Carson's day had been long and tedious, but none of that mattered now, not when he was about to see Kyle again. Sure, it wasn't for a date. Instead, they were seeing each other at their families' longstanding bi-weekly dinner.

Not the most romantic, but still, Carson would see Kyle. They'd seen each other since their date, of course. They worked together, after all, but their meetings had been purely professional.

He missed Kyle. He missed the way Kyle fit so well against him. He missed the way Kyle kissed him, the way Kyle looked lying under him in his bed.

It had only been a couple of days since their last date, but it was a couple of days too long, in Carson's opinion.

He wanted to see Kyle all the time, like an all-consuming need that burned through him. They were both busy, though, and for the first time in a long time, Carson cursed his job. He didn't used to mind the long hours--hell, he craved them. It gave him purpose and something to drive towards. But now, it was a barrier to his relationship with Kyle, and he was starting to resent it.

They needed to talk, that was for sure. They needed to talk about a lot of things--from their schedules to setting up more dates in the future to figuring out what they were going to do with the relationship growing between them.

Carson knew what he wanted--was so sure of it, there hadn't been any room for doubt in his head, but he couldn't read Kyle's mind. He needed to know what Kyle was thinking, too. He needed to be sure that Kyle felt the same.

It was a little past six in the evening when he got to his parents' house. He opened the front door with his key, calling out for his mom and dad as he stepped through the door. He wished Kyle had been with him, but Kyle waved him off and said he was coming a little later. Something about bringing dessert and changing his clothes.

Carson didn't think Kyle needed to change his clothes or bring dessert, but that was probably just him being greedy for Kyle's time.

"Carson, there you are. It's good to see you," his mom, Nadia, greeted, coming in from the kitchen. "You look good, sweetheart."

He smiled, giving his mom a kiss on the cheek. "Good to see you too, mom." He looked around the room. "Is dad around?"

His mom nodded as she squeezed his shoulder. "In the living room with your sister. They're working on one of her projects for school."

Carson's sister, Megan, was a sophomore in high school. She was the baby of the family, and everyone, especially their father, doted on her. "I'll go see what they're up to." Carson paused, remembering his manners. "Unless you needed help with something?"

Waving him off, his mom pushed him towards the living room. "Go, your sister's been eager to see you. You don't stop by the house enough." She stated it like a fact, and Carson knew she wasn't trying to guilt-trip him, but he felt bad, anyway.

"Sorry," he said. "I've just been busy with work."

"It's fine, sweetheart. I know how much of a workaholic you Woods can be. I did marry your father, after all." She winked at him, before disappearing into the formal dining room.

Carson walked to the living room, and his father stood up immediately, giving him a hug. David Wood had always been tactile with his kids, despite his almost gruff exterior to everyone else.

"Carson, good, you're here. I didn't think you were coming this week."

Carson felt bashful. Okay, so he'd been skipping family dinners in favor of going on dates. Shitty dates, at that. He needed to rectify that immediately. "Hey, dad." He stepped out of his dad's hug, ruffling his sister's hair amiably. "Hey, squirt."

Megan gave him a withering look. "You're actually the worst. The worst."

Laughing, Carson pinched her cheek. "You love me, admit it."

"I admit to nothing," Megan said, rolling her eyes. "Missed you, you big lug. You need to visit more."

"I know, I know. I will," Carson said. It wasn't that he was actively avoiding his family. He loved them. Between work and his newly minted relationship with Kyle, though, he didn't have much time to visit.

His dad handed him a glass of brandy. "Here, son. You look like you need this. Long day?"

Carson nodded. "Yeah, I was in meeting after meeting after meeting today." He took the glass and sipped. His dad did have the best taste in brandy. "How about you? You resting?"

After getting minor surgery a week ago, his dad wasn't supposed to work or do anything strenuous. Carson knew better, though, and just like him, his father wasn't the best at following medical advice.

"I've been resting so much, I feel like I'm going out of my mind," his dad said, eyes glimmering.

"Rest is good, dad," Carson reminded him. They sat back down on the couch, and Carson let himself sink into the cushions.

"What this I hear about you being on a date last family dinner?" his dad asked, raising his eyebrow at him.

Carson groaned, taking another sip of his brandy. "It was just a date, dad. A terrible one, at that."

Shaking his head, Carson's dad patted his shoulder. "You keep saying that about all of your dates, son. At some point, you're going to have to be less...exacting. You're not getting any younger."

"Dad, I'm not even thirty yet, I'm fine," Carson said. Besides, none of those dates mattered now. Not now, when he had Kyle.

But he couldn't exactly tell his father that. It wasn't that he was ashamed of Kyle--far from it. He wanted to shout about Kyle to the rooftops. He wanted everyone to know how perfect Kyle was for him, and he wanted his father to know that he'd finally found someone who fit him.

It wasn't just his story to tell, though, and he knew he needed to speak to Kyle first before they told their families.

There was a part of Carson that wondered how his dad would react to the news about Kyle. Positively, he hoped. After all, Kyle was basically his father's second son. Kyle was his godson, for fuck's sake. Carson knew his dad loved Kyle--his whole family loved Kyle, and he could only hope that they would welcome him with open arms as Carson's partner.

As Carson's mate.

"People your age are already long mated, Carson. What are you waiting for? I worry about you sometimes." His dad's voice was soft, and Carson knew his dad meant well. He'd mated Carson's mother when they were fresh out of college, and Carson knew he wished Carson had done the same.

"It's fine, dad. You worry too much." Carson finished off his drink, placing the glass on the coffee table. What was he waiting for?

He was waiting for Kyle, it turned out.

"Who'd want to be mated with you, anyway?" Megan teased as she took the seat beside him.

Carson tickled her side mercilessly, and Megan did her best to squirm away. "What do you know about mates, anyway, squirt?"

"More than you," Megan replied, sticking out her tongue.

Their banter was interrupted at the sound of the doorbell ringing. Carson got to his feet quickly, making his way to the front door, hoping it was Kyle on the other side.

He wasn't disappointed.

Kyle stepped in once Carson had opened the door, his cheeks flushed from the cold outside. "Hi," he said, a small smile gracing his face.

Carson couldn't help but smile back. "Hi." His voice sounded low, even to his own ears. He opened his mouth to speak more, but he was greeted by Kyle's parents standing behind him.

It was a flurry of activity, with both families excitedly saying hello to each other. It was like Carson was stuck in place, though, because the only thing he saw was Kyle. The world could have ended right there and then, and he wouldn’t have noticed, because Kyle was there, standing a foot away from him, looking absolutely fucking perfect.

His fingers itched to touch Kyle. He wanted to run his hand over Kyle’s cheek, holding him close enough to be surrounded by his scent.

"You guys coming in or are you just going to stand there?" Megan called out, shaking Carson out his trance.

She looked at them strangely, like she was trying to calculate a math problem. Carson threw her a grin, ushering Kyle into the living room, his hand planted on Kyle's back. He wanted a moment alone with Kyle, but with both of their families waiting, it was an impossible task. Not unless they wanted to make a scene, and knowing Kyle, that was probably the last thing in his mind.

Once they were in the living room, Carson's dad pulled Kyle into a big bear hug. Carson watched as Kyle fussed over his dad. Kyle had a great relationship with Carson's father, and Carson knew without a doubt that his dad loved Kyle like family. He liked watching Kyle and his family interact. He liked knowing that they were a part of each other's lives, entwined by time, love, and friendship.

He couldn't wait to tell his family about Kyle. Carson didn't know why his parents had never pushed him to pursue a relationship with Kyle. After all, they were already inseparable.

Now that he was pursuing Kyle, it was as natural as breathing. Their relationship made sense, like everything was slotting into place, like Carson had finally found the one missing piece he'd been looking for all his life.

"You look dashing, my darling," Carson's mom told Kyle as she kissed his cheek.

He couldn't agree more. Kyle was wearing a blue button-down that accentuated his eyes, and it fit him like a glove.

Carson wanted to take it off him, button by button.

It was an exercise in restraint to not touch Kyle while their families caught up, not when it was all he'd been thinking about all day.

They sat on the love seat together, Carson's arm stretched behind Kyle. His fingers grazed over Kyle's shoulder, caressing him discreetly there. Kyle froze for a moment, and Carson thought he'd crossed the line. He didn't want Kyle to pull away from him. A beat later, though, Kyle relaxed, letting his body lean against Carson's arm.

They'd always been affectionate, but even for them, this was new. Carson didn't care, though, not when he practically had Kyle in his arms. He wanted to pull him closer, wanted to feel Kyle burrow into his chest while they clung to each other.

"Tired?" he asked instead, resisting the urge to massage Kyle's neck.

Kyle hummed in agreement, his eyes closing. "You make a pretty good pillow, Cars," he said, shifting slightly so he slotted in better against Carson. "Today was long. I'm just glad we're out of the office."

Carson couldn't fault him for that. "You should have stayed home and rested." Selfishly, though, Carson was glad Kyle came over. He needed to see him, needed to touch him, even if he couldn't touch him the way he wanted to right now.

A shutter clicked, and Carson looked up to see the source of the noise. "What are you doing, squirt?"

Megan waved her camera. "You guys looked so cozy. Like a pair of bunnies."

Carson shot her a glare, but he knew he couldn't stay mad at her, not when she looked so cheerful and earnest. "I'm pretty sure that's false."

"No, seriously, bunnies," she said gleefully. She showed him her phone, and Carson couldn't stop the smile on his face. They didn't look like bunnies, but they did look adorable. He'd give her that much.

"Send that to me," he said, giving her phone back.

Megan looked surprised, but she nodded anyway. "You gonna put it on your Christmas cards?" she teased.

"Brat," Carson replied.

"There, sent," Megan said, flouncing away to where their moms were standing.

Carson pulled his phone out of his pocket. He thumbed through his messages until he found Megan's, quickly making the picture his new background. They really did look adorable.

"You sap," Kyle said under his breath.

"Shut up, you like it," Carson threw back. He squeezed Kyle's shoulder with his other arm. "We look good together."

Kyle sat up, grabbing Carson's phone away from him. "Let me see," he said. "I didn't get a good look at it."

Staring at the picture, Kyle's face softened. He stared at it for a while, his thumb on the screen. "We do look good together," he said quietly. There was something in his tone that Carson couldn't quite pinpoint.

"I told you," Carson said quietly. "Now I'll have a reminder of it--of you--every time I turn on my screen."

Kyle blushed. He pulled away from Carson and stood up. "You'll get sick of me eventually." Kyle said it jokingly, but there was something in his eyes that said otherwise. His expression became guarded, and something in the air between them shifted.

"Boys, why don't you come to the dining room? I think we're ready for dinner," Carson's mom called out before he could question Kyle.

Carson was going to have to table this discussion for when the two of them were alone. Still, he couldn't help but tug at Kyle's shirt just before they reached the dining room.

"I wouldn't--you know that, right? I could never get tired of you." His voice was low enough that only Kyle could hear his words.

Kyle swallowed visibly. "Carson--"

Carson placed his hands on Kyle's hips, not really caring who saw anymore. "You're mine now, Kyle," he said, brushing his lips over Kyle's ear.

It wasn't the time and place for any kind of declaration, but Carson needed to make sure Kyle knew. That Kyle understood exactly what he meant to Carson.

He felt Kyle shiver, and Carson snuck a quick kiss on his forehead.

“I’m not letting you go.”