Quentin scrolled through the news app on his phone, but he wasn’t really paying it any attention. He was too busy waiting for Hunter to come home. He almost wished he smoked so that he had a reason to be sitting on the stairs of the back porch like a pathetic loser, but he would have to settle with looking at his cell.
His ears perked as he caught the sound of a vehicle coming down the driveway. The garage and driveway were off to the side of the house, so he couldn’t see whose car was pulling up.
Two minutes later, he was disappointed to see that it was Zane.
“Hey, man,” the cat-shifter said.
“Hey.”
Zane held out his hand, and Quentin clasped it.
“Sorry I missed your party.”
Quentin smiled. “I understand. Someone’s got to work around here.”
“I bet it’s good to be home.”
“It is. Switzerland was beautiful, but there really is no place like home.”
Zane’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his back pocket. “Speaking of home, the wifey is wondering where I am.”
Zane was about the only shifter Quentin knew who would call his mate wifey.
Quentin waved Zane toward the door. “Go. We can catch up later.”
Zane walked up the few stairs and slapped Quentin on the back. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Thanks,” Quentin said, but Zane was already closing the door.
“What are you doing out here?”
Quentin’s head swung around at the sound of Hunter’s voice.
“Waiting for you.”
Hunter stepped partly into the light, but Quentin could only see the lower half of his face. It was enough to catch Hunter’s smirk.
“Your boyfriend okay with that? I thought you’d be upstairs in bed with him.”
The bitterness in Hunter’s voice was like a razor to Quentin. He wanted to reach out and comfort the vampire, but it wasn’t Quentin’s fault they weren’t together.
“He went home.”
Jeremiah had wanted to stay, but Quentin had made some excuse as to why he didn’t want to have sex with everyone around. While it was true that he usually didn’t bring guys home to the house, he hadn’t had any problem fucking Hunter in his room upstairs before he left for Europe.
“And he’s not my boyfriend.”
Quentin was beginning to think he was as fucked in the head as Hunter. He had a great guy—a fellow wolf-shifter—who liked him a lot. But he hadn’t fully committed himself to Jeremiah. They’d only had each other in Europe—almost like they were living in their own little bubble—so they’d mutually decided they should wait at least a couple of weeks after they were back home before deciding if being exclusive was what they both wanted.
If Quentin knew what was good for him, he’d march inside, call Jeremiah, and beg him to be exclusive.
But when it came to Hunter, he didn’t know what was good for him.
“Oh, so you hold hands with all random men?”
“Don’t be an asshole. It doesn’t suit you.”
Hunter snorted.
“Yes, I am dating Jeremiah, but we’re taking it slow.”
“Are you fucking him?” Hunter paused. “Is he fucking you?”
Quentin shook his head. Not to say no, but to let Hunter know, “That’s none of your fucking business.” But if he were to answer the vampire, he’d admit that, yes, he was fucking Jeremiah, but not the other way around. Quentin hadn’t let anyone take his ass in years, and he wasn’t going to start with Jeremiah.
“Right. Of course you are.” Hunter lowered his head as his shoulders sagged.
Quentin had to stop himself from pulling Hunter into his arms.
“Is that why you didn’t stick around for my welcome-home party? You bailed before we could even say hello.”
Hunter lifted his head and his chin. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
Quentin raised his eyebrows. “You’ve turned mean since I last saw you.”
Hunter shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.” He looked up at the sky. It was still dark, but dawn would be there soon. “I should go inside.”
“After you.” Quentin gestured toward the house.
Hunter stood there, as if waiting for Quentin to go in first, but he didn’t even get up from his spot on the steps.
The vampire cussed under his breath and stepped toward the stairs.
Quentin gasped as Hunter’s face came into the light, and he jumped to his feet. “What the fuck happened to your face?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing didn’t give you a black eye and a scratch across half your face.”
Hunter’s hair was a mess, and he had dirt on his clothes as well. His jaw tensed. “Fine. I got into a fight, okay? Are you happy now?”
Quentin raced toward Hunter. “No, I’m not happy.” He lifted his hand to touch Hunter but quickly remembered to drop it. “What happened? Why did you get in a fight?”
Hunter looked him in the eye. “Let it go, Quentin.”
“You know I can’t do that. I’m a cop and a sentinel. I can’t let you get your ass kicked.”
A fire lit behind Hunter’s eyes, and he stepped forward. Quentin moved back. The two continued until his back hit the porch railing.
“You think I can’t defend myself? You think I’m some pussy who can’t fight back? You think because I got hurt last year, I can’t take care of myself?” He pointed his finger in Quentin’s face. “I’m not some helpless loser.”
Quentin knew Hunter was furious. He could see it in the vampire’s eyes. He could smell the anger coming off him. Anyone else would be afraid, being backed up the way he had. But Quentin was turned on as fuck.
And Hunter knew it. The heat in his eyes turned from outrage to sexual.
Quentin wasn’t sure who grabbed whom. All he knew was that their bodies collided in a fiery kiss.
