Chapter Fourteen
Bowie
It was Friday night, and usually Bowie would order pizza and pick a movie to watch, staying up a little later because he didn’t have to get up for work. But first he’d bake something to have over the weekend, singing along to some music while he worked. It was something fun and relaxing for him.
Tonight, however, he wasn’t sure what to do. He was standing in the kitchen, listening to the sound of falling water in the bathroom while Kari took a shower. Bowie tried very hard not to think about that when his cheeks got hot and his body got all tingly in places that weren’t appropriate.
Kari is my boss, not my boyfriend, he told himself, and not for the first time, which was very distressing.
He could be your boyfriend if you asked him.
Please, I can’t do that. He would never be interested in me like that. Also, don’t you remember we peed our pants, and he had to scrub the carpet? It still made Bowie go hot and cold if he thought about it too hard. And having a boyfriend isn’t always a good thing. Rex was awful.
Bowie still had the bruises to prove it.
That was because you didn’t listen to me. Kari is different.
Yes, he is. He’s my boss.
His animal side was getting very persistent since Kari had temporarily moved in.
The man was only there to help Bowie out because he’d got himself in a pickle with Rex.
Mortifying, but true. Because when Bowie had a meeting with Hollis the other day—which had gone better than Bowie could have hoped for—Hollis had focused on his being safe.
He was a great boss, almost as good as Lane, except Bowie kept that to himself, not wanting to insult his friend.
But that conversation had brought with it the reality that Bowie didn’t know if he was safe in his apartment anymore.
All he could think about was the worry of having to move again because he really couldn’t call Kari every day and ask him to escort him out of his home.
So he had thought before talking to Kari, and then something marvellous had happened. Kari had brought up wishes and, like magic, granted ones that meant Bowie wasn’t worried about Rex anymore.
Now, Bowie hadn’t thought about Rex for days because all he could think about was Kari.
What did it all mean? Was he fickle? It felt like it when last week he was with Rex and now he couldn’t stop himself from thinking about Kari in the shower—naked.
Not thinking about that, remember, he chastised himself, reaching for a large jar of flour as a distraction.
Brownies. He’d make brownies, as they were Kari’s favorite, and wait to see if he was going to stay in or go out. Yes, that was the best plan. Kari had gone out in the evenings the past few days. It was Friday, it made sense he’d have plans.
Bowie stopped mid-measure, his brow furrowing. Did Kari have a boyfriend? He’d never thought to ask. Did that make him selfish? Most certainly. Should he ask now? Tell Kari he could bring him over if he wanted?
Bowie’s tummy started to hurt as he stared intently at the scales, unsure what to make of it.
“Oh, you’re baking. What treats are we getting?
” asked Kari, his freshly washed scent drifting into the kitchen as Bowie glanced up and swallowed hard at the sight of Kari in loose lounge pants and a T-shirt.
His feet were bare as he strolled over to Bowie, his gaze sweeping over the counter.
“I can see chocolate, does that mean brownies?” he questioned, sounding hopeful to Bowie.
“Erm…” He licked at his drying lips. “Yes… brownies.”
“Should I rustle up something for dinner then, while you’re busy?”
Flour plumed in the air as Bowie lost hold of the container, his eyes jumping to Kari.
“Food?” he squeaked.
“Yes, food.” Kari’s lips twitched as he ran a hand through his damp hair. He went to the refrigerator, which he’d stocked up just the day before.
“I was thinking about pizza,” Bowie blurted out, blushing hard. Fortunately, Kari had his back to him so he didn’t see the crimson wave rushing through his cheeks.
“I can make pizza. Although it probably won’t be as good as Popi’s as we don’t have his fancy pizza oven, but I’ll give it a go.” As Kari spoke, he took stuff out of the refrigerator, giving Bowie time to gather his thoughts.
“If you’re sure.” The only thing Rex had made for him was a sandwich. He’d never offered to cook a meal, always wanting Bowie to do it.
Stop comparing them!
“Yep.” Kari placed things on the counter close to Bowie, but still left him room. “What toppings do you like? We’ve got pepperoni, chicken, ham, mushrooms, peppers, pineapple—a favorite of mine—onion, and garlic sauce. Any of that appeal to you?”
“I like chicken, mushrooms and pineapple.”
Kari’s grin was wide with approval as he nodded. “I’ll have the same.”
He hummed to himself as he moved about, preparing, mixing and then making the pizza base. Bowie tried his best to concentrate, but he was easily distracted by the fresh scent of Kari, and his close proximity.
Bowie had gotten used to the additional noises he heard in his apartment.
Kari was mostly quiet and spent a lot of time in the bedroom, leaving Bowie alone.
Bowie had spent years being that way and it hadn’t bothered him, not really, when he could talk to his animal side if he got lonely. This was so very different.
Kari is doing me a favor. He reminded himself of that every evening when he got the urge to knock on Kari’s door when he was home and ask if he wanted to watch one of Bowie’s extensive collection of movies with him.
He side eyed the other man, who most definitely knew his way around the kitchen.
“What?” Kari paused, giving him an encouraging look.
“Do you… do you…” Bowie swallowed a groan of frustration when he felt like his face was on fire at the prospect of asking his question.
“I’m going to need a little more.”
Kari didn’t sound frustrated, which helped as Bowie returned his attention to his mixing bowl. “Do you want to watch a movie after?”
“You bet. I’ve seen the extensive collection you have, but do I get to pick?”
“If you want.”
“You bet I do. I’m thinking it’s time to reacquaint myself with Sebastian.” His expression changed, and he mimicked Sebastian. “Are you sure about this?”
He was delighted with himself, chuckling at getting it just right.
Bowie giggled, then kept right on giggling as Kari finished the pizzas, entertaining Bowie the whole time. It continued as they got comfortable on the couch, the brownies on a plate on the small table at the side of Bowie.
“Does Boo-Boo normally join you for movie night?” Kari asked, picking up the remote.
“Yes,” Bowie answered with no concern, then quickly glanced at Kari, his nose wrinkling, trying to guess if he should have said no. It was real easy to say yes in front of Kari, but now he was second guessing himself because his brain had engaged.
Kari got up grinning. “I’ll get him for you.”
No fuss. No drama. Bowie felt a warmth settle in the center of his chest. It was a feeling he was coming to associate with Kari, and he liked it—a lot.
See, I told you. You need to ask him if he wants to be our boyfriend.
We can’t do that. Alphas don’t like it.
Where did you hear that garbage?
Bowie wasn’t rightly sure, and then Kari was back but not with Boo-Boo alone. He’d collected the fleecy blanket that Bowie liked to snuggle with, too. He placed the blanket around Bowie, his eyes bright and enticing when he tucked Boo-Boo in next to Bowie.
“There, all comfy.” He hesitated a moment, and Bowie’s breath got stuck in his chest at how Kari stared at him.
Bowie felt the tug low in his belly, along with a sudden, electric tension between them. Then it was gone, and Kari gently pushed his bangs off his forehead in a move that had Bowie lean into the touch.
“Such a sweet boy,” Kari murmured, almost as if he was talking to himself. Then he shook his head like he was coming out of a trance—that’s how it seemed to Bowie—and returned to his seat, reaching for the remote once more and clicking it to start the movie.
It was all so… nice? Normal? Familiar? None of them really fit, and Bowie spent a long time as the movie played trying out different words to see which one fit.
His head lolled to the side sleepily, and Kari shifted close enough that Bowie automatically rested his head on his broad shoulder.
A sigh of pleasure rumbled in his throat at the fresh scent so close to his nose.
Needing to be closer, he twisted his head and buried his face in the warm skin.
Inhaling contentedly, his eyes drifting shut.
I could stay here forever.
I bet he’d let us, whispered through his mind, but Bowie was already asleep.