to be the only way to stop something like that. Everything Cameron said made it clear our hormones changed something in their bonding process.
“I don’t want you to walk away.” The words came out before I even thought about how selfish it was. “I mean, I don’t want to trap you, but I don’t want you to leave.”
“Humans do not like to be trapped in situations they have not chosen.” Maverick’s words didn’t help me figure out what he wanted.
“No, but I knew it was a possibility. I just didn’t think it was likely.” No one met Prince Charming at the grocery store…hell, no one met their werewolf fated mate there either, so why would I worry about my alien mate running around out there somewhere?
“I had not met any couples like that before our conversation.” Maverick shrugged. “Conjecture is not facts.”
I swallowed. “Do you feel trapped?”
I wasn’t the one whose biology was changing.
He shook his head, and something about it at that moment felt very humanlike. “No, I do not feel trapped.”
Part of me wanted to ask if he was sure or to push him again, but he wasn’t human and he wouldn’t understand. Maverick didn’t lie, and he didn’t tell me something just because he thought I wanted to hear it.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Then there isn’t anything to worry about.”
Cameron reached out and rested his hand on my shoulder. “You sure? Should I have made more of an issue of this when you first met him?”
I chuckled. “He was throwing marshmallows at me in the grocery store. We both know no matter what you’d have said I wouldn’t have been thinking about that.”
Maverick made a low sound, like he was trying not to laugh. “You required unconventional means to get your attention.”
I was pretty sure a “Hey, you’re sexy” would’ve worked, but if he wanted to delude himself, that was fine.
“That’s not the point.” I leaned over and gave Cameron a slightly awkward hug around the table. “We’re good, and he and I are good. We’re all fine and we’ll just see what happens.”
As I finished hugging him, I whispered as low as I could. “I really like him. There’s just something about him.”
Pulling away, I saw Cameron give a faint nod as he sat back. “Then I won’t worry.”
He leaned into George and smiled. “Besides, I have it on good authority bonded mates are the best.”
George puffed up and nodded. “Yes. We are.”
And they were so humble too.
Chapter 15
Trip
Maverick was so quiet and reserved on the way home he didn’t even grab my dick or tease the plug.
It was weird.
My first thought was that he’d changed his mind, but then I had to remind myself he didn’t think like that. So I went back to the drawing board as we drove home. Nothing stood out, so I just waited to bring it up until we were in the house.
“Maverick, let’s go sit down on the couch.” It was the first time in a while I hadn’t called him Master, and his name felt stark.
But when he gathered me up in his limbs, I knew things weren’t too off for us. “Yes, talking is good, but I must also inspect your toys.”
I’d mostly gotten used to ignoring those until he’d mentioned it.
“Yes, Master.” The teasing thought that we could get back to playing as soon as we’d talked made everything feel more urgent.
Letting my worries fade away, because he was Master, I wiggled against him. “I had fun at dinner, Master.”
Maverick gave a low laugh that sent a shiver through me. “You teased Nolan, but then you made him very happy. So I do not know whether to punish you or not.”
“Spanking me would be part punishment, part reward. So that would work for both.” As he sat down on the couch, arranging me on his lap, I wiggled again, that time rubbing the plug against his tentacles. “I made Nolan happy.”
And now Master was going to make me happy.
Hopefully.
Eventually.
Talking. Yes, we had to talk first.
Cuddling against his chest, I relaxed and tried to go back to ignoring my aching dick. “You seemed unhappy in the car.”
He stiffened, then went back to hugging me tight. “I would not use that descriptor. I would have said I was concerned for your well-being.”
Huh?
“My well-being is fine.” I sat up and kissed his cheek. “What were you thinking about?”
I wasn’t expecting a list.
“I feel I do not know enough about human needs to care