Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93267 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Gregori tried to force a smile, but he knew he fell short. “Not great.”
Sam squeezed his eyes shut and swore loudly. “My brother can be such a fucking stubborn ass.” When he opened his eyes again, Sam wore his determined, don’t-screw-with-me face. It was an expression he’d had frequently when they’d been trekking through the forest for the Sousa ruins. “Let me call you back.”
Before Gregori could reply, the mage ended the call, and Gregori felt the first hints of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Really, how could he lose this fight when he had someone as determined as Sam in his corner? Having Salem’s identical twin working on his side had to count for something.
Barely a minute passed before a video call rang on his phone. When he answered, he was greeted by Sam, Dimitri, and Luka in the tracker team’s meeting room. Sam had put him up on the main display again so the team could brainstorm his little problem.
“Okay, so what did my asshole of a brother do this time?” Sam demanded without preamble.
Gregori sighed. “As much as I would like to blame this on him, this was really my fault. I lost my temper.” He then launched into a painful retelling of the flirty doctor, Salem’s refusal to brush the man off, and Gregori sticking his nose in where it didn’t belong while making a scene for all the other doctors, nurses, assistants, and patients to see.
“I think I’ve destroyed what little progress I’ve made with him,” Gregori said, forcing the words past the tightness in his throat. “I can’t even get him to admit we’re dating. I do know about his exes, and what they did to him, so I was trying to be careful and not hit his buttons. But today, I feel like I acted poorly, like one of his exes had done. I’m not proving myself to be a better man.”
“Gregori, I don’t think it’s that bad,” Dimitri said.
“Dimitri is right.” Sam leaned forward, both of his forearms resting on the table in front of him. “Salem can be a complete asshole, but he can be reasoned with. He’s running scared and trying to keep you at arm’s length, but he’s not succeeding, right?”
“I haven’t made any progress in getting him to admit we’re mates. He loses his shit every time I even mention Brazil.” He almost said how much he loved Salem, how much it hurt to be rejected time and again, but he bit it back. That was a separate problem right now.
“But you’re still there. You’re living in his place. That’s big.” Sam pushed up in his seat, leaning toward the camera. “Salem sucks at relationships. He needs space. Lots of space. He’s never lived with anyone. Hell, I’m not sure he’s ever let a guy sleep over at his place.”
“I know things look bleak now, but you’ve got to remember how the courtship period didn’t go well for any of us,” Dimitri chimed in. “Sammy and I were fighting almost the entire way up the mountain and through the forest. He wouldn’t even share a tent with me until he woke up in the middle of the night with a stomper on his chest.”
The mage in question slowly turned his head toward Dimitri, eyes narrowed. “Sammy? I can’t imagine why I wanted to strangle you during most of that trip.”
Dimitri grinned at him. “Yeah, it totally boggles the mind.”
Luke barked out a laugh and then choked it back when Sam turned his threatening glare on him. “Vasily and I weren’t any better when it came to Amaru. It’s even worse because Vasily and I were together for years before we found Amaru. You would have thought Vas and I had our shit together.”
“You had mate brain,” Dimitri said with a little groan. “It’s a real fucking thing.” He turned his gaze toward the screen and pointed. “And now you’ve got it. Finding your mate lowers your IQ by dozens of points. Things you never would have done or thought before are now common. It’s not just about being possessive and overprotective. You’re going to be constantly plagued with doubts and insecurities in regard to your own worthiness.”
Okay, so Gregori had to admit he was likely dealing with a little mate brain. He definitely didn’t feel as sharp as he usually did, and he was constantly haunted by little self-doubts dancing through his mind.
“And after you are finally bonded with your mate, you’re going to be constantly forgetful, absentminded, consumed with thoughts of your mate, and horny,” Luka added.
Dimitri snorted. “What do you mean after? All that kicked in before Sam and I were bonded.”
Gregori rolled his eyes and grinned, some of the fear and pain easing from the center of his chest. Calling home had been one of his smarter ideas.