“And if I am?” Reno asked, tiring of his mate’s suspicions. He knew he was a stranger to Baker and under any other circumstance, his wariness would be commended. But Reno hated that the uncertainty was aimed at him. Okay, so he was stalking the man. Maybe that should give Baker pause, but they were mates, damn it. Reno had to remind himself that Baker was human. Although he was pretty sure the man felt the pull, not being a shifter, he wouldn’t understand the feeling in his gut to be with Reno.
“I’m bailing if you go any other place but The Pit.” Baker grabbed the helmet and strapped it into place. It was a perfect fit. Reno strapped his into place and then straddled his hog, straightening the beast so Baker could climb on.
When the human’s hands touched his shoulders, Reno shivered in pleasure. He wanted those hands to touch him in lower, more intimate places. He also wanted those beautiful lips to suck—gah, he had to stop thinking like that or they wouldn’t make it to The Pit. Not only was it getting harder to keep his hands to himself, he was getting harder, period. This was going to be one torturous-ass ride for him.
Baker tapped him on the shoulder. “Are you an expert rider or should I be saying a prayer?”
“Smart-ass,” Reno grumbled as he started his motorcycle and backed it out of the parking space. “You’ll know the answer if your brains are all over the ground.”
“So graphic,” Baker said with a feigned shiver. “You are joking, right?”
Reno smiled to himself as he pulled away. Baker’s hands went from his shoulders to his waist, hugging him tightly as he drove down Main Street. He could feel the heat from Baker soaking into his back and it was a welcome feeling—although it wasn’t helping his erection in the least.
Reno was usually a loner, someone who took pleasure in his solitude. But that was a thing of the past since finding Baker. He thought he would buck at the idea of giving up his privacy, but instead, it didn’t bother him at all. Reno was enjoying having Baker on the back of his hog.
He was also enjoying those arms wrapped around him in such a tight hold. This was the first time anyone had ever ridden on the motorcycle with him. Cutting the corner, Reno sped up just a bit. He could feel Baker’s arms tightening harder around him, and his knees were locking into place as well.
“Don’t you dare try and show off,” Baker warned through the Bluetooth built into the helmets. Reno could hear the apprehension tight in the guy’s voice.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Yes he would, but Reno wasn’t sure if his mate would make good on his threat and jump. He was good, but trying to drive a motorcycle and catch a jumping human was too much even for him to handle at the same time.
They pulled into the barbeque place in one piece, just as Reno had expected. As soon as he stopped, Baker was dismounting. It was as if the guy couldn’t get away from him fast enough. The heat instantly left his back when Baker had his feet on solid ground. The helmet came off and Baker handed it to him.
Reno accepted it and stored the helmet, along with his, in the side saddles. He was tempted to throw an arm over Baker’s shoulder to let everyone know the human was his, but from the quick strides, his mate made it very clear he didn’t want to be touched.
This was going to be harder than he first anticipated. Reno had never had anyone almost run to get away from him. It was disconcerting. He was almost offended.
Entering the restaurant, Reno gazed around the room to find his mate sitting at a back booth. Without hesitation, Reno joined him. “Are you a scared little rabbit?”
He knew the question caught his mate off guard by the lowering of his dark-brown brows. “No,” he slowly answered. “I’m not even sure what that means.”
“Then stop running from me.” Reno scooted into the booth.
Baker gave him a droll stare. “Weren’t you the one who said this was a cat and mouse game?”
“When I’m hunting you. Right now we’re spending time together. You don’t have to let the wind whip behind you as you race to get away from me.”
“You are one confusing-ass man. Next time give me a handbook.”
Reno chuckled. He liked his mate’s wit. He was scared shitless, yet he refused to let Reno see it. He admired that. Hell, it turned him on. But there wasn’t going to be a next time. The mating dance only happened once. Sliding his foot forward, Reno knocked his knee gently into Baker’s under the table. “Lighten up, sourpuss.”
“You are truly bent, my friend.” Baker reached for the menu sitting at the end of the table by the wall.
“How so?”
Baker set the menu down. “You come into the bakery, order donuts, and then call from work to tell my boss the hunt is on. My dumb ass falls for it. I end up sitting in a café for an hour, go home to look out of the window every five seconds to find you sitting on the front steps. You show up out of nowhere sometimes, kiss me like I’m the very air you breathe, corner me in the foyer of my apartment building, and then show up to take me to lunch. The list may be out of order, but that is truly a twisted way to get to know a guy.”
“Don’t forget about the cops.”
Baker had the decency to blush as he averted his eyes and a tight little smile formed on his lips. “You had that one coming.”
Reno wasn’t sure why he was so fascinated with his mate’s mouth. He remembered the kiss that he had
