"Can you read my mind?"
Tommy thought about it for a moment then shook his head. "No," he said out loud, "I can only hear what you say to me. I can't hear a thing going on in your head."
Tommy was a little confused and put off by the deep, relieved, sigh that came out of Elliot's mouth. He started to open his mouth to say something, and most likely get himself in trouble, when Elliot smiled and placed a finger over his lips.
"No one wants all of their thoughts readable, Tommy, not even me. That doesn't mean they are bad, just that they are private."
Tommy frowned. He didn't like the idea of Elliot trying to hide anything from him, but he supposed the man might be right. No one wanted every thought they had open for the whole world, or even a lover. Still, he needed to ask.
"So, why must you have private thoughts?" Tommy asked. "We're mates, we should share everything."
"I should really tell you everything I think? Because, believe me, if you think I talked before … " Elliot's cocked eyebrow amused Tommy so much he couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay, okay, I get it, you feel there are things you need to keep to yourself, but I don't have to like it. I'd prefer that you share everything with me, but I understand there may be some things you don't want to."
"Tommy, it's not that I don't want to share things with you." Elliot chuckled and shook his head. "But there are things I need to process in my own way. If you were to try and follow my thought process, your head would explode."
Tommy burst out laughing at Elliot's rationalization. He leaned down and kissed the tip of Elliot's nose. "Okay, pretty baby, you keep your private thoughts private. Just don't stop talking to me this way, okay? It's pretty special. I don't know of many people that can talk to each other in their heads."
"Really? It's not normal for mates?"
"No." Tommy frowned. "What would make you think that?"
"I don't know." Elliot shrugged. "Nate and Joe, and even your parents, seem so close. I just thought it was kind of normal for you all."
"You all? Elliot, you're one of us." Elliot started to shake his head so Tommy grabbed him, holding it still and looking deep into his mate's eyes. "Elliot, you're a shifter just like I am. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I am thankful for it. I would have taken you any way I could have gotten you, pretty baby, but this way, there is so much more I can share with you."
"Li-like what?" Elliot asked in a broken whisper.
"We can run together for one. The full moon is a special time for us and now I can share that with you. For two, I think the bond between us is stronger what with both of us being wolves. Your wolf recognizes mine as its mate. Remember the scent when you sniffed my neck?"
Elliot nodded, looking wide eyed and stunned.
"Do you think it would have affected you the way it did if you hadn't been a wolf?"
"Do you really think our bond is stronger because I'm a … I'm a … "
"It's okay, Elliot, you can say it. You're a wolf shifter just like me."
Elliot's expressive face changed and became almost somber. "But how? I've never shifted before. I've never done anything wolf-like before. Wouldn't I have shown some sign of being a shifter?"
"Maybe you have and just don't know it," Tommy said. "You did say you were sick growing up, right? Maybe it was your wolf trying to get out and something was preventing it."
"Yeah, maybe but-" Elliot's eyes suddenly widened as he inhaled deeply and grabbed at Tommy's shoulders. "Tommy, what if my father is a shifter like I am? Won't that make a difference?"
Tommy wished more than almost anything on earth that he could tell Elliot it would, but he hadn't lied to the man yet, and he wasn't about to start now. He shook his head sadly. "No, Elliot, I don't think it will. If your father was a shifter, he wouldn't make himself so well known in public. We try to keep ourselves secret, not broadcast it to the world."
"Then my mother was a shifter?"
"That would be my bet. What do you remember about her?"
"Not much, really, I-" Tommy was caught off guard when Elliot suddenly stopped talking, wrinkled his nose and wiggled a little. "Can we get cleaned up before we talk about this? It's kind of hard to concentrate with the smell of sex in the air."
Tommy chuckled and gently pulled away from Elliot, rolling to the side of the bed. He reached back and held out his hand. "Let's shower real quick, and then we can get dressed and talk. I think we could both use some food in our systems."
"Oh god, a shower sounds wonderful," Elliot said as he eagerly took Tommy's hand and climbed from the bed. "I feel like I have a week's worth of grunge on my skin."
"I don't know. I'd say your skin is just about perfect." Tommy trailed a finger down Elliot's chest, grinning when Elliot shivered. "In fact, I think I have said that."
Elliot rolled his eyes. "I'm going to be spending a lot of time in your bed, aren't I?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"No." Elliot snickered as he walked toward the bathroom. "I was just asking."
"Mates have a need to be together, and often, Elliot, especially in the beginning of their mating." Tommy felt hesitant. He didn't know how much to tell Elliot about the bond they had. "Is that something that is going to be a problem for you?"
Elliot glanced back over his shoulder looking surprise. "No, should it?"
"I just wanted to make sure. I never want to force anything on you, Elliot. This has to be your choice."
Elliot smiled and reached back to pat Tommy's cheek. "It is, lover."
Tommy couldn't keep the grin off his face as he followed Elliot into the shower. No matter how confusing things might be at the moment, Elliot seemed to be accepting their mating with an open mind.
Tommy could only hope that Elliot would also accept it with an open heart. He had every intention of theirs being a love match. Tommy was already obsessed with the gorgeous man, and that happened before they even became mated. He could only imagine how much that obsession would grow in the years to come.
* * * *
"I'd really prefer to just stay here, Tommy." Tommy sighed as he buttoned up his jeans then glanced over to where Elliot was sitting on the edge of the bed. "I know, Elliot, but you're going to have to face my family at some point. Why not just get it over with? I promise you that things have changed."
"What if they try to lock me up again or-" Tommy stepped over and squatted down in front of Elliot, holding the man's face between his hands. "Elliot, it's not going to happen. I won't let it. If things go bad, we'll just leave, but I don't think they will. A lot has happened while you were in wolf form."
"I remember what they were like." Elliot snorted as he pulled away from Tommy. "Not that much could have changed."
"I swear to you, Elliot, things are different now. My family will accept you. Please, just come downstairs with me and see."
Elliot's lower lip caught between his teeth. Tommy held his breath as he waited for Elliot to decide what he wanted to do. While he really wanted Elliot to come downstairs and see how much things had changed with his family, he would do whatever his mate wanted.
"You'll stay with me?"
Tommy grinned. "I won't leave your side."
Elliot hesitated for another moment then nodded slowly. He still didn't look like he was in favor of going downstairs, but Tommy had to admit to himself he was glad Elliot agreed. He needed his family's help to figure out what was going on with Elliot and keep him safe. He was pretty sure things were bigger than he could handle on his own.
Tommy stood and held out a hand to Elliot. "Come on, pretty baby, let's go get something to eat and see how things are going."
"Are they going to ask me a bunch of questions?"
Tommy tried to hide his grimace as he watched Elliot take his hand and get up, walking with him to the bedroom door. "I'm sure there will be lots of questions, and you need to be prepared for that. Just be honest and tell them everything they want to know. Everyone is just trying to help us."
"What if I don't want to answer?"
"Then tell them that. They may not like it, but they can't force it out of you. However, I think the more that we know, the better we can deal with this situation."
Elliot frowned. "Just what exactly is this situation?"