“Okay. That’ll give me time to plan our Thanksgiving menu without being fondled,” Simon teased.
“Good. You can recharge, and I’ll seduce you again when I get back.”
“You know, I, uh—” Simon looked at the floor. “For the longest time you didn’t touch me, and I thought maybe it was because I’m skinnier than you like. Then I figured out you were attracted to me, but I didn’t realize you’d be so…so—”
“Affectionate?” Mitch said playfully as he stepped over to Simon.
“I was going to say something like horny, but yes, affectionate works.”
“I’m attracted to you, mind, body, and soul.” Mitch wrapped his arm around Simon’s waist and tugged him close. “You needed space and time so I gave it to you. That doesn’t mean I didn’t want you.”
Simon raised his hand to Mitch’s face and traced his lips. “Thank you.”
“I’ll always give you what you need, pup.” Mitch turned his face and kissed Simon’s palm. “Always.”
Chapter 12
Simon looked through the kitchen cabinets, confirming what ingredients they had in the house and what they’d need to buy to make the Thanksgiving menu he’d put together. He was adding sweetened condensed milk for the pumpkin pie to the list when there was a knock at the door. The fight or flight instinct that normally overtook him when he was faced with a stranger didn’t kick in, but anxiety did.
Mitch had told him that nobody was allowed in the cabin, and in the time Simon had been there, the only visitor had been Mitch’s brother, who hadn’t come to the door, so a knock was unexpected and unusual. But out of the ordinary or not, Simon wasn’t going to be afraid in his own home and the cabin was unquestionably his home. His scent was everywhere. He had carefully cleaned and organized every square inch of the space. And his mate lived there.
Someone was knocking on his door so Simon drew in a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and went to see who it was. He peeked out the front window as he passed and saw what looked to be a pregnant female. Though she was taller than him and broader across the shoulders, in her current condition, she likely wouldn’t instigate a fight.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“My name’s Donia Loader Grant.” She paused. “I’m Freddy’s wife.”
Her relationship to Mitch’s brother, the pack Alpha, soothed him less than her relationship to another shifter he knew.
“Hi,” Simon said as he opened the door. “Mitch isn’t home. I’m Simon, his mate.”
“Mitch is at my house, which is why I’m here. I want to talk with you.”
“Oh.” Simon blinked in surprise. “Would you like to come inside?”
“Is my brother-in-law going to take off my head if I go into his house?” Donia asked, her tone more serious than joking.
“I’ll make sure you’re safe.” Simon grinned and stepped back, holding the door open.
“You have that kind of power, huh?”
Simon nodded before he recognized how easily he could answer that question. “It’s my home too.” And Mitch would never stand in his way of having guests. “Do you want something to drink? Tea? Water?”
“I’d love some tea.”
“I’ll put the kettle on. It’s this way.” Simon walked to the kitchen, Donia behind him. “Have a seat.” He pointed toward the small table.
“You look familiar.”
“You said you came here to talk to me?” Simon asked as he picked up the tea kettle and filled it with water.
“Oh. Yeah. I want to invite you to come over for Thanksgiving.” She waited for a response, but when Simon didn’t say anything, she continued speaking. “I’m not sure what Mitch has told you about us, but he’s very close with Freddy.”
Simon had gotten that impression so he nodded in agreement as he put the kettle on the stove.
“My mate wants to meet you but he’s also terrified.”
Flipping around, Simon stared at Donia in confusion. “The Alpha is terrified about meeting me? Why?”
“Because if you don’t like him or if you’re not happy here, you’ll leave and his brother will follow.” She sighed. “Freddy’s more emotional than Mitch, and he’s worried about losing him.”
“Oh.” Simon turned around and focused on his task, getting mugs from the cabinet and tea out of the canister on the counter.
“I heard about what happened when you got here, so I know Pat and Bryan and those guys gave you a terrible introduction to our pack, but I promise you that’s not how things usually are. If you give Freddy and the rest of us a chance, I think you’ll see that Blue Mountain is a wonderful place to live and you’ll be welcomed here.”
The kettle whistled and Simon turned off the burner, picked it up, and poured water into the two mugs with waiting teabags. With his back to Donia, he said, “My last name’s Moorehead.”
He counted in his head to three before he heard Donia gasp. “You’re Tricia’s son?”