A Mate's Wish (Ouachita Mountain Shifters 0.5) by P. Jameson Page A

the bite in her mouth, nodding as she chewed. “You’re right. I’m still hungry.”
    He took the fork back, twirling more pasta and holding it up for her. She hesitated, but opened her mouth for the bite.
    “So,” Eagan said, kicking back in his chair. “Tell me about your friend. She single?”
    “As far as I know. We haven’t stayed in contact.”
    “She like pasta?”
    Bethany grinned. “Yeah. Who doesn’t?”
    He arched an eyebrow. “True. Maybe I’ll take her some room service, yeah?”
    “Go for it, E,” she said.
    “Yeah, okay. I’ll catch y’all later.”
    They watched Eagan head back into the kitchen. Renner brushed a finger down her cheek. “You okay?”
    Her smile was genuine. “Yeah.”
    “I need to talk to Magic, and then I’m heading home. Will you be there?”
    Her eyes flit away shyly. “I’ve been there every night, haven’t I?”
    “Yes, you have.” His mouth raised in a grin. “And I want it to stay that way.” He squeezed her thigh, high enough up to make her gasp.
    “I’ll be there. Promise.” She giggled.
    Renner leaned in, tugging her earlobe with his teeth. “You better,” he whispered. “Or I’ll come find you.”
    “If you don’t stop, I have a feeling Mrs. Markel will be using you for story fodder. She’s watching us,” she whispered.
    “She is?”
    Bethany nodded.
    “Better give her something story-worthy then.” Renner grabbed Bethany’s face, owning her mouth until a rough throat cleared. The sound was like rocks rubbing together, and something Renner recognized as trouble.
    He looked up to find Magic glaring down at him.
    “You’re feeling better, I see.”
    “Magic. I was actually looking for you.”
    His friend smirked. “Yes, in Bethany’s mouth. If I’m ever missing, that’s the first place people should look.”
    “Ha. Ha.”
    Magic’s gaze went to Bethany, and her blush caused him to smirk yet again. “Relax, Bethany. I’m sure your mouth is a wonderful place to hide out. I just usually choose my office instead.”
    Yeah, that wasn’t helping. If it was possible, her blush went even deeper.
    “Alright, let’s go talk this shit out.” Renner stood, and Magic strode out of the restaurant. “See you later, babe.”
    In the office, Magic sat behind the desk, running his thumb along his bottom lip. It wasn’t a good sign, and what Renner had to say wasn’t good either. At least, not for the cats. Not for Magic.
    “I’m going to mate her.” Better to just get it all out in the open. Fast and hard.
    Magic didn’t seem surprised. “I know.”
    “You know. That’s all you have to say?”
    His friend’s eyes held a sadness that was hard to look at. “You’ll have to leave, Ren. You can’t stay here. Cut ties with Layna.”
    A muscle in Renner’s jaw ticked. “Have you thought about what I said? About making our own way, making things different for our clan?”
    Magic scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yes. I have, and it’ll never work.”
    “Why wouldn’t it?”
    “How could we be sure? What if we start out with good intentions and then end up hurting everyone we love? What if our ways, our nature , is just too much to keep a handle on?”
    “We can’t be sure, M. It’s called a commitment. A dual mating. She chooses me, and I choose her. And then we stick to it. We never give up what we have. It’s the only way it works. Completely abolish the old ways. Sure, there’s no guarantee. When is there ever a guarantee attached to love? It’s a risk, but it’s got to be worth it. It’s got to be.”
    “That’s what I don’t understand,” he whispered. “ Why are you willing to risk her? We’ve watched our mothers suffer the loneliness of mating. And others. Why would you chance putting your woman through that?”
    Renner sat forward in his chair. He had to make Magic understand. “Because I love her, Magic. She won’t be lonely because I never want to leave her side. Leaving as a kid almost killed me. I have her