Chapter 28

CEDRIC wasn't the type who goes in war without several back up plans and precautions ahead. Max liked him that way. People expected him to have the final blow when the situation gets too hard to deal with.

That's fine. Cedric liked the feeling of being the savior of the team.

But how to treat a male mate though... Cedric scratched his brow. Watching idly as Jeffrey eat his breakfast with relish. He should have asked if the man had eaten last night. Well, both of them was busy with other things. Dinner was the last thing in their mind.

"You... don't like the food?" Jeffrey lick the honey clinging on his lower lip. It made Cedric regret not ordering a plate of pancakes for himself. Jeffrey loves it. "We can order some more."

"No, it's fine. It's bad to waste food." Cedric unknowingly ordered an all meat type of plate. Thanks to his shifter genes, he won't be struggling about blood pressure soon. "This... taste good. Try that."

Cedric place two pieces of bacon on his plate. He cleared his throat. "We should meet once a week."

"How about never?" Jeffrey pouted. It made Cedric smile a little. "I can handle it."

"But I can't. With the busy schedule right now, we can only meet once a week. Preferably on Sundays since it's your day off. Once the matter with Owell settled, I'll try and meet you every time I'm free."

"Oh..." Jeff's shoulder relaxed. The wave of his eyebrows straightening. "Then... okay. I'll send you a message."

"Hmn, now that you mentioned that, can you give me your number?"

"Fine." Jeffrey avoided his eyes. "I have your office number. I remembered I haven't deleted it yet."

He blinked. "Office number? That won't do. You have to have my personal cell number."

"Give me your phone."

Cedric smacked his lips. "This is my office number. I left my phone at home."

Jeffrey's eyes doubled its size. "You brought your office..."

"Yeah." Cedric said as a matter of fact. "Max often calls me at odd hours."

"But your 'buddies' texts you on that number!"

"What's wrong? Getting my rocks off is considered work-related for me as well. When I'm not sexually frustrated, then I'm level-headed."

Jeffrey purse his lips. Lowering his head down to eat. "You manage to make it sound like it's important."

"It is." He frowned. "Don't you get ill-tempered when you hadn't get laid for weeks?"

"I don't get laid often, for one." Jeffrey smiled. "Since I started working in the coven, I had a struggle with balancing my social life and work. I'm not fond with one night stands, I'd like to have a girlfriend. Have a serious relationship. I want the comfort. Sex is secondary to me."

Cedric scraped the plate with his fork too hard. The sound made both of them flinch.

He said apologetically, "The egg was slippery because of the oil. Sorry."

Though he doesn't really feel like it.

"It looks like you already had a plan about your life. Sorry about ruining it." He opened up belatedly.

Jeffrey put down his utensils. His eyes tracking his motion with a bewildered expression. "You're not."

"What?"

"You're not sorry. Have you forgotten? I claimed you. I have a grasp about your emotions. And you're not... sorry. For messing up my life."

Cedric grinned. "That's right."

The little guy scoffed. His eyebrows tightening once more. "I'm just saying it. It's not like I can jump to somebody else now, right? You have to respect my mark as well and stop zipping down your pants for anyone that asks for it."

Cedric wanted to shake the guy up. Who is he to demand loyalty from him? They've only been mated for a day. His wolf hasn't even—

Fine. Show the man some respect. He can do that.

"I should say the same for you."

"That's a non-issue for me." Jeffrey pushed the unfinished plate far from him and lean back. "You don't look like you agree to my condition."

'Can't he see that I'm trying?' Cedric nodded. "You know that I—"

"You were the one who marked me without my permission. You were the eager one to get his neck marked in turn. Everything that will happen next should be held responsible by you. You... have no room to dissuade my requests."

"When you worded it like that, it doesn't sound like a request anymore, Jeffrey. It's a command." Cedric grasped the drink beside him and swallowed large gulps. He made a joke out of himself.

"But I'm your mate. I should have the right to." The little guy stood. His frame taller than Cedric used to imagine before. "You can't control me. Your mind games won't work on me and you, seducing me, is like a fly tempting a rose. You're no bee yourself, Mr. Mallory. You're not quality goods."

"Your innocence is non-existent, your body can be bought by a few drinks and a lipstick print. You're no one, without your excellent working skills." Jeffrey touched the side of his face. Patting it lightly. But it felt like the little man slapped him. "You're good in bed, but that's where it ends. I told you. Sex is secondary to me. If you won't play it by my rules, don't expect my shadow anywhere near you. You need me twice harder than I needed your presence."

Pulling a few bills from his pocket, Jeffrey walked out. He stopped to turn and tell him, "Wait for my call."

Cedric stared as he left. Without even a kiss of goodbye from him.

He used to laugh whenever somebody calls him a dog. He never put it to heart. For him, it doesn't matter. He's half a wolf shifter. The name can't be far from the truth.

But the meaning behind that began to make him itch for a gun right now.

Jeffrey didn't say it, but the implication was there.

The guy wanted to turn him into his dog.

Cedric was shocked to feel that he's actually not opposed to the idea of being Jeffrey's personal pet. But his words... hurt.

He should have stopped sleeping around the first time he saw Jeffrey. He knew the little guy is his. But he hated it. Now that he had tasted what it feels like under the little man's gentle caress, he can't help but feel regret.

If only he had opened his mind more and talk like a civilized person. He would have put on a good impression on the man.

Now that it's too late. The insult had already gone too deep.

He can't believe he initially thought about controlling the little man. Cedric didn't know when the tables turned on himself but he's pleasantly surprised. This only means that his mate is not a simple person.

He found him interesting the longer that they stayed together.