Scorch: M/M Gay Shifter Mpreg Romance (Dragon's Destiny: Fated Mates Book 2) by Wolf Specter, Angel Knots Read Free Book Online Page B

things, not today.
    And it was okay, because I also wanted other things. I wanted to see Devin smile—because of me . I wanted to make him happy, and soothe the panic out of his eyes, and ask him about his day, and find out, well,everything.
    My otherself scoffed, insisting that we already knew him. He was the other half of our soul, and the details wouldn’t change that. And it was true—none of the little facts that made up Devin would change what he was to me, or how I needed him—but I was suddenly consumed with the desire to know them, anyway. This beautiful man was mine, but there were a million little things that made him so much more than that, and I wanted to find out every one.
    “I can’t, um, do this if you keep looking at me like that,” Devin said, flushing.
    He was adorable, and I was captivated… but I probably needed to rein in my enthusiasm. I didn’t want to make him panic again. I’d lived among humans all of my life, and I had to remember that even if Devin felt the pull of our mating bond—and that fluttering vein made me think that he most definitely did —he was still human, and would assume I was too. “Love at first sight” may be a phrase humans used, but I doubted many of them actually felt it with the same sudden, all-consuming certainty that my kind did. I’d have to go slow, which was not something I was used to.
    Like Dane had said, though, it would be worth it. Devin was worth it.
    “Sorry,” I said, trying to tone it down. “I’m just… really happy you said yes.”
    Devin wasn’t eating, just sort of picking at his sandwich and not quite meeting my eyes. “So, this is kind of strange,” he said, finally looking up and gesturing between the two of us. “I mean, I’m not used to guys being so persistent.”
    I frowned. “What do you mean? Do a lot of guys try to pick you up?”
    “No,” Devin said, laughing and rolling his eyes. “Not at all. Is that what you’re doing? Trying to pick me up?”
    “No,” I said, reaching for his hand. I couldn’t resist.
    Devin sucked in a quick breath at my touch, but he didn’t pull away, and I was glad. It wasn’t much of a touch, but I felt better having the slight connection. I rubbed my thumb across the back of his hand, ridiculously pleased to see the slight shiver that went through my mate at the contact.
    “No,” I repeated. I definitely wasn’t trying to just pick him up. “I want… more than that.”
    “Why me?” he asked, a little breathlessly, his hand growing warm under mine.
    You’re mine , I almost blurted out. But no. That would be too much. Be human, for now.
    “I know—I mean, I think that we’d be a good… fit.” There. That didn’t sound too weird, did it? Devin was still looking at me strangely though, so I groped for something more. Fuck it. I was no good at this. A version of the truth would have to do. The man was my mate, after all. “The first time I saw you, Devin, I knew. There isn’t going to be anyone else for me. I want you . I don’t know what’s going on with your marriage, but I need you. I need… to be with you. I need to—”
    I stopped myself and took a breath.
    I was starting to feel out of control again, and I wasn’t sure how to handle that. How could my mate not want me? I couldn’t lose this man. It would kill me. I needed to find the right words, but I had no idea what those might be.
    “I know,” Devin said, saving me. “I mean, I don’t understand it, but I… kind of feel like that, too.” He turned his hand over, palm to palm with mine. Now I was the one that shivered. “That’s good. That you feel it too, I mean.” He gave a little laugh, pushing his long bangs out of his face and blushing again. “Because I was starting to wonder if I was going a little crazy.”
    I was smiling again, and I couldn’t seem to stop. As much as I wanted this man, in the carnal sense, for now just being with him was enough.
    I could have happily stayed right there,