Chapter Twenty-One
CHEV
I WAIT OUTSIDE, sitting on Vanessa’s porch.
She should be awake any minute now. I broke her phone so she can’t use the alarm, but the sun should be shining through her bedroom window by now. I want her to wake up, and I tap my fingers against the ground while I wait.
Eventually, I hear stomping inside, and I stand just as Vanessa storms out of her front door. She must have changed into a nightgown sometime during the night, and she looks at me with crazy eyes and messy hair. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her move so fast this early in the morning, and I try not to panic.
Is she angry?
She storms toward me, and I hold my breath as she throws her arms around my waist. I want to enjoy it, but I find I’m too nervous to. I didn’t tell her about my interview, and maybe that was a mistake. I don’t think she knows about it, though. I broke her phone, so there’s no way for her to have seen anything.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
It doesn’t appear she’s been crying. She buries her face against my neck and breathes me in. Despite my panic, I enjoy feeling our bodies pressed firmly together. Vanessa is tiny in my arms, and she smells good. I wrap my arms back around her. I will hold her for as long as she wants me to.
Several seconds pass before she pulls away.
I can’t help but notice how thin her nightgown is. I’ve seen her wear it before when I was watching from the woods, but now I’m close enough to see detail. There is a lot of detail—particularly of the skin underneath. I can see the shape of her nipples and every curve of her body.
Has she realized she’s wearing this in front of me? It seems unlike her.
“Did you mean it?” she asks.
I blink, struggling to follow along.
“Your interview this morning,” she clarifies. “Did you mean it?”
I nod. I meant every word I said. Vanessa is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m honored to be her mate.
“I meant every word,” I promise her.
Vanessa pulls me back into her arms, and I’m more than happy to return the hold. She buries her head against my chest, and I rock us side to side. I am obsessed with this woman.
“How did you see it?” I ask. “I broke your phone.”
“I still have a TV. Every channel was broadcasting it.”
Of course.
Vanessa pulls away, and I push a strand of hair behind her ear. I enjoy seeing her face unobstructed, and it’s a good distraction from the breasts that threaten to steal my attention.
“Are you hungry?” Vanessa asks, a light flush spreading over her cheeks. “I’m making breakfast.”
She’s offering to cook for me? I’ve been waiting for this, and I swallow past the lump in my throat as I nod. I want to kiss her, but I refrain as she wraps her hand around mine and leads me inside.
What did I say that made her so happy? I can’t think of anything especially noteworthy or sappy. All I did was tell the truth. If this is how she reacts when I do the bare minimum, I can’t wait to see what she does when I go out of my way to please her.
I slide into a seat at the kitchen island before she sees my body’s reaction to her. Her innocent touches are arousing me, and I need to get away before I make her uncomfortable.
She must have cleaned since I was here last night, as her kitchen now spotless. I immensely enjoyed the look of her home lived-in, but I suppose this is nice, too. It’s clear Charlie decorated the place, but I see touches of Vanessa throughout. There’s a stack of cookbooks resting on the kitchen counter, and there are several short vases full of sprouting plants.
My body gradually softens, and only once I’m sure my arousal isn’t noticeable do I stand and approach one of the vases. Aziel warned me that Vanessa doesn’t like cut flowers, and she’s growing these from seed. Their tiny roots are visible, and I trace them with my eyes before turning back to my mate.
She’s pretending to be busy working, but her heart is racing. I distract her.
“Do you feel an affinity for these?” I ask, gesturing to the flowers.
Vanessa shakes her head, her lips curling down in the corners. “No,” she says. “I don’t feel anything for flowers. I just like the look of them.”
I’m going to remember that. I don’t have any flowers decorating my home, but that will be easy to change. I’ll plant some the next time I’m home, and I’ll make sure to do it from seed. Hopefully, they’ll be sprouting by the time Vanessa decides to come home with me.
Vanessa begins pulling food out of the fridge.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask.
The question is selfish, but I don’t care. She spent most of the night in my arms, and I’m eager to hear how that made her feel. I think I’ll throw myself into a volcano if she says she didn’t enjoy it, but I’m hopeful it doesn’t come to that.
“I had a good night,” Vanessa admits.
Her cheeks redden before she turns toward the stove. Her back is to me, and I quietly join her in the kitchen. I’m careful to move slowly and keep my steps noisy, not wanting to come across as frightening. I hate that Vanessa fears me, and if I could make myself a smaller man, I would.
“Did you enjoy me holding you?” I ask.
Vanessa’s grip on her spatula tightens as I approach, but it’s the only reaction she gives. She’s nervous, but I hope in a good way. She makes me nervous, too.
I continue toward her, but I stop when I smell her arousal. My bear immediately perks up and begins making noises, but I don’t blame him. Why is Vanessa aroused?I’m not sure what’s gotten into her today, from her enthusiastic hug and cooking me breakfast to her arousal, but I’m not complaining. Vanessa is opening up to me, and I love every second of it.
I come up behind her, and her addicting scent grows. I fight against my bear when he tries to make his mating noises, but it doesn’t work and they come pouring out, anyway.
“Did you enjoy me holding you?” I repeat.
Vanessa clears her throat before giving a jerky nod.
I hum, hiding a smile as I stare at the back of her head. I’m growing hard, and I’m relieved she’s facing away from me. There’s no hiding the way my leathers are tenting.
I want to tease her, but I’m scared to go too far and ruin the delicate balance we’ve found. Vanessa doesn’t know what she wants, which I understand entirely, but she also doesn’t like initiating. She prefers me to do it, but it’s hard when the line between arousal and fear is so thin.
“I can smell you,” I whisper.
Vanessa sucks in a shaky breath. Her arousal is so thick, and I so badly want to taste it. I want to put my mouth between her soft thighs, and once she’s cummed on my tongue, I want to replace my lips with my cock. I’m a dirty male.
“Chev…” Vanessa says. “What’re you thinking?”
“You know what I’m thinking.”
She turns off the stove and sets her spatula down, but she still doesn’t turn around to face me.
“Are you…?” She pauses and clears her throat. “Is your…?”
“Yes.” I answer her unspoken question. “My cock is hard.”
She gasps. “Are you touching it?”
“Should I be?”
There’s a long pause, and I hold my breath. I’d never dream of touching myself in her presence. I feel dirty enough when I do it alone, but to do it in front of her is not a thought I’ve ever entertained. It’s not something I thought she’d be comfortable with.
Vanessa’s arousal continues to saturate the air, my scent mixing in. I slide my hand up my thigh, but I won’t touch myself until I have her explicit permission. I need her to tell me she wants it.
“Yes,” Vanessa says.
I shut my eyes, squeezing them tightly in the desperate hope this isn’t a dream. I might die if I wake up and discover none of this is real.
My length twitches, and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I curl a hand around myself. My hips instantly jerk forward, seeking friction, and I tighten my grip before sliding my fist from base to tip. I let myself moan, wanting Vanessa to hear it.
“I’m touching myself,” I admit.
Vanessa grabs the counter in front of her, curling her fingers around the edge before moving her hair off the back of her neck. She’s showing me her mate mark.
I’m so fucking hard.
Her mark has grown darker and longer, extending into the neckline of her silk nightgown. I carefully pull the fabric away from her back so I can see where it ends. The line is thin, no thicker than a stem on a fallen leaf, and it ends between her shoulder blades.
Vanessa shivers, but I don’t touch her. I can tell she wants me to, but I refuse. I do curl my fist around myself, though. The temptation is too great not to.
“I won’t make assumptions,” I say. “You need to tell me explicitly what you want.”
She’s shaking.
“Touch my mark, Chev.”
My hips jerk forward, my cock sliding through my fist.
I use my other hand to touch Vanessa’s mark. It teases me, and I happily trail my fingers down the length of it. She’s so fucking soft. Someday, if she lets me, I’d love to rub myself against her mark. I want my cock to be the reason she cums.
I slide my thumb from the base of her mark to the very top. Vanessa moans, the noise quiet and full of need.
“Do my fingers feel good?” I ask.
I place my palm against her shoulder and rub my thumb up and down. I know it makes her cum, but I want to learn more. I want to know everything about it.
“Yes,” Vanessa gasps. “But it feels better when you put your mouth on it.”
I release myself, afraid to cum. I wasn’t expecting that, and I’m getting too excited.
I release her neck, too, and I plant both my hands on the counter before sucking in a slow, calming breath. I need to calm down before I embarrass myself.
Vanessa touches the back of my hands, her fingers tracing the visible veins before she spins in my arms. Her eyes meet mine for a brief second before dropping down. There’s no point hiding my erection—it’s impossible—and I remain still while my mate eyes me. My leathers cover me, but barely.
“You’re always hard when you touch me,” she says. “Do you take care of yourself after?”
I nod. “I can taste you on my tongue for hours,” I admit.
It only takes one or two strokes for me to reach completion, but that’s a minor detail I’m not going to tell Vanessa. I never want to lie to my mate, but if she asks, this will be one I tell.
Vanessa reaches for the tie on my side, the only thing holding my leathers together. It’s a loose knot, and my heart pounds as she loosens it and lets the fabric fall to the floor. She’s removing my clothing.
She’s looking at me.
My erection hangs heavily between my thighs, and I hope she’s not disappointed by what she sees. Vanessa continues to stare, but her expression is unreadable. Our bond hums, which I take as a good sign, and I clasp my hands behind my back as I wait for further instruction.
I’ve always fantasized about being rough with my mate. Most shifter males are, but I don’t feel that urge with Vanessa. For once, I’m thankful to have incubus blood in me. While I don’t share most of their desires, my need to please my mate is one I have picked up on. I want to make Vanessa happy more than I want to dominate her, and my bear makes no complaints as I lower my chin and wait for her to tell me what to do.
My female has been through so much, and I will never be a male who takes from her.
My mark is almost black by now, and I resist the urge to shiver when she ghosts her finger over the skin. She’s so close to my cock. One slight movement, and she would be touching it.
Vanessa clears her throat, her eyes still lingering on my shaft. “I’m okay with you pleasuring yourself while you lick my mark.”
My bear begins his annoying fucking rumbling, but Vanessa only smiles as I punch my chest to try to make it stop. That smile turns into a laugh as she spins and moves her hair out of the way again. She wants me to lick her, and she wants me to touch myself while I do so.
I punch my chest, desperate for the embarrassing noises to stop.
“Let him.” Vanessa chuckles. “I like it.”
I drop my fist, and the noises grow louder.
“Can I cum?” I ask.
“I should hope so.”
Vanessa laughs, proud of her little joke, but it’s cut short when I dart forward and drag my tongue up the length of her mark. She plants her hands on the countertop, stabilizing herself as I curl my fist around myself and stroke. My Vanessa curses, encouraging me to continue.
This is the best day of my life.
I fuck my fist at the same pace I lick her, my hips twitching as I pant against her warm skin. It feels so fucking good, and heat coils in my lower belly. I’m going to cum so quickly, and I squeeze my eyes shut as it builds.
Vanessa’s moaning grows louder, and I cry against her as my cock begins to leak. It wants to be inside her, and I tighten my grip on myself as I begin to cum. Vanessa shivers, and I quickly catch her when her knees give out.
She pants as she orgasms, and for a long moment, the sound of our heavy breathing is the only thing filling the room. Then it’s replaced with giggles, and I let out a relieved sigh as I drop my head onto her shoulder. The sound of Vanessa’s laughter makes my heart soar, and I hide my grin in her hair as her shoulders shake against my chest.
My mate is happy.
“I love you,” I say.
Vanessa’s fingers find mine, and she doesn’t seem disgusted when she accidentally touches the cum on my palm. She doesn’t necessarily seem pleased about it, but she’s only grossed out in a way I assume most people would be.
There’s no fear when she interacts with my fluids.
“It’s too soon for that, Chev,” Vanessa says.
“Okay.” I don’t care. I’m only conceding to please her.
I will continue to love my mate, even if she thinks it’s too soon. Vanessa may be able to shape most of my emotions and decisions, but she has no control over this. I love her, and nobody will make me change my mind.
“I think I’ve worked up an appetite,” I say, finally releasing her.
I need to wash my hands and redress.
Vanessa chuckles at my subtle request for her to continue cooking, and I shift my weight from foot to foot before playfully tapping my fingers against her butt. Vanessa swats me away. It’s the first time I’ve touched her butt, and I feel awfully proud of myself as I head toward the sink.
I’m a very sneaky male.