“It doesn’t hurt,” Rael assured Crank. “You just… concentrate, and it happens. And as you might have noticed, it helps to be naked first. Otherwise it gets messy.”
“Have you ever shifted by accident?” Roadkill asked.
Rael bit his lip. “Once. I was young, barely out of puberty. Me and my best friend were in my bedroom, and I think we were arguing about something. Anyhow, he got me so pissed, I shifted. I guess it was the heightened emotions or something. I shifted right back, but the damage was done.”
Crank’s mouth opened. “Was he the one who fainted?”
Rael nodded. “When he came round, he was shaking like a leaf. Finally I got him to calm down. I had to tell him what I was.”
“Isn’t that dangerous? What if he tells people?” Roadkill shook his head. “I’m not sure how I would have reacted at that age.”
“He never told a soul back then. And I’m certain he won’t now.”
“Why?”
“Because his wife would kill him,” Rael said with a chuckle.
“Huh?” Both Roadkill and Crank stared at him, clearly perplexed.
“We lost track of each other once we went to college. But years later he got back in touch. Turns out the girl he was dating? She was a shifter.” Rael laughed. “I wish I could’ve seen her face when she saw his lack of reaction to her revelation. She must’ve expected him to freak out.”
“What kind of shifter is she?” Crank seemed fascinated.
“Puma. Wes tells me about nights when they’re on the couch and she lies on her back so he can give her belly rubs. And there’s this thing he does with a flashlight? Drives her crazy. She’s just a big kitty, after all. Like me.”
“My turn.” Roadkill regarded him with interest. “Are you aware of your lion when you’re human? Can you feel it?”
Rael shrugged. “Sure. I can always feel it. It’s like a comforting presence in the back of my mind.” He grinned. “At least until someone drives stupid or gets into the ten items or less lane with a couple dozen items. Then I have to keep a tight rein on him because we both want to rip their throat out.”
Roadkill became very still. “You wanna rip out their… please, tell me you’re joking.”
Rael burst into a peal of laughter. “Yes, I’m kidding.” Roadkill and Crank joined him, although their chuckles had a distinctly relieved quality. “My lion is always there, content to stay quiet until I can get away to the forest or, if by chance, I feel threatened.”
“Okay, let’s get onto the real important stuff.” Crank lowered his voice. “Shifter sex. Have you ever fucked in your lion form?”
Hoo boy. Rael took a deep breath. “I’ve never had sex with a shifter.”
“Wait—but… Horvan….” Roadkill’s brow furrowed. “You and he haven’t…?”
“We’re not complete yet. When we’ve got Dellan? Then….” That was as much as Rael was willing to say, and he had a feeling it had been too much.
“Wow,” Crank said in an awed tone. “Horvan’s not getting any. I’m surprised he’s not cranky as hell twenty-four seven.” He snorted. “Pun intended. I was right when I said it before. We’ve reached the end times.”
Before Rael could question him further, the front door opened and Horvan entered, laden with bags.
“What have you been buying?” Rael stood and went over to relieve him of some of them.
“Air mattresses and pillows, what else?” Horvan gave him a peck on the lips before Rael took the bags to the bedroom door and left them there, out of the way.
“Aw. You listened.” Crank blew Horvan a kiss.
Horvan blew one right back, and the others laughed. He glanced at the laptops on view. “You guys got a lot done?”
“Yup, we’ve been very productive.” Roadkill took the bag of subs from Horvan. “I’ll get these unwrapped and put out chips and stuff.”
Horvan thanked him, then came over to where Rael stood. “Pleased to see me?”
“You know it,” Rael said quietly, before kissing him on the mouth. Horvan instantly put his arms around him and drew him closer.
“Put him down. There’s plenty of time for that later—Mama Bear.”
Slowly, Horvan turned his head to glare at Crank. “What?”
Crank shrugged. “If the shoe fits….”
Rael had a feeling this was not going to end well.
“Hey!” Crank’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “If he’s Mama Bear, does that make Rael Goldilocks?”
“Shut up, Crank,” Roadkill said loudly.
“No, come on. It’s perfect. I mean, look at all that blond hair. I’m right, aren’t I?” Crank looked at them for agreement.
“Shut up, Crank!” Roadkill and Horvan shouted in unison.
Crank pouted. “Geez, you guys are no fun.”
Rael had to disagree. And right then, this was just what he needed to distract him from thoughts of Dellan.
No easy task.
We’re going to do this. Hashtag’s on the case, and God willing, we’ll get everything organized ASAP. Dellan’s going to be all right. He’s got to be all right.
Chapter Eleven
HASHTAG CAME out of the bedroom, looking tired. “What day is it?” he joked.
“Sunday. Except Sunday is almost over.” Horvan peered at him. “You haven’t stopped all day.”
Hashtag scrubbed a hand over his face. “I couldn’t. I kept thinking of what else they could do to Dellan, and that made me even more determined to sort this out.” He walked over to the couch and flopped onto it. “Where are Roadkill and Crank?” Then he held up a hand. “Stupid question. Smoke break. I could do with one myself. I’ll wait till they’re back inside. I have stuff to tell you all.”
“That sounds promising.”
Hashtag covered his mouth as he yawned. “Sorry. I’m bushed.” He glanced around expectantly. “Anything to eat?”
Rael got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll find you something.”
Hashtag gave a contented smile. “I like him.”
Horvan chuckled. “Because he’s feeding you?”
“Nah, it’s because he’s an okay guy. Whoever picked him certainly knew you. He’s a good fit.” Hashtag gave another smile. “Hard to imagine a few days ago, I was blissfully ignorant that shifters even existed, let alone that there was such a thing as fated mates.” He peered at Horvan. “That is how you’d describe it? Someone destined to be with you?”
Horvan nodded. “And I was as ignorant as you, until he turned up on my doorstep.” At that moment, the front door opened and the guys came in, shivering. “A little cold out there?”
Crank gave an exaggerated shudder. “I suppose I’d better not complain, seeing as it’s gonna be worse in Idaho. Whenever we get there.”
“That would be early to midday Thursday, by my estimate,” Hashtag announced.
There was a brief silence as all eyes focused on him. Rael stood in the archway, a bowl of popcorn in one hand and a bag of chips in the other. “What?”