some.”
Oh shit. That hadn’t sounded good at all. What if Logan suspected something? An icy tingle plunged down Aubrey’s face and neck. “Sorry, there was a loose string on the knee of my pants that Matt decided to pull.” As a save it was kind of lame.
“Well damn. I hoped he was turning into a real wild child.” Logan snickered. “Seriously…just take
care of him, okay? Getting him drunk is a good start, but while you’re at it why don’t you see if you can get him laid too.”
Freezing halfway to the kitchen, Aubrey tightened his hand on the phone. The image of Matt spread
out on Aubrey’s big sleigh bed, naked and flushed with arousal, speared into his mind. His cock hardened, his throat went dry and his eyes blurred. “Yeah. Well, I’ll see what I can do.” Aubrey blinked. When he opened his eyes everything was monochrome.
Logan’s laugh taunted him. “Later. Tell Matt I’ll call him tomorrow.”
The line went dead.
Jerking the phone from his ear, Aubrey rubbed his eyelids with his finger and thumb. When he opened
them again the rich burgundy of the candle on the kitchen bar and the soothing beige of the backs of the barstools greeted him. Logan was going to be a problem. How close were he and Matt? Would Matt tell his brother that he was Aubrey’s mate? Once upon a time Aubrey might have told Keaton, if things hadn’t
changed drastically between them.
A shuffling came from behind Aubrey as he set Matt’s phone on the cold granite countertop. He
ignored it and headed to the fridge. As he reached for the handle a fuzzy reflection appeared in the stainless steel, and Matt’s scent teased him. Aubrey yanked the door open. “Let’s get you something to eat to absorb some of that alcohol.”
“I think it’s wearing off because I’m getting a headache.”
Yeah, he would. Aubrey took out the deli ham, roast beef, mustard and Swiss cheese. “In my
bathroom, in the medicine cabinet above the sink, there’s aspirin, Motrin, Tylenol and anything else you might want.” He retrieved the lettuce and tomatoes.
“Are you mad at me?” Matt asked.
After setting the stuff for sandwiches on the counter and closing the fridge, Aubrey turned. “No. Not
at all. I was just thinking. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
24
www.samhainpublishing.com
With Abandon
Matt nodded and wobbled a little. “Yeah, I guess it’s not every day you find out you have a mate,
huh?”
Aubrey steadied him, relieved at having something to do rather than explain himself. “Whoa. We
need to get some food in you.” He marched Matt backwards without letting go of him, kicked a barstool out from under the bar and urged Matt into it. When Matt sat, Aubrey turned to go back to fixing them food, but Matt caught his hand. Glancing down at their entwined hands, Aubrey stared in fascination. Matt’s
hands weren’t any bigger than his, but his fingers were longer. His hand was warm, the grip loose, hesitant.
“What were you thinking when I was talking to Logan?” Matt’s head tilted a fraction. “You had this
look on your face…”
That you were beautiful. That I wanted you. That it’s going to be hard to keep from touching you.
Aubrey thought all those things, but he didn’t dare admit them. He squeezed Matt’s hand, reluctant to
release it. For several seconds they just stayed there staring at each other.
Matt’s scent changed, taking on a muskier, lustful smell. He licked his lips, drawing Aubrey’s
attention to them. They were so prettily shaped and pink.
Aubrey leaned forward, and Matt followed suit. His moist, slightly alcoholic breath tickled Aubrey’s
chin as Matt closed his eyes. He feathered a caress over Aubrey’s other wrist and slid his fingers down to twine with Aubrey’s. It was like a moment out of time. Aubrey’s body, which had never completely
recovered from the image of Matt in his bed, craved stimulation. Everything but Matt ceased to exist. His warm, exotic scent laced