Ethan loosened his tie in irritation. After a long tiring day at the office, all he wanted to do was relax. His sour mood lifted immediately when he caught sight of Remy and Miriam at the dining table, still busy at work. Ethan placed his brief case down. He wasn’t surprised to see neither Miriam nor Remy had noticed his arrival. It had been a good choice hiring Remy. Remy had been tutoring Miriam for only a month, and Miriam’s academic results had remarkably improved. Even better, Miriam seemed to like Remy, and started seeing him as an older brother. Ethan had never seen his daughter this excited about her studies either.
“A month. Damn,” Ethan murmured under his breath.
Finally, Remy tore his attention from the textbook on the table to look up at him. Remy gave him a brief nod of acknowledgement, before returning his attention back to Miriam, who asked Remy another question.
Had it only been four weeks since Ethan hired Remy? It sure felt longer.
Since the first time he saw Remy, both Ethan’s human half and animal half knew they wanted to mate Remy. Not wanted, but had to have. Ethan didn’t think a single encounter would make the cut.
Each time his wolf caught a whiff of Remy’s scent—a mix of soap, mix, and cigarette smoke, Ethan’s jeans felt a lot tighter. It became a lot harder for Ethan rein in his beast.
Worse, Ethan kept imagining what the tempting and sexy young man looked like naked and without that stuffy looking button-down shirt and jeans.
Hell, it was odd the way Ethan had been drawn to the little details.
Ethan’s mind kept going on overdrive. His wolf went nearly insane with lust. Ethan wanted to know how it would feel, ripping Remy’s shirt apart. See those buttons flying so Ethan could unveil the lean planes of Remy’s chest.
It would be even better if Ethan could shove Remy against the wall. Take out his hardening cock and taste Remy’s arousal on his tongue.
Oh, Remy was certainly interested in Ethan, but the tutor seemed to value his professional ethics more.
How rare to find that in anyone these days. Ethan knew Remy sometimes stole secret glances at Ethan whenever Remy thought Ethan hadn’t been looking. Nothing like the bold and arrogant looks single men and women usually gave him. The cocks and pussies Ethan met at clubs and parties, and took to hotels only to leave them in the morning.
No. Remy had a strange innocence to him, or rather an untouched purity and shyness that intrigued and fascinated Ethan.
The doorbell rang. Ethan barely managed to react in time to catch Miriam running straight to his arms.
“That must be Mrs. Hills, papa.” Miriam gave him a toothy grin. She had on her usual overnight pink backpack, the one she usually brought over for sleepovers. Miriam also had matching pink pajamas under her coat.
“Ah. I’ve nearly forgotten. You’re staying over at Maddie’s tonight?” Ethan opened the front door to see Miriam’s best friend Maddie, and her mother, Mrs. Hill.
“I’ll bring her back the same time tomorrow morning, Ethan,” Mrs. Hill said.
“Will do, you girls have fun,” Ethan planted a quick kiss on Miriam’s forehead. He ignored Maddie’s giggle and Miriam’s glare. “Text me when you get there, buttercup.”
Once Mrs. Hill ushered the two twittering girls (already busy sharing the latest school gossip) to the elevator, Ethan shut the door. Well. He certainly hadn’t foreseen this unexpected opportunity, and Ethan intended to make use of it.
“I’ll be on my way as well, Ethan,” Remy said from the dining table. The tutor had finished packing his materials. He slung his bag over his shoulder, ready to leave.
Ethan’s spiritual wolf nearly snarled at that, but Ethan leashed it back. He reminded the beast to be patient. Ethan had gone to hell and back again, trying to get his wolf under control for most of his adult life. For a werewolf not bound to any pack, Ethan had to learn to deal with the change on his own. Lately though, having Remy around strained the limits of his proud control.
“It’s lonely having dinner alone on a Friday night. Do you have any plans for the evening, Remy?” Ethan inquired.
Remy bit on his lower lip. A nervous gesture Ethan noticed Remy did whenever Ethan asked an uncomfortable question.
“Aside from catching up on the latest episode of Game of Thrones? No. I mean, I’d love to have dinner.” Remy looked like he was having second thoughts, but Ethan gently clasped Remy’s arm.
“Wonderful. Relax. Unwind. Its after work hours now. I’ll make us dinner,” Ethan smoothly, pleased Remy didn’t push his hand away.
“You can cook?” Remy blurted out.
“Does it appear I don’t?” Ethan asked curious. He flashed Remy his slightly sharpened canines. Did Remy expect him to suddenly shift, run out, and drag back some poor human prey to cook for dinner?
Remy quickly shook his head. Ethan took off his own coat, rolled up his sleeves, and pulled out the apron hanging on the kitchen hook. Curiosity must have won Remy over, because Remy placed down his bag and lingered near the kitchen doorway to watch him. Brave pet. Remy let out a laugh when Ethan put on the apron.
“World’s Greatest Dad, Werewolf and Cook?” Remy read out loud.
“Miriam gave it to me last week for my birthday,” Ethan explained.
Ethan pulled out the asparagus and prime rib he bought from the market on the way home. He remembered to buy additional portions for himself, because Ethan’s wolf was always starving when it was horny.
“Oh, I didn’t know it was your birthday. Belated birthday wishes.” Remy being shy looked a tad adorable, Ethan thought.
Remy finally overcame his shyness to take a seat at the kitchen counter.
“I wish I’d gotten you a gift—an appropriately professional gift,” Remy corrected at the last minute.
Remy nervously began playing with the items on the island.
“I’m sure you can make it up to me in other ways. If you’d allow it.” Ethan took the gamble, hoping Remy would get his gist. Ethan worked indifferently, chopping up the vegetables and placing the steaks on the pan. He pretended he hadn’t noticed Remy’s growing discomfort.
Hell, his beast liked that. Remy being nervous, but unlike some of the sheep that instantly backed away after learning he was werewolf, Remy didn’t give a damn.
“Ethan,” Remy finally ventured. “Is...this a date?”
A date? How sweet. Poor pup. How would you react if you know my wolf wants to mate you? Do you have any idea what that means?
“Last I heard, a man asking another man out for dinner constitutes a date. Am I mistaken then?” Ethan checked on the vegetables and potatoes roasting in the oven, before going back to the steaks. “How do you like yours?”
“Medium rare.” Remy looked liked he finally summoned the nerve to ask, although Ethan knew he wasn’t a skittish rabbit by any means. “I see you like yours rare.”
“Of course, I’m a werewolf afterall. We like our meat bloody.”
From what little Remy revealed about himself during their brief chats, Ethan had learned quite a bit about the young man tutoring Miriam.
A small town boy looking to make it to the big city, Remy didn’t choose to take the easy route like most desperate men and women did. Instead of selling himself or stripping, Remy stuck to odd jobs. But now, Remy intended to return to his first passion—teaching kids. Remy was apparently pretty good at it too, judging from Miriam’s results and his natural charisma towards kids.
“And no, you’re not wrong,” Remy continued. “It’s just...don’t guys cook for other guys only on special occasions?”
Ethan chuckled. “This counts as a special occasion. Does it not?”
Remy didn’t prod further, but Ethan could see he was intrigued.
“I can’t do this,” Remy suddenly said after Ethan set their plates and food on the table.
“Do this? What do you mean?” Ethan asked, taking off his apron.
“Date you. I have a policy to never date my employers. If things go south it would be bad for all of us, especially for Miriam. I mean, I’m sure there are other qualified tutors you can get, but there won’t be another Remy.”
Ethan heard the genuine concern in Remy’s voice. Knew Remy’s concern for Miriam hadn’t been faked, unlike some of the men and women who only wanted to get Ethan in bed by pretending to be interested in his daughter.
“Relax, Remy. Breathe in and out. This isn’t a marriage proposal. We might not even end up liking up each other,” Ethan pointed out. He pulled out a chair for Remy.
Ethan had lied, but it was a necessary one. The chemistry between them was obvious. While physical attraction had been one aspect, Ethan had also been attracted to Remy’s personality and honesty.
Not only that, it had the potential to erupt into something else. Something else more than a one-night stand. Usually, Ethan gravitated away from anything more permanent and lasting after experiencing two divorces and going though a third one. But Remy was different. In the shifter community, they used the word ‘mate’ to label potential individuals who would share half their souls.
Ethan received the bite during his second marriage, but he’d never given his mating mark to his second wife or his third. Even though Lindsay was a shifter herself, Ethan refused simply because shifters mated for life. Ethan sure as hell didn’t want to be tied down to bitches.
Remy though...could he be the other half Ethan believed he’d never find?
“Okay, you’re right.” Remy sat. He shivered again slightly when Ethan gently squeezed the back of his neck.
They ate. Remy slowly eased up, began to be more comfortable around him and Ethan managed to find out more about his daughter’s tutor. He learned a little more about Remy’s background, family, and friends.
Remy in turn, had shed any initial shy inhibitions. He asked Ethan about Miriam, his likes and dislikes. How Ethan became a wolf, if Ethan had any funny shifter stories. Nothing about his work, wealth, or connections. Then again, Remy didn’t seem to be capable of harboring any hidden agendas. Damn, that was refreshing to find in another human being.
“This tiramisu is amazing. I can’t believe you managed to make it in such a short amount of time,” Remy remarked. He took a generous forkful of cake.
“Thank the Food Channel chefs and their fifteen minute quickie desserts.” Ethan smiled, showing teeth.
“I didn’t know werewolves could have a sweet tooth too.”
“I like desserts when I was human. Nothing changed much when I became shifter. I simply eat more red meat. I also have the urge to run during the full moon, although I can shift whenever I want,” Ethan explained.
“Ah, well. You’re lucky I’m not a diabetic or a vegetarian,” Remy pointed out.
“Lucky me,” Ethan agreed.
Ethan found it pleasure, watching Remy eat. Remy was the kind of guy who seemed to want to enjoy life, and savor every experience to the fullest. Again, very unlike the anorexic models or actresses or even some prissy vampires, both male and female, Ethan dated in the past who would only take a couple of polite bites. What a waste of food.
Lindsay, Miriam’s mother, had been the perfect example. Lindsay came from a family of natural born shifters. She was old money, and was more obsessed about appearances rather than being a good mom.
Remy offered to help him clean up, surprising him again. Ethan recalled Remy did grow up with three sisters. Once the dishes were loaded in the washer, Ethan touched Remy’s shoulder. He wanted to run his hand up Remy’s spine, but decided against it. Inside, his wolf kept screaming one word. Mine. Mine. Mine.
But how could Ethan be so possessive of a man that didn’t even belong to him yet?
“Have you seen the view from the balcony?” Ethan asked.
Remy shook his head. Taking a couple of beers from the fridge, Ethan led Remy to the balcony connected to the living room. Seeing the view of the street below and the brilliant skyline of New York City behind the apartment buildings, Remy let out a gasp.
“Not exactly in front of Central Park, but it’s passable, yes?”
Remy’s vivid blue eyes shone with excitement. “Of course it is. The view’s splendid.”
Ethan handed Remy a beer.
“Thank you.”
The street below them was relatively quiet. Somewhere nearby, a talented pianist worked the keys, playing a haunted melody.
“It’s a beautiful neighborhood, Ethan. Perfect to raise a kid.”
Noticing Remy began rubbing at his knuckles, Ethan closed his hand over his. “Are you cold? Perhaps we should head back inside.”
He nodded, following him back in. “I had a wonderful time. Thank you.”
“You’ve already said that,” Ethan asked, bemused.
Remy flushed.
Cute.
“If you’re thinking of leaving, then let me get your coat. Before that though, won’t you give me one kiss, Remy?”
“A kiss?” Remy whispered.
Ethan saw how Remy struggled with his emotions.
Usually, a werewolf alpha didn’t ask. Ethan simply saw, took whatever and whoever he wanted. But Ethan planned to take it slow with Remy. The quiet tutor wasn’t like the bold out-of-the-closet and confident gay men Ethan had gone out with before. Going slow was something Ethan hadn’t done with anyone else. Ever.
If Remy knew the brand of sex he favored, Remy might flee before they could get anywhere else. Even though Ethan’s cock twitched in his pants, begging for release, Ethan would keep things simple on the first date.
A kiss wasn’t too much to ask wasn’t it?
But a single kiss would clear up a lot of questions. Confirm if there was any truth to the tension between them. A tiny spark. The promise of an inevitable inferno. A little teaser to sate Ethan’s wolf—that was all he needed.
“You promised me a birthday gift,” Ethan said.
He finally closed the distance between them.
Remy swallowed, but he didn’t back away. “That’s all you want? One kiss?”
“Indeed.” Ethan patiently watched Remy’s internal struggle. Although, it took every bit of Ethan not to rip open his respectable white button down shirt. See those buttons fly and unveil a yummy expense of skin. Yank those stupid jeans down and see Remy’s need bared for Ethan for the very first time.
Ethan breathed hard, clenching and unclenching his fists. The things this human male did to him. Ethan couldn’t quite remember the last time he wanted anyone this much.
“Okay. I can do a kiss,” Remy finally said.