With Abandon: With or Without, Book 4

bye.”
    “Holy shit,” Logan interrupted. “Is that her? She has a sexy voice.”
    Matt’s stomach plummeted. She was leaving? “Hold please.” As he stood, Matt pulled the phone
    away and covered it with his hand. He made his way around the bed to Tara.
    She hugged him and kissed his cheek. “I’ll call later to check on you. Maybe we can get together and
    do something before you go to school on Monday. I think Bree took off work tomorrow to help you get
    settled in, but maybe we can go do something Saturday?”
    Yeah, if I’m still here. Matt forced a smile and hugged her back. “I’d like that.” He was reluctant to let her go, which was odd, but the space would do him good. He needed time to think.
    16
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    With Abandon
    “Okay, I’ll let you finish your conversation. Aubrey should be here in a few.” She waved and strolled
    out the door.
    Matt pulled the phone to his ear. “I should go.”
    The front door of the condo closed.
    “Don’t do anything yet,” Logan said. “I have money put away for college. We can use that to get you
    an apartment over there if need be.”
    “No way. I’m not taking it. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come home or maybe look into another student
    loan.”
    Logan sighed, sounding put out. “Just don’t do anything yet. Try and get a feel for Aubrey before you
    say anything.”
    “I’m not. I’m going to sleep on it and get my bearings.”
    “Good. Call me before you spill the beans to anyone, and let me know what’s what.”
    The front door clicked open.
    “I will. I’m gonna tell Tara before I tell—” The alluring woodsy scent he’d detected off and on all day sucker-punched him. Matt’s eyes shifted, his canines exploded through his gums and the breath whooshed
    from his lungs. His cock hardened and his head spun.
    “Matt?” an unfamiliar masculine voice called. “I’m— Oh shit.” The smell of arousal carried through
    the open door of the guest bedroom.
    Matt stumbled to the door, his brain trying to process what had just happened.
    “Matthew?” Logan asked hesitantly.
    A man in an expensive-looking business suit, his tie hanging loose around his neck, his jacket and a
    laptop case over his right arm stood in the living room. He held keys in his left hand. They dropped to the floor as his lupine eyes met Matt’s.
    “Matt, talk to me,” Logan persisted. “What’s wrong?”
    It snapped Matt out of his daze somewhat. “I’ll have to call you back, bro.” He hit end on his phone. It slipped right out of his numb fingers, clattering onto the hard wood. “Aubrey?”
    The man nodded, seemingly as shell-shocked as Matt. “And your mate, apparently.”

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    17
    Chapter Three
    Disconcerting as it was, it would seem Aubrey’s body was no longer his. Instinct had taken over as
    soon as he’d stepped into his condo and gotten a good whiff of Matt. Aubrey’s eyes had shifted, his canines dropped and his damn prick was hard as a rock. The one thing he never wanted to happen had just
    happened. He’d found his mate. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. The breath didn’t
    help, it only overwhelmed his senses more. His ab muscles tensed, making it hard to breathe. His insides hurt, his stomach flip-flopped and his whole body broke out in a fine sweat. He’d connected with Matt too fast, but he’d ignored the warning sign.
    “Hi, um, I’m mate—” Matt gulped air and his eyes widened so big Aubrey feared hyperventilation
    was imminent. His face grew blotchy, and even in black and white the blush was obvious. “I mean Matt.”
    Slapping a hand to the side of his forehead, he dropped his gaze. “I guess you figured that out already, huh?
    I mean, I doubt you come home to strange men in your place all the time. Not that I’m strange or
    anything… You did invite me but…never mind.” He shrugged and turned toward the guestroom. “I’ll just shut up and get my things and—”
    “Wait.” Aubrey’s chest tightened painfully, overwhelmed with despair. His body didn’t care what his
    mind wanted or didn’t want. He tossed his jacket and laptop on the couch in his hurry to get to Matt.
    Grabbing Matt’s arm, he swung him around. “You cain’t go.” Good God. Not only did he sound desperate, but the Southern accent from hell that he worked hard to contain had put in an appearance. Swallowing the knot in his throat, Aubrey released Matt. It’d be better for all