He was blocking the door. And quite frankly, he needs a hug. He thinks we’re going to eat him on the full moon.”
Brooks simply winked at him and whispered, “Chomp chomp.”
Toby’s cheeks burned, the remembered conversation and its implications flooding his mind. The rest of him… well, it responded too, and he pressed his forehead against Brooks’s chest and tried to force the part of him that suddenly throbbed in his pants to calm down.
“Whoa.” Ollie sounded… weird.
Toby rolled his head and met his new friend’s gaze.
“I’m not sure if I want to know. I mean, I want to know desperately because I’m nosy. But I don’t want to know.”
Toby honestly wasn’t sure what he was talking about. All he could think about was Brooks’s hands on his back and his mouth… other places.
“Mind your business, pup,” Brooks griped. “It’s rude to comment on scents of arousal, and you know it.”
Ollie looked down and away, baring his neck slightly to Brooks. It was the first time Toby had seen Ollie make such a display. Brooks glanced down at him and smiled.
“Ollie has a pretty impressive nose, but he knows he’s not supposed to comment on everything.”
It still took Toby a second to realize… “Oh my God, you can smell my… my… me?”
Ollie shrugged. “It’s natural. Just surprised me. I wasn’t sure—”
Brooks growled.
“I mean, of course your mate is attracted to you, Brooks. I didn’t mean to imply—”
Brooks growled louder.
Toby raised his head and looked up at Brooks. “Of course I’m attracted to you.”
Brooks turned his glare from Ollie to focus on Toby, but his expression changed. He couldn’t hide the slight look of relief that crossed his face, as if he’d had the same thought as Ollie.
Another course of shame flowed through him. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Brooks said softly, his voice the barest whisper, the words meant for Toby alone. “You don’t owe me anything.”
Toby knew that. He did.
But he also wanted to figure out why his thoughts were constantly on Brooks, the way they’d never been on anyone before. He wanted to know why his books no longer distracted him, why he couldn’t seem to forget Brooks by reading and learning, the way he’d always been able to forget everyone before.
And that…
Toby sighed and leaned into Brooks again.
Which was another thing. Since when did he lean into people? Get up in their space? It wasn’t him, but he wanted to touch Brooks. It was as if he could somehow absorb some of his strength and stability. Which of course was impossible. Toby knew that. He did. But it didn’t stop how he felt.
“Stop thinking so hard. It’s going to be okay.”
That soft voice again. Reassuring and kind. Toby lifted his head and met Brooks’s eyes. “You’re too good for me.”
Brooks scoffed. His hand began a slow trail up and down Toby’s spine. “I’m just right for you. Just as you are for me.”
“What the flying monkey fuck is going on here? I’m getting old!”
Toby leaped about a foot in the air, but Brooks’s strong arms once again kept him safe. He glanced in a panic down the hall, where a clearly annoyed Nick stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Nice, Nick,” Ollie griped. “They were having a moment, and you ruined it. I’m telling Uncle Jed. And Nana.”
Nick gasped. “You will not.”
“Will too. No cookies for you.”
Nick wrapped his arm around Ollie’s neck and held him tucked under his arm. He then proceeded to rub his knuckles over Ollie’s head until he squirmed.
“Stop, stop!” Ollie laughed and wiggled but couldn’t get free. Heads popped out of different rooms in the hallway, all wanting to see what was happening.
“Take it back,” Nick demanded. “You tell Nana and… I don’t know what I’ll do. I’ll be mad! Yeah!”
Toby’s lips twitched. He couldn’t help it. He bit his lip to keep from laughing, but somehow, even that tiny motion caught the alpha’s attention.
“And you, if you tell her I ruined your moment or whatever I’ll—”
“You’ll do nothing,” Jedrek said from behind him. He distracted Nick enough that Ollie was able to squirm free. He darted back down the hall toward Toby, and then hid behind him, like Toby could save him from anything.
“But—”
“But nothing.” Jedrek said. He glared at his mate, but even Toby could see it wasn’t a real glare. And how he’d figured that out already was a wonder even to him. “Come on, Toby. We’re having a school meeting and you’re late.”