Chapter 9 Carter #3
He lay there boneless, not wanting to move, but the cooling cum between them felt sticky and uncomfortable. It took a couple of tries before Carter rolled off Rey to his side.
“Time for a shower, sweetheart, then breakfast.”
A squeak of indignation left Carter when Rey smacked his ass. He glared at Rey. “What was that for?”
Rey grinned and winked. “Don’t say you didn’t enjoy it.”
“That’s beside the point,” Carter muttered, rubbing at the spot Rey’s palm had landed.
Then Rey’s smile faded, and he let out a low curse. “I didn’t even think, sweetheart. Did I scare you?”
“What?” Carter asked, confused.
“It didn’t occur to me you may not like that or I may have scared you with swatting you.”
Understanding dawned, and Carter shook his head.
“I’m not scared. I didn’t even think of…
him.” He sat up, grimacing at the feel of the semen on his belly trickling down to the creases of his thighs.
Rey looked beside himself at the thought of having scared Carter, solidifying what Carter already knew in his heart.
His mate would never intentionally hurt him.
He grabbed Rey’s hand, bringing it to his mouth to kiss Rey’s knuckles. “I’m fine, babe. I promise.”
Affection flooded Rey’s features. He leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss to Carter’s lips. “Promise me you’ll tell me if I ever scare you, sweetheart.”
“I promise. But I really am okay. I wasn’t scared and I kind of liked it.
” Carter ducked his head. He’d never admitted to any of his exes his thoughts of being more adventurous in bed than just a quick suck and fuck.
They’d already made him feel bad for being himself, and he hadn’t wanted to make it worse by telling them about his desire to try new things.
Spanking without the intention of hurting beyond a little sting had been one of many.
A low growl rumbled in Rey’s chest, and Carter saw Rey’s pupils dilate with lust. “Let’s get a shower before I forget my intention to claim you in our bed,” Rey said, his voice deep and husky.
Hearing Rey call it their bed sent a thrill through him.
He forced away the little voice still clamoring at him to wait for the other shoe to drop before getting his hopes up.
He’d sworn he would stop comparing Rey to Darryl or any of his previous boyfriends.
The man had shown him nothing except kindness and acceptance.
Carter didn’t want to believe it would change.
Smiling at Rey, Carter replied, “I can’t say I would be disappointed if you did. ”
Rey tugged him from the bed, leading Carter into the bathroom, where he wrenched on the shower.
“When I claim you, little wolf, I want it to be where I can look at that spot and think of the sweet sounds you made and the way you felt beneath me. It isn’t a memory I want locked away in a room we may never see again.
” He pulled Carter into his arms and gave him a soft kiss.
“I want to always remember it whenever I see our bed.”
Carter almost melted, leaning into the kiss, tears stinging the backs of his eyes.
God, Rey was nothing like his exes. His heart swelled in his chest, and Carter felt himself fall partway in love with Rey right then.
It wouldn’t take much to push him over the ledge, and Carter prayed like hell Rey would be there to catch him.
They didn’t linger in the shower. Mostly because Rey didn’t want to be tempted any further when Carter tried to start something new. He wanted nothing more than to wear Rey’s claiming mark proudly for everyone to see, but Rey was adamant about waiting.
Less than an hour later, they grabbed food and sat at one table near the Emerald Lake Hills pack lodge. Nick sat next to Carter and bumped his shoulder. “How are you feeling, cuz?”
He beamed at his cousin. “Great! I’m excited to see Senaka and Rey’s house.
He told me it’s close to the edge of the forest. I can’t wait to run whenever I want.
It’s kind of hard to do that back home since we have to worry so much about humans spotting us.
Oh, Rey said we’re going to stop and get me a new phone.
I don’t know what happened to my old one.
I looked everywhere I’ve been, but it’s gone. ”
Nick interrupted before Carter could go on, a sheepish look on his face. “I’m afraid that’s my fault. I got so angry… well, the other night, that I kind of crushed it.”
Carter flinched, but he ignored the mention of Darryl’s call. “It’s okay. It was old anyway. I’ve had it for, like, three years now. New models and all. I’m going to have to do something for work fast once we get to Senaka so I can pay Rey back.”
“You don’t have to pay me back,” Rey interjected, frowning at him. “We’re mates. What’s mine is yours.”
“But it’s your money. I didn’t earn it,” Carter said.
“Besides, I can’t just sit around and do nothing all day.
I’d go bonkers. I’m used to being on the move a lot.
It’s how I stay slim like I am. Well, that and good genes, I suppose.
I tried working out a few times, but I can’t ever seem to gain any muscle, so I finally gave up and figured my job and running as my wolf would be enough to keep me in shape.
“Nick knows, right? He went with me to the gym on multiple occasions. Mostly because there were some guys there who would harass me whenever I would leave the building. But he stopped them.” Carter heard Rey make a harsh sound, and he glanced at his mate, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, little wolf. I’m glad your cousin was there for you.” Rey slid an arm around Carter’s waist, his palm resting on Carter’s hip. “We have a small gym in town if you want to use it. You don’t have to rush to work, Carter. I meant what I said.”
“I know, but I want to. I really would go stir-crazy not having something to do all day. Hey, did you know that stir-crazy actually came about in the 1800s because of prisoners who became distraught because of their prolonged confinement? I looked it up one day because it seems like such an odd phrase. Stir-crazy. Like, what are you stirring? But I guess it’s from someone walking in circles?
I just thought it was super interesting. ”
Without taking a breath, Carter launched into his next thought.
“Have you ever been to prison, Rey? I haven’t.
I never want to. It doesn’t sound pleasant.
The idea of doing anything criminal gives me a stomachache, but to know afterward I’d go to jail?
Being locked up with other men, some super violent, and me being as small as I am… ” Carter shuddered.
“Well, that’s certainly a relief that Senaka is safe from mastermind Carter,” Kasey said breaking into Carter’s ramblings. Much to Carter’s relief. He couldn’t believe how much he’d just spoken, but when he peeked at Rey, his mate didn’t seem upset or annoyed.