pulled them on anyway. “I’m gonna go warm up the soup. I’m starving.”
Bailey huffed and followed him into the kitchen. “Did you not eat?”
“No. I was busy.”
Bailey grunted again. “Why don’t you eat? You need fuel.”
“So feed me.”
“I’m working on it.” Bailey shoved past Logan and stuck the container of soup from the bistro into the microwave. “Mmm. Italian wedding soup. I haven’t had that in forever.”
“Theirs is good. I got us grilled cheese too.”
Bailey grinned. “Want me to warm them up?”
“Nah, I fully plan on dunking it.”
“You are my soul mate,” Bailey said with a laugh. “Dunking, it is.”
Logan’s wolf perked up at the casual use of the word mate. He swallowed, his brain suddenly connecting dots he’d not considered connecting before.
While Logan’s world rocked, Bailey puttered around the kitchen. He took out a cookie sheet and then spread a hand towel on it. He added their hot bowls of soup, the sandwiches, spoons, and napkins.
“Grab us a couple bottles of water?”
Logan nodded and went to the fridge.
Bailey gave him a puzzled frown. “You okay?”
It took Logan a second to answer, but he did with a smile. “I’m good.”
“I wish I had a table, but we’ll have to make do on the couch.”
They settled in with their soup, and Bailey turned on the television to some random sitcom with canned laughter and terrible jokes. He snickered at a few of them, though, and it made Logan grin to hear the sound.
They finished eating and cleaned up the few dishes together, and then Bailey held out his hand and led the way into the bedroom. “I needed that,” Bailey said softly.
“What?”
“Normal. I mean, I know I should be jumping your bones at every chance I get but…”
“Why?”
“Why what?” Bailey fumbled around under his bathroom sink and emerged with a toothbrush, still in the package. He pushed it into Logan’s hands, then got his own teeth brushed.
Logan opened the package before standing behind Bailey in the mirror. He was enough taller that he could see over Bailey and look at his expression.
“Why do you think you should be jumping my bones at every chance? That implies you think I won’t be around long.”
Bailey had a mouth full of toothpaste, but he opened his mouth to argue. He ended up spitting and rinsing before trying again.
“I just met you. We’ve had sex once. Why would I think otherwise?”
Logan grunted. He couldn’t exactly explain to Bailey that his wolf wanted much more. That he felt something different that couldn’t be explained to a human.
“You grunt and growl a lot. It’s like its own language.”
Logan finished brushing his teeth and herded Bailey toward the bed. He growled against his neck as he did. “It is.”
Bailey climbed onto the mattress and scooted over enough to allow Logan room.
“Be right back.” Logan went through the apartment, double-checking locks and turning out lights, then came back in and climbed into bed beside Bailey.
He let out a sigh as his wolf relaxed at the scent of Bailey surrounding him. Bailey turned onto his side and propped his head on his hand. “Are we sleeping?”
Logan rolled his head to see Bailey better. “Hopefully. You wore me out last night.”
“But you don’t want…?”
Logan rolled over and closed the distance between them. “I want,” Logan said softly. “But I also like this. ’Cause see, from the moment I saw you laughing in the bar, I knew I wanted to know you. I wanted to make you laugh and see that spark in your eyes. And then when you protected Ashley and got all fierce? Yeah, I wanted that part of you too. Then you go and feed me? Forget it. I’m not going anywhere.”
Bailey didn’t speak for several minutes, but he did raise his hand and slide it up Logan’s chest. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
Logan’s wolf rumbled to life again. It was no wonder Bailey was so shaken by his attention. “I see you,” Logan said. “And I like what I see. I’m not rushing anything, ’cause I don’t want you to get sick of me and my nonsense and my secrets. I’m a real pain in the ass, Bailey.”
Bailey laughed. “Literally. I’m glad I was in the pool today because sitting was an issue.”
“I’ll use more lube next time.”
“Yeah.” Bailey wiggled a little closer.
Logan gave him a tug, and they ended up plastered together. “Which will be sooner than I’d planned if you keep wiggling like that.”
“You’re really into me, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” Logan whispered