Chapter 27
Julian
“Holy shit,” Aiden whistles as we enter the front lobby.
It’s just as extravagant on the inside as it was outside, with towering columns rising into a vaulted ceiling, all cream stone except where creeping flora climb the walls.
“How much did you pay for this place?”
“Don’t worry about that,” I murmur while I struggle not to stare at every person that passes me by.
I still can’t believe we’re here.
Before today, the furthest I’d ever ventured was the edge of the human town closest to our packlands. I’d never gone beyond it, let alone into another species’ territory. But here we are, miles from home in the depths of incubi territory.
Incubi were known for being the “Switzerland of the supernatural” for obvious reasons.
While they have their own pieces of the world carved out, they also maintain neutral zones so they could happily dine in others and vice versa.
This extravagant beast we’re standing in is the crown jewel of one of those zones, welcoming all supernatural creatures as long as they leave any outstanding prejudices at the door.
I figured it was perfect for Aiden and me to sneak away and mate with its stellar reputation and close proximity to home. But being here now, surrounded by strangers with sharp teeth and stranger wings, is a lot scarier than planning it out in secret.
I, of course, learnt all about my fellow supernatural creatures as a pup, but it’s my first time witnessing the fangs of a vampire in the midst of laughter, or the red-tipped wings of a fairy scuttling by.
They’re all so different—we are all so different—and standing among them all is jarring.
Every foreign sound, every flash of movement, makes my pulse jump.
But I keep my head tilted up and my expression plain.
With Aiden at my side, I navigate the myriad of guests until we reach the large marble reception desk. The incubus on the other side checks us in with practised ease.
“These are your room keys. You’re on the fifteenth floor,” the chirpy incubus says, sliding a small envelope across the counter. “Enjoy your stay in the Lilita Presidential Suite.”
“The Lilita Presidential Suite?” Aiden repeats under his breath as we walk away. He’s got the bag I’d packed for him slung over his shoulder, and a curious smirk on his lips. “You got us a suite?”
“I got us a lot of things,” I reply with a wink that makes Aiden stumble. His cheeks flame as he tries to find his footing, and I’m left biting back my smile as we head for the nearest elevators.
His hand reaches back to find mine, and my brain freezes as he intertwines our fingers. He gives them a squeeze, leading the way. The connection makes a unique sense of satisfaction ripple through my body. I can’t look away, and stare at our hands like an idiot.
“We don’t have to if you don’t like it,” he says suddenly, loosening his hold.
“No! I don’t mind,” I say, and maybe I’m a little too quick and eager to reply because Aiden’s lips spread into a familiar smirk. “It’s nice.”
“It is nice,” he replies, lifting my hand to press a kiss to it.
My heart jerks viciously in my chest. I look away before I can splutter out something stupid. It’s not the first time we’ve held hands, only the first time we’ve done it in public, and it feels more than nice to be claimed in front of others.
The elevator takes us to our floor, opening onto a dark corridor lined with a plush, dark red carpet. We look around like two idiots, lost, peering from left to right before we figure out where we’re supposed to go. We find our room at the end of the hall.
I pop the key in before I turn to my mate.
Aiden grins at me, and I smile right back.
“You go in first.”
He narrows his eyes. “Why? Is there a bomb waiting on the other side?”
“Only one way to find out,” I reply, pushing the door open just a crack.
He shoots me a look, then bravely steps inside. I’m right behind him, watching closely, and he doesn’t get very far before his bag thuds at his feet.
“Holy … fucking shit …”
The suite is gorgeous and even nicer than it appeared on the internet when Beckett and I were booking it.
As promised, there’s a massive lounge area and a self-contained kitchen, and to the left, I can just glimpse our waiting bedroom down the hall.
But right in front of us is the best part—the view.
Floor-to-ceiling windows frame a valley cradled between two large mountains, the careening nature outside stretching out for miles in every direction. This place is the perfect getaway for any supernatural creature.
“I take it you like it,” I say, following Aiden as he drifts to the glass.
“Like?” he mumbles before he turns to face me with his mouth still hanging open. “Jewels, I love it!”
Is it possible to have fireworks go off inside you? It must be, because that’s what happens when his lips stretch into that warm smile.
“I’m glad,” I say—and I mean it.
Over the last few months, I’ve gone from hating Aiden, to begrudgingly enjoying his happiness, to desperately seeking it out in any way I can.
I like making him smile—like being the source of his joy, and it’s that simple.
I sidle up to him, and the second I’m in reach, he slides his fingers between mine, holding on tight.
“Thank you,” he says, his voice softer now, like those dark eyes he settles on me. “Thank you, Julian,” he repeats, the three words carrying so much weight it nearly buckles me.
It’s enough on its own, but then Aiden leans in to kiss my cheek and my spirit is set aflame.
I have to resist the urge to reach up and touch it when he pulls away, or better yet, pull him to me for more.
But no, I have plans. We’d get to all that eventually.
For now, and for as long as we can manage, I just want to enjoy this with him.
“No problem,” I say, my smile coming easily as I watch him take in the view again.
He’s obsessed with it, like I knew he’d be.
Watching Aiden all the time has taught me that he has a thing for landscapes and scenic views, which is precisely why I got this room.
This suite offered the best views of the valley during both sunset and sunrise.
Even in between, the sight is breathtaking.
“I’m going to unpack,” I whisper, leaving him to stare. “You have a look around.”
He nods absently, clearly not going to look at anything besides the horizon.
Biting back a laugh, I grab our bags from the entrance and slip into the bedroom.
Once again, I’m rendered speechless—the massive king-size bed waits for us, scattered with petals.
It sits in the centre of the obscenely large room, taking up most of the space, but incubi famously only like one piece of furniture.
I imagine all that space would come in very handy for us once we … started.
Cheeks warming, I bypass the bed and take our bags to the dresser.
I send a message to Beckett to let him know we’ve arrived safely with no issues before I unpack all our clothes.
I tuck our shoes into one corner, hide the lube in the bottom of my drawer, stuff our bags away once they’re empty, and then call the front desk to confirm that all my plans for tonight and tomorrow are in place.
Aiden doesn’t know it yet, but he’s never going to forget the next four days.
When I return, he’s exactly where I left him. I chuckle from the doorway, and he turns to me.
“Hey,” he greets eagerly.
“Hey,” I reply, matching it. “I got us a table at one of their restaurants. What do you say to sushi for dinner?”
“Sure, but I’ve never had it before,” he admits as he strides over.
“Me neither, but I’m sure we’ll like it.”
“Are you,” he teases, “or are you just looking for an excuse to stuff your face with salmon?”
“I plead the fifth,” I reply dryly. He chuckles before he reaches for me, but I step back before he can, maintaining the distance between us. “You need to shower.”
“After what we did in that parking lot, we both need to shower,” he replies as his eyes drop to my lips. My neck heats and he groans a little. “Come with me, Jewels.”
“No. Aiden …” I warn, but he’s too busy trying to get those hands on me. I push them away and press a hand to his chest when he tries again. His entire expression crumples.
“Please,” he begs, almost pouting. “Let me return the favour.”
I don’t know about you, but that sounds like a good deal to me, Alex inputs hungrily.
It sure did, but—“If I do, we won’t leave and then we’ll miss dinner.”
I push Aiden’s chest, ignoring both Alex and Aiden’s whining as I do.
“Go get ready,” I insist, shooing him away without budging, not even when he throws me puppy-dog eyes the whole way to the bathroom.
I don’t know why you’re cockblocking yourself, Alex grumbles while I pick out what I’m going to wear. We could be cleaning up together if someone wasn’t so afraid of a good time.
I’m not afraid of a good time, I argue. Clearly I’m not, with what I did in the car. I just have good time management skills and can think with the right head, unlike a certain someone.
Alex huffs but quiets. By the time I’ve chosen an outfit, Aiden emerges from the steaming bathroom. Water drips over flexing, inked abs as he towels his hair.
I feel myself swallow as familiar arousal climbs inside of me.
“Lose something, Jewels?” he asks, eyes amused as they catch mine lingering. He runs his fingers through his damp hair.
“Nope.” I snatch my things before I flee into the bathroom.
What was that about thinking with the right head?
I shove Alex from my mind and strip so that I can cool down beneath the shower’s spray.
Aiden and I worked out that we probably had until this weekend before our desires started running the show.
We agreed we’d mate before then. Now it was just a matter of when.
I figured being here would take some of the pressure off, especially with nights like tonight to make it special, because I needed it to be special.