Chapter Seven

Jace had no clue why Ian seemed apprehensive. They weren't around his family, and after Ian had returned from walking out on breakfast, he'd slowly relaxed and engaged in conversation.

So why was he standing there with an indecisive look in his eyes? It was just pet hair. No big deal. Jace didn't have any pet allergies, at least none that he knew of since he didn't have any pets at home. He had tried, but failed, countless times to adopt strays when he was younger. Eventually, he gave up.

"Did you just recently lose a cat or dog?" That was the only thing that came to Jace's mind. It was possible and would explain why Ian seemed tense.

"I'm trying to think of the best way to say this." Ian chewed the side of his bottom lip. He crossed his arms and stared at the back wall of glass, seeming lost in thought.

"Just spit it out," Jace suggested.

"This is not something you just spit out." Ian ran a hand over his hair, and then he pulled the rubber band out, scooped his hair up, and put the rubber band back in. The loose tendrils from earlier were now corralled.

"You're going to tell me anyway," Jace said. "So you can spit it out, because you're making my anxiety return, Ian." It was building in Jace's chest and spreading outward. "Is it something about me?"

"It's about me… and us." Ian finally sat next to Jace. "There's a reason we're so attracted to each other. A reason I'm the only person in eight years you've talked this much to." Ian pressed his hand against Jace's chest.

The warmth of his hand eased Jace's anxiety. He liked it when Ian touched him for any reason. Like at the gym when Jace had accidentally whacked himself in the face with the mop handle.

Or when they'd held hands on their walk.

Or when they'd been intimate.

"Because you're a narcotic." Jace gave a nervous smile. He didn't want to assume anything, but his mind was flipping from one thought to the next, trying to guess what Ian was getting at.

"More like fate brought us together." Ian rested his forearms on his thighs, his hands dangling by his knees. "You probably don't believe in fate or maybe you do. It's hard to tell with humans."

Jace froze.

Over the past two days, Ian hadn't seemed mentally unstable. It was Jace who'd clammed up, who'd had a few anxiety attacks, who'd been a dork around Ian.

Had he misjudged the guy? Not everyone wore tinfoil hats or shouted nonsensical things on the street. Ian hadn't hinted at the desire to drink Jace's blood like some delusional person who thought they were a vampire.

Even so, Jace was too afraid to ask Ian about his "human" comment.

"Do you believe in fate?" Ian's gaze searched Jace's face.

What if Ian had a hidden door to some diabolical basement? He'd said he hadn't invited Jace over to hurt him, but that could have been a lie to lure an unsuspecting victim to his home.

Jace eased off the couch. Could he make it to his car before Ian grabbed him? Not a chance. Ian's legs were much longer, his strides bigger. The guy was also in shape, lean with muscles. Ian would be able to easily overpower him.

Jace's breath was raspy, his muscles tense as he backed away from the couch. Ian just sat there staring at him, his brows furrowed. Jace might not make it far, but he had to try.

With his pulse pounding in his ears, he spun and raced toward the front door. He flung it open, uncaring that it hit the wall with a bang, uncaring if the handle had caused damage. Jace shot out of the house and ran around the garage, desperate to get to his car and also too afraid to look behind him to see if Ian was hot on his heels.

As Jace closed the distance to his car, he shoved his hand into his pocket and pulled out his keys. They fell from his shaky hands. With a curse, he stopped running and snatched them from the grass then bolted as fast as he could.

"Shit!" Jace screamed. Mid-run, he tried to haul ass in reverse, only to hit the ground.

With his heart hammering out of control, he stared unblinking at a black panther prowling by his car. The cat was massive, its muscles rippling as it paced back and forth, its gaze glued to Jace.

Now what? If Jace ran, no doubt the panther would chase him. His best course of action was to stay on the ground and pray the terrifying animal wandered away. But that meant Ian would have time to catch up to him. Where was Ian? Why hadn't he caught up to Jace already?

The panther prowled closer.

Jace slowly scooted backward.

Right before his very eyes, the panther transformed into Ian. He stood there naked, strands of his long hair billowing in the breeze, exuding masculinity and power like some ancient warrior.

Jace's vision filled with dancing black spots as he felt himself getting lightheaded, and then he lost consciousness.

* * * *

Ian knew he'd screwed up when the word "humans" slipped out. He'd watched the nervous smile on his mate's face disappear and fear erupt in his eyes.

This was not how he'd wanted things to go. In fact, it was the exact opposite.

He lay his mate on the couch. Moments later, Jace groaned. He turned his head then opened his eyes as Ian sat beside him.

"How're you feeling?"

His mate shot up into a sitting position and stared wide-eyed at him. "I'm-I'm losing my mind." His gaze swept over Ian's naked body. "That really happened, didn't it? You're a…a…"

"Black panther shifter," Ian said softly, afraid speaking any louder would make matters worse. His mate looked on the verge of passing out again, his eyes still too wide and his breathing quick and shallow. Ian couldn't think of a thing to say to calm him down.

He'd never had to tell anyone he was a shifter, and fuck if that hadn't been glaringly obvious—from the way he'd botched the conversation to shifting into his cat and nearly giving Jace a heart attack.

"I-I need to go home."

"First, I need you to calm down, kitten." Ian was dying to touch Jace but thought it wise to keep his hands to himself. As wigged out as his mate appeared, there was no telling what the guy would do.

A bubble of hysterical laughter erupted. Jace slapped a hand over his mouth then let it fall.

"The endearment makes so much sense now." His mate's rapid blinking worried Ian. "My thoughts are all over the place. They won't settle down."

"You're in shock."

"I'm definitely in something," Jace said. "This is… I suppose this is better than finding out you have a murder basement."

"Murder basement?" Did he still think that Ian wanted to hurt him? "Right now, you may not think so, but I'm perfectly sane. I'm sorry I revealed this to you in the worst possible way, but I would never hurt you."

"It's just mind-bending, shocking, beyond belief." Jace pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. "Why am I still sitting here when I should he running away as fast as I can? None of this makes any sense."

"Your mind just needs time to accept your new reality." Ian reached for his mate but pulled his hand back. It was killing him not to touch his mate, not to haul Jace into his arms so he could calm him down.

"New reality." Jace lowered his hands. He inhaled sharply, frowned, and then shook his head vigorously. "You were a cat. A cat!" He laughed again then just as quickly sobered. "That might be normal for you, but for me? It's the equivalent of seeing Godzilla rise out of the ocean or something equally jaw-dropping."

"Tell me how to help you through this." With the need too overwhelming, Ian pulled Jace's hands into his. "Do you need a glass of water? Rest? To see my panther again?"

Should he get Jace a cold rag to put over the back of his neck? Was his touch helping like his mate said it did?

"I don't know what I need." Jace gripped Ian's hands tighter as he stared wide-eyed around the room. "Fresh air. I need fresh air."

Since Ian didn't have neighbors, going outside in the nude wouldn't present a problem. In fact, he did it all the time. His panther enjoyed lounging on the deck after a run in the forest.

Keeping a steady hand on Jace, Ian guided him outside. His mate tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and inhaled a lungful of pine-scented air. "It would really help me if you had some clothes on."

"Are you going to take off if I leave you out here to grab something to put on?" Ian asked.

If Jace took off in the state he was in, he could have an accident. Plus, Ian didn't want him to leave. He wanted to try and help Jace come to grips with this.

So much for telling him we're mates. That'll have to wait until he stops blinking like his eyelids are glitching.

He glanced over his shoulder at Ian.

Then his gaze dropped to Ian's cock. Now he seemed intensely focused, his eyes squinting slightly. His breathing picked up a little, and he panted through his parted lips. There was no way Ian could stop his body from reacting.

He took a step toward Jace but stopped when he heard a car coming up his long and winding driveway.

"Get inside," Ian snarled. "I hear a car, and I'm not expecting company."

Jace jumped up and rushed inside. Ian joined him and closed the door.

"I'm going to get dressed. Don't answer the door." He moved swiftly to his bedroom as he heard a horn honk. He threw on a pair of shorts and a white T-shirt, shoving his feet into a pair of Nike sandals.

It took Ian less than a minute to get dressed, and now he was heading outside. A white Pathfinder was parked in the driveway, the motor idling.

All four windows were rolled down, and an older woman, maybe in her early fifties, her brownish-blonde hair in a ponytail, was behind the wheel. She smiled at Ian as he crossed the yard. "I'm so sorry for bothering you," she said.

Ian drew closer and saw a small child in the back, strapped into a booster car seat. The little girl was watching something on her phone but looked up when Ian stopped a few feet away.

"The GPS on my phone is going nutty, and we've been lost on the back roads for at least an hour," the woman said.

"Where're you trying to get to?" Ian smiled when the little girl waved at him with a huge grin. While the older woman had fair skin, the child had a bronze complexion like him.

"We're going on an exploration," the woman said with a laugh. "Right now, I'm trying to find somewhere to eat."

"I want nuggets!" the little one exclaimed from the backseat. "And a shake! Grandma promised me snacks since I ate all mine already."

"No more snacks until you've eaten real food, Daisy," the grandmother said to her from over her shoulder. "You can't grow if your bones are full of sugar."

Daisy looked curiously at Ian. He would put her at around four or five. "Your grandmother is right."

She pouted as she crossed her tiny arms.

"When you head back down my driveway, turn left," Ian instructed. "Follow Bask Road for eight miles and you'll reach Midnight Falls. There's a diner called Deep Dish with some of the best food."

"Do they have milkshakes?" Daisy asked.

Ian chuckled. "If they don't, ask your grandma to take you to Bluebird Café. Ajax makes delicious shakes just for little girls who eat all their food."

Her brown eyes lit up as she squealed. "I wanna banilla shake, Grandma!"

"Thank you for your help," the older woman said with a smile. Then she looked over her shoulder again. "Food first, peanut." When she turned back to face him, her brows furrowed. "I'm not sure I can turn around since there are cars in front of your garage. I'm afraid my U-turn skills aren't what they used to be."

"I can guide you or turn your car around for you," Ian offered.

She looked hesitant.

"I promise your granddaughter is safe with me in your car, ma'am." He understood her wariness, but Ian wanted to get this done so he could go back inside and check on Jace.

"Grandma, let the giant man help."

"Daisy! It's not polite to call someone names." The grandmother opened the car door and got out. "I'm Sandra. And just so you know, I normally would never allow a stranger in the car with her, but I don't think I can turn around without driving onto your beautiful yard or hitting one of those trees."

"She can get out with you," Jace said from behind Ian then told Sandra their names.

Ian glanced at Jace, noticing his mate looked a lot better. Hopefully he stayed that way after the females left.

"I wanna get out!" Daisy bounced in her seat. "Can I get out, too?"

"Yes," Sandra said. "Hurry up, peanut. We've intruded on enough of their time already."

Daisy unsnapped herself and climbed out, slamming the door. Ian winced.

"No slamming the car door," Sandra gently admonished.

"Sorry." Daisy bounded toward Ian and Jace as if they were friends instead of strangers. "My grandma cursed when she got lost," the girl whispered. "She's not allowed to say potty words, but I promised not to tell my mommy and daddy."

"She's totally going to tell them," Sandra said with a playful scowl. "I'm going to owe five dollars to the swear jar."

"My grandma says potty words sometimes," Jace whispered to Daisy. "My mommy takes away her cookies when she says them."

"But my grandma don't got cookies," Daisy replied, taking Jace's hand in hers.

With a smirk, Ian adjusted the driver's seat, leaving the door open and a leg hanging out, and then used his palm to expertly turn the car around.

"He's got skills," Sandra said, sounding impressed. "Daisy, please let Jace's hand go. He's a stranger, honey." She looked at Jace. "Her parents and I have been trying to instill in her to be cautious with strangers, but as you can see, it's not working."

Ian's heightened senses allowed him to hear the conversation as he put the Pathfinder in Park and got out.

Jace smiled. "I was the same way when I was younger. To me, everyone was a potential playmate. My dad nearly had a heart attack when I brought a mangy stray home and declared the dog my best friend."

Sandra laughed. "Did your dad let you keep it?"

"No." Jace shook his head. "He told me some animals were just happier living a carefree life and didn't want an owner. I think that was his nice way of saying to get the dog out of the house." He smiled. "I told him I wanted a carefree life, too. My mom put a stop to me joining the stray when my dad made it leave."

When Ian walked over to them, Daisy released Jace's hand and grabbed his. "Do you have any snacks?"

"Daisy," Sandra groaned.

Ian hunkered down in front of the little girl. "Sorry, sweetie. I'm all out of snacks. Why don't you help your grandma and buckle yourself into your seat?"

"Boring." Daisy let his hand go then marched to the car, climbing inside.

"Thank you for your help," Sandra said to Ian. "Again, I'm sorry for bothering you."

"It was no bother," Ian replied. "Turn left and stay on Bask Road. Drive safely."

"I will." Sandra walked to the open driver's door, adjusted the seat, and slipped in.

"Bye, Daisy." Jace waved.

"Bye!" Daisy waved enthusiastically, a huge grin on her face.

"Cute kid," Jace said when Sandra pulled down the driveway.

Ian was surprised his mate had spoken with the woman since he was so shy. When they'd been at the ice cream hut, Jace had stuck by Ian's side, refusing to look at anyone around him.

Had that only been yesterday?

"Did you really bring home a stray?" Ian watched the taillights vanish out of sight.

"More than one," Jace replied. "I never could talk my parents into keeping any of them."

Ian looked down at his mate at the same time Jace glanced up at him. "How're you feeling?"

Jace walked to the couch on the deck and sat down. Ian didn't take that as a good sign as he sat next to his mate.

"I keep thinking about the time we've spent together." Jace rubbed his palms over his thighs, drawing attention to the fact that his legs were bare from the knees down. Black wisps of hair clung to his shins and calves, but they were barely visible.

Since he'd put on those shorts all Ian had thought about was sliding them off.

"I can't deny…" Jace's top teeth sank into his bottom lip. He brushed off something from his knee and settled his hands in his lap. His brows furrowed, and then he shook his head. "I can't deny how attracted I am to you." He looked up, those hazel filled with an emotion Ian couldn't discern.

Ian just sat there while Jace collected his thoughts. They sat silently, but Ian didn't feel any tension building between them, so he took one of Jace's hands in his, hoping the contact helped him.

"I have to admit you terrified the hell out of me." Jace started talking bullet-fast like he had when they were in his kitchen earlier. "The whole ‘human' thing and all. Then seeing that cat, your cat, by my car terrified me even more. I don't think I've ever passed out before. Like ever. In spite of what happened here, I caught feelings for you. Not love, but deep feelings, more than lust, and I don't want to throw away what's between us because I more than like being with you."

"You need a hit of oxygen?" Ian asked amusingly.

"I need a hit of something." Jace stood so abruptly he startled Ian. "You got any tequila?"

"No." Ian pulled Jace back down then leaned back, pulling his mate into the side. "I can't get drunk off of human alcohol, so I don't keep it around the house."

As much as Ian wanted to take Jace inside and strip him naked, he wasn't going to claim the guy until he told him about mates. At least, Jace had stopped blinking so damn much.

Even so, Ian wanted to give him time. So, for the rest of the afternoon, he was simply going to enjoy spending time with his mate.