “I want an explanation, yes, but I was more worried about you. This isn’t like you, and I’m concerned. Look, I know we’ve hit a few rough spots over the last year, but you’re still my friend.”
    I ran a hand through my hair. Yeah, “rough spot” was putting it nicely. Here I was again causing trouble, thanks to a human. “I’m sorry, Dolf. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
    “No problem.” Dolf patted my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll help you clean up.”
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “Maybe not, but I don’t mind.”
    We cleaned up the glass. I dragged out the cleanup as long as I could because I knew what was coming after we were through. Dolf wasn’t going to let it go until he had answers.
    Dolf faced me. “Are you ready to tell—”
    My stomach let out a loud growl.
    Dolf raised an eyebrow. “Good grief. When did you last eat?”
    “Ah, um… lunch?”
    “Today?”
    I scowled. “Yeah, today.”
    Dolf looked around the kitchen. “Is there anything here to eat?”
    I scratched my head, also looking around the kitchen. “Well, I have stuff, but not like what you’re used to. I don’t do much cooking since it’s just me.”
    Dolf pulled his cell out of his jeans pocket as my stomach growled again. “I’m going to call my mates and tell them I’ll be home later. Then you’re going to tell me what’s going on, and then I’m going to feed you.” Dolf opened the refrigerator and shook his head. “That’s going to include going out, from what I see in here. Go change if you need to.”
    I gritted my teeth. If it were anyone other than the heir apparent to the clowder, I’d have told him to stick it. But one didn’t tell Dolf to stick it unless you were Tal or Kirk. I snorted at the mental picture as Dolf called either Tal or Kirk and let them know. While Dolf talked I changed clothes and put my shoes on, then returned to the kitchen.
    Dolf hung up, put his cell back in his pocket, and looked at me. “Spill it.”
    I dropped down in a kitchen chair. “What? No foreplay, even? Just straight to business, huh?”
    “Don’t make me smack you.”
    “Oh, kinky.” Suddenly I dropped the playful attitude. I just wasn’t in the mood to wind Dolf up. “Do I really—”
    “Yes, you do.” Dolf scrubbed his hands over his face. “You closing yourself off like this worries me. I let you, so shame on me. Then Tal pointed out that I—or any of us really—don’t know you like we used to. He’s right, as much as I hate to say it. Over the years we’ve grown apart, and I just didn’t see it. I’m sorry for that too.”
    What could I say? It was true, and something I’d done on purpose.
    Dolf sat down with me. “Let me help. I care about you, and I hate seeing you like this.”
    Well, hell, he wasn’t going to give up, and suddenly I needed to talk about this. “I met my mate a week ago today.”
    Dolf jerked back in the chair, his mouth falling open. Blinking several times, he gaped at me, sheer joy lightening up his face. “By the goddess, that’s—”
    “Pure shit, that’ s what that is.”
    Dolf flinched, the joy draining out of his face. “Oh. I… well. I take it from your expression your mate is human?”
    I slammed my hand down on the table, the anger bubbling beneath the surface rising up again. “I think I’d have been less horrified if my mate had been female.”
    Dolf shook his head. “A mate is a—”
    “Oh, spare me the lecture. I’ve heard it all before, and I’m not interested in hearing it again. You might be fine with a mate who was human, and that’s fine. I’m not .”
    “Not all humans are bad, just like not all shifters are good. Look at what a shifter tried to do to