out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. “I’m not sure but I have a feeling I will be. I’m probably making a bigger deal of this than it will be.”
“If anyone even looks at you wrong, I’ll hurt them.”
I smile. The possessive, protective side of Cam is a huge turn-on. “I love that you would do that for me, but I need to stand on my own two feet. If I can’t, what kind of mate will I be to you? I have to face them, but I do want you by my side with your hand in mine as I do.”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. And after dinner, we can shift, run, and burn off the food we eat.” His stomach growls. It’s been a long time since we ate. With the night shifts for patrols when we’re here, my schooling, and the missions, it puts us on the opposite schedule as most of the pack. I’m grateful Aries and Dante give the others excuses for when Cam and I may not be out on patrol. One less thing for me to worry about.
I move to climb off Cam, but he holds me close. I can’t believe I sat on him like this the whole time Sol was lying beside us. It speaks to how comfortable I am around Sol, even if he does irritate me at times. I really would have liked that kiss Cam was offering me.
“We could always eat in here,” Cam says. “I could fill our plates and bring them up. No one would say anything.”
I shake my head. “No, I have to do this. I need to get it over with while I have the courage.” Which I so don’t at the moment, but I worry if I don’t do it now, I’ll keep hiding and that’s not where I want Cam to be. He deserves to have me hold his hand in front of everyone and show them who we are to each other.
Cam lets me go and I climb off him so he can use the bathroom and brush his teeth. When he comes out, I use my magic to dress him like he asked and then he gives me the kiss I wanted earlier. We stand with our arms around each other, staring into the other’s eyes. It’s sweet and romantic. I always want us to look at each other this way. With the addition of love, of course, but we aren’t there yet.
He rubs his hands down my arms and threads his fingers with mine on my left hand. “Ready?”
I nod.
Together, we walk to the door. Cam opens it and then we’re descending the steps with our hands clasped, mine holding his tighter than his is mine. The smell of turkey, stuffing, and all the other deliciousness of Thanksgiving makes my mouth water.
At the bottom of the stairs, we turn right and walk down the hallway toward the massive ballroom turned game room, which is currently set up with numerous tables to feed the whole pack. When we have these big gatherings, the ballroom is converted to hold everyone. The games are removed. Normal day-to-day life is either in the dining room or people eat wherever they want around the house. Today is about togetherness, though.
Outside the doors to the room, Cam stops us and turns to face me. “Whatever you need, I’m here. If you change your mind, we grab our food and leave. I’ll be right by your side. We can even sit away from everyone in there. You lead and I’ll follow.” He places a chaste kiss on my lips. “Always.”
“Thank you. For all of this. I’m not sure if anyone else would put up with me.”
“There’s nothing to put up with,” Cam sends back to me. It’s going to take me some time to get used to him being able to speak to me telepathically. I love it, though. I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse that he can’t read everyone’s minds and speak to them that way. But I’ll take it just being me. It makes me feel special. Our connection private.
A hand clasps my shoulder and I look over to find Sawyer smiling at me. I didn’t hear him and Gage approach. “Come sit with us. We can be a united gay front.”
I laugh out loud. It was just what I needed to put one foot in front of the other and enter the ballroom. This is it. The