Chapter 3 #2
“Yes, Chief,” I said the same time that Matthew said mate. It didn’t matter to me either way. He was my One, and I was his mate. It was the same thing, and I already knew I was going to do anything I could to make him the happiest little fae I could. “You ready?” I asked, looking down at Matthew.
“Yes. So ready. I need to go to Aspen’s house though. I need to let him know I found you. And I should probably get my things. Although, I don’t have much. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m more than happy to provide you with anything you need,” I said as we walked through the bay toward the door.
Hopefully Balthazar or the chief would let the others know where I’d gone and why.
As we walked through the door that led us outside, I conjured my own winter coat, bundled up for the weather.
I wondered if Matthew’s was warm enough, but he wasn’t shivering, so I had to assume it was.
“So to Aspen’s first? Do you have a place here?”
“Yes to both questions. Although it’s actually a pack house that Balthazar and I have been staying in while we were here. In Amherst I live in the coven house. I have a room there, but now that we’ve found one another, we’ll move into one of the family suites. Does that work for you?”
Matthew snorted. “Oh yeah. I’m the middle of nine kids, and I’m used to sharing a single bedroom with all of my brothers. And let’s just say that my parents tend to have boys over girls, so our room was always packed.”
Wow, nine? Surely Matthew didn’t want quite as many children. Although, if he did, I was sure he’d have no trouble talking me into that many. Already, I was quite smitten with my adorable little One. I cleared my throat as we walked down the block on the sidewalk, back toward the alpha house.
“Nine? Umm, did you…do you…”
“Oh fate no. Maybe one or two? At least at a time. Who knows in a century from now. Oh, how old are you? I’m twenty-four, so I figured we had plenty of time…”
My mind stopped following when Matthew said he was twenty-four. He was a baby. Fates alive. My mate was so young!
“Cornelius? Are you okay? Did I say something wrong? I’ve been on my best behavior. Promise. If I’ve done something wrong, let me know so I know not to do it again.”
“Shh,” I said as I reached over and picked my pint-sized One up. He didn’t weigh much, and when he was in my arms, the vibrations going through my body settled a bit. Matthew sighed as he placed his head on my shoulder again.
“This is nice. The tingles are less when you’re touching me. And when you hold me, it’s even better.”
“Really? You feel aura vibrations too? I’m sorry, I don’t know as much about fae as I should. You’ll have to tell me.”
“Sure. But did I say something wrong earlier?”
“No, sweetheart. It just took me by surprise when you told me how young you are. I’m two hundred eighty-three.”
“Really?” Matthew asked as he lifted his head and stared at me. When his eyes quickly glanced at my mouth before they darted back to my eyes, I groaned.
“Yes, really. And you can’t look at me like that because we’re here and we need to get your things. Then I’ll take you back to my place and we’ll get to know each other. Because if I kiss you now, I’m not sure how easy it will be for me to stop. Probably not easy at all.”
“Okay. I’ve never kissed anyone before, just so you know.”
That little tidbit had me stumbling up the stairs. Thankfully I was a warlock and simply caught myself so I didn’t fall on top of my One.
“Never? Have you…”
“No. Fae don’t have sex before we meet our mate. They say it’s one of the reasons why we’re so horny. We feel the need to make up for lost time.”
I was speechless. My One was completely untouched? As in…what was it the chief had said? Fuck a duck? More like fuck a fae. Yep, I was certainly going to do that. Just as soon as Aspen answered the damn door and let us in so we could get Matthew’s stuff and I could get him home and naked.
“Cornelius, is… Matthew? Are you okay? What happened?” Aspen said as he tried to reach for my One and take him from me. The growl I couldn’t control slipped out, causing Aspen to jerk back and away.
“I’m fine, Aspen. Cornelius is my mate!” Matthew said as he wiggled in my arms, letting me know he wanted down. Reluctantly, I let him slide down my body once again. I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel if we were both naked. I vowed to find out. Soon.
“I apologize, Aspen. We’ve just found each other, and obviously we’ve not had a chance to claim one another. I’m a bit…”
“Possessive?” Aspen said with a snort.
“I was going to say protective, but yeah, possessive works as well. He’s just so darn cute, and I would die if anything happened to him,” I said as I looked down into Matthew’s eyes.
“So adorable, the both of you. Okay, so I assume you’re here to get Matthew’s things.
And congratulations to you both. Forest isn’t here right now.
He’s over at Sterling’s, discussing something to do with the pack.
But I’ll be sure to let him know you two are mates and that you’ll be needing a week or so together.
Fae have heats, right?” Aspen asked while looking at Matthew.
“Umm, more along the lines of fertile periods, like warlocks. We’re very similar in a lot of regards, only our gestation period is four months, no matter who our mate is,” Matthew said shyly. And that was very unlike the Matthew at the firehouse. Perhaps it was because of the subject matter.
“Oh, that’s…a long time. If you need anything at any time, let me know. You have my number, right? You put it in the phone we got you?”
“Yes, Aspen. You’ve been wonderful these few days. Thank you so much.”
“That’s what pack does, Matthew. Now, don’t let me keep you two. Off both of you go. Cornelius, take good care of him. He’s sweet, but curious,” Aspen said as he winked.
“I figured as much. And I’ll forever devote my life to giving him nothing but happiness and pleasure.”
“As it should be.” Aspen sighed before he hugged Matthew and then quickly walked off.
“Is he okay?” I asked, curious. It looked as if he was upset.
“He’s fine. He said he’d miss me, that’s all. Shall we go get my stuff? I hope you can teleport us to your place? I don’t know where it is, so I can’t yet find it that way,” Matthew asked as he pulled me toward the house.
“Oh yeah. Just as soon as we have your things,” I said as we climbed the stairs. I was more than ready to have Matthew alone. Too bad my conscience was telling me that because my One was so young and inexperienced, I needed to put the brakes on ravishing him the moment we were alone in my house.
Soon though, I promised myself.