6. Carlton

"Peace reigns."

Theo and I were on the floor beside the bed we'd bought for the kittens. They'd finally worn themselves out and were sound asleep.

"You were right." Theo nodded at the four little ones snuggled together. "They didn't need more than one bed."

At least for now.

They're cute. My bear was becoming a big softie.

My belly rumbled, and Theo laughed, saying he'd been telling his tummy to be quiet but my belly was playing a symphony that echoed around the room.

Huh? My beast didn't understand, but I promised I'd explain later. I didn't want him filling my head with questions or pleas to mate when I was getting to know Theo.

"What do you like?" I scrolled through a food delivery app.

"A lot of things."

A quick glance at him revealed a bright spot of pink on each cheek. "That hungry, huh?" I crossed my legs as my cock stirred.

"Ravenous." His gaze lingered on my crotch before he looked away. "Oh, you're talking about food." His voice rose an octave. "Me too. Starving."

We agreed on tacos, and Theo busied himself in the kitchen making drinks, allowing me to study his ass.

"Anything I can do?" Apart from rip his clothes off and suck his dick before he thrust said dick in my hole.

Theo insisted on paying me for the food. "It's a thank-you for saving my butt."

There were other things I wanted to do to his ass rather than saving it, but I only thanked him for the meal. We chatted about work and hobbies while we ate. Unlike me, Theo worked from home a lot of the time, which was a bonus with four rambunctious kittens. Although maybe not. They might be too much of a distraction.

"I have a confession."

Oh goodie. He was attracted to me, and while he didn't understand the pull of a mate, he sensed we had a little something-something.

Theo pushed the remains of a fish taco around his plate. "Maybe I… I won't be… I can't keep the kittens." He spoke so quietly another human would have strained to hear him.

What? No! We have to look after them, my bear insisted.

We can't. I'll be at work all day, and you have to come with me.

My belly twisted in a knot and then in a bow as I took in that Theo didn't want these cute babies in his life. I flipped the spoon I was holding and studied my reflection on the back.

"Can I be honest?"

"S-Sure." But his faltering voice was a sign he wanted to hear what I had to say.

"You know what will happen to them if you don't? The no-kill shelters are overrun with unwanted puppies and kittens, and the others?—"

Theo reached out and put a hand over my mouth as my beast murmured, Nice. My bear didn't understand the reference to "the others" and was referring to Theo's and my skin-to-skin contact.

It took all my strength not to lick his palm or take a finger in my mouth and suck it. And my imagination went one step further and pictured Theo shoving his fingers in my ass. I shivered, and he removed his hand.

"Sorry, that was inappropriate. I didn't want you to say the word." Theo picked up our plates and strode into the kitchen

What word? my beast asked. Mate? He doesn't want to mate?

Even though I didn't want the evening to end, my bear's constant questions had me worried he might take his fur without permission and mark Theo. I told him to quit it and I'd fill him in later.

I regretted snapping at him, and he sulked and curled up inside me, grumbling that I was a big meanie and I never let him have any fun. We'd have to hunt later tonight to calm him and as an apology.

"I do like them, the kittens. They're adorable. I just don't trust myself to look after them properly." He sat opposite me and put a bowl of strawberries on the table.

"They need food and water and lots of love." And I reminded him they had to be vaccinated. Even though he had contacted a vet, I recommended one a friend used. "And our city requires all pets to be chipped."

"I always wanted to be a dad but never imagined that I'd father four furry little beasts." The word "beasts" caught my bear's attention, though he didn't say anything.

"You'll have to name them." The kitten with white patches on his paws stirred. "Socks would be the perfect name for that little guy."

We'd determined two of the kittens were male and two female, but Theo wanted gender-neutral names.

"Can we do this tomorrow? My brain won't brain after the day I've had."

"Maybe the kittens will rise up overnight and tie you up, demanding you give them a name."

Theo's mouth gaped. I almost reached over and closed it but stopped the urge to have my skin on his again.

"Oh my gods, no!"

I regretted trying to be funny as I gazed at poor Theo's horrified expression, and I got up and ran around the table, taking him in my arms. "I'm so sorry. I was trying and failed to make a joke. They're going to love you. You're the guy that feeds them and empties their litter tray."

Talking about kitten poop grossed out my bear which always made me giggle. He was an animal who pooped in the woods or anywhere really.

"And you're the one who'll give them cuddles." I hung onto Theo a little longer than I should have, and when I pulled away, his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Those little guys already have me wrapped around their tiny paws." He pushed hair off his brow. "I don't know what I was thinking saying I didn't want to keep them. If they want to terrorize me, that's fine."

"They probably will, but that's because they're kittens and they love playing. Wear long pants because your ankles are fair game."

Theo giggled. "Got it. Any other body parts I should protect?"

"From the kittens?" I blurted out. There were a couple of other places that I was tempted to stroke, lick, or finger. Maybe all three at once.

Theo closed one eye. "Yeah. Isn't that who we're talking about?"

"Mmmm." I didn't trust myself to speak, especially as my cock was swelling.

"Thank you so much for everything you did today. You saved my ass."

Damn, Theo had to stop talking about his beautiful behind.

"No problem."

"May I hug you?" he asked, his cheeks pinkening.

I'd had him in my arms minutes earlier, comforting him, but I wasn't going to say no. He outstretched his arms, and I stepped into them, inhaling his unique aroma that told my bear and me he was our mate. My mouth was a hair's breadth from his skin, and it would have been so easy for my beast to sink his teeth into Theo.

I can.

No, we can't.

I pulled away, not trusting my beast, but as I did, I turned my head to the side and my cheek collided with Theo's lips. His warm, plump, supple lips. Gods, they were glorious, and I closed my eyes, imagining our mouths pressed against one another every morning, noon, and night, tongues dancing and dueling and saliva mingling.

"Oh gods, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." Theo dabbed at my cheek with a table napkin.

But I grabbed his hand that was frantically trying to remove his saliva from my face. "There's no need to apologize." Our eyes locked on each other, and it might have been seconds or minutes that we didn't speak but stared. "I liked it."

Theo smirked, and one brow shot up. "Is that so?"

He dropped the napkin and traced around my mouth with one finger. Now I didn't need to imagine anything and parted my lips and licked his finger. His tongue shot out. I removed his finger from my mouth. Theo flicked my bottom lip, and I captured his tongue with my teeth. He gasped, and I worried I'd hurt him and released him.

"More, please." He slammed his mouth on mine, and I parted my lips, eager to have a part of him inside me. I suckled the tip of his tongue, and he moaned, pressing his crotch against mine. As an alpha, I'd expected him to have a big dick, but the ridge in his pants, grinding on my arousal confirmed it was bigger than I'd imagined.

Theo's hand slid over my hip as his tiny gasps and intoxicating minty breath had me coming so close to mating him, I don't know how I pulled away.

"That was nice." I grinned, hoping my kissing skills were up to par.

"Nice? Nice?" He chortled. "That was freaking wild. And I hope to do it again soon."

"You will." I sauntered toward the door, swaying my ass and hoping he was watching.

A sharp intake of breath told me he was.

But was he pleased or disappointed?