Prickly By Nature by Piper Vaughn and Kenzie Cade Page B

favorite chili. You should’ve been there to eat it. You need to make some time for me, for us. Otherwise….”
    Dread filled Avery’s stomach. “Otherwise, what?” They couldn’t break up. The bond sealed them together forever. He’d have to stay close to Dylan to prevent his wolf from going feral… but then, that didn’t mean Dylan would want to be with him. Would it get to the point where they might as well be roommates, just two ships passing in the night? Avery touched Dylan’s shoulder, unable to keep his distance anymore. “I’ll try to be better. I swear. I don’t want to lose you.”
    Dylan grunted, as if the words caused him pain. He grabbed Avery and dragged him onto his lap. “Fuck, Avery. You’re not gonna lose me, okay? That’s not what I meant.”
    Flinging his arms around Dylan’s neck, Avery sucked in a shuddery breath. “Good God, don’t scare me like that.”
    Dylan caressed his back. “Sorry. I just want you around more. I know how important it is to you, working with Reid and trying to find Lacey, but promise me you’ll try to make time.”
    Avery tightened his grip on Dylan’s neck, burying his face in his mate’s throat. “I’ll try. I promise.”
    “That’s all I’m asking.” Dylan brushed a kiss on his ear, making Avery shudder.
    Avery nuzzled closer, taking comfort in Dylan’s scent and the warm solidity of his chest. “Why did it take you so long to say anything?”
    He felt Dylan shrug. “I guess I kept thinking everything would calm down or maybe it would get easier. I thought you’d eventually realize you were never around, that we barely saw each other.”
    Avery made a disbelieving sound and leaned away so he could look into Dylan’s face. “Some detective I’m turning out to be, huh? Reid told me I have to learn to be more observant, but I’m not a mind reader, Dylan. Next time talk to me before it gets so bad.”
    “I swear I will. And I’m sorry I didn’t bring it up sooner. I shouldn’t have assumed it would get better without us talking.” Dylan dropped a kiss on the corner of his mouth. “Are you hungry? Want me to make you something?”
    Avery’s stomach rumbled at the reminder. He was starved, actually, and he’d never say no to a meal cooked by his mate. But…. “In a minute.” For now, he only wanted to stay right where he was.
     
     
    A FEW days after missing lunch with Miss Betty and the terrifying talk with Dylan, Avery got an unexpected text. A message from his old yoga instructor and sort-of-friend, Sven.
    Hey. Do u want to meet up for lunch today? The Roxy?
    Avery stared at the message for a full minute before he replied. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten Sven. Far from it. He’d worried at first when Sven stood him up after asking to meet him last September. He’d wondered about Sven’s supposed emergency and complete lack of contact thereafter. But with Lacey, the trafficking ring, the warehouse incident, and the move, well, Sven had slipped his mind.
    Sure , he texted back, curious about what had prevented Sven from contacting him before. Time?
    They agreed on one o’clock, and Avery finished up the background check he was doing for Reid before logging off the system. Reid was out meeting a potential client. Sometimes people came to the office itself, but it was rare, and Reid didn’t have any issues with Avery closing up to take lunch when he needed to. He had forty minutes before he and Sven were supposed to meet, and it would probably take him about that long to get to The Roxy. While public transportation might be convenient for those without a car like himself, it wasn’t exactly quick. He could’ve asked for something closer, but the diner had a veggie pita sandwich he adored and their onion rings were amazing.
    Sven was sitting at a table in the back of the diner when Avery arrived. Avery had been put off by the place the first time Jaden brought him there, but he’d learned to love it over time. The interior had