Shifting Boundaries

Original Chapter 17

Felix

I was breathing hard when I reached the front door, though it wasn't from the running. No, I was nervous. I opened the front door and froze when I walked in.

It smelled amazing. Everett poked his head out of the kitchen and said, "I know it's early for dinner, but I made chili. We can eat whenever you want – letting it cook longer just makes it taste better."

He disappeared back into the kitchen and I went after him, helpless to resist the pull. I found Everett stirring a pot, which he then lidded before turning back to me. "How was work?" he asked, leaning back against the counter.

I couldn't help the dopey smile that spread across my face. Look how domestic we were. "It was really good. I've been struggling with one of my students and finally got through to him, I think."

Everett smiled at that. "I'm glad to hear it."

"Did you do anything other than cook while I was gone? Are you settled in?" Are you planning to stay in the room across the hall? I was desperate to know, but couldn't ask. Better to not know than to hear him say yes.

"I got a little work done. I'm trying not to do too much, though. I need Henry to start feeling like he's in charge or he'll rely on me forever. And... I wanted to talk to you before I got settled in."

"Talk to me?" I echoed.

"Actually, do you mind if we talk now?" Everett focused those captivating eyes of his on mine and I was helpless to deny him. Besides, we really did need to talk and putting it off wouldn't help anything.

"Sure," I said. I turned around and settled myself on a couch in the living room. Everett sat next to me – next to, but not touching. My heart ached at being so close and still not having contact. How long could I sustain this?

Everett cleared his throat. "I want to renegotiate the terms of our relationship," he said.

I raised my brows at him, hopeful and afraid.

Everett fidgeted, twisting his fingers together over and over. "I have too much power here, Felix. You let me get away with too much."

What was I supposed to say to that? It was true, but my choices had been limited. I'd had to give him everything he needed to be comfortable or I would have lost him.

Everett looked away from me and sighed. "I want us to be together, Felix. Not friends. You're my mate, and you deserve better than I've been giving you."

"This isn't about what I deserve," I told him again. How many times would I have to say that before he believed it? "Don't give me more than you want to out of a sense of obligation."

Everett ran a shaking hand through his hair and groaned in frustration. "It's not like that."

I caught the hand that wasn't mussing his hair and pulled him toward me. Our eyes locked and his breathing caught. "Tell me what it's like," I said softly.

Everett closed the distance between us, kissing me with more heat than I had expected. He opened his mouth and our tongues tangled. I tried to pull away since kissing wasn't going to resolve anything, but Everett grabbed cupped the back of my neck to keep me there and slipped his other hand under the bottom of my shirt to tease my waist. His fingers darted under the band of my jeans and I writhed. It was too much, feeling him touch me there. If I didn't put space between us, I would push him much harder than he was ready for.

I broke our kiss, pressing our foreheads together and staring directly into his eyes. "Don't tease me," I growled. "You won't like what happens."

Everett's eyes brightened with excitement. "I might like it," he said.