Chapter Twelve
Ernest
“Could you please put those clothes on?” Ernest was feeling more than a little hot under the collar.
He was feeling more than a little hot everywhere, truth be told.
His cock had decided it was a perfect time to test the seams of his crotch, and his shirt was feeling tight around his arms and shoulders—ripping it off would be an enormous relief, and totally inappropriate for a first meeting.
He’d been giving himself such a stern lecture all the way home—not to expect anything, not to get his hopes up, and definitely not to do anything stupid like go rampaging in his elephant form until he found his mate.
Seeing Toby in his front yard had left him flustered—and not only because of the lack of clothes.
Ernest had barely managed to make it home as it was.
His elephant thought he was doing a piss-poor job of finding their mate and wanted to take over.
But there was no way his shifted form would fit in his truck, let alone between the seat and the steering wheel.
His elephant side was equally unhappy to see Toby naked when Rick was there…
there was a lot going on in Ernest’s head.
Except now he felt mean because Toby was probably already feeling embarrassed. Ernest didn’t want to stop looking at him. Toby was slim, but he wasn’t overly short, and he had the prettiest cock and…
Ugh! Stop torturing yourself! Ernest shut his eyes and tugged his hair hard.
“I’m doing my very best to behave like a gentleman.
Truly, I am,” he muttered between clenched teeth.
“I’ve been worried sick about you since Saturday.
And I was at Remy’s. You know I was at Remy’s.
I’ve already said I was at Remy’s. Right.
Please put some clothes on, and I’ll go and make us some coffee.
How does that sound? Look, I’ll even turn around so I don’t peek. Is that alright?”
“That’s so sweet,” Toby said from behind him, and Ernest’s keen ears could hear the rustle of clothing. “I feel a bit silly. I didn’t think my plan through thoroughly this morning. My bird had told me we could fly here, but I never thought about what I’d do when I got here.
“I tapped on your window, but Rick doesn’t understand bird talk, and I can imagine you don’t either.”
“Not yet,” Ernest agreed trying not to imagine Toby pulling his clothes on over those sexy limbs.
“I imagine… you know… when we get to the claiming side of things, we’ll have a mind link then, and you could talk to me in your bird form.
Have you got the clothes on yet? Are you having a few problems in that area? ” I know I am.
Toby giggled, and Ernest had to check he hadn’t said the last thought out loud. Toby came up behind him and seconds later, his hand was wrapped around Ernest’s elbow. “A coffee would be lovely, and we should use that time to plan a date, don’t you think?”
Date? Ernest nodded. Toby couldn’t know that he was frantically trying to remember the last time he ever went out on a date at all. It wasn’t like he and Pierre dated much. The damn man moved in before they’d barely spoken to each other.
Well, okay, Pierre said it was two dates, but when Ernest thought back, it was effectively takeout from a food truck both times, then back to the house for some things he really wouldn’t be talking or thinking about while he was with his precious Toby.
“What sort of things do you like to do on dates?” Just asking sent another alarming thought through his overworked brain.
Making sure Toby was comfortable in a chair at his kitchen table, he went over to the coffee machine.
Rick was probably outside in the sheds somewhere, and that was fine. He knew how to make his own coffee.
“Er… Remy mentioned that your balloon ride on Saturday was the second one you’d done?” Ernest hoped his voice didn’t squeak. Please don’t let Toby be one of those adventure tourism types.
“Yes,” Toby said. “Although my bird wasn’t a fan.
It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing.
When my bird flies, I can see through its eyes, but I wanted to experience the same thing in my human form.
Suspended in the basket, seeing all the paddocks and towns all laid out like a picture.
It would be something that would be very romantic to do with a partner. ”
Oh, no. That’s not happening. Not in this town.
Ernest quickly poured two coffees into the cups and took them over, putting one in front of Toby and then sitting down next to him.
“Toby,” he said firmly but kindly. “Dearest mate, you have to listen to me. I realize you may think the idea of hot air ballooning is very romantic. In any other town, it probably is. But I’m trying to get that guy’s business shut down.
So, can we think of something else for a first date? ”
“Shut down? Is that because of what happened to me?” Toby’s eyes were so wide.
So pretty. Ernest just wanted to fall into them, and then he realized what Toby had said and mentally winced.
“It wasn’t about you exactly, although that was definitely part of it.
” Shit, I’m going to have to explain. “Pierre and I,” he coughed.
It was like his elephant’s foot was lodged in his throat.
“Pierre…” Damn it. He couldn’t get his words out.
“Oh, I think I get it.” Maybe Toby was a bit of a mind reader because he added, “Pierre is very free with his favors, isn’t he?”
“They’re not free, but that’s one way of putting it,” Ernest said.
“In my defense, I’d been on my own a long time at that stage and didn’t realize what he was saying to me, he was probably saying to a dozen other people at the same time.
He moved in barely, got bored quickly, moved out rapidly and took my car with him.
“And yeah, I am really, really embarrassed about it all. It was just… never mind, you don’t need to know about all of that.
The bottom line is that Pierre had no right to be on my land on Saturday.
There is and was a trespass order out against him.
He was not allowed to land in my fields, and that is a matter for the police and the lawyers and everything else, that’s got nothing to do with you, sweet Toby.
“Although I was very annoyed that he was trying to sleaze up to me when you were still lying hurt in the field. Yeah, I’m not gonna forget that in a hurry. But the moment I saw you, you became my only concern.”
“You’ve really got your feathers ruffled, haven’t you?” Toby’s hand was stroking down Ernest’s bicep.
“I don’t have feathers.” Ernest wanted to lean into that gentle touch and feel it all over. “I’m an elephant.”
“Oh, that is so special!” Toby’s hand left his arm because apparently that news needed clapping. Ernest couldn’t be upset about it. Toby’s grin was so wide. “I bet you look magnificent in your shifted form. Oh, we’re going to have to see it one day real soon.”
Soon would be good. Ernest’s elephant was definitely on board for that, but Ernest had to focus.
“So what sort of things do you like to do on dates?” he asked again.
“I haven’t had a lot of recent experience, but I’m willing to be guided by your hand—ideas.
I meant to say ideas. What would you like to do?
What would feel special for you on our first date? ”
Toby scrunched up his nose, clearly thinking. “Most of the dates I’ve had have involved clubbing or going out for a meal. Don’t get me wrong, I really love eating, and I absolutely adore food I don’t have to cook myself. I work in a café, you know.”
Ernest didn’t know that, but he was lapping up every detail.
Toby seemed really animated. “My two friends and I—we own the bakery-café together. They’re Morty and Niall, and I’m telling you that because I will talk about them a lot.
Morty recently found his mate at the very first Bucket List Buddies event. ”
Ah, that must’ve been one of the men Remy was talking about. Ernest nodded.
“I also have a new apartment in the basement underneath the café because Morty’s mate bought the whole building and had it renovated for us.”
Well, if that’s what it takes to impress, where did someone find a spare building for sale?
Then Ernest glanced around his kitchen. He really liked his home, so maybe Toby wouldn’t think buying a building was really necessary to prove how good a mate he could be.
“Did they go on a date?” he asked, trying to keep things focused.
“Hmm.” Toby was scrunching his nose again.
“Well, yes, I think they went on one date, and then Morty got them kicked out and then I think they were going to go on another date, and yeah,” he shook his head, “I don’t think they made it to that one.
Hector ordered a limo and everything, but I think they got hot and flustered around each other and ended up claiming each other in Morty’s bedroom.
Just, I believe having dates is important for the getting to know each other part of a relationship, don’t you? ”
Ernest nodded again. If Toby thought dating was important to build a relationship, then so did Ernest. It was that simple.
“So we could try something simple like a dinner out at a restaurant,” Toby said with a warm smile, “or we could try something a little different.”
Do I want to know what that is? Ernest couldn’t take his eyes off Toby’s face.
“Like, for example, we could go bowling—you know, the tenpin kind. That could be fun.”
Ernest had to think for a minute what that was. “Do they have a bowling alley in town?”
“Yes!” Toby wiggled in his seat. “Definitely. It will be so much fun. We could play a few games, and then grab some fast food. Perhaps go for a walk through town, being all romantic, window shopping, and things like that. That could be a lot of fun, couldn’t it?”
I guess, although Ernest wasn’t sure how he was going to cope with watching Toby bend over every five minutes.
He put on his best smile. “What time does the bowling place open? Do I need to drop you off at home first for a change of clothes? Then I could come back and pick you up later this evening, or…”
Ernest had another thought. “You might not want me to know where you live right now, but I can call a cab for you to protect your privacy if you like, and we could meet there later. Whatever would work for you? Just tell me. Yes, that would be the best idea. Just tell me, and we can do it.”
“You’re really nervous about this, aren’t you?” Toby had put his hand on Ernest’s bicep again.
Ernest put his hand over Toby’s. “I don’t want anything to muck this up.
I’ve already made a huge fool of myself at the hospital, screaming and ranting and raving.
I’ve never been thrown out of anywhere before, especially not somewhere important like a hospital.
But then, I’ve been so worried, and I just wanted to know you were all right. ”
He reached over gently and stroked Toby’s hair. “You were unconscious for so long. You haven’t got any headaches anymore, have you? And your wee hands—are they all healed?”
“They’re not so much wee hands,” Toby said with a chuckle. “In fact, I’m sure I could do a fair bit with the pair I’ve got. What about you and your hands?”
It was the wink that got Ernest—that cute smile, and that damn wink. Ernest groaned. “Um, yeah, so as I said, what time tonight should I pick you up, or is this place open this afternoon? Anytime is good for me.”