Overcoming His Pride Read Free Page B

replacement. Anyone Andrew showed interest in would be dissuaded, forcibly if necessary.
    “Agreed.” Marlen’s expression reflected Chen’s determination. They might not be bad-ass warriors, but they could peck the shit out of anyone who tried to get too close to their mate.
    They pulled up alongside James’ car. The lion shifter paced back and forth along the side of the street. James stopped when he saw them approach.
    “Hey, James,” Marlen greeted him.
    “Hey, guys, thanks for coming to get me. Dad said you volunteered.” James eyed them curiously.
    Chen had a feeling they were being inspected for more than their willingness to help out. “Your dad had to get to work. We didn’t have anywhere else to go so we offered.”
    James raised a golden eyebrow. “And you two happened to be at my dad’s house this morning?”
    Marlen blushed then bristled. “That’s between your father and us.”
    Chen wrapped an arm around his lover. Marlen was generally the more level-headed of them, but Andrew brought out his protective streak. Marlen had confessed to Chen before that he thought Andrew had been beaten up by life and just needed the right people to love him. His nurturing lover couldn’t resist an injured soul.
    James didn’t appear placated over Marlen’s statement. “Don’t hurt my dad. He’s pretty vulnerable right now. His last relationship ended badly.” James shoved his hands into his pockets and levelled them with a challenging look. He might be new to the shifter world, but the lion shifter was settling in just fine.
    A spike of admiration went through Chen at James’ willingness to stand up for his father. Andrew didn’t know how much his son was watching out for him.
    “We’re not screwing with him. He’s our mate. I’m sure you’ve heard us telling him that before.” They weren’t shy about announcing to everyone that Andrew was their mate, especially to people who looked twice at the sexy older man.
    “I know you two think he’s your mate, but how’s he’s taking the news? He isn’t big on discussing his love life with his son.”
    Chen could tell James worried about his father. Andrew and James might have a rocky relationship, but the love between them warmed Chen’s heart. He decided James deserved an answer. Andrew wouldn’t want his son worried about him. “We’re going slow and trying to get him used to the idea.”
    Well…slow for wrens, but James didn’t need to know that part. Andrew wouldn’t want details of his courtship shared with his son, no matter James’ age.
    Chen walked over until he stood shoulder to shoulder with Marlen. The soothing comfort of his mate’s warmth against him calmed Chen. “We will take good care of him.”
    They stood still, frozen with apprehension as they waited for James’ decree. Their mate’s son could make things difficult for them if he chose. Chen knew if James didn’t approve, it would put the nail in the coffin of their hopes. Andrew might not let his son pick his lovers, but James’ approval would be an important factor. After what felt like forever to Chen’s thundering heart, James finally nodded.
    “Good. I just want him to be happy, even if you are kind of young for him.” James’ teasing grin told Chen he was just yanking their tail feathers.
    “We’re trying to wear him down,” Marlen admitted. “He thinks he’s too old for us.”
    “He’s also not gay. That might be an even bigger issue than the age thing.” James examined them with his clear gaze as if weighing their worth. “He might be bi. He doesn’t seem to mind you two touching him. Let’s just say we never talked about my father’s sexuality as a child.”
    “He didn’t say anything when you told him you were gay?”
    “I never told my father I was gay. He caught me kissing a guy and that was that. We never had the ‘big discussion’,” James said, curling his fingers into quotation marks.
    “Even if he was only bi-curious before,