Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Peter
I had no clue what time it was when I woke up except late. After the third time we had sex, I stopped keeping track of the number of times I came—and also stopped keeping track of time. It must’ve been close to 4 AM when I finally passed out in Bennett’s arms.
When I roused and rubbed my eyes, he wasn’t in bed. I frowned.
I sat up and looked around the unfamiliar yet comforting room. Then the memories rushed back. I was in Bennett’s huge bed, in Bennett’s huge room, in Bennett’s huge house.
And I was full of Bennett’s cum.
My cheeks flushed. If that didn’t get me pregnant, nothing would.
I tiptoed out of bed, strode past the discarded clothes—which Bennett had neatly folded—and poked around the hallway until I found the bathroom. It was luxurious, but I didn’t spend too much time in there since I wanted to find Bennett.
After a quick shower, I donned an expensive towel and a fluffy pair of slippers, then wandered the hallway again. The scent of delicious food tickled my nose. I followed its trail to the massive, open-concept kitchen.
I gawked when I saw Bennett flipping bacon and pancakes at the stovetop. He was naked except for an apron that said “KISS THE COOK.”
When he noticed me, he flashed a pearly grin. “Good morning, Peter.”
“Morning,” I replied. “So, is that apron a suggestion or a command?”
He chuckled. “For you? Both.”
The air was so thick with the scent of delicious breakfast food that I couldn’t smell Bennett’s signature alpha musk. In the short time I’d known him, I’d grown so accustomed to his scent. It comforted me, made me feel safe.
I wondered if Bennett felt the same way about my scent, because he kept sniffing the air and I didn’t think he was enjoying the smell of pancakes. A slight furrow creased Bennett’s brow as he flipped a big one into the air?—
Then suddenly, Bennett’s eyes went wide and flashed red.
Was it his barghest powers...?
In a motion so fast I barely registered it, Bennett abandoned the spatula and lunged over the marble island separating us. He landed right in front of me, his eyes wavering like he’d witnessed something divine.
“Peter,” he breathed. His shaky hands grasped my arms. “You’re pregnant.”
The pancake fell on the floor with a splat.
I blinked, then exploded into laughter. The hilarious timing of those two events made me laugh until I was teary-eyed and out of breath. It was apparently contagious, since Bennett joined in soon after.
When we both got it out of our systems, I hugged Bennett hard.
“I’m really pregnant?” I whispered. Just like everything else, it didn’t feel real yet.
Bennett hugged me tighter. “Yes, Peter. I just felt my barghest’s premonition, and it’s never been wrong.”
A warm joy unfurled in my soul. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced—except maybe Bennett’s confession that he was my fated mate, and that he loved me. This new step we’d take together only deepened our bond.
I glanced down at my still-flat tummy. Soon it’d be rounded with Bennett’s baby. The thought made my heart flutter.
Remembering Bennett’s apron, I grinned up at him before planting a kiss on his lips.
After a delicious breakfast courtesy of my alpha, Bennett gave me a tour of our home. It was a big luxurious place, but not excessive. We brainstormed uses for the spare rooms that were available.
“One’s going to be a nursery, obviously,” I said, picking the one closest to the bedroom.
“Obviously,” Bennett agreed.
“Hm... What do you think of turning one of the spares into an office?” I asked.
“For you, love?”
I nodded, then glanced at the floor. “This is embarrassing to admit, especially after how we met, but...”
Bennett tilted my chin up and clicked his tongue. “Love, you’re my fated mate. Nothing can be embarrassing between us.”
I arched a brow. “Really? What if I said something wacky, like... I like pineapple on pizza?”
“First, I love Hawaiian. Second, that’s not even embarrassing. It’s just a preference.”
I crossed my arms and hummed thoughtfully, trying to think of a different example. “Okay, well... what about... um...”
Bennett smiled wryly. He gave me a few moments to ponder before he drew me into a kiss that made all my thoughts evaporate.
“Tell me, Peter,” he urged. “If you do that, we can set up this spare room for you together.”
I snapped my fingers. “I know! What if I wanted to turn it into like, a sex dungeon room? Just for the two of us?”
Bennett’s brows raised to his hairline before he let out a rich laugh. “Love it. Should we eat Hawaiian pizza in said sex dungeon?”
I cackled at the mental image of getting cheese and pineapple all over some kinky handcuffs.
“Okay, fine, I’ll tell you,” I conceded. I trusted Bennett, and as mates, I felt safe confiding in him, even at the cost of my pride. “I want... to start doing tarot readings for people. They’d pay a small fee, and I’d do a spread for them.” Suddenly second-guessing myself, I grimaced. “Is that too weird?”
“Not at all,” Bennett said with a reassuring smile. “I know plenty of folks who do that.”
“Really?”
“Really. Not that you need money, since you live with me now,” Bennett teased, “but I’ll support you in anything you try.”
My lip quivered as emotion swamped me. How was he so perfect?
I hugged him, burying my face in his broad chest and sucking down his spicy scent. He was pure comfort. He was—quite literally—a big fluffy dog in the shape of a person.
“Do you already own a deck?” Bennett asked.
I sighed. “No. There was one I really wanted at a shop in town, but I could never justify the price...”
His lip quirked into a playful grin. “Then let me buy it for you. My treat.”
“All you do is treat me,” I said through a laugh. “First sex, then pancakes, and now a brand-new tarot deck to do readings in my very own office?”
Bennett put a possessive hand on my hip, tugging me closer. “So? You’re my omega. I’m your alpha. That means I get to spoil you rotten, right?”
I blushed, feeling a pleasant shiver roll across my skin. I loved being his.
“Hm, well...” I nodded. “When you put it that way, I guess it’s rude to refuse.”
After Winston dropped us off, Bennett and I took a nice afternoon stroll in town. It was the same streets I was used to, but they felt different now. Nicer. More beautiful. It was like Bennett’s love gave me a permanent case of rose-colored glasses.
He held my hand as we perused the shops, never once letting go. It was nice to be in constant physical contact with him, like we were each other’s oxygen supply.
“This is the place,” I told Bennett, pointing out the independently owned witchy store. Gemstones glittered in the window behind pride stickers, along with spiritual books and various tarot decks.
“What are we waiting for? Come on,” he said, gently tugging my hand.
The air held the fragrant scent of incense, but it wasn’t overpowering like in the psychic’s apartment.
We looked around at the handmade soaps and teas for a while before I finally showed Bennett the tarot deck of my dreams. It was one-of-a-kind, with each illustration done by a local artist. Instead of the classic human depictions, the deck featured mythical creatures as its Major Arcana figures. Maybe that was why I was intrinsically drawn to it. My soul knew Bennett, a barghest, was my fated mate before I did.
And then I remembered the price tag. I winced. Bennett had promised to buy it for me without realizing it was a high three figures.
“You don’t actually have to get it,” I said under my breath.
Bennett wasn’t fazed. “Why not? This is a fine price for a handmade item.”
He pulled out his wallet casually, as if paying for a cheap coffee. I gawked when he fished out a bunch of hundred-dollar bills.
“Really, Bennett, it’s not necessary,” I argued meekly.
“Quiet, you,” he teased. “What’d I say about spoiling you rotten? And what did you say in response?”
I pouted, feeling bad for a second, then sighed. “I said you could do it...”
In all honestly, I loved that he wanted to spoil me. I was receptive to any kind of attention from Bennett—physical, emotional, monetary... anything and everything. Besides, Bennett clearly wasn’t struggling for cash. So, if he wanted to buy me an expensive gift, I wouldn’t reject his kindness.
“Thank you,” I said softly as Bennett handed over the money.
The cashier beamed as they wrapped up the deck in tissue paper and slid it towards me. “I’m so glad this is going to a good home!”
“Me too,” Bennett said, grinning down at me.
We took a break from our shopping spree to return to my favorite new coffee shop, The Canine Cafe. As the pups swarmed Bennett, tails wagging, I smiled at the adorable scene.
“Now I understand why they like you so much,” I remarked as we sat at our table.
Bennett scratched the closest dogs with both hands. “Guilty.”
“Oh. Is that why you’re allergic to chocolate?” I asked, suddenly remembering that factoid about him.
He flashed a knowing grin and winked. It was our little secret.
I noticed a curious nose sniffing my pant leg. An adorable mixed breed dog with floppy ears gazed up at me with big brown eyes. I smiled and petted her head.
“Aww,” I said. “They’re coming up to me because I smell like you now.”
For once, Bennett was the one who seemed flustered. Then he grinned, looking pleased that his canine brethren recognized his scent all over me.
“Well?” Bennett prompted, nodding at the deck clutched in my hands. I hadn’t let go of it since we left the store. “Want to try a spread?”
I shuffled in my seat awkwardly. “Er... I don’t actually know how.”
Bennett’s smile was patient as ever. “I’ll teach you. I’ve done a reading or two.”
I sat up straighter with excitement. I couldn’t think of a better teacher than my knowledgeable mate.
“Okay!”
We took out the cards—careful to make sure the table was free of crumbs first—then laid them out. Bennett pointed out which cards to pull in what order. He went slow, explaining things in a simple way that was easy to understand. I went into it completely clueless, but by the end of his mini-lesson, I felt confident that I could attempt a small reading.
“Hm... I don’t really know what to ask the cards,” I admitted. “Usually you ask stuff like, ‘Is there a positive change coming my way?’ or ‘How does my love feel about me?’ but I already know the answers to those questions.”
Bennett smiled. “That’s true. Hm... How about something simple, like, ‘Should I have another coffee?’”
“Good idea.”
I shuffled the cards, placed them face down, then took a deep breath and pulled the top card.
I was greeted by a beautifully illustrated winged lion. It was the 8 th Major Arcana, Strength, in the upright position.
“Well?” Bennett asked.
“It’s Strength. Which means...” I racked my mind for the basic meanings of the Major Arcana. “Success and courage. I have the inner power to deal with any obstacles.”
“And?”
“And... that means I can have another coffee,” I decided with a grin. My hands fell to my belly. Since I was pregnant, I had to change my diet, and I knew the baby wouldn’t appreciate all the caffeine. “But I’ll have a decaf this time.”
Bennett chuckled. His warm, rich laugh was soothing as always. “Sounds like a plan.”